To Snatch a Thief by Hazel Cotton

with food.’
    ‘It’ll give you a head start; don’t pig it all at once.’ Hunter frowned as she danced around him; that mixture of amusement and irritation on his face that today, she thought, couldn’t possibly annoy her.
    ‘Remember you’re in uniform, Forrester. Try to act appropriately.’ He gave an impatient sigh, tapped his klip. ‘I’ve got work to get back to. So have you…’
    ‘What’s down there?’ Rushing down a short hallway, she stopped dead. ‘V-i- Vid ! Two bedrooms, Lexie’s going to go ballistic, and the bathroom’s to die for. So, if this was a safe-house, why isn’t it used anymore?’
    When she turned, he had a shoulder against the wall watching her. ‘It was compromised. The department occasionally uses it for visiting officials. Mostly it’s left empty.’ He smiled for the first time. ‘I cashed in a few favours. The place is yours as long as you stick in the job.’
    She was speechless. Almost. ‘Um, probably not appropriate to give you a hug, sir?’
    ‘Don’t be ridiculous.’ There was a hint of warning in his eyes. She grinned. He almost looked scared. ‘The friend I told you about lives a short walk from here,’ he hurried on. ‘Her name’s Maxine McCullough. I’ll give you her address so you can take Lexie to meet her after school.’
    Maxine’s hair was short and grey, her eyes a gentle brown. She lived in a quiet street in a well-kept semi-detached with a post-box red front door.
    ‘So you’re Alexei.’ The soft highland burr made Skye think of mountains and heather. ‘We’re having tea in the kitchen,’ she told him. ‘I believe there’s chocolate cake and fizzers. Never fails,’ she whispered, as Lexie’s eyes lit up. ‘My granddaughter Beatrice is through there. You’ll be in the same class at your new school. Why don’t you go and find her.’ As the boy sped away, she hooked her arm through Skye’s. ‘My daughter and son-in-law have such busy lives. Beatrice comes to me quite often. I find time weighs heavy since I was widowed, so we keep each other company.’ She patted Skye’s hand in a motherly way and they walked slowly down the hall. ‘Stephen,’ she continued. ‘I taught him at school, did he tell you that? And the dear boy’s always kept in touch, even when he was all those trillions of miles away on Stella Frontier. I’m very fond of him.’
    Skye’s antennae swivelled in her direction. ‘Hunter’s worked off-planet?’
    ‘Oh, yes, for over a year.’ Sympathy swam in her eyes. ‘It was such a tragedy… such a terrible thing, but…’ Her shoulders lifted and fell as she patted Skye’s hand again. ‘Anyway, he’s fine now. Although of course one’s never completely…but, as far as it goes, he’s fine, and that’s what’s important. And a lieutenant - imagine. He’s done very well for himself.’
    Skye was more than curious, however, as childish laughter rang out from the direction Lexie had disappeared, Maxine’s face brightened. ‘Good,’ she smiled. ‘I hoped they’d get on. Now… Stephen’s told me a bit about you. So, while I pour the tea tell me in what ways I can help.
    Drumming her fingers on her knees, Skye scowled at the half empty incident room. Everybody but me, she grumbled. I knew them, I found them, I’m going to their memorial service tomorrow, but I’m the one stuck here while everyone else is out collecting evidence or whatever. It just wasn’t fair. She slipped a hand in her pocket and fingered the thin glass of the memory square she’d become somewhat obsessed with. The events of the last few days had driven it to the back of her mind, but now she pressed it to her screen, watching Corporal Blake’s files open yet again.
    As always the back of her neck tingled.
    No illegals were found in the house; the junkie died at the scene; the informant who’d rung in the tip-off, poofed into thin air. Lieutenant Hunter underwent an internal investigation because a weapon had been discharged