And that was the thing about undercover work. He couldn’t act on instinct. He’d done that before. Rookie days on borough CID, a domestic call-out where he’d pushed in because the girlfriend’s eyes screamedhelp me. The case collapsed because he’d tainted the entry. Evidence gone. Suspect walked. The girlfriend went right back to him. He couldn’t make a move on anything unless he could back it up in court. Otherwise, he was just another uniform with nothing to show for it.
He wasn’t even uniform now. He was deep cover. And in deep cover, he couldn’t blow his face unless the target was on the ground and the evidence in his pocket. Still, after two hours of nothing, he climbed out of the car and walked up to Jude’s door. He could hear voices inside. Not the drone of a telly. Too irregular for that. Then a crash.
His body went taut. He held still, listening. Nothing followed.
So he knocked.
Rustling came from behind the door. The sound of a chain sliding. Then Jude’s face appeared in the narrow gap, eyes catching on Warren’s like a hook.
“Hey,” Warren said, trying for easy. “You alright?”
“Yeah. Fine.” Jude glanced over his shoulder before looking back. “Sorry, this isn’t a good time.”
“Sure. I just…” Warren lifted the glasses case. “Found this in my bag. Must’ve picked it up by mistake.”
Jude eased his arm through the gap and took it. “Thanks. Appreciated. You could’ve just given it to me tomorrow.”
“Yeah, no, I…” Warren rubbed the back of his neck. “Thought we could talk.”
“I can’t right now.” Jude’s gaze stayed locked to his. “But thanks. And, look, no worries, yeah? No need to talk about anything. It’s all fine. I’ll see you at school.”
He shut the door.
And Warren stood there a moment, listening. Too quiet. A quiet that wasn’t peace, it was weight. He stepped back, scanning the upper windows the way he’d done on a hundred other doorsteps. Curtains stirred at the front room and Warren immediately glanced to them.
The eyes looking back at him weren’t Jude’s.
Callum Reid.
Warren had seen that face in the SEROCU files enough to know the lines, the smirk that didn’t reach the eyes. And every muscle in his body screamed to move. Kick in the door, drag Reid out, and end it before it bled any further into Jude’s life. But there was nothing to hang it on. No arrest plan in place, no immediate threat he could prove. Going in now would get him pulled from the op, blow months of work, maybe let Reid vanish for good and Radley would go, once again, untainted.
He had to swallow it down.
Turn away.
Walk back to his car as if this was any other street, any other door. And stop himself from going rogue by telling himself he would see Jude tomorrow.
Still hated himself for it, though.
chapter fourteen
Repetition
“Who the fuck’s that?” Callum dropped the living room curtain back into place and turned from the window.
“A colleague.” Jude tried to keep his tone flat. Neutral. Hoping that would be enough. But Callum had always been able to read him. Peel back whatever mask he tried to wear.
“Colleague, huh?” Callum glanced towards the window again, looking beyond at where Jude supposed Warren was retreating to his car, thinking how he’d had a narrow escape.
Least one thing was for sure, Warren wouldn’t be seeking him tomorrow. Or the next day. Jude’s rudeness would be enough to turn anyone off. Another silver lining that he wouldn’t have to hear the rejection.
Callum adjusted the curtain again. A month now of living in perpetual dusk, the air heavy and stale, was wearing Jude down. Summer was long gone, autumn at its peak, yet it would still benice to let real daylight spill into the house. Most days, though, Jude hid in his bedroom, listening for the sound of the door, waiting for that blessed moment when Callum left. And he did leave. Sometimes. But he always came back. He had a key now. Changing the locks would be pointless. Callum would force his way in, claim the place all over again, using what he knew to keep Jude compliant.
“Doesn’t look like a colleague to me.” Callum cocked his head, scratching a hand through his buzz.
“He’s a teacher.”
“He’s a fucking pervert.” Callum stepped closer to him. “That’s what he is. Coming round here to get a sniff of you.” He groped himself over his jeans. “Wants to stick his dick in you. That’s what he wants.”
