The Key by Sarah May Palmer Read Free Book Online Page B

thoughts , I better not risk it. I need to stay quiet until they charge Vincent Halliday with the murder of Trac e y Dawn Jackson .
    She concluded, o nly after a suspect is charged with murder would more details be released . I t h as to be another waiting game. Let’s hope it doesn’t take too long .
    Relaxing on the sofa for the first time in a long while, Carly had time to reflect on the past few days. It had been scary, exciting, and exhausting all at the same time , but although a million emotions were going through her mind, she knew she’d do it all again. In fact, she was coming to the conclusion that it would soon be time to make some very drastic changes about the direction her life was heading in.
    It was only after going over in her mind about the moment she opened the attaché case, that she remembered the other items in the case. There was no mention of items such as ribbons, rings or bracelets being missing from Tracey Dawn Jackson. Why would other female items be with the locket? Was Vincent Halliday some sort of weirdo with a fetish for hoarding girl’s stuff, or was he something even more sinister?
    Questions rattled through Carly’s mind , and it would be a good ten hours later before she got the answers to her questions .

TWENTY
     
    It was late into the evening when Carly saw the beginning of the news item about Tracey Dawn Jackson. I t went on for some considerable time about the disappearance of Tracey, the years of searching for her, and the eventual discovery of her buried body.
    Then came a shocking twist.
    It wasn’t Vincent Halliday that had been charged with the murder of Tracey Dawn Jackson, it was Scott. And on top of that revelation, there were even more victims . Carly sat watching in amazement as the newscaster read out the story.
    “Scott Halliday tonight confessed to the murder of Tracey Dawn Jackson when police confronted him after a locket belonging to Tracey was discovered last night. A source told us that along with the locket, several items belonging to a female or females unknown were also found. ”
    “ Halliday also confessed to killing other young women, but taunted police that they would have to ‘do what they were paid to do’. When asked to elaborate , Halliday is quoted as saying, ‘You should earn your money for a change. You only found t he stuff because some nosy busy- body couldn’t mind her own business. You want to know who the ribbons and jewelry belongs to, but why should I help you? You figure it out yourself ’. ”
    “ When asked why he killed Tracey, our source told us that the clearly deranged Halliday replied , ‘She shouldn’t have laughed at me; she’s not laughing now though , is she? It’s her fault that I killed her ’. ”
    “ We can now go live to Harvest Spring Junction, where Chief Nick Handsen is about to hold a press conference.”
    The TV screen went blank for a few seconds, then a room filled with microphones, cameras, and members of the press came into view . The sound of muttering voices and clicking cameras was soon brought to a sudden halt by the voice of a police spokesman.
    “Good evening, ladies and gentleman. In a moment you will hear a statement from Chief Handsen. We would ask that you kindly remain silent until Chief Handsen has finished his statement. You will have ample opportunity to ask specific questions after the statement.”
    Chief Hansen coughed to clear his throat, and then began to read his carefully worded statement.
    “Scott Halliday was tonight charged with the murder of Tracey Dawn Jackson after confessing to her murder. Further enquiries into additional charges are ongoing. He will be held overnight and appear in court tomorrow morning.”
    The statement was short, and a baying press was eager to get more details.
    “Ted Summers, 123TV . Did Halliday say why he killed Tracey, Chief? Is it true that the motif was jealousy?”
    “M r. Halliday claims that he had asked Miss Jackson out on a date, on the