‘Bloody hell,’ said Maggie. ‘What game has Suzy really been playing?’
‘We’ll know soon enough.’ He glanced across at her. ‘You must be exhausted. I heard you waited outside Rosie’s room all night.’
‘I just wanted to make sure she was okay, sir.’
‘We’re not on duty now. You can call me Will.’
It was the first time Umpire had ever said that to her and she was so taken aback she couldn’t speak.
Perhaps sensing her surprise, he quickly asked, ‘Are you hungry?’
‘Actually, yes, I’m starving. I can’t remember when I last ate.’
‘Me neither. There’s a cafe on Lincoln Street that should be open by now. It does the best bacon roll you’ll ever taste. My treat.’
‘You want to buy me breakfast?’ she asked, her pulse quickening.
He gave her an odd look. ‘The rest of the team are meeting us there.’
Mortified, Maggie wanted to kick herself for not realizing he hadn’t meant just her and him.
‘Of course, sir, sorry – I mean Will,’ she said, blushing furiously. ‘That’s what I thought you meant.’
‘You sure about that?’
She looked across at him.
He smiled.
Acknowledgements
These words might be mine but you wouldn’t be reading them without the efforts of all these people. My brilliant editor Catherine Richards, thank you for showing such enthusiasm and passion for Gone Astray from day one. The same goes for everyone at Pan Macmillan, in particular Sam Eades and Laura Carr. My agent Jane Gregory, for making me the happiest wannabe author ever when you took me on. It’s great to have you in my corner! Likewise everyone at Gregory & Co, but especially Stephanie Glencross for always giving such terrific guidance. Erin Kelly, Tasmina Perry and Jo Carnegie, for encouraging me to follow in your footsteps and for all the advice, support and great friendship during my long journey to publication. Detective Chief Inspector Phil Murphy of Thames Valley Police, for taking the time to explain what a family liaison officer does and why the role is so vital – any errors in procedure are mine alone and I apologize for them! Kerry Needham, for sharing yours and Ben’s story with me, which gave me the idea for making an FLO my central character; I hope one day soon you find the answers you seek. Hari Patience and Austin Buckeridge, for reading Gone Astray in its early stages and encouraging me to keep going, and especially Hari for being the best writing buddy ever. Mum and Dad, for telling the twelve-year-old me that of course I could become a writer when I grew up if that’s what I wanted to do, and for helping me achieve my dream. I owe you so much. My darling daughter Sophie, for being born! Your arrival was my trigger to start writing Gone Astray; once I understood what it was to be a mum, Lesley found her voice. And Rory, for giving me the time and space to write, pushing me to keep going all those times I hit a brick wall and for giving such great plot advice! Falling in love with you still remains the smartest thing I’ve ever done.
GONE ASTRAY
Michelle Davies has been writing professionally for twenty years as a journalist on magazines, including on the production desk at Elle, and as Features Editor of Heat. Her last staff position before going freelance was Editor-at-Large at Grazia magazine and she currently writes for a number of women’s magazines and newspaper supplements. Michelle has previously reviewed crime fiction for the Sunday Express’s Books section. She lives in London and juggles writing crime fiction with her freelance journalism and motherhood. Gone Astray is her first novel.
First published 2016 by Macmillan
This electronic edition published 2016 by Macmillan
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ISBN 978-1-4472-8419-2
Copyright © Michelle Davies 2016
Cover images © sturti / Getty Images
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