Chapters (156)
- A DATE WITH DEATH
- Also by Mark Roberts
- A Date With Death
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- The Past
- 1977
- Day OneWednesday, 1st December 2021CatoptrophobiaFear of mirrors
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
- 17
- 18
- 19
- 20
- 21
- 22
- 23
- 24
- 25
- 26
- The Past
- 1979
- Day TwoThursday, 2nd December 2021OneirophobiaFear of dreams
- 27
- 28
- 29
- 30
- 31
- 32
- 33
- 34
- 35
- 36
- 37
- 38
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- 44
- 45
- 46
- 47
- 48
- 49
- 50
- 51
- 52
- The Past
- 1980
- Day ThreeFriday, 3rd December 2021MonophobiaFear of being alone
- 53
- 54
- 55
- 56
- 57
- 58
- 59
- 60
- 61
- 62
- 63
- 64
- 65
- 66
- 67
- 68
- 69
- 70
- 71
- 72
- 73
- 74
- 75
- 76
- 77
- 78
- 79
- 80
- 81
- 82
- 83
- 84
- 85
- 86
- 87
- 88
- 89
- 90
- 91
- 92
- 93
- 94
- 95
- 96
- 97
- 98
- The Past
- 1982
- Day FourSaturday, 4th December 2021ThanatophobiaFear of Death
- 99
- 100
- 101
- 102
- 103
- 104
- 105
- 106
- 107
- 108
- 109
- 110
- 111
- 112
- 113
- 114
- 115
- 116
- 117
- 118
- 119
- 120
- 121
- 122
- 123
- 124
- 125
- 126
- 127
- 128
- 129
- 130
- 131
- 132
- 133
- 134
- 135
- 136
- 137
- About the Author
- An Invitation from the Publisher
‘In my experience, Mrs Christie, most people do things that are out of character at some or several points in their lives. We have to go through a process of elimination here. Does she have a laptop?’ Mrs Christie nodded. ‘We need to look at it.’
‘I thought you might ask.’ She produced a laptop from the bag.
‘The pictures, please, Mrs Christie.’
As Mrs Christie sent the pictures of Francesca to Clay’s phone, she said, ‘You’re taking this very seriously, DCI Clay.’
‘We take all missing persons cases seriously.’
‘I don’t believe you. I’m sorry, but I don’t. You’re thinking what I’m thinking. Francesca’s in serious trouble.’
‘Mrs Christie, I don’t know where Francesca is at the moment but these are very dangerous times for young women in this part of the country. My aim is to find Francesca and not jump to alarming conclusions. Have you left all your contact details with Sergeant Harris on the desk?’
‘Yes.’
‘What was Francesca wearing?’
‘I don’t know. She called goodbye from the front door as she was leaving the house. I was in the kitchen.’
‘What car does she drive?’
‘A black Vauxhall Corsa.’
‘Licence plate?’
‘It’s a personalised plate. FC 1.’
‘We’ll be in touch with you as soon as we know anything, Mrs Christie. Is there anything else you’d like to add?’
‘Francesca lost her father a year ago, and her so-called boyfriend jilted her weeks after the funeral. It broke her into pieces. Her confidence plummeted. She doesn’t normally lie to me. But she’s a very proud person. She lied to me about these wretched dating sites because she was embarrassed to have to stoop that low. She’s a good daughter. She’s a good human being.’
‘I believe you, Mrs Christie.’
Clay read the anguish on the woman’s face and positioned herself directly in her place.
‘If Francesca shows up, call me immediately, I don’t care what the hour is,’ said Clay.
They left Interview Suite 1 in silence and Clay escorted Mrs Christie to the door leading out of Trinity Road police station.
Clay felt the burden of Mrs Christie’s anxiety and knew that Francesca’s mother shared the same instinctive and certain knowledge.
Francesca had been abducted.
When she had gone, Clay walked quickly to the desk and showed Sergeant Harris a picture of Francesca Christie on her iPhone.
‘Missing. Internet date. Probably Pebbles On The Beach.’
‘Shit,’ said Sergeant Harris.
‘Ring round everyone on the team, please,’ said Clay. ‘Ring switchboard and put out an instruction to all officers out there on duty. We’re looking for a black Vauxhall Corsa. Licence plate, FC 1. I’ll be in the incident room. They’re to meet me there as soon as possible.’