‘After we told him that Belinda was considering making an official complaint about his behaviour in the hotel garden, he decided to go and see her,’ she said. ‘He actually apologised and offered her a financial bribe to do nothing. She told him she’d consider it. But what she didn’t tell him was that before answering the door to him she turned on her phone to record the conversation. She sent it to us to prove that she was telling the truth because in the process of bribing her he verbally admitted that he had approached her and kissed her without her consent.’

‘Is she going to take it further?’ James asked.

‘No. She says she can’t be bothered.’

EPILOGUE

The snow was falling again over Cumbria but James didn’t care because he was on a day off and had spent it at home with his family.

It was a week since Claire Prescott had been charged with Rachel Elliott’s murder and the case was ready to proceed to trial. The media frenzy that had surrounded it had quickly died down and the team were already focused on other things.

James was glad it was over, but that wasn’t why he and Annie had been in a celebratory mood all day. Tanner had called first thing this morning to tell him that he was officially being promoted to the post of Detective Chief Inspector.

‘You take over from me on the last day of March, which is when I move to Penrith,’ he’d said. ‘So, congratulations to you and I’m sure your colleagues will be delighted at the news.’

It was now early evening and they had just put Bella down for the night.

‘It’s time to treat ourselves to that tipple,’ Annie said as she came into the living room with an uncorked bottle of Prosecco.

James had already placed two glasses on the coffee table and Annie wasted no time filling them.

‘Here’s a toast to your latest job, my darling,’ she said, as they clinked their glasses together. ‘It marks yet another milestone for the Walker family and provides you with an opportunity to go on making us proud.’

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

As ever, this book would not have seen the light of day if not for the fabulous team at Avon/HarperCollins. I’d like to thank them all for their continued support, most especially my editor Molly Walker-Sharp, who contributed so much even before I put pen to paper. She’s always so tactful and insightful, as well as being a delight to work with.

Keep Reading …

If you’ve enjoyed The Winter Killer, then why not head back to DI James Walker’s first case?

A serial killer is on the loose in Kirkby Abbey. And as the snow falls, the body count climbs …

Click here to find out more.