Текст книги "Wrong Place: A gripping serial killer crime thriller"
Автор книги: M. A. Comley
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Текущая страница: 3 (всего у книги 13 страниц)
CHAPTER THREE
After work, Scott was on the prowl again. After a hectic day of dealing with incompetent staff who couldn’t organise a chimp’s tea party, it was time to see what was on offer at the pub. At eight o’clock, the public bar of the Wellington Arms was just starting to get busy. He sat at the end of the bar, a newspaper for company, and ordered a pint of bitter. The slim brunette smiled and chatted to him as she served the other customers, just like they all did. A thrill of anticipation spiked. These girls are easier to attract than if I had a large magnet attached to my forehead.
At first, he’d played up to the girls, pretending to be shy but willing to make friends with them if they persisted. To his amazement, nine times out of ten, the girls were drawn to his contrived gentle nature. The odd exception to the rule wasn’t worth bothering about.
As the evening wore on, the barmaid, Maddie, regaled him with her life story as if he were a therapist. Why do they always do that? She’d just broken up with her fiancé after catching him in bed with a young girl. It had rocked her world, and for the past two weeks, he’d been pestering her to forgive him, but she refused to do it.
“Who the hell could forgive such a thing?” She wiped a glass and stacked it on the shelf behind her, with the others.
“That’s deplorable. You’re better off without him, I say.”
She topped up his pint and gave him an even broader smile.
He grabbed her hand, studied it, then gently ran his finger across her palm. “A pretty girl like you won’t be single for long. I can see it written here. You’ll meet a handsome guy who will lavish you with gifts and whisk you away on exotic holidays soon enough.”
She sniggered. “Oh, I will, will I? And when is this person supposed to show up? Can you work that out beneath all the beer stains?”
“Ah, that would be telling. These things are much better when they take their own course. It’s best not to tamper with fate.”
“Fate, eh? I’ll be sure to watch out for this handsome stranger to enter my life over the coming days or weeks then.” She winked at him and withdrew her hand from his grasp to renew her duties.
He shrugged. “Who knows what lies around the corner at any given moment? If life were that predictable, most of us would spend our days in bed and not bother getting up in the morning.”
She laughed. “That’s true enough. My life has been lacking in the fun department and dwelling in the predictable pot for more than a month now.”
“That’s a damn shame. You should never let one person’s foolish actions sour your whole life. Life is for living, after all. At least that’s what my dear grandmother used to say.”
“She’s right, of course. I’m guilty of contemplating what might have been. You know what? I’m going to take your advice and start living life to the full, starting from now.”
“What? This exact moment? Won’t your boss have something to say about you jumping ship in the middle of a shift?”
“Well, not exactly at this moment, per se. After my shift has ended, I meant.”
“Oh?” He tipped his head, motioning that he was eager to hear what else she had to say.
“There’s a nightclub in town. My girlfriends are always pleading me to tag along with them after my shift. Well, damn it, tonight I’m going to do just that.” She glanced down at the short black skirt and low-cut top she was wearing and held her arms out to the side. “This will do, won’t it?”
He nodded his approval and winked at her. “It’s certainly doing it for me.”
“Cheeky!”
Another customer called her away, but every now and again, she looked his way and smiled a cute-but-embarrassed kind of smile—he had hooked her. The task ahead of him for the rest of the evening was keeping her dangling on the end of his hook. He had an inkling that Maddie wouldn’t be as easy as her predecessor had been. Caution would remain his paramount concern.
“So, what do you have planned for later this evening?” she asked out of the blue when she returned after serving a rowdy bunch of newcomers.
“Go back to the hotel and continue unwinding, I suppose. Unless…”
“Unless?” She leaned her hip against the bar.
“Unless you’d like to go for a meal or something after work?” he whispered so only she could hear the invitation.
“A meal? At this time of night?”
“Why not? If you’re worried about the excess calories, I’m sure we could think of some way of shifting them afterwards.”
“You really are a cheeky so-and-so. I hope you’re not setting out to take advantage of me. I knew it was wrong of me to bare my soul like that.”
He placed a hand over his chest and opened his eyes until they were the size of side plates. “Moi? Would I do such a thing?”
“Hmm… it seems to me you know just what you’re doing when chatting up the ladies.”
“I wasn’t aware I was chatting you up. Just thought I was being friendly. Okay, forget about what I said.” Scott glanced at his watch. “Time’s marching on, and I have a super-heavy day ahead of me tomorrow. I’ll catch up with you another time if I’m in the area perhaps.” He reached across the bar for her hand and kissed the back of it.
