Page 89 of We Chase Shadows

What he’d like to do most of all is go home, have a glass of whisky, curl up on the bed with Trouble and never wake up. That’s the dream.

He could never tell anyone that of course. No one would understand, and no one would forgive him. Debbie understands it, but she would also never forgive it. And that’s why Steve wakes up day after day. Living is impossible, dying is frowned upon, and those are his only two options.

Steve looks at his watch. Better head over to see Rosie, she needs him there by four. He’ll ring Amy on the way. He needs to talk to Felicity Woollaston too. He tried her earlier and she’s not in the office. He can’t blame her, what is there to go in for on most days? Strange though, she’s always there. Where might she be? There’s something else he wants to say to Debbie, but he can’t think of the words.

‘There’s …’ Steve begins. ‘You might not know it, but Portsmouth has a burgeoning tech sector. Lots of business going on there.’

That should do for now, shouldn’t it? No need to spell it out.

‘Until tomorrow, Debs,’ says Steve and walks back towards the High Street.

Is it just for Debbie that he wakes up every day? It’s for Amy too, he guesses. She’d be furious if he died. Adam would be too, no one wants to be an orphan, but Amy would be worse. Actually, as would Rosie. If there was ever anyone who held life dear, it’s Rosie. Perhaps he’s staying alive for her too? They couldn’t really run We Solve Murders without him, could they? If any one of them died, the thing would fall apart.

People need him for now, and perhaps that’s enough? Life itself isn’t enough to hold you captive, but love is.

Steve’s phone pings with a message. Georgie Glazier.

Where are you taking me to dinner?

Now’s really not the time, Georgie.

Though, if you want Steve’s honest opinion, there will never be a right time.

Steve thinks about Rosie in her castle with Vern and Lee. Is she quite safe? They really are betting the house on Vern Blackwood being the victim in all of this.

Perhaps they have got a little too friendly with him? That will have to stop. From now on it might be better for them all to keep Vern Blackwood at arm’s length.

45

‘Everyone’s dead except you and Eriksson,’ says Rosie. ‘And that makes me suspicious of you.’

Vern is lying beside her in bed. He wasn’t bad at all. An absolutely solid seven out of ten. Would order again. Sure, he’s been lying to them about Connor Brooks. But men lie about things, you have to bake that into the cake.

‘That’s fair,’ says Vern, pulling the covers up to his chest. ‘Can I say a word in my defence?’

‘By all means,’ says Rosie, lighting a cigarette. ‘You’ve earnt it.’

‘If there was going to be a last man standing,’ says Vern, ‘then it would always be me. I was only really there as peacemaker. I was the smallest dog in the fight, the least threat. Every list you could put me on, I’d be at the bottom.’

‘If I was Jakob Eriksson I would have killed all of you,’ says Rosie. ‘Seems strange not to complete the set?’

‘Give the man time,’ says Vern. ‘He might not be done.’

Rosie has no intention of telling Vern what she now knows. He is a very bright man. However, she certainly wants to push him and pull him and see if he breaks. Steve will be here soon, and the ‘Connor Brooks’ discussion will be had when he arrives.

‘He’s playing a different game with you,’ says Rosie. ‘Killing your bodyguards and not telling you why? That’s why I don’t trust you. You stand out. I just have to work out the reason. Anything you want to tell me about Jakob Eriksson?’

‘I don’t believe you’re suspicious of me,’ says Vern. ‘You wouldn’t be alone in the house with me if you thought I was dangerous. You certainly wouldn’t have just taken me to bed.’

‘Au contraire,’ says Rosie. ‘I know what I like.’

Rosie has to be honest. His blatant lying has given him an extra appeal.

‘Well, I’m very happy to take advantage of your suspicion,’ says Vern. ‘The actual truth will be a disappointment to you.’

The actual truth? That Jakob Eriksson is Vern’s old friend Connor Brooks.

Was his friend at least.