Chapter 31 #3
He looked out over the view across the dips and heights of the country park we were in, the city a long way away from here, although it currently couldn’t be seen through the dense cloud cover.
“Places you don’t have access to quickly, and I know where to look.
I’m no further ahead than you are at the moment, but I don’t think you’re incel theory has got legs.
” He pushed rather wild dark brown hair out of his face, the wind pulling at it.
He wasn’t telling me anything I wasn’t convinced about myself.
“So why are you here to see me today? And why me, while we’re at it?” I wrapped my arms around myself, the heat from his hoodie needed now my body was rapidly cooling.
“Because I’ve got something else for you, but you’re going to get weirded out by it.
And why you? Because you’re easy to find and you were less likely to cause a fuss.
It’s not the first time I’ve been an informant.
” He didn’t make eye contact with me, focusing on the path in front towards the car park.
“What is it you do when you’re not passing on information?”
“Tech stuff. Here, hang on.” He opened a different car to the other week, a white Lexus, large with tinted rear windows. I peered in as best I could, noticing a car seat for a child and a bag from a supermarket.
“Have you got a kid?” I’d usually be more polite, but given Atlas had effectively been spying on me, I felt we were past that point.
“Yes, but she wouldn’t fit in that. This is a mate’s car. Here.” He passed me an envelope, white, A5 size. “Do you have time for a coffee because you’re going to want to ask me questions when you see those photos.”
“I thought you didn’t know any more about the case?”
“This isn’t about the case, Mia. Let me get a coat.” He eyed his hoodie.
“You can have this back. I’ll get mine from my car.”
“Leave it. We’re not at the stage where I want to share your sweat.” He opened the boot and took out a fleece jacket, logo free. “I’ll let you buy me a coffee though.”
There was a café where some of the runners would get a sociable drink at the end of a race, or families would wait for them to finish. I left Atlas at a table and ordered two coffees; he hadn’t told me how he took it, so he got the same as me.
It was decent coffee, and hopefully strong enough to prepare me for what was in the envelope because I hadn’t opened it yet.
“Here.” I put the cup down in front of him. “Your turn next.” I sat down, taking the envelope out of the pocket in his hoodie. “Is this to do with my dad?”
“No. I only know that Stan’s incarcerated and what for. This is closer to home.” He rubbed his face, watching me. “I didn’t know whether to show you these or not.”
I opened the envelope and pulled out a series of photographs, date stamped the previous Sunday during the day.
There were two people in the photos, both of whom I knew.
My flatmate and my boyfriend, standing in the kitchen, Cavan’s arms wrapped around Lucy, his lips pressed to her neck, one of his hands cupping her breast through her clothes.
I looked at the next picture; this time they were kissing.
I put the photos back in the envelope without looking any further.
“How did you get hold of these and are there any more invasions of privacy I need to know about?” That was the most important question.
“No. A colleague took this from the building opposite, the flat above the bakers. I knew where you lived and we weren’t looking at you – it’s coincidence that your apartment was nearby.
I can’t prove any of that so you can either trust me, or not.
If it makes you feel any better, I know where Vinny lives as well, and Nick.
I’ll tell you more when I can.” He was calm, professional, even.
“I didn’t want to email you these, but I didn’t think it was right to not show you them. ”
“These aren’t doctored? You haven’t cooked them up on AI?”
He shook his head. “No. I wouldn’t have time.”
“But you’d have the skillset?”
“Yes.”
“Can you take them. I’ve seen what I needed to.” I passed him back the envelope. “Why Atlas?”
He stood up, putting the envelope in the back pocket of his jeans. “Because he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, so it felt appropriate. Do two things for me.”
“Why should I? I don’t even know your real name, yet you know where I lived and that my boyfriend’s shagging my flatmate. There seems to be a power imbalance here.” I took a gulp of too hot coffee and swallowed it before I spat it out.
He nodded, as if he was saying he understood what I meant, fidgeting with his jacket.
“Taz. That’s all I can give you right now.
I’m not associated with Stan or anyone from that world.
Two things – watch your back, and for fuck’s sake, get rid of that arsehole you’ve been seeing.
You can do better.” He picked up the coffee, shot me a smile and headed out of the café, leaving me with the rest of my drink, a burnt mouth and a feeling of being betrayed.