Frankie nodded. It would all make sense soon, she was sure. She stood up. “Thank you all for your help. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some reports to write. Don’t worry, I’ll protect your secrets.”
She turned towards the door.
“Frankie?” She turned back to Josh. He looked hesitant. “I’m sorry I called you an idiot. You’re one of the bravest women I’ve ever met and if it hadn't been for you…” he looked at Mark briefly, contemplating what he could have lost, and when he turned back to her, Frankie saw the pain in his eyes. “Thank you.”
Frankie nodded and turned to leave. At the front door she was surprised to realise Alex had followed her.
“Wait, your bag.” He ducked into the study and returned with her handbag and her coat. Frankie wouldn’t even have thought of them. “Are you sure you’ll be alright?” he asked, as he helped her into the coat.
“Of course.” She frowned, realising she’d planned on driving home. “Where’s my car?”
“At your home. The keys are in your bag. Shall I call you a taxi?”
“It’s fine, there’s a taxi rank over the road, I’m sure there’ll be plenty.”
“Frankie it… It feels like you’re saying goodbye.”
“Alex, I don’t know what I’m saying. Nothing feels real anymore and I need a few days to adjust.”
“You’re sure that’s it? You’re not still mad about me shutting you out of the case?”
In all honesty she’d forgotten about that, at least for the moment. “When I have the strength I’ll probably be pissed at you again, but right now I just need time to process everything.”
Alex nodded but he didn’t look happy. “Okay. Goodnight Frankie.”
Frankie smiled and cupped her hand to his cheek. “'Night, Alex.”
Finally she made it out of the door but before she pulled it closed she could have sworn she heard Josh say “Until next time, Cara Mia.”
She shivered in the cold night as she descended the stairs and she realised her cheeks were wet. She was crying.
She paused briefly to collect herself before she thought that perhaps it was okay, just this once, to cry. After everything she’d seen this week she surely deserved it.
She crossed the street and climbed into the back seat of the first taxi.
“Where to?” the driver asked, looking at her in the rear view mirror. She saw his eyes widen at the sight of her and Frankie realised what a mess she must look.
“Home,” she said with relief. “Take me home.”
Epilogue
It had been two weeks since that night and Frankie had felt like an automaton for most of it. She had filed her reports, called Will, called her mother and worked her regular cases but she had just been going through the motions, feeling numb.
Now the loneliness she had feared was seeping back in.
Alex had left her messages but she had ignored them, unable to consider the future. Now she found herself parking at the rear of the club and walking around to the entrance. It was early so there was no queue yet and she walked straight in. She paused inside and looked around for him.
When she spotted him standing by the bar he was already looking at her, smiling.
He walked over to her and took her hand. “I missed you,” he told her.
She smiled back. “I’m here now.”
He nodded. “How are you?” Alex thought she looked tired and pale.
Frankie shrugged.
“Lets go somewhere we can talk,” he said, leading her towards his office. Frankie followed.
As she reached the top of the staircase that led to his office she turned back and looked around the club. By going though the door now she was crossing a line, committing herself to something. Alex paused and waited for her, seeming to understand she needed a few moments.
Frankie closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She wanted this, she reminded herself, that was why she came, after all. Alex was a good person and he cared about her. He would never hurt her.
She turned her back on the club and walked into his office, smiling when she heard the faint click as the door closed behind them.
The End
HALF PaST
When Josh comes to Edinburgh and begs for Frankie's help with a rogue vampire, she once again finds herself plunged back into the dangerous world of vampires.
Forced to stay away from Alex until they've finished, Frankie begins to realise just how much he has come to mean to her and how much losing him would hurt.
But Josh is hiding something from her, a deadly secret that could get them all killed.
www.cswinchester.net
About the Author
Cat Winchester was born in East Anglia. After trying many different places, she is now happily settled in Edinburgh, with her family and three dogs.
www.cswinchester.net
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