Page 45 of Read Between The Lines

‘I hate to be predictable, but, on the other hand, I’m touched to be the voice of reason in your head.’

I knew he’d only said it to wind me up, but I fell for the trap anyway. ‘Don’t flatter yourself. Smugness doesn’t suit you.’

Leo grinned in that provoking way of his. ‘At least you acknowledge that we’re nowhere near being able to prove that Marc has an alternative identity as one Brian James.’

‘What doyouthink we should do next?’

‘I can tell from the way you asked that question that you already have a plan in mind.’

‘You’re right, I do. I was thinking I should message Marc on the app and ask him on a date,’ I said, even though the very thought of it turned my stomach. ‘I’ve continued communicating with the Brian James profile, but I’m stuck in a holding pattern, to be honest. Take a look at this.’ I found the relevant exchange on the app and passed my phone over to Leo.

Any luck on the funding front? I’m guessing things over there are still terrible, judging by the way you’re stuck at HQ. Is there no way you could get even a weekend pass out to meet up? You deserve some down time, and I’d love to spend it with you. Missing your presence more every second. Love, Kat xx

As soon as the funding is sorted, I’ll be all yours. But until then, I am waiting and hoping for things to work out so we can be together. You have no idea how frustrated I am that I can’t be with you right this second. You are in my every thought. Love, Brian xoxo

‘Very smooth,’ said Leo.

‘As you can see, both of us are dancing around things. He’s pushing without overtly coming out and saying he wants money, and I’m doing the same, but it’s information that I’m after.’

‘There’s certainly no indication that he might have already met you– if your theory that it’s Marc proves correct. Why do you think asking him out would prove that hypothesis?’

‘If Marc agreed to meet me– obviously in a public place for safety– then I could try subtly quoting stuff from Scammer Brian’s messages, or referring to bits of his back story, and see how he reacts. It could be a way of catching him out.’

Even as I said it out loud, I knew how many flaws there were in my plan, and judging from Leo’s sceptical expression, he was about to take great delight in pointing them all out to me.

‘That’s an– how shall I phrase this?– interesting approach. But I think we’ll need to come up with something better than that. For a start, don’t you think he might be a teensy bit suspicious of your sudden interest in him, given your swift exit from his company on Thursday night?’

‘And whose fault was that?’ I retorted. Then after a pause, I added, ‘But thank you. In retrospect, I agree it was probably for the best to get out of there, and I appreciate you helped me do that as quickly as possible.’

Leo clutched his hand to his chest and gasped. ‘I must be hallucinating, because that sounded very much like Ms Kat Fisher admitting at last that I was right and she was wrong.’

‘Alright, alright, there’s no need to gloat about it.’ I shoved my elbow against his side with slightly more force than was needed. Without even hesitating, Leo blocked the move and spun me round so I was facing him.

‘As you instigated things, this seems as good a moment as any to start your self-defence lesson,’ he said.

‘I’d really prefer to push on with the Marc investigation,’ I said, trying to ignore the fact that I was practically flush against him now. All I needed to do was act nonchalant or, even better, try to keep the grumpy banter going, but it was hard to concentrate on behaving normally when I was being held in such close proximity.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you,’ he said. ‘What shall we use as a safe word?’

I shot him a glance. That low huskiness was back in his voice, but his expression was completely neutral. Was he deliberately teasing me, or was my overactive imagination conjuring up double meanings to his speech that weren’t actually there?

I cleared my throat and gave myself a stern mental lecture to get it together.

‘If that’s how this works, then perhaps you’d like to come up with one yourself, oh mentor of mine,’ I said. If my words came out slightly more wavering than I’d have liked, I hoped he’d blame it on my supposed nerves at learning self-defence.

He finally unleashed the grin which I’d suspected he’d been hiding all along.

‘Mentor, hey? I’m honoured.’

‘Don’t get used to it.’

‘You spend all day surrounded by books. I’m sure you can come up with an appropriate safe word. It has to be something that neither of us will accidentally let slip in normal conversation while we work on our moves.’

I couldn’t imagine having a normal conversation while grappling on the ground with Leo. And now I wished I hadn’t let my mind wander to the grappling on the ground bit. I was already discombobulated by the hold which was lasting for much longer than felt normal. This was going to get so awkward.

‘Can’t we just choose something simple like “stop”?’

‘That’s a bit boring, isn’t it? Besides, most attackers don’t follow orders like “stop”. How about Darcy?’ he suggested. ‘I’m sure he won’t mind us leaving his title out. It makes it easier to shout in the heat of the moment.’

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