Virtually Perfect (47 page)

'Thank you, sir.'

Ben took his driving license back, slipping it away.

'Thanks,' he smiled up at them.

'...Might I suggest the two of you go home now.' the officer said. 

Eve and Ben glanced at one another, recognising from the tone, it wasn't a suggestion.  It was an order.

'Yes!' they said in unison, both grinning with relief.

Finally they stepped away.  Ben wound the windows back up, firing the engine. 

He turned to Eve, dropping his phone into her lap.

'I think it's time you called that locksmith now.  What do you reckon, princess?  Let's go and make sure that cat of yours is alright.'

PCs Andy Millington and Bryan Chapman watched the black Audi TT rolling away.

'What do you make of that then?' muttered Chapman.

'Another five minutes, and I'd say we'd have had a lot of paperwork to fill out.' scoffed Millington.  'I think they're the
outdoorsy
type.'

They gave each other a look and chuckled.

'Did you see the state of feet?' mused Chapman.

'Did you see the state of his arms?' Millington sighed.  'Some weird fetish, no doubt,' he said, shaking his head.  'You got a positive ID?  It definitely was that berk who threw himself off the pier last week?'

Chapman nodded back.

'...Did you see her trainers?'

Millington shuddered. 

'See them?  I could practically taste them.'

Millington pulled his keys from his pocket, walking around to the driver's side.

'Come on, Bry.  It all checked out.'

PC Chapman paused, watching the red tail lights ascending to the main road, crinkling his brow.

'It doesn't make sense,' he murmured.  'Percival Terrace?  The guy must be loaded.  What a way to carry on?'

Millington sighed.

'Nowt so queer as folk.' he said, swinging the door open.  'And rich folk?  They're the queerest of the lot.  Come on Bry, let's get back to the station.  Time for a cuppa...  I've a funny feeling we'll be

seeing those two again.'

I would like to say a special thank you to Ilaria Cozzolino for the Italian translations; Paul Beeley for the cover design; Val Hunt, Michelle Hill and Hanna Knight for their unwavering support and encouragement, and to all of my family and friends for putting up with me during the writing process.  I couldn't have done it without you.

Finally, I would like to say a big thank you to my readers (without whom there would be no point doing it in the first place).  I hope you've enjoyed my debut novel.  If you have, I would be very grateful if you would review the book at
Amazon.com
or
Amazon.co.uk
.  I'm always looking for feedback so feel free to join me on
Facebook
and
Twitter
.  Alternatively, I can be reached via my website,
www.sadiemills.co.uk
, where you'll find my blog and details of my future releases
.

Sadie Mills is a dizzy (strawberry) blonde hailing from deepest, darkest Devon, where she lives with her Maine Coon cat. She wrote her first novel aged 26 years old. She worked two jobs to fund her first creative writing course, stealing Saturdays to attend
The Groucho Club
in London Soho.

Sadie has worked in the legal profession for over fifteen years. She has also worked as a canine beautician and wedding chauffeur, as well as living in a restaurant for over two decades. She has flown in a hot air balloon, ridden elephants bareback through the jungle, and seen Christian Slater in his pants (in the British sense, out of them in the American one).

In her spare time, Sadie enjoys scuba, travelling in the Middle East, and skydiving. She doesn't get much spare time, admittedly. Which is probably just as well.

Sadie is currently available for weddings and bar mitzvahs.