Murder Club - Mark Pearson [33]
‘Sorry I’m late,’ she said.
‘You will be, Nicola!’ said Laura, noticing the nipples on the younger woman’s breast harden.
‘I’ll make it up to you?’
‘Do you like to be disciplined?’ asked Laura, stroking the tip of her crop against Nicola’s breasts.
‘Yes,’ said the younger woman with a breathless sigh.
‘Yes, what?’ barked Laura and flicked the tip against her nipple.
‘Yes, mistress,’ she said. ‘If it please you.’
‘Tonight just might be your lucky night then,’ said Laura as she slipped her left hand under Nicola’s mini-skirted dress.
‘Thank you, mistress.’
Laura leaned in and whispered in her ear. ‘You are not wearing any panties, Nicola,’ she said.
‘No, ma’am’
‘Good girl. But that is very, very naughty!’ The woman gasped as Laura worked a finger into her. ‘I think you are going to have to be punished, very, very severely.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Shush.’ Laura removed her hand from under Nicola’s skirt and put her finger in her mouth. ‘From now, on you speak only when I give you permission.’
The younger woman’s eyes dilated with desire and excitement. Something was dancing in Laura’s eyes too. But it was a desire of a completely different nature.
‘Come with me then,’ she said and led Nicola away from the main room.
Laura took another glass of water, squeezing her eyes shut trying to remember what happened next.
She swung her legs over the bed and held her head down, not noticing the tears that splashed onto her red and welted thighs.
23.
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR JACK Delaney blew on his mug of tea and took a sip, stamping his feet up and down a little, and tapping his heels on the side of the kerb to knock off the snow.
‘Any chance of getting that bacon sandwich before Easter, you reckon, Roy?’ he asked.
‘You’re a real miserable sod in the mornings, Jack. Anyone ever tell you that?’ Roy, the ruddy-faced owner of the burger van, called over his shoulder.
‘And make sure it’s crispy.’
‘Well, do you want it now or do you want it crispy?’
‘Just get on with it.’
Roy gave him a quizzical look. ‘You’re not worried about this court case, are you?’
‘Do I look worried?’
‘Hard to tell with you, Jack, you always look as happy as an Irishman chewing on a lemon.’
Delaney would have responded, but his mobile phone trilled in his pocket. He fished it out and flipped it open, looking at the caller ID, but not recognising it.
‘Delaney?’ There was a wheezing sound on the other end of the line. ‘Still economical with your words, I see, Jack?’
‘Who is this?’
‘It’s an old friend, don’t you recognise me, Detective Inspector?’
The man had a raspy, low voice and Delaney nodded. ‘Michael Robinson.’
‘In the flesh, large as life. So to speak.’
‘What can I do for you?’
‘Just wanted to tell you I’m looking forward to seeing you in court.’
‘I’ll talk to you there then …’
He would have hung up, but Robinson spoke again. ‘I hear you’re going to get married, Jack. I wanted to congratulate you.’
‘You heard wrong.’
‘Shacked up with a lovely lady doctor, with your daughter all nice and cosy, and a new one on the way as I heard.’
Delaney breathed through his nostrils. ‘You better hear this then. You’re going down today, and this time you are staying down.’
‘I wouldn’t count your chickens.’
‘You can count on this, Robinson. You get in my life or my family’s life, and I will fucking destroy you.’
He