The History Suite (#9 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) Read Online Free Page A

please.”
    Joe led the way with Liam walking behind Craig, pulling a face.
    “I saw that, Liam, and stop pretending to be hurt. Be logical; why would I waste my most senior team member on a witness interview when I need you here?”
    Liam’s annoyed expression changed to a grin. “I never thought of that. We’ll have bigger fish to fry.”
    Joe led the way down a wide, bright corridor with more windows on either side. When he reached a white door he stopped. Craig stared at it, surprised. It had a knocker and door-bell just like a house. There was even a letter-box in the front!
    Joe grinned. “This is Reilly Suite and you’re not going to believe the inside. I’m coming here when I get old, so.”
    Liam cut in instantly. “Not long now then.”
    Craig’s retort was just as quick. “And you’ll be here before him.”
    Liam was older than Joe by two years. There was plenty of life in him yet, but it didn’t do to let facts spoil a quip. He gestured Joe to ring the bell. One minute later it was answered by a thirty-something woman dressed in T-shirt and jeans. She smiled at them.
    “Yes. Can I help you?”
    Craig showed his badge and introduced everyone then waited for the woman to give her name.
    “Hazel. Hazel Gormley. I’m the sister here. Please come in.”
    As she led the way Craig noticed a disgruntled look on Liam’s face. He fell back and whispered. “What’s wrong with you?”
    “T-shirts and jeans. I like nurses’ uniforms, especially the ones with the little hats.”
    “This isn’t your erotic fantasy, Liam. She’s wearing normal clothes because this is people’s home, not a hospital ward.”
    Liam made a face. “I’m just saying.”
    “Well stop.”
    As the exchange ended the sister halted in front of a second door and Craig realised she’d just led them through an entrance hall; quite a grand one now that he looked at it. The inner door resembled the outer except without a letter box, and as it swung inwards Craig gasped. The communal area in front of them was parquet floored and elegant in an old fashioned way, just like his parent’s hall. If it had been designed with older people in mind it worked. Off the space were several rooms and a quick tour revealed them to be bedrooms, sitting, TV and drawing rooms, with a games room towards the rear. Other hallways led to a dining room and sports complex.
    The sister stopped walking and smiled up at Craig. “Most people are at dinner at the moment but I got permission to show you one of the apartments. It belongs to a married couple – Joe and Maria Muldoon. They moved in last year.”
    As she talked she led them into an airy room, decorated as if it was in someone’s house. “The residents can bring their own furniture if they wish; it makes it feel more like home.”
    This particular pair of residents had brought a four poster bed!
    “This apartment has a living room, bedroom and ensuite. There’s also a small kitchen if they want to cook.”
    After the tour had finished the sister showed them into her office. Over tea and biscuits Craig asked questions while the others munched.
    “How many residents do you have in total, and how many couples versus single occupants?”
    “Twenty-two at the moment; six couples and ten single residents. The age range is sixty to ninety-two. Most are mobile, although one uses a wheelchair and some use Zimmer frames and canes.”
    Craig smiled. Those had been his next questions. Liam interjected.
    “Sixty. That’s a bit young, isn’t it?”
    Craig smiled, knowing that he was feeling his age.
    Gormley shrugged. “I suppose it is if you’re in perfect health, but our residents all have problems such as asthma and diabetes. That’s why Professor Taylor started the unit; to research the outcomes if elderly people are treated with vigorous prevention and care.”
    Craig asked another question. “How often is the professor here?”
    “Usually twice a day, although he spends most of his time on the