My genuine concern has done more than my best attempts at charm, for Carol mellows considerably. “She’s got mace, and she promised me she’s fast.”
“She is fast.” Lithe, long-legged. The image of her ass in those tight running shorts returns to me, even though I haven’t seen her wear them in… damn, has it been four months? How didthathappen? Winter, obviously, but I know she’s still been running. “She’s got her phone too, right?”
“She has,” Carol agrees guardedly.
I nod in relief. “So long as she has your number.”
“She does.”
“Good.” I glance toward the door, half feigning, half genuine, and finally it’s enough. Carol cracks.
“Why are you here?”
I let surprise into my tone. “To… to see her, of course.”
“Just to see her?”
“Check she’s all right.”
“She’s been busy.”
“Good… good. What with?” I keep it light.
Carol crosses her arm again. “Work.”
Is that a lie? I can’t tell. Sounds genuine, but how can it be? “What work?”
“She has a new case. It’s not my place to say.”
My eyebrows rise. “She does? I mean… that’s fantastic.”
But despite it not being her place to say, Carol wants to talk about it. “An old client of hers. A law firm.”
“Wow.” I nod encouragingly and wait.
“Heather, Mercer & Lowry. Do you know them?”
“No. Are they big?”
“Pretty big, yeah.”
“Wonderful. How’s she enjoying—”
I break off as a key slides into the lock, and we both turn expectantly.
Vicky enters, looking like a drowned rat in full-length Lycra running tights, a thin running jacket over a long-sleeve base layer, and fingerless gloves, her champagne-blond hair in a tight braid. I didn’t know she owned any of that gear, but it fits too well to be anything but hers.
“Fuckingfreezingout there,” she says, before she’s even realized I’m here, too busy pulling her wet shoes off. “I must be mad to—” She stops two steps in, chin coming up, head going back, pale-blue eyes locked on me, wide and startled. Her next words are barely a breath. “Ben and Jerry’s.”
Vicky’s picked that slang up from Carol, and I’m going to have to google what the hell it means. It’s irritating, but I push that down.
“Why are you out running in this insane weather?”
She’s already recovered from the shock of seeing me, and her expression hardens at my question. “Because I keep fit.” Her tone makes it sound like my question is stupid.
“Then use a gym.”
“I can’t afford—” She snaps her mouth shut, pulling out her AirPods like they’ve offended her.
