Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey Book 12), M Comley [world of reading TXT] 📗

She smiled. Carla was right about one thing, Mark was an absolute gem. “Three minutes, give or take. Sorry for postponing our date. I hope there was enough food in the cupboards? What are we having?”

“It’s a surprise. See you soon.”

She ended the call and rotated her head which clicked several times during its rotation. “I could do with a long, hot soak in a bath. No chance of that happening if dinner is ready.”

As she entered the road, she saw Mark standing on the doorstep, holding Misty. He was always there for her—for that, she would be eternally grateful. Not for the first time, she hoped Carla would soon find a love as great as theirs.

7

After a surprisingly restful night’s sleep, Sara got on the road the following morning and was at the station by eight-forty-five a.m. She breezed through the main door with a cheery smile. “Morning, Jeff. Another beautiful day.”

Her smile proved to be infectious because he beamed at her and bowed his head. “And a very good morning to you, ma’am.”

“How was our guest overnight?”

“The night staff reported that all was quiet in that department, you’ll be pleased to know.”

“Good, good. Let me get a double dose of coffee going through my veins and then Carla and I will come down for round two.”

“Sounds like a good plan. He’s been fed and watered. Would you believe he chose porridge for breakfast?”

They both laughed. “Starting as he means to go on, eh? I bet ours tastes better than the one they serve in prison.”

“Maybe that was his intention. To see what the difference was at each establishment.”

Sara sniggered. “We mustn’t mock. Slapped wrists for both of us.”

Carla came through the main entrance. “Morning, anything wrong?”

Sara inclined her head. “Everything is just perfect here, what about you?”

Her partner shot Jeff an uncomfortable look and punched in the number to open the security door without responding. Sara knew then that something was amiss. She followed Carla through the door, and Jeff raised a questioning eyebrow in her wake.

“Carla, don’t walk off, tell me what’s going on,” Sara shouted, trying her hardest to keep up with her.

“I’m fine. Keen to get to my desk and get on with the day ahead.”

“Why don’t I believe you?”

“I don’t know. Maybe you should trust me now and again.”

“Ouch! That was uncalled for. Stop, look me in the eye and swear to me that you’re okay.” Carla’s pace slowed ahead of her, but she refused to face Sara. She caught up and touched Carla’s arm hard enough to make her turn her way. “Carla?”

Tears formed in her eyes, but thankfully remained just there. So much for her day starting out well.

“I’m sorry. I promised myself that I wouldn’t break down in front of you. I’m doing my utmost to adhere to that.”

“Need a conflab in the ladies’?”

Carla smiled. “Not this time. It would be great if you would just allow me to get on with my work today. I’ll get back to you if I need to chat, okay? And no, that’s not me shutting you out. It’s about saving myself from letting the emotions take over when all I’m trying to do is keep them at bay. Is that okay with you?”

“Of course. You know what I say about dealing with an emotional state, don’t you?”

Carla wiped her eyes with the cuff of her jacket and frowned. “No, what’s that?”

“I tend to put it aside until mid-morning, giving the caffeine enough time to work its magic.”

Chuckling, Carla shook her head. “Where would you be without your caffeine?”

Sara gasped. “Don’t, I dread to think. What if some insect came along and wiped out the coffee trees overnight? Can you imagine what state the economy would be in, dealing with people with withdrawal issues?”

“One problem there, I don’t think coffee grows on trees. Maybe you’re not the aficionado you make out to be.”

Sara pulled a face. “It’s bushes or shrubs actually. Anyway, I was testing you, to see if you were awake and with it before we get to work on Zappel.”

Carla raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, right. What time do you want to start on him?”

“I’m in no rush. He’s had breakfast, let him sit and ponder his mistakes for a little while longer. Giving me enough time to sort through the post while downing two cups of coffee. And it doesn’t grow on trees, eh? You live and learn every bloody day, don’t you?”

Sara played along, glad to see her partner’s face crack. My job is done.

After tending to her regular mind-numbing chores and downing the obligatory cups of coffee to ensure her day got off to a good start, Sara returned to the incident room to collect Carla.

“We’re going in for round two, guys. Keep digging, we’re going to need to lay our hands on every last bit of evidence we can find to nail him to the wall.”

“I would have thought we’d have provided you with enough already,” Will muttered.

“While I don’t disagree with you, Will, it’s always good to keep at it, trying to find more.”

“You can count on us, boss. If the evidence is out there, we’ll get our hands on it,” Craig chipped in.

“I don’t doubt it for a second. Carla, are you ready for this?”

“More than ready. I wonder what kind of welcome he’ll be offering us this morning.”

“There’s only one way to find out. I’ve already contacted Jeff, he’s getting him moved to the interview room and the duty solicitor has just arrived. Another reason I needed to delay the interview this morning.”

“Ah, okay. So it wasn’t you trying to work out if I was right or not about the coffee element?” Carla sniggered and left the room.

She chased after her and caught up at the top of the stairs. “Cheeky mare, and no, I haven’t been sitting on my arse, trawling through the internet either, in a quest to see if you were correct.”

“I believe you,” Carla shouted. She raced down