Read Online City of Halves by Lucy Inglis - Free Book Online Page B

staring.
    â€˜Would you like to come in?’ He held the door wider.
    She walked past him into the freezing flat. ‘How was last night?’
    â€˜Busy. Very busy.’
    â€˜You were awake all night?’
    â€˜Just got in.’
    â€˜Don’t you get tired?’
    He shook his head. ‘Sometimes. Not like you. At least, I don’t fall asleep on my visitors like you do.’
    Lily’s face heated. ‘Sorry.’
    He scrubbed a hand back through his hair from his temple, holding the back of his neck, eyes down. ‘I didn’t mind. It was the highlight of my night with what came afterwards, put it that way.’
    The silence was awkward. Lily took a breath. ‘Anyway . . .’
    He leant against the desk and folded his arms. ‘Why did you come?’
    She pulled her computer from her bag and went over to the table, where the newspaper clippings were spread out and the thesis lay open. ‘FYI, taking this stuff without permission was low.’
    â€˜I know,’ he said. ‘But I heard your father on the stairs and I thought you’d come for them anyway. If not, I’d have returned them.’
    Lily didn’t answer that. ‘Did you find anything in them?’
    â€˜No. Your mother’s disappearance was never solved.’
    â€˜Yes, well, anyway,’ Lily cut across him as the brief flare of hope burnt out, ‘someone was making contact with Vicky through Facebook before she disappeared. Someone called David Smith.’
    â€˜Human boyfriend?’
    â€˜A boyfriend with no other friends?’ Lily looked up at him.
    His expression was blank. ‘Would that be so strange?’
    She looked back at the screen. ‘Okay, well, try a boyfriend who arranged to meet her on Blackfriars Bridge the night before last? Maybe that’s where Gamble’s got mixed up. Perhaps he’s the same build as you, or something.’
    Regan crouched down next to her. ‘Show me,’ he urged.
    Lily pointed to the exchange on-screen. He read it. ‘We have to find him,’ he said without taking his eyes from the computer. ‘How do we do that?’
    â€˜It’s not quite that simple. I hacked his account too. He’s got a blank avatar – meaning no photo of himself – and, from what I can see, is as good at protecting his identity online as I am.’
    Regan pushed to his feet and started pacing. ‘Okay. But is this all that unusual?’
    â€˜It’s not all that usual , put it that way. But it’s not just that.’ Lily sat back in the chair. Regan turned to her, waiting. ‘Vicky goes to the same doctor’s surgery as I do. Last month she had a blood test.’
    He shook his head. ‘Human stuff, I don’t get it. Explain itto me.’
    Lily shrugged. ‘I’m not one hundred per cent sure, but if you think the Agency might be watching me, it seems too much of a coincidence that a girl going to the same surgery for blood work has an otherwise anonymous, unhackable boyfriend. And there’s enough of a connection between this girl and your kind for Gamble to see her with you in a vision.’
    Regan walked into the kitchen. ‘Making tea. Like some?’
    â€˜Yes, please.’
    He came out a minute later with a mug and gave it to her. Lily thanked him and sipped. ‘Where’s yours?’
    â€˜That’s the only mug.’
    Lily rolled her eyes and handed it over.
    He accepted it wordlessly and took a mouthful. ‘So, what do we do now?’
    â€˜Well, I’m due to give blood. I thought we could go to the surgery and see if there’s anything to be found out there.’
    He sat on the edge of the desk and passed the tea back. ‘Like what?’
    â€˜I don’t know. But they hook me up for a while, and I’m usually left on my own. If I can get into their computer system, I can have a look at Vicky’s records, and at mine. See if