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NOW HOW COOL was Sophie?
Considering what Wood had been like to her, that Henry had been so set on hurting her, that I was wearing armour that should have been a national treasure of its own, she was composed, gracious, and calm.
Yes, there were “no comments” about Eugenie but then I suspected that was to hide that Eugenie and Kate were alive and beating people up.
Wood was delighted with her haul as Henry was shoved into the riot van at the gates. “I got word from Trin who is coming around pretty quickly,” she said, strolling over to me in a glamourous trouser suit. “Her mother helped her call because she desperately wanted to explain Sophie’s brother attacked her not Sophie. She said there was pottery on the ticket stub but it was from the betting shop. She went into the betting shop when I was talking to Sophie and saw Henry in there. She noticed the scar and cross-checked it with a picture of Henry going home after his injuries.” Wood shook her head. “She . . .” She sighed. “That girl I said she met in a nightclub?”
“Is she alright?” I leaned onto a squad car with my elbow.
“Yes, now . . . but only because I recognised her when I came to talk to you in the pub. She was the barmaid. Apparently a bit of an unofficial informant too.” Wood looked down at her heels then shook her head. “Girl gave us perfect times when Henry was at the pub and, considering how habitual he was, he missed lunch on the day Jackie was killed.”
“So you’re happy Sophie didn’t kill her now?” I wasn’t sure how easily Wood was going to let her hunch go.
“Aye, but she’s not innocent by a long shot,” Wood said with a knowing smile and held up her finger as I went to speak. “Don’t give me your spiel. She is still hiding something but . . .” She held up her hands. “I’ve had my fill of trying to work out Lady Sophie Haye.”
I smiled. “First case as a SIO closed with a flourish.” I patted her on the shoulder. “And, although you really need to work on that hunch fever you have going on . . . you got the result.” I held her gaze. “Well done.”
Wood laughed an exhausted laugh. “As much as I want to hear you say that, the only reason I’m still employed is that, once again, I had my skin saved by you.”
“Well, if you’re not trying to jail the love of my life, you might find I’m someone you can call if you need to.” I glanced back up at the manor, mists engulfing the grounds, lights twinkling against the night sky.
Wood let through a warm smile. “I might take you up on that, although Trin seems to have a bit of a nose herself.”
I nodded. “I know, I’m in shock. She was shit at the exam papers.”
Wood chuckled. “Yeah. She’s even more shit at paperwork.” She rolled her eyes and tapped the top of the car. She went to walk off, then stopped. “You know, for what it’s worth, I’d have taken the blows for you right back.”
“Thank you.” I moved my hand so it whirred. “You know . . . it changed my life but . . .” I smiled. “Feels good to be me, right now.”
Wood nodded and headed to her car, and I smiled at Malcom with his ice pack on his nose.
“You did great,” I said and squeezed his shoulder. He’d somehow managed to fight off Henry enough that Mick only got concussed.
“Thanks, ma’am.” He smiled through watery eyes. “Just glad Lady Haye and everyone are okay.” And there was that loyalty I saw so often.
I turned and headed up to the house through the mist. Oddly, it didn’t feel threatening or hostile but seemed to wrap around me like it approved. I smiled and wandered along enjoying the feeling.
Yeah. For the first time in my life, I was happy to be me.