Next Of Kin (Unnatural Selection #3) Read Online Free PDF Page A

drink. Food first.
You can’t think on an empty stomach.”
    She was
right, of course. I felt calmer after a quick meal of frozen pasta
and a big glass of the left over Shiraz from my special night with
Nick. When Chris called again to say the police would be over in
the morning to conduct a search, I was able to talk to him without
collapsing.
    It was
time to call Karl. Not because I thought he would have any
information about Nick, but because Karl was and is my oldest, best
friend. He had known about Nick since my first encounter with him.
He’d been my best man at our wedding, just as Andy had been Nick’s.
When I told him what was going on, he only wanted to know how he
could help.
    “Do you trust
the police to do this right, Anton?”
    “They’ve
barely started. For now, I trust them. What’s the alternative?”
    “Private
detectives, for one. Publicity in the newspapers for another.”
    God, the
press . I couldn’t
bear the idea. “Let’s see how they go. I don’t think I can talk
about anything else right now.”
    “I can
imagine. Anton, he’ll come back.”
    “One way or
another.”
    “If he’s still
alive, and I’m sure he is, he’ll come back to you.”
    “Chances
are—”
    “Don’t think
like that. Something’s happened, sure. But there’s nothing to
indicate he’s dead.”
    “You mean
other than the fact he’s missing and no one knows why?”
    “Yes. Focus on
the known facts, not on baseless assumptions. Scientific method and
all that, Dr Marber.”
    I smiled for
the first time in hours. “True. But I’m worried, Karl.”
    “I know. If
you want to come up here....”
    “Mum’s ordered
me to their place.”
    “Good idea.
Don’t do this on your own, brother. I’ll be cranky if you do.”
    “I’m getting
the impression the whole family will be.”
    “Yes, they
will. Anton, you can call me anytime, day or night.”
    “I know.
Thanks, Karl.”
    “Call me
tomorrow after the police have been. And if there’s anything—”
    “I’ll ask, I
promise.”
    “Try to sleep.
Do you have anything to help?”
    “Might
do.” Between Nick and me, we’d accumulated a variety of
medications. I thought I remembered some sleeping pills prescribed
for me during the last of Nick’s hospital stays.
    “Then take
them. You’re not alone, Anton.”
    No, but I
wasn’t with the man I loved either. “I’ll call tomorrow. ‘Night,
Karl.”
    It wasn’t even
seven. I checked my laptop again to see if Nick had emailed, and my
mobile to see if I’d missed a text or call. Nothing. This wasn’t
remotely like Nick. Though not an effusive man, he was lovely the
way he would send me a quick text a couple of times of day, or
email me a link to something particularly interesting, or just to
bitch about work. He’d tried not to dump too much of his anger over
Thorpe onto me, but he hadn’t been reticent about it, and if there
was something more serious going on, he would have told me.
    Unless that
something was something I wouldn’t want to know about, like a
lover. But Nick hated infidelity and cheaters. He’d taken long
enough to forgive Harry for it and he hadn’t even been in love with
the guy.
    No, he
hadn’t run away with anyone. I was so sure about that, it wasn’t
even the faintest possibility in my mind.
    But it was
more of a comfort than what was a more distinct possibility. Nick
had come across those wanting to do him harm before. What
if...?
    I had to
stop myself going down that track, so I went to the kitchen for
more wine. I thought about calling Andy and asking him for
reassurance on that point, but it was hardly fair to do that. If
Andy’s thoughts were the same as mine, he’d have to lie, and he was
hardly going to speculate, given my fears.
    I called
Nick’s number again, and left a voicemail. Listening to his precise
instructions made my eyes fill. I had to stop myself calling back
just to hear his voice again.
    I found
the sleeping tablets, and took them. I still had