Perfect Intentions: Sometimes justice is above the law Read Online Free PDF Page A

She could have a cup of tea while waiting for the bath to run. Going through to the bathroom, she turned the taps on full. On her way back to retrieve her shopping bags she’s interrupted by a banging at the door. Realising it could be Hannah she hurriedly stuffs the bags behind the sofa. If it was Hannah, she’d want to know why she’d been spending money on non-essentials when she consistently pleaded poverty. As she opened the front door, she realised she had been quite right to hide the bags.
    “Hi hon, what brings you round?”
    Hannah ignored the question, smiled a greeting, and strolled straight into the kitchen.
    “Oh great, I’ll have a cup, too, if you’re making one.”
    With a sigh, Clare closed the door and followed Hannah back through.
    Hannah had already got two cups out and was generously spooning sugar into one of them.
    “So what are you up to this evening?”
    “Oh, nothing much. I just thought I’d have a quiet night in, have a bath.”
    “Really? So why have you been out buying new clothes, then?”
    “What? How did you know that?”
    “I saw you in town earlier—you walked straight past me. Something on your mind?”
    “No.”
    “Can I see what you bought?”
    “Why?”
    “Bloody hell, Clare, it’s a simple enough question. Unless…” Hannah paused. A look of confusion being replaced with a look of amused shock.
    “You’re going on a date, aren’t you?”
    “Crying out loud, Hannah.”
    “You are, aren’t you? Why didn’t you say something before? I’d have come shopping with you; we could all go out together. I’m meeting up with Mike tonight.”
    “And this is exactly why I didn’t say anything to you. I knew as soon as you knew you’d start trying to organise me. It’s not serious.”
    “Thank you very much. Well, what’s he like? Do I know him—does he live round here?”
    “No, you don’t know him, and yes, he lives quite close.”
    “What’s his name?”
    “Before I tell you, Hannah, you have to promise not to breathe a word of this to anyone.”
    “Brownie’s honour.”
    “It’s Dean Matthews.”
    “Dean Matthews? Why do I know that name?”
    “Because he’s Alice Matthews’s brother.”
    “What, little Alice? Works in the store at the weekend? Jesus, Clare, how old is he? This is legal, isn’t it?”
    “I knew you’d react like this. He’s nineteen, if you must know, and I’ve checked, it’s perfectly legal, but thanks for the vote of confidence.”
    “Seriously, Clare, do you really think this is a good idea?”
    “Well, I won’t know ‘til I’ve tried.”
    “Ok, well, I’ll get out of your way then.” Hannah finishing her tea put the cup in the sink and went to leave. Stopping briefly, she turned to Clare
    “A word of advice before I leave.”
    Clare sighed.
    “What?”
    “Unless you’re planning an indoor water feature, I’d turn the bath taps off if I were you.”
    Clare fled toward the bathroom.
    Hannah shook her head and let herself out.
    Luckily Clare made it to the bath in time, switching the taps off. She returned to say goodbye to Hannah, and was rewarded with an empty room. Grabbing the bags back out of their hiding place, she took them through into the bedroom, emptying the contents onto her bed and beginning to sort through them.
    Three hours and numerous clothes changes later Clare was ready. She still had some time to kill, so she went back through into the kitchen and poured herself a glass of wine. By the time eight o’clock arrived, she was already pretty merry. Grabbing her bag, she went down to the car park to wait for Dean.
    He was already waiting by the time she got there.
    “You scrub up well,” Clare said from across the car park.
    “Yeah, well, you’re not too bad yourself.”
    “Thanks. Right, where are we off to, then?”
    “Well, I was thinking the Rose and Crown—it shouldn’t be too busy and it’s not too far to walk.”
    “Fair enough.”
    As Dean and Clare made their way into the Rose