Angel Kiss

minute, and we’ll all be there when she comes in!’

‘She’ll be delighted.’

‘I hope so,’ said Joe, flicking his cigarette ash on to the ground.

‘Joe… do you know anything about the Beth Cullen murder?’

He looked at me strangely. ