Page 52 of Dying Truth

‘She’s good,’ her colleague said.

‘She’s more than that, Bryant,’ Kim said. ‘That girl is world class,’ she added, as she watched Saffie leave the stage without a glance at anyone.

‘I’ll be back in a sec,’ Kim said, rushing for the door.

* * *

She turned left and caught up with the male captivated by Saffie’s performance.

‘Excuse me,’ she said, touching him on the shoulder.

‘Yes?’ he said with a look of distaste.

It suddenly occurred to her that Thorpe seemed to feel that Heathcrest was a place where they produced superior people. She was coming to realise that Heathcrest just made people feel superior.

‘DI Stone,’ she said, without producing her identification.

He said nothing but continued to look at her derisively.

‘Firstly, drop the attitude, fella, I just want to ask you a couple of questions.’

His expression warmed a couple of levels to impatience as he offered his hand and a modicum of good manners. ‘My apologies, officer, I was just in a rush. My name is Eric Monroe.’

She ignored his outstretched hand and enjoyed his discomfort when it dropped back to his side.

Yes, she had attitude and she’d bloody well earned it.

‘You seemed particularly captivated by the performance of Sadie’s sister in there a moment ago?’

‘I was appreciating Saffie’s musical ability,’ he replied.

It was more than that and Kim knew it.

‘Are you two a couple?’ she asked. If this boy knew Saffie well, then he might also have known Sadie.

‘Not any more. We broke up,’ he said, without emotion.

‘Recently?’ she asked, surprised, recalling the level of intensity between them.

He frowned and although his face was not puckering up into the disdainful look he’d sported earlier, it was getting there. ‘Yesterday, actually, but I’m not sure what that has to do with your inv—’

‘Did you know Sadie at all?’ she asked.

‘I saw her a few times,’ he said. ‘They weren’t close, but she was an angry little thing.’

‘About what?’

He shrugged. ‘Don’t know what her problem was but she barged into Saffie’s room one night saying they had to talk.’

‘Did she say about what?’

He shook his head. ‘Saffie told her to get out and not come back. That was the only time…’

‘Why did the two of you break up?’ Kim asked, directly.

And the derision was back in full force. ‘My reason for ending our relationship is definitely none of your business, officer and now I must—’

‘Couldn’t you have waited to finish with her?’ Kim asked, struck by the callousness in his tone. ‘She has just lost her sister.’