Infernal: Bite The Bullet Read Online Free Page A

well, just not well
enough.
    “Detective Dalton, sorry to bug you.” I fidgeted
with the flats in my hand, stuffing my apology in with the pressing need to
talk to him.
    “That’s quite alright, Neva. I did say any time.”
    Ha, but I knew from his stilted tone he was
regretting those words now.
    “I am having dinner with my wife presently. Can
this wait? If this is about the reduced manpower on your brother’s case, you
know I’m doing all I can —”
    “No, it’s not that. I–” I took a breath and
squeezed my eyes shut, as though it would make my blurted confession go easier.
“I auditioned today, at Vinyl Scratch studios. The place where Daniel –”
    “I know where that is, Neva, but do you really
think that was wise?”
    “You said yourself: none of the dancers would
speak with the police. Maybe they’ll talk to me.”
    “I see.” I could almost hear his brow arch, such
was the curiosity in his voice. He paused for a long moment before clearing his
throat and asking what he was clearly dying to know. “And have any of
them spoken to you?”
    “Not exactly, no, but–” I ran my thumb over the
glossy business card. “Did a Chelsea club called Infernal ever feature in your
investigations? Was there any record of Daniel having worked there?”
    There was another long pause on the other end, like
Dalton was thinking it over. “Infernal? No. I can’t say I’ve heard of it. Why?”
    It’d been a long shot, I supposed.
    “Oh, never mind. I’m sure it’s nothing. You enjoy
your dinner, Detective. And say hi to Susanna for me.” Susanna was his plump,
homey wife. He’d shown me a picture from his wallet once, of her and their two
goofy kids, and it’d felt awkward. The happy families set-up was way out of my
comfort zone.
    “You’re not thinking of doing anything foolish are
you? I can’t stop you auditioning. It’s a free country, after all, but I won’t
condone you taking the law into your own hands. Tell me who mentioned this club
to you, and I’ll have my men look into it first thing in the –”
    I’d already hung-up. Perhaps I should have waited
and let the police check it out. But he’d only talk me out of it, and so far,
every lead I’d given Dalton on what I knew of Daniel’s life had run headlong
into a brick wall. Every potential witness clammed-up under questioning. It was
as though my brother had been wiped from their collective memories. That, or something
– someone? – had made them too frightened to talk to the police. I was done
with waiting. I’d sat on Daniel’s note when he went missing, and it cost him
his life. That was something I could never forgive myself for, and damned if I
was going to make that same mistake twice.
    Between the angelic blond man tipping me off about
the auditions, and now Gracie giving me the card, I couldn’t shake the feeling
that fate – or some other spirit – was guiding me. God, that man. For one
stupid moment, I wondered if he could be Daniel’s guardian angel, sending me a
message from beyond the grave, to help me catch his killers. Sometimes things
happened that made you wonder whether there wasn’t some higher force pulling
the strings of your life.
    I reached into my back pocket and looked at the
card again. Gracie knew something. She’d acted so weird when I showed her the
photograph, and I had to believe she’d given me the card for a reason. It was
too late to stop now.
    I stripped out of my clothes, changed my bra so
the lace would show above the neckline of the dress, and shimmied into the
sleek black silk I hoped would be classy enough for a private club.
    Mission: Check out the club. If anything bad
happened, at least I’d all but left a trail of breadcrumbs for Detective Dalton.
     
    The black cab pulled up outside a sombre looking
front door that was more Ten Downing Street than nightclub, and I frowned at
the low-key entrance. There was no bouncer, no signage. The street was deserted.
    “You’re sure this