There was another long pause, Blake’s steady breaths at odds with Pember’s rapid pulse.
“Walking,” Pember finally said. “When I was at uni I used to like walking in the woods at the back of the campus. Sometimes I’d shift, but it got less and less over time.”
Blake made a sound of approval. “Walking. Okay, so we’ll go for a walk. Take Bailey and George.”
“And coffee. I also like coffee, as you know. And ice cream.”
“Right, we’ll find somewhere for coffee and ice cream after.”
“N-no. Another day. We’ll do the… two days… or three… a-and breakfast, and maybe more walks. All the walks.” The words that were coming out made sense in Pember’s head, but not as they exited his mouth.
Blake chuckled. “Yeah. Alright. Look, I’ve gotta go. Chichi’s here and she looks pissed.”
“I do not!” Chichi’s exasperated voice sounded down the phone. “Hi, Pember! See you tomorrow, my love!”
“R-right. Okay,” Pember squeaked. “Well, good luck! I guess. Maybe. See you tomorrow, or?—”
“See you tomorrow, Pem,” Blake said. “Night.”
“Night,” he whispered back before hanging up and shrieking into his pillow.
CHAPTER 17
DUAL WIELDING
Pember
Pember squintedas he and David stepped out of the X-ray room.
“Damn,” Mark said, dragging his eyes over Robert Green as he lay on the trolley. “The lad had a decent pair of knackers on him. I’ll give him that.”
Chichi tutted, pulling a white washcloth over his groin as they wheeled the gurney into the centre of the room. “I don’t care how you speak in your office, DS Matthews. But in my examination room you’ll show the dead the respect they deserve.”
Mark scoffed and raised a hand. “It was a compliment. I was only saying that he had some serious baby makers hanging between his legs. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, Chi.”
“It’s Dr Zabu, DS Matthews. Now if you don’t mind, we’d like to get started.” She scowled and pushed a clipboard into Mark’s hand.
The alpha looked as though he was about to try to hand it to Duncan, but Pember stepped between them. He pointed towards the back of the room, indicating the spot where Blakehad stood during the first post-mortem. Mark’s top lip subtly peeled back over his fangs, but he did as he was told when Pember raised an eyebrow.
“Here we go again,” Duncan said, gripping a brown paper bag. “Murder in High Enfield, take two.”
“Or three,” Pember said. “Depending on how you view Maginty’s death.”
Mark snickered from the back of the room as he leaned against an aluminium stepladder. Pember felt like walking over and knocking it with his foot.
“Don’t say that too loud,” Mark called, waving the clipboard. “Otherwise people might think we’ve got a serial killer on our hands.”
Mark was the only one laughing as Pember, Duncan and Chichi glanced nervously at one another. Pember drew in a breath. “You think?—”
“Nooo,” Duncan said, waving the comment away. “Absolutely not. Not in High Enfield.”
Chichi glanced at David, then down at the dead man. “Let’s just take a look at this chap before we jump to any conclusions, hm?”
Pember nodded, and they all watched in silence as Chichi pulled her braids into a hairnet and scrubbed her hands. She hummed softly before shaking off the water and shutting off the taps with her elbow.
Glancing across at Pember, she gave him a pointed look. “How’re you, my love?”
Pember nodded, tugging slightly at his own blue latex gloves. “I’m good, thank you. And you?”
