was involved in something she shouldn’t have been. I can’t guarantee that certain clues won’t lead to this place.”
“Yes,” he replied, “you can guarantee that. I think we both remember why you were installed at the police station in the first place. We needed someone who could help keep the Border off their radar.”
“And I’ve done that for nine years, but I don’t know if I can do it for much longer.”
He sighed. “You begged me to help you,” he reminded her, before taking another drag on his cigarette. “You absolutely begged me, almost on your hands and knees. Ten years ago, you told me you wanted out, that you wanted to become a respectable member of the community, and I actually helped you. Against my better judgment, I might add. I have a policy of never helping girls when they leave, but I helped you , Jane, because I figured you could help me in return.”
“And I have.”
“Not right now, though.” He paused. “The Border has nothing to do with Hayley Maitland’s death. It’s just a coincidence.”
“I know that.”
“The killer,” he continued, “whoever he or she may be, is not linked to the Border either. Trust me on that, we cleaned house a long time ago. I kept my word.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“So there’s no reason why any connections should be drawn at all.”
“Alex has already requisitioned her email records, social media, that sort of thing. If she ever mentioned the Border to anyone -”
“She won’t have done. We drill that into them right from the start. Or have you forgotten how the induction session works?”
“What about her phone? Did she have your number?”
“Nothing that can be traced to me. Or to this place.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He laughed. “Yeah, honey, I’m sure. The Border was here long before me, and it’ll be here long after I’m gone. You know this place is protected.” He paused. “Relax, Jane. Go home to your husband and kids. I’m sure they can help you take your mind off things for the night. After all, they don’t have any idea about this side of your life, do they? You don’t want anything to leak from your bag of secrets.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s simply an observation. I wonder how Jack would react if he knew what his wife had been up to in her younger, more carefree days?” He took one final drag on his cigarette, before dropping the butt and crushing it with his heel. “Relax. Just another observation. We both know that Hayley’s death, as sad as it is, has nothing to do with the Border. I promise you, I’d know if it did.”
“And Caitlin’s?”
He stared at her for a moment. “I told you a long time ago,” he said firmly, “that her death was nothing to do with us either.”
“I know you did.”
“We cleaned house before that.”
“So you said.”
“So there’s no need to discuss it further, is there?” Turning, he headed back to the door. “I’ve got work to do, Jane. I already had work to do, and now on top of that I need to find someone to replace Hayley.” He smiled as he opened the door and glanced back at her. “I don’t suppose you fancy coming back for some more shifts, do you? I’m sure some of the older customers would be happy to see a familiar face. And some other familiar body parts.”
She shook her head.
“Mr. Crutchlow sends his regards, by the way,” Simon added with a grin. “I think he misses you.”
“Tell him to go to hell,” she replied.
“Ah, no, I won’t tell him that. I value my life a little too highly.”
As Simon headed inside, Jane took her phone from her pocket and saw that she’d received a message from Jack. Realizing that she had to drop by his sister’s house and pick up the kids, she sighed as she opened the car door and climbed inside. For a moment, she sat in silence and listened, and finally she felt she could just about hear the thumping of music coming from far below the parking lot. After a few more
“Yes,” he replied, “you can guarantee that. I think we both remember why you were installed at the police station in the first place. We needed someone who could help keep the Border off their radar.”
“And I’ve done that for nine years, but I don’t know if I can do it for much longer.”
He sighed. “You begged me to help you,” he reminded her, before taking another drag on his cigarette. “You absolutely begged me, almost on your hands and knees. Ten years ago, you told me you wanted out, that you wanted to become a respectable member of the community, and I actually helped you. Against my better judgment, I might add. I have a policy of never helping girls when they leave, but I helped you , Jane, because I figured you could help me in return.”
“And I have.”
“Not right now, though.” He paused. “The Border has nothing to do with Hayley Maitland’s death. It’s just a coincidence.”
“I know that.”
“The killer,” he continued, “whoever he or she may be, is not linked to the Border either. Trust me on that, we cleaned house a long time ago. I kept my word.”
She nodded. “I know.”
“So there’s no reason why any connections should be drawn at all.”
“Alex has already requisitioned her email records, social media, that sort of thing. If she ever mentioned the Border to anyone -”
“She won’t have done. We drill that into them right from the start. Or have you forgotten how the induction session works?”
“What about her phone? Did she have your number?”
“Nothing that can be traced to me. Or to this place.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He laughed. “Yeah, honey, I’m sure. The Border was here long before me, and it’ll be here long after I’m gone. You know this place is protected.” He paused. “Relax, Jane. Go home to your husband and kids. I’m sure they can help you take your mind off things for the night. After all, they don’t have any idea about this side of your life, do they? You don’t want anything to leak from your bag of secrets.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s simply an observation. I wonder how Jack would react if he knew what his wife had been up to in her younger, more carefree days?” He took one final drag on his cigarette, before dropping the butt and crushing it with his heel. “Relax. Just another observation. We both know that Hayley’s death, as sad as it is, has nothing to do with the Border. I promise you, I’d know if it did.”
“And Caitlin’s?”
He stared at her for a moment. “I told you a long time ago,” he said firmly, “that her death was nothing to do with us either.”
“I know you did.”
“We cleaned house before that.”
“So you said.”
“So there’s no need to discuss it further, is there?” Turning, he headed back to the door. “I’ve got work to do, Jane. I already had work to do, and now on top of that I need to find someone to replace Hayley.” He smiled as he opened the door and glanced back at her. “I don’t suppose you fancy coming back for some more shifts, do you? I’m sure some of the older customers would be happy to see a familiar face. And some other familiar body parts.”
She shook her head.
“Mr. Crutchlow sends his regards, by the way,” Simon added with a grin. “I think he misses you.”
“Tell him to go to hell,” she replied.
“Ah, no, I won’t tell him that. I value my life a little too highly.”
As Simon headed inside, Jane took her phone from her pocket and saw that she’d received a message from Jack. Realizing that she had to drop by his sister’s house and pick up the kids, she sighed as she opened the car door and climbed inside. For a moment, she sat in silence and listened, and finally she felt she could just about hear the thumping of music coming from far below the parking lot. After a few more
Similar Books
