by Mari Hannah
‘That sounds like blackmail—’
‘I prefer to call it a sensible solution.’
Put like that, it was tempting.
‘I’m serious,’ Hank said. ‘If you shaft him it might stop him being a bully, but it’ll definitely prevent him from helping Beth. She’s already said she won’t speak to him again unless he goes into therapy.’
‘Good for her.’
‘Can you see her pressing charges against Atkins?’
‘Not really.’
‘I can’t either. Her mother went to her grave without ratting on him. Beth’s a mixed-up, pregnant teenager. He’s her father. The only one she’s got. She cares for him deep down and wants his approval, just as you want it from him.’ He head-pointed to her sleeping father. ‘That’s what we all want, isn’t it? Validation from our parents.’
Ed Daniels appeared to stir.
‘I’m here, Dad.’ Sitting forward, Kate stroked his arm, wondering if he’d heard the conversation and was trying to respond. He’d kept his side of the bargain they had made at the door to the operating theatre. He’d come through to live another day. Maybe they would take that bike trip to Hartside and enjoy another sunset together. Things were set to improve between them. She’d make sure it stayed that way.
‘Have you heard a word I said?’
‘What?’ Kate glanced sideways.
Hank returned her gaze, one eyebrow raised – a reprimand.
‘OK, I wasn’t listening. What did you say?’
‘If you press ahead with a charge against Atkins, it may look like you’re doing it for all the wrong reasons – for what he did to you – and I know you wouldn’t want that. No matter which way you dress it up, people will believe it’s some crazy-arsed revenge by someone on the wrong bus.’ He raised his hand like a traffic policeman. ‘Joke!’
She grinned at him.
‘I’ll give it some thought,’ she said.
Hank took a hip flask from his pocket. ‘Fancy a bevvy?’
‘Tea, maybe.’
Hank glanced at his watch. ‘You’ll be lucky. It’s one a.m. We shouldn’t even be here.’
‘Nice try,’ Kate said. ‘There’s a machine on the wall outside the canteen. And you can stop sulking or I’m sending you home.’
They left the ward, telling the nurse in charge that they’d look in on the way out, reaching the canteen a few minutes later. Hank’s smartphone bleeped an incoming voicemail as they arrived at the vending machine.
‘Sit there.’ He gestured to a nearby chair. ‘I’ll bring it over.’
Kate took a seat as he walked away, lifting the mobile to his ear. She watched him drop change into the slot, his back to her. Seconds later, he returned empty-handed, a haunted look in his eyes. Gone was the trademark smile, the witty routine. She stood up quickly, her eyes trained on the corridor, expecting Mr Rai to appear at any moment.
Hank was shaking his head, swallowing hard, temporarily speechless. ‘It’s not your dad, Kate.’ It was almost a whisper.
She was confused. ‘What then?’
His voice broke as he delivered the news. ‘Jo’s flight is missing.’
Acknowledgements
Thanks to the entire staff at Pan Macmillan; my editors Wayne Brookes and Anne O’Brien, whose patience is never-ending, not forgetting my publicist, Philippa McEwan. Thanks also to everyone at A.M. Heath Literary Agency, especially my wonderful agent, friend and collaborator, Oli Munson. Top man.
Gallows Drop is the sixth book in the Kate Daniels series. Appreciation must go to Daniel Nixon (Blake Friedmann, Literary, TV & Film Agency) who negotiated TV rights with Gina Carter at production company Sprout Pictures. Not forgetting the inimitable Stephen Fry for shouting loudly and enthusiastically on Twitter about my books. ‘They’re just great reads,’ he said. Who am I to disagree?
I must acknowledge Barry Redfern, author of The Gallows Tree – Crime and Punishment in the Eighteenth Century (Tyne Bridge Publishing) – whose wonderful book was a source of historical and local information. A mention also for friend and ex-copper Alan Tailford, who appears in this book as himself; an enthusiastic follower of Kate Daniels I just happened to bump into during a research trip to Alwinton Show.
Big hugs and kisses to my family as always: Paul, Kate, Chris, Jodie, Max, Frances and Daisy – for love, laughs, inspiration and support. Not forgetting Mo – partner, plotter, consultant and crime scene manager – who makes writing Kate Daniels so much fun.
Mari Hannah is an award-winning author whose authentic voice is no happy accident. A former probation officer, she has contributed to CID training for Northumbria Police and lives in rural Northumberland with her partner, an ex-murder detective. Mari turned to scriptwriting when her career was cut short following an assault on duty. Her debut, The Murder Wall (adapted from a script she developed with the BBC), won her the Polari First Book Prize. Its follow-up, Settled Blood, picked up a Northern Writers’ Award. She went on to be shortlisted for the Dagger in the Library and is currently Reader in Residence for Harrogate International Crime Writing Festival.
By Mari Hannah
The Kate Daniels series
The Murder Wall
Settled Blood
Deadly Deceit
Monument to Murder
Killing for Keeps
Gallows Drop
Other novels
The Silent Room
First published 2016 by Macmillan
This electronic edition published 2016 by Macmillan
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com
ISBN 978-1-4472-9107-7
Copyright © Mari Hannah, 2016
Cover design © www.blacksheep-uk.com
Cover scene © Alamy
Sky © SuperStock
Figure © Shutterstock
The right of Mari Hannah to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
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