One Bad Turn Read Online Free PDF Page B

something like that he’d…he dragged his thoughts back to the photo. Didn’t pay to dwell on all life’s possibilities. ‘We decided to blow our money on the slot machines instead.’
    ‘Any luck?’ Coupland asked.
    ‘Nah, there’s only ever one winner with stuff like that, isn’t there?’ James seemed to visibly deflate, then in a blink his head reared up, ‘I just don’t get it! She was always so confident. Said she’d never let anyone get the better of her. Always reckoned she could handle herself. We used to watch the news, reports where women had been abducted and killed, “Swear to God, Jamie,” she’d say, “anyone tries to have a go at me and they’ll need A&E by the time I’ve finished...”’
    ‘She was feisty then?’
    A nod. ‘Hard as nails. She’s got three brothers; she knew how to defend herself.’
    The FLO returned with a tray laden with a teapot, milk jug and four mugs. She was about to start pouring when Coupland cleared his throat. ‘Biscuits might be nice,’ he suggested, reluctant to let anything stop James now he’d started talking. ‘I don’t think there are any in the cupboard…’ she began, before it dawned on her she was in the way. ‘I’ll pop over to the corner shop,’ she offered, ‘any requests?’
    ‘Take your time.’ Coupland muttered into his chest. Once the front door closed behind her he resumed their conversation. ‘Sharon get on alright with her brothers?’ James nodded, ‘Now the two older ones have stopped treating her like a china doll, yeah, there’s a younger one too, just started uni, she tends to make a fuss of him.’
    ‘They a close family?’
    ‘Yeah, normal you know, had their ups and downs, they were always kind to me.’
    ‘And what was your relationship like?’
    ‘With Shaz?’
    Coupland nodded.
    ‘Good, in fact it was great. She was gorgeous, funny, she liked my mates and didn’t mind me playing on the X-box,’ By modern standards she sounded an ideal partner, Coupland agreed. ‘And were you as perfect?’ he asked, ‘What would Sharon say if she had to describe you?’
    James’s face soured, ‘That I was moody, sulked when I didn’t get my own way, and that the reason we worked so well together was because she was happy to be the one that always gave in.’ Coupland frowned. The same could be said of his own marriage, Lynn was definitely the grown up in their relationship. ‘Were you often moody then?’ Coupland pressed, ‘Were you prone to losing your temper with Sharon?’ James’s already drawn face clouded over, ‘Hang on a minute, if you’re asking did I ever hurt her…Christ, you’re asking if I killed her, aren’t you?’ He looked about helplessly, flapping his hands around him on the settee like a drowning man trying to stay afloat. Coupland’s voice was quiet but firm: ‘These are routine questions James, its normal in these…situations to question the person who found the body and the victim’s partner, and you happen to be one and the same.’
    ‘So next time I find a body I should run for the hills, is that what you’re saying?’
    Coupland shook his head. ‘I’m not saying that at all.’
    DC Ashcroft leaned forward in his chair, spoke for the first time. ‘What do you do for a living, James?’
    James’s brow creased as he regarded the DC, ‘I’m a financial analyst.’ Ashcroft was unfazed by his answer. ‘So you deal with a lot of numbers, right?’ James nodded. ‘And you what, predict where people should put their money?’
    ‘Well, in the crudest sense, yes.’
    ‘And how do you get to those conclusions?’
    James creased his brow, ‘I don’t quite see the point-’
    ‘Just humour me, yeah?’
    James shrugged, ‘we look at the fund in question’s past performance, some sectors or industries have certain characteristics that make them more prone to risk, say, than others, for example a pharmaceutical company faces a constant threat from protesters sabotaging its