Reprobates Read Online Free PDF Page B

it to the side. ‘Who?’
    Dylan looked at her intently. ‘That’s for me to know and you to find out,’ he said. His widening smile softened his face.
    Vicky opened her mouth and closed it again without a peep.
    ‘Well, that’s a first.’ He grinned. ‘My Sunday dinner is going to be on the table,’ he said looking at his watch as he rose from his chair. ‘So I’ll be away from here because I’m on-call tonight as well.’ Dylan put his arm into the sleeve of his coat. ‘Get done what you can and we’ll continue our enquiries first thing tomorrow, unless something happens before then, and if so I want to know. Okay?’
    ‘Okay, ’ she said. ‘Will we know tomorrow who’s acting up ?
    ‘ No, it’ll be Tuesday at the earliest, Vicky.’
    ***
    Jen was pleased to see Dylan. It made such a difference to be able to get dinner out of the way and Maisy in the bath at a reasonable hour, especially since tomorrow was a big day for them all.
    ‘ Clothes in the wash bin please before you pick Maisy up,’ she said. Dylan bent down to kiss his daughter in her playpen. ‘Your mummy always knows when I’ve been to the mortuary.’
    ‘More ’s the pity,’ she said with a puckered brow. ‘That smell, it’s vile.’
    Max didn ’t jump up and greet him with a wagging tail but his golden retriever tail swished slowly on the wall in the hallway at the foot of the stairs. He lifted his head momentarily but as if it was too much effort he lay back down and grunted. ‘Has he moved today?’
    ‘ Not much. Don’t you think he looks pale?’ asked Jen.
    ‘No. ’
    ‘ Well he’s definitely not himself,’ said Jen as she followed Jack upstairs with a pot of tea in her hand and pile of ironing over her arm.
    ***
    With Maisy in bed, her nursery bag packed, a duty roster on the door for Dylan’s benefit and sandwiches made in the fridge, Jen flopped down on the sofa.
    Dylan was falling asleep in the armchair. Max leaned heavily against his leg and turned to lay his head on Dylan ’s lap. ‘What’s up, mate? Not feeling good?’ Dylan asked, gently stroking the dog’s head.
    Jen looked at her husband. A worried look upon her face. ‘He looks bloated,’ she said, leaning forward to feel his enlarged stomach. ‘If he’s no better tomorrow I’m calling the vet.’ Max’s eyes were weak and watery. He rose onto all fours, wobbled and flopped down a few feet away. Moaning loudly he shut his eyes.
    ‘ Is Penny coming to walk him?’
    ‘ Yes, and she knows him well enough. She’ll keep me posted.’
    Jen looked as if a light had just sparked behind her eyes. ‘Oh, forgot to tell you.’
    ‘ What?’
    ‘ Penny has only landed that part-time cleaning job going at the nick.’
    ‘ She has?’
    ‘Yes. ’
    ‘ Good for her,’ said Dylan.
    ‘ Now Carly and Troy have grown up a bit she was looking for more work and the job was advertised so she applied and got it. It’s only part-time but hey, it gets her foot in the door until something more suitable comes up,’ she put her hand to her mouth and yawned.
    Tomorrow would be the start of another era with Maisy going to nursery and Jen back in the saddle in the admin department at Harrowfield Police Station. ‘Early night?’
    ‘ Have you ever known me say no?’ Dylan said with a cheeky smile.

Chapter Four
    Dylan and Jen were woken by the sound of Max retching. Jen telephoned the vet for some reassurance.
    ‘ The amount that a dog is sick can make the problem look incredibly more acute than it actually is, Mrs Dylan,’ said the vet. ‘He has probably been eating something he shouldn’t or gobbled down his food. I am on site from half past seven.’ The vet sighed heavily. Jen imagined him looking at his clock in his nice comfy bed as she’d often seen Dylan do when they were woken in the middle of the night. ‘See how he is in an hour or two, shall we?’
    Jen felt confused from waking suddenly. Her heart beat rapidly. ‘But there’s blood...’ she