Last Rites by Neil White Read Free Book Online Page B

Laura's response. ‘They were Sarah Goode's parents.’
    Laura didn't react at first. Then I saw her eyes widen.
    ‘The teacher wanted for murder?’
    I nodded slowly.
    ‘Jack, what are you playing at?’
    ‘Nothing. That's why I'm telling you.’
    ‘What did they want?’
    ‘In an ideal world, to turn the clock back,’ I answered. ‘But as they can't, they want me to find their daughter.’
    ‘Why? Do they think she is innocent?’
    ‘I don't know. Perhaps they just want to stop her from doing something stupid.’
    ‘But why you?’
    I gave a small smile. ‘I'm cheaper than a private detective. If there is a story in it, I'll do the research. They just want to find their daughter.’
    ‘But why go through Sam Nixon?’
    I didn't answer that. I knew that Laura would work it out as quickly as I had.
    ‘They want you to find her so that they can bring her in on their terms,’ she said. ‘They want to get her story straight.’
    ‘Maybe. I just don't know,’ I said. ‘But they know that Sarah is in trouble and so went to a defence lawyer first.’
    ‘So why are you telling me?’ said Laura, and she pulled her fingers away again.
    ‘What's wrong?’ I asked.
    Laura looked into her coffee for a few seconds, and then she said, ‘I've put my career on hold for Bobby, to make sure he stays with us. I'd even give it up completely for him, if I had to, but you won't even give up a story.’
    ‘It's not like that,’ I protested. ‘It won't affect the custody case, because it won't go to print for a long time, at least until after she is convicted.’
    ‘So why are you telling me, if it won't affect anything with Bobby?’ she asked.
    ‘Because if I'm being used, someone else is in control of what happens, and I don't like that. So I want you to tell the murder team what I'm doing. They won't like it, but if I find out where she is before they do, I'll tell them.’
    Laura folded her arms. ‘Have you met the murder team?’ When I shook my head, she continued, ‘They've been strutting around the station ever since Luke's body was found. We're just the small-town hicks who can't cope, waiting to be saved by headquarters, and you're worse than that, because you're not in the job. All you'll do is antagonise them if you get in the way.’
    I raised my eyebrows. ‘You don't sound pleased with them.’
    Laura sighed. ‘I'm just bored, Jack. I didn't join the police to process prisoners. I joined it to solve crimes, as corny as it sounds.’
    ‘So maybe you know how I feel?’
    I saw her soften, felt her fingers grip mine again.
    ‘The judge isn't going to give Geoff custody of Bobby just because you're good at your job,’ I said.
    Tears flashed into Laura's eyes. She took a deep breath. ‘We've been through this too many times now,’ she said, ‘and I know that nothing is dead certain in a courtroom. I'm not taking that chance.’
    When I didn't respond, she added, ‘You're going to get involved, though, aren't you?’
    ‘I think it's worth a look.’
    Laura thought about that for a few seconds, and then she stood up to go. ‘I've got to get back to work,’ she said.
    ‘Laura?’
    ‘You'll do what you want to do, Jack,’ she said wearily. ‘You always do.’
    And then she went.
    I saw the waiter looking at me when I turned around. He shrugged. I didn't have a response to that. Instead, I watched Laura disappear out of view, her head down, and I thought that she looked a long way from home.

Chapter Twelve
    Sarah was kneeling on the floor, her hands over her ears, the deep bass of the heartbeats booming out of the speakers making her dizzy, her own heartbeat keeping time. Then the speakers went quiet.
    She paused for a moment, relished the silence, but when she heard the bolt slide on the door, she scuttled back against the wall.
    He walked slowly into the room, the black hood silhouetted against the lights from the ceiling. For a moment, Sarah saw the gap behind him, the way out, but as he got