“You’re leaving?” she cried, aghast.
“That’s right. Enjoy your night out with the girls. See you soon.” He walked away from the bar without glancing back. He could feel her eyes boring into his back as he left the room. He jumped in his car and started the engine. Then he moved to another area of the car park, out of view of the cameras, and waited for his prey to finish her shift and join him.
Scott’s eyes grew tired, and he’d nearly dropped off to sleep in his car before Maddie emerged from the pub. She looked downcast, and he almost felt sorry for her—almost. He turned the key in the ignition and crept out of the car park, following her as she set off on foot. A few hundred yards from the pub, he passed her and threw open the passenger door.
Maddie held onto the door and looked inside. “You! I thought you’d left for the night.”
“I thought I’d surprise you. Do you want to get in and go somewhere?”
She hesitated, and he almost thought he’d blown his chances by sneaking up on her. But then she surprised him by jumping in the car and closing the door. “Where are we going?”
“Back to the hotel I’m staying at, or do you have anywhere else in mind?”
“I know a quiet spot down by the river. How about going there?” She grinned and tugged her short skirt down, trying and failing to cover her slim thighs.
“Sounds great. You tell me the way because I’m unsure of the area.”
“Sure. What do you do for a living? I mean, why are you in the area?”
“I’m a travelling salesman in the cosmetic industry.”
“Really? Any free samples you can let me have?”
“I’m sure I can find a sample or two for you later—if you’re a good girl, that is.”
She laughed. “Oh, there’s no fear of that.”
He turned the music up on the stereo then tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as she directed him to the remote spot down by the river, where a stone bridge lay ahead of them.
“Stop by the bridge, if you like.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He drew the car to a halt and turned the music down a little, unclasped his seatbelt, and twisted in his seat to face her. “What now?”
Maddie smiled and leaned back against the headrest as her body relaxed. “You tell me.”
His hand disappeared up her skirt faster than a striking rattlesnake. She gasped then moaned when his fingers found what they were searching for. His mouth urgently sought hers. There’s no turning back now—she’s mine. When his mouth explored the inner contours of hers, she placed her arms around his neck, inviting him to get on top of her.
He pulled back to look into her eyes. “Are you sure?”
“Yes. What a dumb question.” She giggled and began to pull at his shirt.
Scott slapped a hand over hers. “I have a rug in the back. Fancy taking this outside?”
She shrugged and nodded. “Why not?”
He got out of the car and swiftly moved to the rear of the car to retrieve the tartan rug. He heard the passenger door open, then she joined him, still giggling like a teenager.
“Ready?” he asked.
“I haven’t done anything like this since I was in my teens.”
“I haven’t, either,” he lied. Scott spread the rug on the flat riverbank by the edge of the gently lapping water. “I used to paddle in this very spot when I was a nipper. Leap across those large boulders, slipping and falling into the water more times than I care to remember.” His mind drifted back to his childhood visits. His days were far less complicated back then, before his marriage. When did everything go wrong? Was it the baby? That’s hardly fair!
She ran a finger down his cheek. “Penny for them?”
Scott shook the images away and concentrated all his attention on her. He had a feeling she would prove to be a feisty minx. His seduction commenced again, and she willingly accepted the attention he lavished her with. As their passion intensified, they discarded their clothes. A garment of hers even ended up in the river, but she didn’t seem to notice. When both he and his prey were naked, he ran his eyes over her lithe body, admiring the peaks and crevices. She squirmed beneath his stare.
“Hurry up! I’ll catch my death.” She wriggled beneath his hand caressing her upper thigh.
He claimed her mouth with an even deeper urgency than before, then covered her body with his. She pushed against his chest.
He frowned. “Is something wrong?”
“Umm… no not really, except I wouldn’t want to end up pregnant.”
In his haste, he’d forgotten his protection. That was pretty stupid of you, boy! “Of course, I’m sorry.” He ripped open the wrapper and placed the rubber over his large erection. “There, he’s all safe and neatly tucked away now.”
“Come here.” She pulled him to her, and their hips brushed together.
There was no turning back. After their steamy session was over, he lay back on the rug, her head resting on his chest, catching his breath. A breeze struck up, and she shuddered. “I’m cold. Can we get dressed now?”
“I’ll warm you up. Here, turn this way. I want to show you a trick I learnt years ago.”
