The Book of Revenge Read Online Free PDF Page B

him, ‘can I help you?’
    Matt nodded in her direction and headed straight for the back of the store to an open door with a STAFF ONLY sign.
    ‘Hey you can’t go through there.’ The young assistant said.
    Andrew appeared in the doorway; he was clearly suffering the after effects of over indulgence and was cradling a still fizzing mug of alka seltzer. He seemed more annoyed than surprised to see Matt and stepped aside to let him into the back area that served as a stock room and staff sanctuary. ‘What do you want?’ He said, closing the door firmly on Gemma’s curiosity.
    The two men stared at each other in open animosity. Andrew caved in first and moved to the kettle to fill it with water and then switch it on. ‘Coffee?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘What then?’
    ‘James Tate had a gun at his head last night.’
    Andrew paused, a teaspoon of instant Nescafe in his hand. ‘Dead?’
    ‘No. He got lucky. Where were you last night?’
    Andrew put the spoon of coffee in a mug; he added boiling water and stirred. ‘You’re kidding right?’
    ‘I saw you with him at the car park, you pushed him.’
    ‘Misunderstanding. The dick wrote me a ticket. You know what he’s like.’
    Matt moved across the room so that he was very close to the other man. ‘I know what you’re like.’
    Andrew held his ground. ‘Why would I kill James? I’m not the one with the hang ups from the past. If you’re looking for someone with a motive take a look in the mirror.’
    Matt grabbed him by his shirt and slammed him up against the wall. The hot coffee splattered everywhere.
    Andrew cried out as the burning liquid scolded him. ‘Shit! I was at Blades, the Nightclub, you can check…’
    ‘Oh I will.’ He said, stepping back.
    They stared at each other briefly before Matt turned and walked out.

    Back at home, Matt made himself a coffee and sat in the kitchen while he drank it. He turned the TV on and then turned it off again. Day time shows should come with a health warning. But then the alternative was silence and he didn’t like that much either.
    He finished the coffee and headed upstairs. He needed to shower and change before going into the station. An image of Annie came unbidden into his mind, an innocent little girl who stood so close to tragedy. Why had the killer ran off? A killer with a conscience? It could so easily have been two bodies bleeding onto James threadbare carpet.
    Matt reached his bedroom and stripped down to his boxers. Barefoot and disheveled he headed for the bathroom. The door opened as he reached it and Avril came out. She was immaculate, dressed, made up and staring at him with ill-concealed disdain.
    ‘Been drinking?’ it was more of a statement than a question.
    ‘No. Working.’
    She gave him a I don’t believe you and don’t care anyway look as she walked past him. He assumed she was going to work, although he wasn’t sure he could assume anything with her anymore.
    Damp from the shower, with a towel wrapped around his waist, Matt cleaned his teeth. He never was a morning person. His electric toothbrush made a strange whirring sound before it died. With a mouthful of toothpaste and a shortage of patience, he pulled a pack of batteries from the cabinet. He took the last two from the packet and then dropped the packaging into the bin. He missed. Even more irritated he bent down to pick it up and tried again.
    Something caught his eye. He rummaged in the bin and pulled out a spent pregnancy testing stick. The reading was negative. Matt stared at it briefly before chucking it back in with the rubbish. Irritation turned to fury. He span round and punched the door. It seemed to represent the failure of their marriage. He was relieved really and not surprised, they had only managed sex once in the past two months and that was, he was sure, just a guilt shag for his birthday! The marriage was over and a positive pregnancy test now would be a disaster.

Chapter Fourteen
    Two murders and an attempted murder