Consequences by R. C. Bridgestock Read Free Book Online Page A

happening, he was staring into the shirted chest of the lady’s husband, and was bounced out of the bar like an abusive, drunken teenager.
    ‘Fuck off home. Otherwise you’ll be investigating your own assault, you plain clothes wanker.’ the man shouted.
    Larry wasn’t one for doing as he was told and no way was a ‘wooden top’ going to talk to him like that he thought, as he picked himself up off the gritty, tarmac driveway and dusted himself down.
     

 
     
Chapter Six
     
    Jack Dylan was quick to resume work mode, as he hurriedly got ready to go to court for a bail shout, and Jen was a lot more relaxed arriving home from the Isle of Wight than when they’d left. Immediately after she’d made breakfast she was stuffing clothes into the washing machine, whilst making a mental list for the supermarket.
    Max stretched out on the kitchen floor, moaning contentedly as he watched them mill around him.
    ‘Don’t work too hard,’ Jen shouted to Dylan, as she rushed to catch up with him on his way to the front door. Holidays were okay, but you had to come back.
    ‘I won’t,’ he called over his shoulder in his ‘I know’ tone.
    ‘No, promise me. I’m serious,’ she pleaded, as she stood with him at the open car door. Jen brushed the front of his jacket with the palms of her hands, and stood on her tiptoes for a kiss. Jack smiled and hugged her tightly.
    ‘After the relaxing time I’ve just had on that beautiful Isle, I’m going to find it very hard to get motivated love, never mind working too hard,’ he said as he flopped down into the driver’s seat and wound down the window.
    ‘Good. Love you,’ she said, touching his cheek. ‘I couldn’t bear to lose you Jack.’ Jen’s eyes filled with tears.
    Max’s bark from inside the house broke their gaze. They laughed at him clambering on the settee; watching them from the window seat, he eagerly awaited Jen’s return. She brushed away a tear spilling onto her cheek, which didn’t go unnoticed by Jack.
    ‘You’d better go back in, someone wants to go out for his walk,’ Dylan said, as he watched Jen bite her bottom lip. She nodded and smiled.
     
    Dylan breathed a long sigh of relief as he quickly drove away she nearly had him going there. It had been tough getting Jen to agree to come back with him from the Isle of Wight, and who could blame her. She loved the Island, her birthplace. He was selfish, he knew, but he needed her and he truly meant all the promises he made to her before they left.
     
    The clock chimed eight a.m. as Dylan arrived at the nick. His inbox was overflowing.
    ‘What the fuck?’ he groaned, pulling the paperwork out onto his desk. The least he’d expected was for Larry to have kept up with it.
    ‘Coffee, sir?’ Vicky called cheerily, as she stuck her head round his office door.
    ‘Thank you. I’d love one,’ he said eagerly, as he started to prioritise the paperwork. What the hell had Larry been up to? This stuff hadn’t been touched whilst he’d been away.
    ‘It’s good to have you back, boss,’ said Vicky, strategically placing Dylan’s coffee cup on the corner of his littered desk. Dylan pointed to the pile of work. ’By the look of this lot, it must have been busy whilst I’ve been off, I hope Larry’s looked after you,’ he said, looking down at a report.
    ‘And I thought you knew everything, boss,’ she commented flippantly, as she quietly closed the door behind her.
    I wonder what she meant by that he thought, but was distracted by the phone ringing.
    ‘Jack, its Ralph, I’m sorry, I’m afraid Dawn won’t be in today. She’s feeling a little under the weather, probably something she ate. You know what she’s like. Eats anything,’ he laughed.
    ‘Oh, tell her I’ll manage somehow without her. Just, tell her to get well soon. I hope it wasn’t something you cooked for her or you’ll never live it down.’
    ‘No, no...it’s nothing like that. Thanks Jack...she’ll be back tomorrow, I’m