Page 34 of Not That Impossible

“Oh. But I just wanted—”

“Back!”

“Oh my god, I’m not…you don’t have toscreamat me.”

“Please back away.”

“Right. I will, but can I just—”

“Sir? Back away.”

“Yes. Any second. Quickly, though, can I have a—”

“Back up, please, sir.”

“Seriously?”

“You can’t come past the line.”

“You’ve made that very clear, thank you. I am complying. I’d like a chance to—”

At this point we were nose to nose, and I was getting fed up at being yelled at by someone I was ninety percent sure was in the year below me at school.

And I think I kissed her older brother once.

“Fuck’s sake,” someone said. “Jones. Bring him to me.”

I sucked in a breath, looked up, and my gaze clashed with Liam’s.

Bring him to me.

It was like my fanfic.

I went bright red, I knew it. My cheeks throbbed.

“You want me to let him onto the crime scene, sir?” Constable Jones said—yes, Katie Jones, definitely went to school with her—her voice going up in surprise.

Liam clenched his jaw. “No.” He strode down the drive, his friend strolling after him.

Constable Jones gave me a warning glare before she stood aside to let them cross ‘the line’.

“Hi!” I said breathlessly when Liam stopped in front of me.

“Why are you so red?” he said.

“No reason. It’s hot. Am I red? Hello,” I said to the woman beside him. She was a couple of inches shorter than Liam, had grey-streaked black hair in a long plait, and a flat stare that immediately made me want to confess to every crime I’d ever committed, even the ones in my head.

“Give me a minute, Detective Sergeant,” Liam said to her. He gripped my shoulder, turned me, and walked me a few feet away. “Jasper,” he said in a tight voice. “What are you doing?”

“Reporting! I’m gathering information for the article I’m writing for the paper.”

“It looks like you’re bothering my officers.”

“I’m not bothering anyone. She started yelling at me.”

“Listen,” Liam said, walking me along the pavement.

“I’m listening.”

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