Page 50 of Beck

“He wasn’t quiet about his conquests.”

“You said there was also a request.”

Conrad nodded slowly. “Obviously, everyone’s details are confidential, but one of the women has asked if you will meet with her.”

Beck frowned. “Why?”

“She knows you.”

He tried to think who it could be, and horror flooded his veins. “Who?” he croaked.

“Rebecca Straith.”

Beck dropped his head into his hands.Rebecca.He didn’t recognise the surname, but if it was who he thought it was, he hadn’t been able to protect her at all. Everything he had done was to keep them safe from Drake, but there was one part of his story he hadn’t wanted to think too much about—when he was told to leave. Because that meant there was no one to protect the other kids once he was gone. And it seemed that Drake might’ve focused on Rebecca.

“Yes. I’ll meet her.”

“She’s willing to come in today to see you if that’s okay?”

Beck exhaled. “Does it have to be here?”

Conrad shook their head. “No. I thought it might be easier here, but you’re welcome to meet up anywhere. I just had to get permission from you beforehand.”

“It won’t mess up our testimonies if we talk before the trial?”

“We have your testimonies already on file and recorded, so we will be fine.” Conrad handed him a piece of paper. “This is Rebecca’s phone number.”

He stared at the scribble, wondering if he was doing the right thing. Would it hurt or help each other if they met up and talked about the past?

****

Chapter 16

Kole

Kole could see the indecision on Beck’s face from the moment he was handed the paper; he took it as if it was made of glass, resting it on his shaking palm. Wishing he could make everything better, Kole nodded at the police officers and led Beck out of the station. They didn’t talk until they reached the bike.

“Are you going to call her now?” he asked carefully, not wanting to push Beck too far.

Beck scraped his lower lip with his teeth, a tick he was showing more and more recently. “I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”

“How come?”

Beck exhaled roughly and rested back against his bike, still staring at the slip of paper. “What if she blames me?”

“I don’t think she would ask to meet you—or that the police would allow it—if she blamed you. But, if she does, you deal with it. You can’t control other people’s opinions. You know this more than the average person, being in the spotlight already.”

Beck tilted his head as he stared at him, making butterflies swarm in Kole’s stomach. “Thank you,” he murmured. He dropped his gaze to the paper again, but then he pulled his phone free and pressed the screen several times. Inhaling deeply, he put the phone to his ear and met Kole’s gaze once more.

Kole had no idea how the conversation was going to go, but if Beck needed to stare at him to get through it, then he would glue his feet to the ground for as long as he needed him to. He couldn’t begin to imagine what was going through Beck’s mind. Having people he had lost contact with years prior just turn up, out of the blue, was a difficult scenario.

“Um, hi,” Beck said, his voice strained. “Is that…Rebecca?”

Kole couldn’t hear what the other person was saying, but Beck blinked a few times, his nostrils flaring.

“Yeah, yes. That…would be nice.” He listened a bit more. “Um, there’s a pub called Forest Tavern in Stratford. Two hours? Okay. See you then.” He paused and then pulled the phone from his ear.

Kole watched him swallow as he slowly put the phone in his jacket pocket and waited him out, knowing he was processing the conversation.

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