by Liz Mistry
Mike pretended to tap away on his laptop but all the while he was really eyeing up the woman opposite him. He’d noticed her at the station in Manchester and decided that she’d be a good person to chat to on the tedious journey to Bradford. Of course, her blonde hair, long legs and mini skirt had nothing to do with his decision to find a seat near her … or so he told himself. Truth was, a bit of female company wouldn’t go amiss. His wife was in one of her never-ending moods because the fertility treatment had failed … yet again. Didn’t she get it that it was hard for him too? All the jokes about his ‘manhood’, about ‘firing blanks’, his so-called friends who were already dads gloating and sneering, his boss tutting when he had to take time off for the endless appointments. It was ok for her; she got all the sympathy, all the kind words. Her boss was fine about the time off, but shit, if he lost his job they’d be in so much debt … and now he wasn’t even sure if he wanted a kid or not.
An hour into the journey and Mike was truly pissed off. Despite numerous smiles and many conversational gambits the blonde refused to be drawn into conversation. She was perfectly polite but each reply, though uttered in a sexy Eastern European accent, was monosyllabic. Her half smile was strained and her eyes seemed to focus somewhere above his left shoulder. Bloody snooty cow! Sitting there gripping her laptop case like she thinks I’m going to snatch it and run. As if – well she can swivel on one!
Jake sat near the carriage door. His guide dog Kipper lying by his feet, his head resting on Jake’s knee, Jake was happy to listen to the activity around him. He knew exactly how many people shared the carriage and was content to pass the journey forming his own images of them in his mind. He knew that the young mother with the grizzly child had moved to sit opposite him. She seemed slightly breathless and he could hear her wriggling about in her seat.
Listening to the man with the expensive aftershave tap incessantly on his laptop and attempt to chat up the woman with the foreign accent in the high heels, Jake smiled. Despite her lack lustre responses, Jake knew that the young man would not give up. He was right. Laptop man persisted until, Jake heard her cross her legs and change position. He guessed that she’d angled her body away from her would-be suitor. Smile deepening, Jake turned his attention to the woman at the back humming gently to the tune that escaped from the young lads’ earphones. He liked The Beatles too.
10:55
Paddy Toner’s final words as the train hurtled relentlessly towards the lime green Toyota Corolla that sat abandoned in the middle of Rawsforth Level Crossing were;
“Fuck me! Who left that there?”
His final actions were to apply the brakes, close his eyes and cross himself.
His final memory was of his wife’s flushed cheeks as she shuddered beneath him that morning.
His final thought before the train hit the car was that he’d never see her again.
The train’s brakes squealed and the passengers screamed as they were sent flying from their seats, floundering helplessly like fish from an upended aquarium. The carriage began to tip to the right. The metal screeched against metal, sending amber and yellow sparks of amber. The train hit the car, followed swiftly by the explosion and overpowering burning petrol fumes. Then, nothing but silence
A Note from Bloodhound Books:
Thanks for reading Uncommon Cruelty . We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. Please consider leaving a review on Amazon or Goodreads to help others find and enjoy this book too.
We make every effort to ensure that books are carefully edited and proofread, however occasionally mistakes do slip through. If you spot something, please do send details to [email protected] and we can amend it.
Bloodhound Books specialise in crime and thriller fiction. We regularly have special offers including free and discounted eBooks. To be the first to hear about these special offers, why not join our mailing list here? We’ll never share or sell your details to anyone else.
Readers who enjoyed Uncommon Cruelty will also enjoy The DCI Bennett series by Malcolm Hollingdrake.
Only The Dead ( DCI Bennett Book 1)
Hell’s Gate ( DCI Bennett Book 2)
Unquiet Souls
DI Gus McGuire Book 1
What is the link between the abduction of a little girl and a dead prostitute?
When the body of a prostitute is found, followed by the discovery of children locked in an attic, DI Gus McGuire is handed the case. But what at first appears to be a simple murder soon turns into an international manhunt for the members of a twisted child trafficking ring.
McGuire who is suffering with his own emotional problems, must pick his way through the web of deceit and uncover the truth in time before the body count rises.
Can McGuire identify The Matchmaker before it’s too late? And can he trust those he is working with?
Unquiet Souls is the first book in a dark and compelling new police series.
Order Your Copy Here
Uncoiled Lies
DI Gus McGuire Book 2
Uncoiled Lies: a stunning crime thriller from a best-selling author
Murder. Love. Corruption.
DI Angus McGuire and the team are back and have their work cut out.
Murdered prostitutes and a turf war between local gangsters takes the investigation into Bradford’s Immigrant communities where tensions run high.
To make matters worse McGuire is juggling an illicit relationship with his boss’s daughter and has fraught family relations.
Who is The Old Man?
What is the link between three dead prostitutes and a long forgotten murder?
Will McGuire and his team get the answers they want or is the uncomfortable truth much closer to home?
Order Your Copy Here
Untainted Blood
DI Gus McGuire Book 3
An unmissable new crime thriller
In a city that is already volatile, tensions mount after a Tory MP in Bradford Central is discredited leaving the door open for the extreme right-wing candidate, Graeme Weston, to stand in the resultant by-election.
However, Graeme Weston is not what he appears to be and with secrets jeopardising his political career, he must tread very carefully.
Meanwhile, a serial killer targets Asian men who lead alternatives lifestyles and delivers his own form of torture.
As DI Gus McGuire’s team close in, the deranged killer begins to unravel and in an unexpected twist the stakes are raised for Gus.
Are the murders linked to the political scandals or is there another motive behind them?
DI Gus McGuire and his team are back and this might be their toughest case yet.
Order Your Copy Here
Acknowledgments
As usual, I have to give a massive ‘shout out’ to the incredible Bloodhound Books team. They are phenomenal and I’m proud to be part of their kennels. My editor, Clare Law, is indefatigable and always has her eye on the ball. As ever, my family have been with me on this journey and continue to inspire and support me. Thanks to Nilesh, Ravi, Kasi and Jimi.
The bloggers, book groups and reviewers humble me with their dedication to supporting and encouraging us authors. Love you all! My Leeds Trinity cronies are inspirational, awesome and damn hard taskmasters as is Martyn Bedford, who sits on my shoulder telling me to ‘include more interiority’ or ‘not to dangle my modifiers’ – cheeky!
The Barny Bunch make me laugh, keep me sane and more importantly keep me supplied with copious amounts of coffee and my friend, Toria, whose perception and thoughtfulness, combined with her energy and wit makes sure I’m on the right track – a huge thank you!
However, my biggest thanks must go to you, the reader, without whom writing would be an incomplete process. If you enjoyed Uncommon Cruelty, please leave a review. You’ve no idea how much we authors treasure your words of wisdom.
As ever any mistakes are mine and so I apologise in advance. I have taken odd bits of creative licence and created a few new places… forgive me
… it was all in order to enhance the story.
Two delightful readers offered their names for my nefarious use; Amina Rose and Sue Downs. Thank you both. MIND charity, as ever, is grateful for your donations and will put the money raised in the raffles to great use.
