By a Narrow Majority Read Online Free Page A

years ago now, right after a police rugby match, after their division had just knocked seven bells out of those gits from St Aldates nick.
    His fingers tightened around the telephone receiver as Janine Tyler’s voice suddenly sounded in his ear. ‘Hello?’
    ‘Janine, it’s me. I’ve just sent Hillary off to Lower Heyford – Tangent Hall. There’s been a suspicious death – almost certainly murder. Can you reach Tommy for me and get on over there right away?’
    ‘Sure, lover, consider it done.’ She hung up abruptly, and Mel winced. No loving words for him tonight, it seemed. He put the receiver down and walked restlessly to the window. Orange-coloured streetlights reflected the large car park and the surrounding environs of Kidlington. In the big pane of glass, his reflection showed him a handsome man, dressed in an impeccable suit. A man who should be superintendent himself by now.
    Marcus Donleavy had made no bones about why the man from the Met had been chosen over him to get the jobDonleavy’s promotion had left vacant. Oh, the brass had made all the usual noises about wanting a fresh eye to look things over, and how new blood brought in from outside could only benefit them all, yada, yada, yada. But the truth was, they were uneasy about a DCI being shacked up with a DS in his own team. How could it not affect his decisions when assignments were being meted out, they wondered. And did it really show good judgement on his part to get tangled up with a woman a good ten years his junior in the first place, especially with two divorces already behind him. What did it say for his professional conduct when his private life was such a mess?
    Mel sighed and leaned back against his desk. The simple truth was, if he’d known getting involved with Janine would have blighted his chances for promotion so damned effectively, he’d never have taken that first step and invited her out. But he also knew that he’d been lonely, and that Janine had filled a dull gap in his life. And yet another hard, ugly truth which had to be faced was the fact that he was going to have to dump her. And soon. With Jerome Raleigh proving to be so popular, it was almost a certainty that he’d never get promoted now, if he stayed at Thames Valley. Especially if the high-flying bastard actually succeeded in nailing Fletcher. He’d be the golden boy for now and evermore.
    No, he was going to have to move on – maybe down south somewhere. Sod going north. Devon was nice, or so he’d been told. Hampshire too was possible; Dorset maybe. But wherever it was, he couldn’t arrive at a new nick with a liability like Janine in tow. Not that she’d want to move anyway.
    Mel reached up and pulled off his tie. He didn’t particularly want to go home to an empty house, so he might as well make himself comfortable here. Besides, Hillary would be calling in with a preliminary report soon. He poured himself a coffee, and sat down wearily in his chair.
    He didn’t really want to move, and he resented having to. Thanks to the divorce from his wealthy second wife, he had a beautiful house in an upmarket area in town, and was wellliked and well respected where he was. He felt settled, and until recently, well on the way to climbing the career ladder.
    His chief investigator, Hillary Greene, was a good friend as well as a gem to work with – her success rate was second to none, and he knew for a fact that Marcus had always rated her too. He could leave her to handle this latest murder investigation without a worry, even if the political angle turned it into a hot potato. An old pro, she also knew not to make any office goofs that might land him, Mel, in the shit. Hell, he could even foist that pain in the arse Frank Ross on her and know she’d cope. But who could say who he’d end up with if he moved?
    Still, if he wanted to get ahead, he had no choice. And he wasn’t ready to stagnate just yet.
    But he’d miss all this.
    Of course, Janine would give