Play Dead (D.I. Kim Stone, #4)(19)

‘My goldfish,’ she answered.

Daniel looked down to where Lola’s attention was still fixed on her boot.

He raised an eyebrow. ‘What did you do, stamp on him?’

‘Yeah, because he pissed me off,’ she said, walking away.

She heard Daniel laugh somewhere behind her.

She opened the Portakabin door and walked into the chest of a navy blue thick-knit jumper. She looked up but then levelled her gaze as the man stepped down onto the dirt patch.

The first thing she noticed was that the sun had disappeared behind either his wrestler’s body or his shaved head.

‘And you are?’ she asked.

‘Darren James, security and going home.’

He plucked at a lanyard around his neck and produced a security licence.

He’d obviously spent the night at the facility guarding the bodies and was under the illusion he could simply finish his shift and leave.

‘Well, you got the first two right but not the third,’ Kim advised. ‘You won’t be going anywhere until Bryant here has had a word with you.’

‘No way, love. Me bed’s calling after a thirteen-hour shift.’ He nodded towards the open door. ‘Me boss is in there, and you can take it up with him.’

She peered at his badge. ‘Instead of “love” try “Detective Inspector” and don’t make me cuff you to the door.’

He looked to Bryant.

She rolled her eyes. ‘I can’t actually do that, Darren, but we do need you to stay.’

He was still looking at her doubtfully. Honestly, could no one take a joke any more?

‘Bryant will speak with you first so you can get off, okay?’

He nodded. ‘All right if I have a smoke first?’

‘Go for it,’ she said, walking around him.

She stepped into the Portakabin.

Jameel and his companion turned. Jameel nodded briefly and turned back to the screen. The gaze of the man next to him lingered.

Kim met the look squarely. The expensive grey suit told her she was looking at the owner of the Aston Martin outside. He was a man that wore a pricey suit well. Not too tight and not too loose. His shirt was a crisp white with a burgundy silk tie. His chestnut hair was cut stylishly and professionally short but he had the blackest eyelashes she had ever seen on a man.

He stood and offered his hand. She reached out and shook it.

‘Curtis Grant, Managing Director of Elite Systems Security.’

Kim recognised the name. It was embroidered into Darren’s jumper.

From the corner of her eye she could see the quad grid on Jameel’s screen. ‘You set up the CCTV here?’ she asked.

He nodded. ‘We offer a complete security service to meet all your needs.’

He began to reach into his suit pocket and Kim held up her hand. He may have been in the habit of offering a business card to everyone he met but she wasn’t in the market for his services.

He took another step forwards. ‘Professor Wright asked me to come in. We’re looking at an upgrade.’

The words horse and bolted sprang to mind but this was not her business.

She turned away and took two steps further into the Portakabin.

‘Morning, Professor,’ she offered. Now that was progress. She had learned to offer a morning greeting. Woody would be so proud.

‘Please, Inspector, call me Chris.’

She nodded the acknowledgement. She very rarely allowed people to drop her title. The use of her first name was an intimacy that she did not invite. It was good for people involved in a case to remember they were dealing with police officers and not friends. Although the title dropping could be used to her own advantage sometimes.

His voice dropped to a whisper as he turned his back towards the others. ‘Have there been any developments on the case – anything you can share with us?’

Kim could understand why he was asking. He was in charge of the facility and he’d been right there with them when the body had been found. However, he was a civilian and she could no more share details of the case with him than she could with anyone else.

‘I’m sorry, Professor, but I can’t really discuss our lines of enquiry.’

She had been unable to force his first name out of her mouth.

She ignored the surprise on his face and continued with her reason for being here. ‘I’d like to take a walk around with…’

‘Catherine is just about to start her morning checks. Perhaps you could tag along.’

Perfect.

She nodded her agreement and headed towards the woman whose concentration was fixed on the clipboard.

‘The Professor said I could—’

‘I heard, Inspector. I’m not deaf,’ Catherine said without raising her head.

Clearly not a morning person, Kim surmised. She didn’t hold it against her. She herself had yet to find any time of day that enhanced her mood.

However, she was not a patient person. She offered a small cough.

Catherine finally turned and looked at her. There was neither a smile nor a frown.

‘Subtle,’ she said, standing and towering over Kim. The loose jeans and plain black vest top enhanced the woman’s androgynous shape. ‘I am now ready to make a start.’

Kim transferred her mobile to the back pocket of her black canvas jeans and removed her jacket. The temperature was around nineteen and humid.