by H A Dawson
Book Title
(alt)
By
H.A Dawson
©2015, 2018 H.A Dawson
(Honor Amelia Dawson)
Wild Mushrooms - Publishing Associates
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
New edition Published 2018
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Drowning in her woes over recent family tragedies, Leanne has reached the end of her tether. It's the personal revelations that force her to take stock and pluck up the courage to visit a home she has never known. She seeks answers to her quandary. Why can one lie be destructive but essential? This is one big lie that haunted her grandmother's soul! How bad can it be?
Life often plays us like fools then we realise we have no significance.
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This is a work of fiction. Any characters, names, organisations, places, events or situations are either imaginary or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
This book contains material protected under International and U.K Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorised reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author and publisher.
This book is written in U.K English and has been edited/proofread to comply with UK grammar and language conventions. The structure differs in subtle ways to other versions of English. Some spelling and grammar variances will be apparent in the text and are normal.
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Books by H A Dawson
British crime thrillers and psychological suspense with a sharp edge
Morrison & Adams - Novels
Girl On A Train (Walking The Pendulum)
Beds Of Rusty Nails
Crossing Forbidden Margins
Stumbling In A Smoky Haze
Withering Truth
When Echoes Clash
Caught In The Millstone
Morrison & Adams - Novellas
Twist Of A Steel Bracelet
Snapping Locks
Parallel Collision
Wanton Choice
Repeat Prescription
Blind Conscience
Circles of Subterfuge
Never To Be Ignored
Stolen By Jackdaws
Struck With Venom
Trampling Broken Sticks
Mystery Novels
Drowned By Distant Murmurs
Hunting Reckless Shadows
Cruel Persuasion
Floating Away
Singles - Themed Novellas
Lapse Of Sanity
Behind Old Mirrors
Short Novellas
Sweeping Away Tomorrow
Book Collections
Circles of Subterfuge
Books 1 & 2
Books 3 & 4
Morrison Adams Cold Cases
Books 1 & 2
Books 3 & 4
Books 5 & 6
Morrison Adams Brief Cases
Books 1 & 2
Books 3 & 4
Books 5 & 6
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Important notes for readers.
Only the highlighted titles are currently available. The remainder are due for release over the next few months. Please check with your vendor for the latest edition of this book.
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Other books
Struck With Venom
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Trampling Broken Sticks
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
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H A Dawson
Struck With Venom
Chapter 1
Arriving at the sports centre car park, my gaze wandered to the left-hand side of the building to Matt’s Hyundai car parked in a bay. His presence wasn’t a surprise. I knew he would be there - he was one of the most revered of the younger taekwondo coaches in the county and he was dedicated to his work. Nevertheless, despite our long-term intimate relationship, my gut churned with unease and my body stiffened. I needed to have a difficult conversation with him after class about his coaching techniques and I wasn’t looking forward to it at all.
Ebony stopped the car outside the entrance.
I turned to face her. ‘Thanks for bringing me. You’re a godsend. I wouldn’t have got here in time without you.’
‘Not a problem.’ She glanced at Matt’s car. ‘I hope you’re going to talk to him properly tonight.’
My nod was slight. I’d been moaning about my troublesome relationship with Matt for a few days. I never mentioned the real problem. I couldn’t. That was our secret. I also hoped that Matt would see sense and do the right thing and then I wouldn’t need to confide in anyone. I wasn’t worried about trusting her - she was my best friend and I would trust her with my life – I was worried about speaking out aloud … to anyone.
‘It’s clear you have issues,’ she continued. ‘You’ve been quiet all week – ever since you went to that taekwondo competition on Sunday.’ She studied my face. ‘Talk to him, babe. He’s a decent bloke. He won’t bite.’
‘I will.’
‘Are you going to split with him?’
I gazed at his car. ‘I’m not sure. He’s a great guy, but …’
‘You don’t love him.’
‘I do. We just have a few issues right now and it’s clouding my judgement and making me question where we’re at.’ I paused. ‘I think we’ve got a little too comfortable with each other.’
‘We can’t force love on ourselves. But I admit Matt is one of the better ones you’ve dated.’
My attention wandered to a young woman with two children walking past the car to the entrance. I recognised the youngsters as belonging to Matt’s class. I didn’t know the woman and assumed she was the children’s auntie. From what I remembered, she looked similar to the children’s mother.
