BooksBarbecue
Back The Game
Chapters (68)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. NOW
  4. One
  5. BEFORE
  6. Two
  7. Three
  8. Four
  9. Five
  10. Six
  11. Seven
  12. Eight
  13. Nine
  14. Ten
  15. Eleven
  16. Twelve
  17. Thirteen
  18. Fourteen
  19. Fifteen
  20. Sixteen
  21. Seventeen
  22. Eighteen
  23. Nineteen
  24. Twenty
  25. NOW
  26. Twenty-One
  27. BEFORE
  28. Twenty-Two
  29. Twenty-Three
  30. Twenty-Four
  31. Twenty-Five
  32. Twenty-Six
  33. Twenty-Seven
  34. Twenty-Eight
  35. Twenty-Nine
  36. Thirty
  37. Thirty-One
  38. Thirty-Two
  39. Thirty-three
  40. Thirty-Four
  41. Thirty-Five
  42. Thirty-Six
  43. Thirty-Seven
  44. Thirty-Eight
  45. NOW
  46. Thirty-Nine
  47. BEFORE
  48. Forty
  49. Forty-One
  50. Forty-Two
  51. Forty-three
  52. Forty-Four
  53. Forty-Five
  54. Forty-Six
  55. Forty-Seven
  56. Forty-Eight
  57. Forty-Nine
  58. Fifty
  59. Fifty-One
  60. NOW
  61. Fifty-Two
  62. Fifty-Three
  63. Fifty-Four
  64. Fifty-Five
  65. AFTER
  66. Fifty-Six
  67. Acknowledgements
  68. About the Author

‘Really?’ Mark shouted, and now he could see movement outside the office. ‘I came to you because I thought you’d be willing to listen and understand that there’s more to this than just a couple of dead teenagers. Instead, I get laughed at. Just like I have been since I joined the team. That’s all you lot think of me. Not that I’m one of you, but someone to baby and treat like an interloper. That’s right, isn’t it? I should have known better.’

‘It’s time to leave, Mark,’ DS Cavanagh said from behind him, standing in the doorway.

Mark looked at him, then back at DI Bennett. ‘I thought you were better than… than them out there. Guess I was wrong.’

He didn’t say another word, grabbing his papers and walking out of DI Bennett’s office. Mark grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair, sending it spinning a few feet as he did so. He heard the clatter of something falling to the floor as he left, the door slamming behind him.

DS Cavanagh caught up with him as he was waiting for the lift. He pressed the button a few more times, with increasing force, avoiding the man’s gaze.

‘What?’ Mark said, when Cavanagh’s presence at his side became too annoying.

‘Get a couple of hours’ sleep and then get back to it,’ DS Cavanagh replied, leaning against the wall and folding his arms across his chest. ‘There’s something more going on. And if you’re the only one who can see that, then so be it. If you need anything, give me a shout. I’m a phone call away. It’s better if you’re not here for now though.’

With that, DS Cavanagh walked away before Mark had a chance to say anything in response.

It wasn’t until he was sitting in his car minutes later, knuckles turning white on the steering wheel as he gripped it, that reality began to set in.

He’d probably just screwed himself up royally.

He wanted to bang the wheel in frustration. Wanted to scream and shout his feelings away, but it wouldn’t help him. It wouldn’t help anyone.

There was only way out.

He had to prove he was right.

Forty-Six

Mark drove from the station car park, then pulled into the new retail park further down Great Homer Street. His phone jittered in his hand, as the adrenaline running through him took hold. He forced himself to close his eyes and breathe in and out a few times, but it made no difference.

He looked at his phone and saw a number of missed calls from Natasha. A couple of messages asking him to call her. Mark navigated to the contacts on his phone, then pressed on the last number dialled. Heard the tone a few times, then voicemail kick in. Waited a few minutes, then tried again.