Page 66 of Villainous Mind

I called Sam. He was still in Milford Haven and came and met me at the station.

“Something big happened. It will be front page news tomorrow, and I can’t be involved,” I told him as I replayed the events from earlier.

“Navy, this is your story.”

“Not anymore. I’m a witness. It was yours from the beginning anyway.”

“Is there anything I can do for you?” he asked.

“I need to get my car. It is at the garage in Milford Haven.”

He drove me over to the building, and the mechanic was closing up for the night.

“My name is Navy Bardot,” I said to the man. “You’ve been working on my car. It’s a red Fiat.”

“Ahh, yes, I finished it today. I’ve been trying to reach Mr. Hughes.”

I pulled my wallet from my purse to pay.

“Mr. Hughes covered it.” My stomach lurched as he handed me the keys.

“What will you do now?” Sam asked as he walked me to my car.

“I’m going back to London to pack up my things. I think it’s time I go home to the States.”

“They’ll expect you to testify.”

“I know. I’ve given the police a written statement. I’ll come back if needed.”

“I’m sorry, Navy, for everything,” he said. “You deserved better.”

“We both deserved better, I suppose,” I said.

I got in my car and leaned my head against the steering wheel, reminding myself I was alive and would get through this. Rhys’ dragon face flashed through my mind.

“There’s no such thing as monsters.”

“There’s no such thing as monsters,” I repeated.

A rush of anger washed over me. How could I be so stupid?

Slamming my fists onto the dashboard, I screamed.

“Fuck.”

“Fuck.”

“Fuck.”

And I dove into the pain as hot tears ran down my face. He betrayed me. I trusted him, and he betrayed me. The tears continued until I reached my flat in London.

And here I was now, lying on my bed. It was the middle of the night, and I knew sleep would elude me.

By the next morning, I had constructed some kind of plan. I got dressed and headed to the Times. I needed to put in my letter of resignation if I still even had a job. I decided to take it one step at a time. Focus on the task in front of me and then move on to the next. There was no point in overwhelming myself.

I took the Tube, as parking was at a premium in The Shard Quarter, and headed into The News Building. An older woman approached me at the door. “Navy Bardot?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said speculatively. She looked vaguely familiar.