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Back Under a Dark Cloud Save as PDF
Chapters (77)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Prologue
  4. Part 1
  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. Part 2
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. Part 3
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. Acknowledgements
  74. Next in Series
  75. Canelo Crime
  76. About the Author
  77. Also by Louisa Scarr

Robin is surprised. But not shocked. And his overwhelming feeling is joy: he’s pleased for Liam.

He leans forward across the table towards his brother-in-law. ‘Mate, it’s been nearly six years since Georgia and the twins died,’ he says softly. ‘You deserve some happiness.’

‘It’s not about replacing them. Nobody could ever take their place.’ Liam’s still staring miserably at his hands. ‘I wasn’t even looking. But she’s in my cycling club, she does triathlons and she’s… I don’t know.’ He looks up and meets Robin’s gaze. ‘She’s nice. I like her.’

Robin thinks about Steph. These women and their triathlons. Then he has a sudden worry. ‘What’s her name?’

Liam frowns a little, his eyes sharp. ‘Lizzie. Why?’

‘No reason,’ Robin replies with relief. ‘Listen, Liam. I knew you were going to meet someone one day. And I’m glad you guys have so much in common. Because if she still likes you after seeing you in this get-up, then, well…’ Robin smiles.

‘Piss off,’ Liam says again, and the awkwardness is gone. ‘You sure you don’t mind?’

‘Not at all. But thank you for telling me. Do you want to stay for dinner?’

‘No, no, I should go. Need to finish this ride before it gets dark.’ Liam wipes his face again with the towel, then folds it into careful quarters. He stands up and Robin follows him.

He opens the front door, as Liam puts his shoes on and wheels the bike back into the street. ‘Oh, shit!’ Robin says, catching a glimpse of his car. ‘I still have Freya’s suitcase in the boot.’

Liam fastens his helmet with a loud click. ‘Better go and drop that off to her then.’

‘Nah, she can do without it until tomorrow.’

‘Sure?’ Liam raises his eyebrows then gets on his bike. ‘Perhaps she can help you with some closure on your case.’

Robin watches as Liam cycles off down the road, his lean figure streamlined and elegant on his bike. He tries to imagine his own stocky build in Lycra, and fails. No, cycling is definitely not for him.

He looks back into his house, at the case file strewn on the table. Then, without further thought, he grabs his keys and phone, and heads off to Freya’s.

46

There are more cars than usual outside Freya’s house, as Robin pulls in: her pastel-blue Fiat 500 and two others. He sees a light on, and hears voices and laughter, as he rings the doorbell.

Freya answers with a smile and a quick thank you, then heads straight back inside. Robin follows her, plonking her suitcase down in the hallway and walking through to the kitchen.

All the lights are on, and Josh Smith is there. Robin watches them. They’re standing in front of her chest freezer. The lid is open, and the appliance is humming loudly, desperately trying to keep cold.