Page 36 of Glasshouses

“I’ll think about it. Thank you for coming, Mia. I knew you would.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I slipped out and breathed in the fresh air.

Chapter Twelve

I bought myself a veggie breakfast wrap and a coffee, times two, giving one to Edie, the homeless woman who’d taken up residence in one of the unused doorways of the Fishbowl. It was becoming a morning routine; if I spotted her before I got to a too trendy café, I’d get us both something to eat.

She looked about as fresh as I did this morning, which was to say not very at all. I’d spent the night with restless, racing thoughts about random things taking up residence in my head. My bed didn’t feel comfy and the sheets felt too tangled, even after I’d remade the thing. If things had been different, I’d have talked the case through in principle with my old university tutor, Daniel, but that avenue was closed.

Vinny was hanging around the reception, seemingly keen to talk to one of the women on there, utterly pouring on the charm like it was double cream with chocolate sprinkles.

I tapped him on the shoulder. “Did you get your results?”

His face dropped. “What results?”

“You know, the results you were waiting for – from the clinic.”

“What clinic?”

“The one for warts. The ones down there.”

The receptionist, who I knew was called Melinda, bolted to the other end.

“I haven’t got - ” He shook his head. “Fucking hell, Mia. You’re such a cock-blocker.”

I laughed, satisfied. “I like Melinda. She’s efficient and nice, and we don’t need another professional refusing to work with you. Have you seen Dr Miz recently?” Vinny had an ill-advised one-night stand with one of the pathologists.

“Funny, aren’t you?” He started to walk with me towards the stairs. “I could think you were trying to keep me all for yourself.”

“Just doing my duty, protecting other women from you.” This felt like normal, bantering with Vinny. “How’s the case?”

“Done, almost. We’ve two more in custody and we’ll be charging them this afternoon, then it’s just the paperwork.”

I’d noticed he’d lost weight and looked pale. “Then some time off?”

“I fucking hope so. How’s the fire going?”

“Weirdly. There’s something about it that feels off. Something obvious that we’re missing and I can’t put my finger on it.” That was what was irking me; I felt like we’d overlooked something.

“I heard you were looking at an old case.”

“We are, and I think we need to look a bit more closely at it.” I felt the fog in my head clear some.

“Never my favourite sort of investigation.”

“No. It requires the ability to think.”

He paused on the stairs and put his hand over his heart. “Mia, you wound me - ”

“Quite happily. Thank you for brightening my day.” I legged it up the rest of the stairs, hoping he couldn’t be bothered to race me.

I was the second person there, only Lachy was bent over a computer, hair wet and cheeks looking flush.

“Have you slept here?”

“No.” He clicked his mouse, staring at the screen. “Went to the gym before work. Didn’t really sleep.”

“Why?”