Snow Kills by Rc Bridgestock Read Free Book Online

resting on the top of that lamp posts out there.’
    ‘You haven’t got a television?’
    ‘I don’t bother, with that or newspapers. There’s nothing but bad news these days.’
    ‘I agree.’ he smiled.
    ‘We’ve got a young girl missing.’
    ‘Yes, I heard something about that on the radio. Any news?’
    ‘No, sadly nothing. She appears to have vanished into thin air.’
    The old lady nodded her head. ‘Doesn’t sound good, does it I’ve been listening out for the updates.’
    ‘Do you live here alone Mrs ...? ’
    ‘Call me Nelly, yes it’s just us now, isn’t it girl?’ she said, patting the dog’s head.
     
    PC Alan Hughes thanked her for the warm drink as he contemplated his host’s frail and transparent face. ‘Before I go, I couldn’t use your bathroom could I?’ he said.
    ‘Down the corridor on the right,’ she said with the flick of her wrist in the direction of the closet.
    He chuckled to himself as he looked up at the top box cistern, and when he pulled on the chain it made a loud noise.
    ‘Thank you for your hospitality, Nelly,’ he said as he shook her bony old hand, and stepped back out into the porch.
    ‘You’re more than welcome son. I hope you find her soon.’
    ‘You know what the young ’uns are like today,’ he said, standing on the garden path. ‘If she’s anything like my daughter, she’ll probably turn up at her friend’s.’
    ‘Make your arms ache when they’re young and your heart ache when they grow up,’ she said as the top set of dentures fell down and she used her tongue to click them back into place.
    PC Hughes walked down the path, tittering to himself. He unbolted the gate, turned to wave to the old woman who stood at the window of the porch and strode out in the direction of next door.
    ‘Don’t bother, Mavis’s away at her sister’s,’ Nelly called. ‘Don’t know when she’s back either. She never tells me anything these days.’
    ‘Thanks for that,’ said the officer, turning back towards his car. ‘You’ve saved me a journey.’
     
    At Harrowfield Police station, Kim and Matt had almost completed filling in the Missing Persons report form that the front desk officer required of them.
    ‘Is there a possibility that someone she knows could live in the area?’ PC Jackie May said.
    Matt shook his head and Kim shrugged. ‘We’ve been asked that before, but we don’t think so.’
    ‘They don’t have to be anyone that she’s particularly close to, just someone she might think to take refuge with.’
    ‘I don’t know of anyone, but one thing I do know is that if she had stayed over somewhere she would have at least tried to ring me, or Matt.’
    ‘I still live at home Mrs Harwood,’ said the constable gently, ‘but I don’t always ring my mum to let her know if I’m staying over at friends‘.’
    ‘But that’s just it. It’s not just one night, is it? It’s been a week and still not a word. We’ve seen her mobile phone inside her abandoned car, so we know she couldn’t use that, but Kayleigh would’ve found a telephone by now and made contact with one of us if she could. Something’s not right. I just know it ...’ Kim said, her voice rising as she aired her worst fears, trying desperately to hold back the tears. The officer saw her lip start to tremble and her chin wobble. Tears filled her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks. ‘Please find her, please,’ Kim begged, grabbing hold of Jackie’s hand and holding it tightly. ‘You don’t understand. You see, since her dad died, she’s all I’ve got. She knows how I fret.’ Matt put an arm around her shoulder and hugged Kim tightly.
    ‘Tell you what, why don’t I get you both a nice warm drink and I’ll try to contact PC Hughes to see if he’s got any news for us, eh?’ said Jackie kindly. PC May made the call, but it appeared that Kayleigh Harwood had vanished. Call it a police officer’s gut instinct, but something didn’t feel right to Jackie either. She