“So, um, how’s everyone been?” he said, taking a sip of his cocktail. His heart was hammering, his teeth inadvertently clenching around the rim of the glass.
They all glanced at one another, Leo’s and Sal’s eyes lingering on Maya.
“Oh, you know,” Maya said, patting the back of Sal’s hand. “Sal’s been with me, and these two have been… around.” She waved a hand with an exaggerated flourish.
Pember looked at Ru, trying to catch his eye but with no success. When it was evident he was fighting a losing battle, he turned to Leo. “Yeah? Made the most of the warmer weather?”
Leo nodded and patted his bump a little too sharply. “Yep, me and the babe have been catching some rays.”
Pember swallowed, unsure where to take the conversation next. It was obvious they were being careful, but even knowing what he knew didn’t make things easier. “R-right. What aboutyou, Ru? Good weekend?” He reached across the table and squeezed Ru’s hand.
He nodded in reply but didn’t look up. “Library,” he mumbled, eyes glued to the wall.
“Yeah? That’s cool. What do you like to read?”
Ru shrugged, eyes darting to Maya as though he was watching a predator closing in. He looked smaller and even more vacant than the last time they’d met.
“Romance, right, babes?” Maya said, bumping his shoulder. “It’s how we met.”
Ru nodded and looked down at the table.
“R-right, so… been… anywhere… recently…?” Pember said, inwardly cringing at how stilted the words came out.
Maya grinned and stuck out her tongue. “Nope, heard the nick’s in a bit of a tizz though. What’s that all about?”
Well, that caught him off guard. The earpiece crackled to life again. “Reiterate what was said in the chat. Your swabs are with Falkington and you’re on gardening leave.”
Pember dropped his eyes and tried to look convincing. “I, um… I’m having some time off. The murders are really getting to me, so I’m a bit out of the loop. They’re continuity checking my work and I… It’s just kind of embarrassing.”
Maya hummed, bottom lip jutting out as she gave an overly sympathetic smile. “Oh yeah?Justyour swabs, or everyone’s?”
Pember shrugged. “Just mine.”
She raised her eyebrows, not looking all that convinced. When the next round of drinks arrived, Pember excused himself and made his way to the bathroom. His back was sweaty and his hands were shaking—the pressure was beginning to get to him.
Gripping one of the sinks, he swallowed and exhaled a long breath. The lighting was even dimmer in the bathroom, with the dark floor tiles, black cubicles and deep red walls making it quitedifficult to see. He imagined it might be what hell’s waiting room looked like.
He sighed, splashing water across his face before running a damp hand through his hair and looking up into the gold rimmed mirror. He was a wreck, the last few days of stress well and truly drawing all the colour from his face. Which was probably a good thing, and really played into his manically anxious facade.
The earpiece sounded again. “You all good?”Caitlin said.
“Yeah,” he whispered back, eyes darting towards the door. “Just having a breather.”
“Fair enough. We’ve got eyes on. One of the party has left the table and is making their way towards your location. Try and get them to engage. Find out how they’re connected to the victims.”
“Right,” he replied, patting his face with a paper towel. He hoped to God it wasn’t Maya, because he wasn’t sure he could cope with her cocksureness without slipping up.
The door creaked open, and time seemed to stand still as he waited to see who was on the other side. Pember let out a long breath when Ru shuffled into the room.
“H-hey,” Pember said, taking a few steps towards him. “Sorry, just having a breather. You okay?”
Ru nodded, slumping against the sinks. Pember caught him, bracing both hands around his upper arms. It was then that he noticed white powder around his nose.
“Ru? Is everything alright?”
Ru grimaced, his jaw clenching over and over as a strained sound escaped his mouth. “I didn’t… I didn’t meet her at the library,” he said, screwing his eyes shut.
Pember wet his fingers under the tap and wiped them beneath Ru’s nose to get rid of the powder. He didn’t strike him as a drug user, but then, Maya didn’t strike him as a murderer.
