Keep Her Close by M. J. Ford

Author:M. J. Ford [Ford, M. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008293789
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2019-01-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

It was almost half past three in the morning when she let herself into the flat. Lucas was a heavy sleeper, but she crept in quietly anyway, taking a fresh set of clothes from the wardrobe, and her make-up bag from the dressing table. She had a quick shower, but managed to drop the shampoo, which clattered into the tray with an astonishing bang.

Fuck.

She climbed out. Hopefully he hadn’t stirred. She was drying herself when the door opened, and Lucas walked through, squinting into the harsh light. He pulled up the toilet seat and started pissing.

‘What time is it?’ he asked, bleary-eyed.

‘Late,’ said Jo.

He registered her clothing hanging from the drying rail.

‘Are you heading back out?’

‘Working a case,’ she said.

He finished, and went to the sink. ‘Have you slept?’

‘Not yet.’

As he was drying his hands, he said, ‘Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?’

‘Nothing’s wrong.’

‘Really? Not coming over the other night, being weird at lunch. Running off again. It’s like you’re avoiding me.’

‘I can’t just drop everything. My job’s more important than a lunch.’

‘Hey, I know that. But I don’t think this is just your job.’

She felt silly being naked while she argued, so put on her bra even though she was still a bit damp. She continued to dress, with him standing there. As she reached for her trousers, he put his hand on them.

‘Talk to me, for God’s sake.’

She snatched the trousers away. ‘Fine. I came to the college, Lucas,’ she said. ‘Two days ago, when we had the leak. Spoke to Bob. He didn’t seem to think you’d been there that morning.’

‘You were checking up on me?’ he said.

‘I was trying to find you,’ she said.

She could barely read his face in the half light. He’d been caught lying, and he wasn’t coming up with any excuses. With each second that passed, she felt more detached from the scene unfolding as she shrank into her shell. Self-preservation, Josephine.

‘It’s not what you think,’ he said.

‘Isn’t it? I deal with liars every day. Everyone has their reasons. What’s yours?’

When he didn’t answer, she left the bathroom. She’d not been planning to walk out, but she found herself grabbing an overnight bag. Stuffing clothes in. Focus, Jo. Be dignified.

Lucas entered the room.

‘What the hell are you doing?’

‘What does it look like?’

He came to her, and moved the bag aside. ‘Jo, listen, I’m sorry – I shouldn’t have lied, but let me explain.’

‘Just leave me alone,’ she said.

A fleeting expression she’d never seen before crossed his features. ‘At least hear me out.’

‘I’ve really got to get to work,’ she said.

‘I wasn’t at the college, you’re right. I was at the travel agent’s.’

‘Pardon?’

‘The specialist winter sports place, out in Summertown. I’ve used them before.’ She let him continue. ‘I know you’ve been wanting to go away, and well, you said you hadn’t skied before. I wanted somewhere we could go together. And something flexible, because well … your job. I talked to Heidi …’

‘You what?’

‘Sure. I wanted it to be a surprise.

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