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Back The Widow Save as PDF
Chapters (92)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. PART I
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. PART II
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. 59
  64. 60
  65. 61
  66. 62
  67. 63
  68. 64
  69. 65
  70. 66
  71. 67
  72. 68
  73. 69
  74. 70
  75. 71
  76. 72
  77. 73
  78. 74
  79. 75
  80. 76
  81. 77
  82. 78
  83. 79
  84. 80
  85. 81
  86. 82
  87. 83
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. MORE FROM VALERIE KEOGH
  90. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  91. The Murder List
  92. About Boldwood Books

Allison noticed that the smile curving Jo’s lips didn’t reach her eyes. Had it been the same when they’d met for lunch? Perhaps she’d been too distracted by her fall, by the plans she had for the remainder of the day to notice. She hadn’t been sure she wanted to see Jo again after that first meeting… now she was absolutely certain. She didn’t want to see this odd woman again. With a sudden clarity, she knew she’d somehow been lured into her net, the coincidences of commonality suddenly suspect.

Allison had been a fool. Was that why Jo had appeared on her doorstep? Did she think the new widow was going to be even more vulnerable to her scam?

No, she didn’t want to see Jo again. If the woman didn’t take the hint, Allison would get rid of her somehow.

38

The authorities did their best. After her discharge from hospital, she was sent to a remand centre for children that was segregated by age and sex for their protection. It had limited effect. The cruelty of children is legend. Especially when they sense a weaker prey.

A great emphasis was placed on confidentiality, but she wasn’t there a week before she heard the whispers. Since children rarely bother to be sneaky, they weren’t said behind her back but spat right into her face, and whispered only for protection from the wrath of supervisors.

At first, it was one or two of her fellow inmates. Soon, it had spread. And it was such a great word, lending itself to a wonderful two-syllable sing-song chorus.

Even now, she could hear them chanting.

Sometimes, she woke with it ringing in her ears.

Monster, monster, mon-ster.

Monster, monster, mon-ster.

Monster, monster, mon-ster.

39

Outside the house, Jo turned to wave a final farewell. Too late – the door was already shut.

Obviously, Allison couldn’t wait to see the back of her. With bitterness burning a pain in her gut, Jo started the walk to the Underground station. She hadn’t gone far, walking slowly, rehashing everything that had been said, and everything that had occurred, from the time she arrived to her departure. Her steps slowed, finally coming to a stop. Why had Allison found it necessary to go out the back door? Was she hiding something she hadn’t wanted Jo to see? If there was something, whatever it was had to be nearby. With only a moment’s hesitation, she retraced her steps to the garden gate.