Page 145 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

Maddie woke aware that she’d slept in and more than aware that there were people in the house. Other people. People other than Brandon and Cole.

She got up, brushed her hair, slapped on some makeup and quickly got dressed. Whatever was going on she knew she needed to be responding, to be a part of it.

She grabbed the crutches and limbered down the hall, carefully, slowly, manoeuvring down the staircase and feeling like any minute she was going to topple over the side.

She limped into the kitchen following the sounds of voices and saw Cole first, next to Brandon and to her surprise Carlton was there alongside another man.

Carlton gave her a warm smile and she smiled back before looking round to see if there was any coffee.

“I’ll get it.” Brandon said already knowing what she was after.

“Thanks.” She replied awkwardly pulling a bar stool out and sitting on it so her one working leg could rest.

“Take it the legs not getting any better?” Carlton asked and she shook her head.

“Maddie this is Andy Jackson, he heads up Counter Terrorism for the police.” Cole stated and she felt her eyes widen as she looked at the man. He was easily the oldest of them there and he looked like the kind of person you wouldn’t want to cross both physically and intellectually.

“Good to meet you Maddie.” Andy said in a thick northern accent.

“Cumbrian?” She asked and he chuckled.

“Not for a long time.” He said. “Still haven’t lost the accent though.”

“Andy is taking over from Mullens.” Brandon said handing her a mug and her jaw dropped. Was this guy going to start interrogating her the same way?

“I know what you’re probably thinking and without disrespecting my colleague I have no intention of arresting you.” Andy said.

“Right.” She muttered. “Why are you here Carlton? Not that I’m not happy to see you.”

He smirked. “Black Industries HQ just got blown up. I think Brandon would be short-sighted if he didn’t accept help when it was offered.”

“Or asked for.” Brandon said. “Carlton is helping with the case. He’s brought a team that’s going to go through and review with fresh eyes just in case. And he’s coming on board.”

“So he’s SIC?” She asked. Not that she minded. Carlton was far superior to her in rank and experience.

“No, he’s coming on in an advisory role. You’re still SIC.” Cole stated.

“Do you mind if I ask you some questions?” Andy said and she looked at him.

“Ask away.”

“You’re prints were found on bomb fragments, do you have any idea how they might have gotten there? Did you touch anything at the scene?”

Maddie glanced at Brandon. “Does he have clearance?”

Brandon shook his head. “Not yet. We’re seeing what we can do.”

She grunted. “The people we think are behind this have a history of fitting me up for stuff. They planted highly incriminating evidence in my apartment which is what led BlackWater to me in the first place. It sounds farfetched but it’s easy enough to plant prints if you know what you’re doing.”

“It’s not farfetched. I just wanted to make sure there wasn’t a legitimate reason why your prints were on the casing.”

“Anything else?”

“In your interview you said you were with Cole the entire evening prior to the bombing, are you still maintaining that as your alibi?”

Maddie nodded. “Yes I was with Cole. I didn’t leave his house all evening….”

“Our house.” Cole cut across her and she smirked before glancing at Carlton who blinked slightly surprised by the revelation before his face returned to a perfect display of impassiveness.

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