‘Doesn’t matter. He’s out and he’s not planning on getting caught. More later, but, most importantly, did we win?’
Penn held up a small silver cup with a plaque engraved with the word ‘Winners’.
‘Quite right,’ she said as Penn placed their hard-earned trophy on the windowsill next to the coffee machine.
‘Yep, won by a country mile. The second team only—’
‘Hey, guv,’ Bryant said, ending the call, ‘we’re wanted—’
‘Thanks for putting your phone down to—’
‘It’s your phone actually,’ he said, tossing it towards her.
She caught it as he turned a frown on Leanne.
‘I just finished explaining to the—’
‘Save it,’ he said, holding up his hand. ‘Explain in the car. That was Keats. He’s got a crime scene in Pedmore, and it’s got our name all over it.’
‘Not so fast,’ Leanne said, holding up her hand. ‘It’s imperative that I carry out a full initial briefing with you and your team.’
‘Err…’ Kim said, looking towards Bryant.
‘Guv, we gotta go. Apparently this crime scene is growing old already.’
‘Umm…’
‘Stone, your team needs to understand the dangers from the outset.’
Kim suddenly felt herself caught between a rock and a hard place.
‘Okay, everyone to the car. We’ll do it on the way,’ she said.
Oh, this was all going to work out well, she thought, heading for the door.
FOUR
‘And Leanne is what stands between you and Symes – a man that kills people with his bare hands?’ Bryant asked, heading out of the town centre.
‘I am here,’ Leanne offered from her position in the back seat of the car, sandwiched between Stacey and Penn.
‘That was more about Symes than you,’ Kim offered.
Leanne said nothing.
‘No offence intended,’ Bryant agreed. ‘I can think of no single person who can stop that man.’
Kim could see the concern etched into his features and she appreciated it.
‘What are the options?’ she asked.
‘Army, National Guard, SAS, all of them, or better yet hide you in a cave somewhere until he’s safely back behind bars.’
‘Yeah, cos I’m all for that option,’ Kim offered.
‘Ditto,’ Leanne added.
‘Boss, how do you even prepare for something like this?’ Stacey asked from directly behind her.