Page 62 of Nothing But the Night (Basic Instincts 2)

“It’s something we should have done a long time ago,” Ryman said, showing Jason how the system worked. “There’s also a camera on the front door and street, so we can check there’s nobody lurking outside before we leave.”

A week ago, Jason would have scoffed at these precautions. Not anymore. “I can’t believe how quickly you’ve managed to do all this.”

“A friend of mine from the rugby club runs the security company. He’s been going on at me for years to take this up. When I told him what happened to you he agreed to work over the weekend to make sure we were set up for the start of business Monday.”

“I’m very grateful. Really.”

“Fuck that,” Ryman said with good humour. “We almost lost you. Again,” he added. “No more precautions. I’m putting a pause on all our other work, until this fucker is caught. Now come on, bring me up to speed.”

They spent the morning in Jason’s office, going over the case so far. He’d wondered how Ryman would handle the details of the gay sex work. He was a positive, open-minded guy, but some of the details of what Theo, Tyrone and Dan had been involved in, were out there. Jason had been shocked by some of it himself. Ryman was a complete professional, listening with compassion and empathy. His questions were all about the murders with no judgement on the victims. Jason felt guilty for thinking he would ever be phased by this.

The killings were the important factor. Not the details of the victims’ sex lives or careers.

Olivia interrupted them around midday. “There’s a woman outside. She doesn’t have an appointment, but she says she knows you.”

“Who is she?” Jason asked.

“Nadine Smith.”

“Smythe,” he corrected. “You’d better let her in.”

Olivia pulled a sour face. “Do you really know her?”

“We’re not friends, let’s put it that way. But she’s okay.”

“She’s a stuck-up bitch,” Olivia muttered as she left the room.

Ryman cocked an eyebrow. “The journalist?”

He nodded. “She’s agreed to help us. She said she would drop by and share what she has found out too.”

Nadine strode in a minute later without knocking. She looked like she was made up for an appearance on morning TV, with a full face of make-up, big hair and shoulder pads. She shook off her umbrella and tossedit on the floor beside the door. “Does it rain all the time in this frigging city?”

“No. It only feels that way.” Ryman introduced himself. They didn’t shake hands.

Nadine plonked her oversized handbag on the desk and extracted a laptop. “Come on then, fellas. Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”

Jason laughed. He would hate to be on the wrong side of Nadine’s story, but he was beginning to warm to her.

“What do you know about Blake Remar?” Jason asked.

She perched on the edge of the desk. “Why?”

“He’s a photographer who worked with all of the victims.”

“Even you?” she asked with a vampy purse of the lips.

“I’m not a victim.”

“Yet,” she said. “The way things are going, that might be just a matter of time. Tell me about this guy.”

“He was Theo’s regular cameraman until they had some kind of falling out. It sounds like Blake got possessive and Theo didn’t appreciate it. I’ve spoken to him on the phone, but he wouldn’t talk. We need to get him to open up. He knows something he’s not telling.”

“And you think he’s our guy?”

“Right now, he’s just a person of interest. But it’s a lot of interest.”

Nadine’s eyes sparked with delight. She reached back into the massive bag and pulled out her phone. “So, what’s his number? I’m the queen of confessions. If he’s got something to hide, I’ll get it out of him.”

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