Page 64 of The Hallmarked Man
Robin texted Strike back.
It does look like WW was hiding or on the run from someone/something.
Yeah. I’m going to call Wardle about that couple who took stuff from Wright’s flat, btw. We can’t sit on that.
Robin relaxed somewhat. She wouldn’t have to tell Murphy and, hopefully, her boyfriend would never hear where Wardle had got the information.
Strike, meanwhile, was interested in Robin’s willingness to engage in a text conversation with him. This seemed to suggest she wasn’t with Murphy right now. He sent another text.
I’ve emailed that Osgood bloke. No response yet.
Robin responded:
No. Well, he didn’t seem very fond of unsolicited emails
Strike typedtrue, then sent a further text.
Been wondering why a man would be carrying around a blood sample.
That must have been a lie?
I’d have thought so. Also been wondering whether the getaway car containing the Murdoch silver also contained a curly-haired man and a long-haired woman.
Yes
Wouldn’t mind pictures of the body. See whether there were defensive wounds.
Don’t want much, do you?
Might get lucky on some of it. Kim says she’s got an in.
A shard of red-hot resentment pierced Robin.
For God’s sake, calm down. You need information,said a rational voice in her head, but it was no match for the angry self that wanted to type,why don’t you just team up with bloody Kim on the case instead, if she’s got so many ins?
She lifted her glass to her lips, only to find it empty. Looking up, she realised that a group of women close by were throwing her unfriendly glances for hogging a table and texting, when she was neither drinking nor eating. Robin gathered up her things and left the pub.
The night was freezing, the stars overhead glinting, remote andunfriendly. Once inside the Land Rover, Robin locked the door and turned back to her phone. While she’d been walking to the car, Strike had texted again.
What do you think of her, incidentally?
Robin stared at these words for a few seconds, before typing back,
Who, Kim?
Yes
Unbeknownst to Robin, Strike was consciously trying to disarm what he feared might be a ticking bomb. He couldn’t be sure that Robin had seen the SO SEXY text, and maybe it was vanity to imagine that she’d have been remotely concerned, but he didn’t like the idea of what Kim might be saying behind his back, and after their evening at the Dorchester, he wouldn’t put it past her to be hinting at a mutual attraction that didn’t exist.
Back in the Land Rover, Robin was afraid of taking too long to answer.
She’s good at the job.
Strike pondered this answer, scowling slightly. Was this diplomacy, or had Robin not noticed a trace of flirtatiousness in Kim’s manner towards him? Or didn’t she care?
