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a list of who knows, and sheā€™ll be assessing which one of them had the balls to use that information to their advantage. It wonā€™t be long before your name comes up and she considers whether it was you. Okay, you kind of grew up with her, Lenny taking you under his wing anā€™ all that, but for years people involved kept quiet about that fridge, then you come along for the last few months, Cassieā€™s right hand, and someone tries to steal the gear.ā€

She paused, staring out through the glass in the back door, and he studied her, desperate to know what she was thinkingā€”whether she thought he was a prick like his father would have.

ā€œYou made a mistake telling me about that fridge,ā€ she went on. ā€œWe could say that means you trust me, but you should never have let it slip.ā€ She pinched her bottom lip and twisted it. Let it go. Slapped her palm on her thigh. ā€œThank fuck I wonā€™t be passing it on, thatā€™s all I can say. Just watch your mouth in future, all right? Think before you speak, remember who youā€™re talking toā€”ask yourself if theyā€™re someone who could get you right in the shit.ā€

ā€œFair point.ā€ He wished heā€™d brought the JD with him, he could use a swig at the moment. ā€œIā€™ll bear that in mind.ā€ He paced again, something niggling at him, but he couldnā€™t quite grasp it. Then it hit him, what had been discussed at Handel Farm. ā€œLennyā€™s books. Ledgers or whatever. Someone else mentioned those. What are they?ā€

She widened her eyes. ā€œDonā€™t even think of trying to read them. Theyā€™re all in code. Cassie and Francis donā€™t know Iā€™m aware of them; Lenny told me one night years ago when he was sloshed. I was sworn to secrecy.ā€

Jason laughed. ā€œAnd thereā€™s you banging on, saying I shouldnā€™t have told you about the fridge.ā€

She narrowed her eyes at him. ā€œThereā€™s a difference. You already knew about the ledgers. You brought them up.ā€

She had him there, no denying it. Sodding hell, heā€™d have to keep a closer eye on Cassie now Brenda had said sheā€™d be looking for whoever had told Brett about the fridgeā€”heā€™d known that, was with her when sheā€™d said about it, but he hadnā€™t flipped the coin over to see what was on the other side, how it would affect him. Heā€™d been too cocky in thinking she wouldnā€™t suspect him. The pool of people who knew was small, and Cassie was an enormous shark, circling for blood.

If he didnā€™t get her mind off searching, heā€™d be bitten.

 

Chapter Eighteen

Cassie and Doreen sat at the kitchen island with Mam, coffees in front of them as well as a dinner plate of cheese-and-ham sandwiches, half of them gone, crumbs and a golden nugget of cheddar in their place. Having heard what Doreen had to say, Cassie had digested the information and worked out how theyā€™d deal with the situation later. Mam nattered to Doreen about making sure she could handle what was to comeā€”not just at the time but afterwards, the guiltā€”and Doreen assured her sheā€™d be fine, a mysterious expression flitting over her face, gone before Cassie could identify its meaning.

ā€˜Fineā€™ remained to be seen. Once blood was spilt, the woman might lose her shit.

Cassie waited for a lull in the conversation and expressed her thoughts. ā€œRight, you go along with whatever Karen suggests.ā€ She smiled at Doreen. ā€œAs sheā€™s already agreed to the two-in-the-morning thing, weā€™ll meet at The Beast then. Iā€™ll be in the alley opposite in Old Barrington way before thatā€”get her to agree to you parking outside the first row on New so Sculptorā€™s Field is between us. I donā€™t want the risk of her coming down that alley or seeing my car.ā€ Perhaps sheā€™d have one nicked and change the plates. There was still time.

Doreen frowned. ā€œWhat if she insists on leaving hers in Old?ā€

Cassie picked up a quarter triangle of sandwich. ā€œMake a racket, slam the car door or something, and Iā€™ll jump over the fence into a garden.ā€ She grimaced, thinking of vaulting the one at the laundrette. ā€œIā€™ve got some experience doing that.ā€

She glanced at Mam to see if that garnered a laugh, but her mother seemed distracted by something else. Did it have owt to do with Lou Wilson coming round this morning? Lou had been leaving as Cassie had rolled up on the drive, stating theyā€™d had a catch-up over coffee and Cassie would need to come and see her soon; she had something she wanted to put to her. Cassie didnā€™t have room in her head at the minute to wonder what that was.

Mam snapped out of her fugue and gave her two pence worth. ā€œIā€™ll be comingā€”no arguing over that eitherā€”and Iā€™m not vaulting a bloody fence. Imagine the scenario that Cassieā€™s already dead. Tell Karen people wonā€™t be expecting someone to have come from New Barrington to kill Cassie. Push the point that itā€™s the Old lot whoā€™d have a beef, and with Cassie murdered, Iā€™d more than likely concentrate my efforts there when trying to find whoā€™d killed her. Theyā€™re the ones who get their knickers in a twistā€”and Karen should know, sheā€™s one of them. So if you park in New, sheā€™ll think youā€™re trying to get any suspicion off her by doing so.ā€

ā€œOkay.ā€ Doreen sipped some coffee. ā€œChanging the subject a minuteā€¦ I have to tell you something. Explain the reason why I wonā€™t have any guilt.ā€ She turned to Mam.

Uneasy, Cassie paused mid-chew. ā€œWhatā€¦ā€

Doreen gave the plate her attention. ā€œIā€™ve basically killed beforeā€”or made sure they ended up dead anyroad.ā€

Shock sent Cassie rearing backwards for a second, as if her subconscious warned her to get away from Doreen, the secret-keeper; her past antics coming out now were meant to be in one of the ledgers, and Cassie should

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