by K Pierce
Barry leaned against his desk and looked her in the eye. ‘If you keep making it about you and Emily then I’m going to have to bench you. We’re treading a fine line as it is - your feelings can’t get in the way of the investigation. And, if this was any other witness, you’d be chomping at the bit to get this done.’
Nat refused to acknowledge that her feelings might be involved. The muscle in her jaw bunched as she stood defiantly before him. After a moment his face softened, and his shoulders relaxed. ‘How long have we known each other?’
‘Too bloody long.’ She muttered.
He smiled. ‘And in all that time have I ever given you reason to doubt me? Have I ever done anything even remotely questionable?’
‘That mankini you wore on your stag do. And that time you dyed your tiny bit of hair platinum blonde to impress Jenny.’
‘At work, Natalie. Questionable at work.’ She shook her head. ‘So why are you so convinced that I’m going to turn her out into the big bad world and let her fend for herself?’ She shrugged, and he gave her a wry smirk. ‘Come on. We both know. Admit it.’
Nat sighed. ‘Because it’s not a half bad plan.’ She mumbled.
‘I’m sorry, what was that?’ Nat looked up and saw the enjoyment on his face. She flipped him her middle finger. ‘I’m not about to let Phil go off half cocked, but I’m not going to dismiss a decent idea either. We have a day to figure out the details and we’re going to do it as a team.’
‘And Emily?’
‘You can use your womanly charms to convince her to help.’ He grinned.
15.
The car ride to Emily’s was possibly the longest and most awkward of Nat’s life. Emily was rightfully pissed at being kept waiting for so long, and for being considered a suspect, and now Nat had to try to convince her to help with their plan. She was not optimistic.
‘So how long have you lived around here?’ She winced. Did those words seriously just leave my lips?
‘Why? Do you have some older crimes you’d like to put me in the frame for?’
Nat sighed, this woman could hold a grudge. ‘Just making conversation.’ She uttered as she turned the car onto Emily’s estate. Nat was tempted to whistle at the large houses surrounding them, but she didn’t think it would go down well.
‘No need. We’re here.’ Emily pointed at a house sat back from the others. It was a gorgeous Tudor fronted building, not quite as grand as the others on the street but still full of character. Nat pulled up at the kerb and stared. Being a PA paid well, apparently. ‘Close your mouth, there’s drool.’ Emily said. Nat turned to reply but Emily was already out of the car and on her way up the gravel driveway.
Nat shouldered the door open and fumbled her way out into the cool evening air. She jogged across the gravel, stones crunching loudly beneath her boots, to catch Emily before she could slam the door in her face. ‘Emily, wait up.’ The shorter woman was stood on the doorstep searching through her bag for her keys. Nat reached her just as she slotted the key in to the lock. ‘I need to talk to you about something.’
‘Maybe you should go through my solicitor. I’d hate to incriminate myself.’ Emily pushed the door open.
‘I get it, ok? You’re pissed and hurt, but we were just doing our job.’
‘Goodnight Detective.’
‘Emily, please-’ The door was swinging towards her. She slipped her boot into the gap before it could close and winced. Pain shot through her little toe and she was grateful that she wasn’t wearing thinner shoes.
‘What the hell!’ Emily’s face appeared in the gap and she was not happy. Nat shrugged. A car pulled into the adjacent driveway and Emily’s eyes flickered briefly towards the loud tut that followed the slamming of its door. ‘Fanfuckingtastic.’ Emily muttered. ‘My neighbours hate me enough as it is, do you really have to make a scene?’
Nat frowned. ‘Why do they hate you?’ She heard the sigh and realised that would have to be a story for another time. ‘Never mind. We need to talk.’
‘Get your foot out of my door.’ Emily pushed half-heartedly against her boot.
‘Are you going to let me in?’
‘For God’s sake Detective, move your foot.’
Nat lowered her voice. ‘I can make a bigger scene.’
Emily’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What?’
‘Let me in, or I’ll make a bigger scene.’
Emily was incredulous. ‘You wouldn’t dare.’