Her brow wrinkled as he twisted her body ninety degrees so they were both lying with their heads inches from the water. “How’s this going to warm me up?” she asked.
He sat up, straddled her, and played with her firm breasts until he felt the heat of her body warm his hands. Then he placed his hands around her throat, smiling down at her, warding off any suspicious thoughts that might have entered her mind. As soon as she closed her eyes and he heard her moan her surrender to his touch, a green light went off in his head.
“Keep your eyes closed,” he whispered seductively in her ear. Then he lifted her body and positioned her head above the water. Still, her eyes remained closed, and her body was compliant to his touch.
Smiling, he dropped her head into the river and prepared himself for the thrashing that would follow. Their intercourse had been strenuous, so he was confident she wouldn’t be able to fight him for long. Her fists pummelled his chest, and he thought how lucky he was that he’d chosen a victim who bit her nails. Scott pushed her head in deeper and held it under as the water lapped more vigorously because of her exertions. Her efforts proved to be a waste of time, though. Her life ended in the most undignified way.
He took a moment to catch his breath a second time and to reflect on what he’d done. He felt little remorse for the woman who had willingly parted her legs to a complete stranger after only knowing him a couple of hours. That’ll teach you!
Finally, disgust brushed across his skin, and he cast her body aside as he stood up. After dressing, he went to the back of the car again and removed the petrol can he kept there. He returned to her naked body and set the can beside her. He removed a phial from his pocket and knelt alongside the dead woman. He inserted a substance into her vagina then straightened, pocketing the phial once again. He poured the contents of the petrol can the length of her body then struck a match and aimed it at the woman’s body.
Seconds later, her torso was completely engulfed in flames. He checked the immediate area to make sure he hadn’t left anything incriminating behind, other than what he’d placed inside her, then he jumped back in the car before the flames drew attention.
He drove back to the hotel, wearing the smuggest of grins. This is just too damn easy. I wonder if the next one will be as easy as the last two. He had a feeling they would be just as easy and eager to get laid.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sally followed the rising sun into work that morning. Keen to get on with Brenda’s case, she wanted to start her day an hour before the others arrived.
“Morning, ma’am,” the desk sergeant greeted her the second she stepped through the door to the station at Wymondham.
“Morning, Pat. Quiet night, was it?”
He sucked in the air between the gaps in his teeth and shook his head. “Nope. I was going to give you a ring but knew you’d get in early this morning. You always do when there’s a new case on the go.”
Her heart sank. “Damn. You should’ve still rung me. What is it? Another murder?”
“Yep, within striking distance of the case you’re already working on. I’m guessing both crimes will end up being linked.”
“Really? How far from Acle?”
“About five miles. The body was found at another beauty spot down by the river, too. You don’t have to be a genius to join the dots on this one, gov.”
“That’s as maybe, Pat. Let’s see what the pathologist and his team have to say first though, eh?”
“Yes, ma’am. I rang him myself not an hour ago. He should be down at the scene by now.”
“Damn. Thanks for using your initiative. It’s a shame you never thought to ring me at the same time.”
The sergeant’s face flushed with embarrassment.
“It doesn’t matter, what’s done is done.”
“Sorry, ma’am,” the sergeant replied, genuine guilt evident in his voice.
She accepted his apology, turned on her heel, and sprinted up the stairs. On the way, she dialled a number on her mobile. “Jack, get in here right away. We’ve got another one.”
“Shit! I’m on my way.”
“Grow a pair of wings if you have to. I want to get to the site in the next twenty minutes. Got that?”
“Jesus, no pressure, then. Don’t go complaining about my excessive BO in the car, will you? I haven’t even had a shower yet.”
“No, dear. Get your arse into gear, pronto.”
She hung up as she reached the top of the stairs and almost bumped into DCI Green, her superior officer. “Morning, sir. Must run, I’ve got a murder scene to attend.”
“Not so fast, Inspector. I’m sure you have time to fill me in before you go.”
“I suppose I can spare you five minutes while I wait for my partner to arrive, sir. Do you want to join me in my office?” Sally resigned herself to spending the next fifteen minutes recounting the case of the first victim. DCI Mick Green always insisted on hearing every miniscule detail of a case once he cornered her on the hop. That was why she did everything in her power to avoid him whenever possible. Of course, she had to fill him in with every case that crossed her desk, but usually, she tried to avoid doing that until the case was either nearing completion or fully solved. DCI Green enjoyed his role as a paper-pusher—that was all Sally had seen him do in the three years he’d been her superior. Unlike DCI Joan Cradley, his predecessor, Green had not once ever accompanied Sally to a crime scene. Joan, who was also a very close friend of Sally’s, had cited boredom as her reason for taking an early retirement. Not everyone was cut out to file papers and carry out surveys on how to improve the police department every day. Sally knew she would go insane if the higher-ups ever forced her into the same position.
