Page 18 of Gone in the Night
It realised it was free and began sniffing around the wheels of the car, not in the least bit bothered that its owner had just bledto death in the zipped-up tent above him and now it couldn’t get back up there. It carried on doing what dogs do and began to mooch around in the dark.
As he scurried back down the path, he hoped the dog wouldn’t follow him. The last thing he needed was a dead woman’s pet dog. He could say he found it wandering around on the fell, but that would be an added complication he didn’t need and cause so many questions. He didn’t know how to look after a dog; it was better that it stayed where it was. Someone would take it in, but as he hurried away, he felt a sensation of guilt about the animal that he’d never encountered before. It was alien to him – he hadn’t felt guilty about his parents’ deaths, and he certainly felt no remorse for the woman he’d just killed inside the tent. So, why was he feeling bad for a scruffy looking dog?
He almost got halfway down the path before he heard it scrabbling along behind him. He swore then turned around, wishing he’d not given it the sausages. It was probably not used to such a rich treat and now it was never going to leave him alone. He stood still, hoping it would neither sense nor smell him, but he was wrong on so many levels as it came padding towards him, tail wagging as if he was its new best friend.
‘Go, get away from here. Go back to your owner.’ He waved his hands in its direction, and it just wagged its tail faster then sat down on the path.
‘Oh, for fuck’s sake, dog. I just killed your favourite person, bite me or chase me but do not think I’m taking you home, you stupid mutt.’
The dog stared at him with its big brown eyes. Christ, he shook his head, ignored it and carried on walking.
He didn’t turn around, but he could hear it trotting along behind him, and he didn’t know what the hell he was going to do about it.
THIRTEEN
The Montgomerys had insisted on driving themselves to the mortuary at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, and Morgan couldn’t say she blamed them. The div car Cain was driving was a small white Ford Focus. Not much room in the rear, especially with Cain’s seat being pushed all the way back to accommodate his long legs. Their Porsche Cayenne looked like a much better option. Morgan had asked if they were okay to drive, and Stefan had nodded, glassy eyed in shock, but still with the belief that Morgan and Cain were a couple of bumbling idiots who had made the gravest mistake of their careers, and she didn’t blame him really. If it was her, she’d want to believe it was all some huge error because the reality was far too painful.
They led the way, with Stefan following behind, but as soon as they reached the dual carriageway on the A5284, he overtook them swiftly and far too fast for the speed limit.
‘What an arsehole, I’d thought he was okay, but it seems as if he’s not,’ Cain muttered. ‘What’s he going to do, demand to be let in before we even arrive?’
She nodded. ‘Probably.’
‘Why though, what’s the point?’
‘He’s clearly used to doing things his way, Cain. He doesn’t think it’s his daughter and wants to get it over with. I kind of understand that.’
‘Yeah, well I’ve a good mind to do him for speeding over the limit.’
Morgan chuckled. ‘Don’t be a dick, you’re just jealous of his Porsche.’
Cain grinned at her. ‘Okay maybe a little, it’s just people who think they’re above the law because they have more money than most of us really do my head in.’
‘Give him a break, he seemed like an okay guy before we tore his world apart.’
‘Yeah, I suppose he was. What did you think about the mum? She didn’t seem as posh as him.’
‘Maybe not, Sharon’s not exactly an upper-class name either, is it? What is wrong with you today? You are being so judgy. They might have started off poor as the rest of us and worked their way up to the position they’re currently in.’
‘Maybe.’
They drove the rest of the way in silence, with Cain exceeding the speed limit to try and keep up with the Montgomerys.
They found Stefan’s car abandoned on the double yellow lines outside the mortuary building, being eyed up by a parking warden. Morgan jumped out to go and talk to the warden.
‘Hey, could you like give the guy a little time? He’s just been told his daughter is dead.’
The parking attendant looked her dead in the eye. ‘Doesn’t mean he can leave the car there.’
Cain sauntered over and flashed his warrant card at him. ‘Give us ten minutes, we’ll get it moved.’
The parking attendant, who was the same height as Morgan, looked up at Cain who towered above them. ‘Whatever, I’m going on my break now anyway.’
He strode away, and Cain whispered, ‘What a nice guy.’
Morgan grinned at him. ‘Takes a special person.’
They headed into the mortuary and straight to the viewing room, to see Susie and her peacock blue and green hair trying to pacify the Montgomerys, who were arguing with each other until Beth turned on Susie and began arguing with her. Declan was rushing up the corridor to go help Susie and waved to them.
