Chapter 54
Chapter fifty-four
Sloan came downstairs, fastening the last of her jewellery.
“You look nice,” Gloria said, watching Sloan wrestle with an earring back. “Where are you taking her?”
Sloan’s mouth twitched into a smile. “I thought Joie was the perfect spot, down by the river.” She found the clasp and snapped it shut. “I booked us a table for eight, thought we could grab some cocktails first, and then… Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”
Gloria nodded. “Got the phone if I need you. But I won’t.”
“I worry. That’s all,” Sloan said. “I’m not ready to lose you. Not as well.”
“That’s good, because I’ve no plans to go anywhere just yet. Not when I’ve finally got some freedom back.”
Sloan’s gaze snapped back to her. “You’re not going out on that bloody scooter, are you?”
Gloria chuckled. “Ruining all my fun.” When Sloan looked like she might be taking her seriously, she said. “I’m going to watch some telly, then eat whatever snack I talk you into making, then I’m going to go up to bed, on the lift, with the seatbelt.” She laid it out like a promise.
“Okay, good.” Sloan checked her watch again, a crease forming between her brows. Matty should’ve been back any minute.
“She’s probably fannying about with all that hair,” Gloria said when she saw Sloan’s face change.
“Yes, more than likely.”
***
By seven, Sloan was pacing the sitting room. The Uber was due any minute.
“She’s not answering her phone,” Sloan commented, thumb jabbing at the screen as she hit Call again. “What if she’s been in an accident?”
“If she’d had an accident, wouldn’t someone answer her phone?”
Sloan blinked. Considered it. “Yes, I suppose they would. So, where is she?”
Her phone beeped. Sloan snatched it up.
Her Uber driver was one minute away.
“The taxi’s almost here. I’ll have to cancel it.”
Gloria frowned. “Or go and find her.”
“You’re right. And if I find her yapping with those flatmates, losing track of time, I’ll—”
“Keep that private, love.” Gloria grinned. “Go on. Go and find her, give her a telling-off, and then wine and dine her. Or whatever it is you two do.”
“I can’t believe she’d stand me up.” Sloan pressed her lips together, inhaling a slow breath through her nose.
“Sloan, you don’t know what’s happened. Until you do, you keep breathing.
Now, I need crisps and a fresh glass of cordial.
” Gloria nodded towards the kitchen. “And by the time you’ve done that, your taxi will be here, and you are going to get in it and get your answers.
And if she’s stood you up, you come home. ”
***
Still calling Matty’s phone, Sloan slid into the back of the cab and sat bolt upright.
“Change of plan. Town centre, please.”
The driver looked back at her through the mirror. “Yep.”
“Thank you,” Sloan murmured and stared out of the window as hedgerows and fields smeared past the glass.
It didn’t take long to get there, and she pointed at a spot on the road to pull into then climbed out. Matty’s flat was just around the corner. The short walk would give her a little more time to get her head straight for the telling-off she’d been rehearsing.
But when she turned the corner, she stopped short. A police officer stood at the door while others pushed past him, going in and out. Some wore white forensic suits, the sort you only saw on telly.
Her heart raced and she moved without thinking.
She was in front of the officer before she’d decided to be.
“What’s going on?” she asked urgently, trying to see past him. The air stank—sharp, sour, that same weird reek from the shop downstairs. “Where’s Matty?”
“Can you step back, please?” the officer said, marching into her space.
“I need to know where Matty is. What’s happened? Is she alright?”
“I can’t help you, love. All I know is they’ve been arrested—”
“Arrested?” Sloan’s voice cracked. “What do you mean? Arrested for what?”
“Like I said, I can’t help you. You’ll have to go to the station and speak with someone there.”
“This is outrageous!” she snapped, then caught herself. “Just tell me—did anyone get hurt?”
He glanced around, then leaned in. “One person was taken to hospital, but I’ve no idea if it’s your friend or not.”
“Seriously injured?” Sloan braced herself for the reply.
“Broken nose. Something like that.”
Sloan blinked. Once. Twice. “Thank you.” She tried for a smile and failed. “I’ll head to the station.”
“Detective Saint. Ask for him. It’s his case.”
Sloan nodded, then turned and walked away before her legs remembered to shake, back the way she’d come and into town, across the square and out the other side.
It would take a good ten minutes to walk to the police station, and her heels were already punishing her.
“What have you got yourself into, Matty?”