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Richard shook his head. ‘That’s enough to get noticed.’
Kim checked her watch.
‘Come on then, Tink. Time for us to go talk to the dead.’
THIRTY-SEVEN
They arrived at the venue just as the doors opened and the queue began to move.
Tiff had got out of the car already pale and shaken, stating she’d been in high-speed car chases that had been less stressful. Although there were many things about Kim that had improved over the years, clearly her driving wasn’t one of them.
They had separated as soon as they’d neared the theatre, to avoid being seen together. It was important for the charade that Tiff appeared to be completely alone. She was currently four people back and already looking vulnerable and out of place.
Kim reached the door in minutes, gave her name and explained that her colleague would collect the second ticket.
Once inside, Kim spied a good viewing spot and nestled herself at the far end of the bar, partly obscured by a stone pillar. Trying to witness the fraud was only one of the reasons for their visit this evening. Kim’s two main priorities were searching the crowds for anyone that looked familiar or suspicious, and to get a meeting with the psychic herself after the show.
Without directly watching Tiff, she tried to keep her in her peripheral vision as the constable approached the bar, ordered a drink and then placed herself in the far corner of the room.
Kim’s first reaction was to motion to Tiff to move somewhere more visible but quickly realised that the girl was doing exactly what she’d been told to. Richard had said that if she fitted the profile, they’d find her.
Kim busied herself looking around the crowd that was building nicely. The sound of excited chatter was all around her. The audience seemed to be made up of small groups and couples. Most were dressed up as though going to the theatre in the West End, but she supposed in a way they were.
As the crowd thickened, groups of people moved closer to Kim, partially obscuring her view. Some people appeared to already know each other and others were just chatting to pass the time with people they’d been shoved up against.
She was still trying to spot anyone who appeared to be acting unnaturally, but the melding of parties and natural movement of the whole crowd was making it impossible.
‘Have you seen her before?’ asked a woman in a group of four right in front of her.
Her husband was hugging a pint of something, trying to look attentive as his wife held court with two women who looked like sisters.
‘No, we’ve never been to see a psychic before.’
‘Oh, you’re in for a treat. We saw her in Birmingham. She was marvellous. I went because my father hadn’t long passed and, well, you know.’
‘My brother died a year ago,’ the woman answered. ‘He was very sick. We wanted to see if he would come through.’
‘Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that. Losing a person so young is just heart-breaking.’
‘He was our older brother,’ the woman clarified. ‘He was sixty-one.’
‘Still such a loss though, isn’t it? My dad had suffered with his heart for years.’
‘Yes, Tony had already fought cancer twice, but it finally got him.’
Kim was now totally invested in the conversation, amazed at the detail people were willing to share with complete strangers. Without realising it, the second woman had given away enough detail for a very convincing reading in two sentences.
She pulled her attention away and glanced over at Tiff as the crowds began to move subconsciously towards the doors as the start time grew closer.
She was still in the same spot, sipping her drink but looking beyond it as though completely caught up in her own thoughts.
The crowd was slowly moving away from her but no one was paying any attention to the lone figure in the corner.
Except for a blonde male in his late twenties standing at the bar.
No, no, no, Kim thought. This was not a good time to get picked up.
Damn it. If the blonde guy went over to talk to her, their trip would be a waste of time.
