NO AGE TO DIE: The release of a dangerous prisoner leads to murder (DCI John Blizzard Book 9) by John Dean (digital ebook reader .txt) 📕

Relief flooded his body and he lay there for a few moments, waiting for his heart rate to steady, then sat up and glanced across the sleeping Fee to the digital clock on her bedside table. He gave a sigh; 4.00am. He tried to get back to sleep but found himself continually checking the digital clock, which seemed to move so, so slowly. Eventually, he gave in and let his mind turn to the events of recent days. However, he did not come to any conclusions and it was a relief when he heard Michael wake up in the next room just after six, giving the inspector an excuse to get up.

Now, the inspector sat in the living room and fed his son spoonfuls of yoghurt as the child sat in his high chair and watched television. He opened another pot of yoghurt, glanced at the wall clock and reached for the television remote.

‘Just want to see the local news headlines,’ he said.

Michael gave a sob as his father flicked away from children’s television to reveal Margaret Hatton as she gave a live breakfast news interview from outside the church.

‘So, what do you want to happen?’ asked the reporter.

Hatton glanced round at the group of supporters who were gathered behind her. Blizzard noticed that Bob Lennox and his son were not there.

‘Recent events,’ she said, ‘have illustrated the folly of allowing the hostel to continue to operate. We demand that it be closed immediately. This situation is out of control. How many more people have to die before something is done?’

A murmur of agreement rippled through the protestors. Blizzard scowled; things were bad enough without national television turning the spotlight on events at St John’s. The scowl was banished as Fee entered the room, her short blonde hair wrapped in a towel following her shower. A former detective, she was much younger than Blizzard and had met him when she was transferred to his CID division. She sat down on the sofa and watched the news report with interest; she had left the force to look after their child and Blizzard knew that at times like this she missed the job. He couldn’t help but feel somehow guilty.

Michael gave another sob and reached out a hand towards the television, the pudgy fingers clenching and unclenching.

‘You’re absolutely right, Mikey,’ said Blizzard. He switched back to children’s television. ‘Let’s get rid of the nasty lady, shall we?’

Michael beamed and gave a cry of delight as a brightly-coloured pig bounded across the screen.

‘She still kicking off then?’ asked Fee.

‘Who, Peppa?’

‘Margaret Hatton.’

‘Yeah, she’s doing my head in.’

‘She’s got a point, mind,’ said Fee. She grinned as Michael reached eagerly for the next spoonful of yoghurt. ‘Someone needs to draw attention to what’s been happening. I mean, what on earth were they thinking offering Albert Macklin a place there? A man like that?’

‘Indeed,’ said Blizzard. He scraped the last of the yoghurt out of the pot and fed it to Michael, whose little hands grasped the air once more. ‘Surely, you can’t want another, young man?’

Fee watched as the inspector peeled open the new pot.

‘He’ll burst if he eats any more,’ she said. ‘I know you’ve been up to your eyes in this St John’s stuff, but have you thought about what we talked about last night? I know it’s only part-time but the hours are pretty regular. And security is something I know about. They said that the job’s as good as mine if I apply.’

‘I should think so, too.’ Blizzard dipped the spoon into the yoghurt pot. ‘And it helps that they’re ex-police.’

‘So, I’ll apply then, shall I?’

‘Yeah, go for it. Any idea where we can find a good childminder?’

‘Possibly. I rang Jay to ask for details of the woman who she and Dave hired to look after Laura when Jay went back to teaching. I’ll fix up a meeting with her, shall I? She sounds pretty good. Jay’s impressed and I trust her judgement.’

‘Sure. Just give me a bit of notice if you can. We’re a bit full on at the moment, as you can imagine.’ Blizzard glanced at the wall clock and stood up. ‘Talking of which, I promised I’d check with the forensics guys at the church.’

He passed the yoghurt pot to Fee.

‘Mummy finish it,’ he said.

He walked into the hallway and re-emerged wearing his coat and carrying his briefcase. The inspector gave Michael a kiss then leaned over to do the same with Fee. She looked up at him and frowned.

‘You look like shit,’ she said.

‘I didn’t sleep well.’

‘You never sleep well.’

‘I had one of my nightmares,’ he said.

‘Which one?’

‘The one about being trapped.’

Fee frowned again.

‘And do you feel trapped?’ she said.

He shook his head.

‘Of course not,’ he said.

He left the house and drove through the winding country lanes leading to the city. His mind was still on the conversation with Fee as he entered the outskirts of Hafton. He did not feel trapped. Far from it. Indeed, he felt more content than he could ever recall. And he was glad that she had decided to venture back into the job market. Although he had kept his thoughts to himself at the time, he had not agreed with her decision to resign as a CID officer, even though he understood her need to spend time with their son. Now, as he entered the city and drove through the streets, his mind was taken up with the logistical challenges that would come with both parents working.

But, he thought as he approached St John’s, the nightmare had to mean something. Had to point to a truth. He realised that everyone with whom the detectives had dealt in recent days was trapped