Three Little Maids(24)

She walked slowly up the stairs, and then along the landing. She saw the faint glimmer of light coming from the crack under the meeting room door. So he was there. But why didn’t he open it up and answer her when she called?

She hesitated for a moment outside, turned the door handle nervously, and pushed open the door. The light went off and from the darkness the arms of the shadowy figure reached out and smothered her screams as quickly as they came...





16




Viviane expected Jon to go into work in the morning but not quite so early as it was Sunday. It had been another hot, sticky night and the day promised to be another scorcher. She glanced over at the clock when she heard him moving about overhead. It was seven-thirty, and the bright sunlight was pouring into the bedroom through the large bay windows stirring up the dancing dust motes. Beazy had been restless on her bed since five and was now scratching on the bedroom door that she had forgotten to leave open for him.

She got up quickly and followed Beazy downstairs. He was eager to take his morning constitutional stroll in the back garden. He had no way of knowing the difference between Sunday and a working day.

She came out of the kitchen with a piece of buttered toast in her hand as Jon moved lightly down the stairs. His feet were hardly touching the treads and he stopped when he saw her. ‘Sorry, Viviane. Have I woken you again?’

‘I wasn’t asleep. So - what’s the rush? It’s just gone eight. Are they drumming up custom by giving away a free breakfast in the canteen? Or are you looking for overtime?’

Her laughter vanished as quickly as it came when she saw his face. For once it looked severe; his mouth set in firm grim lines. ‘It looks like we’ve got another murder to deal with, Viviane.’

‘Not another one,’ she whispered. She felt an icy chill go down her spine and her hand sweated and tightened on the doorknob behind her.

‘I’m afraid so. They’ve found a girl’s body in the woods bordering on the left side of the park. Can’t say anything more at present. See you later. May I? Thanks,’ he said taking the buttered toast from her and he relaxed his face into a grin as he went out of the front door.

Another murder! She couldn’t be dreaming it, he’d actually said that. Viviane sleepwalked back into the kitchen, sat down at the kitchen table, and held her head in her hands as fear cramped and knotted up her stomach. She didn’t fancy anything else to eat. She knew she would be restless all day till she heard more details about the victim. Was it going to be some other local girl that she knew? When would Jon be able to put a name to the killer and put an end to this evil?

*

‘So Turner, tell me what you know so far,’ Kent said rubbing his chin with the tips of his fingers. He hadn’t shaved and it felt like gritty sandpaper. He looked down at the naked body. It was neatly arranged ready to be found so like the other young victim. Only her eyes and hair colouring were different. Kent swore under his breath. It was beginning to feel like Groundhog Day.

‘Not good, is it, guv?’

‘It isn’t, Turner.’

The Scene of Crime officers were there already. Around their small group, a team of police officers was meticulously examining every inch of the ground taped off now for anything left behind by the killer that could throw light on this new crime.

Turner took out his notebook, opened it and cleared his throat. It felt thick and dry. He was wishing that he’d had another cup of tea and was spending an extra hour in bed with Carole. This should have been his weekend off. He groaned silently and frowned over his notes. Kent grunted; ‘Get on with it, Turner. I could have done with a lie-in too.’

‘Well according to the witness, Mrs Laidler; she was out early this morning walking with her dogs in the woods behind the park. She has two young retrievers. And the dogs let loose into the thicket and bramble, set up a hell of a commotion. She thought at first they’d got a rabbit or a squirrel and going further in to check up on them, found the body lying here in the undergrowth amongst the ferns and brambles. It must have given her the fright of her life. But she kept her head, called off her dogs straight away and used her cell; she keeps one on her for safety while out walking and phoned us and that was at seven-forty five am precisely.’

‘So how is Mrs Laidler? Is someone looking after her? Given her a drink? It couldn’t have been at all pleasant. This is not a pretty sight to find on a bright sunny morning like this.’

‘A police woman is with her, guv. She’s feeling a bit rough right now. I don’t suppose she’ll fancy walking the dogs in these woods for a long while.’