Magpie. Sophie Draper

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СКАЧАТЬ Chapter 43: Claire – Before

       Chapter 44: Claire – Before

       Chapter 45: Claire – Before

       Chapter 46: Duncan – After

       Chapter 47: Claire – After

       Chapter 48: Claire – After

       Chapter 49: Claire – Before

       Chapter 50: Duncan – After

       Chapter 51: Claire – Before

       Chapter 52: Claire – Before

       Chapter 53: Claire – After

       Chapter 54: Claire – Before

       Chapter 55: Duncan – After

       Chapter 56: Claire – Before

       Chapter 57: Duncan – After

       Chapter 58: Claire – After

       Chapter 59: Claire – After

       Chapter 60: Claire – After

       Chapter 61: Duncan – 22 Years Before

       Chapter 62: Duncan – After

       Chapter 63: Claire – After

       Chapter 64: Claire – After

       Chapter 65: Duncan – After

       Chapter 66: Duncan – After

       Chapter 67: Claire – After

       Chapter 68: Duncan – After

       Chapter 69: Claire – After

       Chapter 70: Claire – After

       Chapter 71: Claire – After

       Chapter 72: Duncan – After

       Chapter 73: Claire – After

       Chapter 74: Claire – After

       Chapter 75: Duncan – After

       Acknowledgements

       Keep Reading …

       About the Author

       By the Same Author

       About the Publisher

       CHAPTER 1

       CLAIRE – BEFORE

      There’s a dog protesting from one of the cages on the ward. Pain, the animal’s in pain. Its cries cut across my thoughts and I turn away from Duncan’s consulting room, past Sally on reception and through the doors to the back of the building.

      Imogen, the animal care assistant, is already there, doing her rounds. Her body is bent as she checks each animal. She reads the clipboards pegged to every cage and tops up food and water.

      ‘Is it the Great Dane again?’ I ask.

      She nods, gesturing to the biggest enclosure. It’s out of sight by the stockroom and I turn the corner. The dog is on its feet, swaying from side to side, one back leg visibly shorter than the other. It lifts its head, jowls wet with saliva, pressing its cheek against the bars. Large brown eyes roll as it recognises a human face and it howls again, a long two-toned cry, setting off another sequence of barks and whimpers in the room.

      I unhook the door, dropping to my knees. The Great Dane hobbles cautiously towards me. It easily matches me for height in this position, pushing against my body. I take the animal’s head into my arms.

      ‘Hey, there, big fella, how’re you doing?’

      I shift my feet, holding one hand to the side of the dog’s head, the animal panting. Its eyes are dilated, its tongue hanging out, tasting the very smell of me. The dog tugs away, distrusting even the comfort of my body, yet drawn to me. Its oversized legs are partially splayed, its tail tight and stiff. I run my hands along the underside of its stomach, pausing in the middle before slowly rising up and along the back, approaching one hip. The animal lets out a moan and throws its head like a horse.

      ‘It’s okay, sweetheart, I know.’

      I press with care, eyes watching the dog closely, pressing just enough to determine the exact spot and no more. The dog moans again and I let my hand drop.

      ‘Imogen.’ I raise my voice. ‘Can you come and help me here a moment?’

      ‘Coming!’

      I hear the clatter of a metal bowl being set on the floor and Imogen appears, slightly out of breath.

      ‘What is it?’

      ‘How long has she been like this?’

      ‘Since I came in this morning.’

      I frown. My hand reaches up to turn a page on the clipboard.

      ‘Has she eaten at all?’ I nod to the full bowl of dried food pellets.

      ‘She had some of the wet food last night, but none of the dried.’

      ‘But she’s drinking?’

      The water bowl is full too, I note.

      ‘Claire – I’m not sure …’ Imogen looks at me uncertainly. Then: ‘Yes – I filled it only a few moments ago.’

      ‘Okay. It’s happened again – she’s dislocated her hip …’

      ‘Claire!’ It’s Duncan, my husband, striding round the corner.

      He stops in front of us, lifting one hand to his smooth round head. He towers over me as I crouch on the floor and glares at me with barely concealed annoyance.

      ‘Claire. Sally said you were looking for me.’

      His voice is clipped and professional. He smiles at Imogen.

      ‘Would you give us a moment?’

      She throws me an anxious glance.

      ‘Sure,’ she says. ‘Lovely to see you, Claire.’

      Duncan’s arms are toned, his neck СКАЧАТЬ