Page 84 of Criminally Yours

She wrapped her hand around the phone in her pocket. She’d turned her notifications off because she couldn’t fully clear her head with that thing vibrating all the time. As she advised her clients, sometimes you must switch off from the world and be in the moment.

Except your clients aren’t running for their lives.

She pursed her lips and stared at the sea. A boat with a white sail bobbed on the water as a strip of sun lit its path. Real freedom. A chance to sail away from her decisions.

The conversations with her family replayed as she stared. She couldn’t hate them, although she wasn’t sure if she’d ever forgive them. But she wasn’t blameless. She should have toldthem earlier that she was interested in psychology. Strike’s departure gave her a reason to follow those dreams as everything else crumbled.

She glanced at the boat again as seagulls screamed above her.

“I don’t want to hide anymore.” But that meant action.

She lifted her past to the skies as the wind whipped her blond waves across her face and she shoved her glasses up her nose.

The grass was the greenest she’d seen for a long time. History faded into the atmosphere before being carried away on wisps of white cloud. She’d held onto her pain for so long that now she knew the truth, it was easier to let it go.

But then there was Strike. He’d loved her but left because of it. They were the actions of a man who didn’t deal with his problems by talking them through but by running.

Had he always run while she’d always hidden?

If so, there was no future for them.

And I don’t know if I want one with him.

Millie reached the town as people opened coffee shops and boutiques for the day.

Strangers smiled at her, and she smiled back. She side-eyed a couple of people, waiting for their stares to linger suspiciously, but aside from the occasional good morning, nothing stood out.

A cottage with a bright yellow door caught her eye, and she imagined living in the town, working as a counsellor in a grey brick building with a yellow door.

The scents of freshly made bread drew her like it was the Pied Piper, and she stepped into The Little Bakery of Joy. Merryn’s bakery.

A couple of people sat on wooden seats and sofas. Watercolour seascapes covered the walls. Drool collected in her mouth when she spied the array of pastries and bread behind the glass shield.

“You came. I knew you would,” Merryn cheered. “I kept you a chocolate du pain. Is that okay?”

“That’s lovely. Thank you,” Millie replied. “Could I get a latte as well?”

“Of course, darling. I’ll bring it over, and you can tell me all about your wedding.” She spoke with an accent so soft that Millie lingered, relishing it.

“And can I also have three chocolate cupcakes to go?” A peace offering, or goodbye cupcake, for Strike.

“My favourites. Pick those up when you leave rather than have them sitting around. Take a seat,” she replied.

Millie nodded her thanks and paid quickly before taking one of the comfy chairs near the window. A man strolled past. He wore combat trousers, the ones with loads of pockets. She tilted her head as she stared. He reminded her of Strike.

With everything she knew about the past, she must make a decision. Should she continue living her life as she had before, in her little apartment, waiting for life to happen, or was it time to let him in?

She ran her thumb across her forehead, smoothing lines, as she considered his reaction if she told himhersecrets. How would he react to her fear of being touched? What if the things she said to men on the apps weren’t just fantasies? What if she wanted a man like Strike to dominate her?

You might be rejected again.

“Here you go, sweetheart,” Merryn said, making her jump. “Are you sure it’s okay if I join you? On a Saturday, the rush doesn’t kick in for another ten minutes, and I want my new waitress, my daughter Elsie, to practice with the current stragglers.”

Millie chewed the inside of her mouth as she looked up. She’d have said no before last week, but meeting Liss and the lads showed her that her high walls didn’t protect her, they hid her. And if she was being honest with herself, there was a reason she’d come to Merryn’s bakery. “I’d like that.”

“I wondered if I’d see you today.” When Millie didn’t answer, Merryn pointed to how she’d made a heart-shape with the foamed milk on the latte and added, “I decided you needed some love. You’re thinking hard enough to give you worry lines.”

“I thought it would be nice to see the town. It’s beautiful. Have you lived here long?”