Read To Dwell in Darkness for Free Online

take it you two know each other,” broke in Nick Callery, as they all removed their masks.
    â€œMel— DS Talbot works on a South London team with my wife.” Kincaid turned to Sidana. “Melody, this is my DI, Jasmine Sidana.”
    Melody started to extend a gloved hand, thought better of it, and gave Sidana a shaky smile instead.
    â€œYou were here for the concert,” Kincaid said, light dawning.
    â€œI saw it happen.” Melody’s eyes were wide. “I mean, I saw him burn. I tried to help but it was too late.”
    â€œYou’re sure it was a man?” asked Kincaid.
    Melody hesitated, frowning. “I think so, yes. I saw his outline in the flames. It never occurred to me to think otherwise.”
    Checking a text on her phone, Sidana said, “We’ll know soon enough. The pathologist and the SOCOs are here. Sweeney’s bringing them in.”
    â€œMelody,” Kincaid said. “Andy and Poppy, they’re all right?”
    â€œThey’re fine. They were great—they helped clear the crowd. But, Duncan—” She swallowed and went on. “Tam and Caleb were here. Standing outside the café, not twenty feet from him. People got splashed with phosphorus. Tam got burned. The medics are getting him ready for transport now. I think it’s pretty bad.”
    As Gemma drove down St. John’s Gardens, she saw their friend Wesley Howard’s white van parked across from their house. He’d left her the empty parking space nearest the front door, bless him. And she had to admit, as she pulled up and got out of the car, that the weather was too miserably cold for humans and animals alike. Even in her puffer coat, she shivered and pulled the collar up to her chin. It was already dark, and the lights gleaming from the front windows of the house radiated welcoming cheer.
    But when she unlocked the front door and stepped in, the house was remarkably quiet. No dogs barked or came to greet her, nor were there any of the expected childish shrieks. Usually—especially when Wes was there—everyone would be gathered in the kitchen and something good would be cooking. Were they all still out in the garden, in the dark, trying to rescue the cat?
    Then she heard a sound, and Toby came round the corner from the central hallway in an exaggerated tiptoe, finger to his lips.
    â€œShhh, Mummy. Bryony says we have to be really quiet, and only one person at a time can go in to see Xena or she’ll be scared.”
    â€œXena? Who’s Xena?”
    â€œThe mummy cat. I named her,” he added proudly. As Toby neared his seventh birthday, his fascination with pirates had mutated into an obsession with old episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess.
    Gemma sighed. “Where’s Charlotte?”
    Just then their foster daughter came running from the hall and wrapped her arms round Gemma’s legs in her usual greeting hug. Gemma picked her up and kissed her cheek.
    â€œHow’s my favorite girl?” Gemma whispered into her curly hair.
    â€œMummy, there are kittens!” Charlotte squirmed down and grabbed Gemma’s hand. “Come and see.”
    â€œShhh,” said Toby, scowling.
    â€œWes says Toby is bossy.”
    â€œIf they gave medals for bossy, Toby would get one,” Gemma agreed, but she kept her voice to a whisper. “Okay, where’s Xena?”
    â€œIn the study with Bryony,” said Kit, coming into the room with Wesley. Gemma had yet to get used to the fact that in the last few months, Kit had grown almost as tall as Wesley, who was now in his mid-twenties.
    â€œI’ll take you, Mummy,” whispered Toby.
    â€œGemma’s perfectly capable of finding her own way to the study,” said Kit.
    â€œKit, don’t snipe,” she scolded, but gently. He still looked pale and strained about the eyes. “Why don’t you all go into the kitchen and make a pot of tea?” she suggested, thinking