Relics by Shaun Hutson Read Free Book Online Page B

‘I remember who you are.’
    ‘I did ask you if I could take a statement,’ he said, almost apologetically. ‘I hope I’m not interrupting anything.’
    She ushered him in, through the hall to the living room. He spotted her notes lying beside the chair.
    ‘I won’t keep you a minute,’ he said. ‘Just a few words about what happened yesterday.’
    She offered him coffee and he accepted gratefully, watching her as she walked barefoot into the kitchen. She was wearing a pair of tight-fitting jeans and a baggy jumper, the sleeves rolled up as far as the elbows. He sat down on the sofa and loosened his tie as Kim returned with the coffee and settled herself in the chair opposite, one leg drawn up beneath her.
    ‘I’m sorry to bother you at home,’ he said. ‘but this won’t take long.’
    He had the questions prepared and as she answered them he scribbled a few notes down. Just routine, so to speak. Tying up loose ends. All part of the job, Wallace told himself. He closed the notebook again and pocketed it as Kim went to refill the coffee mugs.
    ‘I gather that what you found was important,’ he said, sipping his drink. ‘At least Mr Cooper gave that impression.’
    ‘Yes, it is important. He thinks it’s the biggest site of its kind to have been discovered this century, if you take into account the underground passages. At first we thought there were just two, but it’s like a honeycomb down there. Those tunnels could stretch for miles. There’s a lot of work to be done. It’s a pity we won’t have time to finish it.’
    Wallace looked puzzled but Kim explained what Cutler had said earlier.
    ‘Charles isn’t very happy at the prospect of the dig being closed down. None of us are,’ she told him, ‘but there’s nothing we can do if Cutler makes his mind up.’
    ‘This is going to sound like a cliché,’ he said awkwardly, ‘but you’re not exactly my idea of an archaeologist.’
    Kim laughed and the sound seemed to brighten the room. Wallace returned her smile, his eyes held by her attractive pale blue ones.
    ‘What would you say if I told you that you don’t look like a policeman?’ she said. ‘You look too young. And, by the way, the photo on your I.D. card is lousy. It doesn’t even look like you.’
    It was his turn to laugh.
    They sat in silence for a moment, then Wallace got to his feet and announced that he had to go.
    ‘Thanks for the coffee,’ he said as Kim led him to the front door. ‘And the compliment.’ He smiled.
    ‘I hope that next time we talk it’ll be for different reasons,’ she said, her eyes sparkling in the twilight.
    He nodded, thanked her again and walked out to his car.
    Wallace heard the door close behind him but he didn’t look round. Had he done so he might well have seen the small figure of Clare Nichols standing at one of the bedroom windows looking down at him.

 
     
     
     
Thirteen
     
    The vein pulsed thickly, looking like a bloated worm nestling beneath the skin. It swelled even more as the youth tugged harder on the piece of material wrapped tightly around the top of his arm. He opened and closed his fist, watching as the bulging vein fattened almost to bursting point.
    It was then that he inserted the hypodermic needle.
    The steel needle punctured the blood vessel and the lad pushed it deeper, his thumb depressing the plunger of the hypo, forcing the liquid into his body. He drained the last dregs then pulled the needle free, ignoring the small spurt of blood which accompanied its exit from his flesh. He pulled off the tourniquet and clenched his fist, raising his arm up and down from the elbow.
    Gary Webb sank back on the leather sofa, his body quivering slightly, but there was a blank smile on his face as he handed the needle to the girl who sat beside him. She watched him for a moment. The veins in his thick bull neck were throbbing and his muscular chest heaved contentedly. He looked at her, watching as she inspected the crook of her own