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Back The Ringmaster Save as PDF
Chapters (73)
  1. Cover
  2. The Ringmaster
  3. Contents
  4. Prologue
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. Epilogue
  72. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  73. Copyright

‘I should be, but I could easily be tempted by a better offer.’

‘That’s displaying a complete lack of dedication, you know.’

‘Maybe, but I can blame it on you. You shouldn’t tempt me with distractions when you know I’m so easily led. You’re being irresponsible. Great friend you’ve turned out to be.’

‘Think of it as saving your sanity. A mental health break. Anyway, there’s a do for one of the work guys, a fortieth birthday at the Trough and Porker, and I don’t feel like flying solo. You should come along and meet some more of the gang. You never know, you might score yourself a date.’

‘Oh yeah, ’cos I want to date a copper.’ They say sarcasm is the lowest form of wit. Maggie had a first-class Honours in it. ‘I happen to know what it’s like living with the police. I had your fine example, remember. There’s no way in hell I’d ever date a policeman. God, no.’ The statement was accompanied by a shudder.

‘We’re not all that bad.’

‘Right, none of you are overbearing, work-obsessed, pathologically suspicious individuals who can’t switch off from the job? If policemen aren’t that bad, why don’t you date one?’

I threw Maggie the look. ‘You know the golden rule: you don’t screw the crew. Besides, most of them are already taken.’

‘By the love-blind who haven’t learned yet?’

‘That’s the one. They say there’s only one job worse than being a copper, and that’s being attached to a copper.’

‘I’m sure their kids are thrilled too, especially when mum or dad turns up to break up the underage booze fest party they weren’t supposed to be at.’ Maggie gestured towards the wardrobe door. ‘So what are you going to wear?’

‘I take that as a yes, you’re coming?’

She smiled. ‘Yes, I’ll sacrifice my precious study time to spare you the horror of feeling alone and abandoned by your friends.’

‘So very big of you. I can tell it will be a major imposition. It’s a casual night, so jeans, jumper, nothing flash.’

‘You’re not out to impress, then?’

‘Nah, got to give the other girls a chance sometimes.’

21

‘You’re a rat-fink, two-faced cow.’