Chasing the Dark by Sam Hepburn Page A

and fluttered down my spine. Someone like that shifty bloke who’d been watching me in the graveyard.
    â€˜I said, I haven’t finished with you!’
    I went back downstairs, trying to convince myself I was imagining things and that Doreen had faked the whole thing to give herself an excuse to turf me out.Either way, my immediate future wasn’t looking great – I’d either be spending it in care or dodging the gangsters who were trying to stop me discovering Lincoln’s secrets.
    Close up, Doreen’s anger seemed pretty genuine. I mean, keeping her face the colour of cherryade and making a noise like a leaky piston every time she looked my way can’t have been easy. She was working herself up to have another go at me when the phone rang. She grabbed the receiver. Her voice changed quicker than a flicked switch.
    â€œOh, Mr Pritchard. Hello. Joe tells me that everything went very well last night . . .’
    â€˜What?’ Her eyes locked on to mine like a couple of heat-seeking lasers. ‘There must be a misunderstanding . . .’
    â€˜But I . . .’
    â€˜Supposing I . . .’
    â€˜I realise that, but . . .’
    â€˜Yes . . . I’ll send my invoice.’
    She slammed down the phone, the cherryade flush took on a nasty tinge of Ribena and her breathing went so weird I was scared she was having a heart attack.
    â€˜What’s up?’
    â€˜Don’t you play innocent with me. That was Norma Craig’s lawyer calling to terminate her contract.’
    This was all I needed.
    â€˜Do you have any idea of the trouble George’s business is in or how much a contract like that meant to us?’
    â€˜It’s not my fault. I did everything you said but she’s insane.’
    â€˜Are you trying to blame my cooking? I’ve never had acomplaint, not in twenty years of catering. It must have been you. Turning up in jeans and talking like a lout. I knew it would end in disaster.’
    â€˜So why d’you make me do it then?’
    â€˜You think I wanted to? It was her idea. Some crazy notion about wanting a fresh young face around the place. But you had to mess it up, didn’t you, because you’re a selfish, inconsiderate taker just like your . . .’
    â€˜Don’t you dare say another word about my mum. Don’t you dare ! You think you’re better than she was but you’re not. You’re just a dried-up snobby old cow who doesn’t care about anyone but yourself. I don’t know how George puts up with you.’
    â€˜I won’t be spoken to like that in my own house. Go to your room. Now!’
    â€˜Don’t worry. I’m off. And you know what? You can stick your stinking house and your stupid rules. I’m going back to London.’
    â€˜Back to that sleazy boyfriend of your mother’s? Last I heard, he didn’t want anything to do with you. And I can see why.’
    â€˜I’d rather sleep on the streets than stay here!’
    â€˜That’s just where you’re headed, Joe Slattery, and don’t come grovelling to me when you end up in trouble.’
    I ran upstairs and started stuffing clothes into my rucksack and shoving everything else into a carrier. By the time I’d finished, both bags were bulging but I wasn’t going to leave any of Mum’s stuff behind for Doreen to chuck out. She was right about Eddy, though. If I turned up at our old flat he’d slam the door in my face. I’d staywith Bailey and his brother Jackson – they’d see me all right for a bit. After that, who knew where I’d end up? I didn’t care. Right now the only thing that mattered was catching Mum’s killer.

CHAPTER 11
    I was edgy all the way to London, trying to shake off the feeling I was being watched. Trouble is, once you start worrying about something like that everyone you see looks dodgy. By the