Page 56 of Between the Lies

She pointed to the law office’s logo. ‘I had an appointment with them, yes, to understand the legalities of immigration law. I had no reason to believe they were involved in any manner with sham marriages – the topic of my article. And this lead you mentioned – I didn’t know their name, their gender or who they were. They contacted me via phone, the voice modified.’

‘And you agreed to meet such a lead in a building like that?’ the crony butted in. ‘That’s hardly safe.’

Nina rolled her eyes. ‘As I said, I’ve been an investigative journalist long enough to know who’s faking it and who’s genuine. The person on the line knew facts, names and key information someone on the outside wouldn’t. My camera guy was spooked and refused to come with me. I wasn’t expecting the lead to want to appear on camera anyway. But then Jonas showed up after all.’

‘And made a mess of your little meeting?’ Dickheadson narrowed his eyes.

Nina shook her head. ‘It was a surprise to see him there, but I certainly didn’t want him dead because of it. And you still haven’t proved I did it.’

Dickheadson let out a curse then shared a look with his crony. The crony gathered up all their papers back into the file and sighed.

When the lawyer just sat there, mum, Nina elbowed him in the side. ‘Tell them to let me go!’ she muttered.

‘Aye.’ He cleared his throat. ‘If that is all you’ve got, it isn’t sufficient to prove Ms Banerjee committed the crimes you’re accusing her of…’

Thirty minutes later, Nina was outside, breathing the fresh air, her lawyer fired and a sour Dickheadson shooting her an ‘I’ll get you next time’ glare. Fuck them.

Nina didn’t care. She was free.

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

‘You cannae sit there with a long face.’ Joshua sat back in his chair, arms crossed.

Beside him, Cheryl nodded. ‘You got what you wanted.’

Robert sighed. He had got what he’d wanted. Hell, he’d watched Nina be led away in handcuffs, heard Dickheadson recite her rights. It should’ve tasted of victory, but like that French press scattered across the kitchen floor, his heart was still broken.

Dickheadson had summoned him to the office to ask him about his involvement with Nina. Cheryl had found him a lawyer who’d argued that Robert was a grieving widower Nina had conned into believing her lies. The lawyer had been forceful, and Robert had ended up getting a further suspension that could end in him being fired. It was no more than he deserved. He’d helped a murderer, one who’d confessed her crime to him. And instead of turning her in, he’d slept with her.

What kind of a sick eejit slept with their wife’s killer?

That one thought burned his gut, like it should have last night when he’d caressed and kissed the length of her.

He lifted the tall glass of Guinness and drained it.

‘Now that’s what I’m talking about.’ Joshua grinned. ‘What did Dickheadson say?’

Robert didn’t want to rehash that interview. The entire time the lawyer had been blaming Nina, Robert had felt himself shrivel. He hadn’t protected Anne. And now he was hammering the nail further into Nina’s coffin. For murder.

Cheryl’s hand landed on his. ‘Robert, are you okay?’

‘I’m good.’

Cheryl shared a look with Joshua then said, ‘You know when you’ve been studying hard for an exam and then it’s exam day and you’ve completed it. The entire build-up to it is so stressful, you end up feeling tired afterwards. Like there’s nothing else left to do. You’ve been wanting to find the truth behind Anne’s death for so long. And now you have. It’s bound to feel strange.’

Robert snatched his hand away from Cheryl’s then studied his fingers. He could still feel Nina’s hand gripping his, that steady hold so tangible… and alluring. Cheryl was right. He should feel relief not bereft.

Was it because Dickheadson had been the one to take Nina away?

‘Robert.’ Joshua leaned in. ‘Did you hear anything Cheryl said?’

‘I’m fine,’ he retorted. But they all knew the reply was a knee-jerk reaction.

Joshua shook his head. ‘You’re grieving.’

For fuck’s sake! Robert shut his eyes, wanting so hard to bottle it up or to combust trying. But they were sitting in the Counting House, shouting to be heard. The same pub he’d spent hours chatting and drinking with Nina. The same place Shah had come after her.

His fist smacked against the wooden table, rattling their cluster of empty glasses. The clang was so loud, it caused the conversation around them to cut out. ‘I am not grieving. I do not feel sad, remorseful or fucking bereft. I… I… For fuck’s sake!’ He jumped off the stool and flipped his friends the bird. ‘See yous later.’

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