Read Dead and Gone for Free Online

‘What invitation – or shouldn’t I ask?’
    Naomi grinned. ‘Probably better not to. Now, would you like me to make you something to eat? I still don’t think you’re in a state to operate a gas cooker.’
    Dean suddenly realized how hungry he was. ‘Yes, please, I’m famished.’
    ‘When did you last eat?’
    ‘I’d some toast yesterday morning, I think. I’m not really sure.’
    ‘No wonder you were in such a bad way, drinking whisky on an empty stomach. Was that a full bottle when you started?’
    ‘I think so,’ he admitted.
    ‘There’s only an inch left in the bottom now. I hope you don’t make a habit of drinking so much.’
    ‘No, certainly not. I was upset.’ Dean looked at her. ‘Partly because of the court thing, but mainly because of what you said.’
    ‘I’ll make breakfast. After you’ve eaten, I suggest you shower and clean your teeth.’
    Dean demolished the substantial breakfast then meekly followed her instructions by going to the bathroom. When he emerged, he was surprised at how disappointed he was to find that she’d put her coat on.
    ‘I have to go,’ she explained. ‘When I phoned my parents last night, I promised I’d be home for lunch. Will you walk with me to the bus station, like you did before?’
    ‘Of course I will. You didn’t tell them you were staying the night here, did you?’
    ‘I’m not that daft. It wouldn’t have gone down at all well, especially if I’d mentioned your name. As far as they know, I stayed over in York.’
    As Dean reached to unlock the door, she stopped him, her hand on his. She stepped closer and kissed him, gently at first, then with increasing fervour, her tongue exploring his mouth,entwining with his. ‘Now you know why I wanted you to clean your teeth.’ She smiled at him, a trifle shakily. ‘I’m not that keen on whisky.’
    ‘If it’s a trade-off, I’ll never touch the stuff again,’ he promised.
    When they reached the street, it seemed quite natural for Naomi to take his hand, and to continue to hold it all the way to the bus station. As they waited for the bus to arrive, Naomi kissed him again. ‘That’s to say sorry for being so nasty to you. I thought about what you said and realized I was being completely unfair. If you got the flak from what your sister did, you must have suffered along with everyone else.’
    She kissed him once more. ‘And that’s to say thank you for not telling the police about what happened that night.’ Instead of letting go, she put her hand on the back of his neck, the flames of desire kindling between them, like the flickering forks of lightning before a storm. ‘And that’s from me to you, until we have that date. That is, if you still want to?’
    He released her several minutes later as the bus pulled up alongside. ‘I’ll take that as a yes, then,’ Naomi gasped. She walked towards the steps of the bus. ‘I’ll phone you and let you know when I’m coming home again,’ she promised.
    Dean wasn’t certain if he walked or floated back home. He noticed one or two people looking oddly at him, which he found slightly puzzling. That was because he could not see what they could, which was the idiotic grin on his face that had one or two of them worried about his sanity. His first act on reaching the flat was to pour the rest of the whisky down the kitchen sink. He placed the bottle for recycling and, as he turned to walk back into the lounge, caught sight of himself in the mirror. There was a large scarlet stain on his face, from Naomi’s lipstick. It looked as if she’d branded him. Which in a sense perhaps she had. He went to wipe it off – then changed his mind.

chapter four
    Philip Lacey and his wife had booked a holiday. Nowadays they could more or less go when they wanted, and this was the trip they had promised themselves for years. ‘Do you remember when we used to look at travel brochures and the adverts on TV that started on Boxing Day?’ Philip asked her.
    His