Page 88 of Dead to Me

I emailed Gael to update him as I made my way into London.We were due to meet the next morning for our check-in, and I’d decided to stay over at my own flat before it.I’d need as much sleep as I could get the night before Trinity May Ball.

I also emailed Imogen, asking her to find out anything she could from Cambridgeshire police about the attempt on James’s life.Despite it being Sunday, I got an immediate, enthusiastic response.I could tell that Imogen was desperate to be involved in this as more than a dogsbody.I added a message to tread very carefully, which she at least acknowledged.

Having heard nothing more from either of them, it was a shock when I arrived on our floor of theEnsignat nine to find Gael waiting for me with a heavy expression.I know him well enough that I immediately realised this was not good news.I knew he might be about to tell me James’s near-death was all my fault.

It’s difficult to rally your arguments against something you basically agree with, but I tried to think of a few anyway.

I needn’t have bothered.The moment I sat down in Gael’s office, he said, ‘Maria is pulling the plug.’

I stared at him, dumbfounded.

‘But… come on.I know it’s taking time, but everything ismoving now…’

Gael nodded, his expression full of sympathy.‘I know.And I know it’s a rough deal when you’re in the middle of things.But as well as little progress over several weeks, she’s extremely concerned that our actions– however careful– have caused a student to try to attempt suicide.’

I couldn’t help making an outraged sound.‘He didn’t!I talked to him today.Someone tried to poison him.’

Gael pulled a doubtful face.‘Imogen got the attendingofficers’ report.It seems incredibly unlikely there was outside involvement, whatever he’s now saying.’

‘Well, there was,’ I insisted.‘And we owe it to him to work out who and how, otherwise we’re leaving him in greater danger.’I stood up.‘It was asking questions that triggered the killer to move.Seriously, Gael.’

He rubbed his hand across his head.‘I don’t think they’re going to budge, Anna.’

‘They?I thought this was Maria.’

He sighed.‘I got hauled in by her and the editor.They’re both declaring themselves horrified by our casualness with student welfare.’

‘God,’ I said.‘That’s not– that’s not fair.’

Gael gave me a wry smile.‘Never expect fairness.’

I shook my head, feeling a surge of huge frustration.

‘I can’t leave all this unfinished.There’s James’s safety to think about, and Cordelia Wynn–’

Gael held up a hand.‘You explained to her at the beginning that there might not be enough for us.You and she are going to have to accept that.’And then he added, ‘I’m really sorry about this, but with the two of them saying no there isn’t a lot I can do.’

I gave him a last, desperate, pleading look.‘But what am I supposed to do to protect James Sedgewick?’

He let out a sigh.‘If you really think he was attacked, I’d say the best thing you can do is convince him to report it all to the police and then walk away.Let them look at this their own way, without you.’He nodded.‘In terms of practicalities, we can give you a reason to vanish.A sick relative.A drug relapse.’

I thought of Esther and James all being told that I was an addict.Of Kit and Ryan, the ones who thought they knew this already, being told that I’d given in and relapsed.Somehowthe thought made everything inside me churn almost as much as the idea of walking away from the case itself.

‘I’ll sort it,’ I told him in a dull voice.

And then I left the office for Cambridge again, knowing that I wasn’t going to walk away at all.

34.Reid

Dom’s team looked somewhere between concerned and happy to see Reid as he made his way to his corner of CID.

‘All right, mate,’ Dom said, going to give him a shoulder squeeze.‘Kit Frankland should be here in fifteen, and he’s our main person of interest at the moment.’

Reid gave him as much of a grin as his face currently allowed.The painkillers had at last started to do something, so while his jaw wasn’t fully mobile, it at least didn’t feel on the point of rupture.

‘I’d like to be in on the interview.’

‘Let’s discuss,’ Dom said.And then he drew Reid aside to say, ‘Overnight we got phone records back from the burner phone Anna was using as Aria Lauder.The last call she made was to her father, which didn’t connect.’He cleared his throat.‘Just before that, she tried to call your old number.’

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