Free Truth or Dare by Tania Carver Page B

he heard on voicemail made him stop walking. He replayed it.
    ‘Aw shit,’ he said out loud, and headed for his car.
    As if his day hadn’t been bad enough already.

15
    ‘I ’m very happy here.’ Fiona Welch sat back. Like she was reclining in her favourite seat at her favourite bar.
    ‘Good,’ said Marina. ‘That’s good. And is that why you’re here? Because it makes you feel happy?’
    A smile played across Fiona Welch’s face. The kind that concealed secrets. Not altogether pleasant ones. ‘Let’s just say it suits my purposes at present.’
    Marina waited for something more. Nothing came. ‘That’s it? That’s why you wanted to come here?’
    ‘I’m here of my own free will,’ Fiona Welch said.
    ‘While you’re being investigated,’ said Mickey. ‘While your testimony is being checked out and we wait to charge you properly.’
    Fiona Welch looked at Marina, her eyes mocking. ‘How do you put up with him? Hmm? I mean not just him personally, but the whole police mindset? Especially the male police mindset. Intractable. Prosaic. Boring. Dull and predictable. Don’t you think?’
    Again, Marina didn’t rise to it, although she was aware of Mickey’s position stiffening. She hoped he would manage to rein in what he wanted to say too. Not give her the ammunition.
    ‘This is the perfect place for me to continue my work,’ said Fiona Welch.
    ‘The perfect place?’ said Marina. ‘But you’re a patient here.’
    ‘Willingly,’ she said. ‘But it gives me ample opportunity to work. This place is alive with potential case studies. I have full, unfettered access to some of the most damaged, deviant psychopathologies in the country. And they’re all female. The work that has been done in this area is sparse and, if I may say so, rather ill-informed. Ignorant. And I do know what I’m talking about. I’ve read it all. No. This is my opportunity, my chance, to contribute something truly groundbreaking to the body of work that exists about deviant female pathology. In fact, by the time I’m ready to leave, my work, I feel sure of this, will be hailed as the standard reference on the subject.’
    ‘Right,’ said Marina. ‘I see.’
    Fiona Welch’s face darkened. Her eyes locked on Marina. ‘Don’t mock me.’ Her voice was low, dangerous. ‘Please don’t make the mistake of doing that.’
    Marina felt herself reddening. The sudden change in tone from the woman was unnerving. ‘I wasn’t mocking you. I just think it’s a… lot to take in. That’s all. Lot of work.’
    ‘Which I am more than equal to, I assure you.’ She stopped talking, stared at Marina. Head to one side, scrutinising her. ‘You know,’ she said eventually, ‘I thought you’d be younger.’
    Marina tried not to let her startled expression show. ‘What d’you… what d’you mean?’
    ‘Just that. Younger. I mean, knowing Phil as I do I thought the woman he married wouldn’t be as… old as you. I thought he’d gone for someone younger, that’s all.’
    Marina regained her composure. ‘Did you? Right. Well, what can I say? He didn’t. He went for me.’
    Fiona Welch nodded. ‘He did. Yes. But…’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sure sometimes when he looks at you, when he notices that your hair is no longer the natural colour it once was, even though it’s a good match I’ll admit, and your make-up has become slightly heavier, and you take longer in the gym, put in more effort for less results, I’m sure he must look at you and… well, not want someone else. That’s not his style, is it? He’s big on loyalty, Phil. No. But there must be flashes, don’t you think? Just for a few seconds. Nothing more. Ripples of unease. When he thinks… she’s old. She’s getting older. And he’ll still feel young inside himself, like he’s staying still and you’re not… and —’
    ‘Is this leading anywhere?’ said Marina, slightly louder and less controlled than she had intended.
    Fiona Welch smiled.