Book Bundle (Beyond Evil, Lost Souls, Fallen Idols) by Neil White Page B

Ted and the press. He had watched as Amelia gave her quote, and since then, the street had returned to normal.
    Donia was in the corner of the room, reading files, just to get a taste of what being a criminal lawyer was all about. It’s the files that earn the money, not what happens in court. That’s just a sideshow. Playing out, Charlie called it, when he got to have some fun. The real work was done in the office, clocking up billable hours reading police statements.
    Charlie turned round quickly and caught Donia looking at him. Her eyes darted back to her file, and he saw a flush jump into her cheeks. He was going to say something, but she was only going to be with him for a week. There was no point in making friends.
    He left his office and went towards Amelia’s, leaning against the doorframe once he got there. Amelia was looking at her desk, a dictation machine in her hand, but she wasn’t saying anything into it.
    It was a few seconds before she noticed him.
    When she looked up, he said, ‘What’s going on?’
    She shook her head. ‘Nothing,’ she said, but it came out too quickly.
    ‘Come on, Amelia. You’re staring into space. Our office was burgled, and it was your room they went through, not mine. And your two goons in suits were hanging around outside.’
    ‘Goons?’
    ‘Those clients of yours. They were coming out as I came in, except they didn’t seem keen on moving on.’
    Amelia leaned back in her chair and sighed. She looked tired. Charlie detected some vulnerability he didn’t normally see. ‘I’ve told you, it’s nothing.’
    He stared at her, and she held his stare. He was aware of Linda, the receptionist and secretary, becoming suddenly interested in her computer screen, and so he stepped into the room and closed the door.
    ‘It’s my business too,’ Charlie said. ‘We’re partners, remember, and I don’t normally see you like this.’
    ‘I didn’t know you did caring.’
    ‘And I didn’t know you did vulnerable, so come on, Amelia, what’s going on? Are there bills we haven’t paid or something?’
    That made Amelia smile. She considered Charlie for a few seconds, and then shook her head. ‘It’s nothing to worry about, like I’ve said.’
    Charlie wasn’t convinced, but if Amelia didn’t want to tell, he knew that was the end of the discussion.
    ‘If we have a problem, I need to know,’ he said. ‘Promise me you’ll tell me.’
    She nodded, and then said, ‘What are you doing for the rest of the day?’
    ‘I’ve got a couple of trials to prepare for, and I need to brief counsel on something, but then I’m going for a drink.’
    ‘On a Monday?’
    ‘Monday in a pub is better than a Monday sitting at home.’
    Amelia smiled with more warmth this time, and he returned it. ‘I mean it,’ he said. ‘I can’t help you with any personal stuff, but if it’s about work, share it.’
    Charlie went back into the reception area, and saw Donia duck back into his room, as if she had been eavesdropping in the doorway. He looked at Linda, who just shrugged.
    Something about Donia wasn’t right.
    Sheldon drove quickly to Ted Kenyon’s house, accompanied by Tracey. Christina had given a statement and made her own way home.
    ‘How are we going to play this?’ Tracey said.
    Sheldon thought about that for a moment. He had a history with Ted, because Ted blamed his team, including Sheldon himself, for his daughter’s killer still being free. Ted had been angry with Billy Privett at first, but as Billy kept his secrets, Ted had turned on the police. Had it gone full circle and Ted taken the ultimate revenge?
    ‘We have to treat him as a suspect,’ he said.
    ‘Are we bringing him in?’
    ‘No, not yet, unless we find something.’
    Sheldon’s mood darkened during the trip along the edges of Oulton until he turned into a street lined by hedgerows, with large detached stone houses set high from the road, sitting at the top of terraced lawns, the borders awash with colour.