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
‘You ready for me to change that dressing?’
Michael turned at the sound of Sarah’s voice. He smiled and reached out with his left arm, careful not to clip her with the plaster cast at its end.
‘Best offer I’ve had all month.’
Using just his left forearm, he pulled Sarah close, tight against his body. The water from his shower soaked her clothes, leaving her white blouse transparent.
‘Get off of me, you big injured bear.’
Sarah laughed as she pulled away. She pushed Michael back by pressing her hand against his flat stomach, just about the only spot on his torso not covered in bandages or bruises.
Michael slumped backwards. His spine resting against the sweaty bathroom wall. He forced a disappointed expression.
‘Oh, I get it. A few cuts and a few broken bones and suddenly I’m not man enough for you. Is that it?’
‘It’ll take more than that, Michael Devlin.’ Sarah glanced up and down. At the plaster case on Michael’s left. And at the wet bandages on his right arm. ‘But what use are you to me when your hands aren’t working, eh?’
Michael roared with laughter at the answer. A genuine laugh. And a relieved laugh.
The separation from Sarah had been short. Just over twenty-four hours physically, a little more emotionally. Yet it had been the hardest of Michael’s life. He had lost. He had suffered. In time he would grieve. But right now – with Sarah beside him – Michael was happy.
As if she could read his mind, Sarah placed her hand on Michael’s cheek, raised herself up on to her toes and kissed him softly on his lips.
‘Now, come on,’ she said as she lowered herself to her normal height. ‘Let’s look at that dressing.’
SEVENTY-EIGHT
‘You didn’t have to come to court today, Jenny. Honestly. I’d have understood.’
It was 9 a.m. on Monday morning. Two hours since Sarah had expertly changed the dressing on Michael’s bicep. Fifty-two since Michael had confronted and beaten Hirst.
And sixty since Draper had been kidnapped.
Draper and Tina Barker had been found by Levy just moments after Hirst’s death. Both were restrained but physically unhurt. Still, it was a near miracle that she had made it to the Old Bailey Bar Mess on the second Monday of Simon Kash’s trial. And that Michael was here to meet her.
Draper shook her head as Michael spoke. She took a sip from her coffee cup before replying.
‘He didn’t hurt me. Just a big old bruise on my head. And my wig covers that.’
‘Injuries aren’t just physical. What you went through was traumatic. You can’t just rush back from something like that. You don’t need to.’
Draper made a point of looking from Michael’s left hand to his right arm, and then to his injured head.
‘You’re telling me I shouldn’t rush back. What about you? You lost Derek Reid. Your family went into hiding. You came, alone, to rescue me and Tina. And you ended up shot and beaten as a result. And I’m rushing back?’