Page 56 of Nothing But the Night (Basic Instincts 2)

Jason collapsed in a heap as relief, pain and exhaustion overwhelmed him.

Chapter Twenty

An Unlikely Partnership

If Marc had given any thought to how it would be the first time Jason came to his house, he would never have imagined it would involve two police officers and take place in the aftermath of another murder attempt.

It was the morning after Marc discovered Tyrone Lucas’ body on the bank of the river, and the near fatal attack on Jason at his office. When they had finally been released by the police last night, Marc had considered it safer to get out of the city and retreat to his house on the coast.

They were in the living room. Jason sat in the armchair with his injured leg raised on a foot stool. His eyes were deep-set and dark. His usually lustrous skin was wan and pasty. Marc knew he’d got very little sleep last night, despite the increased strength painkillers he’d been supplied with at the hospital. He was dressed in a pair of Marc’s lounge pants and a loose T-shirt. They hadn’t been back to Jason’s apartment to collect any of his things.

Marc’s parents were on the sofa. He was heartened by his mother’s strength and determination. After what had happened to Theo, he’d half expected her to fall apart at the latest developments. She’d been more shocked that Marc had concealed the facts of Friday’s car crash from her. She’d seen it on the local news and had no idea it had involved her son.

Marc sat in the chair across from Jason. His plastered arm rested in a sling.

He had met DS Benito Coppola before. The young detective was accompanied by the senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Carina Glenister. She was a sharply dressed woman in her forties. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight ponytail.

They were perched on chairs carried in from the dining room.

Benito had made tea for them all before the DI got to business.

“I wanted to keep you up to date with what’s happening in the investigation,” the DI said.

Marc had already taken against her. She had an officious manner and insincere way of speaking. He’d met a million people like her in his business dealings. The corporate manager type who valved their own career ascension above everything else. There was no humanity to her tone. The caring attitude was forced and learnt more than felt.

“As of this morning, we are linking the murders of Dan Blumel and Tyrone Lucas, together with the attempts on your own lives, and with the unsolved death of Theo.”

“Murder,” Marc’s mother corrected her. “It’s not an unsolved death. It’s an unsolved murder.”

Marc caught the tightening around DI Glenister’s eyes, before she sucked her lips and nodded sympathetically. This was not a woman who liked to be challenged. He wondered how many junior officers’ lives had been made a misery on her route to the top.

“It’s all part of one investigation,” she continued. “DS Coppola has joined the major investigation team as part of our expansion. We’ve got a lot of officers working on the case now.”

“As you should,” Marc said. “Blyham police have let down the city once again.”

Jason nodded. “Not to mention the LGBTQ community. Only weeks after the Blyham Strangler and you’ve got another killer targeting victims who have one thing in common—they’re all gay men. Is that why you’ve drafted in Benito? Use your token gay cop to make a good impression.”

Despite how tired and weary he felt, Marc couldn’t help a small smile at Jason’s opposition to the DI. He was entirely right. The city police force hadn’t learnt a thing from the mistakes they had made during the Strangler murders.

“I can assure you that’s not true,” Benito said. “I’m joining the team because I want to find who is responsible for these attacks before they cause any more harm. The police force isn’t perfect, but with scant resources, we do everything we can to protect the public.”

“Excuses,” Marc’s mother muttered. “Do you expect all victims of crime to resort to the measures Marc has done? To hire a real detective to get to the truth.”

DI Glenister looked at Marc and then Jason without moving her head. “About that. Yes. I’m going to need to see all of your notes relating to the case.”

“I’ve already told you everything I’ve learnt. I found out more in a week and half than you lot discovered in three months.”

“With respect, Mr Durham, it can be argued that your investigation has led to the death of two young men and the attempts on your own life.”

Jason laughed at her. “Doesn’t take much for your mask of concern to slip, does it? There we have it—the real face of Blyham police. Is victim blaming an active policy within the force these days?”

“I assure you that’s not what I’m saying.” DI Glenister tried to adopt a confident tone, but it was clear that she was rattled. “But policing is best left to the experts.”

Now everyone in the room but the detectives laughed.

Glenister’s cheeks flushed. She looked to Benito for help, who stared into his tea mug, ignoring her.

“Is that everything?” Marc said at last. “You told us you’d come to update us. Is that it? You’ve reopened the investigation into Theo’s murder?”

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