Page 80 of First Blood

‘So, when you knew your brother was dead…’

‘I just wanted to let her know it was safe to come out. I just wish Mia…’

‘Mia is safe with a foster family who loves her very much,’ Kim said, thankful that Hayley had finally done the right thing by her child.

‘Oh, thank God,’ she said.

‘And do you have any idea at all where she was hiding?’ Kim asked. Because as soon as she’d lost that safety she had also lost her life: clearly there had been more than one man looking for her.

‘Not this time, no. She didn’t want anyone to know.’

‘But the last time?’ Kim asked.

She had eluded him for six months previously so maybe she’d used the same hidey hole twice.

‘Oh yeah, I know where she was the first time, when she was gone for six months.’

‘And you didn’t think to share this information?’ Kim asked.

Lisa shrugged. ‘You never asked.’

‘Go on,’ Kim urged, biting her tongue.

‘She was staying at some shelter in Dudley.’

Chapter Seventy-One

Kim stepped back into the squad room to three expectant faces, following her meeting with Woody.

She considered debriefing the team right now and continuing with the leads they’d found, but it was already after seven at the end of another twelve-hour day.

As explained to Bryant she had adopted her sorry face, which Woody must have found suitably repentant, as it was difficult to continue telling someone off if they were choosing not to argue back.

‘Okay, folks, we’ll debrief in the morning. Get some rest.’

She’d swear that three disappointed faces looked right back at her. As what seemed to be developing into the norm, she indicated for Dawson to stay back. Kim watched as his younger, less experienced colleague threw her satchel diagonally across her front before nodding her goodbyes and following Bryant out of the door. She couldn’t help comparing the efforts of the greenest officer on the team to the one left sitting in front of her now. Again. Stacey had begun the week keen as mustard to work hard and learn. She had carried out every instruction she’d been given efficiently and enthusiastically. She’d used her initiative and followed up leads. There were moments that Kim forgot just how inexperienced she was and could already see the potential for further development. It was unfortunate that she didn’t feel the same way about DS Dawson.

So far this week he’d tested her. He’d tried to challenge her, he’d ignored her instructions, and right now she was a hair’s breadth away from having him removed from her team.

But not quite.

‘And again I’m keeping you back,’ she said, folding her arms and feeling like a teacher reprimanding an errant pupil at detention.

His expression told her that he was searching his brain for whatever else he’d done wrong.

‘You slept in your car on the station car park last night,’ she stated.

He opened his mouth to say something and then changed his mind.

‘I don’t know and nor do I care what’s going on in your private life or why you did that, but it will not happen again. Is that clear?’

Again, with the school Marm posture and speech. She wondered why the hell this detective brought that out in her.

‘Of course, boss,’ he said, as a flash of panic entered his eyes, causing her to wonder if he’d been planning to do it again tonight.

‘I’ll find somewhere…’

‘There’s a room booked at the Travelodge down the road in your name. One night, now sort yourself out and get the fuck on board with this team,’ she said, before heading into the bowl.