The Lost Girl (Brennan and Esposito) Read Online Free PDF Page B

shouldn’t be a big deal for a child. But given all the things that Phil, Marina and Josephina had been through over the years, the suffering they had undergone both separately and as a family, every item of news such as this had to be carefully couched, sensitively explained. Even though past memories were receding, Josephina still had nightmares about ordeals she had been through. Growing more sporadic but still there. They couldn’t afford to do or say anything to her that would upset her too much. Especially now that she was at an age where she could understand the truth. Or most of it. She still had to be protected, brought up as safely as possible.
    ‘Is it…’ said Josephina, eyes still darting between one parent to the other, ‘is it like before?’
    ‘Before?’ asked Marina.
    Josephina nodded. ‘When I had to go and live in the flat with Mummy and not see you,’ she said, uncertain eyes settling on Phil. ‘When you wouldn’t speak to each other?’
    ‘It wasn’t like that,’ said Marina, her voice as soothing as possible.
    ‘Yes it was,’ said Josephina. ‘You know it was.’
    ‘It was… difficult,’ said Marina. ‘But we never stopped loving each other. You knew that. I told you that.’
    Josephina still didn’t look convinced. Before she could answer, Phil spoke.
    ‘Mum’s right,’ he said. ‘This is different. Not like the last time.’
    He could barely look at her as he spoke. Their separation had been through Marina’s fear of what the woman calling herself Fiona Welch could do to them. The punitive action she might take against them. Against their daughter. She hadn’t believed Phil – or his department – could adequately protect them as a family. So she had taken Josephina away. And now this. He had to make his daughter understand the truth of the situation, but only as it concerned her. Namely, that he was coming back.
    ‘No,’ he said, as emphatically as he could, ‘nothing like that at all. This is just a work thing. That’s all. Just a couple of days. Get it sorted out, and then I’m back.’
    Josephina stared at him. ‘Promise?’ Part of her wanted to believe in her father’s words. Another part of her didn’t dare to.
    ‘Promise. Just a couple of days for work. That’s all.’
    Marina smiled. ‘We just wanted to tell you so you wouldn’t get worried tomorrow. Get home from school and Daddy’s not there.’
    Josephina looked between the pair of them once more. Then down at her food. ‘You’re definitely coming back?’ she said once more.
    Phil found a smile. ‘Definitely.’ He leaned forward. ‘You think I want to be without you?’
    Josephina smiled.
    ‘Good,’ said Phil, still smiling but out of relief now. ‘Right, then. What shall we do after this? Who wants to go to the cinema?’
    Josephina put her hand up.
    Phil kept smiling. He couldn’t look at Marina. Just had to keep staring straight ahead.

6
     
    ‘D etective Inspector Brennan?’
    Phil opened the front door to his house, looked at the man in front of him. Well over six foot and solid with it. A rugby player’s frame that his suit was barely able to contain. His flattened and reset nose seemed to back that initial impression. Hair cut close to his scalp, heavy boots.
    ‘That’s me,’ said Phil.
    The man stretched out a hand, all muscle and meat. ‘Detective Sergeant Beresford, sir. DCI Franks sent me. I’m your lift to Colchester.’
    Phil shook it. Powerful, and Beresford knew it. No crushing finger games. Not needed. Phil would have hated to be on the receiving end of it. He almost smiled. Franks wasn’t joking when he said he’d send him a bodyguard. ‘Of course you are.’
    ‘D’you need to get anything?’ asked Beresford, pointing back towards the door.
    ‘Yeah, give me a minute. You want to come in?’
    ‘I’ll just stay here, sir, if it’s all the same to you.’
    Barrel of laughs, thought Phil. The drive to Colchester’s going to fly by.
    Phil went back into the