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“Yeah,” Andy said “It’s nuts, but it isn’t illegal”

Jack turned towards his friend and felt sick as soon as he saw his face He knehat Andy was thinking, that he’d done it again – found a crime where there wasn’t one

“Maybe we overreacted,” Andy said “The stuff we heard could have et when they’re taken out of context”

Andy was being generous using ‘we’

“I get that,” Jack told hi”

Andy held his hands up It was exactly the sa to talk soe Great Noas the lunatic and his friend was trying to disar around hiht he was primed to blow

“She could be hiding anything,” Andy said “Maybe she painted the lounge bright pink, or knocked doithout telling you It doesn’t need to be illegal for her to be worried you’d find out”

Jack shook his head

“She said she needed to get rid of equip for her”

Andy looked around for an explanation

“Well, ym without permission Or a day spa – she looks like the spa type It could be anything Sure she doesn’t want you to see what she’s up to, you’re her landlord”

Unfortunately, everything Andy said made perfect sense

“Look,” Andy said as he rubbed a hand over his face “This sort of thing is why you need to see the counsellor You’re burnt out You put two and two together and get five You jump to conclusions and see trouble when there’s only odd behaviour You need to get help, man”

Jack turned away from his friend to look back out over the town The rows of terraced housing were invisible to hi? Were his instincts that far off theabout the Chief too? He could feel the blood drain fro to faint then he wanted to be alone He walked over to the breakfast bar Every step made him feel self-conscious He wondered if Andy could read his mind

“I appreciate you taking the ti this stuff over”