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
As the laughter faded, Riley said, ‘Geoff? Can I ask you a question?’
‘You can ask me anything, Sally.’
‘Then if you don’t mind me asking, just how did Lucy die?’
‘How about I tell you when I see you, when we can see and hear each other directly?’
Behind him, Clay heard the sound of speeding cars slowing down and his footsteps picking up speed as he walked away from the main road. It sounded like he was disappearing around the corner and away from the dual carriageway.
‘Sally, something’s just cropped up. How about we say, eight o’clock tonight at the padlocked railings. You know it?’
‘I know it. It sounds perfect, Geoff.’
‘It’s all on me, Sally. You can pick anywhere that you like to eat. No expense spared.’
More cars approached, splitting off from the main road and down the streets leading off from it.
‘You’re worth it. You deserve kindness. You deserve a man in your life who’ll worship the ground you walk on and celebrate the air that you breathe. See you at eight, Sally. Oh, one last thing. Are you driving there?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where are you parking?’
Riley looked at Clay. In the place where there’ll be six hidden marksmen.
‘Usually when I go to the Albert Dock, I leave my car in the Marina’s car park and walk along the promenade.’
‘That’s a good place to park. But a friend of mine turned up one minute after his pay and display ran out, and they clamped him and hit him with a hefty fine. I don’t want us to be watching the clock when we should be watching each other. What do you think, Sally?’
‘I’d better not leave it in the Marina’s car park.’
‘You could always park it round the corner near the apartments. It’d be pretty safe there.’
‘Thanks for that tip, Geoff. I’ll do that.’
‘Don’t want a great night out being ruined by a car park fiasco. I’ll see you at eight, Sally.’
Before Riley could reply, the dead tone filled the interview suite.
‘Do you believe him?’ asked Hendricks as Clay pressed stop.
‘He lied about his location,’ said Clay. ‘I think he’s putting the accent on. Why would he tell us anything about the truth of his background? Why would he tell the truth about anything? All we are in his mind is meat to be preyed on.’
69
10.43 am
The Ghoul walked slowly down Dugdale Close, away from Aigburth Road and on to Montfort Drive.
Why? Why all these police cars here, so suddenly? The mind danced as it leaped over itself at what it saw and heard.
At the end of Montfort Drive, as it ran into Grassendale Road, a marked police car cruised past and out of sight. It provoked a feeling of overwhelming paranoia that made the simple act of breathing like hard labour.