Page 93 of Killing Mind

The girl looked surprised to see her but she wasn’t the reason they were there.

‘Just wanted to ask you another couple of… oh, excuse me,’ Kim said, as Tiffany approached, looking concerned.

‘This is my friend, Tiff,’ Britney said, with a wide smile. ‘She’s my new friend, so there’s no point asking her anything. She doesn’t know anyone.’

Kim dismissed Tiff’s presence with a glance that she made sure Britney saw.

‘Just wondering if you’d remembered Sammy Brown yet or Tyler Short. Oh, and we have another name to run by you: Eric Leland?’

‘Is he dead?’ Britney asked before she could stop herself.

‘Oh, so you do remember Eric?’ Kim asked, stepping closer.

To her credit Tiff was adopting a decent bewildered expression as she looked from one to the other.

‘The name rings a bell,’ Britney said, backtracking.

Kim tipped her head. ‘You see, Britney, what I don’t understand is how you cannot know the names of your family members. I mean, clearly you’re not as close as you think you are.’

‘Oh yes we are,’ Britney said as the colour flooded her cheeks. ‘We all put family first. We take care of each other. We are loyal to…’

‘But, what if someone chooses to leave?’ Kim asked. ‘Are you still loyal then?’

‘Well, of course not but no one really wants to leave.’

Yeah Kim was hearing that a lot.

‘So, you say. Okay, Britney, nice talking to you again. We’ll be in touch.’

Kim didn’t even glance in Tiff’s direction as she turned to leave.

She just hoped Bryant had managed to get the girl’s attention while she had been baiting Britney.

Seventy-Three

Tiff had mixed feelings as the boss and Bryant walked away.

Part of her wanted to walk away with them but her friend was visibly shaken by the exchange.

For a few minutes, at least, she had to play along.

‘Hey, Brit, don’t let her get to you. You know what it’s like at the Farm, so why would her opinion matter? Looks like a proper hard-faced cow anyway.’

Brit smiled.

‘You get it, though, don’t you, Tiff? You see how great it is? How we’re lucky to have such a wonderful family? Outsiders just don’t understand how bonded we are. Hurt one of us and you hurt us all.’ She sighed. ‘See that’s what’s missing out here. There’s no love left, no cohesion. It’s all take, take, take, all the time.’

Tiff couldn’t help think about the money that had gone from the tin, but she pushed the thought away.

‘I get it, Brit. It’s a special place to be,’ Tiff said, patting her on the arm.

Brit’s smile widened as she took Tiff’s hand and held it tightly. ‘I knew you’d get it, Tiff. From the minute I saw you yesterday I knew you were special.’

Jeez, had it only been the day before that they’d met for the first time? She really felt that she’d known Brit for years.

‘Of course, I get it,’ Tiff placated, removing her hand. ‘Now I need to pop inside to the loo, so I’ll get us a drink from the vending machine while I’m there.’

‘Want me to?…’