Hunt Hunted Murder Murdered by Michael McBride Read Free Book Online Page A

a trip to the library to follow up with the correct notes and to ensure that she had the head start on the rest of the class. Perfection was not easy, but she had lived up to this all her life and was not going to stop now.

    When Dev was killed she had blipped. It was her first blip and it really hurt. She dropped to a B grade for the semester and didn’t know what was happening as her focus diminished and her thoughts and principles changed in importance. It was a huge blow losing Dev. He had been fairly supportive of her, although he had tried it on with her originally. However she had turned to him for help when she found herself pregnant not 3 months after getting together with Simon. Simon still didn’t know about the abortion. With Dev gone he never would.

    She could not believe the stories that came out about Dev after his death. Pam had been working with the Ingram's P/T, living in the Crook Inn to pay the rent, and it was working out well. After young Ollie disappeared she helped a little more than usual, to the point that her grades suffered. The police really attacked her when the bodies were found. She had a direct link to both victims. But there was never any motive with either. Still she hid the truth about Dev though, to protect herself and to make sure she didn’t lose Simon. She was only 17 then, still a girl herself, but so much in love.

    The night of the treasure hunt she had been with Simon, but left early to go back for her shift. When she had got to the Crook Inn the place was in uproar. Ian Ingram had shot off looking for some bloke who he thought had Ollie. Everyone was agitated and trying to work it out. Pam took over at the bar. Next thing the police were there, and Pam had to tell Simon of the news. By this time he was back at the bar with Bob and Marie and the others. No Dev, but Simon just said that Dev was always last. Bob and Marie had sent him up to Kinross Market with his clue. So why he ever came into the Crook, or ended up with Ollie….

    The Crook closed for a few weeks and with all the questioning Pam couldn’t stay. Initially they all supported her, and then they attacked her too. When it was discovered that she had a direct link to Dev – who it appeared had killed Ollie, the shock set in, and it was all a blur. But it was the right decision for her to get out, and a place in the halls of residence at Halbeath was granted by the College. It was all huge news. Children just don’t get kidnapped and murdered around here. People don’t get bludgeoned to death because of it. Not in these parts. Not here.

    The lecture notes that the students were all waiting for were finally distributed. The time lost to the lecture may be minimal but the time it gives you to go over things in your head can be priceless. Or costly. Depending on how you look at it.

    Pam leaned on her elbow looking down at the lecture hall. She would think again about her Simon. Her love. Positive mental attitude takes her and Simon away to sunnier climes, holding hands, bathing in the sea, a marriage maybe….

3

    The murder mystery would take more organising than they thought, but Bob had worked out that the money saved by drinking the booze his friends would bring might offset the food costs - certainly if his contact came through with the cheap meat cuts he had offered – and that’s why Bobs nose was pressed to the front window now. Wednesday morning. He had left before Marie so not to have to tell her about his job loss…. Hoping that a news article on industry cutbacks could allow him to pretend it was normal redundancy. When he came home he had wandered down Primrose Lane, just to make sure her car sat in the Gym car park. Then he could go home to the quiet of the house. And here he sat. Waiting.

    Everyone had agreed to come on Saturday. It would give them all a chance to enjoy themselves. To reminisce. To get so drunk that they would talk freely about Dev. To go over the letters Aid had been getting.