Dead Dog in the Still of the Night Read Online Free Page A

of the whole thing and brush it aside.’ She lowered her voice. ‘We’ve made the bookings, Primo, me and the girls, and we’re going.’
    Before Primo could respond, she added, ‘What happened to you convincing your mum to sell the workshop? Your dad doesn’t work anymore and the place is just sitting there empty collecting dust. There’s a few dollars in the equipment and stuff, even if your mum doesn’t sell the actual building, you said, remember?’
    Primo rubbed his palms together. ‘Mum won’t sell any of it,’ he said.
    ‘Fine, but I’m going, Primo,’ Maddie snarled, her eyes narrowed, her chin poked out defiantly. ‘And whatever happens after that.’ Maddie shrugged, stepping back and pouting. ‘You’re so full of shit sometimes, Primo! You just keep promising but you mean nothing! I don’t know what I ever saw in you!’
    Primo lunged as though he would grab Maddie, but she side-stepped and pointed a finger at him accusingly. ‘You’re never going to grow up are you, Primo? It’s always going to be “poor Primo”, isn’t it? Well, I don’t need that crap!’
    Maddie stomped away a short distance.
    ‘Hey,’ he tried in a whisper, willing her to turn away from the view and look at him.
    But Maddie didn’t turn around. Primo stood there, dumbfounded.
    ‘I took Bambino out for you,’ Primo hedged, trying a different tack. He brushed a hand over the bonnet. ‘I’m not supposed to, but for you.’
    Maddie turned and stormed toward him.
    ‘For me? You’ve got to be kidding! What do I care about your precious retro car. Are you serious?’
    Primo felt anger ignite deep inside him. Retro car!
    ‘Get in the car,’ he said flatly.
    Maddie gave him the finger.
    ‘I’m not joking, Maddie. Get in the car and I’ll take you home,’ Primo pressed. He was standing by the passenger side door now, his hand on the handle. ‘Stop being a drama queen and get in the car.’
    ‘I’d sooner walk.’
    Primo opened the car door slowly, stepping back and waving to usher Maddie inside the confined canopy. ‘Get in,’ he repeated.
    Maddie snorted.
    ‘Last chance,’ Primo said, his chest tensing, his fingers tight on the handle.
    Maddie didn’t move and reluctantly Primo slapped the door shut, walked round and opened the driver’s side door. He stood for a moment, resting his elbow on the door’s rim.
    ‘I don’t want this, Primo,’ Maddie said. ‘I don’t want to fight like this, but you’ve let me down.’
    Primo’s certainty collapsed. He climbed in and turned the ignition. The engine started with a spurt, and the tiny car hopped forward. Primo engaged reverse and gunned the accelerator. Too hard. The engine stalled.
    ‘Get in, Maddie!’ he yelled and turned the ignition again. He punched the dashboard with his left hand, willing the car to fire.
    Primo looked up and saw Maddie take several steps back to the edge of the road, her face betraying her surprise at hearing the growl of the car’s engine so close.
    He felt the car rev and engaged first gear. The screech of gravel under the tyres cut the sound of the baying engine in half, and the car leapt forward. In a moment the tail swung around to the left, the car’s rear hiccupping round and sweeping so close to Maddie that Primo heard her draw a panicked breath.
    ‘You’re a prick, Primo!’ she yelped.
    Primo gritted his teeth. Drama queen, he thought. He was nowhere close enough to hurt her. He swung the car to the right, bringing the driver’s door within arm’s reach of where Maddie stood, seemingly mesmerised.
    When he laughed, the sound filled the car, echoing and pounding at his ears above the noise of the engine, groaning in protest as Primo pushed it fractionally further than he ought to without changing gear.
    ‘Get in the car!’ he shouted, reaching across to push the passenger side door open. It swung back and kicked against the rear panel.
    Maddie slammed the door shut and thumped the canvas roof with a closed