Sally was just coming to the end of sharing the details of Brenda’s case with the DCI when Jack knocked on the door then barged into her office.
“I think we’re finished here now, Jack. Aren’t we, sir?” Sally asked the DCI, wearing a tight smile.
“Indeed we are. I’ll let you get out there and cast your eyes over this new scene. Keep me informed at all times on this one, Inspector. I don’t take kindly to having unsolved murders of women on my patch.”
Sally stood as the DCI did. “Yes, sir. You have my word on that.”
“Sergeant. Forget to shave this morning, did you?” The DCI halted in front of Jack and looked him up and down.
“I rang and ordered him to get in here sharpish this morning, sir. His unkempt appearance is, therefore, totally my fault. I’ll make sure he shaves before we leave the station,” Sally said quickly, cutting off her partner before he had the chance to speak.
“No need for that. Have you seen all the beards Vice are sporting nowadays? I can’t stand them. Just make sure you don’t go down that route. You hear me?”
Jack nodded and felt the stubble on his chin. “No fear of that, sir. My wife would divorce me if I hinted at keeping this permanently.” A glint appeared in his eyes. “Or maybe I should consider growing one after all.”
“I’m with your wife on this one. What about you, Inspector? Clean shaven or beard?”
Sally gulped. “Er, definitely clean shaven for me, sir. If we women can’t hide our spots with beards, then why should men be allowed to?”
The DCI chortled as he left the room.
Sally exhaled and puffed out her cheeks. “Jeez… I thought he was never going to leave. Thanks for rescuing me. Are you ready to set off? I don’t think we have time to hang around and wait for the others to start their shift.”
“Fine by me. Can we grab a coffee and a doughnut on the way?”
“To a murder scene? Do you think that’s wise?”
“Okay, on second thoughts, I’ll stick with just the coffee instead.”
Sally pointed at the vending machine in the corner of the room. “On you go. I’ll have a white with one sugar, too. Thanks for offering.”
“Cheeky cow,” Jack mumbled when he turned his back on her.
“I heard that,” she joked sternly.
They took their coffees with them when they left the station. Sally parked the car alongside the pathologist’s van, then she and Jack walked across the grassy area to the riverbank, where the team was erecting a marquee to protect the body. The sharp breeze was giving them trouble.
“Problems, Simon?” Sally asked, coming to a standstill beside the thoughtful man.
“Good to see you here so promptly, Inspector, given the time of day. We’re just figuring out the logistics.” Simon tapped his finger against his stubbled chin.
“Meaning?”
“I think we’ll have to take photos of the corpse’s position then move it. At the moment, her head is still in the water, and it’s proving difficult to shield from the elements.”
“I see. Do what you have to do, then. Looks a nasty one,” Sally peered at the woman’s charred body then looked sideways at her partner. “Good job you decided against stopping off for that doughnut, Jack.”
His mouth twisted, and he nodded. “Too right. Christ, do we know if she was dead before she was barbecued?”
“Have some respect for the victim, Jack,” Sally chastised him before asking Simon, “Do we know when she died?”
Simon shook his head and smiled at her. “Let’s do the usual—set about preserving the body and any possible evidence first. I’ll know more once I carry out a preliminary examination. Okay?”
“Sure, you carry on. All right if we search around for any sign of ID?” Sally surveyed the immediate area.
“No need. Her clothes and her handbag were found in a pile, just like the first victim. We’ve bagged them up already.”
“So you’re definitely linking the two crimes?”
“Seems feasible to me, what with the two incidents occurring only five miles apart,” Simon said.
“We can’t really pinpoint the same MO though, can we? Considering the differing CODs.”
“There is that. But then, how many murders do we really get in this area? This is the second one in as many days. Seems plausible to link the two crimes to me, if only because of the way the clothes and ID were arranged at both scenes.”
“It’s not uncommon for serial killers to alter the killing process occasionally, from what I’ve heard; not having dealt with many of these kinds of cases before,” Sally stated pensively.
“Serial killer? Is that what you’re putting this down to, boss?” Jack asked.
“Not willing to jump the gun. Let’s see what the examination results throw up, eh?” Simon responded.
