Page 149

Dylan’s mouth tightened. “Emily, you are allowed to enjoy yourself. Do you think for one minute that your mum and dad would want you to be miserable?”

I shook my head.

“Why don’t you go for an hour? I’ll come get you, if you like—you can phone me when you’ve had enough.”

I chewed my lower lip, thinking through Dylan’s idea.

The police officer cleared her throat interrupting all of us.

“Did you find something?” he asked her.

She reddened, nodded, and said rather breathlessly, “I did, one partial print, but I need to make sure it’s not one of yours.”

“Does that mean you need all our prints?”

Her flush deepened; she couldn’t look him in the eye. “Yes, I’m afraid it does.”

Dylan turned to Lulu. “Well, it could be yours or mine.”

“Or mine,” I said.

“I don’t mind if you take my prints.” Lulu rose from the table and strode toward Dylan, wrapping her arm around his waist. Dylan automatically put his arm around her shoulders. She was shorter than the police officer, who busied herself taking off her latex gloves.

“I’ll set up the fingerprinting equipment on your table, if that’s okay?” she asked while staring at the floor—anywhere but at Dylan. She moved to the kitchen table.

“Yes, by all means,” Dylan replied evenly.

She likes him.

That’s why Lulu’s become territorial and possessive.

I watched the police officer, fascinated. She was tall, really tall, and pretty, with hazel eyes. Her face was makeup free, and her hands shook slightly as she set up the equipment.

“Do you need mine too?” I asked, wanting to stay and continue observing this insight into adult relationships.

“Yes. I’ll need everyone’s,” she said. “Which one of you first?” She seemed to steel herself as she turned to Dylan and Lulu.

“Ladies first?” Dylan deferred to Lulu.

Lulu grinned up at him and stood beside Officer Tall.

“I need you to sign this form. This says that you give your fingerprints willingly for the purposes of elimination only. If you sign here”—she pointed to a place on the form—“that means we can retain your prints and use them for speculative searches too. Once you’ve consented to this, you can’t withdraw consent.”

“I don’t want that. I don’t want the Old Bill interfering with my life of crime.” Lulu gave her a swift, back-off-bitch smile. “You can use my prints for the elimination only.”

She signed, and the police officer proceeded to ink her fingers.

“Ooh, this is messy,” Lulu muttered and went to wash her hands at the kitchen sink when the officer had finished.

“Now you, Dr. Knightley.” Officer Tall went scarlet as she and Dylan stood eye to eye.

Dylan looked uncomfortable. Does he realize the effect he’s having on this poor woman? He signed his consent form and gave his hand to the officer to ink.

She did it quickly and efficiently, and she glanced at him and smiled shyly. “All done.”

“Good,” he mumbled, and he went to wash his hands. Lulu had her arms folded and was watching him carefully.

“You?” she asked me.