Dark Heart Surrender by Lee Monroe Read Free Book Online

slinking through Luca’s legs. Any minute now it would sense the animal in Luca and arch its back, hostile and threatened. But Luca was clearly losing his touch because the cat remained affectionate. Luca looked down to see two of the creature’s paws resting on his boot, its face upturned, meowing in greeting.
    Luca half smiled, unsure whether to be glad or slightly offended that he was no longer considered dangerous. He reached out a finger to stroke the cat’s neck, both of them enjoying the comfort they offered each other.
    Luca considered throwing the necklace in the trash and forgetting about it. There could be any number of explanations. It could be rat’s blood, anything. But that didn’t explain the bright sheen to the silver. It had to have been left there recently.
    He heard the sound of the van pulling into the open yard out front, relieved that Pete was back. Quickly he dropped the necklace back in the plastic bag, stuffing it away in his pocket again.
    The cat fled, knowing Pete had little patience or affection for it. Luca felt half sorry to see it go.
    ‘Tea still hot?’ Pete called, pushing open the door. ‘I’m parched.’
    ‘You were quick.’ Luca stood up.
    ‘Wrong day. Got five minutes down the road before I remembered.’ The old man shook his head. ‘Old age, you see, the memory starts letting you down.’
    ‘I’ll make more tea,’ said Luca. He went through to the tiny kitchen and put the water on to boil. He inspected the array of tea on the shelf above the hob. There was nothing resembling the ground-up leaves that Henora prepared and kept in a stone jar in the kitchen back home.
    Home. Luca took a deep breath. This was his home now. This was his life.
    Pete had turned the radio on low and Luca heard the soft murmur of the announcer’s voice, then some music, the kind that Pete liked: blues, quiet drums. Luca had grown to quite like it too.
    ‘Getting thirsty out here,’ Pete called dryly. ‘What you doing, boy? Growing a tea plantation?’
    Luca smiled to himself, adding milk to Pete’s mug and leaving his own black. He carried the tea out and set it down on the table, sitting on a stool and cradling his mug between his hands.
    ‘Has anyone been out there – to the training ground?’ he asked, breaking the soothing silence.
    Pete glanced up from some documents he was looking at.
    ‘Only us.’ He held eye contact with Luca. ‘Why?’
    Luca hesitated. ‘I found something last time, on the ground.’
    ‘I imagine so,’ Pete raised an eyebrow. ‘Plenty of rusting equipment—’
    ‘No. It was jewellery. A chain … a necklace … a woman’s chain.’ Luca swallowed. ‘It was lying in blood.’
    Pete’s eyebrows rose subtly, questioning. He didn’t speak, waiting for Luca to go on.
    ‘Fresh blood,’ Luca finished. He picked up his mug and drank some tea.
    Pete remained silent for a few seconds longer before finally drawing in a breath and twisting his mouth to come up with a proper response. Animal,’ he said finally. ‘Must have been a wild animal. A dog, or a fox, or something.’ He sniffed, ready to drop the subject.
    ‘A fox?’ Luca’s memory stirred. The conversation with the Jonases the night before came back to him. ‘Of course. Yes, but …’
    Pete smiled. ‘But what?’
    ‘I don’t understand how the blood could be fresh. There must have been someone there – nearby … The blood was sticky. Blood dries quickly, Pete.’
    ‘Well, it probably came from the animal. Cutting itself on some bit of sharp old metal in there. A nail … anything.’ Pete sighed. ‘Why would you think it was anything suspicious.’
    Because I am trained to think like that , Luca thought. I see danger everywhere .
    Instead he forced himself to look sheepish, embarrassed for overreacting.
    ‘I don’t know. I suppose it’s that place.’ He shook his head, picking up his mug again. ‘It has that effect on me.’
    ‘Well, don’t let it. We have to get on with the job.