A Reason to Kill by Michael Kerr Read Free Book Online Page A

anything or anyone come between them. She had found somebody who appreciated her for who she was and how she looked. Before next week, she would visit Big Girls Boutique in Tottenham and splash out on some sexy bras, panties, and a suspender belt and stockings. Something black or ruby red, and in silk. And she would visit a department store perfume counter. Treat herself to some exotic scent. It was high time she started to enjoy life.
    After daydreaming for a while, Marion wrote a glowing report on Gary, and then left the clinic and drove home to the terrace house in Hornsey where she had been born and which now – since her mother’s death – belonged to her. Gary would have to visit. Maybe even stay over. The future was looking decidedly brighter. Her empty life was suddenly full to overflowing. How she had survived her whole life without someone special in it, she found almost impossible to fathom. But the loneliness was now behind her. It was time to spread her wings and live life to the full. Gary had opened a door, unleashing emotions that she had kept wholly subdued. Emotions that she now knew there was no way she could ignore or contain.
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER SIX

 
    DURING the next forty-eight hours, and having been aided by one or other of the four regular cops who took turns to guard him night and day, Matt had been spared the indignity of the dreaded bedpan. He felt like a geriatric, being helped out of bed, supported, and walked from the bed to the room’s en suite bathroom. Having his leg plastered up to his crotch didn’t help matters.
    On the seventh day, Dr. Lawson gave him the all clear to go home, and also an appointment card for him to attend as an outpatient for check-ups and physio.
    “You’re going to be sore for awhile yet,” Sam Lawson said. “Maybe breaking your leg was a blessing in disguise. It’ll slow you down a bit and make you take it easy.”
    With Tom there to drive him home, Matt was wheel chaired to the main doors of the hospital. If he was going to have another mishap, then they obviously wanted it to happen off the premises.
    “What’s with you and Linda?” Tom asked after he had driven almost halfway to Harrow. “Why did you need me as a taxi driver?”
    Tom always cut to the chase without preamble. Matt was the same, and knew that his boss wouldn’t be offended if he told him to mind his own business. Though he didn’t.
    “She moved out yesterday, Tom. Couldn’t hack it any longer. She would have stayed on to look after me for a week or two, but I figured if it was over, then it was over.”
    “Sorry, Matt. I thought you two were tight.”
    “So did I. She apparently needed more than I was giving. She looked down the road a few years and saw a lot more of the same on the horizon. My getting shot just moved things along. I can’t say I blame her. She deserves better than a bloke who passes through like a lodger. She loves me, maybe too much to hang in for the duration. We talked a lot this last week, while I’ve been a captive audience. Came to the decision that there wasn’t enough common ground to build anything permanent on.”
    “You’ll need a nurse for a while. You’re in no fit state to look after yourself properly, yet.”
    “I’ve seen enough nurses to last me a lifetime. I’ll sleep downstairs. The sofa converts.”
    “Whatever. If you need help, there’ll be a car outside.”
    “I don’t think that’s necessary.”
    “I do. The papers have made you a duck in a shooting gallery. They ran the story of how you were the only survivor of a mini massacre, and slapped your ugly mug all over the front pages.”
    “It was a hit, for Christ’s sake. He isn’t going to worry about one cop. I wasn’t the mark.”
    “The subject isn’t open for debate, Matt. If he thinks you could ID him, he might decide to try and whack you.”
    “If he does, then remember what happened to Tony and Keith outside the safe house. It’s too risky having a cop