‘Challenge accepted. And be warned, I have a gift when it comes to this.’ Emily regarded her for a minute before rolling her eyes and pulling the door open wider. Nat stepped through the gap and smiled. ‘Thanks. And please, call me Nat.’
Emily looked less than impressed. She turned on her heel and Nat followed her down the dark hallway. She squinted when Emily flicked the switch in the huge kitchen and the room was bathed in light. She couldn’t help but let out a low whistle when she took in her surroundings. It was bright and immaculately clean, very tastefully decorated with a rustic feel.
Emily cleared her throat and when Nat turned, she was standing with her arms folded looking expectant She’d kicked off her shoes and draped her coat over a chair around a long oak table. ‘So, are you going to tell me why you blackmailed your way into my house? Or are you just going to leer at my Aga?’
‘I’m not leering, just appreciating a beautiful thing.’ That earned her another eye roll. Nat sighed. ‘Look, I’m sorry things went in the direction that they did, but I could do without the hostility right now. We need your help.’
Emily turned her back and made for a door to Nat’s right. ‘Don’t let the front door hit you in the arse on your way out.’
Nat looked skywards and muttered a curse before going after her. She followed Emily into a huge living room that was all wooden furniture, plush fabrics and exposed beams.
Emily crossed to stone hearth set into the wall opposite and Nat watched silently as she methodically went about lighting a fire. An actual real log fire.
‘This place is beautiful. I’m definitely in the wrong job.’ Nat said.
‘It’s my parent’s house. They live abroad and gave it to me so that I’ll leave them alone. Being gay is a sin, you know.’ Emily laughed mirthlessly.
‘Emily- ‘
‘I thought you were leaving,’ Emily said without turning around.
‘I agreed to no such thing.’ Silence. ‘Emily, we think you’re next.’
Busy hands stilled and Emily’s back stiffened. She stood slowly, leaning on the mantelpiece for support. ‘What?’
‘We think we know how he operates.’ Nat took a step forward. ‘We think you might be next.’
‘Might be? Or am?’ Finally, she turned, and Nat caught a glimpse of fear behind her eyes. ‘Because there’s a huge difference between definite and maybe.’
‘It’s not a certainty but —’ The beeping of a phone interrupted them. Nat pulled hers from her jacket, but the screen was blank. ‘It’s yours.’ It beeped again, and Emily reached for her bag on the sofa. As the screen lit up the colour drained from her face and she dropped the phone as if it was toxic. It sat in the soft pile of the carpet and Nat could see the open text screen.
‘It’s him.’ Emily was visibly trembling, and Nat took a tentative step towards her. ‘He’s confirming our date.’ Emily looked up, fire in her eyes. ‘They told me that they’d diverted his number. That I could have my phone because he wouldn’t be able to talk to me anymore. Was this all part of your master plan? Lure him to me and catch him in the act?!’ The more she talked the higher Emily’s voice rose. Nat wasn’t sure what to say, Emily’s guess wasn’t far off. Nat picked up the phone and glanced at the message.
Been thinking about you so much, can’t wait to see your pretty face. Going to have so much fun x
There was nothing to suggest that their guy was suspicious of anything. Nat opened the keyboard and tapped out Me too. I’m so excited to finally meet you x
When she looked up Emi
ly was watching her with narrowed eyes. ‘What did you just do?’
Nat put the phone on the end table and held out her hands. ‘Hear me out.’
‘Did you just tell him I was going to meet him? Are you fucking insane?’
‘Will you just listen? Just give me five minutes of you not chewing me out!’ The phone beeped again but Nat ignored it. ‘If I hadn’t, he would’ve been suspicious. We have a plan, but we need you to catch him.’
‘No way!’
‘Emily, we don’t know how much he knows about you. He might already know where you live and if you reject him now, without us to back you up, Christ knows what he’ll do.’
Emily’s face twisted as her brain tried to process the anger and fear that were fighting to overwhelm her. ‘I need to…’ Her brow furrowed, her mouth opened and closed as she struggled for the words.
