Crime, Conflict & Consequences

By Heather Burnside

This entertaining collection of 10 assorted tales explores a variety of genres with stories of crime, love and family dilemmas. There are also a few twists and surprises along the way. The common thread running through each story is - consequences.

- In HELD UP our heroine is caught in the wrong place at the wrong time and becomes a witness in an unusual bank robbery.

- In ISLAND OF DREAMS Joe and Bev are looking forward to returning to the island they visited on honeymoon 34 years previously. Will it still be the same?

- In WELCOME ABOARD find out how Helena copes with the job from hell.

These short stories are a great introduction to the work of Heather Burnside. Each one makes an enjoyable quick read with a satisfying conclusion.

• Language: English
• Publisher: D M Publishing
• Release date: Oct 24, 2016
• ISBN: 9781540128805

Book preview

Yes Dear

Yes dear, muttered Norman as he sat scanning his newspaper.

It was the same reply that Gill had become accustomed to each time she reeled off a list of instructions before leaving the house.

Oh, and make sure you empty the bin as well. I don’t want to come back and find it overflowing like it was last time I went out! added Gill before she headed out of the front door to the sound of another half-hearted, ‘Yes dear’.

Goodbyes weren’t a part of her repertoire. Why should she waste her breath on goodbyes when she knew very well he didn’t listen to a word she said?

As Gill sauntered into the coffee shop, dressed immaculately in a well-tailored suit, she spotted her friend Kate on the other side of the room. Gill bought herself a cup of coffee and biscuits for each of them, and went to join her.

Hello Gill, how are you? asked Kate.

Oh the usual, Gill replied without bothering to ask after Kate’s well-being as she launched into her tirade about Norman’s faults, I’ve left him reading the paper, supposedly looking for jobs. You know Norman though. As soon as my back’s turned he’ll have switched to the sports pages. I swear he spends half the day watching sport on the T.V. too. Well, he must do, judging by the state of the house...

It can’t be easy though, Kate interrupted.

You bet it isn’t, being out at work all day and then coming back to find the house in a mess with jobs half done. And as for his cooking; that doesn’t bear mentioning!

No, I meant it can’t be easy for Norman, Kate tried to explain. He must feel a bit demoralised by now. How long has he been out of work?

Too long... ten months and not even a hint of a job. He doesn’t try hard enough, that’s Norman’s trouble. If he can get away with doing nothing while I earn all the money, then he will. I’ve a good mind to teach him a lesson once and for all.

There aren’t many jobs about in his line of work though, are there Gill? I think you’ve just got to be patient.

"Patient! You don’t know what it’s like Kate. It’s enough to try anyone’s patience. All I ever get from him is, ‘Yes, dear’. He doesn’t even listen! He just says that to make me think he’s listening. He must think I’m stupid!"

Men aren’t like us though, are they? What might seem a job well done to them, is a job half done to us. They just don’t have the same standards as us Gill. Try not to be too hard on him.

Gill was becoming exasperated with Kate’s reasoning, "Anyway, let’s go and do some shopping. I feel like spending some of my hard-earned money on a new outfit."

Well, said Kate, Things could be a lot worse you know. You’re lucky you’ve still got plenty of money to spend when your husband’s out of work.

Yes, and that’s no thanks to him! Gill retorted, It’s my hard work that got me where I am today. Then, noticing Kate’s eyebrows raised questioningly, she added, Well OK, maybe a bit of flirting with Mr Tompkins did help, but that’s why we have to make sure we always look our best. I’m sure Mr Tompkins wouldn’t appreciate it if I walked around the office looking dowdy, like silly old Norman. So, come on Kate, let’s shop!

Kate rushed the remainder of her coffee and followed her domineering friend out of the coffee shop.

After many hours of shopping they ate at a popular restaurant, arriving at Kate’s home in the early evening exhausted but content as they offloaded their numerous shopping bags. They then sat down ready to have a glass of wine to round off their busy day.

Do you know Kate, I really envy you, said Gill. It must be wonderful living on your own and being able to please yourself. I wouldn’t dream of bringing you back to my place for a bottle of wine with Norman sitting there grunting into his newspaper.

Well, there are pros and cons Gill. It gets a little lonely at times on your own.

Well anything’s better than living with Norman, Gill replied.

Kate diverted the conversation by switching on the television and announcing, Ooh look, the lottery results will be on soon.

Don’t talk to me about the lottery, said Gill, that’s another one of Norman’s foibles, squandering my money on the lottery. Every Saturday evening he sits in front of that box to listen for his numbers - the same ones every week without fail. Even I know his numbers off by heart; the date we met and our wedding anniversary. The soppy old fool! As if it matters to anybody after all these years.

It obviously matters to him, Kate replied.

Nonsense, he should find something better to do with his time.

Gill kept up her monologue, not paying heed to the fact that Kate wanted to listen to the lottery to see if any of her numbers came up.

11, that’s no good,