Free Cruel Justice (DI Lorne Simpkins (Book one)) by Tania Mel; Tirraoro Comley

the duvet revealing her naked body, letting him know clearly what he was turning down. She seductively opened and closed her legs and immediately noticed the bulge developing beneath his robe.

     He threw her bathrobe at her in mock disgust and ran around the bed to pull on his boxer shorts, no doubt hoping that their bagginess would disguise his growing manhood before he went downstairs.

    "You can be positively evil at times, Mrs Simpkins."

    "Don't you know it, baby." She quickly reached over, tugged one leg of his boxers down, then ran from the bedroom, along the hall, and into the bathroom.

Chapter Twelve

    Lorne arrived at work sporting a wide grin .

    Pete noticed the change in her demeanour immediately. "You look like the cat that got the canary."

    "Anything new to report?" Blushing, she ignored his wisecrack.

    "Nope."

    The phone in her office rang. Perfect timing. Lorne answered it on the fifth ring.

    "Finally, I was just about to hang up," admonished a grumpy voice she recognised.

    "Dr Arnaud. I take it you have the results of the DNA?"

    "Indeed. The body in the mortuary is a perfect match to the DNA we took from Mrs Nicholls. Will you inform the relatives?"

    "I'll do it straight away, thanks for the call, Doc." Her heart sank with the news they'd been expecting. So much for starting the day off in a good mood.

    She took a couple of deep breaths before making the calls she needed to make. The first was to Doreen, although it was Colleen who took the call as her mother was still in bed after having a sleepless night. She relayed the information they'd all been dreading. Understandably Colleen broke down. Lorne informed her that a press conference had been called for later that morning.

    The second call she made was to Colleen's cousin. She introduced herself to Belinda's son, gave him her condolences and told him of their findings. She also let him know that a conference was taking place that morning.

    "Thank you for calling, Inspector. I'd like to attend the conference, if that's okay?"

    "I think that'd make a lot of sense, Mr Greenaway. The conference has been arranged for eleven o'clock. Can you make it up here by then?" Lorne remembered that Pete had told her he lived almost 200 miles away.

    "No problem, I'll fly up in the company helicopter. Perhaps I can see Mum before the conference?"

    The question floored Lorne. "Do you think that's a good idea? I've just explained the extent of her injuries."

    "It would help me put into perspective what the bastard did to her."

    The more Lorne tried to deter him of this idea the more insistent he became. She decided to leave it to Arnaud and his staff to talk Oliver out of it.

    Pete popped his head round the door after she'd finished her final call. "Coffee?"

    "I'd love one, thanks."

    When he returned with a cup of steaming liquid that only he could describe as coffee, he said, "What's up?"

    "The DNA's back, it confirms that the body is that of Belinda Greenaway. Her son's on his way. He wants to be involved in the press conference and he's requested to see his mother's body."

    "You're kidding! You told him the injuries she sustained?" Pete shook his head in disbelief.

    "Does this face look as if I'm joking? I'm hoping the doc can put him off the idea."

    "Beats me why anyone would want to put themselves through that. Leave it to the doc, he'll get him to change his mind. Did you have a good evening?"

    Her face flushed deeper than a ripe cherry. "Lovely, thanks. What about you?"

    "Same old thing, nothing to write home to granny about," he said, staring into his murky- coloured coffee.

    "Sorry I didn't invite you back for dinner. Umm … Tom and I had a lot of sorting out to do."

     She busied herself with some paperwork, letting Pete know that if he valued their friendship the questions should stop there.

    "I understand, boss." Pete tapped his nose with his forefinger. "By the size of the grin you were wearing when you came in this morning, I'd say