Chapters (67)
- Cover
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Thirty-Five
- Thirty-Six
- Thirty-Seven
- Thirty-Eight
- Thirty-Nine
- Forty
- Forty-One
- Forty-Two
- Forty-Three
- Forty-Four
- Forty-Five
- Forty-Six
- Forty-Seven
- Forty-Eight
- Forty-Nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-One
- Fifty-Two
- Fifty-Three
- Fifty-Four
- Fifty-Five
- Fifty-Six
- Fifty-Seven
- Fifty-Eight
- Fifty-Nine
- Sixty
- Sixty-One
- Sixty-Two
- Sixty-Three
- Sixty-Four
- Sixty-Five
- Sixty-Six
‘I can’t see the side road from in here, people could come and go, I would not know – as I have said, this has nothing to do with me. Now, I have to go home, I am sorry, I can’t be of more help to you.’
‘Do customers have access to this store? The office?’
‘Of course not. That would be quite wrong, the drugs I keep are not sweets and chocolate, Mr . . .’
‘Serrailler. So you are the only person who ever comes in this area behind the counter?’
The flicker of alarm, the worried eyes.
‘Yes.’
‘What about deliveries?’
‘They bring into the shop, I sign, I bring them here.’
‘Have you ever been burgled, Mr Wang?’
‘What is this? Why are you questioning me as if I am in some court of law? I have answered everything, I know nothing. Please leave now.’
‘Yes. Thank you for your patience. One thing, Mr Wang – if you do hear anything from the flat from now on, it’s very important that you let us know. The landlord can’t let it at present until it ceases to be a crime scene, so there should be no one up there at all except forensics teams and the police, and we will always let you know we’re there. If we haven’t and you hear anything, or see anyone, please call the station immediately, on this number, or call me direct. It’s very important.’
‘Yes. Now please –’
‘And if anyone comes into the shop, and you’re worried for any reason at all, then ring us about that too. If they start asking odd questions or it just doesn’t feel right, we must know.’
‘I will do that but I am sure there will be nothing. Now please . . .’
Serrailler left.
Thirty-Five
Kevin Astley jumped up from his desk and ran out of the house when the screaming began, so loud and anguished, like the howling of a trapped animal. Greta Tonks was standing in the path, her front door wide open, and when Kevin appeared she only managed to point, but not to stop the noise that seemed to be issuing from her with a force all its own.
Later, he did not remember exactly what he had done, or how, let alone how he had known to do it. He had raced into the house, seen Olivia’s hanging body, shouted ‘I need something to cut with’ and held her, taken her weight, until Greta grasped what he was saying and needed and brought a carving knife.