Deadly Deceit by Mari Hannah Read Free Book Online

hairy arms
under a running tap, which he expertly turned off with his right elbow. He dried his hands and pulled down the sleeves of his scrubs.
    His findings were conclusive and said with confidence.
    ‘Cause of death, smoke inhalation and nothing more. No evidence that either victim has sustained any pre-mortem injuries. I’m sorry, Kate. That’s all there is. There is
absolutely no evidence here to suggest an attempt to hide or disguise an alternative cause of death.’

16
    M inding the gap between the platform and the step-board, a tall redhead entered the first-class carriage of the 13.28 Newcastle to King’s Cross train with only one minute
to spare. A young male porter showed her to her seat. He smiled, handed back her ticket, and wished her a pleasant journey, then scurried off with a big fat tip burning a hole in his pocket.
    The redhead sat down, conscious of eyes turned in her direction.
    An attractive man followed her on: white shirt, red tie, good watch. Removing his jacket, he hung it on the peg provided, then took the seat opposite, his nose twitching as he picked up her
scent, a smile playing on his lips that said:
I ’d like to fuck you right there in your seat
.
    She smiled at him with her eyes as well as her mouth.
    He took out a MacBook and began work, concentration etched on his face. She wondered how long he could keep up the pretence. As a little girl she’d always been the centre of attention,
always been told that she was special. Too special for her own good, her mother used to say; a comment that was usually accompanied by a good hard slap.
    She settled back for the boring journey south, leafing through magazines and then staring blankly out the window at the lush green countryside, the occasional church steeple in the distance, a
row of terraced houses close to the track, unsettled by thoughts of her unhappy childhood. A ticket inspector interrupted her reverie before they reached Durham, where three Japanese men boarded
the train, one wearing a face mask like they do in Tokyo.
    Takes all kinds.
    ‘Any refreshments, Madam? Sir?’ a young woman asked as they got going again.
    She ordered coffee and her admirer did the same. Someone close by ordered lunch. The redhead’s hunger had nothing to do with food. The man opposite looked up, the sexual chemistry between
them now crystal-clear. She moistened her lips, allowing her tongue to linger a little longer than was necessary. It worked every time. The guy was practically drooling.
    Melting under her gaze, he loosened his tie, placed his hands on his laptop to make out he was working.
Pushover.
He was hers for the taking. And there was still a whole two hours and
– she glanced at her watch – forty-eight minutes to go until they reached their destination.
    Her phone rang.
    Saved by the bell.
    She took the call but didn’t speak. ‘Is everything OK?’ the Cypriot said.
    ‘Why wouldn’t it be?’
    ‘Any problems, you bail.’
    ‘Relax, I told you the matter is in hand.’
    The redhead hung up, looking back at her new friend. Shame she had better things to do today than having sex with a stranger, albeit a very attractive one. In just under four hours, she’d
enter the lion’s den and face the most important meeting of her entire life. Question was:
could she pull it off?

17
    I t was getting on for two as they left the morgue. Carmichael’s phone rang, a request from Gormley that they stop and pick up Dene’s Deli sandwiches on the way back
to the incident room. When they got there, Daniels went to brief their guv’nor while Carmichael handed out refreshments to the team. But she was picking at her lunch when the DCI
returned.
    ‘OK, you lot. Mobiles off!’ she said. ‘Hank and I are expected elsewhere.’
    Daniels sat down, surrounded by core members of the squad, all eyes turned in her direction. Hank Gormley took a seat by her side, directly opposite DC Andy Brown. Andy was mid twenties, built
like the scrum