‘Horseshoe geraniums are native to southern Africa, but are grown in gardens across the country. You see them everywhere, sir. Even the supermarkets often have them for sale out the front in the spring. They are popular bedding and pot plants. They are called horseshoe because of the marking on the leaves. They come in a variety of colours and normally flower from March to June.’

‘Anything else?’ Barrett was beginning to get a headache.

‘Yes, sir. I looked into the possible relevance of these particular flowers, and learnt that each flower has its own meaning. The geranium means stupidity or folly.’

‘You think this was a message?’ Palmer got up and reached for the pathologist’s file, flicking through the photographs of the crime scene.

‘It’s certainly possible,’ she said, nodding her head.

‘The question is, Sergeant, is the message for the victim or for us?’ The sergeant shrugged at that point and put down her notes.

‘There is another possibility, sir,’ Palmer spoke slowly.

‘Don’t say it, Joe.’ Barrett shot him a look.

‘Say what?’ asked the sergeant, looking perplexed.

‘Serial killer,’ said Barrett quietly. ‘Palmer is thinking this could be the start of something. But you never said it; you never thought it. If the press gets hold of this we’ll have a media frenzy on our hands. It’s too early to jump to any conclusions. Follow the evidence and let’s keep to the facts, people.’

7

3.50pm 23 June

‘Sounds like I missed the fireworks.’ Kim’s eyes twinkled.

‘You certainly did.’ Maggie sat comfortably on the sofa, with her legs up, holding a plate that was home to a huge piece of chocolate cake.

‘Well, it needed to be said. It’s been going on like this for ages. Well done you.’

‘I’m just surprised you weren’t the first to say it!’ Maggie wiped a smear of chocolate icing from her lips.

‘Well, I kinda did on Thursday night. I feel bad now.’

‘Oh yeah, we missed that. What exactly happened?’ Maggie put the plate down, having devoured the cake.

‘You know what she was like. She had a bee in her bonnet that day. Kept sniping at me and I wasn’t in the mood. Everyone always put up with her shit, but I wasn’t going to. I didn’t get why she was being like that. It was odd, thinking about it.’

‘In what way?’ Amy asked, slowly stirring her tea.

‘Dunno. It was like something was bothering her and she decided to take it out on me.’

The ladies sat contemplating what might have been worrying Toni.

‘You do all know the truth about her and Mike?’ Kim said in a half whisper, as if Toni was listening in the next room.

‘No. What do you mean?’ Maggie leant in and also spoke quietly, which was very unlike her.

‘Toni was only having an affair.’ Kim sat back, satisfied by the comment.