The Dead Dog Day Read Online Free PDF

for me. But it isn’t, Cora. Well, I do want some of it, but I want a wife and kids there doing it with me. And I know that’s not what you want, so there’s no point. I’m so sorry, Cora, I know it’s Christmas and everything but I thought, you know, a new year and all that, a clean break …’
    And that was it.
    â€˜Two years down the toilet,’ Cora said to herself. ‘And to be dumped by phone! ’
    She huddled deeper into her duvet, feeling utterly miserable. Lost in thought, she jumped as her mobile began to ring on the bedside table.
    â€˜Hello?’
    â€˜Cora – evening, darling. You OK? Hell of a day, eh?’
    â€˜Sam! You’re not back in the office already? Did you get ANY sleep? So – fill me in! What’s the latest?’
    Justin temporarily forgotten, Cora propped herself up on her pillows, eager for news. The police had allowed her, and all the crew members who’d been down on the studio level at the time of Jeanette’s death, to leave the building by mid-morning, and she had heard very little about the on-going investigation since.
    â€˜Well – as you know, she was found outside, more or less below her office window, and that’s why at first everyone just presumed she’d jumped. I mean – seven storeys up – if you want to kill yourself, it’s pretty much guaranteed, right?’
    â€˜Yes – but then the police said there were signs of a struggle, inside her office, didn’t they? They think somebody threw her out, pushed her. I know all this. What else?’
    â€˜Well … oh hang on, Cora – what?’
    Sam’s voice tailed off as she turned to talk to someone in the newsroom. Cora rolled her eyes and impatiently rearranged her duvet, then grinned as she listened to the distant conversation.
    â€˜A pig? Why would I want a pig on the sofa on Wednesday?’ Sam was saying.
    â€˜Well, it’s that self-sufficiency story – you know, that “New Year, New Start” thing we’re doing after Christmas? We’re previewing it on Wednesday and the woman from the self-sufficiency organisation says she can bring a pig in.’ It was a young male voice that Cora didn’t recognise.
    â€˜Well – how big is the pig? We can’t have a monstrous great pig crapping all over the studio!’ Sam sounded exasperated. ‘Tell her if it’s a cute little piglet, she can bring it in. Otherwise, no pig. Right – Cora – sorry sweetie, what were we talking about?’
    â€˜ Sam ! Come on – we were talking about Jeanette!’ Cora sat bolt upright in bed, eyes bright. She instantly felt guilty about how excited she felt about getting the latest gossip on the case. She’d been deeply shocked by Jeanette’s murder – of course she had – and saddened too, which had come as something of a surprise to her, as she’d wished bad things on her detested boss too many times to count over the past couple of years. But she couldn’t help it – she’d always loved working on crime stories. There was nothing quite like a good murder, even if this time it was a little close to home.
    â€˜Oh, yes – well, according to rumour, the security guard who found her claims she wasn’t quite dead. I mean – she was still alive for a few moments when he reached her. Pretty astounding, considering how far she fell, I would have thought she’d be mush as soon as she hit the ground, but you know Jeanette, tough as old boots. And there was that case last year, of that guy in New York who survived a fall of twenty storeys or something mad like that, remember? Anyway, I digress – this is the intriguing bit. She said something.’
    Cora gasped. ‘What? What did she say? Oh, for goodness’ sake, Sam!’
    Sam paused again. ‘Well – it’s a bit spooky really, considering what happened with Christina and the