Mimic by Daniel Cole

Author:Daniel Cole [Cole, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 22

Chambers had offered to drop Winter off at work en route to their meeting with Eloise Brown, the relentless London traffic predictably turning the gesture into a massive inconvenience.

‘Hey, guys?’ Winter piped up from the back seat.

Marshall turned round but instantly regretted it:

‘Jesus, Winter! Put some trousers on!’

‘I wasn’t expecting you to look!’

‘You said “hey, guys” – of course I’m going to look!’ she snapped, eyes fixed firmly on the car in front while he planted his feet against the window to wriggle into his uniform.

They sat quietly for a few moments.

‘… Hey, guys?’

‘What?!’

‘I was wondering … well, more thinking that maybe you could … you know, wait until I finish work to go see Eloise Brown.’

‘You’re joking, right?’ asked Chambers.

‘I just thought—’

‘This is a murder investigation. Coates has already told us he’s going to kill again. Every second counts. And you want us to wait for you?’

‘Now that I hear it out loud …’ said Winter awkwardly. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Ignore me.’

‘Go easy on him,’ Marshall told Chambers. ‘We wouldn’t even know Eloise Brown existed if it wasn’t for Winter.’ She turned to give him an encouraging smile: ‘For Christ’s sake! Where’s your top?!’

‘It’s trapped in your door,’ he replied, belly hanging over his waistband.

Marshall quickly opened and closed the passenger door before tossing the polo shirt into the back:

‘How about, with Chambers’ permission, of course,’ she looked over at him, ‘I stop by later and catch you up on everything? … OK?’

‘You would?’ Winter smiled hopefully.

Chambers gave a reluctant nod as he pulled up outside the doors to the supermarket.

‘See you later then,’ said Winter, jumping out onto the pavement.

‘Bag!’ she reminded him.

‘Thanks. Bye!’ he called after clambering back in to retrieve it, Chambers and Marshall waving him off like proud parents as he practically skipped into work.

‘Sure this is the place?’ asked Chambers, unenthusiastically regarding the entrance to the set of underground toilets.

‘Pretty sure,’ replied Marshall, gesturing to the brand-new signage:

Gallery.sw7

Pushing the metal gate open, they made their way down the stone staircase towards the sound of building work, the smell of stale urine intensifying, literally stinging their eyes by the time they reached the crowded subterranean space.

‘Oh! Hey!’ smiled an attractive woman, her light-brown hair tied up in playful bunches, oversized shirt covered in dried paint. ‘Are you the toilet guy?’

Glaring at Marshall when she sniggered, Chambers took out his ID, feeling a little self-conscious – those were his smartest trousers:

‘No. I’m the homicide detective.’

‘Was that today?’ she laughed dizzily before frowning: ‘So, when’s the toilet guy coming?’

The three of them stood in silence for a moment, as though she actually expected Chambers to know.

‘… I really can’t help you. Are you Eloise Brown?’ he double-checked, feeling it necessary with the scatter-brained woman.

‘Yeah. That’s me. I’d shake your hand but …’ she looked down at her own, ‘I’m not entirely sure what this is.’ Wiping whatever it had been on her shirt, both detectives looked a little repulsed. ‘Sorry. Am I being gross again? I can’t even tell any more.

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