Kate put her hand on Helen Archer's door to steady herself. She must have invited him back. What else was there that she couldn't remember? She turned around and almost fell back against the door with shock.
'What the hell are you doing?'
'I need to speak to you.'
'No.' She shook her head and tried to push past. 'I've got nothing to say to you.'
But he held her arm, and she had to look up at him again. At the dark curly hair and the dark brown eyes. But in those eyes she didn't see scorn or hate or self-importance. She saw hurt, pain and concern. Enough to break her heart. She stopped struggling, all resistance gone, the bones in her body like soft fabric.
'What do you want, Jack?'
'We need to talk.'
Heavy drops of rain splashed onto the windscreen of his car and Delaney turned the ignition a notch and flicked his wipers on, but made no move to start his engine.
Next to him, Kate sighed and pulled her coat tighter to herself, as if cashmere and wool could protect her from her emotions. 'What do you want to say, Jack? I haven't got the energy for an argument.'
'I know. And I'm sorry. I've been trying to get hold of you all morning.'
'How did you know where I was?'
'I got the boys to triangulate your mobile.'
'Is that legal?'
'I needed to speak to you.'
'And it couldn't have waited?'
'I thought you were dead, Kate.'
Kate looked over at him, shocked. 'What are you talking about?'
'There was another murder. Another bad one. Mutilation . . .' He shook his head at the memory. 'We think it's the same man.'
'What's that got to do with me? I've given my notice in, you know.'
Delaney took her gloved hands and held them tight. 'No, I didn't know. But she was wearing your scarf, Kate. The victim. It was either yours or one exactly the same. It was deliberate.'
'And you thought it was me, you thought the victim was me?'
Delaney nodded. 'For a moment. And what he did to her . . .'
Kate sat there for a moment, letting him hold her hands as she took it all in.
'I don't want to lose you again, Kate.'
She felt the tiny pinpricks in her eyes again. God, but the man's timing was bloody excellent. She finally collected her thoughts and squeezed his hands back.
'You're right. We do need to talk. But not here. Not now. There are things we need to take care of
