Free The Torment of Others by Val McDermid Page A

girls a million times before, they’re just part of the landscape, they don’t normally register any more. But tonight, watching Sandie’s gyrating hips, he’s turned on. He remembers dimly what he’s supposed to do at this point and he pulls out the digital camera and snaps her as she goes. The flash makes her stop in her tracks and whirl round. ‘What the fuck are you up to?’ she demands .
He waves the camera at her. ‘I just wanted something to remember you by,’ he says, the rehearsed words tripping out with hardly a stumble .
She frowns for a second, then laughs. ‘That’ll cost you.’
He snaps another shot. ‘I can afford it,’ he says. She carries on upstairs and he follows. At the door, she stops. ‘Let’s see the colour of your money,’ she says. ‘You want to tie me up, you pay upfront.’
He takes out the money the Voice left with his instructions and peels off some notes. Sandie snatches at it and shoves it into her little handbag. ‘Business must be better for you than it is for me,’ she says, her voice bitter as the coffee in Stan’s Café. She opens the door. ‘Come on then, let’s get it over with.’
He smiles. She wouldn’t be saying that if she knew what he’s got for her. But then, if he does what he’s told, she won’t be saying anything again. Ever .
Temple Fields hadn’t changed much in the past couple of years, Carol thought as they walked back to her car. The same litter tumbling along the gutters, the same mixture of self-conscious seekers after what passed for pleasure rubbing awkward shoulders with those who had already found it and lost all inhibitions along the way. Her police officer’s mind clocked them as she passed: the frail-looking rent boys, the bored hookers, the shifty sellers of chemical promises, and the easy marks who moved among them, obvious in their fake confidence. But the woman behind the badge shivered at the traffic in human flesh and folly. She didn’t want to think of the acts that would take place in this square mile before morning. Carol felt as though she’d lost a layer of skin somewhere, and wondered how long it would take to grow back.
‘Same old same old,’ she said wearily. ‘Look at them–they think they’ve made a deal with the world that will keep them safe. They’ve no bloody idea how fragile they are.’
‘They can’t afford to think about it,’ Tony said, his eyes taking in the parade on streets splashed with garish neon from the bars.
They walked on in silence. ‘I’ll give you a lift,’ Carol said as they neared her car.
‘No, you’re all right. I feel like walking.’ Carol raised her eyebrows. Thinking time?’ Tony nodded. ‘I saw someone today and I need to figure out how to keep the promise I made him.’
‘Your latest crusade?’ Carol smiled.
Tony looked surprised. ‘Is that how you see what I do?’
‘I think it’s how you see what you do. A one-man crusade to mend the damage.’
He shrugged. ‘I wish it was that easy. So, you’ll come round tomorrow night to see the house?’
‘I will. Then maybe I can decide if I want to be the mad woman in the cellar. Shall I bring pizza?’
He considered. ‘Chinese,’ he said finally.
‘OK.’ She reached for the driver’s door. ‘Tony–thanks for tonight. And for being here in Bradfield.’
He looked surprised. Why would I be anywhere else? Everything I need is here. Instead of speaking his thoughts aloud, he patted her awkwardly on the shoulder. ‘See you tomorrow.’
She climbed into her car and drove off, conscious of him in her mirrors, standing on the pavement, watching her out of sight. She knew it was guilt that had brought him there. Once, that would have made her uncomfortable and angry. But she was a different woman now and that woman had learned to be grateful for good things, however complicated the package they arrived in.
Sam Evans edged the office door open cautiously. No lights inside. He slipped through the narrow gap and closed the door