Page 147 of Never Tell Lies

That’s really creepy, you know that? Where the hell are you?

I hadn’t heard from him all day and that bothered me more than I liked. Besides being terrified about this meeting, I’d spent a lot of the day trying not to picture him and Angie fucking in a Parisian penthouse.

I’m in the sky.

A.

I looked up which was stupid because of course all I saw was clear skies.

Okay, Batman. How come I don’t get one of those GPS things?I sent back and once again his reply was immediate.

Because I’m Batman. What are you doing at Harrington?

A.

I snorted at his response. Alfie had a serious talent for getting around things he didn’t want to talk about. Or maybe I was developing a serious talent for letting him.

I’m showing my final plans to Riley. Leave me alone. I’m working.With a decisive huff I put my phone in my bag, got out of my van, and headed for Harrington. My phone buzzed again and I pulled it out as I climbed the steps.

Breathe.

A.

Breathe? He wanted me to breathe? Did he have any idea how nervous I was?

Are you breathing?

A.

I let out a huff as I stepped inside and crossed the foyer, my block heel boots making a sharp sound on the tile as I walked.

Yes, Alfie, I’m breathing. I’ve been doing it for 23 years, thank you,I typed as I tried to remember exactly how to get the roof. I’d only been there once and at the time I’d been a little distracted by a certain someone so I hadn’t paid much attention to the route. My phone buzzed again.

You’re cute when you’re nervous.

A.

I paused at the top of the stairs to type. If I didn’t pay attention to where I was going I was going to get lost in this labyrinth very quickly.

Shut up. And what did you mean you’re in the sky?

I sent off the text and looked left and right. Each direction looked identical and unfamiliar, so much work had been done since I’d last been here. I was pretty sure we’d gone right last time…

Helicopter. Just leaving Paris. I’ll see you tonight.

A.

A layer of relief fell over me. He was coming back. I checked the time and winced. I was going to be late. I set off down the corridor on the right, hoping I would see something I recognised.

Maybe I have plans tonight.I replied. I stopped at the end of the corridor and looked around. Left or right? I didn’t know, but my muscle memory wanted to go left, so I went left. This corridor was sparser than the last. Dust sheets hung from the ceiling and the sounds of workmen grew louder. I took another left and there, at the end of the hall, was the‘restricted access’door that I remembered from my first visit here. I checked the time again. I had one minute. My phone buzzed again as I dashed down the corridor.

If you do have plans then you’re about to cancel them.

I need to see you.

A.

He needed me. Once again I pictured him with that deadened, blank expression on his face. I shook those thoughts away. I couldn’t deal with them right now. I pushed open the door to the stairwell, switched off my phone, and headed into the most important meeting of my career.

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