Free The Book of Revenge by Linda Dunscombe

Andrew. ‘All I’m saying is that maybe we ought to get ourselves a bit of protection.’ Kevin pulled a pen from his jacket pocket and scribbled a number onto the back of a bar mat. He handed it to Andrew. ‘Give ‘em a call.’
    Andrew shoved the card into his pocket and finished his third pint. ‘Come on, let’s get out of here.’ He said.
    Neither of the men looked his way again. Matt watched them leave. He still wasn’t willing to let Andrew off the hook. The man was a nutter and Matt would love to get him locked up for something, especially if it carried a life sentence. But Andrew’s alibi for the attempt on James life almost checked out. Bouncers confirmed that he had been at the nightclub but none of them were able to say for certain what time he left. So the hook was still clinging to Andrews’ shirt, but only just.
    Matt’s mobile phone rang. It was Jen. Reluctantly he picked it up and she told him that his wife was being released. The time of death was almost two hours later than she was seen leaving the property. The search of his house hadn’t turned up a gun and they had nothing to hold her on. Reading between the lines he knew that there was a ‘yet’ that Jen would love to add to the sentence. His young colleague couldn’t quite keep the edge out of her voice, it was clear that in Jen’s eyes, Avril was still the number one suspect.
    ‘You definitely don’t know what time she got home?’ Jen said.
    ‘No.’ he lied, ‘I told you before, I took a sleeping pill…’
    He didn’t really know why he lied. If he was honest he was more than a bit concerned about Avril himself. But she was still his wife and he couldn’t, or wouldn’t allow himself to doubt her.
    Avril was already at home when he got there. She’d ordered a taxi rather than wait for him to pick her up. He was glad; he didn’t really want to be anywhere near the station. He could imagine the rumours and the gossiping. Nobody would want him around to spoil the fun. It was probably the best scandal to hit Bidbury station in years. Detective inspector married to a serial killer. He knew the hard core gossips wouldn’t let a little thing like lack of evidence get in the way of a good story. And even when they did finally let it drop everyone would know his wife was having an affair.
    She was in the bedroom throwing things into a suitcase. He had expected as much, but even so it hurt, he felt like he’d been punched hard, in the gut.
    ‘Don’t try and stop me.’
    He had no intentions of doing so. ‘Where will you go?’
    She was angry. But it was fake anger, to hide her pain. He wondered if she was upset because Brian Chard was dead or because she’d been found out. Had she loved the man? He wanted to ask but couldn’t. Was he afraid of her answer? He didn’t know. In a strange and unexpected way, seeing her pack he felt relief. At least it was over now. No more pretending. No more clinging to empty hopes. No more trying for a baby that was never going to happen and no more looking into her eyes and seeing her disappointment and his own failings.
    ‘I have friends.’ She answered, struggling to do up the suitcase.
    He squashed it down for her while she pulled the zip around. She picked the case up from the bed and they looked at each other, briefly, sadly. Then she looked away and started to fill the next case.
    He hovered in the doorway. He even wondered if he should offer to help, but didn’t. It didn’t seem right, helping your wife to pack ready to walk out on you. But watching didn’t seem right either.
    Obviously she felt the same way. She stopped emptying her underwear drawer into the case and looked at him. ‘I loved him,’ she said, tears filling her eyes. ‘I’m sorry, but I did. I just thought you should know.’
    Did it make it better or worse? He wasn’t sure. The first thought that struck him was why? Brian Chard was a dick, always had been. But he kept his mouth shut.
    ‘He made me feel