‘I understand.’

He sighed heavily. ‘The only thing saving your skin right now is that your gut was right and the focus will now change to damage limitation.’

Kim nodded.

‘However, at this point I am no longer convinced that you are the right person to lead this investigation.’

She sat forward. ‘But, Sir, you can’t ...’

‘Oh yes I can and at the moment I am seriously considering your removal from this case.’

Kim closed her mouth for a second. Her next words would be important. She decided on total honesty.

Her voice was low. ‘Sir, you’ve seen my file. You’re aware of my past, so you have to know there is no one better to head this case.’

‘That’s as maybe but I need to rely on someone who can follow instructions. If the bones found today are those of a child within the care of social services this case will explode in the media. There will be many individuals trying to distance themselves and I will not give anyone a legal loophole caused by a member of my own team.’

Kim knew he was right. But she also knew she was the right person for the job.

‘Now, I suggest you and Bryant get off home and clean yourselves up. You’ll have my decision in the morning.’

Kim knew when she was being dismissed and she counted her lucky stars that she’d escaped a full disciplinary.

‘You know, Kim ...’ he said as she reached the door. Damn, she hated it when Woody called her by her first name.

She turned.

He removed his glasses and met her gaze. ‘One of these times your gut is going to be wrong and you will have to face the consequences and that is your choice. But you need to consider those around you. Your team has great respect for you and will follow you into any situation to protect you and gain your approval.’

Kim swallowed. She knew he was talking about one team member in particular.

‘And when the day comes that your reckless actions endanger the career or even the life of those around you, it won’t be me or even the police force to which you will have to answer.’

Kim felt the rising nausea that had nothing to do with an empty stomach; as she closed the door behind her she found herself wishing for the disciplinary.

The one thing about Woody was that he sure knew how to hit her where it hurt.

Twenty-Two

The doorbell sounded and Kim didn’t even ask who was at the door as she undid the chain. It would be Bryant and he would have Chinese.

‘The chow mein fairy has entered the building.’

‘You can only stay if there are prawn crackers.’ It wasn’t a joke.

Bryant removed his outer jacket to display a polo shirt and jeans.

‘Love what you’ve done with the place.’

Kim ignored him. He said the same thing every time he came. To others, her house appeared sparse of personality and adornment. She didn’t enjoy personal embellishments. If she chose to move tomorrow she’d need a dozen bin liners and a couple of hours and she’d be ready to roll. Her years in the care system had taught her well.

She served up the beef noodles and egg fried rice. Two thirds for Bryant, one third for her. She passed the plate to him. He took one sofa and she took the other.

She put a forkful of food in her mouth and tried to ignore the disappointment. The theory of food was far more exciting than the practice of eating it. In her mouth it turned into a source of fuel; energy. She pushed in a few more forkfuls and put the plate down.

‘Jeez, slow down, you nearly filled a hollow tooth there.’

‘I’ve had enough.’

‘You make a sparrow look like a greedy bastard. You need to eat more, Guv.’

Kim shot him a look. Here in her home she was not Detective Inspector and he was not her subordinate. He was just Bryant; the closest thing to a friend she had.

He rolled his eyes. ‘Yeah, sorry.’

‘And stop fussing. I’m a big girl.’

She took her plate to the kitchen and made a fresh pot of coffee.

‘So, tell me, I bring you a handsome, affable man and food you don’t eat. Remind me again what I’m getting out of this relationship?’

‘My dazzling company,’ she deadpanned. She was nothing if not self-aware.

Bryant laughed. ‘Hmm ... I’ll just leave that hanging without comment ‘cos you might be Kim now but eventually you’ll be Guv again.’ He finished eating and brought his empty plate to the kitchen. ‘No, I had something else in mind.’

‘Like what?’

‘A date.’

‘With you?’

He guffawed. ‘You wish.’

Kim laughed out loud.

‘You know, that’s a great sound. You should do it more often.’

Kim knew what was coming. ‘The answer is no.’

‘You don’t even know who.’

‘Oh yes I do,’ she offered, in pantomime fashion. She’d caught a glimpse of Peter Grant as she’d headed out of the station. As a prosecutor with the CPS their paths still crossed but she had avoided a full conversation since the break-up.

Bryant sighed. ‘Come on, Kim. Give him a chance. He’s miserable without you. And you’re even more miserable without him.’

Kim weighed it up and answered honestly. ‘No, I’m really not.’

‘He loves you.’

Kim shrugged.

‘And you were different when the two of you were together. I wouldn’t say happy but perhaps more tolerable.’

‘I’m happier now.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

Kim poured coffee for both of them and they returned to the lounge.

‘Look, Kim, I’m sure he’s sorry for whatever he did wrong.’

Kim doubted that; because the truth was, Pete hadn’t done anything wrong. It was her. It was always her.

‘Bryant, how long had Peter and I been seeing each other?’

‘Almost a year.’

‘And how many times do you think he stayed over?’

‘Quite a few.’

‘Yep, and do you want to know what lead to that final argument?’

‘If you wanna share.’

‘Only so you’ll get off my back. I finished it because one morning he didn’t take his toothbrush with him.’

‘Are you kidding?’

Kim shook her head, remembering the day when he’d left for work and she’d gone into the bathroom to see it there, brazenly lying next to hers. No crime scene had ever induced that level of horror.

‘I realised that if I’m not prepared to share a toothbrush glass, I’m not prepared to share much of anything else.’

‘But surely you could have worked it out.’

‘Jesus, this is not Blind Date and you’re not Cilla Black. Some people are meant to find a soul mate and live happily ever after. And some people are not wired that way. That’s all.’

‘I just want you to have someone in your life that makes you happy.’

‘Do you think it’ll make me any less difficult to work with?’ Kim asked, signalling that the conversation was over.

He got it. ‘Bloody hell – if it was that easy, I’d move in here myself.’

‘Yeah, well, make sure you don’t leave your toothbrush.’

‘No, I’ll just bring the glass I put my teeth in at night.’

‘No, really, stop there.’

Bryant finished his coffee. ‘Alright, enough foreplay. We both know why I’m here. Are you gonna show it to me or not?’

‘Well ...’

‘Come on, enough with the teasing.’

She jumped up and headed out to the garage. Bryant was no more than two steps behind.

She took her treasure from the workbench and turned to face him. She tenderly peeled back the cotton pillowcase protecting it from the temperature.

Bryant stared in wonder at the motorcycle fuel tank. ‘Original?’

‘Oh yes.’

‘It’s a beauty. Where did you get it?’

‘eBay.’

‘May I?’

Kim passed it to him. She’d spent six weeks trawling the internet for the 1951 model. Far easier to find were parts for the 1953 model and upwards. But she’d never done easy.