Page 53 of Killing Mind

‘Penn, I want you to go see Sheila Thorpe’s daughter without giving anything away. Make something up but we need to know more about her disappearance.’

‘Got it, boss,’ he answered, removing the bandana from his head and reaching for the magic cream in his drawer that was used to tame his curls while out in the field.

Bryant leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. ‘Sounds like everything’s covered, so I’ll just put my feet up.’

‘Ha, you wish,’ she scoffed, reaching for her jacket. ‘You and me are going back to college, my friend.’

Forty-Three

‘Go on, Stace,’ Penn said, pushing the Tupperware container forward to cover the hairline crack that separated their two desks. ‘He made them before he went to Billy’s last night.’

Stacey stared longingly at the chocolate brownies Jasper had baked. She had no idea what the lad did to them but they were the best brownies she’d ever tasted.

‘I dare not,’ she said, pushing them back towards him. ‘Because I can’t have just one of anything your brother cooks.’

Penn smiled and took them out of sight. ‘Never let it be said that I’m not a supportive friend,’ he said. ‘Even though I think you’re fine as you are.’

‘Thanks, Penn,’ she said, as he reached for his jacket.

Once he was gone she groaned out load. Just the sight of those perfect little squares had transferred their devilishness to her taste buds. She could feel that velvety sweetness on her tongue, and if she could survive the day without nipping behind Penn’s desk she could survive anything. Jeez, that boy could cook.

She shook away the temptation and typed ‘Unity Farm’ into a search engine.

She got fewer hits than she’d expected. The place only came up in mentions in local news. Most of the articles were a rehash of the murder that the boss had mentioned, where the name of the place was referred to along the lines of ‘now known as’, but direct references seemed to be non-existent. The boss had said they grew and sold things but there was no website or Facebook page. Looked like all of their business was done by word of mouth.

She carried on scrolling and was a couple of hits from the bottom of the page when one news article screamed for her attention.

Teenage Girl Falls from Third Floor Window

Stacey frowned and clicked into the piece.

How the hell was Unity Farm involved with that?

Forty-Four

‘That’s her,’ Kim said nodding towards the directional board at the far end of the car park.

Dudley College of Technology dated back to 1862 and consistently received ‘outstanding provider’ awards. Over the years it had spread its wings and now operated from six or seven other buildings and included an all-weather football complex used by the college and the wider community.

But it was the main complex on The Broadway where she’d been told she’d find Britney Murray, and the girl fitted the description from Myles perfectly; five feet three, slim but with long red curls that reminded Kim of a cartoon character she couldn’t name. Kim guessed her to be mid-twenties but appeared younger when she smiled, as she did at everyone who walked past her.

She held out her right hand, which was clutching a leaflet. Most people carried on past without even an acknowledgment. Kim got the impression folks were used to seeing her around.

‘She’s keen,’ Kim observed, just watching for a moment.

‘And has the skin of a rhino,’ Bryant added as people continued to rebuff her open friendly smile. ‘You know those guys who jump in front of you when you’re out shopping, selling some kind of new phone tariff or satellite package?’

‘Yeah,’ Kim answered, as a student took a leaflet then immediately dropped it.

‘I’ve always wondered why they do it, cos I’ve never seen anyone accompany them over to the kiosk or shop, but they must be having some kind of success or they wouldn’t keep doing it.’

‘So?’

‘Well, if Britney’s been here doing this since Sammy joined, we’re looking at three years or more.’

‘You’re wondering just how many she’s recruited in that time?’

‘All I’m saying is that she must be having some success or she wouldn’t still be here.’