Follow the Leader by Mel Sherratt

some quality time together for a change.
    ‘Come and sit.’ She beckoned him over to the table. ‘It’s only shepherd’s pie. It’s a bit well done now though.’
    Joe headed over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer. ‘I’m knackered, duck. I’ll take mine on a tray. I want to catch up with the news. Anything new on Mickey Taylor?’
    Rhian counted to ten as she placed the plates on trays, remembering not to slam the cutlery down. In silence, they went through to the conservatory. They spent most of their time in there since it had recently been redecorated, since Rhian had insisted on putting her mark on something. Only when Joe’s son, Jayden, came to visit was it occupied by anyone else. Te n-year-ol d Jayden loved the large plasma TV to play games on, and the squishy leather settees to throw himself around on when he was doing anything more energetic. Dressed in pale creams and caramels with the odd shock of bright orange, the room was warm and tranquil. But Rhian didn’t feel relaxed as she sat down next to Joe. The television was on again, she sighed – bloody conversation stopper.
    ‘So what was so important that you were late again this evening?’ Rhian asked.
    ‘Nothing more than usual. I was at the office until I came home. I had some paperwork to finish off.’
    When no more words were forthcoming, Rhian decided to change tack. ‘Please be careful, babe. You know that man, that Mickey Taylor, was murdered. I’m worried the police haven’t caught his killer yet and –’
    ‘Don’t worry about that. It’ll be some chancer, out to rob him of his money.’
    ‘ The Sentinel said that it didn’t look like robbery was the motive. I reckon –’
    ‘Well, I reckon you shouldn’t believe everything you read in the papers.’
    They finished their meal in another silence. Afterwards, Joe stayed riveted to the news as Rhian took out the trays and left them on the worktop in the kitchen. She’d clean them tomorrow. Impatient to get back to him, she took him another beer.
    ‘Were you really at work this evening?’ she asked him again.
    ‘I told you, I was finishing something off.’
    ‘ Something ?’
    ‘Something that pays well, that’s all you need to know.’ Joe reached a wad of notes from his pocket and handed them to her. ‘Here, treat yourself.’
    Rhian grinned and sat down next to him again. How she loved being fobbed off. She could get those jeans she’d seen in Top Shop. And maybe there would be enough left over for another night out with the girls.
    ‘Thanks, gorgeous.’ She leaned over to plant a kiss on his lips. ‘I might go out with Laila and Shelley next week for a drink. Do you fancy coming with us?’
    ‘Not my style, you know that.’
    ‘Maybe not, but I’m fed up with staying in on my own most evenings.’ Rhian stopped counting at one hundred pounds. ‘It’s not because you’re seeing another woman, is it? Because if you are, then I’m –’
    Before she could finish her sentence, Joe turned towards her, his hand on her knee. She watched it rise slowly up her thigh, inside her dress, to the side of her thong. She moaned as he slipped his fingers inside; her breathing took on a life of its own.
    ‘Rhian, Rhian,’ he spoke slowly. ‘What do I have to do to make you shut up?’
    She threw the money to the floor and pulled him closer, running her hand through his hair as he kissed her. She knew his game, the scheming bastard. But she could play it too. Knowing just what he wanted, she reached for the buckle on his belt.

    Afterwards, as Rhian lay beside him, Joe tried to control his temper. Fuck, she might be sexy and give great head but sometimes he could just lean over and punch her. He hated keeping her sweet at times. In the past, she’d been an alibi for him on several occasions but that had all been work related – nothing serious. In his line of work, you just never knew when things might need a little tweaking of the truth. Rhian would say