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SOPHIE RUMMAGED THROUGH the drawers in Morgan’s room but to no avail. The pistol and sim card were not in there. She pursed her lips and shut the drawer behind her. Where would Morgan have put it?
“Darl?” The Recluse whispered from the hallway. “I know you want the girl but if you want her underwear so badly, just take it off her.”
Sophie smiled and strolled to join her. “She isn’t confessing to the whereabouts of my property.”
“Then work her.” The Recluse rolled her eyes and led her along to the room she had been designated. “You’re starting to sound like she’s working you.”
Sophie pursed her lips and headed into The Recluse’s room. The kid was on Jackie’s laptop, gaze on the screen and those large headphones clamped on her head.
“Give me that look all you like, I’ve met her myself now.” The Recluse nodded and stretched out her back, then headed into the bathroom, and flicked on the shower. Sophie followed and perched on the toilet lid. “The words ‘honey’ and ‘snare’ work for you?”
“She is loyal. She wishes to prove herself in a new position.” Sophie folded her arms.
The Recluse stripped off and put her hands on her hips. “Darl, that’s nearly as clever as when you said, ‘Don’t get rid of Jackie, she’s loyal. She loves me.’” She wagged her finger and headed into the shower. “I get the lure, young De Breton, but there aren’t many who really mean it.”
“My businesses are more a worry right now.” No, she was content that Morgan really did care for her as foolish as that sounded. Morgan was open and genuine. “Rhys Mead seems to have been busy.”
“His mother needed help with all your money.” The Recluse lathered her lithe body. She did have new scars as she’d said. One very large one on her side. “I have my feelers out, Darl. We’ll catch the rat.”
“Be aware the police are chasing their own leads.” Sophie took a towel from the rail and ran her hand over its fluffy surface. “I sent them after Bright. I want to make him jumpy. It’ll make things easier for you.”
“Flushing him?” The Recluse grinned, she took her time washing her hair as if it was some kind of show. Long languid minutes later, she stepped from the shower into the waiting towel.
“Yes, I should have listened about Jackie and Mead.” She rubbed over the scar on The Recluse’s side. “This one is deep.”
“Yeah, kid got in some trouble and I caused more trouble.” The Recluse kissed her on the lips. “No worries.”
Sophie sighed and leaned her forehead to The Recluse’s. “The police found one of my hairs in Jackie’s flat . . . when I cleaned the scene.”
The Recluse leaned back. “Someone uncleaned it?”
Sophie nodded.
“Must have been Jackie’s boy. If he was pushing for more money, he was like his mother, too greedy.” The Recluse lingered close to her lips. “As much as I’m enjoying your attention, Darl, you look ready to stop it.” She smiled. “Oh, the girl has her claws in you nicely.”
“No.” Sophie ran her hand up the side of The Recluse’s scarred bicep, the smoothness of her skin, the familiarity of it.
The Recluse gripped her hand. “You didn’t get in the shower, Darl. She’s got you. If she is feeding her fiancé information then that becomes my problem.”
Sophie nodded and pulled her hand free. “She is not feeding them information. She is getting it for me.”
“Either way, I’m watching her. If I need to, I remove her influence.” The Recluse lifted her chin to hold her gaze. “I mean it.”
“I know.” Sophie pulled away and headed into the bedroom. The kid was still tapping away. “Anything?” she asked, pulling the headphones away.
“Yeah. He’s used the card in a shop about ten miles from here.” The kid grinned up at her. “Bought eighty pounds worth of petrol so my guess is he thinks he’s going somewhere.”
Sophie looked over her shoulder.
“I think I might take a long drive after him.” The Recluse winked. “Kid, you checked the closest motorway camera?”
“Yep, had the number plate ten minutes ago, duh.” The kid rolled her eyes. “I was waiting for you two to stop being so gross.”
Sophie perched on the desk beside her. “What disgusts you about me handing over a towel?”
“The fact she was showing off her wrinkled bum again.” The kid shook her head. “Dunno what you see in her.”
The Recluse narrowed her eyes. “How many times you need me to tell you, you put the dimples on my bum, before I had to carry you, I was fine.”
“Bite me.” The kid got up. “We going then?”
The Recluse shook her finger, amidst changing. “You are playing nice keeping an eye on her new trophy. I’m having some fun.”
“What?” The kid slunk to one hip and scowled.
“Me time.” The Recluse nodded and kissed the kid on the cheek. “If you bug her, she’ll shoot you.”
The kid rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” Said in the American way. “I’m going to wash off your gross slobber.”
The Recluse kissed Sophie on the lips, laughed, and headed out of the door.
Sophie pulled her lips in, tasting the balm The Recluse always wore. Was Morgan loyal? She had believed Jackie had been and she’d saved Jackie’s life. She’d stopped The Recluse using her as a wall mounting and stopped Jackie’s husband from doing the same. And yet, that had provided verbal confessions of love after a while, physical professions of it much sooner, but even so, Jackie had rolled her over fair and square.
Sophie got up and stalked out of the room. It was not a pleasant thought.