Pauline Rowson: Tide of Death

Horton guessed that Maddox must also have planted that cigarette lighter on his boat and tried to fry him alive. Had it been Jarrett in that car waiting to speed Maddox away after that incident? And had it been Jarrett who had knocked him off his bike? Probably. He'd find out soon enough.

Uckfield said, 'Oh, I nearly forgot. Thought you might like this back.'

Horton looked at the warrant card in Uckfield's hand. 'And Operation Extra?'

'The slate is wiped clean, Andy.'

'I was right then.'

'You were right.'

After all this time Horton had heard what he had been praying for. Yet, he hesitated. Should he take the warrant card? Did he want to stay in the force? His body screamed with fatigue. His head was pounding but the raging, revengeful monster inside him had gone. As he'd listened to Parnham crowing over his revenge he had realised how destructive an emotion it was not only for Parnham but for the others around him who had paid with their lives: Thurlow, Culven and Lucy. With the act of smashing his fist into Parnham's face it was as though he had vent his own fury. He knew what he wanted now. He reached out his hand and took the card.

He lay back on the pillow after Uckfield had left, and closed his eyes. Would he now get to see Emma? Would he once again hold her in his arms, hear her voice and see her smile? His heart ached far more than his shoulder.

'It's all right for some.' Horton opened his eyes to see Cantelli's slight figure and drawn face. The sergeant's dark eyes were ringed with fatigue. Horton knew that he and the team had been up all night checking statements and alibis, contacting the French police and ferry companies. Soon, they would delve deeply into the affairs of Bert and Agnes Parnham and complete the picture.

Horton said, 'You look as though you should be in here instead of me.'

Cantelli gave a tired smile. 'How did you know Maddox killed Jarrett?'

'It wasn't until I saw Parnham at Briarly House and he wasn't wearing his glasses that it clicked. Parnham must have been wearing contact lenses. When we saw that man leaving the pontoon, before we discovered Jarrett's body, he looked familiar but I couldn't think why. Maddox wasn't wearing his glasses. People can look quite different when you see them without their specs. Our arrival at Jarrett's boat was bad timing for Maddox but good for us.'

'Well, you're in the clear now, Andy. With two results in one night the Super will probably give you the key to his executive toilet. You're bloody lucky to be alive.'

'It was thinking of Emma that gave me the strength. I didn't want her to grow up believing I'd killed myself and that I was a murderer.'

And Catherine — was there still a chance for them? Did he want there to be a chance anymore? He didn't know.

Cantelli broke through his thoughts. 'You know you can't lie there all day.'

'Barney, I've been injured.'

'A few cuts and bruises that's all. That nice looking doctor, the one with those soulful eyes and legs that you could die for, said you were fine. I've brought you some clean clothes.'

'What's your hurry?'

'We're an officer down and the work's been piling up since we've been handling this case.'

Horton hauled himself up and squinted up at Cantelli. He knew what Cantelli was doing. 'I haven't fallen off a bloody horse,' he muttered, but Cantelli was right, picking up the pieces of your life and getting on with it was the only option when you'd been betrayed and rejected. What else could you do except roll over and give in? And that was something he could never do.

Cantelli raised his dark bushy eyebrows and shrugged as only someone with Latin blood can. It warmed Horton's cold heart. Whatever Steve said and offered, Horton knew that if Cantelli wasn't going to be on the team, then he wouldn't be either.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed. 'Well, don't just stand there, sergeant, help me get dressed. We've got some villains to catch.' www.rowmark.co.uk