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
‘Cecily Levin.’ She pointed at neat cursive writing at the bottom of the picture. ‘That’s her autograph.’
‘Did she work mainly in theatre?’
‘She did a lot of TV and some films.’ Norma placed the framed photograph back in its place on the desk.
Clay placed her contact card down in front of Norma.
‘Is there anything else you have to add about Francesca Christie?’
‘No. I hope she comes back safe and sound, and this missing business has all been a horrible mistake.’
‘I need to take the file containing Francesca’s internet activity away with me, Norma, and her work laptop and any other devices she may have used that you issued her with.’
‘Yes, of course. See Daniel Ball. He’ll sort you out. Good luck, DCI Clay.’
‘Call me if you think of anything you haven’t told me so far, Norma.’
64
9.25 am
In Interview Suite 2, Detective Sergeant Bill Hendricks faced Detective Sergeant Gina Riley across the table. Between them were the transcripts of online conversations between Sandra O’Day and Michael Towers, Annie Boyd and Richard Ezra, Amanda Winton and Thomas Saddler, and Francesca Christie and James Griffiths; sweet nothings to and from The Ghoul.
Riley looked at the clock on the wall and observed, ‘An hour and five minutes until he’s supposed to put in his call. Do you think he’ll follow through?’
‘He’s the one in a hurry. He’s got Francesca Christie. He wants Sally Haydn in captivity with her.’
‘Never mind the ifs, buts or maybes. We’ll find out for sure at half past ten. Focus on this. Let’s go again,’ said Hendricks. ‘Keep those two d words spinning at the front of your mind. Diffident and desperate.’
His face filled with a cheesy grin and he winked across the table. Riley laughed, but said, ‘This is serious, Bill.’
Hendricks fixed his face and said, ‘Hi, Sally, thank you so much for letting me call you.’
‘No problem, Geoff. Thank you for suggesting we talk rather than use the dating site. You get a much clearer idea of who a person is and what they’re like from direct conversation.’ Silence. ‘You’re quiet?’
‘I’m just a little nervous around the whole internet dating scene. I’m brand new to it, you see.’
‘Well, I’m a little nervous too.’
‘Don’t be nervous, Sally. I kept coming back to your profile over and over again and found myself hoping that we could enter into a real dialogue. I’m so glad we have.’
‘Me too, Geoff.’
‘Your picture on the website?’
‘It’s not a very good one.’
‘You’re mistaken. You look great.’
‘You’re teasing me?’