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
Thomas looked at her and she saw him reliving their time together in a passage of seconds, the faltering but joy-inspired early days through the cementation of years – acceptance, compromise, parenthood – to the place they’d arrived at in the present, a realistic and hard-won happiness.
‘I knew what I was getting into when we first got together. You made it clear to me about the risks you had to take and the reality of people you hunt down for a living. I accepted it then. But I’m conflicted. There was just the two of us. We’ve got a son now. There are no guarantees in life. You cannot guarantee that tonight you’ll be safe.’
‘This isn’t a competition between you and me, Thomas.’ She looked at the door to his surgery. ‘But do you know what’s coming next through that door?’
‘You don’t have to remind me, Eve. The paranoid schizophrenic who stopped taking his medication and walked in here carrying a knife and wondering why his GP was Satan.’
She held his hands, shivered inside at the memory of the attempted attack on her husband in the space where they were sitting.
‘None of us know the moment when the hammer’s going to fall,’ said Eve.
‘So this could be the last time we speak face to face?’
‘It won’t be.’
‘I see you’ve made your mind up, Eve.’
‘It was made up for me. By the situation. By the brutality at work here. By the fact that the only person I can totally trust in this is me.’
He looked at her intently and his gaze penetrated deep inside her.
‘I’ve loved you since the moment we met and I always will love you, Eve. Take that one away with you and I hope it helps you get through this. But I’m telling you now, it’s very, very hard at times being married to you. You’re not the only police officer who could have done this. But I agree with you. You’re the best choice for the job, even if you say so yourself.’
‘I appreciate your understanding. I’m grateful for your patience and I don’t take your support for granted.’
‘You don’t need a scowling husband, especially not at a time like this. I’ll tell Philip you’re busy and you’ll see him in the morning.’
They stood up and he wrapped his arms around her.
‘I know I’ve upset you, Thomas, and I’m really sorry. I love you, and I love Philip.’ She took comfort in his embrace. ‘Say something, Thomas.’
‘You’re carrying a Glock?’
‘Yes.’
‘Don’t hesitate to blow his brains out if you have to.’
‘Don’t you worry, Thomas. If it’s me or him, I won’t hesitate for one second to do just that.’