‘You’re getting a free meal. We’ll go to the tratt, see how Dan’s brilliant lunch plan is working out?’
She wrinkled her nose. ‘Actually, I might steer clear. Don’t want to mess up Nonna’s nice shiny new glass.’
‘Mmm,’ Dad agreed, and she wondered whether his gaze was flicking to the rear-view mirror more frequently than usual.
Her own eyes strayed momentarily to the side mirror, but then she dragged her gaze forward. ‘We’re not being tailed,’ she said firmly, despite not knowing one way or another. But if she sounded confident, everything would be all right. That’s how her life had played out so far, no need for it to change now.
‘Whatever you say. Want to grab some Greek, then?’ He knew The Greek on Halifax was her favourite lunch spot.
Jemma shook her head. Then she nodded. ‘Actually, yes. You head over there and get us a table. I’ll just pop past work and speak with Gerard.’
‘I’ll take you there and wait.’
‘Literally two streets, Pierce. It’d take you longer to find a car park than it’ll take me to walk over to The Greek and meet you.’
Her father’s long fingers drummed the steering wheel for a moment as he navigated the streets. ‘Okay. But have your phone on. And don’t tell Sam.’
‘That you didn’t shadow me every step of the day?’
‘She’s worried about you, Jemma.’
‘Well, that’s … nice,’ she said a little uncertainly. It was odd having someone outside the family take any interest in her welfare. Other than Tien, that was.
‘Speaking of, what have you told your mum?’
There was always a reflexive twist of her gut when anyone mentioned Mum; a surge of humiliation as strong as it had been twenty years ago. She took a breath and schooled her features. ‘About this? Nothing. You know she’ll get dramatic. Even more so than you. Besides, I figure Uncle Dan would have filled her in by now, but she’s not bothered calling.’
Dad frowned. ‘She all right?’
‘You mean is she using?’ Mum was intent on making up for the youth she said she’d missed out on by havingJemma so young. ‘She’s only just come back from the music festival in Albania. Guess she’s still jet-lagged.’ Doing yoga on ’shrooms for six days straight had to have a lasting effect.
She reached for the doorhandle before Dad had pulled the car to a halt near her office. ‘I’ll be over in ten. Feel free to order saganaki kefalograviera for me.’ The grilled Greek cheese and roasted cherry tomato dish would be fine cold, but it was her way of promising Dad she wouldn’t be long.
‘Okay.’ Dad leaned across the seat to look up at her as she got out. ‘Jem? Phone on, all right?’
‘Do you want me to dial you right now and leave it connected?’
‘Well, if you’re offering …’
She slammed the car door, but there was no denying that it felt better to be handling this with the support of her family.
‘Jemma!’ Tien sounded shocked as she passed his office. ‘I thought you’d gone dark. Or, like, on a witness program or something.’
‘Tien, you, of all people, should understand how they work,’ she said with an eye roll. ‘I’m just coming through to grab a file and chat with Gerard.’
‘He’s with Rohan.’
‘Of course he is.’ She straightened the immaculate blazer of her suit, glad she’d chosen the designer label for the police interview. Elegant, understated and expensive enough to give her some courage as she strode down the corridor to Gerard’s office.
‘Jemma.’ Gerard half rose from behind the custom-made desk that would crowd a boardroom. ‘Rohan’s just been filling me in.’
She hiked an eyebrow as high as it would go. ‘I’m not sure what knowledge myesteemed colleaguewould be able to share.’
Rohan looked confused. He hefted a stack of manila folders. ‘The Wilkins case?’
Ouch. None of her colleagues knew about the stone-through-the-window, she’d simply called to advise Gerard she’d be working remotely for a few days, and had the service forward her calls to her mobile.
‘I was bringing Gerard up to speed, as I wasn’t sure you’d be in for the meeting later in the week,’ Rohan continued.
