Frost showed the surprise that Kim felt at Leanne’s familiarity around her home. Although if Frost hadn’t distracted her, she would already have done it herself.
‘You’re kidding?’ Kim asked.
Leanne shook her head. ‘No. She already knows too much. We have to silence her somehow. She’s a reporter of all things.’
Frost’s mouth started to fall open at the gravity in Leanne’s voice.
‘Silence me how?’ she asked, looking from one to the other.
‘But surely if we tell her, we’ll then have to…’
‘Yes, kill her,’ Leanne finished.
‘Are you two out of your fucking minds?’ Frost snapped.
‘Seriously, Stone, you’re gonna have to tell her,’ Leanne said, turning her attention back to the coffee.
‘Okay, Frost. You know how you always felt I wasn’t quite human. You were right. Apparently I was shot to earth in a giant egg from the planet Storga and every laboratory in town wants to capture me for experimentation. Leanne is a mutant ninja turtle sent to protect—’
‘You’re not funny,’ Frost said even though Kim could swear she heard a chuckle from Leanne.
Oh but it was light relief poking fun at Frost after a long, hard day.
She glanced at Leanne who nodded subtly.
‘Wait a minute,’ Frost said before she had a chance to speak. The reporter looked from one to the other. ‘This is about Symes, isn’t it?’
‘And the penny finally drops,’ Kim said, folding her arms.
‘She’s your protection in case he comes looking for you?’
‘Along with more security hardware than the Bank of England,’ Kim offered.
Frost’s forehead puckered. ‘Do they really think he’s that stupid?’
‘No, they absolutely know he is. He’s made no secret that I’m the only loose end he wants to tie up before he dies. It’s a suicide mission for him.’
‘Wasn’t he going to beat those little girls to death?’
Kim swallowed. ‘Yes.’
‘And she’s gonna stop him doing the same to you?’ Frost asked with disbelief in her voice.
‘She got you to the ground easy enough,’ Kim defended.
‘A slightly different prospect really. Against Symes I’m not too sure…’
Leanne turned to face Frost. ‘Let me worry about Symes while you worry about you. From the point at which you leave this house, you should try not to be alone. Stay where it’s busy and even stay over at a friend’s house for the night.’
‘Not here,’ Kim interjected.
‘Try to make sure that someone knows where you’re going at all times, and check in with colleagues and friends regularly. Got it?’
Frost nodded.
‘If you repeat this to anyone, your editor will be told you endangered lives. Not one word…’
‘Stone, can you tell Rambo here that I retain information quite easily and I don’t need to be told when something is important.’