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
‘Listen, Wren! OK, now I’ve got to go back to work, which means I’m going to have to trust you on your own in the house. What are your plans for this afternoon?’
‘TV, PlayStation, drawing.’
‘Don’t go out on your own. The weather’s stinking, stay home, stay safe, stay dry. Promise me you’ll stay at home.’
‘I promise you I’ll stay at home.’
Neil pulled up at the lights and looked at the unique artwork on his son’s Captain Cyclone lunch box and felt the same sucker punch each and every time. Such a talent, such a child, such a shame.
‘You promised me once in the past, and you went out. I’m going to come home early today and I’m afraid, if you’re not at home, as you’ve just promised me, then you’ll have to stop working at the abattoir and go back to the day centre. It’s as simple and as harsh as that, Wren. There’ll be no more Edgar, ever. Ever… ever!’
‘Oh no, I don’t want to go back to the day centre. I want to work in the abattoir with Edgar McKee, my mate. Has Edgar ever had diarrhoea before?’
‘No.’
Neil Wren pulled up at a red light at the Childwall Fiveways.
‘I’m not answering any more questions about Edgar. Is that clear?’
‘OK.’
‘Think on, Wren. I’ve spoken to your Auntie Louise and she’s going to pop in to see you at some point. Understand?’
‘I understand.’
Neil Wren followed the traffic past the green light.
‘Edgar? Does he have other mates or does he only have one mate? Me.’
75
1.15 pm
Detective Chief Inspector Eve Clay faced Brian Doherty across his desk and noticed that he looked like he was in physical pain.
‘Are you all right, Mr Doherty?’
‘In all the years I’ve been here, I haven’t had any dealings with the police, and then two back-to-back visits all of a sudden.’
Clay focused him on an imperative that wasn’t Brian Doherty centred.
‘Your newest employee, Francesca Christie, she’s still missing, by the way.’
‘Is that what you’ve come to tell me?’
‘No.’
‘Then how can I help you, DCI Clay?’
Clay noticed the way the framed family portrait on his desk was angled so that anyone facing him could see him with his wife and two teenage daughters.
‘I’ve come here to have a highly confidential talk with you, Mr Doherty, and I need a reassurance you won’t divulge the content of our conversation with anyone.’ She pointed at the picture on the desk. ‘Even your family. And especially not your employees.’
‘I don’t see how I can help you, DCI Clay. Francesca Christie only worked here for half a day before she went missing.’
‘You enticed her away from Norma Maguire, right?’