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‘Yeah, it was a gift from an insufferable colleague of sorts who broke my old one.’
‘Well, technically, you dismantled—’
‘Coffee or not?’ Kim asked, urging Barney out the back door.
Leanne shook her head.
‘Ian Perkins?’ Kim asked, hoping Leanne had brought details of his whereabouts.
‘Is living a perfectly respectable life and hasn’t been in any trouble since his release. He’s doing well.’
‘I need to warn him,’ Kim said, wondering if Leanne understood the gravity of the situation. ‘He was part of a specific group of six at Welton Hall. Three of the six have been murdered this week.’
‘Shucks, anyone would think I don’t have access to newspapers, or a TV or a smartphone.’
‘I don’t know what amenities your cave has, and I don’t care. I need to know where he is and warn him of—’
‘Already done. He’s seen the articles your buddy has been writing. He’s seen the names of the victims and he’s not stupid. He’ll take extra precautions.’
‘Just tell me where he is,’ Kim demanded.
‘No.’
‘I know, why don’t you just hand over his details then?’
‘Due to his court testimony, he has a new identity. That gives him rights.’
‘For fuck’s sake, Leanne. Is there any chance you might trip up and accidentally be a police officer one day?’
One thing that never changed was Leanne’s stubborn wish to stick to the rules.
‘You know what my job entails, and if you think I haven’t bent the rules to come here and tell you this, then you understand nothing.’
‘Grrr…’
Leanne tipped her head. ‘Did you really just growl at me?’
‘You frustrate the shit out of me.’
‘Aww…sorry I don’t jump when you tell me to, but guess what? You’re not my boss, and I don’t even like you.’
Kim gave up. ‘Thanks for coming. You can leave the same way you came. You’ve delivered your message.’
It was one she could have texted. And then Kim realised why she hadn’t done exactly that.
‘Ah, you’ve already changed your number, haven’t you?’
‘I’m not your inside person at witness protection. You can’t just call me up and badger me for info. I’m not your direct line. You know I shouldn’t have got you an answer to your questions about Ian Perkins.’
‘So why did you?’
Silence rested between them for a full minute.
Barney barked at the back door to be let back in.
‘I chose a way of life, Stone. I knew what I was doing and what I was giving up. I adapted and I hardened. I live in the shadows because I have to. My work demands it. I love my job, and I’m damn good at it. But the only way I can do it is to live apart. I can’t have friends, connections, expectations. You can’t just fucking call me.’
‘Got it,’ Kim said, striding to the front door.
