42
‘I was going to cook, but I got tied up at work and didn’t have time to sort everything out,’ Culverhouse said, only half lying.
Chrissie told him she really didn’t mind — she was happy with a takeaway.
‘Nice place you’ve got,’ she said. ‘You been here long?’
‘In a word, yes.’
‘Typical man’s house, though.’
He looked at her quizzically, waiting for her to continue.
‘No knick-knacks. No photos. Nothing sentimental. Classic sign of a man who lives alone.’
He’d told Emily to go out for a few hours, but he’d already agreed with himself that he wouldn’t lie about her existence. It was only fair that he told the truth.
‘I live with my daughter, actually,’ he said. ‘That’s only a fairly recent thing, though. It’s a long story.’
‘Ah. Mum not on the scene?’
‘No, she’s… She’s not aroun
