Page 113 of Killing Mind

Mixed with her eagerness to leave was the feeling of having let the team down. She’d been trusted to come in and find Sophie. She hadn’t found Sophie and neither had she found out anything about the girl. If the Brown family ended up with another dead daughter it would all be down to her. And she didn’t really want to see the boss’s face right now, knowing she had failed miserably. She knew she’d never be asked to help this team again.

‘You okay?’ Brit asked, as they waited in line.

‘I’m fine, just missing home a bit.’

‘You want to leave?’ Britney asked, alarmed.

‘God no, I love it here,’ Tiff countered quickly. She didn’t want to upset her friend before she needed to. She didn’t really want to upset Brit at all. Despite her best efforts, she felt closer to the redhead than she had to anyone in quite a while.

‘Good, cos I’ve got a surprise for you after breakfast.’

‘Really?’ Tiff asked.

‘Yeah, but let’s eat first. I’m absolutely ravenous.’

‘Okay,’ Tiff said, following her to the nearest table. Tiff was surprised that Sheila wasn’t in the line-up today.

‘Where’s Sheila?’ she asked Brit as they buttered their toast. Tiff hadn’t felt hungry until the plate of scrambled eggs and bacon was on her tray, but her mouth now watered at the prospect.

Enjoying breakfast wasn’t a sin. It was her last meal here anyway. As soon as they finished breakfast she’d text the boss and let her know she was on her way out. There might be a debrief, which would be very brief indeed seeing as she knew nothing.

‘Ah, it’s Friday,’ Brit explained. ‘Sheila and one of the others go and do the weekly food shop every Friday morning. Cream cakes for everyone later on,’ Brit said, cutting the fat from her bacon.

Tiff tucked into her own breakfast and the two of them ate in silence.

‘Well, that’s me set up for the morning,’ Brit said, placing down her knife and fork. Tiffany was just one mouthful behind.

‘Come on, then, Tiff, we’ve got a busy day.’

Tiff headed over to the table. She wouldn’t need the packed lunch, but it was important to keep up appearances until she was ready to tell Britney she was going home.

‘Where you going?’ Brit asked.

‘To get our lunch.’

Britney smiled widely.

‘Ah, that’s my surprise. Today we’re staying in.’

Ninety-One

‘You set?’ the guv asked him from the passenger seat. ‘Do you want…’

‘No, stay here. I’ll give the nod.’

Bryant got out of the car and headed to the front door.

He turned around and took one look around the street while he waited. This was not going to be an easy conversation. For either of them.

He turned and knocked again. More forcefully this time. The car was parked on the drive.

He tried once more before taking a look through the curtainless window. The lounge appeared tidy and clean.

He looked back to the guv, who pointed to the side of the house.

He stepped away from the front door and tried the gate at the side. It opened.

He knocked the back door after checking. He could see nothing through the drawn-down blind. The back door was locked and a quick glance told him that no windows were open.