Secrets Read Online Free Page A

then we’d like to know; that way at least we know we can stop looking. If he’s not, well.’
    â€˜And if your aunt is withholding evidence pertinent to two murder investigations, then that’s a whole new ball game,’ Delia said quietly. ‘Alec, if you could get her to talk to you?’
    â€˜I don’t know anyone that can get Molly to talk when she has decided not to,’ Alec said. ‘But I can try.’ He thought for a moment. ‘Look, I know I’m a civilian now, but if I could have access to the files, if I could know what I’m actually talking about, I might be able to put some pressure on.’
    Again that exchange of glances, but again Alec knew that the decision had already been made. DI Barnes got up and indicated the now vacant chair. He produced a laptop computer from the desk drawer and set it on the desktop.
    â€˜Help yourself to tea or coffee,’ he said. ‘I’ll have a sandwich sent in. Obviously, nothing can leave this office, but—’
    Alec nodded his thanks and settled himself behind the desk. Oh, Molly, he thought, just what have you got yourself into?

FOUR
    I t was late afternoon when Alec returned to the hotel he and Naomi had been staying in, much later than he had expected to be and long enough after his expected return to make him feel guilty. As he had reminded Molly, Naomi was extremely independent and she and her big black guide dog well able to look after one another but still, he thought, she was in a strange place and didn’t know anyone.
    He and Naomi – and Napoleon, her big black guide dog – had been essentially nomadic for the past couple of months. Their house had attracted a few viewings and did have someone willing to make a cash offer – for somewhat less than they wanted. Alec was pretty sure they would agree to take it in the end; a house with the history theirs now had wasn’t the easiest to sell at any time and the market wasn’t exactly buoyant at the moment. They had stayed at a friend’s place for a while and then decided to travel, without any clear aim in mind. The past six weeks had been a slow meander west, then south, then north again, visiting stately homes and antique shops – Naomi had a love of small silver, tactile pieces – and visiting friends and even acquaintances they’d not seen in years. House hunting too, in a random sort of way. If Alec spotted something interesting in an estate agent’s window, they had gone to view it, but nothing had really felt right yet. The truth was, he thought, they didn’t really know where they wanted to be. Apart from friends and family, they had nothing tying them to any specific place.
    He parked his car in the awkward little space at the end of the hotel drive and made his way inside. They had chosen places to stay that were dog friendly, small enough for Naomi to find her way around very quickly, but large enough so that she didn’t feel too exposed and could escape back to their room without anyone really taking notice. Their specific requirements had been the one thing that had directed their journeying. If they found an appropriate hotel, they went there, regardless of the location.
    They would have to make some solid decisions soon, Alec supposed, but he wasn’t sure when either of them would be ready to do that and he blessed the bequest of a beloved uncle that had left them with sufficient resources to ease any immediate pressure.
    He ran up the short flight of steps outside the Edwardian hotel, once an impressive home for a mill owner called Fredericks they had been told, and was surprised to have Napoleon come to greet him in the hall.
    â€˜Hello, old man, where is she then?’ He bent and stroked the dog’s silky ears. The dog wasn’t wearing his harness, which meant he was off duty; had it been otherwise he would not have left Naomi’s side. Alec took this as a good sign. Naomi