But in that same moment he saw her again, this time swooping in on the dead like a Valkyrie.

Grace Archer.

Detective Inspector Grace Archer, no less.

The same detective assigned to orchestrate his demise. He isn’t sure how exactly he feels about this serendipitous event, however, he is excited to begin this new cat-and-mouse game with her.

Beyond excited.

He has plans for Detective Inspector Grace Archer.

Since he first set eyes on her yesterday morning in the Lumberyard Café, he knew it was meant to be.

Serendipity.

He smiles to himself and relaxes as the frustrations of his failed first exhibit begin to fritter away.

The alarm on his phone pings on the passenger seat, lighting up the interior of the car.

It is time.

He looks up at the fourth-floor bedroom window where he can just about see Elaine Kelly combing her blonde hair. A surge of excitement rushes through him. The night is just about to start.

Chapter 12

12

ELAINE KELLY SITS CAREFULLY AT the little table, leans toward the small round mirror and applies an extra layer of foundation around her bruised, tender eye. She flinches at the pain, swallows and tries to steady her hand. Just a few more gentle applications.

She is relieved the swelling has decreased and oddly thankful Frank’s fist didn’t bust her lip again. Lord knows what her date would think if he saw her in that state, especially after all these years. Mascara next and then a generous coating of ruby lip gloss.

She sits up quickly, forgetting the pain in her bruised ribs, and gasps. She steadies herself against the desk and rummages in the drawers for painkillers, which she regrets not taking earlier. She finds two paracetamol and dry swallows them quickly. Holding her ribs, she steps gingerly into the hallway and looks in on Jordan, who is lying on the sofa watching The One Show.

‘You all right, Jord?’ she asks as she crosses back to the bedroom.

He doesn’t respond.

She slips off her dressing gown and glances at the digital bedside clock. It’s 7.19. Jackie should be here by now to pick up Jordan. She feels a swirl of anxiety as she unhooks the little black dress from the hanger in the wardrobe. It takes her a few minutes to step into it. There’s no way she can manage the zip so she goes to the living room and sits with her back to her son on the sofa.

‘Zip me up, Jord.’

Jordan sighs, climbs to his knees, struggles with the zip for a moment, before pulling it gently over her back.

Elaine turns round to face him. His eyes scan the area around her bruised eye.

‘The wonders of foundation,’ she says brightly.

He meets her gaze with an uneasy expression that worries her. Poor bugger. He has been through so much with her and Frank fighting, watching his dad beating her senseless with his fists.