Either that or he’s lost his sanity.
Because this is so unlike him. Parker likes his hair. At least, he likes the hair that used to be on his head. She can’t vouch for his emotional attachment to the rest of it.
But maybe that’s the point. He’s saying, Look what I am willing to do for you. I love my hair, but I love you so much more.
She can’t imagine that she would ever go to such lengths for someone. Yes, she risked her own life to save Cody’s, and very nearly died in the process, but if his rescue had hinged on her giving up all her hair, then Cody would probably be sitting in an urn on someone’s mantlepiece right now.
She can’t imagine Parker bald. And that desperate. It’s not an attractive proposition. If she ever gets to speak to him, she’s going to make it crystal clear that all he’s doing is creeping her out.
But then why isn’t he making contact? If he’s so keen to gauge her reaction to his bizarre overtures, why isn’t he following up with further communication?
He can piss right off.
She’s angry now. She doesn’t like being toyed with like this. It’s verging on intimidation. Predatory behaviour. She is becoming inclined to visit him in an official capacity, along with a couple of scary-looking uniformed officers. Give him fair warning that he could end up in a police cell if he’s not careful.
She doesn’t want to do that to him.
She loved him, and he loved her. They made a good couple. Where did it all go wrong?
Cody. That’s where it went wrong.
It was his appearance on the scene that caused the wheels to come off her relationship with Parker.
Not that there was anything in it. She wasn’t even that happy to have Cody in her life again. But she has to work with him. It was either that or transfer out of MIT after only just getting into that select team. And they’ve got on really well together.
Too well?
Perhaps. She certainly enjoys a lot more leeway with Cody than most constables do with their sergeants. But there’s nothing in it. Parker had no reason to get so jealous.
She laughs. An image of Parker ranting at her, and she’s telling him to keep his hair on.
Best to try to find the funny side, because it’s doing her nut in.
She gets out the car, locks it up, heads for the house. When she opens her front door, she hears the gentle swish of mail sliding along the parquet floor on the other side.
Please, she thinks, don’t let this be another weird package from Parker.
But there it is.
She stoops and picks it up. Another padded envelope, with ‘Megan xxx’ typed on the front of it.
‘Fuck.’
She carries the envelope into the kitchen and places it on the worktop, then puts down her bag and removes her coat. She stares at the package for a good couple of minutes, wondering what it could possibly contain this time. Recent experience suggests it’s probably not going to be jewellery or a cuddly toy or tickets to a West End show.
She tells herself that all this staring is getting her precisely nowhere, and she opens the envelope. It contains a small white cardboard box. She embarks on another staring session.
Finally, she takes a deep breath and removes the lid of the box.
And that’s when she screams.
29
Only Love Can Hurt Like This
– Paloma Faith
Cody wastes no time.
As soon as he gets the phone call from Webley, he races out of his flat, jumps into his car and tears over to her house.
That’s the effect she has on him still. When she needs his help, he’s there for her.
But a part of him doesn’t know if he can do this. For him, it’s so close to home.
Of course you can do it, he tells himself. This is Webley we’re talking about. You can do anything for her. Your own fears and insecurities can go to hell.
Webley greets him at the door. He can tell she’s been crying and that she’s now trying to appear in control again.
‘Thank you, Cody,’ she says. ‘I didn’t know who else to call.’
Cody isn’t sure if this is a compliment or an insult. Is she saying that nobody else would do? Or did she work her way through a whole catalogue of names before reluctantly settling on his?
He sets it to one side. It’s not important right now.
‘You okay?’ he asks.
‘Yeah. Just a bit… shaken.’
