Perfect Intentions: Sometimes justice is above the law by Leona Turner Page A

managed to make him feel like a dinosaur, as it was.
    When they had both finished their meals, Holt went to pick up the plates and clear the table.
    “Oh no, you don’t. You’re a guest here. Go and make yourself comfortable while I take this out. Would you like anything to drink?”
    “A cup of coffee would be great, thanks.”
    “Ok, I’ll be two minutes.”
    Holt sighed contentedly before getting up and making his way back over to the armchair. This wasn’t something he’d be telling Henson about; he was hard work at the best of times, but if he found out Holt had had a meal, there he’d be, ribbing him all the time.
    Loretta came back into the room with two mugs of coffee, and Holt grabbed a couple of coasters and placed them on the coffee table. He was starting to understand this woman a little more now, or at least he liked to think he was.
    “I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have some decent food for a change. I can’t remember the last time I had a home cooked meal.”
    “You are more than welcome.” Loretta smiled at Holt.
    “It’s also nice to have someone intelligent to talk to.”
    “What about DC Henson?”
    “Are you kidding me?”
    Loretta chuckled.
    “Yes, he is a little overzealous at times, isn’t he? Not a great thing, considering the sensitivity of the case.”
    “You’re telling me. Anyway, I’d better get back to the station. Thanks again for everything, especially the lunch—it’s been a while since I’ve eaten that well.”
    “It was my pleasure; it was nice not to be eating alone again.”  As Loretta opened the door for him, he paused briefly and turned to look at her.
    “Have a good afternoon.”
    Loretta stood for a minute watching his retreating back. As Holt walked away from Loretta’s apartment he found himself deep in thought.
    Had Matt Reynolds attended anger management classes?
    Holt grabbed his phone from his pocket and quickly punched in a number.
    “ Hi, it’s DI Holt. Is there any way of finding out if Matt Reynolds had any counseling or anger management classes?”
    Holt went quiet as the desk PC pulled up the file.
    “There’s nothing on here that I can see. Hold on, DC Henson’s just come in.”
    Holt waited patiently as the officer on the line spoke with Henson. Then Henson came on the line.
    “Hello, sir, I’ve just gotten back from speaking with Matt Reynolds’s ex, Rebecca Lowes, or, rather, her family. It’s strange that you would ask about the counseling thing; apparently he was offered it after he was arrested for being violent towards her. He agreed, went twice, and never went back.”
    “OK Henson, I’m just heading back now.”
    Without waiting for a response Holt hung up.
     
     

Chapter 1 2
    Dean woke up and lifted his head gingerly, as if any sudden movement might cause it to explode. He looked down at his crumpled shirt and found it covered in dried vomit. After Clare and he had split up, he hadn’t spent a single night in. His mate from the garage, Pete, had ensured that.
    Last night had been no different; he and Pete had gone out, and judging by the state of his clothes, they had gotten absolutely hammered. He thought he’d enjoyed it at the time, but now, covered in his own sick and with the mother of all hangovers, he wished he hadn’t bothered. But the biggest regret Dean was having at the moment was not being able to call Clare. He looked over at his alarm clock and realised he’d forgotten to set it. Realising he was going to be late for work again he jumped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Peeling last night’s clothes off and dumping them on the floor, he got into the shower. As he stood under the shower his mind his mind crept back to Clare. Why had she dumped him so fast? She had completely freaked out when he’d suggested that they move in together. He tried to force his mind back to last night. There had been women there, but he hadn’t been interested.
    Getting out of the shower he dried himself