Torch (20 page)

‘For what?’

He looked at
the suitcase waiting in the hall.

‘For fucking up
your life.’

‘I managed that
all by myself.’

He met her
eyes.

‘Do you think,
you and I... ’

She ran it over
in her head, not for the first time.

‘No.’

‘I had to
ask.’

When they
kissed, his breath was sweet.

‘Irn Bru.’ He
smiled wryly.

She drew
away.

‘What about
Gillian?’

‘Moving to
Auchenblair permanently. There’s a nice steady guy there. Runs the
local hotel. He’s always had a soft spot for Gillian. Amy’s going
to the village school.’

‘I’m
sorry.’

‘You’re not the
only one who can mess up.’ He stroked her face. ‘What will you do
now?’

‘Go back to
work.’

‘We’re alike,
you and I.’

‘That would be
the problem.’

Rhona listened
to the silence, then walked from room to room reclaiming her home.
Sean was right. She needed time and space. If they got back
together it would be on different terms. They would each have to
learn to commit.

She felt a
strange peace envelop her. She had found Liam. The arsonist was
caught. And she knew at last that her nemesis was dead. The
forensic tests on the remains found in the hills were complete.
Weakened by loss of blood, he had died of exposure. The paedophile
who called himself Simon would never again trawl the internet for
vulnerable young men. She need never search for him in a crowd
again.

The convent
bells began to toll for evening prayer. Rhona carried the cat into
the sitting room, switched on the stereo and sat down in front of
the fire as the saxophone’s notes filled the room.

Alone, Rhona
listened to it play its song of love.

###

About the
Author

Lin Anderson
has published seven novels featuring forensic expert Dr Rhona
MacLeod, of which Torch is the second. The seventh,
The
Reborn
is out in paperback in May 2011. Her short stories have
appeared in a number of collections. Most recently
Dead
Close
was chosen for the Best of British Crime 2011. Also a
screenwriter, her film
River Child
won a BAFTA and the
Celtic Film Festival Best Fiction award.

Other books in
the series, available as print copies and ebooks

Driftnet

Deadly Code

Dark Flight

Easy Kill

Final Cut

The Reborn

Blood Red Roses
(novella)

Connect with
Lin Online:

Author’s homepage:
http//www.lin-anderson.com

Twitter:
http://twitter.com/Lin_Anderson

Smashwords:
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Dunedin9