BLOOD DRAGON by Freddie Peters (books to get back into reading .TXT) 📕

The front door rattling as someone tried to open it interrupted her thoughts.

DS Branning had finished smoking yet another cigarette the whiff of it coming through the door as he opened it and announced himself to the crowd of friends by banging the door shut.

There was a police car parked at the bottom of their building when he had left the flat late the night before. The woman officer who had replaced him reported a quiet night. Branning walked in with the confidence of someone who knew all had been calm in his absence.

Nat downed the rest of her tea and made her excuses. Branning took no offence and Cora sensed Nat’s departure had lifted the atmosphere.

Charlie took another mug from the kitchen rack, a cheerful polka dot Emma Bridgewater. He had refreshed the pot and was pouring a second round. Beth had changed into a well cut, designer tracksuit. Cora had borrowed a pair of expensive jeans and a crewneck black sweater. Charlie was still in his pyjamas, complaining he needed to make a move soon.

“I’m off to the grind …” Johnny yawned nonchalantly. “I’ll be back at 1pm, as agreed.”

Branning frowned. “Working part-time now?” He sat in the designated spot he had been assigned by Charlie. It was an improvement on the previous one … as far as possible from everyone else’s seat. He was making progress with the arty gang.

“Nope, giving moral support to friends in need.” Johnny pursed his lips and gave Cora a little nod. She was not climbing up or down any walls without one of them trying to stop her.

When they had returned from their Viro-Tech expedition Johnny had indulged in one of his famous meltdowns; surprisingly, Charlie had joined in too.

Nancy had arrived just in time to drum some much-needed sense into her … Otherwise who knows … Cora might have been thrown into jail for a very long time or trapped in a building without being able to leave … or even used by the evil Jared Turner for his own medical experiment.

Cora had pointed out the building was neither a labyrinth nor the hideaway of Doctor Frankenstein. She had omitted to mention, though, that Nancy was not at all unhappy about her efforts.

But she had looked contrite and this had worked. They remembered why she was doing all this … Ollie was their friend too.

Cora moved to the lounge. Morning TV did not appeal. She could not go back to her own flat. The sky was becoming a little brighter, but the thick clouds were still too dense for the sun to shine through. She stood up again and moved to the window seat. It was cold but she didn’t mind. Beyond the courtyard , she could see people hurrying along the pavement, a couple of men in shabby tracksuits and orange hazard jackets were crossing the road towards her local café.

Cora smiled, remembering DS Branning’s face when Charlie had offered some of his more exotic teas. He had since corrected the choice of tea available and bought extra strong PG Tips, much to Branning’s delight.

Someone pulling a large red trolley walked into the yard. She recognised the postman. Cora crossed the room towards the hallway. Beth and Branning stood up.

“Don’t panic … I’m just going down to check the mail.”

Branning nodded. “I’ll come down with you anyway.”

“Time for another fag, no doubt,” Cora grumbled. Beth joined them for good measure. Branning made his way downstairs first and Cora slowed her pace. “What was that all about? Why couldn’t Nat stay for a bit?”

“Branning makes her uncomfortable.”

“That’s silly …”

“Perhaps not.” Beth slowed further and dropped her voice.” Did you notice how she keeps pulling down her sleeves?”

Cora shook her head.

“And how she downed her tea so quickly?”

This time Cora frowned. “You’re not going to start seeing drugs everywhere? I know she used to smoke a bit of dope, but so what?”

Beth shook her head. “She did a lot more than that, but I agree it was a few years back.”

They reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped for a moment. Cora hadn’t known about the hard drugs and this worried her.

The young postman was standing very still. He had not delivered post to the building for a few days and the site of the charred walls and broken windows made his jaw drop.

He recognised Cora and shook his head. “I’m sorry … what happened?”

“Not sure yet.” Cora shrugged.

He opened his trolley, picked up a wad of letters and a large heavy envelope.

“I’ll take next door’s as well.”

A gust of wind reminded her she had walked out of the flat in a light sweater. She pressed the post against her chest and walked back in quickly. Beth had already disappeared back to the warmth of the flat. Branning’s cigarette was only halfway through. “Anything interesting?”

“Don’t know, haven’t looked yet.” She hurried up back into the warmth of her friend’s lounge.

She sat back on the couch that faced the large window. Beth joined her with two steaming cups of tea. Cora started leafing through the mail. The predictable assortment of bills and junk mail ran through her fingers. She set aside the pile of correspondence that was addressed to her friends. She absentmindedly dropped the large envelope onto their pile, picked up her mug of tea and held it for a moment, warming her fingers. Charlie had disappeared into his home office. He was on a call to a contact about the latest story he was compiling for The Guardian. He liked being a freelance journalist; it was hard work and the living sometimes precarious, but it meant he was also his own boss.

Beth picked up the post in turn looking for something that might be addressed to her. She turned over the heavy packet to read the address and frowned. “This is addressed to Ollie.”

They both froze. Ollie sometimes received magazines through the post and the occasional bill, but most of what he