Read A Box Full of Darkness (Wilson Book 5) for Free Online Page A

drink and smiled wistfully. ‘I always knew that the day would come. It’s just a bit of a shock that its come a little sooner than I expected.
    Wilson could feel the taste of the whiskey on his lips. He felt like he could drink the whole bottle. ‘So you’ll be raising roses in Portaferry this time next week.’
    ‘No fear, I’ve been at the wakes of too many former colleagues who have kicked the bucket within months of leaving the job. I’ve lined up a position as a security consultant. The pay is better than the police and I’ll be able to fly business class for a change.’
    ‘Any room there for me?’ Wilson asked smiling.
    ‘You’d probably bankrupt the poor buggers if they took you on. They’d have more court cases on their hands than they could handle. Recommending you would be more than my new career is worth. Anyway, you’ve been tasked with solving one of the more than 3,000 unsolved murders that are still on the books.’ Spence finished his glass and filled a second. ‘If you manage that it’ll put a real dent in the unsolved crime column.’
    ‘Steady on, it’s a bit early for that.’ Wilson put his hand over the top of his glass. ‘Why the historical crime?’
    ‘Damned if I know. On the one hand they’re talking about suspending investigations into historical crimes and now they create a task force to look at one historical crime. It must be something damn important.’ Spence raised his glass and drank half of the contents. ‘Fuck the begrudgers.’
    A strange coldness ran down Wilson’s neck. Spence was right. There were a lot of jobs they could have slotted him into but investigating a historical crime would be pretty far down the list. He finished the content of his glass and stood up. ‘I was never very good at attending wakes. Take my advice and finish it here.’
    ‘You’re right.’ Spence downed the contents of his glass and put the bottle away. ‘I’ve been a good manager at this station and I’m not going to spoil it by getting myself roaring drunk.’
    Wilson came around the desk and shook hands with Spence. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
    ‘I’ll be around,’ Spence said.
    ‘Don’t be one of those assholes who keep coming back for cups of coffee in the canteen. You’re much better than that.’
    Spence smiled. ‘I don’t think Jenny will receive the news too enthusiastically. She’s already worried about me hanging around the house too much. The consultancy is only for a few days a week.’
    ‘It’ll work out,’ Wilson said leaving the room. He went straight to the squad room. Harry Graham and Eric Taylor were at their desks. He remembered that Peter Davidson was at court.  He’d probably slipped away for a few beers.
    ‘Evening, boss,’ Graham said looking up. ‘How’d it go?’
    ‘Could have been worse,’ Wilson said glancing around. He would be leaving this room and this station in three days, he thought. He remembered the first day he had walked into the room. He had just been appointed a detective constable and there was a long road before him. The room looked different. It was like he was looking at it with new eyes. It was more comfortable somehow. He felt safe here.  He had always thought that he would finish his career here but the best laid plans of man mean nothing to the gods. ‘Actually, Harry, I’ve been screwed twice today, once in court and once in Brooklyn House.’
    ‘I don’t like the sound of this,’ Eric Taylor said from his desk. ‘The rumour mill has been in overdrive over the past few weeks. I thought it was the usual bullshit but now I’m worried. Spit it out, boss. We’re big boys here.’
    ‘Reorganisation is on the way,’ Wilson said. ‘Everything is going to change. Spence is being pushed out the door and I’m off to some half-arsed task force at the start of next week.’
    ‘No way,’ Graham said. ‘And what about us?’
    ‘The murder squad is no more,’ Wilson answered. ‘It’s being transformed into