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
‘And you’re the coolest person I’ve ever met, Wren. I swear on Captain Cyclone’s super powers, you’re my best mate, the best mate I’ve ever had.’
37
11.00 am
Detective Constable Barney Cole looked at the time on his iPhone and saw that Mr Doherty was making him wait. Ten minutes after the agreed time of their meeting, there was no sign of movement behind the door to the estate agent’s office.
Inside the room, voices came closer to the door.
He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he recognised the grey pomposity of Mr Doherty and the sweetness of a young woman who was trying very hard to impress.
The door opened and a young woman emerged. She was fit – slim, blonde, matching skirt and jacket – and a face to draw second and third glances on any street.
‘Congratulations.’ Mr Doherty stepped out of his office and shook her by the hand, seemingly oblivious to Cole’s presence. ‘I know you’re going to be very happy here.’
The handshake went on too long and, as Cole observed it, he took a longer look at the woman’s face. Mid to late twenties, there was a sadness in her eyes that spoke of a deep-seated vulnerability.
‘Are you happy with the terms and conditions of your employment with me?’ said Mr Doherty, lapping up the last drop of gratitude from his new employee.
‘I am. Thank you.’
‘When do you intend to start working for me?’
‘Twelve o’clock today, if that suits you, Mr Doherty.’
‘That suits me fine. Excellent. And it’s Brian.’
He flirted with her with his eyes, smiled like the sun had come out from behind a leaden cloud. She joined in but her response looked fake to Cole’s eyes.
‘See you soon, Brian.’
He released her hand and she headed immediately for the top of the stairs.
‘Come inside, Detective Constable Cole,’ said Mr Doherty, not looking at him as he headed back inside his lair.
Cole closed the door, caught the edge of the young woman’s fragrance, recognised it as Chanel No. 5, a perfume his wife liked.
‘Sit.’ Mr Doherty threw a flick of the wrist at the chair across the desk from where he was now sitting.
Cole placed his hands on the back of the chair, leaned forward and said, ‘I have sciatica. It’s easier for me to stay standing.’
‘Then stay standing. You want to know about Richard Ezra, DC Cole? But before we talk about Richard, there’s a question I need to ask.’
‘Fire away.’
‘Why are Merseyside Constabulary interested in him all of a sudden?’
Cole weighed his words carefully.
‘As I said when I phoned you, we’re in the early stages of a murder investigation. I can’t go into the details but we believe the perpetrator has assumed Mr Ezra’s identity in the process of committing his crimes.’