“I’m happy to set that conclusion aside for now,” Sally said.
“Indeed,” Simon replied. “Excuse me.” He walked towards the other two suited members of his team and issued his instructions.
“Let’s see if we can take a peek at her ID.” Sally walked back to the pathologist’s van, pulled on her latex gloves, sank her hand into the paper evidence bag, and pulled out the woman’s handbag. The square leather purse looked brand-new. Sally unzipped the pocket and located a bank debit card and a driving licence with the name Maddie Webster. “Jot this down, Jack. Maddie Webster, 17 Miller’s Croft Road, Lingwood.”
“Okay. I don’t suppose you can find anything in there to say if she’s married or not.”
“The card calls her a miss, so I’m guessing she’s single.” Sally smiled at Simon as he approached them. “Sorry, I took the liberty of having a look.”
“That’s fine. It’s why I didn’t seal the bag. My guys are taking some shots of the victim, then we’ll be pulling her clear of the river and erecting the tent. I think we’ll be here most of the morning and well into the afternoon. There’s one thing I’d like to point out before I continue.”
“I’m all ears.” Sally inclined her head.
“I spotted a few of the woman’s garments in the water a little downstream. Not sure what significance lies behind that, but thought I’d throw it out there anyway.”
“Maybe a gust of wind was to blame,” Sally replied thoughtfully. “Mind if we stick around for a little while?”
“You’re welcome to. As soon as the marquee is up, I’ll be taking a closer look at the body.”
“If you’re linking the two crimes, do you think there’ll be DNA similar to that on the first victim?”
Simon nodded. “I’m hoping so.”
Not long after, his team gave him the go-ahead, and the three of them entered the marquee one after the other.
The smell of burning flesh hit Sally instantly, and she covered her nose. However, Jack didn’t, and he soon began to gag in the confined space. She chuckled, earning herself a glare from her partner, who looked decidedly green around the gills.
Simon knelt beside the victim, his paper mask in place. The first area he checked was between the victim’s legs. “Yep, it’s as I suspected. She was either raped or had consensual sex before she met her end. I’ll take a swab and bet you both fifty quid that this semen sample matches the semen we found on last night’s victim.”
“That’s one positive if it does.” Sally felt her hopes rising.
Simon dealt with the sample and passed it to another team member to label and list. Then he examined the corpse. “Well, there’s faint bruising to the neck.”
“You can make that out even though the body is burnt?” Sally queried.
“Yes, with my trained eye, very little escapes me. You should know that by now, Inspector.”
“Of course. So, she was strangled, just like Brenda Fisher.”
“I won’t be able to confirm that as the COD, or whether the killer drowned her first then strangled her to ensure she was dead. It might have been the other way around, of course. I won’t know that until the PM to see if there is any water in her lungs.”
“Well, I think we’ve seen enough, Simon. We’ll leave you to it now that we have the verification that there is once again DNA evidence on the victim. Will you ring me later if anything else shows up?”
“Affirmative. Good luck with the investigation. Do you want to attend the post-mortem?”
“I don’t think that’s necessary. We’ll throw ourselves into finding out about the victim, see if we can pick up any possible leads to the killer.”
“Very well.”
Sally and Jack made their way back to the car and set off in the direction of the victim’s home. The tiny terraced house was in a street filled with similar-sized properties, most of which were in good repair. Only a few of the houses let the street down, from what Sally could tell at a quick glance.
“Let’s hope she shares her home with either a boyfriend or a friend.” Sally rang the bell and slipped her hand in her jacket pocket, ready to produce her warrant card if someone answered the door. No one did. She sighed heavily. “Looks like we’re out of luck. We’ll try the neighbours. You take that one, and I’ll take this side.”
Jack nodded.
They retraced their steps then split up at the end of the path. Each of them knocked on the two houses either side.
After Sally knocked, a harassed-looking woman in her early thirties opened the door, with a small child on her hip. “Yes?”
“Sorry, I can see you’re busy with the little one. I was wondering if you could tell me anything about your neighbour.” Sally pointed at the house she was referring to. “Maddie Webster, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. In what respect? And who are you?”
Sally showed the woman her ID. “DI Sally Parker from the Norfolk Constabulary.”
“I see. Is Maddie in trouble of some kind?”
“Maybe it would be better if I came inside for a quick chat. Would that be okay?”
“I’m in the middle of doing the housework. Everything takes twice as long with this little one crawling around the floor, getting under my feet. If you don’t mind the mess, you’re welcome to come in.”
