Page 28 of M for Murder

She drew a couple of deep breaths, avoided the mirror, and tried to focus on the magazine.

‘Kylan?’

Hearing her name, she looked up.

Vic Boaz stood at the checkout next to her, a wide grin on his face.

Relieved to see someone she knew, Kylan greeted him a little too emphatically. ‘Hi there. How’s it going?’

Vic nodded. ‘Great, thanks. Really good’

He was in uniform, though he didn’t appear to be on duty, and looked as though he’d put on weight since she’d last seen him. Beside him stood a tall attractive woman of around her own age, with dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Kylan wondered if perhaps she was Vic’s girlfriend.

As though guessing what she was thinking, Vic introduced her. ‘Hey, Kylan, you haven’t met Rebecca, have you?’

‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Rebecca’s my new partner.’ He turned and gave her a swat on the ass. ‘We’ve been together now, what, about three weeks?’

Rebecca nodded, looking unimpressed. ‘Seems like much longer, though, doesn’t it?’

Kylan picked up on the sarcasm in her tone. Maybe the two of them weren’t getting on quite as well as Vic would have her believe.

‘It’s nice to meet you.’

Rebecca returned her smile. ‘Same. So how do you know Vic?’

‘Oh, family connections.’

‘I dated Kylan’s sister, Tania, for a while,’ Vic elaborated. Dated and then cheated on, Kylan thought, though didn’t say. ‘So how are you doing, Vic?’ she asked, unable to resist a dig.

‘Any new girlfriends or wives on the scene?’

‘Wives?’ Rebecca raised her eyebrows, genuinely surprised. ‘I didn’t know Vic had been married.’

‘Oh yeah, sure he has,’ Kylan told her. ‘Twice.’

‘Really? A regular ladies’ man, hey?’

Vic seemed pleased with the comment. ‘I know how to show a woman a good time.’

‘Yeah, I guess that’s why you’re single now.’

He narrowed his eyes. ‘Very funny, Rebecca. You’re a laugh a minute.’ He turned to Kylan, eager to change the subject. ‘So how’s that hubby of yours? What’s his name? Larry?’

‘Lawrie,’ Kylan corrected. ‘We’re doing great.’

‘Good to hear it. Are you both still at the college?’

She nodded. ‘Yeah we’re still there.’ It had been due to Lawrie getting the teaching position in the English Department that they had moved to Juniper. ‘Things are working out well.’

‘Good, good. Well make sure you say hi to him, okay?’

‘I will.’

The run in with Vic and Rebecca provided Kylan with a brief diversion from Mr Creepy, but now they were gone she realised she hadn’t come any closer to resolving her predicament. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed her suspicion that the man was still there.

Of course he’s still there, you idiot. Where the hell did you expect him to go?