Contents (83)
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- Acknowledgements
- OUT NOW IN PAPERBACK
‘Put all this on my room, would you?’
‘Yessir.’
‘Thanks.’
Back to Levy.
‘I’m going back to my room, Joelle. I need to eat. Why don’t you head home to your son? Put this all out of your mind for one night and have some family time?’
‘I can’t.’ Levy got to her feet. ‘I wish I could.’
‘Then just do it. Life’s too short. Go home and spend some time with your boy.’
Levy nodded as Michael took the first step on the staircase.
‘And Joelle?’ Michael’s voice interrupted her thoughts. ‘Thank you for the news. About what I did at Hirst’s trial, I mean. I really do appreciate that.’
‘Forget it. We couldn’t try you without Hirst anyway, and that piece of shit won’t be seeing the inside of a witness box,’ Levy’s voice was grim but certain. ‘Especially not after what he did to Hale.’
SIXTY-NINE
It was 2 a.m. when Michael awoke. A lot earlier than he had planned. His unconsciousness fought back hard as he tried to open his eyes. It made the world seem unreal for a few seconds. Reality masquerading as a dream. Only the insistent ringing of Michael’s mobile phone pulled him through.
Michael’s Friday night had not mirrored his Thursday. After parting company with Levy he had returned to his room, where he had undressed and ordered a meal. One look at the menu had reminded him of when he had last eaten. Thursday lunchtime. Far too long.
Michael made up for the unintentional fast. Tempura prawns to start. Followed by a twelve-ounce Hereford rib-eye with fries, grilled tomato, mushrooms and peas. Plus side-orders. Mac and cheese. A half-rack of barbecue ribs. A feast fit for a man who was thirty-six hours late for dinner.
A bottle of Argentinian Malbec had been intended to go with the meal. It now sat on the lounge table, opened but unfinished. Abandoned to a combination of exhaustion and carb overload. Next to the bottle was a small pile of empty plates.
And the mobile phone that had woken Michael from his much-needed sleep.
Michael pushed himself up onto his elbows and tried to shake off the grogginess. He tried to think who could be calling him in the middle of the night until suddenly his mind focused, banishing every trace of sleep in its wake.
Sarah.
He threw the light sheet from his body and leapt from the bed. Within moments he was in the suite’s lounge, just feet from his illuminated mobile phone. Two more steps and he would reach it. But still he was too late.
The ringtone stopped as soon as the phone came into sight. The screen, though, remained lit. Michael picked up the handset and read it. Four missed calls. All from the same number.
Jenny?
It was not the name Michael was expecting to see. He looked at his watch, confused. Why on earth had she tried to call him four times in a row at 2 a.m.?