TWO
Detective Constable Morgan Brookes was curled up on the sofa. She’d moved it into the bay window in the front room so she could watch and listen to the storm whilst reading the latest instalment of her favourite Detective Josie Quinn series by Lisa Regan. Ben had bought her the paperback as a surprise, and she had come home from a relatively peaceful day at work to hide under a throw and read.
‘That’s some storm, are you not scared you’ll get struck by lightning? I mean you may as well have pulled the sofa out into the front garden to watch it.’
‘No, I love it so much – and that’s not a bad idea.’ Ben looked horrified.
‘Don’t you dare go sit out there, Morgan, I mean it. Last thing we need is for you to get taken out by a bolt of lightning and all that would be left is your Docs.’
Morgan laughed. ‘What a way to go though, and it would be the boots that saved me, have you seen how thick the rubber soles are? You know what I’d really like?’
‘I’m scared to ask.’
‘A huge wraparound porch, like they have in all the movies, where they have rocking chairs and can sit and drink iced tea inthe summer, then watch all the thunderstorms without getting wet. It would be so lovely, we could have a rocking chair each and curl up under warm blankets whilst the storm raged around us.’
Ben was shaking his head. ‘I do sometimes doubt your sanity, or maybe you read too many books that fill your head with wild ideas.’
Morgan thought about throwing her book at him then decided against it; she didn’t want to lose her page. ‘I get it from my aunt Ettie; she loves storms too. It’s a wild, witchy woman thing you know, embracing the power of nature and finding beauty in it.’
‘Ah, yes. I forgot all about your witchy heritage. How is Ettie? I haven’t seen her for too long.’
‘She’s good, busy with her herbal teas and remedies. She still hasn’t forgiven you for arresting her, but at least she didn’t hex you.’
His eyes were so wide she thought they might pop out of their sockets.
Changing the subject he asked, ‘Are you hungry?’
Morgan stretched and before she could answer, Kevin, their adopted cat, popped his head out from under the throw, where he was curled up next to her, and miaowed.
‘I wasn’t talking to you, Kevin, you’re always hungry.’
Laughing, Morgan nodded. ‘He’s right, Kev, you eat way too much. Yes, I’m hungry, Ben, what are we having for tea?’
‘Can’t be bothered cooking, do you fancy a takeaway?’
‘I fancy anything.’
‘Does that include me?’
‘It always includes you. Should we get Thai?’
Ben’s phone began to ring at exactly the same time as hers, and they groaned in unison.
‘No way.’ Morgan ignored hers, but Ben was not just her partner but also her boss. He could not have the pleasure of not answering this one.
‘Matthews.’
She couldn’t hear the conversation, but she knew from Ben’s tone of voice and head nodding that they were being called out. She glanced out of the window at the dark sky and rain. The thunder had eased a little. Just an occasional grumble in the distance, and a random flash of brilliant white light as it streaked across the sky. He hung up.
‘Cops went to an abandoned nine nine nine call and found a woman with a fatal throat injury in an empty hotel in Keswick.’
Morgan sat up. ‘Oh Lord, bless her. What was she doing there in a thunderstorm?’
‘Security guard doing her rounds.’
A tight knot began to twist inside of Morgan’s stomach; she stood up leaving Kevin looking disgruntled.
‘Suspicious?’
