Tyack & Frayne Mysteries 01 - Once Upon A Haunted Moor by Harper Fox Page A

become a local euphemism, you know. Where’s Lee Tyack? He’s...”
    “He’s gone to visit his dog.”
    They both burst out laughing. It was three in the morning, the ward lights turned down dim, and a nurse across the way gave them a look of reproach. Quickly they hushed one another. “How are you feeling?” Gideon asked unsteadily. “I talked to one of the docs. That was some kind of horse tranquilliser Kemp used.”
    “Christ. I’m okay, but the poor kid...”
    “She’s fine too, somehow. She’s just down the corridor getting checked over. Sarah wants your name strung up in lights across the village square.”
    “Yours too, I should think.”
    “She’s appreciative, yeah. But I told her how I got the clues to find the girl. Nothing would have happened without you.”
    “I don’t know. I feel like you drew it out of me somehow, and kept me sane while it was coming. The whole thing was much, much easier with you around. I meant it when I said we made a good team.”
    “Well, you know – maybe on one of your visits to your dog...”
    Lee’s mouth quirked. “Don’t start me off again. I’m serious. I’d like to work with you again if I could.”
    “Okay, but please not in my village. I don’t want Dark turning into Midsomer.” Gideon sobered. “I’d love to work with you too. Oh, by the way – I have to give something back to you.” He drew out of his pocket the silver chain. “That was a good call, dropping that for me.”
    “I had a job, letting it go where Joe wouldn’t spot it. I knew you would.”
    “How did you know? Psychic thing?”
    “No, not at all. You’re an observant man, Gideon. You’re smart, and you’ve got a great big pair of balls on you, coming down alone to find me and Lorna like that. You’re a good copper. Surely you know that.”
    “I’m not sure. I used to know once. Losing the kid – feeling that helpless – made me question everything.” Gideon began to hand the silver chain to Lee. But he was newly confident about some things, and when Lee raised his chin a bit and looked at him, he leaned in close instead and fastened the chain around his neck. Hesitated one moment, breathing his warm scent through the antiseptic hospital smells, and sealed his work with a kiss. Lee shivered in pleasure. He returned the gesture – one soft press of his mouth to Gideon’s cheek. Reluctantly Gideon eased back. He wasn’t about to hide anything about himself ever again, but some things deserved peace and closed doors for everyone. “Just wait,” he whispered. “Wait for your visit to your dog.”
    “It had better be my first visit.”
    “The very first.”
    Gideon sat down. The nurse wasn’t looking, so he carefully perched on the bed. “Lee ,” he said softly. “You saw the same things I did out there. What did we meet on the moor?”
    “ If I could answer that... I’d know what came scratching at your door the night we met. But I don’t, Gid. I think sometimes places like the moor – they have their secrets, and they’ll always keep them.” Lee took Gideon’s hand, rubbing the knuckles as Gideon had for him when they’d turned back the Beast from the door. “But I don’t think you’ll be troubled any more.”
    “Can you do that? Look into the future as well?”
    “No.” He made a face. “God forbid. The past and the present are more than enough.”
    “I bet. I’d like to foretell a few things, though.”
    “Oh?”
    “I’m pretty sure that tomorrow I’m going to go into the village and see if that nice, boring, modern little house I lived in before my parents got ill is still available for rent. And my dad can’t take anything in any more, but my mother can. I’m going to go and see her. We need to talk.”
    Lee’s grip tightened. “Your crystal ball’s in good shape, Constable. Anything else?”
    “One thing. Joe Kemp will never be seen or heard of again.”
    “Not hide nor a hair. Not a scrap.”

About the Author
     
    Harper Fox is