Dying for Christmas by Tammy Cohen Read Free Book Online Page A

purpose. ‘You could have got us both killed,’ he said.
    I was remembering that hold-up and Travis’ outrage when Dominic suddenly yanked the chain around my ankle, dragging me through the archway before I even had a chance to register what was happening.
    ‘Do you think this is a game, Jessica?’ His face was inches from mine. ‘Am I a figure of fun to you?’
    There was a glint of metal in his hand. The long blade of a flick knife.
    I shook my head, all trace of laughter evaporated away. There was a searing pain in my ankle where the sharp edge of the metal cuff had cut into the skin. Looking down, I saw a trickle of blood disappearing into my stripy sock.
    ‘Now go to sleep, Jessica Gold.’ He snapped the knife shut and slid it into the pocket of his jeans. ‘Tomorrow, as they say, is the first day of the rest of your life.’
    I crawled back into the kennel and curled up, my right leg with the cuff on it slightly straighter than the left. The next day I’d behave differently, I promised myself. I’d do everything he said and win back my blanket.
    That’s how quickly he broke me.
    ‘Really? Is that all you’ve got?’ This time, the voice in my head was both mine and not mine, cutting through the fug of self-pity I’d wrapped myself in. ‘Toughen up, Jessica .’ And now I imagined it was her. Cat Woman. Natalie. Spitting out my name like a term of abuse.

Chapter Ten
    They woke her up at 6.30. This was a big improvement on the previous year where Katy was in their bed at five, shaking her awake, desperate to open her presents.
    ‘Katy wanted to wake you up but I didn’t let her,’ said Rory, and despite her grogginess, Kim felt her heart swell at the pride on his face. He’d grown so much in the last year but underneath the new swagger and slimmed-down physique, he was still the solemn, round-faced baby with the huge brown eyes that followed her around the room as if attached by invisible strings.
    She allowed herself to be led out of bed, aware that Sean was watching her, though making no attempt to follow. In the kitchen, she put the kettle on while the kids bounced around from sofa to kitchen chair to floor and back again, never losing sight of the stockings stuffed with presents by the fireplace.
    A vat of coffee and she’d feel human again.
    ‘Now, Mummy? Can we? Can we?’
    Katy had flung her arms around Kim’s legs and was looking up at her beseechingly.
    ‘You’re the best Mummy ever. I love you to the moon and back.’
    Kim gazed down at her daughter, trying to commit her to memory. The small pointed chin, the curly brown hair that, even at the age of five, she already resented, the over-brimming energy of her.
    If only she could pickle this moment and put it in a jar.
    While the children tore open their presents, Sean wandered in and wordlessly took the coffee she held out to him. He wouldn’t go through with it, she realized. Not now he could see how happy they all were. She stood beside him and hooked her arm around his waist. He flinched momentarily with surprise, but then put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her to him. They watched their children with wonder.
    When the frenzied opening was over, leaving Katy and Rory half spent with adrenalin, surrounded by a sea of debris, Kim broke away from Sean and headed out of the living room.
    ‘Wait. Where are you going?’
    ‘To have a shower and get dressed. I’m due in the office in an hour.’
    ‘You’re still going then?’ His voice was flat, like someone had ironed all the emotion out of it.
    ‘Of course I’m going. They’re expecting me.’
    She held back from explaining yet again how important it was that she show willing. Sean knew how long she’d dreamed of making Detective Sergeant. She’d passed her OSPRE exam back in March but the selection process was painfully slow and ultimately Robertson’s recommendation was what would count with the promotion board.
    Sean’s silence followed her up the stairs like a