TICK TOCK RUN (Romantic Mystery Suspense) by H Elliston Read Free Book Online Page B

centre sprayed on my chest.  But, once Lee shut the front door I felt safer indoors, as though the walls of my old terraced house could protect me from the horrors I faced, well, at least from being seen.  Everything about my home was as expected, barring one thing.  The table lamp was aglow yet again.  “Damn dodgy switch,” I muttered, clicking it on and off several times. 
    Lee lingered in the doorway. 
    I crossed to him, grabbed his hand and drew him inside.  “Come in.  Sit down.  Make yourself at home.  Sorry about the mess.  Not had much of a chance to clean up recently.”
    “Looks fine to me.  Kind of homely.”
    Yeah, sure, it used to be, I thought, eyeing piles of old letters balanced atop the fireplace, and a can of lemonade and stray papers littering the floor by my desk.  I ignored the mess and glanced at Lee.  A stranger standing in my home.
    Unsure of my next move, but pleased to have someone to share my worries, I wondered why he’d even care about my safety.  A few days ago he didn’t even realise I existed.  How crazy my life had become since the weekend.
    “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, but why do you want to help a total stranger?”  I dropped my handbag on the floor next to my tall vase of twigs wrapped with fairy lights, by the entrance to my kitchen.  “You could just leave.  I wouldn’t blame you.”
    “I didn’t get the chance to help my brother.  Maybe things would be different if I had.  I have to learn to live with that.  But I’m going to help you.”  His voice was slow, but still had punch.  By the way his nostrils flared, I knew he meant it.
    “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”  I knew firsthand how guilt could eat people up inside, because of the death of Laura’s parents.  “I understand.  It’s tough having the nagging ‘what ifs.’” 
    Lee trudged over to the window and stared outside.  “I have to find out why Daryl died.  I won’t rest until I get answers.”
    My mouth felt and tasted like dry sawdust.  I entered the kitchen, flicked the kettle on then returned.  “Sorry, Lee.  Do you mind if I make a quick phone call?”  I presumed Laura would be upset that I’d hung up on her earlier.  If I didn’t call, she’d likely phone me, or turn up at the same time as the police, once I’d called them.
    Still staring out at my back garden, he said, “Go ahead.”
    I fished my mobile out of my bag.
    “Hi, Chelsea,” Laura said in a warm, relieved voice.  “I wondered how long it would be until you phoned.”
    “I won’t be returning to your place tonight.  I’m really sorry, but something’s cropped up.”  I couldn’t worry Laura.  She didn’t deserve any more problems.
    “What’s cropped up?”
    “I’ll tell you another time.  But please, don’t worry.  What did you phone me for earlier?”
    “What did that guy say to you?”
    I tried to sound normal, calm.  “Oh, something about his brother.”
    “What about him?”
    “Later,” I said, looking at the back of Lee’s head.  “I just want to say I’m sorry, and I’m all right.”
    “What did he ask you, Chelsea?”  The warm edge to Laura’s voice disappeared.  “What’s with all the secrecy?”
    “We’ll chat, tomorrow.  But I have to hang up now.  I’m sorry for letting you down yet again.” 
    “It is becoming a habit of yours lately,” she muttered.  “Are you still with... him?”
    Given that I was meant to be keeping Laura company, she didn’t seem too disappointed.  She sounded more interested in Lee. 
    “Yeah.  He’s here.”  I hoped my tone told her not to ask any more.  “Everything’s fine, I swear.  We’ll catch up tomorrow.”
    I ended the call and couldn’t help thinking that the main screw up in my life involved Laura.  The car crash. 
    “I could murder a cuppa,” Lee said, bringing me out of my private thoughts.
    “Daryl wasn’t involved in any car accidents last year, was he?”  I moved to