Page 96 of Final Betrayal

‘Why aren’t you down at the courthouse then? That’s where the story is.’

‘I’ve done all I can there. I got a quote from your superintendent and the chief fire officer. One from you would be great, seeing as you were caught up in the middle of it all.’

‘No comment.’

‘I’m sick of that line.’

Lottie ground the cigarette out under her boot and realised how torn and bloody her clothes were. ‘Maybe I will take that lift home if the offer still stands.’

Cynthia straightened her spectacles. ‘Okay. But I still want a quote.’

‘How about this – I feel like shit and I need a shower?’

This hotel was not one of his usual haunts. Kirby liked to be surrounded by familiar things and people. Familiarity suited him. Most of the time. He supposed he was a little old-fashioned like that. The ambience here was too modern, too clean, too comfortable. And too noisy. Give me Cafferty’s any day, he thought as he ordered a pint of Guinness and added a shot of whiskey.

When he had downed the whiskey and paid for the drinks, he headed to a corner booth with a direct line of sight to the door. Then he realised there were two entrances. By the time Megan arrived, he’d have a crick in his neck.

She walked in twenty minutes later on the dot. He rose clumsily to take her coat.

‘I’ll keep it on, if you don’t mind. It’s a bit chilly.’ She kept a hand on the buttoned-up tweed.

Kirby noticed that she had no handbag. She looked like she was about to run out on him. He felt nervous, though he had no reason to be.

‘What will you have to drink?’ he said.

‘I told you to order me an Irish coffee.’

He’d forgotten. He felt the heat rise up his cheeks and he almost stumbled down the two steps from the booth. Her tone had been sharp, and suddenly he wished he hadn’t sought her out. It was calmness he needed after the madness of the day’s events. He was certain Megan was not going to provide it, but he ordered the drink anyway.

Sitting on the chair opposite her, he felt overweight and ugly. His hair needed cutting and his clothes needed changing, but on the other hand, she looked as haggard as he did.

‘What was your day off like?’ Small talk didn’t come easy any more. He’d have to learn to socialise again.

‘Pretty shit, to tell you the truth,’ she said. ‘I heard about the accident. Terrible altogether.’

‘My boss and a colleague were caught up in it. They’re both in hospital.’

‘Oh God. That’s awful. Will they be okay?’

‘I don’t know. I have to check.’ Kirby felt as if he was all over the place. Maybe now wasn’t the time to take out his phone to call his boss.

‘Who are they?’ Megan said.

‘My inspector, Lottie Parker, and Sergeant Mark Boyd. They’re two of the good guys.’

‘Are you one of the bad ones?’

Her voice was hard, and Kirby wondered why he’d ever thought her company would be good for him. As her drink arrived, he was deciding how he could escape.

‘I’m whatever people want me to be,’ he said. ‘I don’t really care. I do my job to the best of my ability.’

‘I didn’t mean to imply you were not one of the best. Sorry. I’m just a little down since Amy’s death, and not great company at the moment. Maybe I should leave.’

‘Not at all. I think I’m a bit shook up myself after seeing the carnage at the courthouse.’ His pint tasted sour, or maybe it was just the bile in his stomach. She had gulped down half of her drink already.

‘On the news, they said there may be more bodies buried beneath the rubble. Something about tunnels under the courthouse that might have caused the crane to collapse. Is that true?’

‘About the bodies or the tunnels?’

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