Page 3 of Twisted Lies

‘Okay, have it your own way, but I’m not going to be nice to her and she’s not getting to sit up front.’

She headed towards the door and then turned back.

She reached over and grabbed the stress ball.

‘And you can bet your ass I’m gonna need this.’

Two

‘We’re doing what?’ Bryant asked as she shared the good news back in the squad room.

‘Taking a reporter for a day trip.’

‘But why that particular reporter?’ he asked of Tracy Frost.

‘Because we owe her apparently.’

He thought for a second and then nodded either his understanding or his agreement.

Oh, there were times she wished she could be a bit more like Bryant. Her level-headed and pragmatic partner had the ability to adjust to a new situation quickly, but inside she was still seething from having Tracy Frost foisted upon them.

‘And I caught that look,’ she said to the other two members of her team.

Both DC Stacey Wood and DS Penn knew of the thorny relationship between herself and the reporter.

‘Not sure what you’re looking so smug about; you two are taking her for lunch.’

If they made it as far as lunchtime without her murdering the woman, she was pretty sure both she and Bryant would need the break.

‘No probs, boss,’ Stacey said, offering the bright smile that had been glued to her face since her recent nuptials.

Kim got the feeling she could throw anything at Stacey right now and it would bounce right off her. The thought reminded her of the long overdue conversation she’d been meaning to have.

‘Stace, remind me later, once we get rid of Frost, that you and I need to have a quick chat.’

A soft cloud crossed the bright horizon of the officer’s expression.

‘Nothing wrong,’ she quickly reassured her colleague. Despite her growing ability and self-confidence over the years, Stacey still worried that she’d made some kind of mistake.

‘Okay, Bryant, we’re up,’ Kim said as a movement out the window caught her eye. Frost’s white Audi TT had just pulled into a visitor’s parking space.

‘Already looking forward to it,’ he said, grabbing his coat from the back of his chair.

She grabbed hers as they passed the spare desk.

‘So how are you going to convince this family that we’re going to get a conviction this time?’ her colleague asked as they headed down the stairs.

‘I’ll let you know when the words come out my mouth,’ she answered honestly.

‘Even my missus said it was difficult to believe he’d done it after reading one of the latest articles.’

‘Then we’d best be glad your missus isn’t on the jury next week.’

But that was the problem. Jenny Bryant was one of the most objective and decent people Kim had ever come across. If even she doubted his guilt, it did not bode well for the forthcoming trial.

One problem at a time, she resolved, stepping out of the front door of the station.

Frost hastily threw a half-smoked cigarette to the ground and stamped on it, right beside the ‘No Smoking’ sign.