‘I feel like I’ve gone through to another dimension. Something tells me your crystal meth couple are connected to that call from your mum. Am I getting warm?’
‘It’s best we don’t talk about it in here. I’m just super-conscious of not being involved with any of this.’
‘Any of what? God, this is like doingThe Timescrossword upside-down.’
‘I love you by the way. I’m sorry I went missing.’
‘You were in hospital, partly.’ A thought struck Edward. ‘I wonder if that couple were arrested after a tip-off of some sort.’ He looked at Kim piercingly, the faintest smile playing around his lips. ‘A tip-off from an anonymous source, who is simultaneously exotic and practical.’
‘Rules me out,’ said Kim.
‘By the way, the news on the pizza place – it’ll be out soon.’
‘So long as I’m not in it.’
‘I think they have a plan to keep us out of it.’
‘I keep listening, thinking you’re going to reveal it on the radio.’
‘Jordan and I did a deal. Nothing until he makes arrests, and then everything goes to me first.’
‘What does Aspinall say about that? I bet he’s thrilled.’
‘He’s angry at having to wait for something he can’t be told about. He’s always angry.’
‘Is he still going to sack you?’
‘Hope not.’
‘Bloody hell,’ she said, ‘that really would be the icing on the cake.’ Her eyes widened.
He forgot to tell the story. He was suddenly swimming in those pools of green, the smashed-gem green of her eyes, and he saw her lips part. ‘Where did you go to, my lovely?’ he said.
‘Secret places,’ she told him as he removed the belt from her jeans.
Chapter Fifty
When Barbara arrived at Harpford Hall, the door was jammed. From inside, the voice of an older man barked: ‘First name, surname.’ She replied, ‘Barbara Sinker.’ He asked for her mobile number and she felt pleased with herself for remembering it.
The door cracked open. She slid through the gap and into the village hall. The last time she had been there was for that crazy presenters’ meeting. Now she looked around. Even in daytime the place was gloomy, and she went to turn the lights on.
‘So,’ said the man. It was the red-sweater pensioner with the long neck who had shouted at Edward. Trust him to get there first. ‘We’ve found it. It’s real. I’m in charge. How much was your loss?’
Barbara was too embarrassed to say the real figure, so she went in lower. ‘Thirty thousand. Thirty-two thousand,’ she added, feeling the precision would make it more believable.
‘I remember you from that meeting with Temmis,’ said the long-necked man. ‘I wonder if he knows about this.’
‘I don’t know what you mean by “this”, I haven’t a clue what’s going on.’
He drew closer. The sweater looked newly washed and the red was almost fluorescent. Barbara could smell his breath.
‘You won’t talk?’
‘No,’ said Barbara.
‘Not to son or daughter?’
‘I only have a daughter. I’ll keep shtum.’
