Page 97 of Deadly Cry

Kim thought Bryant’s assessment was a little on the charitable side.

He continued. ‘Seemed a bit of an…’

‘Arrogant prick are the words you’re looking for,’ she offered, just to help him out.

‘Yeah, but there was more to it than that. He was superior, judgemental, dismissive, almost like he was gloating.’

Kim nodded her agreement as she sipped her drink.

‘You think it was wise to tell Robyn about Archie, that we think he’s still alive?’

‘Absolutely, the woman needs something to hope for.’

‘You really think we can bring him back safely?’ Bryant asked, and she swore she heard an element of doubt in the question.

‘We’re about to find out,’ Kim said as Frost entered the café and tottered towards them in her four-inch heels.

Once upon a time, Kim had been amused by the woman’s insistence on wearing the tallest shoes she could find despite appearing clumsy and awkward. Until she had found out that the woman had one leg shorter than the other and had been teased about the limp all her life.

Bringing even more attention to the way she walked was Frost’s unique way of hiding her own insecurities.

‘Hey, Frost,’ Kim said as she took a seat and placed her studded Michael Kors bag on the spare chair.

‘Knock it off, Stone. You’re giving me anxiety. This courteousness unnerves me, and I prefer you being a bitch. It’s a persona I know and expect.’

‘Frost, we agree on something,’ Bryant said. ‘Because her being nice freaks me out too.’

Kim offered her colleague a look.

‘I want to do it again,’ Kim said.

‘You think that was definitely him?’ Frost asked, not needing any further explanation.

Kim knew that she was treading a fine line with what she should or shouldn’t reveal to the reporter, but she was asking for a favour. She had suspected he would respond better to a message sent through a small local paper rather than a national. It wasn’t fame and notoriety he was after. It was contact, and this was more intimate and personal. Like it or not, Frost’s articles were now the medium through which she and the killer spoke.

She also knew that engaging with a man who had killed three women was not without risk. Just saying one thing wrong could destroy the rapport he thought he had with her. Her fear in doing that was for the safety of Archie.

‘So you want another online article?’

Kim nodded.

‘Anything new to add?’ Frost asked hopefully.

‘Nice try, but no.’ She wasn’t offering the woman an exclusive. ‘Can you not do some kind of round-up of events so far?’

Frost raised one eyebrow. ‘Yeah, cos my editor just loves me to write stuff that goes over the same ground we’ve already covered.’

Kim appreciated Frost’s subtle reminder that she had a boss too.

‘Sorry, Stone, can’t—’

‘For an intelligent woman, you’re not thinking very clearly,’ Kim said, having anticipated Frost’s resistance. ‘I can give you nothing, except the fact I’m asking you for a favour. Do you want to think about that for a minute?’

A slow smile spread across her face. ‘So you’ll owe me one?’

Kim nodded.

‘Which I can call in any time I want?’