Nat stepped up beside her and tentatively reached for Emily’s arm. She expected resistance but there was none. She guided Emily onto the sofa and took off her own jacket. ‘I’ll be right back.’ She made her way back into the kitchen and reached for the kettle. Her hand stopped halfway there and she changed direction opening and closing cupboards until she found a bottle of Southern Comfort and a glass.
Emily hadn’t moved from her spot on the sofa. Nat pressed the glass into her palm and sat beside her silently. The liquid sloshed around in Emily’s trembling hand, but she took a big swallow, wincing at the burn of the alcohol as it went down.
‘Any better?’ Nat asked. Emily nodded. ‘I know this is a big deal, and a massive shock, but I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. We just need your help. Please?’
‘With what?’ Emily’s voice was surprisingly strong, her tone still tinged with defiance. She held up a hand, ‘No, wait, let me guess. You want me to meet up with him. Get him to a place where you can take him?’ Nat gave her a hopeful look. ‘I’m bait. Fantastic.’
‘We’ll make sure it’s a public place. And we’ll have eyes and ears on you the whole time.’ She touched Emily’s arm lightly, ignoring the clench of her stomach as warm skin met her own. She ducked her head to catch Emily’s gaze. ‘I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.’
16.
‘They can’t be serious?’ Fiona said when Emily opened the door. ‘You’re a suspect?’
‘Was. I was a suspect.’
‘And now?’ Fiona closed the door behind her and followed Emily into the living room.
‘Now I’m a potential witness.’
‘To what?!’
‘Annie. The redhead that I was talking to.’ Emily’s voice caught. ‘She was murdered.’
‘Are you kidding me? And you were a suspect?’ Emily nodded. ‘And now you’re a witness? Wait, what did you witness? You saw it? When? How?’
‘Fi!’ Emily raised her voice a little. ‘Too many questions! One at a time, please!’
Fiona dropped onto the couch. ‘You witnessed it?’
‘Not exactly. I was the last one to talk to her. The police think that the guy who did it has stolen her identity and for the past few days I’ve been talking to him and not Annie.’ Emily held her breath, waiting for the inevitable reaction.
Fiona was back on her feet. ‘You’ve been what?!’ She ran a hand through her hair. ‘Holy fuck! Wait, why are you here? Why aren’t you in some kind of witness protection programme? I told you internet dating was full of sodding weirdos!’
Emily ignored the last part and turned sheepish. ‘I sort of turned it down.’
‘Excuse me?’
‘I was pissed off and hurt and scared and it’s a little hard to think straight when someone tells you that some psycho is probably thinking about killing you.’ Fiona just looked at her incredulously. ‘I know, not my best move. Nat reckons that he won’t try to hurt me until we meet and by then – ‘
Fiona held up a hand. ‘Whoa, whoa, wait a sec. Back up.’
Emily stopped. She hadn’t meant to say that much. She wasn’t supposed to say that much, Nat had made it clear that their plan to draw him out using Emily would work better if only they knew about it but thinking back over the past few hours she couldn’t think of a single reason why she was now stood here, in her own house, without some kind of protection. You stupid, proud idiot!
‘Until you meet?’ Fiona was inches away from her now. ‘They know who he is and they’re just going to let you go and meet him?’ There was a definite fire in her eyes and the calmness of her voice was starting to freak Emily out.
‘No.’ Emily squeaked. She cleared her throat. ‘They don’t know who he is. They can’t find him.’
Fiona cut her off. ‘So, they’re using you as BAIT?! Hoping that he won’t decide to just find you and murder you dead?!’ Emily swallowed hard. Fiona looked away. Both women said nothing. After a minute Fiona stepped over to the end table. She reached down and picked up the mobile that was sat there. ‘What in God’s name is this?’ She turned it over in her hands and gave Emily a look.
Emily shrugged. ‘They took my phone.’
‘And left you with the first one ever invented? Christ, it’s like I’m back in the nineties.’ With that she stepped into the kitchen and pulled the door shut behind her.
When Fiona returned, Emily was sat in an armchair and chewing at the skin on her finger. Fiona handed her the phone. ‘I’ve spoken to your Nat,’ she began, ‘and she assures me that there’s an unmarked police car outside somewhere. You’re under surveillance, and apparently, I should give them a little more credit when it comes to doing their job.’
