Lee Weeks - Cold as Ice

‘You don’t want any responsibilities?’

He shook his head. ‘Why would I? Way too immature. I want to spend my money on myself.’

She smiled. ‘I noticed the coat – very nice.’

He looked like he’d been caught out.

‘Yeah – I’m lucky. I don’t have to worry too much. I got left a house. I rent out a couple of rooms in it to pay the bills.’ He looked apologetic. ‘You’ve had it tough, I take it? Difficult childhood?’ His eyes had hardened slightly, as if he’d heard it all before and was hoping for something different from her.

She smiled, shrugged. ‘It’s all comparative, isn’t it? If I was a child growing up in Sierra Leone I’d think my childhood over here was a piece of cake. But – yeah – it wasn’t ideal.’

He looked at her curiously; his smile was back. His eyes were focused on her and affectionate.

‘It’s how things affect you personally, isn’t it?’ he said. She nodded. ‘And… it looks like it didn’t do you any harm. You’re doing the best you can for Archie.’ He looked around. ‘Where is Archie?’

‘My aunt’s looking after him for me. He’s got chicken pox.’

‘Un-lucky. Does she live far from you?’

‘Not far.’

‘Will you be able to get out again? It’s just that there’s another really nice group who you didn’t meet and they’re meeting up tomorrow evening for a Christmas drink if that’s any good for you? It will start at the Pear and Peach on Upper Street. Saturday nights are always quite lively in there. Could be fun.’

‘Yeah. I should be able to get out. Shall I let you know on Facebook?’

‘Or text me. I don’t really like spending hours on Facebook. I’ve got better things to do with my time.’

‘I know what you mean. I’ll message you,’ Ebony answered.

‘I better get back to work now.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Coffee break is over.’

‘Of course. Thanks for meeting me.’

‘Not at all. I’m glad you’re going to be around next year. Should be fun.’ Ebony watched him as he struggled to say something. ‘You know, I didn’t mean I wouldn’t date someone with a child. I just meant… well…’ He shrugged. ‘You know?’ She nodded. ‘I’d like to ask you out. I’m into opera – don’t laugh… or we could take in the ballet if you’d like? The Nutcracker is on at Sadler’s Wells?’

‘You picked the only one I know! I’d love to, Yan, but I can’t at the moment.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m sorry.’ She could see it had taken a lot of guts to ask her out. ‘Could I get a rain check on it?’

He smiled, embarrassed, and disappointed.

‘Of course. I understand. Christian seems to get all the women.’ He has a right to be pissed off, thought Ebony. ‘Be careful of him, if you know what I mean,’ Yan added. ‘I’d hate it to put you off coming on to the course – you know, if things went badly?’

She nodded. ‘Point taken. Just friends. I’m not going to hurry into anything.’

‘Yeah – wise choice to stay friends. His girlfriends have a habit of disappearing from the course and one of them was in the news recently – Emily Styles?’ Ebony felt a surge of adrenalin but tried not to show it. She frowned and played with her coffee cup.

‘Yeah, well, it was so sad. I wondered what happened to Emily. I thought she’d just dropped off the planet.’ Yan was putting his coat and scarf on. ‘She turned up in Regent’s Canal. Such a shock. I wonder where she’s been all that time. Her Facebook page is open. People have posted things on there. We all thought she’d just had enough after it didn’t work out with Christian but all that time she was in real trouble.’

‘That’s really terrible. Did you know her well?’ Ebony knew that Yan was in group photos with Emily.

‘Yeah, I saw her all the time, at social events. Lovely girl. She was a bit mad and a lot of fun. But not my type.’ He blushed.

Back at the flat Ebony skyped Robbo. Ebony thought how tired he looked.

‘Phone records are in,’ he said. ‘Christian Goddard seems to be the common denominator with our victims. On all of their Facebook pages.’

‘Has anyone posted anything new on Emily Styles’ page since the news broke about her death?’

‘Yes, there are over twenty messages. Just basic RIP ones.’

‘Did Christian post?’

‘No. Yan did, though. How did coffee go?’

‘It went okay. He seems to have a low opinion of Christian Goddard.’

‘That’s a male ploy to big himself up in your eyes. Men always slag one another off to women. We’re like builders. We always blame the last man on the job. I am getting your GPS signal by the way.’

‘My pendant?’

‘Yes. And the transmitter in your shoe.’

‘So you heard the conversation anyway. Why did you ask about it then?’

‘I didn’t want to appear rude.’ She smiled to herself and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re doing a damn good job, Ebb. Keep it up.’

‘I’d rather be back in Fletcher House in my comfort zone.’

‘You’re doing a great job and you’ve responded really well to everything. You are the one who has a real hope of finding Danielle in time.’

‘I understand, Robbo. I’m going to do everything I can. I met one of Christian’s conquests yesterday evening – Julie. I think she’d open up to me.’

‘Julie Lynton, friends with Selena Tibbs? I see they’re friends on Facebook. Yes, she confirmed your friend request.’

‘I’ll see if she’s on chat.’

‘Yes she is. IM her. Instant Messenger is definitely the safest way to ask sensitive questions. Any direct messages might be read if you’re hacked into. Facebook hang on to data, even deleted messages sometimes. They’ve had criticism for it in the past. You ready? I’ll chip in if I think it’s helpful.’

‘Okay.’ Ebony typed a message in the chat box:

‘Hi Julie, any hangover?’

‘Not too bad. What about you?

‘No. I had an early night.’

‘Are you coming out tomorrow night?’

‘To the Pear and Peach?’

‘ Yes.’

‘I think so – finding out about a babysitter.’

‘Who else is going, do you know?’

‘Not sure, sorry. Yan told me about it.’

‘Christian?’

‘Don’t know. Is there a thing between u 2?’

‘Sort of.’

‘Oh. Didn’t know, sorry.’

‘Don’t worry. Don’t think you’re his type.’

Ebony smiled to herself. She knew Robbo would be hiding a smile behind a coffee mug.

‘What about Danielle Foster, people say they are seeing one another? Do you know her? I haven’t met her.’

‘I heard her name mentioned in connection with his. They def were not together. I haven’t seen her for a week or two. Who knows? Maybe she’s seeing someone else? She missed her classes.’

‘You care about Christian?’

‘Not care as in love. Just think we’re good together.’

‘A player isn’t he?’

‘Yeah – bad boy – always fall for them. LOL. He isn’t really that bad. He’s a really nice guy underneath.’

‘Have you spent some time with him? Been to his house?’

‘He came to mine.’

‘Why didn’t he take it further?’

‘He hasn’t yet.’

Ebony could see Robbo on webcam giving her the ‘wind it up’ sign. He was telling her that Julie was going to take more time to loosen up. Christian had just come on as available to chat.

‘Got to go now, Julie, Archie’s crying. Glad we had a chat.’

‘And me’.