The Grass Tattoo (#2 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) by Catriona King Read Free Book Online Page B

called you since Sunday?”
    “Yes, Mr Leighton he call every day, and Mrs Leighton she call when she reach Mama, Sunday night-time.”
    “Not since then?”
    The girl shook her head once, firmly. Irene Leighton had last called home nearly seventy-two hours before. Annette thought of her own children - no mother would leave their child that long with anyone without calling. Not unless something was stopping her.
    “Weren’t you surprised that she hadn’t called?”
    “Her Mama sick.”
    The girl’s eyes clouded unexpectedly at the mention of...what? Mrs Leighton? No, she’d mentioned her before. Her mother? Yes, she looked sad about Mrs Leighton’s mother. Annette made a mental note to interview her next and turned back to Kaisa. She was still talking in her high, light accent.
    “Mr Leighton call, and I call him. He tell me take Ben to his parents for few days, so I take him Monday. There was no worry.”
    She smiled down at the toddler by her side, in what seemed like genuine fondness. “Ben and I have fun, we go to park. We go for burger and chip.”
    Very few chips in your case, Annette thought ruefully.
    ***
    Liam was loping back across the squad just as Annette returned from her interview, and by the look of him she’d had the better deal. Craig met them in the middle of the open-plan floor, beckoning both of them and Davy into his office for a briefing.
    As usual, Liam and Davy took the walls. Liam for comfort, his six-feet-six making standing easier than sitting in low chairs, and Davy in imitation, always copying the cops, but preferring the safety of his high-tech computers. Annette sat-down opposite Craig at the desk and dropped her enormous handbag by her feet. He wondered idly what she kept in there. What did any woman? It was more than his life was worth to ask.
    “OK, where are we?”
    As he asked the question, he rose to make coffee, holding the glass percolator out in silent offer, answered by three quick nods.
    “Liam?”
    Liam ran a large freckled hand down his face and sighed. “Absolutely nowhere, boss, as far as I can see.” He paused for a moment before continuing. “I just checked on Leighton and he’s crying again. Can’t we let him go home?”
    Annette looked at him, surprised, it had sounded remarkably like sympathy, not something that Liam was known for. He caught her look and continued quickly, correcting her assumption with macho defensiveness. “He’s blocking the relative’s room and drugs want it.”
    She hid her smile as Craig continued. “Did he say anything more?”
    “Not a dicky-bird. Either he’s a brilliant actor, or he’s genuinely upset. He fell apart at the lab when the Doc said how she died.”
    Craig stopped mid-pour, thinking. “When exactly did he fall apart, Liam, really fall apart? Was it when he knew it was his wife, or when John told him how she’d died? It’s important.”
    Liam knew what he was getting at and he had noticed, but he hadn’t registered its importance at the time.
    “When he saw her face he went a bit pale and there were a few tears, quiet ones like. But when the Doc told him about the note and tattoos...”
    Annette leaned forward, shocked. “She had tattoos, a lady like Irene Leighton?”
    Liam turned to her, half-amused. “Not the tramp-stamp type.”
    Now Craig was puzzled. “What’s a tramp-stamp, when it’s at home?”
    “You know those ones women get on their lower backs, flashing them when they bend over, trying to look cool.” He snorted. “Mostly middle-aged housewives as far as I can see.” He paused and then grinned cheekily. “Here, Annette, have you got one?”
    She bristled immediately. Craig wasn’t sure if it was being called middle-aged that did it, or solidarity for women everywhere, but before he could admonish Liam, Annette had let rip, taking them all by surprise. Their mild rivalry had definitely been increasing lately.
    “And you’re the arbiter of good taste now, are you? Who died and made you