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
Then call Merseyside Constabulary switchboard and ask for my landline number in Trinity Road police station. Call me on that number. You’ll hear my voice on my answer machine, my name asking you to leave a message. Surely that’s enough, Jayne.
As he gave her the switchboard’s number, he completely understood the suspicions of a woman whose working life was spent working on an internet dating site where lies, deceit and misrepresentation largely ruled over truth.
I’m going to talk to my boss. Please hang on.
Hendricks’ attention drifted back in time in the direction of the rain-drenched footpath and he pictured Mand-E’s scalped and faceless body floating in a muddy pothole.
The phone rang and Jayne came on the line. ‘OK, DS Hendricks, we believe you. How can I help you?’
‘First up, I need the home addresses for two men who’ve been using your site.’
‘That could be tricky,’ said Jayne. ‘Data protection…’
‘Jayne, this is in connection with a murder enquiry.’
‘A murder enquiry?’
An older woman’s voice came into the mix and Hendricks realised he was on speakerphone.
‘Who is this?’ asked Hendricks.
‘Emily Jones. I’m the founder and owner of Pebbles On The Beach. I feel like I’m having déjà vu. I’ve had this conversation with Warrington Police. What’s this murder enquiry got to do with me, DS Hendricks?’
‘Three women have been murdered. We’re almost one hundred per cent certain that the killer connected with them on your dating site.’
The silence was long and toxic.
‘Is this going to get out into the media?’
‘If we’re right about the women being selected on your site and we catch the killer, yes, it will. Most certainly, it will come out when it gets to court.’
Across the line, Hendricks felt the weight of Emily Jones’ naked disappointment at the impact this information would have on her business.
‘I need those addresses, Emily. If the killer carries on and the body count mounts up higher, I’d be very worried if it was my website.’
‘What are the names of the men you’re interested in, DS Hendricks?’
‘Richard Ezra and Danny Guest. We believe they’re both from the Liverpool area.’
‘OK. I’ll provide that information for you. Jayne, speak to Ros. Richard Ezra and Danny Guest. Addresses to begin with, ASAP. Is there anything else I can do to help you, DS Hendricks?’
‘The third victim, we’re still trying to identify her. I’m going to email Jayne information about her to help you with the search at your end.’
Hendricks looked at the name on the latest victim’s left forearm in the photograph on his desk. Mand-E.