Page 73 of Take the Wheel

Marshall’s hangdog face was suddenly sunshine itself.

Fifty-Eight

Nancy sat on the cold concrete steps outside the police station, her arms wrapped tightly around herself against the early morning chill. The sky was beginning to lighten, the first blush of dawn creeping over the horizon. But its beauty was lost on Nancy.

Her mind kept drifting back to the scene inside the station, to Paris and Helen. She could still hear their voices as she’d been led down the corridor past where they were in two separate holding cells, yelling through tiny windows at each other.

‘You told me it was fine!’ Paris had screamed, her voice rising with each word. Her usual controlled demeanour was gone, replaced by panic. ‘You wanted me to get big names. You wanted the splash! Not to mention the credit!’

‘Fine? Don’t be ridiculous,’ Helen had fired back, her voice dripping with venom. ‘You were the one who kept promising everything would work out! I’m your biggest victim in all this!’

Paris let out a mirthless guffaw of horror. ‘What?!’

The anger and desperation were unmistakable. It wasn’t just about who was to blame. It was about everything that had led them to this point, all the lies, the manipulation, the schemes that had spiralled out of control.

Nancy had quite enjoyed the brief show. But she wasn’t amused now.

She took a slow, steady breath, her gaze lifting to the sky, worry in her heart. Were they pressing charges against Ari right now? Because Paris wouldn’t hesitate to point fingers, if only to muddy the waters of her own guilt. Nancy could only pray that just this once, innocence and guilt were truly about to matter.

Her thoughts were interrupted as the door to the station creaked open behind her. She didn’t turn around, not yet. She was scared she’d see someone walking out who shouldn’t be.

‘Nancy,’ came a familiar voice, soft but insistent.

Nancy turned. ‘Oh my god. You’re out.’

Ari sat down next to her on the bench in her creased dress, close enough for Nancy to feel the warmth of her body. They breathed together.

Finally, Ari broke the silence. ‘So, how wasyourinterrogation?’

Nancy let out a short laugh, though it was devoid of any real amusement. ‘Best fun since my last root canal.’ She looked at Ari with a little more seriousness. ‘How are you out?’

‘They’re not pressing charges. They didn’t have a clue about the necklace. I guess Paris is frying bigger fish than me right now.’

Nancy’s relief was deep. ‘Thank fuck.’

‘Praise be to fuck, indeed.’ She sighed. ‘I guess this was the best-case scenario. I’m out, you’re out…’

‘And we’re together.’ Nancy’s words came softly, but they carried all the weight of the moment.

‘So… Shall we head back to that hotel in Edinburgh?’ Ari asked, her eyes dancing with mischief.

Nancy found herself blushing. ‘We don’t have the car.’

‘Sod the car,’ Ari shrugged. ‘Not like either of us could drive in this state of exhaustion anyway. We’ll get a cab. And I’ll tip the driver handsomely for the unsociable hour.’

Nancy smiled. ‘OK.’

Ari smiled. Then stopped smiling. ‘Oh. I don’t have my phone. The gorillas took it. I can’t ring anyone or pay for anything.’

Nancy laughed. ‘I’ve got it.’ She pulled out her phone, found a local company and ordered a cab.

‘Feels weird letting you pay,’ Ari said.

Nancy raised an eyebrow. ‘Well, you better get used to it. Fifty-fifty all the way now.’

Ari blinked, surprised. ‘Is it?’

‘Has to be.’ She paused. ‘As soon as I get another job, of course.’

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