by Jay Gill
There was a moment of stunned silence, before Rayner burst out angrily, “We’re all doing the happy dance because we think Lyle roasted until she was good and crispy. Instead, it’s some poor kid she abducted.”
For a moment I was confused. I’d seen Lyle burn in the van. My mind went back to the chase. I pictured the taxi pulling up directly in front of me. Lyle seeing me, before turning and running. The small white van conveniently left with its engine running. The port security guard, holding on to me and slowing me down, giving Lyle the chance to turn the corner and remain out of sight for a few seconds. Enough time for her to jump from the speeding vehicle and disappear. Then, finally, the same port security guard holding me back and preventing me from getting close enough to see inside the van before it burst into flames.
I handed the report back to Emma. “Meanwhile, Lyle slips out of the country while our backs are turned,” I said quietly.
“Let’s just hope the bitch catches some tropical disease and crawls under a rock to die an agonising death,” Rayner spat. He reached around to the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet for another bottle of whisky. He twisted the lid off a single malt I’d got for my birthday.
All I could think was about the sick agreement I’d made with Lyle. I thought I’d got away scot-free, but with Lyle on the loose, I was still on the hook. If she ever came back, she’d expect me to keep my side of the bargain. If I didn’t, she had told me, plain and simple, what the consequences would be.
I looked over at the pictures of the Scrabble pieces that were still pinned to the wall. R-I-C-H-T-E-R. The man Lyle expected me to kill.
I pushed the thought away. I couldn’t think about that today. Not today. Today was for remembering Dad.
Rayner topped up our glasses, and we toasted the best father and role model anyone could have.
Chapter Eighty-Five
Monica and I walked hand in hand along the promenade at Flag Head beach. It felt good for us all to finally be out as a family. Alice was recovering nicely, and despite recurrent nightmares, she was coping well day-to-day and was happy to be back at school with her friends.
As a family, we had a lot of catching up to do. Each of us was being forced to make significant adjustments to our way of life. But we’re a strong family, and I knew we’d get through this together.
Walking and talking, Monica and I watched Alice, Faith and Mum down on the beach collecting shells while Sandy barked and bounced around enthusiastically.
“Penny for your thoughts,” said Monica.
“I was just thinking about Dad, and how he loved these walks.”
“I think he enjoyed collecting the shells as much as the girls do,” said Monica. She squeezed my hand.
“You’re right. He enjoyed acting like a big kid. I miss him, but I wasn’t feeling down about it. I was feeling happy. We have so many great memories.”
“That’s a lovely way to think about him. He’d want that,” said Monica. She leaned over and kissed my cheek.
I said, “Life is okay right now. Mum is coping. I’ve got you, and we have our two beautiful little girls. What more could we ask for?”
Monica’s face reddened. Her eyes brimmed with tears as she looked at me in a way I hadn’t seen before.
I stopped walking and looked at her. I could see something wasn’t right. I wasn’t sure I wanted to ask, but I had to.
Hesitantly, I said, “Whatever it is, you must tell me. I can take it. I know you’re keeping something from me. We agreed we would never keep secrets from one another, and whatever it is, I will deal with it.”
“Don’t be so dramatic, James. I’ve been waiting for the right time.”
“What is it?”
“I’m pregnant.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re going to be a dad again. We’re going to have a baby.”
It took me a moment to register what Monica was saying. I looked into her big, beautiful uncertain eyes, and they sent my head and my heart racing.
I felt an intense, joyous energy surge through my body, which culminated in a huge, cheerful roar. I was laughing uncontrollably; I felt giddy. I picked Monica up and kissed her. I put her back down gently and said, “Are you sure? Really? How? When?” I didn’t know what to do with myself. I wanted to run and tell Alice, Faith and Mum and at the same time stay and hold this gorgeous woman in front of me.
Monica watched my reaction with delight and amusement. She’d not often seen me acting like a dopey fool. “Yes, I’m sure. We are going to have a baby. I assume you’re okay with it? I know we hadn’t planned this.”
“If you’re okay, then I am one thousand percent okay. Let me look at you. You’re so beautiful. I love you.”
Seeing the commotion and hearing my voice from down on the beach, Alice, Faith, and Mum came running up to us.
“What’s going on? You look a bit weird, Dad,” said Faith.
“You tell them, Monica,” I said.
“No, you tell them. Let’s tell them together.”
“Tell us what?” demanded a smiling Alice.
Monica and I told them together in a giddy, jumbled way. “You’re going to have a baby brother or sister. Monica is pregnant. We’re going to have a baby. You’re going to be big sisters, both of you. How does that sound?”
The excitement on the girls’ faces told us everything we needed to know.
Mum had a smile on her face, too, and was wiping away happy tears. She said, “It’s about time we had some good news in this family. And this really is the best news. This is truly wonderful news.” She looked up to heaven and blew a kiss to Dad.
“Do you hear that, Dad? You’re going to be a grandad again.”
