Page 39 of Silent Scream

The one thing about Woody was that he sure knew how to hit her where it hurt.

Twenty-Two

The doorbell soundedand Kim didn’t even ask who was at the door as she undid the chain. It would be Bryant and he would have Chinese.

‘The chow mein fairy has entered the building.’

‘You can only stay if there are prawn crackers.’ It wasn’t a joke.

Bryant removed his outer jacket to display a polo shirt and jeans.

‘Love what you’ve done with the place.’

Kim ignored him. He said the same thing every time he came. To others, her house appeared sparse of personality and adornment. She didn’t enjoy personal embellishments. If she chose to move tomorrow she’d need a dozen bin liners and a couple of hours and she’d be ready to roll. Her years in the care system had taught her well.

She served up the beef noodles and egg fried rice. Two thirds for Bryant, one third for her. She passed the plate to him. He took one sofa and she took the other.

She put a forkful of food in her mouth and tried to ignore the disappointment. The theory of food was far more exciting than the practice of eating it. In her mouth it turned into a source of fuel; energy. She pushed in a few more forkfuls and put the plate down.

‘Jeez, slow down, you nearly filled a hollow tooth there.’

‘I’ve had enough.’

‘You make a sparrow look like a greedy bastard. You need to eat more, Guv.’

Kim shot him a look. Here in her home she was not Detective Inspector and he was not her subordinate. He was just Bryant; the closest thing to a friend she had.

He rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, sorry.’

‘And stop fussing. I’m a big girl.’

She took her plate to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee.

‘So, tell me, I bring you a handsome, affable man and food you don’t eat. Remind me again what I’m getting out of this relationship?’

‘My dazzling company,’ she deadpanned. She was nothing if not self-aware.

Bryant laughed. ‘Hmm ... I’ll just leave that hanging without comment ‘cos you might be Kim now but eventually you’ll be Guv again.’ He finished eating and brought his empty plate to the kitchen. ‘No, I had something else in mind.’

‘Like what?’

‘A date.’

‘With you?’

He guffawed. ‘You wish.’

Kim laughed out loud.

‘You know, that’s a great sound. You should do it more often.’

Kim knew what was coming. ‘The answer is no.’

‘You don’t even know who.’

‘Oh yes I do,’ she offered, in pantomime fashion. She’d caught a glimpse of Peter Grant as she’d headed out of the station. As a prosecutor with the CPS their paths still crossed but she had avoided a full conversation since the break-up.

Bryant sighed. ‘Come on, Kim. Give him a chance. He’s miserable without you. And you’re even more miserable without him.’