The Cracked Mirror by Chris Brookmyre

Author:Chris Brookmyre [Brookmyre, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Thrillers, Crime, Suspense
ISBN: 9780349145785
Google: 0pzcEAAAQBAJ
Amazon: B0CKZ2DSLZ
Publisher: Abacus
Published: 2024-07-17T23:00:00+00:00

Something Bloody, Something Blue

Chapter Thirteen

He shouldn’t have sworn at her. A wounded part of him still thinks she shouldn’t have gone there, but he knows the wound is only raw because he’s got a guilty conscience.

His response was defensive, a reflex. He’s been telling himself that what happened to Ibanez wasn’t his fault. He didn’t force Ibanez to follow him into that movie studio. But if he really believed that, why would he be so aggravated by what Penny said?

How much bureaucracy would you endure if it was the price of undoing what happened to your partner?

And not just to your partner, he thinks.

Wait, what?

There’s a gas station on the edge of the supermarket parking lot. The sign lists prices for unleaded and diesel. Johnny blinks and it says: ‘Justice for Jayden Freil’.

He blinks again, knowing that it will revert to the gas prices, and it does, but the damage is done. Problem is, he doesn’t know where the damage is coming from.

Why can’t he remember who Jayden Freil is? And why does the name spark so much shame and regret?

‘I’m sorry,’ Johnny tells her.

Penny places a hand on his shoulder.

‘I’m sorry too,’ she says, and she sounds like she means it. ‘But mind your language in future.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

Innis comes back carrying a plastic bag.

‘These are all they had in your size.’

She hands over a pair of black sneakers and a navy-blue waterproof jacket.

‘Appreciate it,’ Johnny replies. They’re not exactly his speed but at least they ain’t white. Worn with tailored trousers and that waterproof, white sneakers would have made him look like a bum.

He pulls on the shoes as Innis gets the car moving again. They’re a decent fit, as is the jacket. Johnny puts his passport and phone into a zip pocket either side.

They reach Edinburgh inside an hour. Traffic’s light, as it’s close to midnight. The buildings all around are beautiful but weirdly uniform, which he doesn’t associate with old places. Even in New York, there’s modern tower blocks next to brownstones. It’s a reminder that he’s a stranger in a strange land.

‘Ms Coyne, did you ever find out why Deacon invited you to the wedding?’ Innis asks.

‘Wait, Miles Deacon is the one who invited you?’ This is new information. ‘You know him?’

‘No, I do not know him. And nor do I know why he invited me. I can only assume it was for the same reason Lilian sought me out. They knew I had experience of the Stonebridge family and the Stonebridge firm. But unlike Lilian, he never introduced himself.’

‘Yeah, still: both of us ended up at that wedding because of the same guy. That’s gotta mean something.’

‘And nothing good, I fear,’ Penny says.

They’re driving on cobbles right now. Actual cobbles. There’s a semi-circular terrace of houses to his left that he’s expecting Helena Bonham Carter to step out of any second.

‘This Gloucester Lane where Deacon lives,’ Johnny says. ‘What kind of neighbourhood is that?’

‘It’s in the New Town,’ says Innis.

‘Pretty modern then? Are we talking a hip vibe?’

‘Pretty modern for the late eighteenth century,’ says Penny.

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