The Principle of Evil: A Fast-Paced Serial Killer Thriller

‘But… she does have a reputation.’

Matthews saw a little of himself in the new recruit, back when he first started his career as a PC. He also recalled his first impression of Claire when he started in CID. It would be hypocritical of him to be completely hard on Elias for his initial thoughts on their Guv. He ran his hand back through his brown hair and said, ‘You definitely won’t last five minutes with that attitude. She’ll eat you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.’

‘Who’s eating who for what now?’ asked Stefan, as he approached the table.

‘Claire,’ said Matthews, not taking his eyes from Elias.

‘Ah. He’s having reservations about his transfer.’

‘Yep.’

‘To be expected, I guess.’

‘We’ve all been through it.’

‘Yeah, I remember it well.’

‘You know I am sitting right here,’ Elias interjected. ‘You needn’t talk as if I wasn’t.’

Exchanging glances with Matthews, Stefan looked apologetic.

‘You’re right. Sorry, it was meant as a joke,’ he said, taking a seat beside Matthews. ‘Guv’s called a team brief in twenty minutes; see where we are with the body in the lake.’ He glanced at Elias. ‘You ever see anything like it before?’

Elias shook his head, but avoided Stefan’s eyes. ‘Saw my fair share of depravity, but this has a different feel to it.’

Stefan eyed Elias closely, noted his pale drawn face, and then glanced at the untouched food in front of him.

‘Did Claire actually have the power to make you lose your appetite as well?’ Stefan asked. Elias glanced up, and then looked at Matthews, who hid a smile in his coffee cup. He returned his gaze to Stefan and glowered.

‘Hey, I’m being serious,’ Stefan said, jabbing Matthews hard in the ribs. ‘Ignore him. He’s just glad Claire’s taken the heat off him in favour of you.’

‘That’s not fair, Fletch.’

‘Come off it, you love the banter, you practically ask for it,’ he said, winking at Elias. Matthews ignored him and picked up the newspaper on the table.

Stefan looked at Elias and thought he caught a hint of a smile.

‘You gonna eat that?’ Stefan pointed his fork at the full plate. Elias shrugged, then shook his head, pushed the plate aside and sipped his coffee.

Stefan sat back in his chair. ‘Did she give you the “no first name” spiel?’ Elias remained silent. ‘She does give that speech to everyone.’

Elias sat back in his chair, jutted out his chin in defiance. ‘You think I’m taking myself too seriously.’ It was a statement rather than a question.

‘Well you said it,’ Matthews quipped.

‘Ignore him,’ said Stefan. ‘Best thing you can do is not take Claire’s attempts to destroy you seriously. She’s as harmless as a kitten really.’

‘As far as harmless sharp-clawed kittens go,’ Matthews added, nose still buried in the newspaper. Stefan rolled his eyes at him.

‘Cut her some slack. She’s really been through it in the last year. What with all that uncertainty with her father and… ’

He trailed off when he saw he’d piqued Elias’s interest.

‘She’s tough,’ he said at length, ‘but she’s good. I’d trust her with my life, Crest. You just got to earn her trust and respect.’

Elias sat forward and looked stern again, his hands now clasped in front of him on the table. ‘You know respect works both ways, right?’

Stefan’s eyes narrowed, silently questioning.

‘I mean, I can see you’re her biggest fan n’ all that but I don’t need to know the inner workings inside her head. I’ll deal with her in my own way.’

There was a long pause as the two men stared at each other. Stefan raked his fingers through his floppy light brown hair, trying to work Elias out. Realising he might have spoken too harshly, Elias added, ‘Thanks, though… for the advice.’

He stood, drained the last dregs of his coffee and set the cup back down onto the table with a bang. ‘Team briefing now, yes?’ he said as he left.

Stefan felt Matthews looking at him.

‘Are we taking bets on how long it takes him to walk?’

Stefan watched Elias leave the canteen. ‘I think he’s gonna need training wheels that’s for sure.’

CHAPTER 6 (#ulink_1f86896a-14e1-5db9-885a-391bb3b3f8ed)

From his desk, back in CID, Elias watched her through the floor-to-ceiling glass wall of her office, talking into the phone glued to her ear.

Claire must have felt eyes on her, because she looked up, straight in his direction.

He looked away first.

‘And what’re you doing for Christmas? Have you been a good girl this year?’

Elias glanced up, saw Matthews was beside Claire as soon as she came out of her office. Her face turned from a frown to what he thought was the faintest hint of a smile.

‘I’ll probably be in my straitjacket,’ she said.

He cocked an eyebrow. ‘Do I even want to know?’

‘My mother’s staying… Probably right up until Christmas.’

He laughed. ‘Don’t tell me Iris managed to prise herself away from the Costa Brava?’

‘Her once-a-year jaunt.’

‘When it’s this cold as well…’

‘She’s full of surprises,’ she said, as she took her place at the front of the room. After several seconds the room quietened down.

‘By a stroke of luck, we’ve already got some news on the body,’ Claire said, as she circulated some photographs of a young woman who, despite smiling, had eyes that remained dark pits, captured in time, the light never reaching them.