A Deadly Imperfection: Calladine & Bayliss 3 by HH Durrant Read Free Book Online Page B

day.’
    ‘He’ll have some time wasting occupation to fill the hours, Ruth – believe me.  Who was he on about – who is DI Greco?’
    ‘Some hotshot detective new to the area and stirring things up at Oldston nick from all accounts.  He sounds okay.’
    ‘Imogen should contact him – tell him her theories, it all sounded very plausible to me.’
    ‘There’ll be a free parking space by the Library, the shop is just around the corner,’ Ruth advised.
    ‘Is she scary?’
    ‘Don’t be daft, Guv.  She runs a shop not a coven and she’s nice.  I’m sure she’ll help, if she can.’
    The shop was called ‘Moonbeams’.  It was small, packed with all sorts of weird stuff Calladine didn’t recognise but it smelled divine.
    ‘The smell is jasmine – from the incense.’   The female owner said as she watched the detective inhale deeply.  She laughed in a gentle, melodic way, ‘relaxing, isn’t it.  You should try some at home, Inspector,’ she suggested, her bright blue eyes twinkling with amusement.
    Calladine had just been about to proffer his badge but instead retracted his hand from his pocket, puzzled.  ‘How do you know I’m police,’ he asked.
    ‘Because I live locally, and I’ve seen you about,’ she told him.  ‘It’s not magic, it’s just community knowledge.’ There was more twinkling of those incredible eyes.
    So she’d noticed him – Calladine wasn’t sure if he should be flattered or not.  She was an attractive woman, mid forties, tall with a full, voluptuous figure, long sable coloured hair and the bluest eyes he’d ever seen.  Calladine stood stock still and did nothing but stare at her for a good few seconds.  There was something mesmerising about the woman – not just the looks, the whole package.  Her mode of dress was what he’d describe as bohemian, or was it simply aging hippy?  He shook himself – what on earth was going on?  He only just clapped eyes on the woman and he was transfixed.  He had Lydia at home, and although he’d never put it to the test – he had her down as the jealous type.
    ‘Amaris Dean,’ she smiled a dazzling smile, and offered him her hand. 
    ‘Amaris?’  He repeated in practically a whisper, still puzzled.  He’d never heard a name like it.
    ‘Moon child – it’s my Wicca name,’ she explained.
    More stuff he didn’t understand.  He’d have to let it go, he certainly didn’t have the time to get dragged in.  Something told him this woman was dangerous.  And not because she might possess some weird occult power either, but because she was the type who had the ability to play havoc with his libido!
    ‘Can you help us with these?’  He asked, clearing his throat and getting his mind back on track before pulling the cards from his coat pocket.
    ‘Ah, from the pack you bought here,’ she smiled at Ruth.
    ‘You have two very powerful cards there, Inspector.  She noted as he held them in his hand.
    ‘They were both found at murder scenes – this at the first,’ he said holding out the Tower, and this at the second.  I need some help to understand what they mean.’
    She walked closer, Calladine was aware of her scent - it was heady like the incense.   Part of him was praying she didn’t come too close – he was already sweating.
    ‘The problem is that people tend to take the images literally.’
    Her voice had depth – it was sexy.  Calladine’s mind was suddenly elsewhere as he wondered what that voice would sound like whispering sweet nothings to him in the bedroom.  Damn the woman, he hadn’t reacted to one like this since Lydia.
    ‘Granted the Tower is bad news – it’s that sudden catastrophic event that changes lives for ever.  It’s the event that shapes the rest of our lives for good or ill.  The Devil too, is not a good card.   If it falls in a reading then I take it to mean that the Querant is under the influence of wickedness of some form.   But as we know, Inspector, wickedness