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Leigh shook the conversation off. There was no point in digging into Alex’s damaged psyche. Leigh had her own to contend with.

But things were about to get interesting, that was for sure. Leigh had rolled the dice on Alex Walker, and she was about to find out whether Alex had gotten any better at making good on a promise. Not that it changed anything if she did. Not a thing.

Twenty-Seven

Alex was thrilled that little chat with Leigh had taken place over the phone because Alex’s mask had really dropped for a second. Eye contact would have made it that much worse.

But fuck it, forget it, never mind, didn’t matter. Alex had things to attend to. She had the name and number of the girl from the photo. She also had someone tasked with investigating Matthew Downing. She was going to get some answers if it killed her.

Alex rang Amanda Bradley.

‘Hello?’ answered Amanda, the woman of no further mystery.

‘Hi, Amanda Bradley?’ Alex checked.

‘Yes,’ the woman replied, already sounding worried.

‘My name is Alex Walker. I work with Isabelle Kane.’

Amanda hung up.

Alex had expected that might happen. She had a plan B. She tapped out a text to Amanda.

Isabelle Kane doesn’t know who you are. Yet. Pick up the phone, or I’ll give her your details.

Alex looked at the message without sending it. She deleted it and wrote a new draft.

I know that Isabelle Kane is not a name you want to hear, but I’m not calling on her behalf. I need to ask you some questions, but the answers are only for me. You’re the only person who can provide them, and I need your help.

She signed her name and sent that version, all the while kicking herself. It was a stupid, weak gambit. The truth? It wasn’t her style at all. It was more how Leigh might have played things.

There was no reply—at first. But after a few hours, lo and behold, up popped a message.

What do you want?

***

A few days later, Alex parked up in front of Leigh’s office in the near dark of the evening.

Leigh walked out of the building, and Alex didn’t look at her waist for more than a second. She was getting better at controlling herself.

‘Get in, loser. We’re going vetting,’ Alex called through the window of the BMW.

Leigh rolled her eyes and slid into the passenger seat. ‘So, where does Amanda Bradley live?’

‘Not far, about thirty minutes.’

‘OK, well, I guess I’ll catch up on some work on my laptop if you don’t mind,’ Leigh said.

Alex shrugged. ‘You do you.’

Rain began to fall lightly across the windshield. Alex glanced at Leigh as she pulled out onto the road. Leigh already had her laptop out and was typing frantically. Alex was pretty sure she was doing that so they didn’t have to talk.

Alex drove for a while before glancing at Leigh again, wondering if she should address the tension. It sounded like a pretty terrible idea.

‘I can feel you watching me,’ Leigh said, never pausing her frantic typing.

‘I’m not…’ Alex began nervously.