Page 27 of Stolen Ones

‘Well, it’s been great catching up but I’m gonna hang—’

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Kim. Not least for the fact that it’ll continue to drive you mad wondering why I want to speak to you.’

Alex was already enjoying herself immensely. There was no person in the world she enjoyed interacting with more.

‘I’ll get over it, as I’m pretty sure you have nothing to say that will enrich my life.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t be too sure about that.’

‘Déjà vu. We’ve been here before. Don’t you have any new schemes in your playbook? I expected more creativity from someone as diabolically evil as you.’

And there it was. So quickly they reverted to the pattern of their relationship. An ongoing battle with minor triumphs along the way. The battles hadn’t always been psychological. Kim could still easily recall the time they had fought physically at the side of the canal for the life of a very special autistic young man named Dougie who had known what Alex was before anyone else. Kim had won and Dougie had lived. But as with their other battles, it had been close.

‘What if I told you I had the power to change your life forever?’

‘I’d say there you go bigging yourself up again. Isn’t grandiosity a staple of your average sociopath? And let’s be honest, as far as sociopaths go, you are very average.’

Oh, the inspector was in good form tonight but she knew her subject well.

‘Someone backed you into a corner, Inspector? Your worse than usual mood indicates that someone is not toeing the line.’

‘Fuck off, Alex,’ she spat, awarding that point to her.

‘I’m happy to listen. That’s what friends are for.’

‘You are neither my friend nor my therapist, thank God, and there’s nothing I’d wish to share with you.’

‘How about just a moment of your time in exchange for valuable information?’

‘Okay, time starts now.’

‘Oh, no, Kim. If only it was that easy,’ Alex said. ‘I mean in the flesh. I’d like you to visit so we can talk face to—’

‘Not happening. You’ve had two attempts at me and both times you’ve failed. What could possibly make you think I’d go again?’

‘Because you know I don’t lie.’

Kim’s genuine laughter met her ears. It was a sound she enjoyed regardless of the reason.

‘Alex, you’re a sociopath. You have to be a pathological liar to keep your membership.’

Good point, Alex conceded to herself. ‘But I never actually lie to you.’

Silence.

‘You know that the information I hold is truly significant and really does have the power to change your life. Knowing that will be a brick in your shoe until you know what it is.’

‘I’m not playing—’

‘Come any day. I’ll clear my schedule, and I look forward to our mutually beneficial chat.’

Alex ended the call before Kim had chance to respond.

She felt confident that she had laid the bait.

Her old adversary would come.

Sixteen