The overcast sky and spittle of rain hitting her face on the way into work that morning almost seemed to perfectly reflect Maggie’s mood that day. She stared out of the window. Kate was still on her mind after their phone call.
Maggie’s shoulders were tight, and she hadn’t realized how worried she was until this moment. She rubbed the back of her neck, and as she looked up she saw Nathan coming down the corridor.
‘Everything OK?’ Nathan came over to her.
‘Yeah. Just got off the phone with Kate and she’s organised some additional security as a precaution while all this is going on.’
‘Did you tell her more about the case than we agreed?’ Nathan frowned.
‘She’d already seen the news, and once she put my panicky calls and the news story together, she pretty much figured things out for herself.’
Nathan turned on his heels. ‘In my office now, please.’
Maggie raised a brow. Nathan clearly wasn’t happy with her. She stood and followed him back into his office.
‘Have a seat.’ He pointed to a chair.
‘OK. You look pissed off. What have I done?’
‘I’m slightly concerned that you may have unnecessarily scared Dr Moloney by linking these cases together.’
‘Are you being serious?’ Maggie’s eyes widened.
‘Yes. I am. Look, I’m not only speaking to you as your boss here. There have been a few discussions about how you sometimes come across as a bit arrogant.’
‘What the hell, Nathan? You’re the one who told me to speak to Kate. No one else was going to do it. I just wanted to be upfront with her. She’s a friend as well as a colleague – and she may be at risk.’
‘Hang on. Let me finish. People don’t know you the way I and some of the team do, Maggie. We know how your brain works, and how you have this uncanny ability to connect the dots sometimes well in advance of when the rest of us do. But you need to tone things down. Be confident in your thoughts, of course, but let others share their theories and support them the same way you’d expect to be supported.’
Maggie’s shoulders drooped. ‘Do I really come across that way? It’s not how I’d like people to see me.’
‘I know. And it’s not all the time. What I’m saying is, just be mindful in future.’
‘I hear what you’re saying, but it’s not something I do consciously. I’ll try my best. If you feel I’m overstepping the mark, just tell me. I’d rather that than have people talking about me behind my back.’ Maggie’s shoulders tensed.
‘For the record, no one was talking behind your back, and you did also receive some high praise, especially from DI Rutherford who is impressed with your ability to spot things while focusing on all lines of enquiry.’
Maggie blushed. She’d never expected that DI Rutherford would speak of her so highly. She was still pissed off with Nathan though. ‘OK. Thanks for letting me know.’ She huffed.
‘Don’t be like that, Maggie. I wouldn’t be much of a boss – or a friend – if I didn’t tell you.’
‘Of course.’ Maggie pursed her lips. ‘I’m sure I’d do the same if I were in your position.’
Nathan shook his head. ‘I’m sure you would.’
Maggie turned to go. She hoped this was just a blip and they could go back to how things should be. Nathan knew she’d always been self-conscious about how she appeared to others, and hearing it, especially from him, really knocked her back.
‘Before you go, Bethany has been out to speak with the family of the missing woman, Tracy Holloway. I spoke to Dr Blake earlier and the forensic report should be with us at some point today. Contact any friends you can and I’ll see you in the incident room shortly.’
‘Yes, boss.’ She stood.
Nathan had a funny look on his face but Maggie didn’t want to push him. If he’d wanted her to know, he would have shared it there and then. She’d wait until the briefing.
Her shoulders tightened once again and her gut felt like someone had grabbed her insides and was having a tug of war. She didn’t have a good feeling about any of this.