Not Safe Read online

  “Which almost didn’t work.”

  “It worked,” Farnham said. “Forensics came through. There were finger marks on her neck that didn’t come close to matching his.”

  “So I…” Tina felt like a quixotic fool.

  “You speeded things up a bit,” Farnham conceded. “And what you found out gave us a line on the girl in the river. I don’t know how far we’ll get, but at least we know where to look. OK, this is what I wanted to say. Officially, you’re out of line. It won’t get as far as a reprimand, because I don’t want it to. I want you back on the team. If you’re going to be around, I’d rather have you inside the tent pissing out than outside pissing in.”

  And Tina knew that was as close as she was going to get to thanks.

  * * *

  It was a week later, and Tina was leaving Nadifa’s House after saying her farewells. She was taking up Roy Farnham’s offer and going back to the serious crimes unit. Jim Radcliffe was in the office, hovering, wanting to talk to her. She wasn’t sure she wanted to talk to him, but she stopped when he came over to her.

  “Andre’s coming out of hospital today. No permanent damage. I just hope he’ll understand.”

  Tina doubted Mutombo would. For those few minutes, Radcliffe had seen him as a killer. “I’m glad he’s OK.”

  “And we’re having a memorial for Farah. Maybe we’ll find her family one day. I don’t know. I can try.” He sighed. “I messed up, didn’t I?”

  She nodded. She wasn’t going to try and make him feel better.

  “But Karen. Why? Why would she do that?”

  She looked at him. He didn’t know. He genuinely didn’t know. Love. Jealous, obsessive, compulsive. Love was a dangerous thing, and Tina wanted no part of it.

  “Thank you for not... You could have got me into serious trouble.”

  “No. You got yourself into serious trouble. You need to remember that.”

  She had to go through the small café as she left the building. Amir was sitting at one of the coffee tables. He stood up when he saw her, bowing slightly, his hand against his chest. “Ma’am. Thank you.”

  “Why, Amir? I didn’t do anything.”

  “You helped me. You believed in me.” His smile was both warm and distant, marking the gulf that lay between them.

  “Amir, if you had trusted me…”

  “And left my friend in trouble? Ma’am, I could not do that.”

  She shook her head. He was wrong, but she knew she couldn’t alter his unswayable conviction. “What are you going to do now?”

  His smile broadened. “I hear today from the immigration. They have accepted I have evidence for a new application. My case is open again.”

  “I’m glad. Good luck, Amir.”

  “Thank you ma’am. God bless you.”

  He would remain in the limbo of the asylum system for years, unable to work, unable to marry, unable to do anything beyond exist, but somewhere and somehow he had found cause for hope.

  She walked through the city centre, past the giant Ferris wheel that dominated Fargate, the cobbles uneven under her feet. She cut down past the arched roofs of the Winter Gardens, down the steps towards Arundel Gate. She negotiated her way over the crossings and down the hill towards South Yorkshire Police HQ. Farnham had called her in for a briefing, cutting her leave short. A new case was getting under way.

  She showed her security pass at reception, and followed the directions along a corridor that still looked shiny and new. The doors were numbered, but she didn’t need to read them. She could hear the sound of voices as the team assembled.

  She stood in the doorway looking at the familiar faces. Dave was at the front of the room, waiting for Farnham to start the briefing. He saw her standing there, and grinned. She stepped into the room as heads began to turn.

  “I’m back,” she said.

  About the Author

  Danuta Reah (also publishing as Carla Banks) is the author of six previous crime books. She is an active member and past president of the Crime Writers Association. She writes for English and Media and lives in Sheffield.

  Also in Crime Express

  Other titles include:

  Trouble in Mind by John Harvey*

  Claws by Stephen Booth

  The Mentalist by Rod Duncan*

  The Quarry by Clare Littleford*

  The Okinawa Dragon by Nicola Monaghan*

  Gun by Ray Banks*

  Killing Mum by Allan Guthrie*

  California by Ray Banks

  Graven Image by Charlie Williams

  * A6 format, with French flaps