Driven by Kerena Swan
Every mother’s worst nightmare
It was only for a couple of minutes, while dropping Noah off at nursery. Little did Melanie realise that leaving her sleeping son in the car would end up being the biggest regret of her life.
A teenage challenge turns sour
For teenager Woody, stealing cars with his new friend helps alleviate the tedium of a life of poverty and boredom. This isn’t what he wants to do with his life but for now, he feels accepted. Except on this occasion, his actions have consequences that could change his life forever. Is it too late to turn his life around?
How far would you go to save those you love?
While DI Paton is on the case of the missing child, he is quickly drawn into a web of deception that hits dangerously close to home. He soon finds himself torn in two, not knowing which way to turn: save his career or his family? Will he be able to crack the case before he himself cracks?
About the author
We are thrilled to be introducing DI Dave Paton and his son Tommy, the stars of the first novel in Kerena Swan’s new series, to the world. Before coming to Hobeck, Kerena had published three novels, Dying To See You, Scared to Breathe and Who’s There? and has built a solid fan base around her writing career thus far. She is a juggler extraordinaire: driving forward a successful care business she runs with her husband yet finding time to write. She loves to write, here and there and everywhere when she’s not working. We don’t know how she does it but we are glad that she does! Kerena talks about her writing, her influences and how she came to Hobeck in this video.
Social Media Links
Website: https://kerenaswan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @kerenaswan
Facebook : @kerenaswan · Author
As part of the blog tour it is my pleasure to be able to share an extract of the book with you!
‘Got any other spares from this vehicle?’ DI Patonglanced around at the tumbledown sheds nearby and overgrown hedges bordered with brown weeds, tempted to look around the corner of the prefab at the cars parked in the yard behind. ‘Was it involved in an accident?’
‘Why do you ask?’ The man tensed and narrowed his eyes.
‘I need a new tail-light. Women, eh?’ Paton grinned but sent a silent apology to Wendy who was a careful, or if anything, an over-anxious driver.
‘Left or right?’
‘Left. The gatepost jumped out at her, apparently.’ He laughed but the man didn’t even smile and Paton sensed tension in the air.
‘You’ll have to come back later. We haven’t finished stripping it down.’ The man shifted his gaze sideways and Paton felt his instincts kicking in. He didn’t trust this man.
Paton was about to leave when the dog emitted a low growl. The man shoved its rump hard with his knee and the dog stopped but stared fixedly at the side of the building.
‘Quiet, Diesel.’
‘Do you need my taser, Dad?’ Paton flinched as Tommy appeared at his side, holding out an old pricing gun that Muriel in the general stores had given him.
‘Tommy, I told you to wait in the car.’ Bloody hell, not now.
‘Is this your son? Hello, Tommy, nice to meet you. Are you a policeman?’ He looked pointedly at Tommy’s police helmet.
Tommy gave him an unfriendly stare. ‘It’s not nice to hurt your dog, is it, Dad? You can get arrested for that.’
‘Tommy’s passionate about detective TV dramas,’ Paton explained, warming to the man a little now that he’d shown Tommy a measure of respect and kindness.
‘Not The Sweeney, I hope. That always gives us breakers a bad press.’
‘That’s his favourite,’ Paton said, hoping Tommy wouldn’t say something inappropriate. ‘Come on, Tommy.’ He turned towards the lane.
‘Do you know any other policemen, Tommy, or are you the only one around here?’ the man asked.
Paton stiffened. ‘Time to go, Tommy.’ Paton silently willed him not to say anything.
‘My Dad arrested someone once because they hurt their cat.’ Tommy looked with pride at his father then glared at the man.
Paton’s heart dropped like a bungee jumper. Now his cover was blown.
‘And is Dad on duty now?’ the man asked.
‘Yes. I’m helping him with his enquiries.’ Tommy puffed up his chest, put his thumbs in his non-existent braces and stood tall.
The man looked at Paton. ‘I didn’t realise you police officers were allowed to take your bairns to work with you.’ The man’s mouth moved into a smile but his eyes remained hard. ‘Funny, I can’t imagine your chief inspector allowing you to have the lad out with you.’
Paton refused to acknowledge the threat. He took Tommy’s arm and pulled him back to the car.
‘I didn’t like that man, Dad. I think you’re wrong. He’s got a baddie face.’
‘You could be right, Tommy.’ Paton would call in the information and would have to admit to his boss about taking Tommy with him on the visit. The DCI wouldn’t be pleased but if he found out about Tommy from someone else it could make the situation much worse. The man Paton had just met seemed the type to use the situation to his advantage. As they drove away, he suddenly felt overwhelmed with the weight of his responsibilities and sighed deeply.
‘You should have stayed in the car like I told you. It’s dangerous there.’
‘Why? Has he got a gun?’
‘I meant the cars piled on top of each other.’
‘Did you sell my Spiderman rucksack?’
‘No. What made you think of that?’ Paton marvelled at his son’s ability to change the subject.
‘I saw it in one of the car windows when I was looking for you. It was on the floor in the back.’
Paton felt a twinge of excitement. At the first opportunity he pulled into a layby and called DC Cheryl Campbell.
‘Cheryl, the stolen BMW. What belongings were in the car again?’
