I, Spy? (Sophie Green Mysteries, No. 1) (Sophie Green Mystery)

with Macbeth. “It wasn’t Luke,” I said. “He’s been at mine all afternoon.”
    “You sure ’bout that?”
    “Why would Luke kill One?”
    Macbeth shrugged. “Why would anybody?”
    “Do you know where Maria was?”
    “No. I ain’t seen her since this morning.”
    It didn’t matter. I knew who’d done it. And I was very frightened.
    I took Macbeth back up to the computer and showed him the deleted log of people who’d been down to the undercroft. Christopher Mansfield. Sven Christensen. Alexa Martin.
    “Our Alexa?”
    “I thought maybe it’d been a plant,” I said. “Or someone had stolen her pass. Because, look,” I opened up the deleted footage and showed him the two people in the staff room before Chris walked in. A tall blond man and a petite blonde woman. Both standing. No wheelchair.
    “She was faking that?”
    “Must have been.” I was shivering. I’d trusted Alexa. I’d liked her. Was I really that bad a judge of character?
    Macbeth had his phone out. “I’m calling Maria. Get Luke.”
    I nodded and dialled him, but the number was engaged. Shit. “Luke,” I said to his voice mail, “listen, this is very important. Call me immediately . I’m at the office. Sven has escaped and One has been killed and I’m pretty sure it was Alexa who did both. I found the deleted footage from the night Chris was killed. It was Alexa and Sven.” Macbeth was signalling to me. “Macbeth’s here with me… but…” I held the phone away from my ear and listened to him. “But he’s going to go and see if he can find Alexa. Maria’s on her way. I’m going to stay here. Get your arse up here ASAP!”
    I ended the call. “You’ll be all right?” Macbeth asked.
    “I don’t think One’s going to do me any harm.”
    “They could come back.” He took something from inside his Puffa and handed it to me. A gun. “You know how to use this?”
    I hesitated. Could I bluff it out?
    No. I could not.
    “Nine millimetre Beretta,” Macbeth said. “Semiautomatic. Just point and shoot.”
    “How come you’re allowed a gun and I’m not?” I said, taking it and holding it gingerly.
    Macbeth grinned. “Who said I was allowed? Safety catch is here. Don’t use it unless you have to. It’s fully loaded,” he said, going to the door. “I’ll see you later.”
    Then he was gone, and I was alone in the dark room.
    I sat there for a while, my heart beating fast, trying to think of something to do. Alexa lived in town and Maria was going straight there. Macbeth was going to back her up. I was going to wait for Luke.
    God, I was sick of waiting for Luke. My warrant card said I was a special agent. I had a gun, albeit unofficially. Yet here I was, waiting for someone more qualified than me to come and look after me. And look at how it turned out with the revolver. I’d been so damned scared of it I’d given it back.
    I was pathetic.
    I glared at the computer screen.
    No, wait, there was something I could do.
    I brought up the hotel reservations listing and found Wright’s B&B. Shit, it wasn’t far from where my parents lived. I’d been to school with the son of the owner. I dialled the number and waited for a long while as it rang out.
    “Hello?” came a sleepy voice.
    “I’m sorry for ringing so late. But I’m told my boss is staying with you? David Wright.”
    “Yes. He checked in this afternoon.”
    “Is he there?”
    “Asleep, as far as I know.”
    Excellent.
    “I need to give him an urgent message. It’s very important that he gets this word for word and as soon as possible.”
    “I’ll wake him up—”
    “Just give him the message. They know about the deal. Meet me at the office.”
    “That’s the message?”
    “That’s it.”
    “And your name?”
    “Alexa Martin. He’ll know me. I’m his business partner.”
    I was slightly scared Luke would turn up before Wright, but even if he did then I could say it was coincidence and get Luke to help me with the takedown. I could tell him the truth later. That I lured Wright here and handcuffed him to, erm, the desk while I got the important information out of him. Yeah.
    I swiped open the door and left it ajar so he could come straight in. And he did. Completely alone. Calling out for Alexa.
    I leapt out from my hiding place behind the desk and tackled him, every sore bone in my body crying out as we thudded to the floor. I had my gun ready and pointed at his head. I was doing fantastically until the door burst open and