Child's Play (D.I. Kim Stone #11)(44)

Kim looked to Bryant who was staring with the same bewilderment as Stacey.

‘I think there’s been a mistake, Tiffany. If you return to your normal duties, I’ll sort this with the DCI once—’

‘He said you might say that,’ she said, smiling even wider as though she was in on some kind of joke. ‘He told me to remind you of your conversation yesterday, and oh my God, this office is fab,’ she said, looking around before taking a seat.

An action that prompted Stacey’s expression to change from amused curiosity to panic-stricken.

‘Please use me however you want,’ she offered, brightly. ‘I’m just so…’

‘Yeah, we get it,’ Kim said, glancing at Stacey whose eyes beseeched her to remove the interloper.

I can’t, her expression said back.

‘I’ll speak to Woo… DCI Woodward and clarify the arrangements,’ she said.

Tiffany nodded enthusiastically and beamed.

‘But in the meantime, I’m sure Stacey will find something you can help her with.’

‘Oketty doketty,’ she answered.

Kim gave Stacey an apologetic look as she grabbed her coat. She had to get out.

Suddenly their small office was way too bright for her eyes.





Forty-Five





They had almost reached Veronica’s home when Woody finally answered her call. It may have been the twenty-seven attempts in quick succession that had told him she wasn’t going away.

‘Good morning, Stone,’ he answered.

And his cheery greeting told her he knew exactly why she was calling.

‘Is she my punishment, sir?’

‘I remember explaining that every action has a—’

‘So, she’s a consequence?’ Kim corrected.

‘She’s a keen, gifted young police officer who is showing great—’

‘How young?’

‘Twenty-four.’

Kim wondered if he’d added ten years just for fun.

‘Well, I suppose Santa’s little helper needs something to do out of season.’

She was sure she heard a chuckle, quickly covered over with a cough.

‘Don’t tell me you dislike her because she’s cheerful.’

‘I don’t know her to dislike her but you know I’m not to be trusted around people with a sunny disposition. I tend to break them without even trying. Please reconsider, sir. For her sake.’

The line grew silent.

She waited for his response, hoping he was giving her request serious consideration.

‘Sir?’

‘Sorry, was that a serious request? I was just taking a bite of toast and the answer is no. She’s an extra pair of hands which you desperately need in Penn’s absence and you’ve offered me no compelling reason to change my mind. And don’t worry about her sensitivities as I can assure you she’s much tougher than she looks. And on that note, I’m now going to finish my breakfast in peace. Have a good day.’

‘Damn it,’ she said as the line went dead in her hand. ‘How the hell does he think having a completely new person thrown into the team is going to help in any way? I mean, how much is she going to help in between bottle feeds and potty breaks. And why pick someone so damned cheerful to put with me?’

‘To be fair, guv, you really didn’t give him any reason to change his mind. He can’t go back on a decision because you think she’s perky.’

‘Bryant, I’m pretty sure I never used the word perky and I’m not sure you should either,’ she said as they pulled up in front of a garage with the door open.

‘Car’s gone,’ Bryant said, stating the obvious.

Kim could immediately see that Veronica was one of a very small minority that actually used the garage for storing her car. And only her car, Kim realised, as she saw no evidence of the normal boxes and detritus that most folks relocated out of their sight in the garage.

‘Not gone far if she’s left the door open.’

‘Nothing in there to nick,’ she answered, although she agreed with him.

‘Drive around the corner,’ she instructed her colleague, who reversed and turned the car.

A minute later they turned into the street where her sister had lived.

Kim narrowed her gaze, as they drew closer to Belinda’s property.

‘What the hell is going on here?’





Forty-Six





‘You don’t have to bring coffee every time we meet up, you know,’ Penn said as Lynne set down the drink’s holder from Costa.

‘Look, I can’t even think without the stuff and it’d be rude to just take care of myself,’ she said, throwing a couple of sachets at Doug. ‘It’s only a bloody coffee.’

‘I ain’t complaining,’ Doug said, ripping the heads off the sugar packs and emptying them into his drink. ‘You wanna throw your money about I’m happy to get in the way.’

‘So, how’d you get on with Mrs Nuryef?’ Penn asked, cutting through the good-natured bickering.

‘Ain’t budging,’ Doug said, shaking his head. ‘Says he wasn’t there and threw me out of the house.’