Page 38 of Killing Mind

‘Just do it,’ she growled, fixing a smile to her face as Bryant picked up the best of a bad limp bunch.

‘Two pounds,’ the girl said, holding out her hand.

She heard Bryant’s sharp intake of breath, but he fished in his pocket anyway.

Now was not the time to arrest her for extortion.

‘Hi,’ Kim said, holding up her ID. ‘May we speak to the person in charge?’

The girl’s delight quickly turned to alarm.

‘There’s nothing to worry about,’ Kim reassured her. ‘We’re here about a girl named Samantha Brown, did you know her?’

Colour seeped into her cheeks as she stepped back into the shed mumbling something about waiting a minute.

Kim stepped to the side and watched as she retrieved a mobile phone and turned her back.

Kim took a quick look around and realised that going through the shed on foot to the other side was the only way to access the property. The farm shop itself was stationed between metal fencing that travelled off in either direction further than she could see.

Farm shop or gate keeper? Kim thought idly, wondering where vehicle access to the site was located.

She was about to ask when the girl finished on the phone.

‘Jake is on his way,’ she said, wringing her hands and looking around.

Kim detected both excitement and trepidation.

‘If you just show us where we can drive through, we can…’

‘He’ll be just a minute,’ she said, definitely.

Kim got the impression that without throwing her to the ground and overpowering her they were not getting through that shed.

‘So, did you know Samantha?’ Kim asked again.

She nodded slowly. ‘But she’s gone.’

Kim was unsure if she meant gone or dead. Either way she was biting her bottom lip.

‘Did she have any trouble with…’

‘Oh, that’s Jake now,’ she said, turning away as some kind of engine sounded behind the shed. A man in his mid-fifties appeared behind her. His hair was completely white but thick and cut well. His shoulders were broad beneath an open-neck pale blue shirt. His skin was smooth with enough colour to radiate good health. His eyes were the purest blue she had ever seen. Once your gaze met those the rest of his face was forgotten.

‘DI Stone,’ Kim said, showing her ID. ‘We’d like to talk to you about Samantha Brown.’

The man moved closer to the girl and offered his hand in Kim’s direction.

‘Jake Black and is Sammy okay?’

Oh great. They didn’t even know she was dead.

‘Mr Black, we really need to go somewhere and talk.’

He moved towards the table. ‘Of course, come through.’

‘If you just show us where to bring the car through…’

‘It’s no bother. Please, this way,’ he said pointing to the gap he’d made.