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He hadn’t expected the complication of someone else being in her life, but no matter; she wouldn’t be around for long and then he’d have her totally to himself.
He put his stolen booty on the dining table and switched on the kettle, relishing the feeling that was growing inside him.
There was no doubt in his mind. He had finally met the love of his life.
TWENTY-ONE
‘Everyone have a good night?’ Kim asked as her team assembled for the 7a.m. briefing.
‘Cinema,’ Penn said. ‘New Marvel film.’
‘Jasper or Lynne?’ Stacey asked.
‘Both.’
‘I spent the night looking up the various meanings of crystals,’ Bryant said.
‘Jenny liked it then?’ Kim asked.
‘Loved it. Apparently, it’s amethyst and is known for protection, cleansing and intuition.’
‘Maybe you should have left it in the car,’ Kim offered.
‘Talking of cars,’ Stacey said, ‘I went on a driving lesson with Devon.’
Three heads turned towards the constable.
Kim broke the silence. ‘Sorry, you two, but Stacey is our winner. How’d it go?’
Kim knew Stacey’s terror about learning to drive was real and it was growing worse the longer she avoided it.
‘If I can drive round in circles in first gear, I’m good to go.’
‘Keep at it now you’ve started,’ Kim said.
Stacey nodded.
‘Right, anything on David Ford?’ she asked.
Stacey shook her head. ‘Not a sausage. He’s either incredibly clean or very careful. Looks like he and Bettina have been together since high school. He’s worked at the same builders’ merchants chain since he left college and has been slowly promoted to assistant branch manager. No complaints and no scandal.’
Not exactly what she’d been expecting for a man with such a big mouth, unless he reserved his bullying for his wife alone.
‘And Lisa Brown?’
‘One conviction for breaking another girl’s nose on a night out in Birmingham. The girl barged her out of the way in a bar and came off worse for it. Suspended sentence and community service, which she completed, and no trouble ever since.’
For some reason she wasn’t surprised at that result. Lisa’s problems weren’t what she had done wrong in the past. It was what she’d risked by lying about it. She couldn’t imagine that the investors in the building project would be overjoyed at having a convicted offender running the show, although Lisa probably had more to worry about with Catherine knowing her business. Now, if she turned up dead, Kim might be tempted to take a closer look at the project manager.
‘Okay, plan for the day. Stace, I want you to go deeper with Father George Markinson so we can rule him out. I’d also really like to know why he can’t stay in one place barely longer than the travelling circus. Back off Birch for now. If he’s threatening us with harassment, we need something forensic to link him before we speak to him again.’
Stacey looked as though there was something she wanted to add but changed her mind.
‘Okay, boss,’ she said, looking away.
‘You sure?’ Kim asked.
‘Yep, all good.’
