She didn’t bother to look for Leanne, knowing she wouldn’t be far behind.
‘Ah, here comes my favourite detective inspector,’ Frost said, leaning against her car and blocking Kim’s path into Bryant’s car. ‘And her band of merry men…and women,’ she said, casting her gaze over the whole team.
‘And here’s my least favourite reporter.’
‘Who’s your friend?’ Frost asked, ignoring the jibe.
‘Reporter for theWorcester News. All access.’
‘That’s bollocks, but even if it were true, I’d wish her the best of luck.’
Kim was unsure if Frost would ever fully recover from being present at one of the most horrific crime scenes Kim had ever witnessed. Seeing a naked man spread-eagled on a roller cage with most of his skin missing was not a sight that went away easily.
‘Not really interested anyway,’ Frost said, dismissing Leanne with a glance. ‘More interested in what went on here.’
‘What makes you think something went on here?’ Kim asked, glancing back at the collection of emergency service vehicles, squad cars, activity and tents blocking the front door.
‘Intuition,’ Frost shot back.
‘There was a fire,’ Kim said, walking around the car to get to the door that Frost wasn’t blocking.
‘And here was me thinking the fire tenders were here for a stranded cat. I can smell the bloody smoke myself, Stone.’
‘Keep up the good work, Frost. You’ll make a good reporter one day,’ she said, opening the passenger door.
‘What about the gunshots?’
Kim paused. ‘What shots?’
Frost shrugged. ‘I heard there were shots.’
Kim moved closer. ‘There were no shots. If any shots appear in your initial report, you’d best hope that car of yours can—’
‘You know, Stone, you should be sick of threatening me by now.’
‘Oh, that’ll never grow old, but there were no shots, got it?’
Frost sighed heavily. ‘You might want to put a gag on the Porters next door, who seem happy to share everything they saw and heard.’
Kim glanced at Bryant, who took out his phone and moved away. He would ensure an officer was dispatched next door to advise them not to talk to anyone.
Kim knew where her first port of call was going to be in the morning.
‘No shots,’ she repeated.
Frost rolled her eyes. ‘Okay, family tragedy it is until the press conference.’
‘Where you will get first question,’ Kim said, appreciating the heads-up on the neighbours.
‘Careful, Stone, folks will be thinking—’
‘Now fuck off. There, that should stop any thoughts,’ Kim said, swinging the car door open, leaving Frost with no choice but to move.
She stifled her irritation. She could expect no better from the reporter. Of course she’d manipulated a conversation with the neighbours who obviously knew no better than to speak to anyone about what they’d heard.
Bryant ended his call and nodded in her direction, signalling that it had been taken care of. An officer had been dispatched to advise them accordingly.
‘Okay, what’s the plan now?’ Kim asked, once the five of them were in the car. She turned to Leanne. ‘I’m assuming your car is parked at the station.’