When Michelle had left, Nancy bent down and picked up the shiny brochure from the floor. She riffled through the pile of papers and found two more. She laid them out in front of her.
Three very desirable properties, two to rent and one – in need of thoughtful renovation which was estate-agent speak for being an uninhabitable wreck – to buy. One was in Kent, another in Bedfordshire and the third in Essex. As far as Nancy could make out from the photos, two were on the edges of tiny satellite villages and one seemed to be the middle of nowhere.
She pictured herself walking across muddy fields, the wind driving into her face, a few stunted trees on the horizon and not a cafe or shop in sight and the lurch of panic that she felt made her dizzy.
She strode into the kitchen and pushed the brochures deep into the recycling bin. She tried not to think about it because thinking about it made her so angry that she couldn’t bear it.
The anger took her out of the house before she could prevent herself, into the street. The wind whipped at her, slashed her hair across her cheeks, flung a few drops of rain into her face, but she was hot with her rage and it was only when she was halfway down the road that she realised she hadn’t put on a coat and was only wearing a thin jumper and shoes that let in the wet. Voices clamoured in her head, imploring her not to do this, to turn back, to remember what she was risking, but she thought of Felix planning to remove her from London without even discussing it and her feet quickened.
She burst into the station, banging the door shut behind her and stomping up to the desk.
‘I want to see the head detective, Kemp.’ Her voice was loud and shrill. She lowered it an octave and tried to sound calmer. ‘At once, please.’
‘What’s this about?’ asked the man, regarding her with a belittling indifference.
‘I have something very important to tell him about Kira Mullan and he needs to listen.’
‘I’m not sure—’
‘He can’t just ignore me. I’ll report him. Who do I report him to?’
‘Name?’
‘I told you. Kemp.’
‘Your name.’
‘Nancy North.’
She needed to keep the righteous fury alive, to bat away the knowledge that she was doing something foolish, perhaps damaging. Her heart raced.
The man picked up the phone on the desk and turned from her, speaking in a low voice so she couldn’t hear the words.
‘Through that door.’ He pointed. ‘Along the corridor and third on your left.’
‘Good. Thanks.’
She marched on. Don’t think, don’t pause. She knocked on the door and pushed it open before the man behind it had time to tell her to come in.
He was large. His shoulders were broad, his chest was like a barrel, his trousers were slightly too tight. His muscles bulged through the shirt sleeves. I bet he works out, Nancy thought, and she pictured him and Seamus together in a gym, pumping iron, their faces glistening.
‘I’m Nancy North and you never interviewed me,’ she said, sitting down although he hadn’t invited her to. ‘I’ve got information. Important information.’
Kemp looked at her, taking his time, smiling slightly in a way that made her feel a bit sick.
‘This is about Kira Mullan, right?’
‘Of course it is.’
‘That case is closed.’
‘How can it be closed if you haven’t interviewed me?’
‘My colleague interviewed you.’
‘That was a waste of time.’
‘I agree. A waste of her time. We’re very busy, especially at this time of year, but she took the time to come and see you. As a matter of courtesy.’
‘She didn’t listen to what I told her.’
‘She listened very patiently.’
‘Aren’t you going to ask me what I believe?’
‘I know what you believe, and I also know you have a history of believing things that aren’t true. That are all in your head.’
‘And that’s it?’
‘That’s it. You’re lucky we aren’t charging you.’
‘Charging me? For trying to help you?’
Kemp leaned forward. Sweat glistened on his forehead.
‘Shall I spell it out?’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘You hear voices, don’t you?’
‘That’s not the point.’
‘It’s very much the point. You were locked up because you weren’t in your right mind.’
‘I should have known this was no use.’
‘You’ve wasted our time and you’ve tried to get in the way of our investigation.’
‘No.’
‘Do you know what I think? I think you just want attention. Well, you’re not getting mine.’
Nancy rose to her feet. Her legs were shaking.
‘You’re an arsehole,’ she said.
He smiled again.
‘Lucky I’m in a good mood,’ he said. ‘You can leave now and I don’t want to hear from you again.’