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Back A Change of Circumstance Save as PDF
Chapters (67)
  1. Cover
  2. One
  3. Two
  4. Three
  5. Four
  6. Five
  7. Six
  8. Seven
  9. Eight
  10. Nine
  11. Ten
  12. Eleven
  13. Twelve
  14. Thirteen
  15. Fourteen
  16. Fifteen
  17. Sixteen
  18. Seventeen
  19. Eighteen
  20. Nineteen
  21. Twenty
  22. Twenty-One
  23. Twenty-Two
  24. Twenty-Three
  25. Twenty-Four
  26. Twenty-Five
  27. Twenty-Six
  28. Twenty-Seven
  29. Twenty-Eight
  30. Twenty-Nine
  31. Thirty
  32. Thirty-One
  33. Thirty-Two
  34. Thirty-Three
  35. Thirty-Four
  36. Thirty-Five
  37. Thirty-Six
  38. Thirty-Seven
  39. Thirty-Eight
  40. Thirty-Nine
  41. Forty
  42. Forty-One
  43. Forty-Two
  44. Forty-Three
  45. Forty-Four
  46. Forty-Five
  47. Forty-Six
  48. Forty-Seven
  49. Forty-Eight
  50. Forty-Nine
  51. Fifty
  52. Fifty-One
  53. Fifty-Two
  54. Fifty-Three
  55. Fifty-Four
  56. Fifty-Five
  57. Fifty-Six
  58. Fifty-Seven
  59. Fifty-Eight
  60. Fifty-Nine
  61. Sixty
  62. Sixty-One
  63. Sixty-Two
  64. Sixty-Three
  65. Sixty-Four
  66. Sixty-Five
  67. Sixty-Six

‘Oh, Si, think about it! Women like Rachel aren’t just sitting about waiting for you, or any man, for that matter. She’s attractive – no, she’s beautiful – she’s single, she’s rich, she has a house and a business and –’

‘You’re telling me she’s a good catch.’

‘Not in so many words, no, and it’s a hateful phrase. She’s a whole lot more. Why do you want to see her? Why invite her away for a weekend? You need to ask yourself and then answer yourself – not me. Tell yourself the truth.’

‘Not sure I know it.’

‘You never do.’

‘Don’t I?’

Cat saw that he was closer than he had been for a long time to admitting real feelings, to himself and then perhaps to her, and after that, just possibly, to Rachel. She had known him be mad about this woman or that, be delirious with optimistic happiness, only then to be overwhelmed by doubt, immediately after which he was ruthless in extricating himself. She had only once seen him truly vulnerable through love and that had been with his CID colleague Freya Graffham, murdered by the serial killer she had been close to unmasking. Simon had clammed up and had never talked about her since, but for a while after he had met Rachel, Cat thought his feelings had been as strong all over again, and possibly they had, but he had backed off as usual, taken fright, and Rachel had simply removed herself from his orbit. Simon might not have been badly hurt but she certainly was.

‘I’ll tell you one thing, bro, if you don’t mean this seriously, if it’s about taking up with her again because you fancy a nice cosy weekend occasionally, no strings, then don’t message her again. Leave it. It’s unkind to her and you’ll make a fool of yourself – only, knowing you and your affairs as well and as long as I have, I don’t actually care too much about that. But Rachel is a very special person and I do care about her, and if you mess her around again, I’ll kill you.’

‘No you won’t.’

‘Don’t push your luck. But I’m serious, Simon.’

He was silent for a few moments, looking down at his feet.

‘You think I’m not?’ he said in the end.

She was saved from having to answer by Kieron calling her from upstairs.

Simon got up at the same time and headed for the spare room with only a quick ‘Goodnight’.

Nineteen

‘Cat?’

It was nearly midnight and she had just nodded of. Beside her, dosed up with more

painkillers, Kieron slept deeply.

‘I’m so sorry, I know you’re not on call –’ Luke, sounding genuinely apologetic.

‘No, I’m bloody not. What’s wrong?’