Page 86 of D for Dead

Too late.

Rebecca wheeled on him, hands on hips.

‘We’re dating. There is no marriage on the cards and no kids, but if there was it wouldn’t be any of your damn business. You and I were six years ago. You have no right to walk back into my life and expect to pick up where we left off.’ She paused for breath. ‘And don’t insult him. Adam is not a dork.’

‘Alan.’ Hickok’s smug look had her fists balling.

Fuck.

‘Alan,’ Rebecca repeated, her tone icy.

‘You’d think you’d know your own boyfriend’s name.’

Cursing herself for being drawn into Hickok’s little game, she put up her hand, took a step back.

‘Stay away from me, Hickok.’

As he opened his mouth to retort, a woman stepped out of the driveway that led up from the garage of Amy’s building. She collided with Rebecca, making both of them jump.

‘Shit, jeez, sorry.’ Rebecca steadied herself, recognising the woman from when they had questioned her earlier. As with everyone else, they had left her with their card in case she remembered something later. ‘You okay, ma’am?’

‘Detective Angell, sorry to bother you, but there’s something you should see.’ The woman’s lips were drawn in a tight line, her face pale.

‘Is it something you have remembered?’

‘Not exactly; it’s easier if I show you.’

Rebecca glanced at Hickok; his expression was unreadable as he stepped into line beside her and they followed the woman back down into the garage.

She pointed to Amy’s Beetle, but Rebecca had already clocked it, her eyes immediately drawn to the crude red lettering. There was something hooked under the wiper blade.

‘I don’t know if this is connected to your questions earlier,’ the woman was saying, ‘but I thought you should know.’

Rebecca murmured her thanks, already strolling over to the car.

She snatched up the picture under the wiper blade, feeling her insides knot. Another photograph of Amy, but this time with Jake, and he had his arms around her.

No, Sullivan, you damn idiot.

What the hell was he thinking?

She bit down on a curse as Hickok took the photograph and spent a moment studying it.

‘Well, no one can accuse your partner of not getting involved with his cases.’

Although his tone was light and joking, Rebecca recognised the edge beneath it. Jake had crossed a line. And with the people Amy knew dropping like flies, he could have also unwittingly made himself a target for the killer.

* * *

Things had remained tense between Troy and Nadine since Saturday night.

After arriving home from the Velvet Lounge they’d had a huge fight; for once Troy had stood his ground. Voices had been raised, doors slammed, and picture frames and vases smashed.

Nadine was furious he hadn’t supported her in her quest to take down Amy, while Troy was pissed Nadine had disobeyed him when he’d made it clear she was to stay away from the Velvet Lounge. They’d paused their fighting for hot, urgent sex, Troy throwing Nadine down and taking her hard and fast amidst the shards of broken pottery and feathers from ripped cushions, while she tore blood red nails over his back.

It wasn’t make-up sex and when it was over Troy had gone to sleep in the spare room. He’d remained there since and the atmosphere was frigid, with barely a word spoken between them. As the previous evening, Troy stayed at Blake & Colman, working late on their security design and ordering takeout. He didn’t return to the beach house until close to midnight, knowing Nadine would be in bed.

Things couldn’t continue this way, he understood that, but it was hard knowing it had to come to an end. He had a special connection with Nadine and always would, but she was too headstrong, too stubborn.