In the Dark Read Online Free PDF Page B

a touch clearer about one or two things. What you know, or think you know, for example.’
    â€˜It’s understandable.’
    â€˜Here’s the thing, though. I know a few coppers pretty well, and watching you while Nigel got busy was pretty bloody interesting. See, some coppers, whatever they were doing or supposed to be doing, wouldn’t have been able to stand by and let that happen. They’d have been jumping about, shouting the odds and making arrests, what have you. See what I’m saying?’
    â€˜What if I had?’
    Shepherd shrugged. ‘Pain in the arse, but not a problem. I don’t think Mr Anderson would be making a complaint. Nigel keeps himself to himself and Ray’s going to say fuck all.’ He leaned forward. ‘That right, Ray?’
    Ray said fuck all.
    â€˜A couple of hours wasted at some police station and a couple of days’ paperwork for some idiot who could be out catching suicide bombers. That’s about it.’
    Paul couldn’t argue.
    â€˜Then there’s the copper who can’t be seen to give a toss, because he’s playing some smart-arse game. Trying to ingratiate himself, whatever. All the same, something like that’s going to get a reaction, right? He doesn’t just sit there like he’s watching Jamie Oliver cutting up a fucking parsnip.’ Twice, it seemed as though Shepherd were about to smile, and twice it died at the corners of his mouth. He looked like someone trying to see the joke but not quite making it.
    At the nod from Shepherd, Nigel moved across and lurched out of the cab, holding the door open for Paul.
    â€˜We should talk again,’ Shepherd said.
    â€˜If you like.’
    â€˜Definitely, because I don’t quite get it yet. I will , but not yet.’ He pushed at the knot of his tie, picked at something on his lapel. ‘Because you’re a different sort altogether, Paul. You sat there and you watched . . . that , and you didn’t even flinch.’

FOUR
    Javine was feeding the baby when Theo got in. Cradling him in the crook of her left arm, reaching around to keep the bottle where it should be, and flicking through the pages of a magazine with her free hand.
    Theo stood in the doorway, held up the takeaway he’d picked up on his way back.
    â€˜Let me get him off first,’ Javine said.
    Theo carried the bag through to the kitchen, then came back and sat next to his girlfriend. Dug around the sofa cushion for the TV remote.
    â€˜OK day?’
    He flicked through the channels. ‘Weather was good anyway. Something.’
    Something, when you’re spending eight hours standing on one corner or another. Looking out. Running backwards and forwards.
    â€˜Yeah, it was nice.’ Javine stroked her son’s cheek with the back of her fingers. ‘I took him over the park, met up with Gemma.’
    Theo nodded, watched the baby guzzling for a minute. ‘He’s seriously hungry, man.’
    â€˜The powder’s not expensive,’ Javine said.
    â€˜I know.’
    â€˜You get it in bulk, same as nappies.’
    â€˜I didn’t mean that.’ Theo turned back to the TV. ‘It’s good, you know? A good sign.’
    They watched most of EastEnders while the baby finished, and when Javine took him through to the bedroom Theo put the food in the microwave and took out the plates and forks. King prawn and mushroom for her; chilli beef for him. Egg fried rice and prawn crackers, cans of lager and Diet Coke. Some other soap on Sky Plus while they ate off their laps; that one up north with the farmers and shit. Theo couldn’t keep up.
    â€˜Gemma was talking about going out one night next week,’ Javine said. ‘Some new club in Peckham. Says her brother can get us in.’
    â€˜Yeah, OK.’
    â€˜Sure?’
    â€˜I said.’
    â€˜I’ll leave the bottles in the fridge.’
    Theo pushed some rice around. ‘Maybe I could ask