‘And why are you telling me this?’
Fabian held her gaze but she didn’t blink. ‘Just passing it on.’
‘Is that all? I’ve got to get home before I’m dragged back here again.’
Fabian nodded, and she started for the entrance. He watched the sliding doors part and Reid plod into the car park and wondered if it had really been her that had picked the phone up. There was never definitive justice but there were pockets of it. Garth Brennan had been charged with possession and it didn’t look as if his academic career would withstand it.
He scaled the steps and walked onto the freezing office floor.
‘Morning, team. Day forty-four and we have no choice but to eat the huskies.’
Banner still had her parka on and was just sitting down with her coffee. ‘There’s still some steam coming off this if you’re interested?’
Finch was in short sleeves and hunched over his computer. ‘Wait a moment. I think the wait may be over.’
Banner swivelled in her chair. ‘Maintenance finally given us a date?’
‘No.’ Finch clicked his mouse and the screen was filled with the image of a log burning in a stove. ‘Care of Netflix. Just like the real thing. And it’s smokeless.’
Fabian dropped into his seat. ‘Metcalfe will be pleased. We may well freeze to death but at least it’s eco-friendly.’
Banner glanced at her watch. ‘Shouldn’t you be in there now?’
‘Not until half past. Where’s McMann?’
A thud made them all turn. McMann had walked in and dumped his gym bag on his desk.
‘Come and warm yourself.’ Fabian pointed at Finch’s screen. ‘Better still.’ Fabian got up again. ‘Let’s all get a great British breakfast.’
Finch was first to his feet. ‘What about your summons?’
‘We’ve got half an hour.’
‘Not Metcalfe. Your cosy date at Kerslake?’
Fabian frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’
Finch nodded at Fabian’s desk. ‘Sorry, thought you’d seen it. There was a message left yesterday by the governor at Kerslake Prison.’
‘About?’ But Fabian already had an idea.
‘Christopher Wisher. Wants to speak to you.’
‘What’s up?’ McMann took in their reactions.
But Fabian knew why Banner and Finch were momentarily silent. They’d both worked the Wisher case. Knew exactly what he was capable of and the devious ways he’d ensnared his nine victims.
‘How can you say no to such an offer?’ But there was no humour in Banner’s expression.
Fabian remembered the day they’d apprehended him and how Wisher had invited them in and told them their visit was long overdue. He’d confessed to all nine murders there and then. What could he possibly want to tell Fabian now? Were there more victims?
Fabian often wondered if any of the myriad unsolved murder cases around the Richmond area could be laid at Wisher’s feet. Or maybe he felt he’d been out of the spotlight too long. The very last thing he wanted to do was be in a room with him again, however. He’d sat opposite and interviewed many people who had unnerved him with their disregard for the people they’d robbed or killed. But Wisher’s testimony still whispered into a part of his memory that couldn’t be easily erased.
He put the recollection aside. Fabian had to focus on signing off on one investigation before he responded to Wisher.
‘Come on. Saturated fats don’t eat themselves. I’m buying everyone a coronary.’
He led his team out and wondered how long he’d be able to call them that.
Epilogue
‘How about Friday? It’s happy hour in McCool’s from three.’
Liam smiled, took a beer out of the kitchen fridge and shifted the phone to his other ear. Sounded like she wanted to close the deal for the weekend. ‘Are you going to try and get me drunk again?’ he said with mock coyness.
‘That won’t take me long,’ she chuckled.
That wasn’t true. His threshold for alcohol was very high, but he’d told her otherwise. She’d liked supporting him as he walked and laughing at his fake lurches left and right. Pretending he was wasted had made her think she was in control. But he’d been alert for every moment she’d undressed him that afternoon. She hadn’t wanted to take advantage but it had made her less inhibited. He’d watched her undress from behind the safety of his deceit. She hadn’t wanted sex. Tilly Fabian was too much of a good girl. But they’d been very intimate. He could still smell her perfume in his nostrils.
‘I was going to go back to Wimbledon for the weekend…’ She left it hanging for him.
‘I wasn’t going to go anywhere.’ He left that dangling too.
‘I don’t have to go home.’
‘I thought you were worried about your mum being on her own.’
‘I am. I really should go.’
‘It’s up to you. You do what you think is right.’ He waited. Counted.
‘What would you like me to do?’
‘I’ve got a list of things…’
‘Not that. I mean go or stay.’
‘I think I’d like you to stay,’ he said earnestly.
‘OK. I’ll think about that. I would invite you back tonight, but I know Ella definitely won’t be staying out late.’
Liam grinned. ‘I really should get some sleep,’ he teased. ‘Particularly if I’m not going to get any at the weekend.’
‘That’s a little presumptuous.’ Tilly tried to approximate the spiky attitude she’d had when he’d first approached her.
But Liam knew it was an affectation. Tilly had a good heart but had learned not to expose it too readily. Again, however, he would make her believe she’d determine the pace.
He didn’t want to be in her company. But he’d got this far. Convinced her his name was Mark Mason and that he was a student too. He’d only reveal that his real name was Liam Wisher, that he was the son of the killer her father had put in prison, exactly when he chose to. And when Tilly Fabian was far from help.
If you enjoyed Never Say Goodbye, you’ll love Follow You by Richard Parker – get it here!
Follow You
‘Oh. My. Fluffing. Lord. From the very beginning this book grips hold of you and once it does it will not let you go … so dark, so twisted ... It's so bloody brilliant’ 5* Jen Med’s Book Reviews
Out now!
Her eyelids were the only parts of her body she could move. The figure spoke, then retreated into the gloom. She couldn’t accept what they’d said. How could she have brought this on herself?
