Part 34 (2/2)

'Bridget Nicholson what's going to happen to her?'

'She'll never be a judge, but I don't see any good coming out of persecuting her further; besides, I'm not sure exactly which crime she has committed.'

'Girvan? I take it he's going away for a long time?' Eddie asked.

I nodded again.

'Good,' Eddie continued. 'You'll be needing an a.s.sistant with a view to partners.h.i.+p, mind. I need to get a bit more organised, a bit more settled.' Oddly, Eddie was the only one who hadn't touched alcohol all night. It would take more than one night to impress me, however, although he wasn't usually so a.s.sertive.

'I'd like you all to raise your gla.s.ses!' I thought it was a bit premature of him I hadn't given him a job yet. Eddie stood up, beaming. He seemed incredibly excited about the prospect of being my new a.s.sistant, even if it was only happening in his mind.

He hushed the pub.

'Ladies and gentlemen, I would like you all to drink a toast to the future.'

I smiled. He wasn't a bad guy and I did like a bit of attention.

Eddie smiled at Lavender who was nursing a drink maybe she was joining him on the wagon.

'To the future Mrs Gibb!' Eddie announced, as Lavender looked on, happy enough to burst.

The deal was sealed.

I don't think anything that had happened in the last few weeks surprised me quite as much as what was going on here. As I kissed Lavender I felt her bubbling over with joy. She pulled Eddie over beside her and whispered something to him.

'Ladies and gentlemen again!' he shouted. 'Just one more toast, then I'll leave you all to enjoy the night ...' Bless him, he hadn't forgotten me after all.

'Raise your gla.s.ses, please, not only to myself and my beautiful wife-to-be, but to the forthcoming baby Gibb. Here's hoping he or she gets their mother's looks and brains.' Lavender patted her belly proudly as Eddie put his hand over hers.

b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l.

This was turning into some night.

As Joe put his arms around me, high on it all, I answered my mobile.

'Is that Brodie McLennan? It's Desk Sergeant Munro from St Leonard's police station here.'

Sighing, I told him that I knew where he was stationed just as he knew I had picked up my own phone. Some things never change, and this man was one of them.

'I'm calling to advise you, Miss McLennan, that we are about to arrest Marjorie Diamond for the murder of her husband, Donna Diamond.' He broke off for a second to curse with his fellow reception officers about the intricacy of it all.

'Anyway,' he went on, 'whoever she is was the wife woman has asked for you. And DI Bancho has said that you should be kept informed of everything anyway. Get here as soon as possible because we want to process her quickly.'

'Of course you do. You always do. There's probably some game on telly tonight. Haven't you heard? I've had quite a busy day myself, Sergeant Munro.'

'No rest for the wicked, miss, as my old mother used to say. Best get on your bike and get up here p.r.o.nto. She's a screamer ...'

The party was in full swing as I got on Awesome.

I looked back at Joe standing in the light of the pub and knew that all the people who mattered to me were behind him.

It felt odd.

It felt nice.

I hoped it would last.

THE END.

Exclusive author interview.

Q. How did you get the idea for Blood Lines? Did it come to you as a complete story, a character, a theme?

MT: I was jogging past Ruthven Barracks, a fabulous Jacobite ruin when the inspiration for Blood Lines came to me. A top level legal official had been a.s.saulted and the writer's act came into play. I asked myself what if ... The result was Blood Lines; it is so far removed from reality that no-one but me can ever see where the idea came from. The plot lines for the books are inspired by actual legal cases; a group of foreign policemen did take over the drug supply chain in their neighbourhood to supplement their pension they were apprehended.

LW-B: Much of the story came as a direct response to what had happened in Dark Angels the last few lines of that book really paved the way for this one, as they're all about Brodie really, everyone else is just unlucky to be involved.

Q. Do you draw upon your own experiences with family and friends as you create characters and plots?

MT: A writer is the sum total of their experiences so to that extent my family and friends appear in the books. When I was an aspiring writer, I heard an author speaking and she said you cannot write unless you have had an interesting life my life has been filled with events and memorable characters.

LW-B: No, not at all my family and real friends are all very lovely and very normal!

Q. Which character do you feel most connected to and why?

LW-B: Lizzie is my favourite. Her back story and her ability to recreate herself in any situation (and with any man!), is one that I would like to explore. She's a great counter-balance to Brodie.

Q. Who are your literary influences?

LW-B: I'm not sure that I have influences, but I do have preferences. In crime, Cain and Nasaw are constant favourites, but I could read any d.i.c.kens or Zola any time of any day. I am hugely impressed by what Jodi Picoult has done, and, in the last few years, have been blown away by Susanna Clarke, Michel Faber, and Louise Welsh.

Acknowledgements.

From Maria:.

Lots of love to Jenny Brown at Jenny Brown a.s.sociates who is the most amazing agent; your kindness and support has been invaluable.

To the girls at Avon, you are the best team. Special thanks to Maxine Hitchc.o.c.k and Kes.h.i.+ni Naidoo, whose insight into the ma.n.u.script was awe-inspiring. It has been many years since I have been a lawyer and I am grateful for the support given to me by my friends in the legal profession, especially John Mayer, who keeps me on track.

From Linda:.

<script>