Free Murder Ring (A DI Geraldine Steel Mystery) by Leigh Russell Page B

approaching him, and if anyone is hiding him, hopefully they’ll think twice about putting their own arse on the line. Right, that’s it for now.’
    They could do nothing but wait for Lenny to be picked up. Geraldine and Sam went for a drink after work. Instead of going to the pub nearest the police station where most of their colleagues often dropped by for a pint, they went to a pub they knew along the Edgware Road that served good food.
    ‘We could just go for a drink,’ Geraldine suggested.
    ‘I’m not going anywhere that doesn’t serve decent food.’
    Geraldine laughed. ‘OK, The Heritage Arms it is. And it’s on you.’
    ‘Hang on, I’m not expected to pay for the pleasure of your company, am I? I see you every day at work as it is.’
    Geraldine was pleased to have a chance to catch up with Sam. Since her colleague had returned to work, they had been too busy to go out together. As if by an unwritten agreement, neither of them mentioned work that evening. Geraldine began by asking Sam about her relationship status. The last she knew, Sam had been seeing a woman called Emily. Sam grinned.
    ‘Oh yes, we’re still together. We just get on well, you know? She’s really easy to be with. She stayed away when mum was around and I really missed seeing her.’
    Geraldine was surprised. ‘But your mother must know about you?’
    ‘Oh yes, she knows I’m a lesbian. She’s cool with it. I think she’s always known, even before I told her. But she’s ambivalent. I mean, she’s used to it, but deep down I think she still hopes I’ll change. She imagines I’ll wake up straight one morning, or meet Mr Right who will change my mind. Change me.’ She laughed. ‘It’s not going to happen. We both know that. The trouble is, my cousin’s just had a baby and mum’s desperate for me to follow suit. She gets kind of broody, you know, and she talks about my cousin all the time. She never used to mention her.’
    ‘That must be hard for you?’
    ‘Not really, but it’s bloody boring.’
    Geraldine gave a sympathetic smile. ‘My sister’s pregnant.’
    ‘So congratulations are in order? You’re going to be an aunt all over again. They all seem to be at it these days.’
    ‘Everyone except us.’
    ‘Yes. But would you really want to? Find a bloke, I mean, have a family, and all that. Somehow I don’t see you as a domestic goddess.’
    ‘No.’ Geraldine stifled a sigh. ‘I’ve not met anyone anyway, so it’s immaterial.’
    ‘But if you did, meet someone I mean, would you want children?’
    Geraldine shrugged. ‘It’s not something I’ve ever really thought about,’ she lied.
    Driving home, she tried not to think about Sam’s question. Apart from a long-term relationship in her twenties, the only man she had seriously fallen for had been a colleague, murdered shortly after their affair began. After losing him, she couldn’t imagine ever daring to fall in love again. She seemed destined to investigate the dead without ever engaging with the living. Blinking, she was surprised to discover that she was crying.

16
    G INA SAT DOWN on an empty bench, the slats hard and cold against her thighs. She shifted her weight forward. A dreary wait on a draughty platform was all she needed. Travelling all the way to Acton to see Cynthia had taken up most of the day, and had achieved nothing. Cynthia had grunted when Gina refused her offer of tea. ‘My cake not good enough for the likes of you?’ She hadn’t offered again.
    Gina had hoped to find Lenny there. It turned out Cynthia didn’t know where he was either, or if she did know she wasn’t letting on. The trip had been a waste of time. If it wasn’t for her engagement ring, Gina would be tempted to question whether Lenny was worth all the stress. He was a stingy sod most of the time. When he was home she lived in fear of him, when he was banged up she lived in fear of the other men on the estate. But her life was about to change. No one had ever given