Archer turns her attention to the misty park outside and tries to decipher Dom’s odd text but is distracted by Quinn’s neighbour who is watching her.

‘Are you married?’ asks Mrs Frutkoff.

‘No,’ replies Archer.

‘I’m a widow.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Harry was married.’

Archer gives her a half smile.

Mrs Frutkoff folds her arms. ‘Poor man. He needs a woman in his life. Arguably, I am past my prime. You, however . . .’

‘Colleagues, Mrs Frutkoff. We’re colleagues.’

‘Call me Zelda.’

Archer is relieved to see a freshly showered and dressed Quinn, looking much better.

‘Are you two getting to know each other? That’s just peachy.’

‘Always the comedian,’ says Zelda. ‘I brought breakfast,’ she adds.

‘Aww, Zelda, I thought I could smell shakshuka. Thank you.’

‘I crumbled feta on top. I know you like that.’

‘You’re the best!’

‘Eat and be careful out there.’ She turns to Archer. ‘Goodbye, Miss Archer.’

‘Goodbye, Zelda.’

Quinn asks, ‘Have you eaten? I can get you a plate or some tea?’

‘I’m fine, thanks. Go ahead and eat.’

‘Hope Zelda didn’t give you the third degree.’

As Quinn tucks into the shakshuka, Archer gives him a rundown of this morning’s meeting.

‘What do you think is going on with Pierce?’ she asks.

‘What do you mean?’

‘She’s so unpredictable. I asked her if I could bring in Klara and she said no. This morning she had a complete change of mind.’

‘My guess is her dinner with the Chief Constable changed matters ever so slightly.’

‘How so?’

‘She was trying to convince him to give her a bigger team for this investigation, which I assume was unsuccessful. Also, since being outed as DI Rees’s lover after his arrest she is on borrowed time and the Chief Constable knows it. He’s given her two high-profile cases. If she fails to close both or even one of them, then she’s out. I may be wrong but time will tell.’

Archer recalls the DCI looking tired and drawn this morning. A small part of her thinks that maybe Pierce deserves it, but she can’t help but feel sympathetic. After all, wasn’t Pierce just a victim of circumstance? She fell for the wrong man and is now being judged and juried by other men because of it. Despite Archer’s real feelings about her new boss, the way Pierce is being treated is unfair.

Chapter 15

15

JORDAN KELLY WAKES LYING ON his side with his knees bent and pressed into his chest. His neck hurts and his arm feels numb. He is drowsy just like that time Mum gave him cough medicine.

He feels a knot form in his stomach.

Something happened.

Something not good.

He tries to remember but his head feels woozy and he struggles to assemble his thoughts.

Blinking the sleep from his eyes he begins to shiver.

It’s dark.

And cold.

So cold.