Settled Blood Read Online Free PDF

military establishments within a fifty-mile radius, plus a large-scale map of the area. Make sure it’s detailed enough to show us all we need to know. Get Robbo to help too and put Lisa on
missing persons, liaising with Durham Uni. Tell her we’re looking at med students in particular and keep the uniforms busy ’til I’m back. I could be a while.’
    Half an hour later, Daniels followed the Jaguar as it turned off the main road leading to Finch’s estate. Pulling up behind it at the front door of the Mansion House
,
she could see
that a glass partition separated Finch from his chauffeur. Sensing her interest, Pearce glanced in her direction. Checking his rear-view mirror, he mouthed something to his boss before cutting the
Jaguar’s three-litre V6 diesel engine. Pearce took off his cap as he got out of the car and placed it under his left arm, military fashion. With a gloved hand he opened the rear passenger
door and waited for Finch to emerge.
    As Daniels climbed out of her own car she heard a mobile phone bleep twice.
    Finch went for his pocket as his housekeeper appeared through the panelled front door. She ran up to him, waiting to take his coat. He waved her away and she turned tail and went back inside. As
they followed her in, Daniels registered the man’s coldness. There was something about him she didn’t like. She studied him closely as he fumbled with his specs, relief replacing
concern on his face as he peered at the tiny screen.
    His tone was more annoyed than reassured. ‘I seem to have wasted your valuable time, Chief Inspector.’ He held up the phone. ‘Text message from my daughter.’
    Daniels swore under her breath but was taken aback when Finch suddenly handed her the mobile and rushed from the hall, retching. The chilling message had only six words: I TOLD YOU TO STAY PUT!
Finch was being watched.
Daniels looked around her, waiting for the businessman to resurface. Although elegant, the house
was formal, silent, and bloody cold inside. Dog-leg stairs led up to the floor above, to Jessica’s room and possible clues to whoever was holding her against her will. From the plethora of
art on the walls, she formed the impression that Finch was definitely old money, not new.
    Had his inherited wealth made him a target for blackmail?
    Her eyes fell on the open library door. Beyond it, a portrait of a beautiful young woman hung above a fireplace large enough for a small person to stand up in. Finch rejoined her, looking ashen
but composed. Apologizing for leaving her alone, he offered her something to drink after their long journey south.
    Daniels declined. She had to get on.
    Finch nodded. ‘Of course.’
    ‘Can I call someone for you?’
    Finch shook his head and turned away, pressing a bell-push on the wall, mumbling something she didn’t quite catch.
    ‘I need to keep this.’ Daniels held up his mobile. ‘Do you have another you can use?’
    Finch nodded. ‘It’s obvious they’re watching me. What the hell do they want?’
    The housekeeper arrived in the hall. She hung back, waiting for instructions. Finch ignored her as if she wasn’t there. He was deep in his own dark thoughts. Daniels glanced again at the
portrait in the adjoining room and asked if she might take a look. The library was a magnificent room furnished with antiques and several thousand books. Some of the larger volumes looked ancient.
Daniels figured there would be first editions among them, a treasure trove of history dating back to who knows when.
    On closer inspection, the portrait above the fireplace was stunning. It was painted in oils and mounted in a heavy gilt frame, the like of which Daniels had only ever seen hanging in an art
gallery. It was probably worth a small fortune, as was the exquisite piece of jewellery around the subject’s neck. The artist had signed and dated the portrait not so very long ago, with a
flamboyant
FF.
Making a mental note to follow that up, Daniels asked Finch when the