Crow Bait by Douglas Skelton Read Free Book Online Page B

Joe’s death and how he had ended up in prison in the first place, but to get the answers he needed to be free. Even without the additional blemishes on his record, parole was out of the question as he would never admit to having attacked Donald Harris, and that was a prerequisite. He knew he would serve his full term.
    But when he got out, he’d find the answers.
    *  *  *
    Audrey was at home watching TV when Les returned home from the backshift. She was ready for bed, sitting in the big, soft armchair she loved so much, legs tucked underneath her, wearing a t-shirt and a pair of tracksuit bottoms, sipping a mug of hot chocolate. It had been a habit to which her father had introduced her, hot chocolate before bed, and she’d never stopped it. Les thought it cute and girlish. She heard him drop his keys in the glass bowl on the table in the hallway of their flat and then he stepped into the living room. He was not surprised to see her still up. She always waited up for him: even when he was on nightshift she was generally already out of bed to greet him, unless he was late and she had to get to work.
    He crossed the room, leaned in and kissed her on the mouth. It was a long kiss because she reached up with her free hand and cupped the nape of his neck, pulling him tighter against her. When they finally broke he straightened again and smiled. He asked, ‘You done something wrong or are you just glad to see me?’
    She smiled. ‘Can’t a girl kiss her husband hello?’
    ‘I dunno. You don’t normally kiss me like that when I get home. You been drinking?’
    She gave him a stern look. ‘You’re taking all the romance out of this. You’re not in an interview room now, Detective Constable Les Fraser.’
    He raised an eyebrow. ‘All the romance out of what?’
    She laid the mug she was holding on the coffee table beside the armchair and stood up, stepping closer to her husband, looking into his face. He was very handsome, even when he was tired and unshaven. Brown hair, brown eyes, a kind smile showing strong, even teeth. He was slightly taller than her so she stood on her toes to reach him as she kissed him again, both hands framing his face, her tongue moving between his lips. His hands snaked round her waist and under her t-shirt to caress the flesh of her back and side.
    ‘To what do I owe this pleasure?’ He breathed.
    ‘Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth,’ she said as she took his hand and led him to the bedroom.
    Later, as he slept, she reflected on why she had been so intent on sex that night. She enjoyed it as much as the next woman, as long as the next woman wasn’t some raving nympho. She particularly enjoyed it with Les but he was right, she did not often come on that strong. It wasn’t uncommon for her to initiate proceedings when, as Les had pointed out, she had a drink in her. But tonight was different. Tonight she felt that she had to have him, had to be close to him, had to feel his hands on her and feel him inside her. She told herself she didn’t know why. She told herself she just suddenly felt horny. She told herself she loved her husband and she wanted him. She told herself all that and some of it was even true.
    But she knew what caused her need. Barc had raised memories. Jinky – Donald Harris – had planted them firmly in her mind. They had stayed with her for two days.
    She knew she was going to see Davie again and didn’t know what kind of feelings that might revive. Her seduction scene tonight was a means of reassuring herself that she not only still wanted Les, but that she needed him. Now she was satisfied. She loved Les. They had their ups and downs, their fights, fall-outs. He didn’t like some of the stories she did and sometimes she didn’t like the way he thought, but they overcame those differences and made a life. He was a kind man, a good man, a dependable man. He was the man she wanted to grow old with.
    But as she drifted off to sleep, it was Davie’s blue eyes