The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2)(74)

‘I know someone with connections in the press. They’ve suggested we put a positive spin on things.’

‘In what way?’ Amy kept her emotions in check, hoping it had nothing to do with Adam Rossi. It was his fault they were in this mess.

‘We go to a leading newspaper with an exclusive story on you. The Met Police’s secret weapon – an officer who has turned her special insight into solving the darkest of crimes.’

A cold smile rose to Amy’s face. Her inner child, Poppy Grimes, had awoken from her slumber, igniting a fresh wave of fear that she struggled to control. It was bad enough her story had hit the press, but now Pike wanted to show her off as some kind of Grimes circus freak? Steady, she reminded herself as she felt her annoyance rise. You’re skating on thin ice as it is.

‘We could push for a one-off documentary,’ Pike continued. ‘One of those fly-on-the-wall programmes. They’re hugely popular right now. We’ve had some very positive feedback from previous coverage. I’m sure the command team will be keen to have you on board.’

‘And if I choose not to?’ Amy kept her response brief. Pike already knew what a private person she was, and she didn’t trust herself to say anything more. It was taking all her self-control to stay seated and listen to her babble on.

‘I don’t see how you have any choice.’ Pike paused to sip her coffee. ‘You brought this upon us. The team was set up to generate positive publicity for the force. But there’s still time to turn this around.’

‘Whose idea was this?’ Amy drained her coffee, mirroring Pike’s movements. Her supervisor was not the most innovative of leaders. She would not have come up with this on her own.

‘A friend of mine gave me the idea. He’s a DI on another force.’ She delivered a taut smile. ‘He’s been following your case with interest. You’ve worked with him in the past.’

Crossing her legs, Amy clasped her fingers together. This couldn’t be who she was thinking of. Surely not.

‘DI Donovan from Essex Police,’ Pike continued. ‘We discussed you over dinner last night. You remember him, don’t you?’

Amy inwardly cringed at the thought of them together. Was he Pike’s latest conquest? And who did he think he was, suggesting more publicity when he knew how protective Amy was of her private life?

What private life? her inner voice piped up.

‘Are you all right, Winter?’ Pike’s question held little sympathy.

Amy would not give her the satisfaction of seeing how upset she was. She had to maintain control. Slowly and deliberately, she checked her watch, her words stone-cold. ‘Time for me to go. Paddy should have downloaded the radio call-in by now.’ She swallowed back the swell of emotions that threatened to engulf her whole.

‘And you’re OK with me pitching this to the command team?’

Amy rose from her chair, her eyes not leaving Pike’s as she held her gaze. ‘As you said, I don’t have much choice.’ She could still feel her, Poppy Grimes, the ghost of the child she once was. Maintaining a frosty exterior, Amy stood her ground.

Pike’s smile quivered. Breaking eye contact, she responded with a nod of the head. Was that fear Amy had caught in her eyes? Now she was equipped with details of her background, Pike seemed a little more hesitant about taking control.





CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

A quick pit-stop to the ladies’ toilets was needed for Amy to pull herself together. Her behaviour worried her. She was usually the calm one. The one in control. But making contact with Lillian had signalled a change – it had heralded the onset of mood swings which frightened her to the core.

She found Paddy at his desk, staring at a pack of cigarettes he did not have time to smoke.

‘I thought you’d given up?’

‘They’re my emergency pack. Don’t tell Sally-Ann. I’ve not broken into them yet.’

‘If my week gets any worse, I may join you.’ Amy had never smoked a cigarette in her life. ‘Any chance I can listen to that broadcast now?’

‘I’ve already emailed it to you.’ Paddy checked his watch. ‘We’ve got time – want me to set it up?’

‘You know me too well.’ Amy was not technologically minded, and she was keen to get Paddy’s input on what he had heard.

‘It’s not very long,’ Paddy said as they both entered her office. Amy paused. On her desk was a box of Milk Tray chocolates.

‘They were the best we could get at short notice,’ Paddy said, watching as she picked up the card left on top. To the best DI a team could ask for xx. It was Molly’s handwriting.

Amy felt a pang of regret. ‘I don’t deserve these.’ She had never been so at odds with herself.

‘About those taskings – we’ve updated the system with the previous call-on attempts to Christina Watson’s address.’

So they had tried to offer Christina safeguarding. It wasn’t their fault if she had refused to answer the door. ‘I . . . I don’t know what to say.’ She sat in her chair as the strength left her legs.

‘Why don’t we leave Luka to do the talking.’ Paddy leaned over Amy, clicking the link on her computer. His tie dangled from his neck, sporting a Tetris pattern. She resisted a sudden urge to tug it. Just how many novelty ties did he possess?