Nine Lives by Anita Waller (best english books to read .txt) 📗

we’re following up, and I’m sorry I had to deceive you, but I would have gained nothing by coming here in my official capacity. I am taking photographs, but I can tell you it’s not the men we’re interested in. This gym, and as a result of the connection to the gym, The Coffee Pot, feature high on the list of follow-ups for us.’

Georgia grinned, but kept her voice low. ‘This is much more exciting than writing a novel. This is real life. Maybe I can help because I know most of our customers. I was flummoxed by you because I didn’t know you.’

‘Tomorrow I’ll have a printout of everybody I’ve snapped over yesterday and today, so I’ll pop down in my official capacity, and sit with you for a while until we’ve identified as many as possible. I’ll clear it with your boss tomorrow, so don’t worry about having to wait for your break.’

‘Huh, she’ll be chuffed.’ Georgia laughed.

‘Doesn’t really matter how she feels. It’s police business whether I’m being a pretend author or a real detective sergeant. I’m staying for a few hours, but I’d appreciate you keeping my author thing going.’ Flick took out the picture of the car. ‘Does this look familiar? Have you seen this car anywhere in this area? Picking anybody up?’

Georgia took the picture from her. She studied it for a few seconds, then shook her head. ‘I thought I did, but the one I’ve seen has a different number plate, so sorry, no I don’t know this one.’

‘You remember number plates?’ Flick’s eyes widened at the thought that anybody could remember number plates. She struggled to recall her own, never mind strangers’ ones.

Georgia smiled. ‘Don’t think I’ve got a superbrain, please. The one I remember, and I don’t remember all of it, has my initials and my year of birth on it. It starts off GK01. There’s three other letters after that but I can’t remember them. But this car can’t be the one I’m thinking of, because this is different altogether.’

‘How do you know the one you can remember? Does it park around here?’

‘I’ve seen it in the gym car park. I used to go and sit out there during the summer to read, while I had my evening break. If we do the late shift, we get a break around six.’

Flick felt a lurch of excitement. ‘And you never saw anyone in it?’

‘I once saw it pull up outside in pouring rain and the driver offered a lift but Iola shook her head and the car drove away.’

‘Iola?’

‘Gym member. Sorry I don’t know her other name, but her first name is spelt IOLA. It’s quite unusual so you can probably track it down pretty easily. She’s a customer here, but only when she visits the gym.’

The café door opened and Flick leaned forward slightly to snap the woman as she entered. She paused in the doorway to shake her umbrella before heading for the counter.

‘It’s starting to get busy,’ Georgia said. ‘I’d best get back to work. I’ll see you tomorrow with your photos?’

‘You will. You have a phone number in case anything happens to prevent it?’

Georgia scribbled her number on Flick’s notebook, and stood. ‘And might I say, Flick, I’ll never become an author by talking to you.’ She laughed and headed back behind the servery.

Erica had filled her Super in on all developments, and he had agreed with her that they needed to tread carefully until the suspect was in custody. After the hour-long conversation in which she had shared everything her team had given to her, she returned to her own office, made a strong coffee, and pulled her phone towards her.

She stared at the rain pouring down her windows, and bleakly wondered if this was it for ever – torrential rain, unending sludge and wetness, rivers flooding. Maybe they would all buy boats in the future instead of cars…

She was about to disconnect when Frannie answered.

‘Sorry, lovely. I was leaving a client’s home when I heard my phone ring. I’m sitting in the car now, so I can talk. It’s pissing it down again.’

‘I know. I was thinking we might buy a boat.’

‘Good idea. Can you row?’

‘No, but I bet you can.’ She laughed. ‘And I’m good at putting on waders now, in case you overturn us.’

‘Did you want something sensible, or shall I go boat shopping?’

‘I wanted to hear your voice really. I needed to talk to somebody who has no connection to this case. I’ve spent an hour in with the Super, and I feel drained. He insisted on me crossing every i and dotting every t.’

‘Now I know you’re tired. That was ever so slightly the wrong way round. Good job I understand Erica-speak. Has something happened to need an hour with him?’

‘It has. I’ll maybe tell you tonight when I’ve thought it through again, and when my team start to report in. They’re all over the place today. What time will you be home?’

Frannie hesitated. ‘I was going to the gym…’

‘Not the Starlite?’ Erica knew the stress showed in her voice and that she was being irrational.

‘No, not the Starlite. You know I don’t use that one. This one near the office. And you really don’t need to fret about me. I’m hardly in the young and beautiful category. And I’ve got my own car, so not likely to need a lift to anywhere, am I? It’s sending you ever so slightly off kilter, this case, methinks.’

‘Methinks so too.’ Erica forced a laugh. ‘I’ll let you go. Try not to be too late home, I could do with a hug.’

‘Then a hug you shall have, and I’ll skip the gym. We’ll have a pizza and watch a film and drink wine. That sound good?’

‘Copious amounts?’

‘You can’t, but a full glass may be called for. You’re in the middle of a case that seems to require your presence at all strange hours of the night, so I’m limiting you to one glass of