Nothing but Meat: A dark, heart-stopping British crime thriller Read Online Free Page A

flowers.
     
     

3
     
    Simone’s phone rang; and when she
answered it she wasn’t surprised to find it was the station commander; her
boss, Carl Jackson. She could imagine how busy they would be.
    ‘You’ve seen the news I take it?’ he
spoke quickly without waiting for reply. ‘I need you to come into work, even if
it’s just to answer the phones. The media are going to be all over us on this
one. It’s all hands on deck.’
     
    Simone got to the station and swiped in,
she headed straight upstairs to the main office and entered the room just as a meeting
ended and the crowd began to disperse. It seemed every member of staff had been
there and the room quickly filled with the rumbling of shoes and voices.
    Simone made a beeline for Jackson’s
office but a tug on her arm stopped her.
    ‘Hey Simone?’ It was Lucy. ‘What are
you doing here?’ she said.
    ‘Jackson called, he wants me in.’
    ‘Can’t say I’m surprised,’ she said.
‘This is big.’
    ‘I know, it’s all over the news,’ said
Simone and as she spoke she saw that Jackson was outside his office, trying to
get her attention from across the room by waving at her over the crowd and the
noise.
    Simone acknowledged him and said.
‘I’ve got to go Luce.’
     
    ‘Officer Connelly, have a seat,’ he said
as she entered and closed the door behind her, it blocked the sound coming from
the incident room like an airlock and his office suddenly seemed unnaturally
quiet.
    She crossed the room and took a seat and
as she sat down, she couldn’t help but wince in pain from the blow to the
stomach her husband gave her. Jackson noticed and wrongly assumed it was from
the injuries sustained in the line of duty. ‘First things first, how are you?
You look sore.’
    ‘I hurt all over but I’ll live. Is
there any news on John’s condition?’
    ‘They stitched him up and he’s
stable. You should pay him a visit when you get chance.’
    ‘I was planning on seeing him tonight.’
    ‘I want to try and get there sometime
today, but with all that’s happened I don’t know if I’m going to get chance,’
he said. ‘Did you get here in time for the meeting?’
    ‘Just missed it, I take it I’m here
because of what’s on the news?’
    ‘How much do you know?’
    ‘The bare bones, which is basically
no more than the average Sky or Radio Two reporter.’
    A knock on the door interrupted them
and Jackson shouted for the person to enter.
    Simone turned as West entered.
    ‘Inspector West tells me you know
each other,’ said Jackson as West took the seat next to her.
    She cleared her throat. ‘We do.’
    ‘He thinks his time will be used more
efficiently if a local officer with greater knowledge of the area accompanies
him while he provides assistance during the investigation of this case. And I
agree with him.’
    She nodded. ‘Okay.’
    ‘DI West has requested that officer be
you Connelly. I’d rather see a more senior officer in the role, and one that
isn’t in obvious pain but I believe you’re up to the task.’
    ‘I appreciate the opportunity sir.’
    ‘Bishop’s Thorpe Wood. Get going
Connelly, West has been fully briefed and will update you on the way.’
    They walked out into the blazing sun
and Simone followed him across the car park. West singled out his car, and
walked straight to the passenger side, he tossed his keys to her over the roof
of his silver Mondeo and she snatched them from the air and they got in.
    As she reversed she said, ‘You know
your way around this area.’
    ‘I’m rusty at best, and besides I thought
I’d help raise your profile,’ he said and as he spoke he pulled something from
his inside jacket pocket. Simone saw it was a brass lighter, and realised it
was a Zippo just like the one he used to own.
    West was right; being involved in a case
like this could really help her career prospects but she couldn’t help thinking
-
    hoping
    - that he had an ulterior motive and
wanted to spend time with her but she