Page 20 of One Left Alive
‘I thought you’d packed it in?’
‘So did I until I had to look at that. Jesus, who would do that?’
‘I guess that’s where we come in. I’m going to Lancaster to visit the surviving victim. Can you stay here and make sure everything is taken care of? Let me know if you need me, and I’ll come straight back.’
‘I can, although I don’t really want to have to spend any time alone down there with them. It’s sad, and creepy.’
‘It’s not a Netflix horror movie, Amy, they’re definitely dead and not about to get up and chase you.’
‘I know that, I’m just saying.’
He laughed. ‘Lunch is on me.’
‘Cheers, Sarge, but surprisingly my appetite has vanished.’
‘Well, when it returns, I’ll buy your refs. I won’t be long, it’s just a formality really since she’s slipped into a coma. I just want to see what the doctors have to say about her condition.’
‘Fine, is your new protégé there still?’
He looked to see if she was taking the piss; she wasn’t laughing.
‘Yes, and I reckon she’s stranded. She drove the ambulance while the crew worked on the vic.’
‘All right, go rescue her, but then you’d better get your arse back here and rescue me.’
‘Yes,boss.’ He emphasised the ‘boss’ and this time she did laugh.
Fourteen
Greg Barker saw the dark blue BMW parked in his ‘Reserved for Mayor’ space and felt his blood pressure begin to rise. That self-serving arsehole, Jamie Stone, thought he ran the whole town; he actually thought the whole parish council revolved around him. Well, it bloody didn’t. Jamie was nothing; all he ever did was attend meetings and talk about himself and his ideas. Ideas which most of the time were completely irrelevant to what the meeting had been called for. Just because Stone was obsessed with bringing in more modern recreational amenities to the town, everyone thought he was God’s gift. Why the hell did Rydal Falls and the surrounding villages need a skate park? It was unheard of; was there any point encouraging local children to try and break their necks when the nearest hospital was at least a thirty-minute drive? He didn’t think so. He’d like to take a skateboard and shove it up Jamie Stone’s arse.
He got out of the car and slammed the door, bending to check his reflection in the wing mirror. His thick head of freshly trimmed grey hair made him look much younger than his seventy years. There were a few more lines around his brown eyes and forehead than he liked, but for a pensioner he was fitter than most twenty-year-olds thanks to his eight-mile runs and fell walking. He was in pretty good shape and age was just a number, it didn’t mean anything.
‘Afternoon, Mayor, glad you could make it.’
Greg turned and saw the man himself striding towards him, holding a large box, and felt his fists clench.
‘Jamie. Look, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this for some time now.’ He pointed at the parking space.
‘You after a new car, mate? It’s about time you upgraded and got yourself a decent ride.’
Greg had dreamt about being mayor for a long time and now that he was, it was nothing like what he’d expected. He’d pictured people being in awe of him, bowing down to him and grovelling. Imagined local business owners falling over their own feet to get in favour with him, bending over backwards to get his approval. Admittedly some people did all of that, but most of them didn’t, especially Jamie, and it irked him more than he’d like to say.
He stared at the much shorter man standing in front of him. What he lacked in stature, though, he more than made up for in confidence. As Greg stared at him, he imagined drawing back his fist and punching him square in the nose. How satisfying it would be listening to the cartilage crunch.
‘Why would I need a new car? This is a classic Aston MartinDB4. I doubt very much you could ever afford to buy the tyres.’
‘Look I can’t stand around chatting, sorry. I have to get back to the office. Apparently they’ve found bodies at a house on Easdale Road and I need to get someone out there as soon as possible.’
Opening the boot of his car with his key fob, he threw the box inside, pressed a button for it to glide shut and climbed in. Sticking his head out of the window, he shouted: ‘Soon as I have a spare ten minutes I’ll take you out for a spin. You can have a test drive and see what you think.’
Greg lifted his hand, stepping out of the way as Jamie began reversing towards him.
‘I’d rather chop both my legs off and shove hot pins in my eyes.’
‘What?’
‘Yeah, that would be great.’
