Deadly Reprisal (Detective Zoe Finch Book 5) by Rachel McLean

Author:Rachel McLean [McLean, Rachel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ackroyd Publishing
Published: 2021-02-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifty

“It’s alright, I’m coming.” Kayla heaved herself up from her bed and opened the door. She’d been trying to read Persuasion but had dozed off.

Jenson was on the threshold, looking agitated. “Let me in.”

“OK. What’s up?”

He shoved past her and slumped onto the bed. “Fucking police again, that’s what’s up.” He stood up to stand a few inches in front of her, looking down at her. “Did you give them my address?”

“What? What address?”

“The house in Selly Oak. I don’t want the police there, that’s the whole point.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She raised her hand to his shoulder.

He grabbed it. “If you’re lying to me…”

She tried to yank her hand away but he held her wrist tight. “Why would I lie to you? Let go.”

He jerked her hand upwards, making her wince. She stared into his eyes. His chest rose and fell, his breathing heavy.

“I saw you with those ballbreakers.”

“What? What ballbreakers?”

“That women’s group.”

“What’s that got to do with the police?”

Jenson flung her arm away and she grasped her wrist. It was reddening.

“Keep away from them. They’re bad news. Extremists.”

“I think you’re overestimating the—”

“You had lunch with them, today.”

“You were at Costa? Why didn’t you come over and say hi?”

“I saw you leaving. You came back here. At least you didn’t go anywhere with them.”

“You followed me and didn’t speak to me?”

He shrugged and threw himself into the desk chair. “I was on my way back here.”

“Why didn’t you catch up with me?”

He picked up the book that she’d placed face down on her desk and surveyed it like it was contaminated. “I want you to keep away from them. They’ll pour stupid ideas into your head, fill it with crap.” He flung the book to the desk. Kayla shifted her weight as if to grab it, but with the mood he was in, she didn’t want to get too close to him.

“Jenson, I know you’re pissed off. But that’s the police you’re angry with. Don’t take it out on me, please.” She hesitated. “Why were you with Lin, earlier?”

He turned to her. “You’re pathetic, you know that?”

Kayla blinked. “What?”

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been mooning about since Laurence died. He was an arsehole, Kayla. Why are you so upset about it?”

She tried to catch her breath. “I found a dead body, Jenson. Lin and I did. And you haven’t answered my question.”

“I’m Lin’s residential tutor, for fuck’s sake. This isn’t about me. You’re being paranoid.”

“Finding Laurence like that was… I don’t know what it was. But I think I’ve got a right to be a bit freaked out.”

“Nothing else to it? You and him didn’t have a thing going?” He leaned forward, hands clasped in front of his knees.

She pulled back, her stomach clenching. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Don’t call me ridiculous.” He stood abruptly, sending her book to the floor. She stayed on the bed, anxious not to touch him.

“Get a grip, Kayla. Sort yourself out and decide who your real friends are.” He yanked the door open and swept out, leaving her gaping at the door behind him.

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