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Chapters (60)
  1. CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL
  2. Glossary of acronyms
  3. Prologue
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. 52
  56. 53
  57. 54
  58. 55
  59. 56
  60. Acknowledgements

‘We don’t know what Ella might have to tell us,’ she pointed out. ‘We haven’t spoken to her yet. But it’s possible Jessica might have confided in her and told her something that can help us resolve this case. We have to try anyway.’

‘Yes, of course. I’m not for one moment suggesting you shouldn’t follow it up. I’m just not quite sure why you’re so excited about it.’

‘I’m not excited,’ Geraldine lied. ‘That is, I am, but I don’t know why. Like you said, she probably won’t have anything useful to tell us.’

‘By saying she probably won’t, you mean you think she possibly might,’ Ian said, smiling at her. ‘Well, let’s hope your instincts are right and she can tell us something we don’t already know.’

Geraldine had an uncomfortable feeling that Ian was privately laughing at her optimism. She didn’t mind. If he was right, and she was allowing herself to indulge in a vain hope, they would have lost nothing. But there remained a slim chance that Ella might be able to add a tiny piece to the puzzle that was currently perplexing them all. That evening, after supper, she drove back to Ella’s house but once again there was no answer when she rang the bell. She waited around for a while and then went home to Ian who was reading a history book while he waited for her.

‘Don’t stop reading on my account,’ she said.

‘I was just passing the time until you returned,’ he replied. ‘Shall we have a nightcap before we turn in?’

‘Sounds like a good idea.’

They went out on to her balcony and sat facing the river in companionable silence. The night was peaceful and, for a while, Geraldine forgot about the grim details of the case they were working on, as she gazed at the moonlight glinting on the water, pleasantly conscious of Ian sitting beside her.

44

44

The following morning, Geraldine got up early, leaving Ian in bed.

‘Where are you going?’ he demanded sleepily. ‘It’s Saturday. You’re not working today.’

He reached out and grabbed her by the arm as she sat on the bed to put on her socks. She laughed as he tugged her gently towards him, and was tempted to climb back into the warmth of his embrace.

‘I want to follow up on a possible lead,’ she replied.

‘You and your leads,’ he mumbled, as he nuzzled her neck. ‘What is it this time?’

‘Ella.’

‘Oh yes, the woman who befriended Jessica,’ he murmured sleepily. ‘Can’t she wait?’