Page 125 of Killing Mind

Bryant nodded.

‘Then at what price do you get your black and white justice?’ she asked. ‘It’s not ideal but he is going back to prison where he belongs and will never get the chance to hurt anyone again.’

He shook his head. ‘It just feels…’

‘And you’re forgetting one very important factor, Bryant?’

‘Go on.’

Thank goodness, he was finally listening.

‘He confessed. For whatever reason Peter Drake has confessed. He either wants to be back in prison or feels he should be. Either way he’s going back before he can do any more harm.’

Bryant rubbed at his hair, trying to resolve the demons in his head.

‘Okay, guv, just one question, if you don’t mind.’

‘Go on.’

‘Would you have done what Travis has done?’

Kim was saved from answering as her phone rang.

Her first thought was Tiffany.

‘Go ahead, Stace,’ she said.

‘Sorry, boss, but we need you up here, now.’

‘On our way,’ she said, ending the call.

She and Bryant made the journey back to the squad room in silence. She felt like taking a detour to the bathroom to wash her mouth out with soap.

He didn’t push her for an answer to his earlier question.

Because he already knew what it was.

One Hundred Three

‘I think Tiff might be in danger,’ Stacey said.

‘I might know where Sophie is,’ Penn said.

Kim held up her hands as Bryant took a seat. She’d only been gone a few minutes.

‘Stacey, go,’ Kim said, taking a sip of her cold coffee.

‘The second person who died at Jake Black’s first cult, Christopher Brook, he was a police officer, undercover.’

Kim froze and a heavy silence settled around them all.

‘That fact didn’t reach the press until the inquest which recorded a suicide verdict based on the testimony of people at the cult. The case landed in the news on the same day as the Chancellor’s Budget so got no attention. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed by the family against Somerset and Avon Police, which was settled, quietly, out of court.’

‘Thanks, Stace,’ Kim said, maintaining her composure. One undercover police officer had already lost his life in connection with Jake Black, and she’d sent another one right into the fire.

‘Penn?’ she said, checking her phone once more.

Nothing. Damn it.