Read Faraday 01 The Gigabyte Detective for Free Online

possessed that extra little bit of talent, or (more possibly) that driving ambition which she knew she lacked. But she wasn’t going to be allowed to escape today.
    “I expect you live here,” said the man. “You’re so lucky. You’ve got the best weather in Britain and there are magnificent views along the coast.”
    She sighed and opened her eyes again. As she took another long sip, she studied the man over the top of her coffee cup. She had to admit he had an interesting face. The skin, over the top of the fine bones, had a weathered quality. On closer scrutiny she guessed he was only a few years younger than herself. It was grossly unjust, the way that age seemed to favour men.
    “Do you live in Torquay?” asked the man. His dark blue eyes looked directly into hers without a trace of embarrassment.
    “I have a house on the Marine Drive,” she admitted. She removed her sunglasses and looked at him more openly. She had a strange feeling that she had looked into eyes just like those on some previous occasion. She couldn’t remember when it was.
    He suddenly pointed at her. “I think I know who you are,” he said. “Aren’t you Susannah Blake? I saw you on the box quite recently. They had a late night re-run of the Connaught series. I thought you were superb in that.”
    She smiled at him, feeling a sudden warmth for his prattling. Of course she had stayed up to see every episode, revelling in the golden glow of past achievement. She said, a little regretfully, “that was recorded more than twenty years ago.”
    “It’s amazing. You hardly seemed to have changed at all.” He shook his head. “Why don’t they make series like that anymore? The modern stuff doesn’t seem to have any glamour. It’s all swearing and mucky town centres.”
    “I suppose it’s what the public wants.”
    “Wouldn’t they do a new Connaught series, if someone like you suggested it?”
    “Someone like me?” she laughed. “I have no influence. Furthermore I’ve been out of the acting game for more than ten years - since my second marriage. My husband wouldn’t want me to take it up again, even if there was a decent offer.”
    He was looking out of the window. “I suppose not,” he mused. “Your private life must be more important to you now, than any thoughts of a career.”
    “Private life!” she thought to herself derisively. She probably spent less than an average of four hours a week in Stephen’s company. They slept together on average perhaps three nights a month. Her two children from her first marriage were grown up and had careers of their own. They would maybe call in to visit her briefly once or twice a year. She had a handful of local friends who she met occasionally. Otherwise she was alone - not lonely, but left to herself.
    “You’re not some sort of freelance writer, are you?” she asked suspiciously.
    “Me?” He chuckled and it was a pleasant, deep throated sound. “Oh no. I don’t do anything nearly as glamorous as that.”
    She felt bound to ask, “So what do you do?”
    “It’s much more boring than you.” He took a deep draught of his coffee and leaned back in his chair. “I’m an accountant.”
    “I don’t know anything about that sort of thing. My husband’s the businessman.”
    “I’m just down here on holiday,” he said. “I want to forget about business for two weeks.”
    “So - what are you doing in here? - taking the sun while your wife and kids go round the shops?”
    His smile had turned hard. “I don’t have a wife and kids.”
    “All on your own?” She wasn’t sure that she believed him. She thought all the good looking ones were spoken for.
    “That’s right. I was married, but she - er - died about six years ago.” He looked out of the window again. “We didn’t have any children.”
    “Oh. I’m sorry.” It seemed an inadequate comment.
    “That’s all right. It seems a long time ago, now. It’s a part of my life I’ve tried to forget, except for