Running Girl by Simon Mason Read Free Book Online Page B

couldn’t, and frowned.
    He glanced back at the computer screen. The itch itched and wouldn’t go away. At last he returned to the desk, scrolled back to the beginning of the document and read it again. Nothing could be more tedious. But something, somewhere, was wrong. That was what his itch told him.
    He began to go through the report a third time, slowly. It was like reading a foreign language.
    Item: Ladies running vest. Colour heliotrope. Size small (10). Helly Hansen ‘W Pace Supportive Singlet’; synthetic fibre. Fading to labels. No visible damage.
    Item: Ladies running shorts. Colour heliotrope. Size small (10). Helly Hansen ‘W Pace Lightweight Shorts’; synthetic fibre. Fading to labels. No visible damage.
    Item: Ladies sneaker sock. Colour white. Size 3.5–5.0. Rohner ‘Ergonomic Sneaker Socks’; synthetic fibre. Wear to toe and heel. Oil stain on heel.
    Item: Ladies sneaker sock. Colour white. Size 3.5–5.0. Rohner ‘Ergonomic Sneaker Socks’; synthetic fibre. Wear to toe and heel.
    Item: ‘Shock Absorber Max’ Sports Bra. Colour white. Size 34D. ‘Coolmax’ synthetic fabric.
    Item: Pair of ‘Icebreaker’ Boy Shorts. Colour white. Size small. 100% pure merino.
    Item: Ladies running shoe, left foot. Colour lime green with orange pattern and laces. Size 4. Asics ‘Lady GEL-Torana 4 Trail Running Shoes’; synthetic materials. New. No visible damage.
    Item: Ladies running shoe, right foot. Colour lime green with orange pattern and laces. Size 4. Asics ‘Lady GEL-Torana 4 Trail Running Shoes’; synthetic materials. New. No visible damage.
    An hour later Garvie was still at the desk. It was late now but he had lost all sense of time. He continued to read the same sentences over and over, and the itch prickled furiously. Somewhere, threaded through the document like an almost-invisible crack in a glass, was a flaw – something that didn’t make sense. He hadn’t found it yet. But he was going to.
    He was going to use all his famous mental ability to find it.

8
    LOCATION: NOTORIOUSLY CLAUSTROPHOBIC basement interview room, a windowless bunker.
    Aspect of interviewer: cold and expressionless.
    Aspect of interviewees: n/a.
    DI SINGH: Are you OK now? Can we continue? So, you worked all day at the Marsh Academy, where you are ... [ Sound of rustling paper ]
    EILEEN DOW: Health visitor.
    DI SINGH: Health visitor. And then you went down to Five Mile Centre, to meet your husband. And you arrived there at about six?
    EILEEN DOW: Yes.
    DI SINGH: What time did your husband get there?
    EILEEN DOW: Same time. Mick’d been working at a property in Dandelion Hill.
    DI SINGH: And you stayed at the Centre till what time?
    EILEEN DOW: Seven. I think.
    DI SINGH: Then you drove home. In Mick’s van?
    EILEEN DOW: Yes.
    DI SINGH: And Chloe wasn’t in when you got there?
    EILEEN DOW: No. I told you. She’d gone already. There was just that note.
    DI SINGH: On the living-room table?
    EILEEN DOW: Yes. [ Sound of crying ]
    DI SINGH: I’m sorry to have to ask you these questions. [ Silence ] Can we continue?
    EILEEN DOW: Yes.
    DI SINGH: Did you notice anything unusual in the house when you got there?
    EILEEN DOW: Like what?
    DI SINGH: Anything out of the ordinary. Signs of a disturbance. Things out of place. Things missing.
    EILEEN DOW: No. Nothing like that. Mick keeps the house spotless.
    DI SINGH: I see. Then you’ve told me [ sound of pages being turned ] what happened after that. You had tea, you plated Chloe’s tea and put it in the fridge. At nine you rang Chloe’s friends. I have a list of them [ sound of pages being rustled ]. A little after nine Mick went out in his van, looking for Chloe. When he got back, at half past ten, you called the emergency services. All that’s correct? Good. Now, Mrs Dow, I’d like to ask you just a few questions about Chloe. I’m sorry to have to do this. But it will