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‘One of what split?’
‘One of her bags, what d’you think? I just helped her pick it all up.’
‘And how’s that keeping undercover, helping her pick up all her shopping?’
‘Fook’s sake, Strike,’ said Midge, now sounding annoyed, ‘what were I s’posed to do, stand there and watch her chasing tins all over the road? I’d’ve looked more suspicious if I hadn’t helped her. It’s what women do, help each other out.’
‘Why were you leaving her house last night?’
‘It weren’t bloody night, it was barely nine o’clock – and how d’you—?’
‘Answer the bloody question.’
‘She called me,’ said Midge, now sounding nettled. ‘She heard noises outside the back door. Her brother’s gone back up north and she’s jumpy being there alone, after you put the fear of God into her about the Franks.’
‘What was the noise?’
‘A cat knocked off a dustbin lid.’
‘How long were you inside her house?’
‘Dunno, ’bout an hour?’
‘The fuck were you doing in there for an hour?’
‘I told you, she’s jumpy! How d’you even—?’
‘You were photographed. Littlejohn’s just shown me the pictures.’
‘That fookin’ arsehole,’ gasped Midge.
‘What happened while you were inside the house?’
‘The fook are you insinuating?’ said Midge hotly.
‘I’m asking you a straightforward question.’
‘We had a coffee, all right?’
‘And how the bloody hell did you not notice Littlejohn was watching the house?’
‘He weren’t there. It must’ve been someone else.’
‘I’m taking you off the Mayo case,’ said Strike. ‘You can stick with Toy Boy going forwards.’
‘I’ve done nothing wrong!’ said Midge. ‘Ask Tasha!’
‘It’s what it’ll look like to the papers,’ said Strike.
‘Did you think of that when you shagged that lawyer with the fake tits?’
‘I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that,’ said Strike, through clenched teeth. ‘I’ve told you how it’s going to be. Stay away from Mayo.’
He hung up, seething.
76
Here every step, forward or backward, leads into danger.