When an online prank goes viral and triggers a spate of gruesome murders, documentary maker Hazel Salter watches in horror. But then a new victim is found, her body bound to a pillar, and its Hazel’s childhood friend, Meredith Hickman. Hazel must find out what happened to her.
Is it one killer or more? Random, or part of a bigger plan?
The police have no leads, but Hazel has a theory – one she’ll stop at nothing to prove. With her film crew in tow, Hazel sets off for the abandoned amusement park where Meredith was found, to solve the crime, bring Meredith justice, and make the documentary of her lifetime. But as Hazel interviews the victims’ families and friends, people start disappearing.
As the death toll rises, Hazel realises someone close-by is targeting her team methodically. Can she uncover the truth before another life is lost, or will the killer get to Hazel first?
A gripping, ‘just-one-more-page’ thriller with the most twisted killer you’ll ever meet. This book will keep you guessing long into the night. PERFECT for fans of James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, and Tess Gerritsen.
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Also by Richard Parker
Never Say Goodbye
Keep Her Safe
Follow You
Scare Me
Stop Me
Stalk Me
A letter from Richard
Thanks so much for reading Never Say Goodbye. I hope you enjoyed the ride and that it’s left you curious as to what Tom Fabian and Natasha Banner will encounter next. If you want to keep up-to-date with all my latest releases, just sign up here. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
There are more adventures to come and book two brings Fabian face-to-face with notorious serial killer, Christopher Wisher. If you’ve got time to rate this book or leave a brief review on Amazon that would really be helpful and much appreciated. It does make a huge difference. And please feel free to contact me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram – I very rarely bite.
RICHARD PARKER
www.richardjayparker.com/index.php
Hide and Seek
The sun is out. Your little boy is smiling. The next time you look… he’s gone.
When Lana and Todd win a trip to Blue Crest Adventure Park, their four-year-old Cooper is ecstatic, but when Lana goes to meet them, Todd is out cold, and Cooper is missing.
No one stopped the man with the sleeping boy. The cameras don’t show where he went. Then Lana finds her family picture on an online map detailing crime scenes. This is no random attack.
Whoever took Cooper is playing a twisted game, and if Lana wants to find him, she must participate. Can she uncover her tormentor’s identity before it’s too late?
A dark, heart-in-mouth thriller that will keep you reading long into the night. Fans of James Patterson, Karin Slaughter, and Tess Gerritsen will be absolutely hooked.
Out now!
Keep Her Safe
Get it here!
Commit murder or lose your child forever.
You know what you would do, don’t you?
Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her.
So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to barricade herself in her bedroom with her child. The woman is armed, and Maggie knows why she’s come…
Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to kill Maggie… but Maggie too has been contacted and has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the vicious cycle before her time is up?
Get it here!
A gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of James Patterson, Karin Slaughter and Tess Gerritsen.
Acknowledgements
There are so many fantastic authors to choose from so I really appreciate you trying this one for size, devoting your time and sprinkling your imagination over the story. As always, love, kisses and Oscars to my champion, Anne-Marie, who has shared the highs and lows of seven published books with me now. Eternal gratitude to my mum and dad for reading everything I write. Even Follow You. I think they’re still recovering from that one! Love you both. Huge thanks to all the talented folk at Bookouture HQ. Oliver Rhodes’s savvy team of friendly professionals make the publishing process such effortless fun. It’s the writing bit I struggle with though which is why I’m so lucky to have had the ludicrously talented Kathryn Taussig as my editor again. She introduced me to Roman Fries. That’s food not an author.
Publicity is such a huge part of a book’s success and I’m enormously fortunate to have two of the publishing world’s most indefatigable promotion musketeers doing what they do best – Kim Nash and Noelle Holten, I’m forever in your debt. Thanks also to Sara Simpson for the movie poster of a cover design, Natalie Butlin, Alex Crowe, Lauren Finger, Janette Currie, Maisie Lawrence, Jon Appleton and Chuck Cartmel for martinis. Much warmth to all the Bookouture authors waiting for happy hour in the lounge. You’re an exceptional and supportive bunch. Special salute to J.B. Turner for his quote and Angie Marsons for priceless pointers.
My work wouldn’t see the light of day without the generosity and enthusiasm of committed bloggers who will happily promote authors on Twitter, Goodreads and Facebook for no other reason than they are passionate about the books they read. The importance of this can’t be underestimated, so heartfelt thanks to anyone who has given up their time to post a review or share them. These include Nicki Richards, Jen Lucas, Diane Hogg, Alison Drew, Magdalena Johansson, Sharon Bairden, Renita D’Silva, Martha Cheeves, Joyce Juzwik, Amy Sullivan, Kelly Lacey, Sean Talbot, Rebecca Pugh, Claire Knight, Chelsea Humphrey, Ellie Smith, Lorraine Rugman, Steve Robb, Emma Welton, Stephanie Rothwell, Cleo Bannister, Abby Fairbrother, Donna Maguire, Sarah Hardy, Meggy Roussel, Sheila Howes, Karen Cole, Linda Strong, Maxine Groves, Joanne Robertson, Susan Hampson, Kate Moloney, Eva Merckx, Jules Mortimer, Rachel Broughton, Kaisha Jayneh, Mandy White, Malina Skrobosinski, Shell Baker, Mandie Griffiths, Jo Ford, Kaz Lewis, Fran Hagen, Carole Whiteley and Scott Griffin. Apologies to anyone I’ve missed. Get in touch and I promise to put you in the next one!
Published by Bookouture
An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.bookouture.com
Copyright © Richard Parker 2018
ISBN: 978-1-78681-581-1
Richard Parker has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Never Say Goodbye: An edge of your seat thriller with gripping suspense (Detective Tom Fabian Book 1) Page 20
