Today is my stop on the Blog Tour for Stalker by Lisa Stone where I welcome Lisa to my blog where she has kindly provided me with an extract from her latest novel. I was thrilled to be asked by Sabah Khan from Avon Books to take part along with some other fab book bloggers. You can find out who else is taking part in this fabulous Blog Tour at the end of this piece so without further ado, here it is:
‘Very professional,’ Derek said, his voice unsteady.
‘Should be; Mum’s a nurse. We’re all up to speed on first aid.’
‘Are you?’ Derek asked, feigning ignorance of Paul’s home life. ‘That’s good. Well done. You said “we”?’
‘Yes, Mum, Dad, my brother, sister and me,’ Paul clarified, closing the first-aid box. ‘Although they’re my parents’ favourites. I’m the runt of the litter.’ He threw the discarded packets and soiled dressing into the bin and then looked at Derek, waiting for his instructions. ‘What next?’
‘Oh, yes. Perhaps you could finish connecting that camera for me? You know what to do.’ His usual instructive manner had gone. The intimacy of a minute ago lingered and Derek was reluctant to let it go. He could identify with not fitting in. Although he didn’t have any siblings he was sure if he had he would have been his mother’s least favourite: the runt.
‘So you’re happy with the way your apprenticeship is going?’ he asked awkwardly as Paul climbed the ladder.
‘Yes. Why?’ He glanced down at him.
‘Well, I haven’t asked you before and it’s important you’re happy. The apprenticeship scheme will ask you for feedback.’
He shrugged. ‘Yes, I’m fine.’
‘So no complaints?’
‘Apart from the abysmal pay, you mean?’
‘You’re on apprenticeship rates.’ He waited until Paul had finished clipping the wire he was working on. ‘And your home life? No worries there?’
‘None that you need to be concerned about,’ Paul returned.
‘And all’s going well with your girlfriend?’ Derek persisted. He knew Paul had a steady girlfriend because he disappeared most lunchtimes saying he was going to phone her.
‘I guess. Although last Saturday was a bit of a bummer after the stabbing at the club the Friday before.’
‘You go to U-Beat nightclub?’ Derek asked, taken aback.
‘Sometimes. The police were inside asking about the stabbing. It seems there might be a connection with some other crimes.’
‘They said that?’ He struggled to hide his shock. Thank goodness Paul was up the ladder and concentrating on wiring the camera.
‘Yes. They were trying to find out more about Kev, the bouncer who was stabbed. We didn’t know him.’
‘And the person who did it? Do they have any leads?’
‘Don’t think so. It seems he might have got away on a motorbike. Hey, you’ve got a bike, haven’t you?’
‘Yes, but I only take it out on Sundays,’ Derek said, a little too quickly.
Paul glanced at him, tightened the last screw, then came down the ladder and waited. ‘What next?’
Derek shook his head. ‘Nothing. Clear up and go home.’
‘You sure? It’s only one-thirty.’
‘Yes. I’ll be here a while talking Mr and Mrs Osman through accessing their system online; they don’t appear very computer savvy. Then I’m going home to catch up on some paperwork. I’ll see you at eight-thirty sharp in the morning.’
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