‘How awful,’ Barbara muttered to herself, as she took a large mouthful of her sandwich and dropped bits of grated cheese onto her lap, which Bramble leaped upon with glee and gobbled up the titbits while purring with pleasure.

As quickly as the news of the murder entered Barbara’s consciousness, it disappeared. She became quickly absorbed in the next story about library closures in the region.

‘Terrible,’ she said, shaking her head. The sound of the phone ringing in the hall distracted her from her lunch and she sprang out of her chair, displacing the cat, who glared at her with hatred as she hurried out of the room.

‘Hello?’ Barbara answered, brushing crumbs off her ample chest.

‘Hello, pet.’ Marion’s voice travelled down the line.

‘Marion.’ Barbara was pleased to hear from her friend, ‘I was just having a spot of lunch.’

‘Did you see the lunchtime news?’ Marion asked, already knowing the answer to her question.

‘Oh, yes. Terrible about the libraries, isn’t it?’ Barbara tutted.

‘Never mind that,’ Marion huffed down the phone. ‘Did you see about the body on the common?’

‘Oh, yes, that.’ Barbara felt her cheeks going red.

‘Who would have thought,’ Marion continued, ‘in a nice, safe place like this. You just wouldn’t expect it.’ There was a silence, and Barbara wondered why Marion had really called her.

‘Is everything alright?’

‘Well.’ There was another long pause. ‘Have you spoken to any of the book group since the meeting on Thursday?’

Barbara racked her brains. Since Geoff had died, all her days seemed to merge into each other.

‘No, I don’t think so.’

‘Well I have.’ Marion sounded strange. Her voice was distant. ‘Kim didn’t go home after she left my house.’

Barbara let the information sink in.

‘I’ve had Pete on the phone. He’s worried sick.’

‘Oh, dear.’ It took a few seconds for Barbara to realise what Marion was hinting at. ‘You don’t think …’

‘I don’t know. I’m worried sick. Then the news today …’ Her words trailed off.

‘I’m sure it’s just a coincidence, love.’ Barbara felt her blood run cold.

‘Well I’m not hanging around here to find out. I’m going down there.’

‘Where? To the common?’

‘Aye. I can’t just wait around hoping to hear some news. It’s playing havoc with my nerves.’

There was another silence while Barbara decided what she was going to do.

‘Let me finish my lunch and I’ll come with you.’

‘Are you sure, pet?’ The relief in Marion’s voice was tangible.

‘I’m not having you go there on your own.’

‘Oh, thank you. I’m not sure I could face it alone.’

‘Give me ten minutes to leave the house. I’ll meet you by the entrance to the common, at Water Street, in an hour. Although I doubt we’ll get anywhere. The police aren’t likely to talk to us two.’