‘Good luck.’ Jane turned for the Land Rover, Dixon following her. ‘Sarah’s doing well. Her mother rang me; said she might even make it to our wedding.’
‘What are you doing about your girls’ night out?’ He was stepping over the rainwater that was now leaving wide tracks in the mud, Jane splashing straight through them in her boots.
‘Cancelled it. It’s not as if I can have much of a party when I’m six months pregnant, and there’d only be me and Lou anyway. My mother won’t leave my father at the moment.’
‘Don’t forget Lucy.’
‘She’s only sixteen, so she can’t drink.’
‘You lucky sod. Roger’s still insisting on this piss-up he’s organised at a hotel in Lynmouth. He’s only gone and invited Charlesworth as well.’
Jane made no attempt to stifle her chuckle. ‘I think I’d rather spend a night in the cells.’
‘Nige’s hands will still be bandaged, so he said he’s going to drink through a straw.’
‘Sounds like a riot.’
‘I’ll think of something.’
Dixon closed the gates, replacing the padlock and chain. ‘Where to now?’ he asked, climbing into the driver’s seat.
‘Home.’
‘I’ve just got to drop these keys in on the way.’ He stopped across the entrance to Richmond Close, looking up at what had once been the Hope-Bruce family home at the far end. A new family in residence – cars in the drive, a child’s bicycle on the lawn, lights on inside; oblivious to what had gone on there, hopefully. ‘Do you ever think we spend too much of our lives gazing into the abyss?’
‘It’s who we are,’ replied Jane.
‘It’ll be interesting to see if you feel the same when you’ve had a few months away from it.’
‘So, what are you saying?’ She frowned. ‘That you want to go back to the legal profession after all?’
‘What was it Nietzsche said about monsters?’
‘I know that one,’ replied Jane. ‘Something about he who fights monsters becoming a monster themselves. That won’t happen to us.’
‘You can guarantee that, can you?’
Author’s Note
It is astonishing to me that the series is still going, ten years and fourteen books on, but it is entirely thanks to the many readers who have followed Nick, Jane and Monty from the outset, who follow on social media and continue to cheer them (and me) on. Thank you all very much, and for reading From the Ashes. I do hope you enjoyed it!
There are a great many people who have contributed to From the Ashes along the way and to whom I would like to take this opportunity to record my grateful thanks.
First and foremost, my wife, Shelley, whose support and encouragement remain invaluable. Shelley’s willingness to drop everything and read the manuscript on a daily basis never ceases to amaze me.
To my dear friend and harshest critic, Rod Glanville. Thanks, Rodders!
To David Hall and Clare Paul, whose encyclopedic knowledge of Somerset (and Land Rovers) is always freely given and gratefully received.
To my developmental editor, Ian Pindar, and the team at Thomas & Mercer, in particular Sammia Hamer, Victoria Haslam and Eoin Purcell. Thank you!
From the Ashes was another trip down memory lane for me, back to my school days in Burnham-on-Sea in the seventies. It is funny the things that stick in the mind, although I cannot now recall whether the story about the girl falling off the stage and breaking her neck really happened. It may have been a ghost story that the older pupils used to terrorise the younger ones. If there is anyone out there who knows, please get in touch via my website.
I would also like to apologise to any girl from St Christopher’s whose toes I trod on during the ballroom dancing lessons. Yes, they really did happen!
I have fond memories of the Palace Hotel too, and even played the little nine-hole golf course behind it many years ago. Sadly, it really is now just a building site, and at the time of writing, the plans to build a new hotel on the site have been shelved.
My late father even used to play bridge in the community centre in Burnham-on-Sea.
Writing is an oddly personal affair!
Damien Boyd
Devon, UK
November 2023
About the Author
Photo © 2013 Damien Boyd
Damien Boyd is a solicitor by training and draws on his extensive experience of criminal law, along with a spell in the Crown Prosecution Service, to write fast-paced crime thrillers featuring Detective Inspector Nick Dixon.
Find out more at damienboyd.com
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