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
She looked around the room. Charlie peered over the side of the playpen and sank on to his bottom as Susan’s mother descended even deeper into sleep.
‘OK.’
Winters turned to video, pressed record and pointed his iPhone in Susan’s direction.
‘We need to learn everything we can about Edgar McKee, and as quickly as possible. We’re trying to build a picture of who he is. He’s a loner. Judging from the notes in his diary, you’re the person he has most social contact with. He sees two other women from Dream Girls but not anything like the amount he sees you. What do you know about him?’
‘He’s polite, generous and works in an abattoir.’ She fell silent. ‘That’s about it. He’s not a great conversationalist. Some of my clients don’t know when to shut up. But not Edgar. He’s quiet.’ Her baby brought up a volley of wind. ‘Good boy.’ Susan lay the baby down on the sofa next to her and, as she patted his chin and cheeks with his bib, she asked, ‘Did you tell him you’d been to see me?’
‘I did.’
She looked up, appeared interested.
‘What did he say about me?’
‘The relationship was straightforward. Sex for money.’
‘Is that all?’
‘No.’
‘You’ve got to understand, DC Winters. I don’t get to hear what my clients say about me when I’m not there. I’m helping you. You help me. Don’t mince your words. I want to know. What did he say?’
‘He recommended your services but he didn’t put it so politely.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘He suggested I should, quote, fuck your brains out.’
She looked astonished and sourly amused.
‘Did he really say that?’
She pressed her face close to her baby’s and he made a noise rich in contentment.
‘You’ve got him marked down as a gentleman, Susan. I didn’t find him particularly gentlemanly in the way he spoke about you. Quite the opposite, in fact.’
‘Just for the sake of, we are on the same hymn sheet here? He indicated that you should have sexual intercourse with me.’
‘He also said that he satisfied you and other women he paid for sex. That you had orgasms as a matter of course because he was so skilled at sex.’
She picked up her baby and, walking to the playpen, placed him inside with his older brother.
Susan turned. ‘How would he know what sexual intercourse with me or any of the other girls is like?’
‘Susan?’
‘If you want further clarification, I can give you the mobile numbers for Chloe and Erica, his other regulars from my agency.’
‘I’ll take those numbers before I go but for now, tell me what you mean, Susan?’