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Chapters (53)
  1. Title page
  2. Dedication page
  3. Contents
  4. Acknowledgements
  5. Chapter One
  6. Chapter Two
  7. Chapter Three
  8. Chapter Four
  9. Chapter Five
  10. Chapter Six
  11. Chapter Seven
  12. Chapter Eight
  13. Chapter Nine
  14. Chapter Ten
  15. Chapter Eleven
  16. Chapter Twelve
  17. Chapter Thirteen
  18. Chapter Fourteen
  19. Chapter Fifteen
  20. Chapter Sixteen
  21. Chapter Seventeen
  22. Chapter Eighteen
  23. Chapter Nineteen
  24. Chapter Twenty
  25. Chapter Twenty-One
  26. Chapter Twenty-Two
  27. Chapter Twenty-Three
  28. Chapter Twenty-Four
  29. Chapter Twenty-Five
  30. Chapter Twenty-Six
  31. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  32. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  33. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  34. Chapter Thirty
  35. Chapter Thirty-One
  36. Chapter Thirty-Two
  37. Chapter Thirty-Three
  38. Chapter Thirty-Four
  39. Chapter Thirty-Five
  40. Chapter Thirty-Six
  41. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  42. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  43. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  44. Chapter Forty
  45. Chapter Forty-One
  46. Chapter Forty-Two
  47. Chapter Forty-Three
  48. Chapter Forty-Four
  49. Chapter Forty-Five
  50. Chapter Forty-Six
  51. Chapter Forty-Seven
  52. By Ann Cleeves
  53. Copyright page

Perez spent the rest of the evening in his hotel, reading through the notes. He went out and bought another notebook, hard-backed just like Eleanor’s, and transcribed her words into that, leaving dashes for each letter he couldn’t quite read. At eight o’clock he phoned Fran’s parents’ house to make arrangements to collect Cassie the following morning. He explained that he’d be coming in a taxi, which would go on to take them to Heathrow. ‘I won’t be able to come in, I’m afraid. It’s such an early flight to Aberdeen.’ An elaborate arrangement to avoid too much contact with them. Hating himself for the duplicity because they were good people.

‘Of course, Jimmy. We understand. She’ll be ready.’ Fran’s mother was excited because they’d had such a fine day and she was willing to be kind to him. He asked to speak to Cassie.

‘I bet you’ve had a wonderful time.’

There was a rush of words as the child described the trip down the river, seeing the Tower of London and eating out. ‘Real pizza in a real Italian restaurant.’ A pause and then she added in a whisper so that her grandparents couldn’t hear her, ‘I’ll be glad to go home, though.’

‘So will I, Cass.’ He whispered too and then clicked off the phone and went back to his notes.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Chapter Twenty-Two

On Thursday morning Sandy left Springfield House without talking to Willow. He could see her in the yellow lounge that had become her office and she seemed engrossed in a phone call. He didn’t want to disturb her. He’d already said that he’d finish the interviews of the party guests and would call again on the people who’d been out when they’d done their first round of canvassing. Caroline had given them a list of everyone invited. Her family had left for home in Kent the day after the party, and before Eleanor’s body was found. Willow was talking to them on the phone. Sandy was pleased to leave that to her. He didn’t understand the southern accents.