Dead End by Leigh Russell Read Free Book Online Page A

evening and saw them together. Say what you like about her, she had balls, my mum. Nothing scared her. She told me she didn't care about him seeing someone else, but she wouldn't let him have a divorce. She didn't want to break up our family.’ She let out a sob. ‘He's a liar and a scumbag. I wish it was him who was dead, after what he's done.’
    ‘What has he done, Lucy?’
    ‘I just told you, he cheated on my mum and now she's dead. I wish he would go off and live with his other woman, and leave us alone. We don't want him.’
    ‘Does Ben know your father's seeing someone else?’
    ‘No, he doesn't know anything about it. You know what boys are like.’ Lucy raised a worried face to Geraldine. ‘You won't tell him, will you? He's only twelve and he worships my dad, God knows why. I guess it's a boy thing. He'll have to find out one day but –’ She covered her face with her hands and began to cry again. Her shoulders jerked with silent sobs.
    ‘Lucy,’ Geraldine broke the silence.
    ‘What?’
    ‘You know you have to go home.’ Lucy didn't answer. ‘Your father must be worried about you.’
    Behind her hands, it sounded as though Lucy was laughing. ‘He's probably with her right now. He won't notice I've gone. He never knew where mum was. Even when –’ she broke off sobbing.
    ‘Lucy, who is she?’
    ‘She's called Charlotte.’
    ‘Charlotte what?’
    ‘How should I know? Charlotte. That's all I know.’
    ‘Thank you, Lucy. That's very helpful. Now, we'll give you a lift home.’
    ‘You won't tell Ben, will you?’
    ‘I promise I'll only tell him if it's necessary.’
    ‘How do I know I can believe you?’
    Something about the girl's unkempt appearance touched Geraldine and she felt a rush of pity for her. ‘You don't. But I hope you trust me, Lucy.’
    At home that evening Geraldine thought about Lucy, motherless at such a young age, and sighed. At least Lucy had known her own mother. In her late thirties, Geraldine had only recently discovered she was adopted. The revelation had come shortly after the death of the woman she had believed was her mother. However benign the motive, the thought of the deception that had been practised on her was still too painful to contemplate. She had stuffed the paperwork relating to her birth and adoption to the back of her wardrobe behind a stack of towels, and tried not to think about what she had discovered. It helped that her work kept her occupied.
    Making herself comfortable with a small glass of chilled white wine and a bowl of pasta, she made a conscious effort to focus on something more positive and settled on Paul Hilliard. He was undoubtedly attractive, and intelligent, and appeared to be single. She wondered if his invitation to meet up was motivated solely by a professional interest in the case.

9
    Shock
    I n the quiet room where Abigail was laid out, Matthew Kirby cleared his throat nervously. ‘Can I go over to her?’ he asked, his face pale. Geraldine nodded. ‘That's her. That's Abigail.’ He leaned forward. ‘She looks so peaceful. How did she die?’
    Geraldine hesitated. ‘She was hit on the back of the head,’ she replied tersely.
    ‘Can I touch her? I mean, I'd like to say goodbye.’
    ‘Yes.’
    Matthew reached out and touched his wife's hand. ‘She's wearing her wedding ring,’ he whispered. His voice broke into a sob. ‘I'm sorry, it's such a shock. What's that?’ He pointed to a line of bruising on the dead woman's wrist and his eyes widened. ‘It looks as though she's been tied up.’ Watching him closely, Geraldine was convinced his surprise was genuine. His voice broke as he asked if she had been interfered with in any way.
    ‘There was no sexual assault,’ Geraldine assured him and he broke down, sobbing.
    ‘The bastard,’ he kept repeating. ‘Abi was a good woman, a good woman. Why would anyone do this to her? Find out who did this, please.’
    ‘We're doing everything we can, Mr Kirby.’
    It was important to