The Kill by Jane Casey Page A

what he’d meant, but before I could he had moved on.
    ‘We think he had a groundsheet or something similar to lie on, from the way the mud is flattened.’
    ‘That seems sensible.’ I didn’t want to think about how my clothes would look once we were finished in the woods.
    ‘Makes me think he’d been here before to find this place, and that he was prepared to wait for a long time.’ Derwent rolled over and sat up, looking around. ‘I asked Chloe. The SOCOs weren’t able to find a latrine, even with the dog. Either he buried it a long way down or he took it with him. No way he wasn’t crapping himself with nerves.’
    ‘Lovely.’
    ‘It’s all DNA. The cops in Perugia got Rudy Guede for Meredith Kercher’s murder because he shat his guts out after killing her.’
    ‘I’m not sure that case is the best example of good forensic work,’ I said, standing up.
    ‘Good point. You have to wonder if it would have turned out differently with someone like Chloe collecting the evidence.’
    ‘Yes, about her. When did the two of you make friends?’
    ‘While you were off with the boss.’ He got to his feet, grinning. ‘I knew she wouldn’t be able to resist me for long.’
    ‘For God’s sake, are you on heat or something?’
    ‘This is what it’s like to be single, Kerrigan. You see opportunities and you take them.’
    ‘That’s what it’s like when you’re single,’ I said. ‘Normal people can control themselves a bit better than that.’
    ‘You just don’t remember what it’s like. You’re the type who goes from one big relationship to another. I bet you and the male model got together before you’d finished splitting up with your last bloke.’
    The male model being Rob, I guessed. Derwent had a million nicknames for him, mostly rude.
    ‘I got together with Rob just after I broke up with Ian, but there was a gap.’ Of about five minutes . ‘I have been single in the past, though, and I don’t remember trying to pull everyone that crossed my path.’
    ‘Then you were doing it wrong. If you ever need a few pointers, let me know.’ He winked. I knew it was designed to bother me but I couldn’t let that go.
    ‘I can’t believe you just winked at me. Don’t ever do that again.’
    ‘Protesting too much, Kerrigan.’
    ‘No, just the right amount.’ A glint in Derwent’s eye could have been anger or amusement. Either way, I had probably said too much. ‘How far did you get with Chloe?’
    ‘I got her number.’ He shrugged. ‘Don’t know if I’ll use it or not, but it’s one for the shag bank.’
    ‘You’d have to take her out first. I thought you didn’t believe in dating.’
    ‘Might be worth it, for her.’
    There was something in his voice that made me look at him, surprised. ‘Don’t tell me you’re smitten.’
    ‘Not smitten.’ The grin. ‘She looks properly dirty, though. Something about the way she walks. That look in her eye. You can’t fake it.’
    I shook my head. ‘No matter how low I set my expectations, you always manage to get under them.’
    ‘And no matter how tight the knickers, I always get into them in the end.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s a gift.’
    I checked the time. ‘We’d better get going if you want to get something to eat. We still have to talk to Romeo himself, Hugh Johnson. Are you going to the post-mortem?’
    ‘Not likely. Not if the boss is going.’ He started back down the path. Over his shoulder, he said, ‘I’ve had enough of him for one day. He was a proper little ray of sunshine earlier.’
    ‘I’ve seen him in better moods,’ I said.
    ‘Bet you have. You still haven’t told me what you did to piss him off.’
    ‘I have told you, actually. Absolutely nothing. It’s probably something to do with the divorce.’
    ‘Divorce?’ Derwent stopped at that.
    ‘Didn’t you know? He and Serena have split.’
    ‘When? Why?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘Did she leave him or did he leave her?’
    ‘I don’t know that