Bad Moon Rising (#1 - D.I. Paolo Storey Crime Series) Read Free Page A

comfortable in the chair opposite Paolo. “Looks like Lisa Boxer has done a bunk. Her neighbours claim they haven’t seen her for over a week. Not that I’d take their word for anything. Definitely a bit dodgy, the residents of that house. I got the impression they wouldn’t let on even if they had something to tell.”
    “Were you able to get into her place and look around?”
    “Yeah, the old bag who runs the rooms let me in. She swore she hadn’t seen Lisa since she last paid her rent. What a dump. I feel as if I need a long hot shower, which I’m now going home to have. Aren’t you supposed to be somewhere, sir? I didn’t expect you to still be here.”
    “Shit!” Paolo grabbed his jacket. “I’m off. Call me tomorrow if anything comes up.”
    ***
    Paolo searched frantically for a place to park. Finally he found a spot, streets away from the school. Parking the Ford Focus, he slammed the door and ran.
    Sidling into the back of the hall, he was relieved to see Katy still at the side of the stage waiting for her name to be called. As she walked forward, she scanned the rows for him. Her face lit up when she spotted him at the back; the fingers of her right hand wiggled in acknowledgement. His heart contracted at the sight of her. Dark hair and eyes, olive skin and delicate features, she had his mother’s beauty and grace. Katy was a true Italian – petite in stature, but powerful beyond her size when her temper flared. So unlike Sarah who’d been tall for her age; fair-haired with striking hazel eyes – his eyes...
    Paolo shook off the memories.
    Katy rushed up and hugged him as soon as the ceremony ended. Following close behind came Father Gregory, her English teacher, yet another ex-classmate from Paolo’s schooldays. It was turning out to be a day for meeting people he would rather not have to deal with.
    “Pizza Hut, Dad?” she asked, eyes shining.
    “Why not, unless your mother minds?” he said, turning to Lydia.
    Father Gregory spoke, distracting Katy’s attention and Lydia moved towards Paolo.
    “We can go,” she said, “but I need to get home early.”
    Paolo took in Lydia’s expression. And you don’t want to spend time with me, do you? He wanted to say something, anything to take that look off her face, but Katy had finished speaking to Father Gregory and turned back to them. The moment was lost.
    “Please say we can go,” she begged her mother.
    Lydia smiled. “I’ve just told your father we can. Come on, I’m starving.”
    As they turned towards the exit, Paolo felt a hand on his arm.
    “Paolo, could I have a word?” Father Gregory said, his usually open face clouded.
    “Yes, of course. You two go on ahead, I’ll meet you inside Pizza Hut,” Paolo said, then turned back to the priest. “You look solemn, something up?”
    “Nothing serious at this stage, but it could develop into a problem. I need to talk to you about Katy’s religious beliefs.”
    “Me? Why? She’s free to believe what she wants,” Paolo said.
    “Well, no, she isn’t, I’m afraid. Not in this school, Paolo, you know that as well as I do. The school board’s views were made clear before we accepted her. I’d hate Katy to be suspended from St Ursula’s, but unless she keeps her disturbing views to herself, that might happen.”
    Sending his girls to St Ursula’s Convent School had been his only concession to his own catholic upbringing – and he wouldn’t have done that if his mother hadn’t left him money and a guilt-ridden obligation in her will. He’d stopped believing in God when he was about Katy’s age.
    “What disturbing views?” he asked, trying not to lose his temper.
    “She told her class today that there was no such thing as life after death. She refused to accept the resurrection of our Lord and tried to hold a poll on the subject. Sister Mercy had to remove her from the class.”
    Paolo tried hard not to laugh, but a chuckle got through.
    “It’s no laughing matter. She’s