‘Don’t dwell on it Kelly, just act,’ Ebony continued. ‘Life’s too short, and for all you know, he might feel the same way too.’
‘Maybe.’
‘I’m guessing that there’s some hot dude waiting in the wings ready to sweep you off your feet.’
‘Of course not. And I’m not worried about being single.’
‘Really?’ She passed me an amused stare. ‘What’s the longest you’ve been single for? Two weeks? Three?’
I grinned. ‘It’s not my fault I attract men!’
‘Yeah, yeah, and the rest! I’ve heard it all before. You’re red-hot, a babe, a hunk magnet. They can’t resist you and keep falling at your feet drooling and begg
ing. Kelly … I want you … Kelly, Kelly,’ she said in an imitating tone.
I flicked her side with my hand. ‘That is not how it is and you know it!’
Ebony smirked.
‘It’s the truth!’
‘Yeah, yeah!’
‘I’m off,’ I said and reached for the car handle. ‘I’ll see you later.’
‘I won’t stay up.’
Smiling, I exited the car and shut the door. I loved Ebony and appreciated having her in my life. Aside from her being my housemate in a four-bedroomed house owned by my parents, she was a colleague. We were both nurses at the hospital and up until recently had worked together on the Ear, Nose and Throat Department. Whilst I still worked there, Ebony fancied a change and transferred elsewhere a couple of weeks ago. I missed her, for sure, and especially her wicked sense of humour and fun-loving attitude, but it was also nice to have time apart and it made the time we spent together at home more special.
I smiled and waved, and watched her drive away. I hadn’t gotten far when a car I recognised reversed into a bay a few metres away. It was my father, Bruce O’Hearn. He was a regular attendee of the centre and a bit of a fitness freak, and on my class nights, our paths sometimes crossed. I didn’t have cause to see him, but it was always a pleasure and I waited for his arrival whilst mulling over our close bond, similar sense of humour and positive attitude. I’d be lost without him and loved him dearly.
‘Hi baby-girl,’ he said striding towards me. ‘Is it taekwondo classes tonight?’
‘Hi Dad,’ I said and kissed his cheek. ‘It is. I’m helping Matt for an hour and then we’ll spar afterwards.’
‘I hope he appreciates you.’
‘Of course, he does.’
Smiling, he opened the door of the centre and we stepped inside. Once we presented our cards to the receptionist, we strode to a corridor leading to the changing rooms and stopped at the first door.
‘How far are you planning on cycling and running tonight?’ I asked.
‘We’ll see. I hope to do about ten kilometres on the bike then I’ll decide what energy I have left for the treadmill. I’m feeling a bit lazy.’
‘That’s not like you. I hope you’re not overdoing it.’
‘If I don’t push myself, I won’t be fit enough for the sprint triathlon next month.’
I regarded him with anxiety. He had a heart condition and should be mindful of his limitations. However, voicing my concerns was pointless. He wouldn’t listen to my mother or me. He was a determined man when he wished to be.
‘You worry too much,’ he said, touching my arm. ‘I might be an old man, but I’m not over the hill yet.’
‘You’re not old or over the hill!’
‘Such praise!’
I grinned.
‘I’ll see you later baby-girl,’ he said.
Before I had a chance to reply, he strode into changing area out of view. I did the same and continued along the corridor, passing two beefy men in sweat pants and fluorescent running jackets engaged in conversation. I didn’t know them, and they didn’t pass me even a cursory glance, but for some reason, the sight of them caused my dilemma with Matt to reform in my mind.
He had been training Noah for a few months now and he was by far the most naturally talented of the children we had ever seen. It was apparent to us both that if he so wished he would be able to enter national and maybe even international competitions. It was an exciting prospect for us all.
Regrettably, there was one problem. He was a slight boy for his age and he lacked the physical strength to compete for the duration necessary. We had always had our suspicions that it may be an issue, but as we watched the county competition days earlier, the problem became clear. Noah had the skills and mental strength to defeat his opponents, but by the final round, he was exhausted. He needed a physical boost, something Matt was willing to provide in the form of drugs.
In order to progress, he needed the approval of the boy's parents. Given his father was ambitious for his son, and, or so I believed, arrogant and obnoxious too, I couldn’t see it being an issue. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that the idea had come from him in the first place. Why Matt was considering it when it had the potential to ruin his career and life’s dream was beyond me. I understood he was ambitious, both for himself and for his students, but his considerations were inappropriate, even in amateur sport.
