Page 98 of The Unforgiven

“Touché.” Vinny locked the car. “I’ll behave.”

He followed me in the flats and upstairs, having the intelligence to keep quiet. I slipped into my room and left him to it, needing to shower, to feel hot water hit against my skin andhave no sound except the water falling around me, the scent of something soothing and dirt washed away.

When I came back into the lounge to find Vinny, wanting to get the rest of the day out of the way and maybe uncover some more answers, I wasn’t expecting to see Cavan on the opposite chair, expression dark, hair ruffled.

“Vin, I – Cav, I thought - ” I folded my arms, the tension sharp. “What’s happened.”

“Did you know your boyfriend was having it off with your flatmate, Mia?” Vinny stood up, blocking the door. “He wasn’t expecting to be interrupted.”

“You had no right to go into Lucy’s bedroom - ”

“You had no right to be poking someone else while you were seeing her.” Vinny pointed at me.

“What the fuck’s it got to do with you? Is this because you wanted at her – it was fucking obvious at the party that you wanted Mia.” Cavan stood up, shifting towards Vinny, fancying his chances.

I shifted between them. “Leave it. I knew you were sleeping with Lucy. I figured it out more than a week ago.” I’d lost track of time how long it was exactly, and it wasn’t just because of Atlas’ photos. The date that he didn’t turn up for, the weekend with his mates when Lucy was at a wedding with a date – that had been Cavan. Whatever it was between them, it was worth hurting me for.

Cavan looked shocked, taking a step back and almost tripping over the coffee table. “What do you mean - ”

I turned to Vinny. “Did you really walk in Lucy’s bedroom?”

His expression was grim. “I heard noises like someone was being strangled. So I went in to check.”

“Without back up?”

He grinned. “Took a leaf out of your book. Yeah, anyway, he was balls deep in your flatmate with his arse stuck up in the air. I can punch him if you want.”

“No, you’d get into trouble and we all know you wouldn’t want that. I punch better than you anyway.” Although my knuckles were a bit busted after the fight with Justine.

“I’d probably agree with that.” He raised his brows at me.You good?

I nodded.All fine.Then I turned back to Cavan. “We’re over, but you knew that.”

Cavan tapped his foot, an overgrown petulant child. “It was never going to work. You were always at work or thinking about work – I was never on your radar.”

“That’s okay. I don’t mind. You do you and all that.” I walked to the door. “Let me see Lucy and then we’ll go. Two minutes.” I patted Vinny on the arm, not even giving a single thought about what Cavan had said to do with how Vinny had been looking at me.

Lucy’s bedroom door was closed, but I didn’t bother knocking on it before entering. She was sat on the bed, wearing a dressing gown, her hair tied up, looking like a young Blanche Dubois, fragile and wronged.

“Mia, I’m sorry. I feel so bad – I don’t know what to say.”

I let her carry on for a few more seconds before interrupting. “I’m going to pack. I think that’s best.”

Her mouth opened; words stolen from her.

“But where will you go? I’ll end things with him, I don’t know why I let it happen. I’m so sorry, Mia. I didn’t expect you back, else – else you wouldn’t have found out like this.” She was tearful, wiping at her face.

Her bedroom still smelt of sex and Cavan’s socks were on the floor. I still felt numb, numb with a hint of relief that was sinking in.

“You shouldn’t be shagging your flatmate’s boyfriend even if you knew she was away for a fortnight. It’s not really the done thing.” I leaned against the doorframe.

She was lost for words for a second. “We really like each other, Mia. I wanted to tell you after the case, but we, you know. You know how it is.”

“I don’t. I also don’t care. I stopped a woman from being killed today, you’ll read about it in the papers tomorrow. The fact you’ve slept with the man I was seeing doesn’t really reach the relevance scales. But I don’t want you as a flatmate anymore.” I walked away, not bothering to close my door, went into my bedroom and packed a bag for the night, toiletries, a change of clothes, make-up, the photos placed in frames with seashells stuck to them that me and Heidi had made one glorious summer.

I didn’t have many possessions. One day, when I had my own house, where no one could throw me out of, I’d nest there. Until then, I only kept what I could carry in a binbag or two. I’d come back for the rest after work tomorrow. Tonight, I’d find somewhere else to stay.

Vinny was watching me put underwear in my bag from the doorway, making me jump more than Justine had.