I see no trace of alarm in his face as he smiles at me though. He doesn’t appear to have recognised me. I think I may have got away with it.
‘Women in Prison, you say?’
‘Yes,’ I swallow. ‘What with Tilly being a vulnerable adult…’ I glance over at her, sitting down at the table. I briefly meet her eyes, let her know I’m still watching her. ‘It’s important to reassure her that there’s support here for her, whatever may have happened,whatever she may or may not have done.’
‘That’s very admirable, um… Alexandra, was it?’
‘Alex,’ I smile, avoid his eyes as I will him to leave.Can’t there be an emergency for him to attend somewhere?‘Tilly told me that you were here earlier?’ The words come out of my mouth before I can think to stop them.
‘Oh, did she?’ Is that suspicion I detect? No. I’m being paranoid. Why did I even say it? He definitely hasn’t recognised me. He would have arrested me on the spot by now, wouldn’t he?Oh please, Dan, please don’t recognise me.
‘I’m sorry for interrupting you.’ He nods at Tilly. ‘Are you OK, Tilly?’
She nods feebly. ‘Yes, Dan, I’m fine, thank you. Did you forget something?’
He glances over at me. Is it just me, or does he keep looking over in my direction?
‘No… er, yes, actually, there was something. The sketch you drew, the one of Samantha Valentine, of Erin Santos.’ I get a shiver as he says my name. ‘I was hoping you might be able to do another – one with even more detail this time.’
Why would he be asking her to do that? They already have a photograph of me circulating,thatphoto. And did he say,Tilly’ssketch? So the sketch she had drawn, the one that looked like me, the oneshe had drawnto look like me, had been released to the media by the police. I almost feel sorry for Dan and his team. She’s been playing them all like fiddles. And the whole hearing aid ploy, complete bullshit, of course, but a cunning move nonetheless. Samantha knew about Dan Riley’s son’s diagnosis because he’d opened up about it briefly in that article. And true to form, she had used it to her advantage, as a means to manipulate. Dead people, deaf people? No one was off limits.
‘We’ll provide you with the supplies, the paper and pencils or charcoal or whatever you prefer… the sketch really does seem to have sparked the imagination of the public. We think it may help if we release another one.’
‘If you think so, Dan, then of course.’ She says it so sweetly that I want to throw up again, despite there being nothing left in my hollow stomach.
There’s a pause.
‘I was hoping you might come to the station with menow, so we can get it done and out of the way.’
‘Oh, well, um…’ She glances up at me. ‘Of course, yes, I…’ She makes to stand.
‘I’m sorry, er, Dan, did you say?’
‘Yes, Dan. Detective Chief Inspector Dan Riley.’
He really is rather cute.
‘I certainly don’t want to step on the police’s toes,’ – I clear my throat – ‘only I’ve just driven here all the way from Kent. I’m based in East Sutton Park, you see – the women’s open prison.’ It’s a decent name drop and I’m glad I thought of it. It sounds authentic. ‘If I could just have half an hour with Sa— withTilly.’ I take a breath. ‘I can bring her over to the station myself afterwards, if that suits?’
‘Great,’ he says, looking over at her. ‘That OK for you, Tilly?’
She nods, shrugs. ‘Of course.’
‘Thanks, Alex.’ Dan turns to me. ‘Um, I hope you’re not offended by my asking, but do you have any ID on you, a business card or something?’
‘Yes, no problem … hang on… I open my handbag, flash him my fake driver’s licence. ‘I’m afraid I don’t have any cards on me, but you’re welcome to check with the admin team at East Sutton.’
‘Thanks. OK. Right, well, I’ll see you down at the station shortly then.’
‘I’ll see you out, Dan.’ Tilly suddenly stands, forcing me to do the same.
‘No bother, Tilly.’ I glare at her. ‘I’ll see Detective Riley out.’
Snide bitch really was going to try to pull a fast one.
‘Well, it was nice to meet you, Dan. It really was.’
He trains his eyes on me as we shake hands again. For some reason I don’t feel like letting go.
