Page 59 of Deadly Cry

There was nothing wrong with strong women in powerful positions, although she preferred a more generous sprinkling of manners, which was rich coming from her.

‘Does what?’ Chris responded as they neared the fire exit door.

‘Speaks to you like dirt or doesn’t acknowledge you at all.’

‘I’m used to it,’ he said, shrugging.

‘You’ve worked with her before?’

‘I meant in general. There are police officers that appreciate what we do and others that don’t. The good ones make up for people like her. And I like to remember that she started out in the security industry too.’

‘Really?’ Kim asked.

‘Yeah, close protection officer, bodyguard to important people,’ he said, widening his eyes.

Surely the woman should have some empathy for the thankless job Chris was trying to do.

‘Any time you want to stop gassing and catch up would be fine,’ Lena Wiley said, shooting daggers at Chris.

None of them were aware that she’d come to a stop just inside the door.

‘That’s the door I was talking about,’ Kim said, ignoring her and nodding to the right as the lift from the upper level sounded and a cleaner with roller cages exited.

‘Noted,’ Chris said. ‘There’ll be an officer stationed right here.’

‘I want those lifts shut down for the duration of the visit,’ Lena said, even enough she was absolved of all responsibility once she got Tyra to the rear of the store.

She trotted to the top of the stairs and then stopped. The sameness of windowless corridors was discombobulating and messed with your sense of direction.

‘I’m not sure which…’

‘Oh, please, let me help,’ Chris offered smoothly, moving to the front of the group. ‘I’ve assisted with many signings here.’

Lena’s face reddened, but she said nothing.

‘If we go left, it’s a complete circuit to another service yard on the other side of the shopping centre. The right turn services all the shops on the upper level of this part of the site.’

He began walking and the group followed.

‘Just around the bend here and the shop is on your left-hand side.’

‘Well, that wasn’t too difficult,’ Lena offered snidely.

‘Yeah, but none of us knew the way, did we?’ Kim snapped, getting a little narked at the woman’s dismissive attitude. He was not less of a person because he wasn’t a police officer.

‘Happy to help,’ he said, stepping back towards where Bryant was messing with his phone.

‘So if we could just finalise the timings of—’

‘Oh, sorry, excuse me,’ Kim said as her phone began to ring.

She turned away and answered it as Bryant’s phone disappeared back into his pocket.

‘Sir, yes, just at the walk through now. Shouldn’t be too much longer… what, right now?… okay, sir, I’m on my way,’ she said, ending her conversation with the inside of Bryant’s trouser pocket.

‘Sorry, gotta dash. Boss’s orders.’

‘Happens a lot, doesn’t it?’ Lena challenged.