The Wilds Read Online Free PDF

office, though it was so small that most of them believed it had been a broom cupboard when the office had been a shop.

CHAPTER FOUR
     
     
    Jason Flynn sat at his desk staring at a mass of papers strewn across his desk in no particular order. He was the senior of the two reporters. He stretched in his chair, arching his back and yawning. He was tired; he was overworked. Bob Weston, the editor, had been off sick for the past three weeks, and in his absence Jason had been doing all of the editorial duties as well as his own job. That week, though, had been Hell on Earth; his fellow reporter, Laura Mayburn, had also gone off sick. Now Jason was stuck writing and editing the whole paper pretty much on his own.
    Linda walked in from the front. She was a short, plump woman in her early forties. She gave off an air of friendliness that meant people would often open up to her.
    ‘I’m going to head off home now,’ she said from the doorway.
    Jason jumped at the sound of her voice, he had not noticed her standing there. He smiled at her wearily.
    ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Thanks, Linda. I’ll lock up when I’m done.’
    She looked at him with concern.
    ‘You look so tired lately,’ she said.
    ‘Well, doing my job, the editor’s and now Laura’s is like having three full time jobs. There just aren’t enough hours in the day.’
    ‘You expect too much of yourself,’ she said. ‘No one would blame you for taking a day off. We only publish once a week.’
    Jason shook his head, he knew if he stopped he would probably never start again. He took a sip from the mug on his desk and grimaced as the coffee entered his mouth.
    ‘Cold?’ Linda asked, smiling.
    Jason nodded, spitting it back into the mug.
    ‘I’m not surprised. I did make it for you two hours ago,’ she said shaking her head.
    Jason laughed a little
    ‘Sorry, I forgot about it,’ he said. ‘I’m still working on this story of Altman’s.’
    Linda frowned at him. She loved him like a little brother, but hated the way that he got these ideas stuck in his head. It had been the same when he had gone after Pearce. He had been warned off by so many people, but he just kept chasing until he found what he was looking for. Yes, he’d been right that time, but it had nearly caused him a nervous breakdown trying to prove it. She didn’t want to see him in that state again, especially not with how stressed he was from all the extra work. How could someone as intelligent and down to Earth as Jason believe a nut job like Altman anyway?
    ‘You know that man is a few sandwiches short of a picnic, don’t you?’ she said. ‘His theory is nothing more than a fairytale.’
    ‘Maybe,’ Jason said shrugging. ‘That’s certainly what I thought at first, but just lately...’ He trailed off, either not knowing how to or not wanting to finish his sentence.
    ‘You’re not actually starting to believe him are you?’ Linda asked, the concern evident in her voice.
    ‘Perhaps,’ Jason replied. ‘I mean there are so many cases all over the country, and there is definitely something going on around here. Pearce is hiding something, I’m sure of that.’
    Linda rolled her eyes. There it was, the reason this whole thing had become his new obsession, it was another way to go after Pearce. She didn’t understand what Jason’s vendetta against the policeman was all about, especially with their personal connection, but she suspected it went way back.
    ‘Be careful with Inspector Pearce,’ she said. ‘You’ve crossed him before, and he hasn’t forgiven you for that.’
    ‘Don’t worry about me, Linda,’ he said. ‘I can handle Jon Pearce.’
    They exchanged a knowing smile. They both laughed. It felt good to Jason to laugh. That was why he adored Linda so much, no matter how stressed he was, or how down, she could always manage to raise a smile out of him.
    ‘Do you want me to make you a fresh coffee before I go?’ she asked.
    Jason shook his head.
    ‘No, it’s