Page 72 of Little Children (Detective Kim Stone #22)

Seventy-One

‘Were you sent here to spy on us?’ Red asked as he pulled out of the car park.

Kim didn’t particularly want to chat, but there was little she could do to close the gap between them and her colleague any quicker.

Pippa Jacobs had hinted that Roy Moss was capable of anything to cover his own ass, and she believed it.

Roy knew that Bryant knew more about him than anyone and that had put him in danger.

‘Three names were left in our war room,’ she answered, choosing to omit certain information. ‘The first one was Jasmine Swift.’

Red swallowed deeply.

She waited, knowing his response to this was important.

‘I’m gonna be completely honest here. I fucked up with Jasmine,’ he said, shaking his head regretfully. ‘After attending her call about the burglary, I became too familiar with her. I misread the signs. She did nothing wrong, and it was my mistake completely. I shouldn’t have contacted her.’

His admission was crucial. She hadn’t said they’d visited her or what she’d revealed. He hadn’t been forced to share that information. He didn’t know that she already knew.

‘Beyond inappropriate,’ Kim said.

‘Agreed, and not something I’ll ever repeat. I never meant to make her feel uncomfortable.’

Kim could see the look of disgust on his face and it was obvious that his own shame would ensure he never made that mistake again.

There was nothing more she could do to get justice for Jasmine, but there would be no others.

‘Let’s talk about Carly. Our second name claimed she got a bit rough during an arrest.’

‘You talking about Dean Jackson?’

Kim nodded. ‘Refused to make a complaint. Too scared.’

He laughed but not with humour. ‘I’ve got the video on that one, which I’m happy to share with you any time.’

‘Did she kick him in the nuts?’

‘Oh yeah. He was high as a kite. Had his hands on her throat from behind. Impressive back sweep into his nuts and he soon let go.’

‘He said he asked for a solicitor three times and was denied.’

‘In his head, maybe, but the guy couldn’t string a sentence together. Trust me, we did nothing wrong, and I’d defend our actions to anyone.’

She wasn’t totally surprised. Carly Walsh hadn’t given the impression of being bent, and Kim’s instincts hadn’t detected it.

‘And the third name was Pippa Jacobs?’ Red asked.

‘Yeah, and you already know the reason for that one.’

‘Who left the names?’

‘I dunno, Red, but even if I believe you about those names, you’re never gonna convince me that you didn’t fuck up the Lewis investigation.

You messed up by assuming he was a runaway.

You should have gone deeper, and I think you know it.

Stop me if I’m wrong, but it just looks lazy and bloody incompetent. ’

A muscle twitched in his jawline, but she didn’t care. He deserved the truth.

‘I don’t disagree, but everyone thought he’d done a runner. Even the chief was convinced by the family’s insistence,’ he defended himself.

Kim shook her head as they pulled onto the car park ramp. Her thoughts were no longer about any of the names that had been left for them. Her only concern was that her colleague was in danger.

She wondered if Adil had been correct or if they were in completely the wrong place. Then Red pulled to a screeching halt beside a Toyota.

‘That’s Roy’s car.’

Kim felt both jubilation and trepidation. They were in the right place, but had they made it in time?

Historic events meant she didn’t like her team members in high places.

She shuddered at the memory as she got out of the car. Any second now, she could hear a sickening thud as a body fell to the ground.

She followed Red up the ramp wondering what the hell they were going to find.