The Broken Shore Read Online Free PDF Page A

he’d actually combed his hair, although it was hard to tell from the sandy fuzz on top of his head.
    “Have you got a mistress or something, Liam? Only the last time you combed your hair was on your wedding day. Danni told me.”
    Liam’s guffaw was so loud they probably heard it on the thirteenth floor. When it stopped he wagged a thick finger in her face.
    “Let’s have a little respect for your acting boss, madam. I’ll have you know I’m off up north to help out on an important case.”
    “So the fact that it involves the ACC has nothing to do with your hair, I suppose?”
    A stifled laugh behind him made Liam turn, just in time to see Davy Walsh, their young analyst, drop down behind his desk. He wagged his finger again.
    “Now there’s a man who could do with a comb. I thought you had the weekend off, Davy?”
    Davy stood-up and wandered over, tossing his black Emo locks back dramatically from his face. He looked like an Armani model and Nicky said so. When he’d first joined the squad eighteen months before he’d been so shy that he’d stuttered relentlessly. Now he teased Liam with the rest of them, his stutter now only occasional, on ‘s’ and ‘w’, and often used to best effect.
    “I could lend you s…some of my hair wax, Liam. It would smooth out that frizz.”
    Liam looked genuinely shocked. “What frizz? I’ll have you know they’re my family curls. I was born with bright red ringlets according to my Mum and this is what’s left.”
    “That’s something to be thankful for, then.”
    Liam threw Nicky a look so pained that they all laughed again.
    “W…what’s the boss up to in Portstewart, Liam?”
    “Dead girl, found on the beach. Nasty business. Anyway, it’s not your problem. Didn’t you and Maggie have plans for the weekend?”
    “No, just for yesterday. She’s gone to her Mum’s in Scotland for a few days, so I’m going to catch up on my computer games.”
    Nicky leaned in conspiratorially. “Her mother is ACC Trainor. That’s why Liam’s combed his hair.”
    “W…whose mother? Maggie’s?”
    “Keep up, Davy. The victim’s mother is ACC Trainor.”
    “S…seriously? I didn’t think she was married.”
    Nicky smiled at him in a way that said she wanted to pat him on the head. “You sweet old fashioned thing, Davy Walsh. Lots of parents don’t get married nowadays.” She pursed her lips disapprovingly. “Although they should. Selfish, thoughtless…”
    Liam interrupted before she launched into a moral lecture. “She’s married to Hugh Trainor, the politician. He’s an MLA with the Energy Party.”
    Davy whistled. “He’s richer than God too. His family own all those pubs up the Lisburn Road.”
    “Then she should work for free.”
    Nicky had her arms folded now and Liam could tell she was winding herself up for a rant. The boss could handle her when she started but he always got flustered and gave in for a quiet life. Time to leave. He walked across the office throwing a wave back over his head.
    “Tell Annette I’ll call her later and be sure to give her that list.”
    Nicky yelled at his back. “I hadn’t finished, Liam Cullen.”
    He kept on walking, saving his riskiest comment for when he reached the exit to the lift.
    “That’s why I’m leaving. I was afraid you never would.”
    He slipped through the glass doors expecting something to hit him, then jumped into the lift and prayed it moved faster than Nicky did.
    ***
    Craig sat opposite Melanie Trainor while Andy stood, almost to attention, by the door. John had hovered for a moment then chosen a spot at the end of the sofa where she sat. It was a challenging situation for all of them, although it shouldn’t have been. She was a victim’s mother first and foremost, and they should treat her that way. Her job didn’t provide a shield from the pain of loss, so why did they have to keep reminding themselves of that?
    Craig stared at her, watching as her hands curled and uncurled as if they