delights, particularly of the culinary kind, and for that reason it’s a place that features high on any true gourmand’s wish list. Have you been?’
He looped the rope around the back of the chair several times, pulling it tight enough to constrict Hardwick’s breathing.
‘Not yet. That’s a bit tight by the way.’
The captive man’s face was already beginning to change colour.
‘You should have done. They have one delicacy that’s not for the squeamish, but which is surprisingly good if you're prepared to take the plunge. It involves feasting on a whole roasted sheep, something which they do socially and communally. Do you know which parts they consider to be the best?’
He paused to allow the Doctor opportunity to reply.
‘Remember about that envelope lodged with my solicitor.’
Panic started to fill Hardwick’s expression and he struggled feebly against his bonds as he spoke with a rising pitched voice.
‘The eyes and tongue, Doctor…which are considered to be so good that they are sometimes eaten fresh and raw.’
Chapter 20
It was technically my day off, so I'd been looking forward to spending some time kicking back and relaxing at home. But I didn't trust myself to hold my tongue around Emily, so I showered and dressed early before heading out into the irritatingly cheerful morning to catch breakfast away from the house. Lee rose with me, stopping to ask whether we should really be leaving her to wake up to an empty house, and prompting me to leave a terse note explaining our absence, along with a spare key in case she decided to head out for some air too.
'So where are we heading?'
I was moving at a fast march, putting distance between myself and my sister, something that I'd been trying to do continuously without much success since childhood, and Lee was looking bemused by my haste.
It wasn't that I hated her, after all she'd never done anything deliberately designed to hurt me, but she'd had an unfortunate knack of attracting trouble for as long as I could remember, and I preferred a less complicated existence. I knew I couldn't express that sentiment to Lee without sounding cold and unkind, but life was always that bit more difficult with Emily and her host of problems around, circling like sharks on the periphery. I'd met many people like her over my years in the police force, and it was never their fault, but ultimately they always ended up as another one of life's born victims.
'I need coffee so strong you could stand a spoon up in it and something disgustingly sweet and pastry based for breakfast. Any suggestions?'
I turned my head to look at him and he mimicked my scowl, lightening my mood instantly.
'There, that's better. You could pass for thirties again now!'
He dodged the punch that I aimed at his arm.
'I vote for the Pump Rooms. They'll just about be opening up by the time we get there, although at the speed you're moving I could always hop on your back and you could sprint down the motorway to London instead if you prefer!'
He laughed and earned another begrudging smile from me in return.
'Pump Rooms it is then, but I reserve the right to bitch about my sister when we get there, whether you like it or not, okay?'
He nodded his assent and we fell into easy silence for the rest of the stroll, moving along scarcely populated streets and admiring the predominantly Georgian buildings. I didn't bother to slow my pace, trying to punish him for laughing at my expense, and we covered the mile and a half to the handsome Royal Pump Rooms, responsible for Leamington's 'Spa town' tag, in a little less than half an hour.
Once seated inside I headed for a window seat in view of a flat screen television up on the wall that was playing the local news, while Lee went to sort out our breakfast order of coffee and assorted pastries. The volume was down low so I couldn't quite catch what was being said, but I recognised the background behind the stern faced reporter as being
He looped the rope around the back of the chair several times, pulling it tight enough to constrict Hardwick’s breathing.
‘Not yet. That’s a bit tight by the way.’
The captive man’s face was already beginning to change colour.
‘You should have done. They have one delicacy that’s not for the squeamish, but which is surprisingly good if you're prepared to take the plunge. It involves feasting on a whole roasted sheep, something which they do socially and communally. Do you know which parts they consider to be the best?’
He paused to allow the Doctor opportunity to reply.
‘Remember about that envelope lodged with my solicitor.’
Panic started to fill Hardwick’s expression and he struggled feebly against his bonds as he spoke with a rising pitched voice.
‘The eyes and tongue, Doctor…which are considered to be so good that they are sometimes eaten fresh and raw.’
Chapter 20
It was technically my day off, so I'd been looking forward to spending some time kicking back and relaxing at home. But I didn't trust myself to hold my tongue around Emily, so I showered and dressed early before heading out into the irritatingly cheerful morning to catch breakfast away from the house. Lee rose with me, stopping to ask whether we should really be leaving her to wake up to an empty house, and prompting me to leave a terse note explaining our absence, along with a spare key in case she decided to head out for some air too.
'So where are we heading?'
I was moving at a fast march, putting distance between myself and my sister, something that I'd been trying to do continuously without much success since childhood, and Lee was looking bemused by my haste.
It wasn't that I hated her, after all she'd never done anything deliberately designed to hurt me, but she'd had an unfortunate knack of attracting trouble for as long as I could remember, and I preferred a less complicated existence. I knew I couldn't express that sentiment to Lee without sounding cold and unkind, but life was always that bit more difficult with Emily and her host of problems around, circling like sharks on the periphery. I'd met many people like her over my years in the police force, and it was never their fault, but ultimately they always ended up as another one of life's born victims.
'I need coffee so strong you could stand a spoon up in it and something disgustingly sweet and pastry based for breakfast. Any suggestions?'
I turned my head to look at him and he mimicked my scowl, lightening my mood instantly.
'There, that's better. You could pass for thirties again now!'
He dodged the punch that I aimed at his arm.
'I vote for the Pump Rooms. They'll just about be opening up by the time we get there, although at the speed you're moving I could always hop on your back and you could sprint down the motorway to London instead if you prefer!'
He laughed and earned another begrudging smile from me in return.
'Pump Rooms it is then, but I reserve the right to bitch about my sister when we get there, whether you like it or not, okay?'
He nodded his assent and we fell into easy silence for the rest of the stroll, moving along scarcely populated streets and admiring the predominantly Georgian buildings. I didn't bother to slow my pace, trying to punish him for laughing at my expense, and we covered the mile and a half to the handsome Royal Pump Rooms, responsible for Leamington's 'Spa town' tag, in a little less than half an hour.
Once seated inside I headed for a window seat in view of a flat screen television up on the wall that was playing the local news, while Lee went to sort out our breakfast order of coffee and assorted pastries. The volume was down low so I couldn't quite catch what was being said, but I recognised the background behind the stern faced reporter as being
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