Chapters (73)
I felt the heat rise up my face and once again changed the direction the conversation had taken. ‘Smithy and I will probably head back to the university tomorrow, start at the place where she spent most of her time. I’ve met a couple of her peers and her professor – interesting dynamics there. DI Johns is working on the activists and I pity the poor sod who gets to approach her church. I’d really like to get a conversation with her boyfriend; I’ve seen him on video, but not face to face. But I don’t know that my leash would extend that far.’
There must be a way to engineer that one, I thought. A bit of creative manoeuvring might be in order. It was a pity in a way that Paul wasn’t a part of this investigation and would be back to his court case in the morning. Although I would never admit it to him, I thought we worked quite well together.
‘So,’ he said, wrapping his arms around my waist and giving me a kiss. ‘What are our plans for tonight? Do you want to go out, catch a movie or something?’
Okay, this was awkward. Nice, but awkward. Just because I’d slept with the man – unintentionally, I might add – didn’t mean I wanted to encourage any further dalliance. For once in my life my mum could do me a favour. ‘Sorry, Paul, considering the grief I got last night, I think I’d better put in some time with the old girl.’
‘Fair enough. What about lunch tomorrow, then?’
It did have appeal, but a part of me was in denial that Paul and I were now a bit more than friends, and another part of me wanted to be the one calling the shots. Did that make me a bad person?
‘The case is getting quite complicated, so I don’t know where I’ll be at tomorrow. Can I get back to you on that one?’
51
It was Monday morning, and for some strange reason it felt like the weekend had been cancelled, and not due to lack of interest. My body was on a go-slow and everything had been a struggle. In fact, it felt like life was conspiring against me.