Page 112 of Stolen Ones

‘So what are you saying?’ Kim asked. It all seemed pretty clear-cut to her.

‘I think even when you get to the truth he wants to share, he’s still going to be hiding something.’

Sixty-Seven

Kim pulled up outside Drake Hall as the sun was setting.

She’d spoken directly to the warden and arranged two meetings. She’d never met Warden Siviter, but she seemed to be a pleasant woman who had accommodated her requests.

She headed directly for the visitors’ centre and was met by the same officer who had been present the day before.

Kim showed her ID despite the fact the woman’s memory only had to stretch back twenty-four hours.

‘Warden Siviter said no longer than fifteen minutes.’

‘I’ll take five and you can keep the rest.’

She headed towards the table in the centre that Alex had chosen. The same one they’d used the day before.

‘Good evening, Kim. How lovely to see you again.’

‘Cut the shit, Alex, you’re not getting it,’ she said, sitting down.

Her time with Alison was being spent wisely. Alex’s facial expression was irritable but her first response had been blank, nothing.

‘And you knew it,’ Kim said, tipping her head.

‘Oh, you do entertain me. I would have been pleasantly surprised if you’d given in to me. Perhaps a little disappointed but grateful none the less. A letter from you would certainly have been a feather in my cap. You really don’t care about the identity of your father?’ Alex asked as her fingers knitted together.

Less than two hours ago she’d been discussing this exact mannerism.

Superiority.

Kim’s stomach began to swirl. She had just been told no but she was still feeling superior anyway.

Leakage.

‘My thoughts about my father are not something I’d ever choose to share with you, Alex, but be sure that there is no information you could hold that would get my seal of approval on your release. You are the vilest, most despicable person I have ever had the misfortune to meet.’

Alex smiled. ‘And yet you’re here anyway. The absence of any letter from you would have given me your answer. Yet you chose to deliver your decision in person.’

‘I wanted to see your face.’

‘That’s not true but I’ll let it pass. And you’re not even curious about who he is?’

Kim smiled. ‘Thanks – that’s the reason I came.’

Alex frowned. ‘Excuse me?’

‘You saidisand notwas. You’ve just told me he’s still alive. That’s pretty much all I wanted to know.’

Alex recovered quickly. ‘You think I’m going to tell you anyway, don’t you? You think I’ll relent and give you his name because of our bond.’

Kim laughed. ‘Oh, Alex, firstly there is no bond. I am nothing more than an unconquered challenge to you; a damaged mind that you failed to infiltrate and control. You’ve tried by using my brother, my mother, my father. Who’s next? Cos I’m sure I have a half cousin twice removed somewhere if you fancy a crack at that one. And secondly, why would I think you’d give away anything for free, when having the knowledge and keeping it to yourself gives you way more enjoyment than anything I could offer?’

‘Half an hour in your head and the information is yours.’

This time Kim’s head rolled back as her laughter exploded. It was genuine and Kim had to wonder how it was that her best laugh of the day had come from Alexandra Thorne.