Page 111 of We Chase Shadows

‘I need to talk to Lee,’ she whispers.

Ernesto looks her in the eyes. He gives a slow nod. ‘I understand. You need me to help?’

‘You go to The Hunter’s Rest,’ says Amy. ‘It’s in Axley. Find the hitman’s room. If he’s stupid enough to get shot, he might be stupid enough to have left something there.’

Amy and Ernesto rejoin the others.

‘Okay,’ says Amy. ‘Rosie, I need you to wait here for the police.’

‘The actual police?’ asks Rosie.

‘Afraid so,’ says Amy. ‘Needs must. Steve, I need you to go to The Hunter’s Rest with Ernesto.’

Steve shakes his head.

‘No?’ says Amy.

‘There’s someone I need to talk to first,’ says Steve.

‘You going to tell us who?’ says Amy.

‘No,’ says Steve. ‘Sorry, it’s almost certainly nothing.’

Amy looks at Vern’s bloodied corpse for the final time, then hugs her father-in-law.

‘Make sure you stay safe. I’ve got a feeling there are more bullets to come.’

57

It really is almost certainly nothing.

Felicity is behind her familiar desk when Steve arrives. Surely she wouldn’t have killed the man with blond hair and calmly returned to work?

The whole idea is ridiculous, but Steve has to check. Somebody killed the hitman, and it’s not immediately apparent who. It’s not crazy to speak to someone who had both a photo of the man and a grudge. He’ll join Ernesto straight afterwards.

‘Hello, Steve,’ she says, as he sits opposite her.

‘I need to ask you something,’ says Steve. ‘And I need you to be honest with me.’

‘How intriguing,’ says Felicity.

‘Listen,’ says Steve. ‘Depending on what you say, perhaps it doesn’t even have to leave this room.’

It’s okay, Felicity is a grown-up. She’ll understand that he has to check.

‘It’s just –’ Steve hears a noise from the kitchen. ‘Who’s here?’

The question answers itself as Tony walks into the room with two cups of tea.

‘Hello, stranger,’ says Tony. ‘Kettle’s just boiled if you want one?’

‘I’m okay, Tone,’ says Steve. ‘Flying visit. Just need a chat with Felicity.’

‘Right you are,’ says Tony, and puts Felicity’s tea down on her desk. He walks over to an armchair and sits.

‘Might need some privacy,’ says Steve.

‘I’m not here,’ says Tony.