‘She’s going to be pissed that I told you.’ Emily said.
‘I wouldn’t worry about that. We had words.’ Fiona said cryptically. She smirked. ‘I like her.’
***
Spending the night with Fiona and Kat wasn’t unusual but Emily couldn’t sleep at all. Her mind refused to switch off and every noise and shadow had her heart hammering in her throat. Fiona took one look at her the following morning and declared that they were taking the next few days off before shoving a huge mug of coffee in her hand that contained a generous slug of whiskey.
Nat called around lunch time to make sure that she was ok. They’d made awkward small talk, both reluctant to discuss the large, serial-killing elephant sitting smack bang in the middle of the room.
Now here she was. Friday morning, ten hours before her ‘date’, parked up next to the police station waiting to find out just exactly what she was supposed to do to help. Her palms were sweating. God, even her sweat was sweating. She’d been sat in the car for almost forty minutes willing herself to get out, not to turn the key and drive as far away from this crazy mess as she could.
A tap on the driver’s window made her jump. A young man stood on the other side. The dark jacket he wore hung open and his white shirt seemed almost too bright in the early gloom. She squinted a little. He gripped a gym bag in one hand and gestured for her to wind down her window with the other. Emily took a moment to look him up and down, and when she made no effort to move, he lifted the photo ID on a lanyard around his neck. She saw the police badge in the corner, eyed his pressed shirt and pants, and reached for the button.
‘Are you ok, Miss?’ He asked when the gap in the window was wide enough. His forehead creased in concern, but his eyes never moved from her own. She nodded. ‘Are you sure?’ She nodded again and tried for a smile.
A car door slammed, and he shifted, allowing Emily to see the car park beyond him and Nat throwing her backpack over her shoulder. The man ducked down again. ‘Are you going inside?’ He said.
‘Yes, sorry. I was just waiting for my friend.’ She pointed at Nat striding towards them.
‘Ok,’ he smiled without turning and pulled his collar up around his face, ‘you have a good day.’
Before she could respond he was moving away from the car, his long legs carrying him quickly towards the entrance to the station. A shadow fell across the window and Emily looked up into a whole lot of leather and warm brown
eyes. ‘You made a friend.’ Nat smiled.
‘He was making sure I was ok. I’ve been sat here a while.’
‘Straight out of the academy I bet, the sweet ones always are, wait until he becomes a bitter old bugger like me.’ Nat grinned and opened the door, waiting patiently while Emily picked up her bag and hesitantly unfolded herself from the driving seat.
The ride up to Nat’s office was a quiet one. Piped music played softly inside the empty lift. Neither woman spoke, each unsure what to say to the other. Emily’s stomach churned, and her breathing started to become shallower. She couldn’t do this. As the panic attack revved up a few notches she felt a warm hand on her own.
‘It’s ok. Just take some deep breaths for me.’ The bell in the lift rang, signalling their floor but Nat tapped the button for the top floor and it continued the journey skywards. Emily felt Nat step closer, breathing deeply beside her, trying to get her to match her rhythm. By the time the lift dinged again they were in sync, Emily’s blurred world coming back into focus.
When they arrived back at their floor she turned, a grateful smile on her face. ‘You’re really good at that.’
‘At breathing? I’ve had a lifetime of practice.’ Nat gave her a wink and stepped out in front of her.
They pushed through a set of double doors and Emily was surprised to find herself standing in a normal-looking office. Desks were set out in orderly pairs. Each one had a computer, a phone and various papers scattered or stacked on them. A couple were adorned with pictures of children and pets.
‘Let me guess, you were expecting lots of dark wood, tiny windows and cheap coffee in take-out cups?’ Nat whispered.
‘Busted.’ Emily muttered. ‘And where are all the whiteboards with pictures of dead people and stuff?’
Nat rolled her eyes. ‘You think we just have all that out on show for people with freaky fetishes to gawp at?’
‘I do not have a fetish!’ Emily bumped her with a shoulder, enjoying the crackle of electricity at their touch, her panic attack all but forgotten. ‘I was merely curious.’