The Watcher by Charlotte Link Read Free Book Online

and she liked to be an accompanying parent on school trips. So the teachers loved her too.
    And she baked muffins.
    However, at the moment she had one topic on her mind, which had little to do with the cosy Advent atmosphere in her kitchen – the murder of an old lady who lived on her own in London. Apparently everyone was talking about it. Only Gillian had not heard about it yet. Gillian and Becky had come over because Becky wanted to give Darcy her homework. The girls had retreated to Darcy’s room and Gillian had been invited to have a cuppa. She had actually wanted to say no. She had just got home from work, was exhausted, and had only accompanied her daughter because she didn’t want her walking around on her own in the dark. She didn’t fancy a chat at all. But the first thing Diana said to her at the door was ‘And? So what do you think of that horrible murder?’ Of course Gillian had asked what she meant, and with that her fate was sealed. Diana, who was always keen to find someone for a gossip, had pulled her into the kitchen and told her in minute detail everything she knew.
    ‘Apparently she lay in her flat for over a week before anyone realised! Isn’t that dreadful? I mean, to be so alone that it takes forever for someone just to think you might be dead?’
    ‘It’s more dreadful to be murdered in your own flat, I’d say,’ replied Gillian. ‘How did the murderer get in? Do they know?’
    ‘Well, it seems there were no signs of forced entry. People say she let him in herself. So it could have been someone she knew. Because no one is so careless that they just throw open the door to the flat when someone rings the bell – especially if you live on your own!’
    Diana again turned her full attention to her muffin dough and Gillian drank her tea, thinking about the London murder and perfect mothers. She tried to breathe calmly. Sometimes that helped when she could feel a headache coming on.
    Diana had filled the trays. She put them in the oven, set the timer and then sat down at the table and poured herself a cup of tea too.
    ‘Apparently she has a grown-up daughter. That’s who found her.’
    ‘How horrible!’
    ‘Yes, but until then the daughter hadn’t noticed that her mother hadn’t been in touch for ten days. Odd, that. With my daughters, that wouldn’t happen to me.’
    Gillian thought about Becky’s challenging behaviour to her. Would she be able to say the same thing about her daughter in the same convinced tone? That wouldn’t happen to me?
    ‘And how . . . was she murdered?’ she asked anxiously.
    ‘The police haven’t revealed that,’ said Diana regretfully. ‘You know . . . so there is knowledge only the murderer would know. And to make sure there aren’t copycat acts or false statements. That’s what the paper says. But it seems she was killed in an extremely brutal way.’
    ‘It must be someone depraved,’ said Gillian, repulsed.
    Diana shrugged. ‘Or someone who felt an enormous hatred for the woman.’
    ‘Yes, but you can hardly hate someone that much. At least, it’s not normal if you do. I hope they catch the culprit soon.’
    ‘Me too,’ said Diana fervently.
    There was an awkward silence for a moment. Then Diana changed the subject abruptly.
    ‘Are you coming to the tennis club Christmas party on Friday?’
    ‘I didn’t know there was one. A party?’
    ‘Becky doesn’t tell you anything!’ said Diana, not realising how painful this truth was to Gillian.
    ‘Maybe she did tell me and I wasn’t really listening,’ said Gillian, but she knew that wasn’t true. She listened when Becky told her something. But Becky barely ever did. That was the problem.
    ‘But you’re coming?’ checked Diana. ‘Everyone should bring a few biscuits or crisps or something. It’ll be nice.’
    ‘Yes, I’m sure it will.’ And you’ll bring your stupid muffins!
    I’ll get through it, she thought; somehow I’ll get through it!
    Saying that Tom was about to arrive