Page 137 of Three for a Girl

Keeley arranged her papers on the desk into a neat stack, but her cheeks reddened.

“I mean don’t actually fuck the therapist, that would slow you down even more, unless you’re a quick finisher.”

Chad’s face filled with heat. “Ally…”

“Yeah, sorry, but I need my partner here.”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Now. That’s an order.”

She hung up and Chad slipped the phone back into his pocket. “Do you mind if we reschedule?”

Keeley nodded. “It sounds important.”

“It is,” he said, getting to his feet.

Chad got to the door, but Keeley cleared her throat and he glanced back.

“Ally Coulson?”

“That’s right.” He frowned. “You know her?”

“I didn’t realize she’d gone back to work. She used to be one of my patients.”

“She never said.”

Keeley looked away. “No, I don’t suppose she did.”

Her troubled look didn’t lessen, and she fiddled with her pen in her hands. She noticed Chad still there, and laughed, dropping the pen.

“Same time next week.”

She got to her feet, and ushered him out.

He nodded before passing through the door. She clicked it shut behind him and he stood there, frowning until his phone buzzed again.

Now Chad!

****

The gates of the abandoned military base were wide open, two forensic officers were taking photographs of the padlock in the grass. Chad approached slowly, hoping to overhear them, but one of them looked up and noticed him watching.

“Protective clothing over there.”

He nodded and moved to dress into the white suit. He snapped gloves on, lifted his hood, and hooked his face mask behind his ears.

“DI Sharpe and DS Coulson?”

The officer straightened, and pointed into the distance. “It’s hard to see, but there’s a building just there.”

Chad squinted. “Yeah, I think I can see it.”

“Head that way then follow the smell.”

“Thanks for your help.”

There were officers in the long grass, marching forward in a slow line, scouring the land for clues. Chad’s heart drummed, and he checked the officers behind him weren’t watching. He was halfway down the road, no officers around him or paying him any attention.

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