Page 94 of Not That Impossible

“Jasper,” she said with a weary sigh, “I’ve told you before, call me Karen. I haven’t been your teacher for quite a while now.”

“That’s okay,” I said. “I like to be respectful to my elders.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Very bitchy,” she said. “I approve.”

“Cool.”

We stared at each other for another moment before she said, “You think he’s involved? Underwood?”

“It crossed my mind. But, honestly, I can’t see it. Have you met Ray?”

“No,” she said. “He refused to talk to me. Why, have you met him?”

“Not, like, to talk to? Either? I did call him the once, but he told me not to bother him again. I do know him in a secondhand kind of way?”

“Oh, yes? What are your impressions of him?” She tilted her head.

“Well,” I said, thinking. “He’s a nice guy. Sweet. Very pretty. Tense, though. Could probably stand to do some yoga.” I was also so jealous of him I could barely see straight. She didn’t need to know that.

Her eyes crinkled at the corners. “He does have a certain charm, doesn’t he? Not the killing type, in your opinion?”

“Nah.” Maybe?

“You don’t think perhaps he’stoosweet? The pretty ones get away with a lot, you know. It could be the perfect front.”

“It could…” I said slowly.

“Food for thought,” she said. “Perhaps you could write a nice article about it some time.”

“I’m here to cover the breaking news.”

“Oh dear,” she said. “That’s why I’m here. You must be the backup.”

I scowled.

“Excuse me.” Mrs Strickland sauntered over the road, heading for Liam.

Good luck, I thought, and then my jaw dropped when Liam went to meet her as she stood politely by the line of police tape. He angled his head down, listening.

What?

What was happening?

I speed walked over the road, making a beeline for Liam.

He must have seen me coming in his peripheral vision. It was hard to miss me in my bright pink t-shirt. He said something to Mrs Strickland, gestured at his partner, whom I had since learned was Detective Sergeant Patel, and walked toward the house.

“Liam!” His name burst out of me before I could stop it. “Detective Nash.”

He hesitated and turned back. Shooting a professional smile over at Mrs Strickland, who was getting impressively stone-faced by DS Patel, he tipped his head to the side, indicating I follow him along the line of police tape.

“DetectiveChief InspectorNash,” he said.

I nodded. I knew that. I also knew it pissed him off when I didn’t use hisfulltitle, which was why I did it every time I saw him. Yes, it was juvenile. No, I didn’t care.

He came to an abrupt stop and turned to face me.

We were on opposite sides of the police tape. I flipped open my notebook and clicked my pen. For some reason, I was having trouble meeting Liam’s gaze. I swallowed hard.

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