“Maybe she had a bad dream and thought it was real. Best you stick to reading stories to kids and teaching them to count, and we’ll do our investigating. Right. I’ll see you back at the station, Maynard.” He looked at Alex and Rayah saw him roll his eyes, casting a glance at her.
Fury burned like a match to a petrol soaked cloth but she contained any explosion, only because this man, if he could be called that, was Alex’s boss and she didn’t want the words she needed to say reflect on her cousin.
Alex waited, watching her until the Inspector’s footsteps had silenced and she’d heard the door to reception click shut.
“Garrison is a dick. Don’t let him rile you.”
“There’s no let about it. He just has. She saw something, Alex. It might not have been a gun, but why make something up about a man in her room?”
“I know. I get it. I’m not as convinced as Garrison is that she’s lying. I’ve challenged him and asked him to continue questioning other members of the cult….”
“Church. Cult is derogatory.”
“It’s a fucking cult. Let’s not have that conversation right now. Look, keep an eye on her. Check in with mum to see how she is if you can and I’ll do the same.”
“Won’t you get busted if you do? I can’t see your boss liking you going behind his back.” Rayah automatically went into protect mode. Alex was slightly younger than her and she’d grown up with him being the baby.
“I can look after myself, Ray. You need to worry about that little kid who probably can’t. If it helps, I reckon she’ll be well-looked after tonight. Her mother was really worried about her. She won’t be in any trouble.”
“Do you think the mother was lying?”
He shrugged. “She didn’t seem to be, but that means nothing. Look, Rayah,” his tone was thick with concern. “Promise me you won’t start nosing into it. I’ll check on Kayleigh. Garrison won’t find out about it, unless I need to re-open the file and in which case, I won’t be in any bother. But please leave it. If there is something going on up there, it might be dangerous for you to get involved.”
Rayah folded her arms and considered being pissed off. “You think there is more to it.”
Alex shrugged. “I don’t trust any fucking thing that goes on in that ‘religious organisation’. I don’t believe for one minute that Kayleigh has lied – misunderstood, maybe, but why say he was in her room? I don’t believe a word that comes out of that dickhead Kendrick’s mouth though. Promise me, Rayah, that you won’t go up there doing a surprise visit. If you need to go there, take someone with you.”
She looked at him and bit her lips together. It had always been easy to do what Alex said; he was so sincere and always so right.
“I’ll try.”
“Rayah.”
She shook her head. “If I think she’s in danger…”
“You phone me. You don’t go there yourself alone.”
The nod she gave was barely perceptible, a half agreement. It was a promise she wasn’t sure she could keep.
Rayah headedto Scott’s bar after a quick shower and change. Her fridge was empty and she didn’t feel like shopping, plus being at home by herself would be a recipe for disaster, leaving her with too much to think about. Given that she excelled at developing conspiracy theories, having company right now was a much better option.
The menu had recently been changed and Scott, probably out of spite, had removed the option she usually had for dinner. He wasn’t into fine dining – it was a bar in a town – but he’d gotten rid of most of the more traditional type dinners and brought in tapas and an extensive burger menu. Which was hardly a problem; it just required more thought.
Abby, Scott’s bar manager and Sorrell’s manager at the hotel, appeared with the tablet the staff used to be able to take orders rather than people hogging the bar area.
“What’re you having?”
Rayah shrugged. “There are too many choices. It’s too hard.”
“Padron peppers, pork belly, the trio of mini burgers and patatas bravas. Start with those. You can add more. And judging by the look of you, you’ll be wanting something alcoholic even though it’s a school night.” Abby shook her blonde ponytail and sat down.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Completely. And you’re here on your own rather than with Sorrell or Keren or one of the other teachers. That suggests a bit of desperation.”
“Thanks, Abby. I’ll have a mai tai. Extra mai.” She’d limit herself to two. It was a school night, even if tomorrow was Friday.
“Food?”
