Page 10 of The Unforgiven

“Sold.” I felt no guilt. Vinny owed me at least seven drinks, and yes, I did count.

“Coming up.” He disappeared, ignoring the calling from other people waiting to be served.

“He’s a wanker for not showing up, Mac. Ditch him.” Vinny leaned against the bar, looking round at the punters, eyeing upa couple of girls who weren’t dressed for the current Manchester Monsoon.

He probably had a point. “He’s good in bed.”

I enjoyed watching Vinny squirm.

“It shouldn’t be just about that, though, should it?”

“Listen to you, Vincent, all new man and everything. What happened with you and Dr Miz, then? Where was the wine and dine there?” Now we were on the topic I kind of wanted to be on. Vinny and I both enjoyed oversharing with each other, doing our best to make the other say our safe word so the details stopped.

He looked decidedly uncomfortable, avoiding answering while he paid for the drinks and loaded them onto a tray, passing me my rather elaborate cocktail with a grimace.

“She’s scary, Mac, like terrified the life out of me.” He dodged eye contact while we walked back to the rest of the team. Someone else had bought a round of shots which I was staying well away from. I had plans for the morning that didn’t involve a hangover.

We hovered away from the rest once they’d had their drinks issued, some strange game in place that involved Lachy balancing things on his tongue.

I kept my head free of any images his words were conjuring up. “This sounds like an excuse.”

“No, no, it’s really not.” He sipped his pint, his eyes reflecting what did look a lot like terror.

But I knew Vinny, and I knew he had a top grade in drama from when he was sixteen, and at one point seriously thought about being an actor. This could all be a show.

“So what happened?”

He put down his drink on the table where we were stood. “We went out after work last week and ended up going for something to eat together, just as friends. I honestly wasn’t intending foranything to happen – you know I don’t generally shit where I eat.”

“By that you mean you don’t sleep with colleagues on the regular.” Which I knew.

“Exactly. Anyway, we ended up drinking wine and talking. I don’t think we drank that much but I felt really weird – relaxed. We went back to hers for a coffee – you know she only lives in the Northern Quarter? – and I said I’d get a taxi from there. She kissed me and it kind of happened from there, and the next thing I know she’s tying me to her bed and then using me as pretty much her sex doll.” He shuddered, staring out of the window. “She kept on texting me afterwards asking me to come back around and saying we could make a thing of it, but I’m really not into that stuff.”

“I feel you’ve given me enough details.” I really did not need to know any more.

“I think I might need to see a therapist.” He messed his hair with his hand, ruffling it. “It’s completely knocked me.”

“Maybe you need to tell her how she made you feel. She must’ve thought you were into it.” I wasn’t letting him get away with this. I’d met many of Vinny’s girlfriends and fuck buddies over the years we’d worked together.

“Maybe. She’s like a witch, though. Had me doing whatever she wanted.” He really did look as if he was experiencing some kind of trauma.

“Did you, you know, finish?” I steeled myself. “I don’t need details, but did you enjoy yourself?”

“Yeah, Mia, yeah. I finished.” He hissed the words.

“So you enjoyed it then. Maybe you’re just worried because you weren’t in control.” Poking this particular bear was always fun.

Now he looked downright miserable, and I felt a little mean. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I have some deep-rooted issue withneeding to be in control, something to do with my childhood, but I’m glad I’ve given you a chance to put your psychology degree to good use.”

“You mean master’s degree in psychology.” I loved reminding him of this. Vinny had gone to university to study sports science but dropped out in the second year. He’d joined the police on his twenty-second birthday, so was now ten years in. He was a good cop and I liked working with him, most of the time.

“Fuck off, Mia.” But I got a smile. “Will you have a word with her, Saira, I mean? Tell her I’m sorry but she scared me.”

“Why are you asking me to do your dirty work? You fucked this one up yourself; you sort it.” I sipped my cocktail, enjoying it more because Vinny had bought it.

“Please. I'll owe you one. I just need her to stop slagging me off.”

“Ah, you heard about your penis only needing the smallest sample jar?”