Free A Family Divided (Dividing Line #3) by Heather Atkinson

she quite liked him.
    “ I think that’s stretching it a bit Luke,” she replied with a wry smile. “There was an incident in Martina’s Bar yesterday evening involving The Slasher that my staff handled with extreme efficiency.”
    “ So efficient there was a stampede for the exit?”
    Damn Luke. “That wasn’t their fault. The Slasher switched on the lights to cause panic. There was nothing we could have done to prevent it and they all went above and beyond last night in an attempt to help the injured and steer the rest to safety. Two of my doormen even chased the attacker on foot.”
    “ But they didn’t catch him.”
    “ Are you saying you could have done better Luke?” she said jovially, eyeing his pot belly, causing the other journalists to titter. “My thoughts are with those injured last night and their families.”
    “ Why were the Police just here?” called out Zoe Westerly.
    “ For another statement about last night’s events.”
    “ Are charges being brought for the stampede that occurred in your club, almost causing the death of James Ford?”
    “ No. CCTV footage of events in the club has been reviewed and the Police have said there are no grounds. My staff acted entirely appropriately. The panic was caused by The Slasher himself to aid his escape. Now if you’ll excuse me, I like to spend Saturdays with my family.”
    “ Mrs Law, what does your husband think about the attack on you last night?” pressed Zoe.
    Rachel suppressed an irritated sigh, just wanting to scurry back to the safety of the house and spend the rest of the day on the couch. “Naturally he’s not very happy about it.”
    “ Does he intend to exact revenge of his own on The Slasher?”
    Rachel feigned innocence. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    “ Ryan Law is known for dispensing his own justice. I’d have thought he’d have started an investigation of his own.”
    “ It seems to me Ms Westerly that you have watched one too many crime dramas and they have filled your head with melodramatic rubbish. My husband is a law-abiding citizen and will leave the investigating to the Police. That’s all I have to say.”
    They called out more questions but they were only half-hearted, knowing that when Rachel said she had nothing more to say, she meant it. She shut the gate and strode back up to the house, Leah flinging her arms around her the moment she got through the door.
    “Daddy told me what happened last night,” she said, looking up at her with Danny’s big blue eyes. “Are you alright?”
    “ I’m fine, there’s nothing to worry about Sweetheart,” she replied, hugging her back for all she was worth. “It was just a naughty man who the Police are going to catch.”
    “ You’re not going to the club again tonight, are you?”
    “ No. It’ll be closed for a while anyway. I’m staying right here today.”
    “ Good.” She clung onto her for a moment longer before saying, “I’m going to draw you a nice picture.” Leah ran over to the small plastic desk they’d set up in the corner precisely for this purpose. Leah loved to draw.
    “ How did she take it?” Rachel asked Ryan.
    “ Upset at first, but when she saw you put those journalists in their places she was okay. Do you know DCI Taylor is in Alex’s pocket?”
    “ No I didn’t. Funny, I wouldn’t have thought he was bent, he seemed so conscientious.”
    “ Apparently Sid isn’t the only one with a gambling problem and mounting debts. From what I understand Taylor’s no pushover, not one of Alex’s typical dancing monkeys.”
    “ Does it mean anything that he’s been put on this case?”
    “ Perhaps not. The club is on his patch and he has been working on The Slasher case.”
    “ Oh.” She was a bit disappointed, she’d hoped Alex had pulled some strings for her, it would show he still cared. Although Beth had called, he hadn’t.
    Ryan glanced out of the window. “That lot seem to be packing up and going, your interview did the