Frustrated, I locked my uniform and bags in a locker, left the changing room in my taekwondo suit and strode down the corridor to the hall where the class convened. As I approached the door, I was surprised to learn the class had already started. I didn’t think I had taken long to change; even so, it was too late to do anything about it now, and so I stepped into the hall and stood to one side as Matt progressed through the warm up routine.
I was desperate to say something about his planned drug use and felt surprisingly tense. I knew it wasn’t the time or the place to be discussing such matters, but I feared if I didn’t broach the subject as soon as I had the chance then I would back out altogether. Matt had dismissed my efforts numerous times this week. I wasn’t going to give him a chance to do it again.
After a few minutes, he arranged the group into pairs, gave them more instructions, and strode towards me.
‘Sorry for being late,’ I said. ‘I wouldn’t even be here if Ebony hadn’t driven me over. I got delayed at work — last minute crisis.’
He nodded, advised me of his plan for the evening and gave me my instructions, and started away.
‘Before you go,’ I said, drawing him back. ‘We need to talk about what happened on Sunday.’
‘Not now.’
‘No, of course not now, but soon … after class.’
‘Whatever I decide is my decision. I don’t want you getting involved.’
‘But I am involved.’ I studied his determined expression. ‘Don’t you get it? I know what you’re planning. Therefore, it’s my problem too.’
‘Nothing’s happened so you needn’t worry.’
‘No, but it will. I know you. Once you get an idea in your head, you won’t let it go.’
He did not respond but glanced at the class. Then, without saying another word, he strode to one of the youngsters struggling with their movements leaving me alone.
His lack of respect and the way he’d dismissed me bothered me. I could accept my timing was inappropriate and that he was there to perform a job; even so, he could have been a bit more amenable and could have told me that he intended to listen to my concerns later on.
Did my opinion not count? Perhaps it was wrong of me to pursue this. It was his business, and what I didn’t know couldn’t harm me, right? Only I did know, and if I noticed Noah suddenly performing much better, I would make the link.
Matt caught my eye and cast me a questioning stare, presumably because I wasn’t helping with the class. Whilst his behaviour annoyed me, I had to admit he was right to complain. It made no sense me being there if I wasn’t going to make myself useful. In addition, whilst his suggestion of drug use bothered me, he wasn’t going to administer any tonight, so I cast my concerns aside and decided to act in a more professional manner.
I was about to do just that when the hallway door swung open and Victoria from reception caught my eye and trotted towards me. Her panicked expression told me something terrible had happened and dread formed in my throat, my heart hammered and my adrenaline surged.
‘It’s your dad,’ she said in a hurried voice. ‘He’s collapsed.
I could not speak. I could not react.
‘He’s …’ she shook her head and gasped for air. ‘He’s not good at all. You have to come.’
Chapter 2
Perching on the edge of the chair in the accident and emergency waiting room, I waited for news about Dad. I couldn’t settle and fidgeted with my phone and paced the room, walking between the window, my seat, and the door to the emergency room. My mum, Pam, hadn’t yet arrived and I craved her companion
ship. I hated being alone; I needed to offload my anxieties and wanted a hug.
Running my fingers through my hair, I searched for a moment of calmness, but it was difficult when my chest was tight, my breathing rapid and my adrenaline firing. I also couldn’t get the images of Dads collapsed body from my mind, and it repeated in my thoughts without care. Even though I was a nurse, I had felt so damned helpless watching him struggling to breathe and fighting the pain in his chest, and had to yield to the efforts of the paramedics. Thankfully, they did a fantastic job and kept him alive.
Dad had been diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy about five years ago, a disease of the heart muscle causing it to stretch and thin and leading to insufficient pumping of blood around the body. It commonly occurred in adults between twenty and sixty years of age, and at the time, Dad was forty-seven. We believe he’d inherited the condition from his mother, although we couldn’t be sure. She died when she was thirty-nine years of age of a massive heart attack.
Dad had been more fortunate. He had been warming up for a marathon, and suddenly couldn’t move. His pulse rate had climbed to well over two hundred beats per minute and theoretically, he should have died. His doctor later told him that his fitness was likely to have saved his life. He was lucky. We all were.