A day comes and goes.

Another day arrives.

The phone doesn’t ring.

And another day.

What’s happening?

She reaches for the phone, then snatches her hand back.

They’ll call when they’re ready…

But they don’t.

The following morning, she watches the clock: eight am…

Eight-thirty…

Nine o’clock…

Nine-fifteen…

She picks up the phone again, dials out. “Hello, Hofferman and Partners? Is Mr Devlin there, please? It’s Mitch Kimberley.”

“I’m sorry, Miss Kimberley, Mr Devlin is not available….” The voice chokes, breaking into uncontrolled sobs. “He’s been murdered. Gunned down. His little girl is in hospital too.”

Mitch, heart hammering, “Theo. Let me talk to Theo Aldred.”

The sound muffles…

hand over the

Aldred is

catches in her throat. “When will he be

Mitch hears, “No, I’ve a wife and children

repeats, “Mr Aldred is

slams down

her mouth, she fights for air, then she dashes for the door. White-faced, she sprints to

spins, looking for

A newspaper… local…

The headline…

reads,

Romani Case outrage…

Prominent lawyer gunned down…

prosecutor Max Devlin is reported as murdered by a gunman or gunmen as yet unidentified in an incident in the grounds of the school attended by his nine-year-old daughter. The daughter herself is also reported as injured but recovering in hospital. Speculation is rife that the murder is connected

folds up the paper, replaces it on the counter. Full-blown panic swells inside her. Her stomach rises. Pushing a fist to her

vomits again. At length, scarlet-faced and sweating, Mitch leans over a basin, splashes cold water

She’s on her own…

*****

James

head around Richard’s door. “I’m wrapping up for the day. Going for a drink with Michael and Charlotte.

with a finality that suggests he’s glad of an

I’d like Charlotte to have

around. Meet you in the lobby in ten

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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