Page 74 of We Chase Shadows

Amy is shaking her head. ‘Surely Vern would know if Jakob Eriksson was an English man called Connor Brooks?’

‘Perhaps he does know?’ says Steve. ‘Perhaps they’re a lot closer than he’s told us? And that’s why he’s so sure Eriksson’s not behind the whole thing?’

‘And Korbin would have known too?’ says Amy. ‘Is that what he was going to tell me?’

‘Either way,’ says Rosie, ‘I feel like we are closing in.’

Rosie is right, Steve can sense it. Although he has something else on his mind.

‘Did you give my number to Georgie Glazier?’ Steve asks.

‘I might have,’ says Rosie. ‘I’m in love with romance. Mine or anyone else’s, I’m not fussy.’

‘I’m not looking for love,’ says Steve. ‘I have my friends, I have my job and I have my cat.’

Rosie takes the olive from her Martini and eats it. ‘Did she text you?’

‘She wants to come to Axley,’ says Steve.

‘To see you?’

‘She said she’s going to be in the area,’ says Steve. ‘She says she has business in Portsmouth.’

‘Who has business in Portsmouth?’ asks Amy. ‘No one.’

‘I don’t like it,’ says Steve. ‘You don’t have to meddle in everything I do. You’ve already got me solving murders and going abroad. I don’t need this on my plate too.’

‘It’ll be nice, Steve,’ says Amy.

‘Would you like Rosie to meddle in your love life?’ Steve asks.

‘Not really,’ says Amy. ‘I’m married to your son.’

‘Barely,’ says Rosie.

‘I might not take your advice on marriage, Rosie,’ says Amy.

‘You should do,’ says Steve, ‘She’s done it often enough.’

Steve and Amy high-five.

‘Anyway,’ says Steve, ‘she’s still a suspect. It’s unprofessional.’

Amy is right though. Georgie probably doesn’t have business down in Portsmouth, although it does have a thriving maritime logistics industry. Aerospace too. A date though? Steve can’t even begin to imagine it. There hasn’t been anyone since Debbie, and he hopes there never will be. How long has he got left on the planet? Twenty-five years? Steve can see that out easily without sharing his heart again. It’s bad enough that he’s on a private plane, away from home, after spending two days sweating through every piece of clothing he owns in a house paid for by designing coffee tables. Love too? No, thanks.

Brad, the air steward, pops his head out from the galley. ‘I have sea bass ceviche on a bed of samphire if anyone’s hungry?’

‘Yes, please,’ say Rosie and Amy.

Brad looks at Steve. ‘And some salt-and-vinegar Pringles for sir?’

‘Thanks, Brad,’ says Steve.

Brad disappears again.

‘Whether Jakob Eriksson is Connor Brooks or not,’ says Rosie, ‘we’re still no nearer to finding out whether he killed Esteban and Korbin. We need to think about our other suspects.’

Brad comes out with the ceviche and Pringles and three glasses. ‘I’ve paired the sea bass with a Chilean Sauvignon Blanc, and I’ve paired the Pringles with a can of Theakston Best Bitter.’