Page 24 of Little Children

‘Things you’d send your best friend?’ Bryant clarified.

Kim cringed.

‘You’re gonna have to tell her.’

‘How, Bryant? If the woman thinks we’re best mates, then she clearly is suffering some kind of brain damage. How the hell am I going to explain we don’t even like each other?’

‘Well, that’s not strictly?—’

‘We’re not bloody best mates. We’ve reached a mutual tolerance level over the years, which sure doesn’t include clothes shopping or sharing bloody make-up tips.’

‘As entertaining as this is for me, you’re somehow gonna have to get the truth through to her. You’re not being fair to her, and you’re making a bigger problem for yourself down the line.’

‘Maybe by the time we get back home, her memories will have returned, and she’ll realise her mistake,’ Kim said hopefully.

‘And if she hasn’t?’

‘Shut up, Bryant,’ she said, getting out of the car.

She stepped into the lobby and took her key from Stacey before making her way silently to her room to ponder the question that had been on her mind for days.

How did she tell a woman who had narrowly escaped death, and who seemed likely to have to learn to live with some level of brain damage, that she literally had no friends?

Sixteen

Kim got a sinking feeling as she entered the squad room. Not only was the Blackpool team already in full attendance, but also they looked like they’d been there for some time.

She pointedly looked at her watch as Red did the same.

‘Good afternoon,’ he said smugly.

‘We’re not late,’ she snapped, realising she’d fallen for the oldest trick in the book. ‘You said the briefing was at seven thirty.’

‘You must have misheard. I said six thirty.’

‘No. You definitely?—’

‘He said six thirty. I was right behind him,’ Roy said, lounging back in his chair.

Kim knew this was an argument she wasn’t going to win.

‘Not our fault you Brummie lot can’t get up and dressed on time,’ Roy said, trying to soften his snide comment with a smirk.

‘But at least when we do arrive, we’re properly dressed,’ she said, fixing her gaze on the unfastened button on his shirt and the tie knot hanging two inches away from his collar.

He tried to keep the false smile on his face as he fastened his button but failed.

‘Well, we’re here now. What did we miss?’ she asked, taking a seat.

Her team followed suit behind her.

‘We’re all done now. No need to go through it all again. Definitely two separate cases, and?—’

‘You’re sure about that?’ Kim asked. ‘Two boys of a similar age gone missing in ten days and they aren’t linked?’

Red shook his head. ‘We don’t think so. All evidence indicates Lewis Stevens is a runaway, so there’s no point muddying the waters with cross-briefings. The chief has given you instructions, so?—’

‘Yeah, but I’d really like a catch-up anyway,’ Kim said, adopting her best insistent tone. From the corner of her eye she saw Bryant offer a small shake of the head at her actions. He was playing his part well, showing subtle frustration at her behaviour. ‘You’ve got to stop assuming Lewis is a runaway,’ she continued. ‘If we share information?—’