“Thanks, that’s no problem. I’ll just get my partner.” Sally clicked her fingers to gain Jack’s attention and motioned for him to join her.
He hopped over the two brick walls between the three houses, and they followed the woman through the house to the kitchen at the rear of the property.
“Like I said, excuse the mess.”
“Have you just got the one child?” Sally asked.
“One at home during the day and two at primary school. Three kids under the age of seven for my sins.”
“Yikes, that’s hard work.”
“It is. About Maddie? I haven’t seen her since yesterday. She always pops in for a coffee before her shift. She loves playing with the kids. Poor cow says she can’t have any of her own. I tried to palm one or two of mine off on her, but she wouldn’t hear of that.”
Sally smiled at the woman. “Sorry, I didn’t get your name?”
“It’s Liz, Liz Foot.” The woman cleared the table in front of two chairs and invited Sally and Jack to sit down. “Would you like a drink?”
“Only if you’re having one.”
Liz placed the child in the highchair and switched on the kettle. “What’s Maddie done?”
“It’s like this, Liz—I’m afraid I have some bad news. Maddie’s body was found down by the river. I’d rather not go into detail right now, not in front of your daughter.”
Liz collapsed against the worktop and placed a hand over her face. “Body? You mean she’s dead?”
“Yes. Can you tell us where she worked? You mentioned an evening shift somewhere.”
“That’s right, she was a barmaid at the Wellington Arms in Connaught Road. Oh my, I can’t believe it. Was it some kind of accident? A hit-and-run perhaps?”
“No. She was murdered.”
Liz dropped into one of the spare chairs with a thump, and Sally asked Jack to take over making the drink. Tears misted the woman’s eyes. She reached for her daughter’s hand and lightly grasped it in her own. “Murdered,” she whispered eventually. “How? Why? Who would do that to Maddie?”
“I’d rather not go into the gruesome details just now. I was wondering if you knew anyone she might have been having problems with? Maybe an eager customer at the pub she might have mentioned during a conversation.”
“Not that I can remember. She broke up with her fiancé several months ago after she caught him in bed with someone else.”
“Can you give me his name?”
“Terry Dolan. He works as a mechanic at the local Ford garage. Or he did, the last I heard anyway. You can’t be thinking he would do this to her?”
“It’s something we need to check up on, if only to eliminate him from our enquiries. Did they part on bad terms? Has Maddie seen him since the break-up?”
“Not that I know of. She would have mentioned it to me if she had.” Liz gasped and covered her mouth.
“What is it, Liz?”
“Her mum. Have you told her mum yet?”
“No, this is our first stop. Is there something we should be aware of?”
Jack placed a cup on the table in front of the two ladies, then took his seat and pulled out his notebook.
“Glynis is in ill-health. She has a frail heart. This news is likely to kill her. Oh, shit! Her dad died only last year from a bad accident at work. He was a forklift driver. The bloody thing tipped up and crushed him. To this day, they have no idea how that could have happened. Now this!”
“Can you give us Glynis’s address? I promise to break the news to her gently. Is she under the doctor, do you know?”
“Yes, and a specialist at the hospital, too. Damn! Why Maddie, of all people? She’s such a caring girl.”
“That’s what I intend to find out. Has she complained about anyone showing her any form of attention recently, a customer at the pub, for instance?” Sally repeated to the bewildered woman.
“No, nothing that I can think of. She wasn’t interested in starting another relationship after what happened with Terry. She said men were all cheating bastards, and she wanted to have nothing more to do with them.”
“Well, something must have changed her mind. Unless someone pounced on her after her shift. Does she have a car? Or did she use public transport to get to work?”
“She could drive, but her last car fell apart with rust. Since then, she’s been taking the bus into work. One of the other members of staff usually gives her a lift home after her shift. Either that, or if her boss was in a good mood, he’d fork out for a taxi.”
“Thanks, we’ll look into that when we question her colleagues and her boss later. Are you sure you can’t think of anything else? Perhaps you’ve noticed someone hanging around in the road outside when you’ve been out shopping or taken the kids to school. Anything?”
“Like a stalker? No, I’m constantly on the lookout. You can’t be too careful these days, can you? Folk are just weird. Any excuse to ki—” She covered her face with her hands and sobbed.
Sally rubbed the woman’s upper arm. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of such sad news. We need to get on with the investigation. I hate to leave you like this. Is there someone we can call to come and be with you?”
