Page 99 of The Girl in the Woods

The chief lifted his eyebrows. ‘Oxfordshire? Why not London? If it’s the action you want.’

‘That’s a big jump, sir.’

He nodded in agreement. ‘Let me look into it.’

‘I got tired of breaking up riots at football matches,’ she told Beth.

Beth looked at Ana over the rim of her glass. ‘Was that the only reason?’

Ana’s eyes met Beth’s. ‘Yes,’ she said, perceiving from the look in Beth’s eyes that she didn’t believe her.

‘Oh, I meant to ask you.’ Beth took a handful of peanuts from the dish on the table. ‘Any luck with the car investigation?’

It was said so casually that Ana was annoyed that she blushed. She considered her words carefully. ‘Not really. I’ve reached a dead end,’ she lied. ‘Talking of cars. I really need a new one. Mine’s had it. You’ve got a Clio, haven’t you? How do you find them?’

The sudden change of subject took Beth by surprise. ‘Erm, it’s okay. I miss my old Golf. That was an excellent little car, but the last MOT cost me so much that it seemed sensible to get a new one.’

Ana studied Beth, looking for any signs of discomfort or wariness, but there was nothing. Either that or she was hiding it well.

‘I’d like a Golf,’ said Ana, wishing her head would stop aching. ‘How did you sell yours? I don’t want to get fiddled.’

Beth was looking a bit bemused now. ‘It was scrapped.’

Ana nodded. Beth’s eyes on her were making her uncomfortable, and she sipped on her tonic water. ‘So you’ve learnt the car that hit Vanessa was a Golf, have you?’

Ana almost choked on her drink.

Beth smiled. ‘You’re very bright, Ana, but I’m far from stupid. If I had hit Vanessa, I would have owned up to it. If you’d done your homework, you would have discovered I was on a firearms course in Leeds that day, so I took the train.’

Ana could have kicked herself. The pub door opened, and several people strolled in laughing. Ana was grateful for the short reprieve. But unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

‘I think it’s time you dropped the case,’ said Beth.

Ana nodded, feeling stupid. Why hadn’t she checked out Beth’s movements? It should have been the first thing she’d done.

‘I’m sorry. You’re right,’ Ana said, pushing back her chair. ‘I hope you don’t mind, but I have a terrible headache. I think I ought to go home.’

Beth stood up. ‘Of course, let me see you to your car. You don’t look good at all.’

Ana acquiescedand apologised again.

‘Don’t worry,’ Beth assured her. ‘At least you were thorough,’ she hugged Ana reassuringly. ‘By the way, my sister, Sandy, and her husband have invited you for dinner. They regularly do this when new staff members arrive. I think they’re just bloody nosy, to be honest. I’ll send you the date, see if it suits you.’

Ana forced a smile. ‘Thank you, that would be nice.’

Ana was about to get into her car when Lisa Carpenter called out to them. She was strolling along the street in a thin summer dress, and Ana could see her nipples standing out through it. With her were two other women, whom Ana surmised were her friends, all dressed similarly. The potent smell of their perfumes made Ana’s head throb more.

‘We’re having a girlie night. Why don’t you join us,’ enthused Lisa, trying to slip her hand through Beth’s arm. Ana noticed the other two girls didn’t seem keen on having two coppers on their ‘girlie’ night out.

‘Work tomorrow,’ Beth said, with a fake smile. ‘Ana’s not feeling too well, but thanks, maybe another time.’

Lisa shrugged.

By this time, Ana was already in her car, where the perfume still seemed to permeate. She opened the window, allowing a further wave of perfumed air into the car.

‘I’ll give you a lift,’ she said to Beth.

With humour in her voice, Beth climbed in and said, ‘This car seems okay to me.’

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