Page 73 of Stolen Ones
‘I’ll be down in a minute.’
He waited for a few seconds and then looked pointedly at Alison.
‘What?’
‘I reckon Betty’s all but giving away any leftover muffins right now.’
‘Ooh, back in a minute,’ she said, launching herself from the room.
‘What now?’ Kim asked, folding her arms.
‘Hey, I caught that micro-organism on your face just then, and I’m not gonna have a go about anything.’
‘Micro-expression,’ she corrected him unnecessarily.
‘Watch him, guv. He’s trying to get under your skin. He’s drawing too many parallels with you. I don’t know his game, but it’s not me he’s playing it with. It’s your attention he wants. Just something to bear in mind.’
Bryant had been afforded the luxury of sitting and watching the whole exchange.
‘Thanks, Bryant, now get lost and give Jenny my love.’
He offered her a mock salute and headed for the door.
A small part of her regretted not telling him about Alexandra Thorne. He was a wise man, and she trusted his judgement.
But with what she was about to do, she wasn’t equally sure she could trust her own.
Forty
Alex knew something special was happening, and she didn’t need to ask the guard what it was. She didn’t get marched over to the visitors’ centre at eighto’clock for any old caller. It had to be someone with power, someone with authority and someone who didn’t like to be told no.
She was heartened to see the detective inspector sitting at a table in the centre of the room looking straight at her. As usual she was dressed from head to toe in black, her long legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles.
Her face was unreadable, but Alex had an idea of what she was feeling. Her curiosity had outweighed her determination to stay away, and right now she was feeling pretty mad at herself for giving in to her own emotions. Oh, she did enjoy those little revelations of humanity in the woman.
‘How lovely to see you, Kim,’ Alex said, taking a seat. ‘Thank you for coming.’
‘Cut the bullshit, Alex. What do you want?’
‘I’m just offering appreciation for your efforts at this time of—’
‘Normally when you ask to see me it’s because people are going to get hurt, so who is on your hit list this time?’
‘We’ll get to that in a minute. Firstly, tell me how you are. It’s been a while. You look tired.’
‘Because I’m dealing with a psychopath.’
‘Well, I’m pretty sure we established that years ago. I’ve never pretended—’
‘Not you, Alex. You’re not the only psychopath in town, and you’re certainly not the most challenging.’
But I’m the one you’ve driven 40 miles at night to see, Alex thought with satisfaction.
‘Tell me about it – get it off your chest. I might be able to help.’
‘Oh, Alex, don’t act out of character. The only person you’ve ever been able to help is yourself.’
‘Try me,’ she said. She hadn’t enjoyed anyone’s company this much since the last time Kim had visited. ‘If you’re so sure you’re dealing with a psychopath, it takes one to know one.’
