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Back The Midnight Man Save as PDF
Chapters (70)
  1. Title Page
  2. Contents
  3. Copyright
  4. Praise for Caroline Mitchell
  5. Also by Caroline Mitchell
  6. Dedication
  7. Epigraph
  8. Prologue
  9. 1
  10. 2
  11. 3
  12. 4
  13. 5
  14. 6
  15. 7
  16. 8
  17. 9
  18. 10
  19. 11
  20. 12
  21. 13
  22. 14
  23. 15
  24. 16
  25. 17
  26. 18
  27. 19
  28. 20
  29. 21
  30. 22
  31. 23
  32. 24
  33. 25
  34. 26
  35. 27
  36. 28
  37. 29
  38. 30
  39. 31
  40. 32
  41. 33
  42. 34
  43. 35
  44. 36
  45. 37
  46. 38
  47. 39
  48. 40
  49. 41
  50. 42
  51. 43
  52. 44
  53. 45
  54. 46
  55. 47
  56. 48
  57. 49
  58. 50
  59. 51
  60. 52
  61. 53
  62. 54
  63. 55
  64. 56
  65. 57
  66. 58
  67. Epilogue
  68. Acknowledgements
  69. About Caroline Mitchell
  70. About Embla Books

I waited for her response. Jahmelia wasn’t the rebellious type, but I was counting on the use of her nickname, gleaned from their old messages, being enough to seal the deal. The playground was only five minutes’ walk from where Jahmelia lived. It would be deserted at this hour, and Jahmelia would take the shortcut where I would be waiting. I tapped my fingers against the steering wheel, awaiting her response.

OK. Mikey’s playing his VR, and Mum and Dad think I’m in bed. CU soon x

I pulled out of the junction and headed towards the park. A breath of relief escaped my lips. Everything was back on track. The next stage of the game was underway.

36

Wednesday, 6th November 2019

Sarah was deep in thought as she entered the police station corridor before eight on Wednesday morning. She’d had a terrible night’s sleep as she tried to work out the right thing to do. She had read and re-read Elsie’s journal until she was word blind. She had a viable lead, but could she convince Gabby it was worth pursuing?

A voice rose ahead of her, snapping her from her thoughts. It was Yvonne, talking to the DI outside of the CID briefing room. Judging by the number of officers coming out, Sarah had missed an impromptu briefing. Had something new come in? Her footsteps slowed as she listened to the conversation. ‘I’m sure it’s just an oversight on Gabby’s behalf.’ Yvonne’s head was tilted to one side as she spoke with her usual fake sincerity. ‘But I don’t think it’s acceptable for her to be working the case now her granddaughter is involved.’

‘Thanks for bringing it to my attention,’ Bernard said, too involved in the conversation to notice Sarah approaching. ‘I wasn’t aware Jahmelia was related.’

‘Yes, well, as I said. It’s an oversight. But I know this case better than anyone. I’m the best person to fill her shoes.’

Fill her shoes? Sarah slowed her pace. Yvonne must have overheard them talking about Jahmelia and now she was trying to get Gabby kicked off the case.

‘Consider the ball well and truly in your court.’ Bernard clasped his hands together. ‘If you’re up for it, then I’m happy to give you the responsibility. It’s all hands on deck right now.’

‘Thanks, boss,’ Yvonne called after him. ‘I won’t let you down!’ But the smile dissolved from her face as Sarah came into view.

‘Morning.’ Sarah fell into step with Yvonne as they entered the CID office. The weather was dull and gloomy and the weak early morning sun filtered through the vertical blinds. Sarah smiled at the cleaners as they left. The floors had been freshly hoovered and the computer stations were gleaming. Soon they would be covered with paperwork and coffee cups.