Don't Come Looking by AJ Campbell (top 100 novels of all time TXT) 📕

make him look a decade older than his forty years.

Joe comes running into the room. ‘Mummy, you’re here. Where’s Mel?’

I scoop him into my arms. ‘I’m on a late shift today.’

‘Does that mean you’re taking us to school?’

‘It sure does.’

‘Daddy, Daddy, Mummy’s taking us to school for a change,’ Joe says. Here we go. The whistle has blown for the daily game of tug of war they innocently force me to play. The kids are already ahead. ‘Don’t get up yet,’ Joe says, jumping on the bed and diving between the two of us. Jim yelps and turns to get up.

‘Be careful of Daddy, Joe.’

‘Pull your silky blanket over us,’ Joe says.

I cover us with our chenille throw. It’s too hot, but it’s our morning ritual on days that allow. ‘Keep still while I sip my tea.’

‘Why do you have to go to work?’ he asks.

‘Because we need to pay bills and buy food.’

‘Why doesn’t Daddy go to work like other daddies? Then you could take us to school every day.’

‘Daddy does work, but he works from home.’

‘Why?’

‘Because it’s easier for us if I work full-time and he works part-time.’

‘But why?’

The complexity of the kids and their never-ending questions. I feel like the suspects I regularly interview. Well aware that if I give the wrong answer, it could get me into serious trouble. I sometimes wish I could mutter, “No comment”, too.

‘Because it is.’

‘Why don’t Daddy’s legs work properly like other daddies?’

‘I’ve told you before. Daddy had a bad car accident.’

‘Why?’

I jump up. ‘Come on. Chop-chop. Go and get your sister up. Time to get dressed.’

I update Jim on the journey to Sasha’s.

‘You know that whiteboard in Marc’s office? What does he use it for?’

‘The one with all the drawing and computer code on it?’

‘I’m not sure. There was nothing on there when I went into his office yesterday.’

‘I thought you weren’t going to get involved?’

‘I can’t not.’

He tuts and rearranges his position, trying to get comfortable. ‘You can, Eva. They’re not another work case.’

‘What kind of computer code?’

He rolls his eyes. ‘For that security system he’s been working on. He sketched the outline of how the pen would work on it. And ideas for the computer code. I didn’t understand any of it if I’m honest.’

‘You went in there last week. Did the board have all that stuff on then?’

‘Why all the questions?’

‘Because Marc’s computer has been wiped to factory settings, and someone wiped that board too, at some point.’

He tuts and rolls his eyes. ‘You know what I hate most?’

‘What?’

He tells me how much he hates seeing me playing with fire, knowing I’m in for third-degree burns when he can’t get close enough to save me.

‘By the way, I’ve offered you up for something.’

He gives me that dubious expression that says he knows he’s not going to like what I’m going to say.

‘We need you to put together a playlist for Harry’s party on Saturday.’

‘What did you do that for? I don’t know what eighteen-year-olds like.’

‘It’s mainly a family party, only a few of his friends are going, so it can be a right old mix of tunes. I’ll help you.’

‘You’re going to need to.’

‘If you think putting a playlist together is hard, get this. I’ve offered to make the cake.’

‘But you can’t even bake.’

I giggle. ‘I don’t know what I was thinking. I meant to call around a few cake shops yesterday but got sidetracked. I’ll do it today.’

‘You’re leaving it a bit late, don’t you think? What’s the backup plan?’

‘Me.’

‘You don’t have the time.’ He gives me a quizzical look I know I deserve. ‘Or the ability. It’s the boy’s eighteenth for Christ’s sake.’

We arrive at Napier Close with only minutes to spare. I get Jim’s chair out of the boot and check my phone while I wait for him to sort himself out.

Luke and Harry emerge from next door in a hurry. ‘Hi, Jim,’ Harry calls out. ‘Strange to see you here this time of day. I thought you usually came at night.’

‘Couldn’t make Monday evening, so we rearranged for this morning,’ Jim says. He’s struggling with the footplate on his chair. Luke bends down to help him, but Jim brushes him away. ‘I’m fine, thanks. Where are you two off to?’ Jim asks.

‘Exam,’ Harry says. ‘Maths. Dad usually helps me revise, but of all the times, he’s had to go away for work.’

Jim blushes and turns to Luke. ‘You got an exam too?’

Luke nods.

‘Good luck to you both.’

‘Gotta go,’ Harry says. ‘Or we’ll be late.’

‘Want a lift to the Tube?’ I ask.

Harry looks at his watch, then at Luke who nods. ‘Thanks,’ they chorus.

‘Let me see Jim in. You can wait in the car if you want.’

‘I hate lying to them,’ Jim whispers.

‘You didn’t lie.’

‘Indirectly, I did. I know damn well why his dad couldn’t help him revise.’

Sasha is standing waving me in as if she has something to tell me that can’t wait. ‘I need to talk to you. Quickly, before Jim comes in,’ she says as I take Jim’s bag in while he takes a call. Her face holds the expression of both pain and fear. It’s a familiar look. I’ve seen it on so many people before – the pain of loss and the fear of the unknown.

‘He knows about Marc,’ I say.

‘Why?’

‘I couldn’t not tell him, Sasha. He knew something was up when you cancelled on Monday. I’ve offered the boys a lift to the Tube. You can talk about the situation in front of him when I get back.’

‘I spoke to Art about Pen seeing Marc getting into his car last Friday.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He denied it at first. I couldn’t believe it. We’re meant to be colleagues and friends, I thought. I had to practically break down before he’d tell me the truth. I got it out of him in the end.’ Her voice chokes. ‘He gave Marc a lift to the doctors.’

‘Why?’

‘Apparently, Marc was suffering from depression.’ She shakes her head, her bottom lip quivering. ‘Why didn’t