Keeping Read Free Page B

question-and-answer session. Christ.
    She continued, strutting back and forth, her black trousers rustling with each step. “We know he abducts them from the field opposite Morrison’s supermarket. As Langham said, having our men at the stream each night isn’t going to work. The same goes for having them either at the abduction field, the forest behind it, or inside the supermarket. The killer will know by now that he’ll possibly be spotted. He has to take more care—and he will. I’m going to propose something and, while I know none of you would want this, and I appreciate your concern, I really do, I can’t sit idly by and wait for another woman’s body to turn up. I joined the force because…”
    Fuck. Here we go…
    Langham watched her show, half-listened to how she wanted to rid London of criminals, and while she couldn’t do that by herself she’d give it a damn good try. Her father had been a copper, her grandfather before that, blah-de-fucking-blah. About to step in and stop her diatribe, Langham was brought up short by her strident voice cutting into his thoughts.
    “…as bait.” She slammed her hands onto her hips and eyed everyone, then her gaze finally fell on Langham.
    “What?” he managed. He hadn’t expected that. Yes, she was dedicated—more dedicated than most of the people there—but to offer herself up like that? No fucking way. It hadn’t come to that. Not yet.
    “I’ll be one of the women. A dog walker. I’ll go every evening at the same time. Walk the field’s perimeter and see if I spot anyone suspicious. I mean, we should have done this ages ago. I did say, but no one listened.” She huffed out a breath. “Or, they listened but didn’t agree to it.”
    She was getting at him, he knew that—he’d obviously tuned her out when she’d suggested it before—but his hands were tied anyway from those above him. Sending her out there wouldn’t just be sending her out. Other officers would have to be involved, watching her as she walked, and sparing so many men every night… They had no solid idea of when the next victim was likely to be abducted, so her idea just wasn’t viable.
    He explained that to her.
    She narrowed her eyes. “Just as I thought. Silly of me to suggest such a thing.”
    Langham smiled, going for genuine but thinking he’d missed it by a bloody long shot. “Besides, you’re blonde.”
    She frowned, shaking her head as though he was the dumbest motherfucker she’d seen in a long time.
    “He hasn’t taken a blonde.” Langham gestured to the pictures on the board. “All brunettes, all blue-eyed. A brown-eyed blonde wouldn’t pique his interest.”
    Villier’s cheeks flushed. She’d never admit to not seeing that obvious fact—or having not been listening when he’d pointed it out a few weeks ago. She sighed. “Uh, hello? Wigs? Contact lenses? Heard of them?”
    Her tone and attitude got on his last fucking nerve. Sod going gently on her now. “While I appreciate your input, in future you’re better off giving it from your seat, like everyone else does. Also, as the leading detective in this case, I get to decide whether we take such a drastic step. As for hearing about wigs and contact lenses? Yes, I tend to wear them on the nights I go out in drag, I thought you knew that, seeing as it’s never been a secret I’m a raging bender.”
    Rumbles of laughter. A whoop.
    “Now, Sergeant Villier, please return to your seat and I’ll write your suggestion on the board. We may, may discuss it at a later date, but at the moment it’s a no-go.”
    She stared at him, cheeks getting redder, then turned away and made a dignified walk back to her chair. He’d been a bastard to her, showing her up like that in front of everyone, but fuck, she pushed his buttons and his reprimand had been a long time coming. He didn’t want to have to tell his boss about her, but if she continued like this he’d have to.
    He decided to change the subject. “The