Missing (The Cass Lehman Series Book 3) by Melanie Casey Read Free Book Online Page A

of us headed back to bed. She curled up and went to sleep. I sat there in a tangle of sheets, staring at the dent Ed’s head had left in his pillow, and wallowed in self-pity.
    Why did relationships have to be so difficult? In the two years I’d known Ed it seemed like we were constantly knocking heads about something or other. Were all couples like that or just us? Maybe it was me? I came with more baggage than average, but then again, so did Ed. The loss of his wife had left more than a few scars.

    In my fantasy life I imagined Ed coming home, tired after a difficult day, and sitting down while I made him a coffee. He told me he’d had some doubts about whether or not he wanted to stay with MCIB. Fantasy me sympathised, and he acknowledged it was a decision we needed to make together. Then we went to bed closer than we’d ever been and had fabulous sex.
    I threw the bedclothes back in disgust. Fantasy Ed and Cass could have the bed to themselves. Jasmine roused herself from the foot of the bed and I headed for the kitchen to make my breakfast and her post-breakfast snack. One of the things I did best when I was upset was eat. Those people who can’t bear the thought of food when they’re stressed clearly didn’t swim in the same gene pool that I did.
    I soothed my soul with an enormous bowl of porridge drizzled with honey and sprinkled with toasted walnuts. If I’d quartered the serving size it could have passed as a healthy breakfast. The bowlful I ate would have been enough for Oliver Twist to have seconds and thirds.
    Feeling slightly better with a full belly, I showered and plunged into two hours of solid work. I even rang the author of the migratory bird saga and talked him through the changes I wanted to make to his life’s work. That conversation was a piece of cake compared to talking to Detective Ed Dyson about his feelings.
    I was back in the kitchen with the kettle on and my head in the pantry when the phone rang. My treacherous heart leapt as I answered, hoping it was Ed.
    ‘Is that Cassandra Lehman?’

    The voice wasn’t familiar. Our number was unlisted, so it couldn’t be someone who had looked me up.
    ‘It is.’
    ‘This is DCI Arnott, Ed’s boss.’
    Fear grabbed my chest and I tried to swallow but couldn’t.
    ‘Yes?’ I croaked.
    He must have heard the fear in my voice.
    ‘Ed’s fine, sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.’
    I sank into a chair and tried to calm the maelstrom in my heart. My voice refused to work.
    ‘Are you still there?’
    I cleared my throat. ‘Yes, I am.’
    ‘I was just wondering if you have any free time today? I have a proposal I’d like to discuss with you.’
    ‘A proposal? About Ed?’
    ‘No, nothing to do with Ed, actually. Are you free for lunch? Maybe I could pick you up and we could talk over a meal. There’s a good Japanese restaurant I’ve been meaning to try. Do you like Japanese food?’
    ‘I haven’t eaten it very often but I like sushi,’ I said. The whole conversation was feeling surreal.
    ‘Excellent. Can I pick you up at noon?’
    ‘Sure, why not.’ I wanted to ask him if Ed knew about this, but I couldn’t think of a way to do so without sounding either mistrustful or totally subservient.
    He rang off and I stood there, holding the phone and not moving while I tried to process what just happened. Ed’s bosshad a proposal for me. Was it something to do with keeping Ed in MCIB? I couldn’t imagine why he’d want to talk to me about that. And besides, he’d said it wasn’t about Ed. It had to be about my talent. But from what Ed had told me, Crackers wasn’t a fan of psychics.
    I made my tea and absent-mindedly scoffed a couple of Tim Tams while I contemplated what to do. The sugar fix helped fire up the grey cells. I needed to call Ed and let him know. If he got home and found out I’d been lunching with his boss he’d be like a bear with a sore head. I couldn’t face the thought of a fresh round of non-communication.
    With