Dead To Me (38 page)

Gill called Rachel into her office, stood arms folded, peering over her specs. ‘There’s always a process of adjustment when someone joins a syndicate,’ she began, ‘not officially a probation period, but a chance to test the waters, get to know each other …’

Like dogs sniffing bums.

‘… not exactly been a smooth ride, Rachel, has it?’

Her stomach dropped. She was going to kick her out. Oh, God.

‘More of a bull in a china shop. So, if you’ve any second thoughts …’

‘None,’ Rachel said quickly. Don’t do this to me.

‘Want to think about it?’

‘No.’ This is all I want to do, please, please!

Gill studied her for a moment. Rachel’s mouth was dry, her stomach knotted up. If you dump me, I will rip your fucking throat out.

Gill gave a curt nod. ‘Right, then. Make yourself useful.’

‘Yes, boss.’ Legs like water.

Outside, in the dark, she turned her back to the driving sleet and lit up, closed her eyes, let the relief crawl through her. She was in. Everything was going to be all right.

Rachel leaned across her desk to Janet. ‘Want to celebrate – us and the lads?’

‘No, ta. Could do with a night in, what’s left of it.’

She did look wiped out, Rachel thought. Am I missing something? That business of wanting to be alone – what was that about? ‘Where’d you go off to? Earlier?’

‘Anyone ever told you you’re a nosy cow?’ Janet said.

‘Blame the job,’ Rachel said, still wanting a proper answer. ‘Well?’

Janet tutted and looked up from her files. ‘Nowhere. Just needed some air, recharge.’ She smiled, blue eyes, clear and frank.

Rachel didn’t believe a word of it; there was something else going on, but obviously Janet wasn’t going to let her in on it.

‘Do you think she’ll get off on manslaughter?’ Rachel asked.

‘Could go either way,’ Janet said. ‘Depends if the defence can whip up enough sympathy for her. Less than a year since Nathan’s death, she’s still half-mad with grief. The provocation might well be grounds for a partial defence.’

Manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility, the act carried out while the balance of her mind was disturbed
. Rachel shook her head. ‘I’d give her life, no parole. I said, didn’t I – wasn’t fit to be a mother. If people like that keep having kids—’

‘People like that?’ Janet raised an eyebrow. ‘What would you suggest, Rachel? Mass sterilization, camps, euthanasia?’

‘Don’t be soft.’

‘I am going home.’ Janet got to her feet. ‘Domestic duties to perform. If you fancy coming, it’s chicken korma tonight at ours. Meet the kids?’

‘No, you’re all right,’ Rachel said. ‘I’ll make a start on this.’

Janet smiled. ‘They don’t bite,’ she said.

‘No, they might drool though, or get snot all over me,’ Rachel said.

‘More likely to use up your phone credit and nick your lipstick.’

‘Some other time – century.’

‘Night, then. Don’t work too late.’

‘No, Mum.’

‘And Rachel …?’ Rachel looked up, Janet by the door. ‘Don’t forget to power down the computers and turn the lights off.’

Rachel nodded.

‘And drive carefully,’ Janet said.

Rachel flicked a V-sign.

‘And wash your cups up,’ Janet yelled from out in the corridor.

Rachel grinned, turned the page and began her report.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Many thanks to Sally Wainwright, Diane Taylor and Red Productions for a great show whose wonderful characters were a joy to write about. Thanks also to Diane for generous help and advice about police work – any mistakes are mine; to Sarah Adams and Rachel Rayner at Transworld for the opportunity to write the novel and to my agent Sara Menguc for all her support and hard work.

About the Author

Cath Staincliffe is an established novelist, radio playwright and creator of ITV’s hit series,
Blue Murder
, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis. Cath was shortlisted for the CWA best first novel award for her acclaimed Sal Kilkenny series and for the Dagger in the Library. Her latest stand-alone novels all focus on topical moral dilemmas. She is a founding member of Murder Squad, a group who promote crime fiction.

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DEAD TO ME
A CORGI BOOK: 9780552167154
Version 1.0 Epub ISBN 9781448125111

First publication in Great Britain
Corgi edition published 2012

Copyright © concept and text Transworld Publishers 2012, characters © Red Production Company 2012

Cath Staincliffe has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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