Hardy Crime Thrillers
DCI Hardy is back in Inferno
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About the Author
Born in Dorset, southern England, Jay Gill moved to Buckinghamshire where he worked in the printing industry, primarily producing leaflets and packaging for the pharmaceutical industry. After several years of the London commute, and with his first child about to start school, he realised it was high time for a change and moved back to the south coast of England. This change freed up time for him to write the detective stories he dreamed of one day publishing.
Safe to say, he’s caught the writing bug in earnest now. With three Hardy novels and a novella under his belt, a growing “family” of characters both good and heinous, and a host of exciting new ideas bouncing around in his head, Jay busily juggles his writing and family life and is hard at work on the next instalment in the DCI James Hardy series of thrillers.
If you would like to be kept up to date with new releases from Jay Gill, please complete an email contact form on his Facebook page or website, www.jaygill.net
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Also by Jay Gill
BOOKS BY JAY GILL
Knife & Death
Walk in the Park
(A short thriller)
Angels
Hard Truth
Inferno
A free bonus chapter is available for each book. Don’t miss out, visit www.jaygill.net
Knife & Death
The body of a young college student is discovered in the River Thames, and DCI James Hardy is horrified to learn that the murdered woman was a family friend.
As he begins to investigate, he discovers that Anya, the victim’s flatmate, is missing, seemingly on the run for her life. Realising that she could be the key to catching the killer, Hardy races against time to track down Anya before the killer does.
As the ugly truth behind the investigation unfolds, Hardy’s own family come under threat. With two young daughters to protect and an investigation that twists and turns, frustrating him at every step, Hardy finds himself pushed to the limit.
Can he protect his family? Will Hardy be in time to save Anya? With his every move under scrutiny, how will Hardy handle the pressure and solve the investigation?
You can get a copy here:
Knife & Death - Download from Amazon
Walk in the Park
Short Thriller
When a close friend of DCI James Hardy is murdered, the detective questions whether taking the law into his own hands could ever be justified.
Detective James Hardy is enjoying a rare day out with his two young daughters when he makes the mistake of answering his phone. It’s his boss.
A young mother, out walking her baby, has been murdered in broad daylight. The attack is followed quickly by a second terrifying, vicious assault on a young woman who is a dear friend of Hardy and his daughters.
Shaken and heartbroken, Hardy agrees to assist the team leading the investigation into a ruthless murderer dubbed The Regent's Park Ripper.
Knowing that in all likelihood the killer will soon strike again, the investigating team must put aside their differences, and work day and night to prevent more senseless deaths.
Over the course of the harrowing investigation, Hardy must constantly challenge his own very personal need for revenge. But all of that may change when he unexpectedly finds himself face-to-face with the suspect in a deadly confrontation that may change Hardy’s life, and those of his loved ones, forever.
Walk in the Park - Download from Amazon
Angels
After the brutal murder of his wife by a crazed drug-seeker, Detective Inspector James Hardy walks away from his career as a Scotland Yard homicide detective. He has found love again, and, together with his two young daughters, he’s making a fresh start in a small seaside town.
With his new career as a consultant taking off and the demons of the past behind him, Hardy’s life couldn’t be better.
But the peace is about to be shattered.
When a series of shocking murders take place in the seaside town, Hardy is contacted by local detective inspector Emma Cotton for advice. As Cotton investigates the killings, Hardy learns the disturbing crimes have all the hallmarks of a serial killer linked to his past.
The notorious Kelly Lyle, known as The Mentor, has surfaced again, and has Hardy and his family in her sights. As she embarks on her latest bloody campaign of murder and revenge, she rips apart the detective’s new life – and reveals a dark secret that shatters everything Hardy believed to be true about his wife’s death.
Hardy balks at being forced out of early retirement, but whether he likes it or not, the killer appears determined to draw him back into a world he wants to leave behind.
Knowing it will take something monumental to catch his attention, the killer raises the stakes and abducts someone Hardy loves more than life itself.
Is Hardy about to lose everything he’s fought so hard to keep?
Hardy’s only choice is to work with DI Emma Cotton to discover the hard truth behind the killer’s motives. If they play the killer’s game, they might be in time to stop a tragedy beyond comprehension.
Angels - Download from Amazon
Inferno
DCI James Hardy was hoping for a quiet life. He stepped away from his career at New Scotland Yard and moved his family to the south coast to start over. For a short while, life was good. But now the past is catching up with him.
Hardy recently learned that Edward Fischer, the man he arrested for a string of killings, is also the man who orchestrated his wife's murder. And now, Fischer has escaped from prison and is on the run.
Fischer is a free man, and before he leaves the country and disappears for good, he’s looking for compensation from Hardy. The sort of compensation money can't buy. The kind that will cause Hardy pain and suffering.
And when Hardy's new home becomes a target and his family come under threat, he finds he has no choice but to step up and do what he's best at... catching killers.
Inferno - Download from Amazon