Page 66 of Child's Play

‘Keats is going to let us know if there’s anything more to note about Nixon once he’s done the post-mortem later this—’

‘Hiya,’ said a bright voice from the door.

All three of them glanced towards the beaming elfin figure dressed in a constable uniform. Kim guessed her to be around five and half feet with her blonde hair pulled into a bun on the back of her head.

Kim hadn’t realised it was dress your kid and bring it to work day.

‘Are you lost?’ Kim asked, trying to keep the edge from her voice. The door was clearly marked CID.

She shook her head, still beaming, as she stepped into the room.

‘I’m Tiffany, like the singer, Tiff. I was told you were expecting me.’

‘To do what?’ Kim asked.

She shrugged her delicate little shoulders. ‘Help out, I think.’

Kim looked to her colleagues to see if she was missing something. Their expressions said not.

‘Tiffany, I’m not sure?…’

‘DCI Woodward requested me,’ she said, barely able to keep the joy out of her voice as though she’d been promised a trip to Disneyland. ‘He said you’re a team member down and I’m so excited to be asked to help.’

And still her smile hadn’t wavered.

‘I’ve heard so much about you all. You do such exciting work and I can’t believe I’m here right now.’

Kim looked to Bryant who was staring with the same bewilderment as Stacey.

‘I think there’s been a mistake, Tiffany. If you return to your normal duties, I’ll sort this with the DCI once—’

‘He said you might say that,’ she said, smiling even wider as though she was in on some kind of joke. ‘He told me to remind you of your conversation yesterday, and oh my God, this office is fab,’ she said, looking around before taking a seat.

An action that prompted Stacey’s expression to change from amused curiosity to panic-stricken.

‘Please use me however you want,’ she offered, brightly. ‘I’m just so…’

‘Yeah, we get it,’ Kim said, glancing at Stacey whose eyes beseeched her to remove the interloper.

I can’t, her expression said back.

‘I’ll speak to Woo… DCI Woodward and clarify the arrangements,’ she said.

Tiffany nodded enthusiastically and beamed.

‘But in the meantime, I’m sure Stacey will find something you can help her with.’

‘Oketty doketty,’ she answered.

Kim gave Stacey an apologetic look as she grabbed her coat. She had to get out.

Suddenly their small office was way too bright for her eyes.

Forty-Five

They had almost reached Veronica’s home when Woody finally answered her call. It may have been the twenty-seven attempts in quick succession that had told him she wasn’t going away.

‘Good morning, Stone,’ he answered.