Leanne shrugged. ‘What would you normally do now?’
‘Bryant’s not normally on carpool duty with the whole team in the car, but as Penn has no vehicle because we’ve just returned from Wales, I assume he’ll drop these two at home before taking me home, ready for a 7a.m. briefing tomorrow.’
‘Then that’s what we do. Everything stays the same for now except that I come along too.’
Kim turned back in her seat.
That was the only part of the plan she had a problem with.
SIX
It was almost eight when Bryant pulled up outside her house.
‘Guv, do you want me to…?’
‘I’m fine, Bryant. Get off home and I swear I’ll call you if I need to.’
He didn’t look reassured, but he nodded his acceptance anyway.
She waved him off before putting the key in her front door.
‘You’re not really prepared for this, are you?’ Kim asked. ‘No case, no overnight bag, no change of clothes.’
‘I’ll be fine.’
‘Okay, but prepare to be mauled once I open this door.’
‘No offence, Stone, but you’re not my type.’
Kim looked for any evidence of humour in her face, but it gave away nothing.
Everything about her day was temporarily forgotten once she laid eyes on Barney, who was wagging his tail and turning in circles.
‘Come here, boy,’ she said, lowering herself to the ground. She hadn’t seen him since dropping him at Charlie’s at the crack of dawn the previous morning before heading off to Wales.
‘Good boy,’ she said, capturing him and hugging him tightly. He raised his head and offered low growly noises as he trampled her legs. She didn’t mind it one little bit.
For a brief moment she forgot there was anyone else in the room.
‘You sure love that dog, eh?’
‘Oh yeah.’
‘Get rid of it,’ Leanne said, walking past her.
‘Excuse me?’ Kim said as her hand stilled in Barney’s fur.
His tail stopped wagging as though he understood Leanne’s words.
‘Ignore the nasty lady, boy,’ she said, ruffling his fur. ‘She doesn’t understand I’d get rid of most of my team before I got rid of you.’
‘He’s a vulnerability. It’s my job to rid you of as many of those as I can.’
‘Then your job sucks. Move on to the next thing cos Barney ain’t going nowhere.’
‘Have it your own way, but if Symes wants to hurt you that badly, he’ll think nothing of killing your dog. He’ll do it just to hurt you, to get a reaction, even just to throw you off your game, distract your focus. Where’s the dog been while you were in Wales?’
‘I have a neighbour, Charlie, that takes care of him.’