The Lawyer by Valerie Keogh

Author:Valerie Keogh [Keogh, Valerie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books

19

For only the second time since she’d started to work for Masters, Melanie left work at five on the dot. It was stupid to feel guilty; there was nothing else for her to do. Her coat hung on the back of the door. She took it down and slipped it on, belting it tightly, her mind on Quinn. The faith in her ability to make correct judgements about people had taken a battering thanks to Hugo, but Quinn struck her as one of the good ones. Or maybe she hoped he was.

She sighed, grabbed her briefcase, switched off the light and headed out. Although she’d watched the slouching man heading away in Quinn’s company, she still hesitated in reception. She was reluctant to leave in case the unknown man had returned and was waiting for her. Dan, one of the security guards, was standing by the exit. He was always pleasant and friendly, she didn’t mind asking him a favour. ‘I’m trying to avoid an ex,’ she said quietly, ‘and I’m sure I saw him hanging around earlier, would you check outside for me?’

Dan drew his shoulders back. ‘Of course, wait here.’

Melanie moved to the window as he stepped outside. Instead of giving a casual check, she watched him walk to the end of the building and look around, then back to the other end to do the same. She smiled and took a deep breath. Another one of the good ones – she had to keep reminding herself they existed.

‘Coast is clear, Ms Scott,’ he said, coming back inside, a dusting of raindrops on his shoulders and cap.

‘It’s Melanie,’ she said, for the umpteenth time. ‘Thanks, I appreciate that.’

He looked at her sternly. ‘You should go to the police if a man is stalking you, Ms Scott. You need to keep safe.’

She rested a hand briefly on his arm. ‘Thank you, Dan. It’s not an issue, honestly. I didn’t want to have to speak to him today.’ It wasn’t the man outside you had to protect yourself from, she could have told him, it was the one you invited in. The one she’d trusted. She conjured up a warm smile for Dan and left before it faded.

Outside, she swore softly. She should have ordered a taxi. The chances of an available one passing at this time of the day were slim, but she stood a moment in hope before shaking her head and heading towards the underground. As usual, it was noisy and crowded. She was eager to hear what Quinn had discovered about the man but standing in a packed commuter train wasn’t the time or place for what might be a nerve-wracking conversation.

With her briefcase wedged between her feet, she quickly sent a simple text. Did you find out who he was? It wasn’t until she was walking the short distance between the station and her home, eyes darting right and left, feet clicking speedily along the pathway that her phone beeped. It was from Quinn, an irritatingly short and uninformative text.

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