The Road to Hell: An Alice Rice Mystery: Book 5

Yet I’ve visible a long way worse than that. ’ ‘Where in the world? have been you a pig stunner in an abattoir or anything? ’ ‘No, yet I labored as a nurse for some time. plenty of items taking place to the residing are a lot worse than that. The lifeless don’t consider a specific thing, do they? So they’re okay. You don’t have to fear approximately them. ’ ‘Still, there are the foul smells, the sounds, you recognize, the saws, the ripping and tearing . . . ’ ‘It’s water off a duck’s again so far as I’m involved. it'll most likely suggest not anything to you too if you’d needed to watch humans crying out in ache, humans screaming – and that’s only a hashy catheterisation. A publish mortem’s a cakewalk compared, a celebration. ’ ‘Why did you surrender nursing? ’ Alice requested. ‘Because,’ she answered in a matter-of-fact tone, ‘I by no means grew a moment pores and skin. and also you want one for that activity. Oh, and the pay. It wasn’t too scorching both, sweeties, let alone the hideous uniform they strength you to put on. ’ ‘We shouldn’t be the following – within the pub,’ DC Galloway stated, after which he tilted his glass of IPA in the direction of his mouth and took a wide gulp. ‘I don’t see why now not. There’s not anything extra we will do tonight,’ DC Littlewood responded. He used to be utilizing the coasters on their desk as playing cards, propping them up opposed to one another in an try and make a home. simply as he was once approximately to accomplish the 3rd storey, DC Cairns driven up her spectacles and blew demanding on them, inflicting the whole constitution to break down. ‘You shouldn’t have performed that,’ he acknowledged peevishly, her in disbelief after which amassing the coasters as much as attempt back. ‘If you do it back . . . ’ he threatened, yet his voice was once drowned out via a noisy roar because the pub erupted with pleasure, males now emerging from their seats and punching the air as Hearts scored their first target opposed to St Mirren. ‘Anyway,’ Alice stated, as soon as the noise had died down, ‘it’s past due and the Inspector is familiar with we’re the following. ’ ‘How did you deal with at your first submit mortem? ’ DC Littlewood requested the bespectacled lady constable. He had given up at the card apartment and was once now keen on the hot recruit from Torphichen road. ‘Fine,’ she responded breezily. Her moment glass of gin and tonic was once already part empty. ‘You didn’t throw up, then? ’ he requested, inspired, a number of crisps in his hand. ‘No. ’ ‘I did,’ he acknowledged, his mouth now half-full, and extra, ‘but I’d had a heavy evening ahead of and it used to be very first thing within the morning. I’d were okay differently. ’ ‘’Course you'll! ’ DC Galloway stated sweetly. ‘Like you have been the final time. now not. ’ ‘Want one other one, Sarge? ’ Tom Littlewood requested, pointing at Alice’s empty glass. ‘No thanks,’ she answered, completing the dregs. ‘I’d greater be going domestic. ’ She stood up and walked in the direction of the door, yet ahead of she reached it she came across herself nose to nose with Eric Manson. He regarded exhausted, colourless. ‘Everything okay, Sir? ’ she requested, stunned to determine him within the pub and nervous all of sudden by means of his haunted expression. ‘Yes, Alice. yet i have to converse to you . . . open air, if that’s comfortable with you? ’ She nodded, feeling uneasy, extra disconcerted through the uncharacteristically frightened tone in his voice.