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
‘I found out she was going on internet dating sites. I kept this information strictly between me and my office manager, but I did speak with Francesca on the quiet and warned her of the dangers of…’
‘Why didn’t you inform me?’
‘She’s a grown woman. I couldn’t pick up the phone and tell you. There are data protection issues here. But what I did do was say exactly what you would have said, Margaret. The police came to see me this morning just before the office opened for business. I told them everything I know.’
‘Is there anything else, Norma? Anything about Francesca?’
‘Francesca has been my best performing agent, month in and month out, since she’s been with me. She’s good at her job and I thought she was happy in her work. But she decided to leave me rather suddenly, to go and work at Doherty Properties and Estates. I’ve no idea why she left…’
‘When did this happen?’ Francesca’s mother sounded mystified.
‘Yesterday, at around lunchtime.’
The sisters looked at each other.
‘She didn’t say anything to you?’ Norma looked directly at Francesca’s mother, who paced in the confined space of the kitchen and placed the rag doll down on the table.
‘No.’
‘Do you have any idea why she left my firm?’
‘I have no idea. She didn’t say a word to me,’ said Francesca’s mother to her sister as she stuck the plug in the sink, filled it with water, and placed the roses in it. ‘Secrets on secrets on secrets. I just don’t get it. Francesca, what were you thinking of?’
A brand-new wave of anguish and agony swept over Francesca’s mother.
She said, ‘Excuse me.’ And she walked quickly out of the room, fresh tears flooding her face.
‘You’ll have to let yourself out, Norma,’ said Francesca’s aunt, following her sister.
‘I’m so, so sorry,’ said Norma. ‘Truly I am.’
She looked at Kizzy as the women ran up the stairs.
‘Don’t worry about me,’ said Norma, quietly. ‘I can manage the step going down.’
72
11.59 am
Eve Clay closed the door of Thomas’ surgery and he stood up to pass her a chair.
‘This is a surprise,’ said Thomas. The smile on his face faded. ‘Are you OK, Eve?’
‘Thomas.’ She sat facing him, held out her hands and folded them tightly around his.
‘What are you going to tell me, Eve?’
‘Hear me out. Please…’
‘Fire away.’
‘The Ghoul has bitten on the bait we threw out over the internet dating site Pebbles On The Beach. He actually responded directly to Gina Riley, and has had a direct phone conversation with her this morning.’
She paused to frame the words she had come to say directly to him.
‘It’s definitely him?’ asked Thomas, darkness forming in his eyes.