Lethal Instincts by Kasia Radzka

relationship.”
    “Until she disappeared. Does that mean you know where she is?”
    Cara shook her head. “No idea. She never showed for her last check-in.”
    “That’s why the payments stopped.” It was more of a statement then a question. Lexi didn’t need Cara to answer. “That’s why no formal investigation was pursued. You didn’t want questions that couldn’t be answered. Tatiana was a liability to the reputation of the department.”  
    “It’s a little more complicated than that.”  
    “Humour me.”
    “I’m not at liberty to discuss the case, Lexi. I’ve already told you too much and I trust that I have your discretion. This investigation isn’t just about a missing woman.”  
    “How long has the department been looking into the crooked cops?”  
    This time it was Cara’s turn to look surprised, but she straightened up before answering.
    “Long enough.”  
    “And Tatiana is, or was, the link.”
    “To a degree. Now she’s gone.”  
    “What’s the red-light district got to do with it?”
    “Tatiana came looking for someone. She was in the right place at the right time. We used her, she used us.”
    “From where I sit it seems she got the short end of the stick.”  
    “It was a mutually beneficial relationship.”  
    Lexi had heard of those types of relationships. Rarely did both parties benefit equally. It seems Tatiana was the only one who had placed her life in danger, the only one who had put everything on the line.
    They both sat silently sipping their beers.
    “So why London?” Cara finally asked.
    “Why not?”
    “I could think of far more interesting places to settle in. London is cold and wet most of the year.”
    “It’s novel for me, for the time being. I’m here now but I’m not sure what my next move will be.”
    “You like to investigate, you should have become a detective.”
    “You’re not the first to tell me that. But no. That would mean following rules and protocol. I prefer the grey area.”
    “The grey tends to get people into trouble.”
    “I’ve heard that before too,” Lexi said, thinking back to her old life. Her life back home. Trouble was her middle name. There was always something to get mixed up in when she was pursuing a story. That was just one of the reasons that had drawn her to investigative journalism.
    “From someone close.”
    “Yes.”
    “They’re not a part of your life any more?” Cara said eyeing her carefully. Lexi wondered what she was searching for.  
    “No, no they are not.”  
    “And that makes you feel sad? Angry? Frustrated?”
    “What is this? An episode of Dr. Phil?”  
    Cara laughed. “Sorry, I’m interrogating you. It comes with the territory.”  
    “I guess that’s like me searching for a story everywhere I look.”  
    Except now she looked everywhere but at her own back and she failed to notice the tail over the past few weeks.

    He sat on the barstool, a mirror providing him with the perfect view of the booths across the side wall. He had followed her to the bar and was surprised to find her meeting one of the police officers for a drink. He had seen the detective constable at work before and he wondered how much trouble the woman was going to cause. He had heard she was one of the best in the Met and was headed for a promotion. She was a woman but she took no slack from any men, nor did she bother to expect special treatment due to her gender. She did the job and she got out. Which to him meant more trouble than he was getting paid for.
    He ordered a whisky on the rocks and nursed the glass in his hand, pretending to watch Manchester United on the big screen but stealing glances at the two women in the booth. They appeared to be in a serious discussion, then their faces scrunched into laughter. Women, he didn’t get them either.
    Someone cursed loudly in the pub. A glass jug slammed against the table. Glass shattered behind the bar. He ignored it and glanced at the booth again.
    The