The Lost Child (Detective Lottie Parker #3)(88)

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Walking around her office, Alexis tapped a manicured fingernail against her hip.

‘Who was that?’ she asked, working hard at keeping her temper even. She was fed up with phone calls. Nuisance individuals interfering in all she was trying to do. But this one was important.

‘Nothing for you to worry about.’

‘I know you don’t have a dog. I asked you a question!’

‘Just my wife. She’s gone now. No worries.’

‘I pay you well so that I shouldn’t have to worry. I insisted that no one else should know.’

‘No one knows. I guarantee it. She heard nothing. Do you want this update?’

Listening to his breath panting down the line, she picked up a cigarette and lit it, careful not to stand too close to the smoke alarm. Exhaling fumes through her nostrils, she eased relaxation into her body.

‘Please tell me the old woman is no longer a threat.’

‘I’m afraid you’ve more to be concerned about than her. I’ve discovered that someone else has a potentially damning file.’

‘Why are you telling me this? Go and get it.’

‘It’s not that easy.’

‘You are the computer geek; find it.’

‘It’s a hard copy. Compiled by hand, years ago. I got you the post-mortem file, didn’t I?’

‘I wasn’t aware there was another file in existence. What’s in it?’

‘I don’t know and I can’t go breaking and entering again. I prefer the technical stuff.’

‘You have to get it.’

‘No. I can’t do it. And that’s final.’

She walked more and more slowly, her finger-tapping becoming increasingly insistent against her Michael Kors black jersey dress. In front of the life-size portrait on the end wall, she stopped and allowed her hand to slowly glide over the ridges of oil left by the brush. An artist’s interpretation of the only person she loved. Letting her hand linger on the painted chin, then the eyes, she smiled. ‘I won’t let anything come back to haunt you.’

‘What?’

‘I wasn’t talking to you.’ She marched to her desk. Sitting down, she said, ‘But now I am.’

She could see the man pulling away from the camera. Shock? She would give him a shock.

‘You’re to get that file. Do whatever it takes. And make sure there are no more nasty surprises waiting to crawl out and slither into my world. You got that?’

‘But—’

‘No buts! Do you want me to divert my million dollars away from your piss-poor company? Because I will. And those lovely twins of yours – you really don’t want anything to happen to them. Do you? So lift your lazy ass out of that chair and get the file.’

She waited as he struggled to find a suitable retort. But she knew there was none. Money talked, and her money was now shouting the loudest of all.

‘Don’t you dare threaten my children.’

‘Oh, it wasn’t a threat. It was a promise.’ She reached out a finger to stab the monitor, and his image filled the screen. ‘Little man, you have no idea who you are dealing with.’

‘What did you just call me?’

‘Go and do as I ordered. I’m paying you well. And I want that file. That’s final.’

She jabbed the keyboard and the screen went black, plunging her desk space into darkness. Sitting back in her chair, she puffed on her cigarette and closed her eyes.





Seventy-Eight





When dinner was finished, Sean remained seated at the table.

‘Mam, are you okay?’

‘I’m fine, Sean. How are you, though?’

‘I feel great, honestly. But you…’

‘It’s just this case I’m working on. It’s draining me.’

‘Chloe said a girl from her school was murdered. Is that what’s upsetting you?’

Lottie smiled wanly and reached out a hand, laying it on top of her son’s. ‘Yes, it is upsetting, because I have no idea why she was killed. It’s so sad.’

‘It’s not your fault, Mam.’

‘I should have looked out for her more.’ It occurred to her that she should be looking out for her own family more too.

‘Did you know she was in danger?’ Sean asked.

‘The fact that her grandmother had been murdered… well, I should’ve been more diligent with her care.’

‘Ah, Mam. Don’t beat yourself up over it. You can only do so much. You’re only one person. You can’t do everything for everyone.’

‘Sean, you are so wise at times…’ Just like his father.

‘But?’

‘But you need to do your homework. Please don’t spend so much time on those computer games. They’re not good for your brain.’

‘I got this really good one, Mam. You’d love it. A bit like GTA, but it’s set in Ireland. Guards and all.’

‘I hope I’m not featured in it.’

Sean smiled. ‘Actually, Mam, I think you are.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘There’s this woman guard and she is a real pain in the arse. Just like you.’