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
‘On my profile I said I was single. It seemed like the simplest way to convey my situation. I’m new to internet dating and a little nervous around the whole process. Maybe I should have given this thing between us a little more time before diving in at the deep end. I mean, we only connected yesterday.’
‘What are you telling me, Geoff? Are you trying to tell me you have a girlfriend? I mean, I really don’t want to get hurt…’
‘The last thing I’d do is hurt another human being because I’ve been through so much. I don’t want to get hurt again. The truth is I am and I’m not single. My wife died at the end of last year. I’ve been on my own since then. But I’m terribly, terribly lonely. I know I can trust you to tell you that.’
‘Thank you for trusting me with that. Thank you for telling me that you’re a widower. I’m so sorry to hear that.’
‘Please don’t think I’m trying to make emotional capital out of my misfortune.’
‘I don’t think that. I think you’re being upfront and honest about what’s happened to you. It takes guts to be honest, and I respect you for that.’
‘You do?’ He appeared to sound surprised. Clay couldn’t decide if it was part of the act or if it was the sound of advancing cars speeding at seventy to eighty miles per hour down Aigburth Road towards him from either direction.
‘Do you have children, Geoff?’
‘No. We nearly did. Lucy was six months pregnant when she died.’
There was a pause that turned into a silence that Riley span out to give the officers descending on Grassendale the advantage of time.
‘Are you still there, Sally?’
‘I’m so… so… sorry. It sounds busy where you are. Where are you?’
‘I’m on Lister Drive near Old Swan. The traffic is busy. Listen, Sally, are you busy tonight?’
‘No.’
‘I know we hardly know each other but…’
‘But?’
‘Does this sound crazy? I feel like we’ve made a connection already, a real connection. From your profile and the messages we’ve exchanged. I – I’ve just got this gut feeling, especially now I’ve heard your voice. I mean, we’ve talked on and off all night over the internet and it’s like you’ve already lifted a weight from me. I think we should meet up soon, get talking to each other face to face.’
‘Yes! I’m ready. I just hope I don’t disappoint you, Geoff.’
‘You won’t. And I hope I don’t disappoint you. Do you like the Albert Dock, Sally?’
‘It’s my favourite part of the city to go out in.’
‘Me too.’ He laughed and Riley joined in with a pair of stones for eyes.