Free Outcast (The Darkeningstone Series Book 2) by Mikey Campling

“Well I’m glad you’re happy,” he snapped. “I hope it was worth it to destroy the dreams of my best student.”
    The man ignored this outburst. “I especially liked the bit about the television. What was it? Oh yes, it would make a whole series for the BBC . Very good. You’ve missed your vocation, Doctor Seaton.”
    Seaton pouted and folded his arms.
    The man smiled. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. He walked swiftly across the room but he hesitated at the door, and turned to face the doctor. “Oh, by the way,” he said, reaching into his pocket, “I’m afraid I shall have to keep this.” He held out his hand and uncurled his manicured fingers to show the object resting on the soft skin of his palm. The flat disc of polished black stone glittered darkly as the man tilted his hand to admire the artefact properly. “I’m sure you understand the reasons why.”
    Doctor Seaton scowled. “No. No, I bloody well don’t,” he said. “That amulet belongs to me. It’s very valuable.”
    The man nodded. “More than you know. And that is why it must be properly safeguarded. Preserved.” He slipped the stone back into his pocket and smiled, showing a row of perfect white teeth. “And now, I really must be off. Thank you ever so much for your kind assistance, Doctor Seaton; it’s been an absolute pleasure.” He turned and opened the door.
    But before he could leave, Doctor Seaton called out to him. “Erm, about the other thing—it’ll be all right?”
    The man allowed a humourless smile to play across his lips. “Oh, I don’t think any charges will be pressed do you? I mean, I’m sure you meant to pay for that bottle of vodka. It was all just a silly misunderstanding.”
    Doctor Seaton hung his head so that his chin rested on his chest. “Yes, of course. I wasn’t thinking. The shop was busy and I was tired and the queue was very long and I didn’t realise I’d put it in my pocket and then…”
    “Oh, I understand,” the man said. “But I think it’s better if it all just goes away, don’t you?”
    Doctor Seaton looked up and nodded vigorously.
    “And if you look in the bag in the next office, you’ll find I’ve left you a little something as a way of saying thank you for all your help.”
    “Oh,” Seaton said, rising from his chair. “Oh, well that’s very, er, very nice.”
    The man nodded once. “It is your brand isn’t it, Stolichnaya ?”
    The doctor smiled so widely his eyes bulged. “Yes,” he said, and he was already making for the side door. “Thank you very much.” He suddenly realised he ought to say goodbye before he left the room. He glanced over his shoulder. But the man in the grey suit had already gone.

Chapter 8

    2014
    TOM WAS HALF-ASLEEP when the phone rang. He’d been dozing in front of the TV, drifting in and out of consciousness as the news readers droned endlessly about politics and the economy, and other things he tried to show an interest in. He reached out and snatched the handset up. Without thinking, he gave his full name—a habit he’d picked up at work. Instantly, the line went dead.
    For a moment, Tom was confused, his mind still fuzzy from sleep. He looked down at the LCD display on the handset. Is it faulty? It looked OK. Perhaps he’d inadvertently pressed a button as he’d picked up the handset and cut someone off by accident. He wasn’t sure. Carefully, he replaced the handset in its cradle. If it was important, they’d call back.
    “What if it was one of the lads?” he muttered. He wasn’t really meant to give out his home number, but whenever one of the lads was released from the centre, he always gave them a card and told them they could call him any time of day or night. It was his way of going the extra mile. He wanted to make sure he’d done absolutely everything he possibly could to keep them out of trouble.
    Tom frowned. No one had been released for a couple of months. And anyway, none of the lads had ever actually taken the