Page 137 of We Chase Shadows

Steve understands that feeling. He has been brave with Georgie Glazier, and that was good, but he knows the question he has to ask.

‘Did you work for Mrs Blackwood too? Was she around?’

‘Georgie?’ Eric says with a big smile. ‘Oh yes, she was a lot of fun. She’s not in trouble too?’

No, thinks Steve, not in trouble. So Georgie had known all along who the photo was. Known it was Eric Jacobs. Must have pieced the whole thing together in that heartbeat. She’d lied, and of course she had, he would have done too. But even on their date she hadn’t come clean. You do have to open your heart, Steve has learnt that at least, but you still have to protect it too. He’s proud that at least he tried.

Trouble rolls on to his back, demanding attention. Eric Jacobs rubs Trouble’s belly, and Trouble starts to purr.

‘What do you think’s gone wrong with the marigolds?’ asks Steve. Better to focus on something he has control over.

Eric looks at him, as if considering something.

‘What?’ says Steve.

‘You’ve been very honest with me,’ says Eric. ‘Can I be honest with you?’

‘About my marigolds?’ says Steve. ‘I think so.’

‘Cat urine,’ says Eric. ‘It’s destroying the roots.’

Trouble now has his head rested on Eric’s arm.

‘You wouldn’t have any idea, would you,’ asks Eric, ‘where the cat urine was coming from?’

Eric looks at Steve. Steve looks at Trouble. Trouble starts digging a small hole in the flower bed.

‘There’s a ginger cat sometimes comes by,’ says Steve. ‘Big lad, chunky, mean face.’

Eric nods. ‘Sounds like the source of the problem.’

‘Yep, I’ll have to keep my eye out for him,’ agrees Steve.

Trouble starts eating one of the flowers.

‘I’ll get you that cup of tea, Eric,’ says Steve. ‘I think we can forget about the marigolds for now.’

71

Rosie is lying on a huge bed, surrounded by flowers and stuffed toys. On one side of the bed are an interviewer and film crew. On the other side of the bed are Steve and Amy.

‘Well, it’s a dangerous business,’ says Rosie. ‘But that’s why I do what I do. That’s why I chase bad guys.’

The interviewer nods. Rosie turns to Steve.

‘Steve, be an absolute dear and plump up my pillows, I’m sliding down, and I don’t want to look chinny on camera.’

Steve reaches behind Rosie and plumps her pillows. ‘M’lady.’

‘They say you lost nearly six pints of blood?’ says the interviewer.

‘I know,’ says Rosie. ‘I’m furious about it. It’s taken me years to get to the stage where my blood was ninety per cent brandy, and now I have to start all over again.’

‘Although you are very grateful to the blood donors,’ says Amy without looking up. She’s endured four days of these interviews now. News crews from all over the world. The famous novelist gunned down in her pursuit of a murderer. It’s irresistible. The current interviewer is Estonian.

‘Although I am so grateful to the blood donors who saved my life,’ says Rosie. ‘I promise I will take care of your blood. In fact, I intend to show it a good time.’

‘You write about murder, of course …’