‘You know what, Clyde? You two have a spoilt life. You don’t have to worry about evil people. All you have to do is sit there and eat your carrots.’
Clyde wriggled his nose.
Kay smiled, lowered him back into the cage and secured the latch, and then washed her hands before helping herself to a large glass of wine while she prepared her own dinner.
As she worked, she gave a running commentary to the guinea pigs, then stopped abruptly.
‘I’m losing the plot.’
She frowned, recognising her actions for what they were – a way of pushing the thought of tomorrow’s operation to one side.
A sense of unease washed over her, and she shook her head as she served up the pasta onto a plate and pulled out a stool at the end of the worktop.
It would do no good to worry. DCI Harrison and his SOCU team were well versed in such matters, and they had support from the Border Agency and some of their own uniformed officers.
Still, a frisson of nerves and excitement sent a shiver down her spine.
Would Demiri be there?
Would she finally get the chance to arrest him?
She pushed her plate away, unable to stomach the food, realising she wouldn’t be able to relax tonight, despite Sharp’s advice.
She wandered over to the refrigerator and topped up her glass, then nearly dropped it when her mobile phone began to ring.
‘Get a grip,’ she muttered, and hurried back to the worktop. She smiled when she saw the caller’s name.
‘Hey, you.’
‘Hello,’ said Adam. ‘Bad news, I’m afraid. The weather forecast isn’t improving and they’ve cancelled my flight. It doesn’t look like I’ll be leaving here until tomorrow night now.’
‘That’s a pain. Have you managed to get in touch with the clinic?’
As Adam spoke about the various calls he’d made to his colleagues and the arrangements he’d made for his extended absence, Kay wondered if she should tell him about the planned operation for the following night.
After all, if Adam was home right now, she’d tell him.
Yet, he was over four hundred miles away, stranded with no way to get home, and it seemed unfair to give him any cause for concern.
She knew him too well – he would only worry – or do something drastic, like hire a car and drive home.
She bit her lip.
‘So, what’s happening there?’ he said.
‘All good. The investigation has been going well, and we’re hoping to have a result soon.’
‘You’re staying away from trouble?’
She closed her eyes, thankful he hadn’t said Demiri’s name, and grateful she wouldn’t have to lie.
‘Yes.’
‘Well, keep out of trouble for another twenty-four hours,’ he said, and sighed. ‘I can’t believe I’m stuck up here tonight instead of being with you.’
‘Don’t worry,’ said Kay. ‘I’ll be fine.’
Chapter Forty-Nine
Kay shoved her hands into her pockets and burrowed her face into the thick scarf she’d wrapped around her neck before leaving the station to drive to the coast.
She squinted in the fading moonlight as it scuttled behind clouds that obscured their view of the thrashing water of the English Channel pummelling the beach below.
Boots on sand sounded next to her, and Gavin appeared at her shoulder.
‘Do you think he’ll be here?’
She lifted her head and gasped at the cold wind that whipped at her face. She turned her back to the beach for a brief respite from the elements, and peered into the scrubby undergrowth that bordered the coast road.
‘He’ll be here. Somewhere. I can’t imagine he’ll want to lose his investment.’
Gavin grunted in response and glanced up at the sky.
‘It’s clouding over. Looks like we’re going to get some more rain.’
Kay turned her attention back to the sea. ‘It’ll help him. We won’t be able to spot the boat until it’s almost here.’
‘If we have the right place.’
‘Where’s Harrison?’
‘About half a mile up that way.’ Gavin pointed to their left. ‘He’s got teams spread out along the beach here, and into the next cove, just in case.’
‘Carys and Barnes?’
‘Beyond Harrison’s position, by the next lot of groyne posts in the distance.’
Kay narrowed her eyes against the wind, catching a dark shadow at the end of the furthest post away from the water’s edge. She glanced over her shoulder to the tumbledown cottage set back from the beach, its walls covered in ivy and its interior in darkness.
‘No sign of the owner?’
‘No. There’s one of the free papers sticking out of the letterbox. Must be away. Barnes tried to rouse someone half an hour ago, but there’s no response.’
‘Shame. I’m surprised the DCI doesn’t know the owner though. Thought he was keeping an eye on this part of the coastline.’
‘Reckon it’s one of Harrison’s informants?’
Kay shivered. ‘Rather his than Demiri’s.’
They fell silent and turned back to the water.
Kay had wanted to question Harrison’s orders that the team split up along the length of the beach, but a sense of respect for Sharp made her hold her tongue.
She couldn’t help feeling that she and Gavin were exposed so far from the rest of the team, but Harrison had been insistent and, in the end, she’d bit back her questions and resigned herself to a support role for the operation.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a tap on her arm from Gavin.
‘Look.’
He pointed out to the darkened waters, and she followed his line of sight.
‘I can’t see anything.’
‘I thought I saw something. Guess not.’
‘This’d be so much easier if Fox’s Border Agency lot were here.’
‘Well, you heard him talking to Sharp and Harrison before we left the station. He was adamant he’d position his team further along the coast near Dymchurch, because that’s where they’ve caught people before.’
‘Yes – and it was all over the news when that happened, so I’m sure it’s a “no-go” zone for people smugglers now.’
‘I guess we have to try to cover as much as we can, Sarge.’
‘I know. You’re right. Be sod’s law they do turn up along there, and—’
Kay heard Gavin’s sharp
