Girls Of The Dark by Katherine Pathak Read Free Book Online Page A

funeral?’
                  Alice shook her head. ‘I’m afraid not. That will be up to Maryhill CID.’ She cleared her throat. ‘They’ve taken possession of the bodies.’
                  The colour drained from the woman’s face. ‘It’s just awful and so out of character.’
                  ‘What do you mean?’ Andy chipped in.
                  ‘Well, Janet was such a level-headed person. She brought up Ray pretty much single-handed after Lenny died. That’s nearly 25 years ago. You must be aware that Ray wasn’t a totally normal young man. He was a bit slower than other folk. But Janet made up for his short-comings. She looked after him.’
                  ‘Did you ever meet Ray’s girlfriend, Lisa Abbot?’
                  Kath made a face. ‘Yes, she came and went. During the spring the girl was a regular visitor. As soon as Ray bought her that flat, she was barely here at all. I told my daughter that was all she was after. We’d not see her round again.’
                  ‘What about during the days leading up to the Kerrs’ deaths. Did you spot Lisa coming to the house then?’ Alice eyed her expectantly.
                  ‘I’m afraid I wasn’t at home on the day it happened. My daughter was ill. I went over to her place in Paisley to help with my grandson.’
                  ‘What time did you return?’ Alice felt her heart sink.
                  ‘It was in the evening. It must have been around 7pm.’
                  ‘Did you notice anything unusual?’ Andy picked up the questioning. ‘Were there lights on next door – a car parked outside – anything at all that caught your attention?’
                  Kath dropped onto the floral sofa and considered this carefully. ‘It was almost dark when I walked up the path to my front door. The lights must have been on at Janet’s. Otherwise, I would have been concerned. We look out for each other, you see. She was a widow and so am I.’ The lady put a hand up to her face. ‘Now, it was a Thursday, which is when the local paper comes. I get annoyed about it, because the lad who does our street doesn’t deliver it until very late. Everywhere else receives their copies in the morning. Sometimes the items listed in the classified section are gone by midday and I do like to see what’s available. It puts me at a distinct disadvantage.’
                  Alice sighed, wondering where this flight of fancy was going.
                  ‘I remember now, that I spoke to the paper boy. Or who I thought was him. He’s a big lad and wears an oversized zippy top. That night, he had a cap on too. I saw him step off the path, coming away from Janet’s door. I muttered that he was getting later every week with that paper and I’d have a stern word with his mother if he didn’t get his act together.’
                  ‘What did the boy say in reply?’
                  ‘Well, now you ask me about it, he said nothing at all, just took off down the street in the direction of the main junction with the A82.’
                  ‘And you didn’t tell the other police officers this, when they questioned you before?’ Alice edged forward.
                  ‘No, because it wasn’t unusual. Robin Gabbler always delivers those papers late. It’s probably the only constant on this whole estate.’
                  ‘Why are you mentioning it now?’
                  ‘Because when the other policeman asked, it was as if what I told him didn’t really matter. He and his colleague were ticking boxes. Janet and Ray had killed themselves, why bother too much with what I’d seen or not seen.’ Kath leant in close, so that Alice could smell her minty breath. ‘But you two seem to think it’s more than that. I’m not