Page 120 of A Game of Lies

‘Sunday?’

The hints weren’t working. Leo briefly contemplated giving an alternative reason – he was gay, he’d met someone, he had a terminal illness – before opting for the truth. ‘Gayle, I don’t want to see you again. I’m sorry,’ he added.

‘At all?’

Leo took a deep breath. ‘At all.’

There was a long and painful pause, before Gayle said, ‘Well, why didn’t you say so?’

Why indeed? Leo thought, as they ended the call.

Henry had appeared at Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he’d indicated that he intended to enter a guilty plea to murder and attempted murder. He was remanded in custody, awaiting sentencing at a Crown Court. At Angharad’s insistence – and because the CPS considered it would not be in the public interest to prosecute – all charges against Ryan Francis have been dropped. Ryan is recovering as a voluntary inpatient in a private psychiatric unit, paid for by the income generated by the viewer calls toExposure. An investigation into Ceri’s thefts is being carried out internally by Royal Mail, who will subsequently decide whether to refer the investigation to the police.

Leo re-reads the reply he’s just typed. DCI Boccacci’s email was brief but flattering. Would Leo consider a transfer? North Wales Major Crime Unit is based in Bryndare, but several officers work flexibly from other stations. There are excellent career prospects.

Leo pressessend. His response is longer and more detailed, but the sentiment is succinct.

Thank you. But no.

Some of the lads from the office are meeting up for a pint tonight, and Leo will probably join them, but the hours in between seem endless. He makes himself a coffee he doesn’t want. Maybe he should get himself a hobby. What do middle-aged men do with their days off, if they don’t want to squeeze themselves into Lycra and spend six months’ salary on a bike? Leo has promised Harris they’ll go paddle-boarding this summer, so perhaps he’ll take a drive to Cwm Coed and line up a hire for next weekend.

Maybe bump into Ffion, says the voice in his head. Leo ignores it. Mirror Lake is the best place for water sports within driving distance, it has nothing to do with Ffion Morgan. He puts milk in his coffee and stirs more vigorously than is necessary.

Ffion hasn’t been in touch.

Leo hasn’t messaged her – he’s not going down that road again – and he has deleted her number once again. Ffion is incredible. She makes him feel alive in a way no one but his son has ever done. But she’s also infuriating, impossible to read, and totally …

The doorbell rings, and Leo takes his coffee with him to open the door.

… totally unpredictable.

‘Are you busy?’ Ffion says. Dave’s with her, his lead wound tightly around Ffion’s hand.

Leo considers the question. ‘Pretty busy. Why?’

‘I’m …’ Ffion takes a breath. ‘I’m not good at messaging people.’

‘No shit,’ Leo says mildly. He watches Ffion pick at the cracked paint on the doorframe. He’s been meaning to rub it down and repaint it. He could do it this weekend, he supposes, before work takes over again.

‘I overthink things.’ A flake of red paint floats to the ground. ‘I write a message, then I delete it, then I write it again and delete it again and …’ Ffion frowns at the doorframe, levering off a larger slice of paint. Underneath, the woodwork is a garish lime green. Leo’s hands twitch.

‘Um, would you mind not—’

‘I thought it would be easier in person.’

Leo stands very still. Ffion’s still frowning, and Leo realises she’s about to draw a line under whatever it is that’s been simmering beneath the surface. She couldn’t find the right words to break it to him by text; feels she owes it to him to tell him face to face.

‘But it isn’t.’ Ffion screws her eyes shut, then opens them and looks directly at him. ‘What’s wrong with me, Leo?’

‘Nothing’s wrong with you, Ffi.’ Leo has an ache in his chest.

‘I can’t say it.’

‘Say what?’ Leo is definitely going to meet his mates for a pint tonight. In fact, he’s going to get blind drunk, in a way he rarely does.

‘I took some leave.’

‘You came here to tell me you’re on leave?’

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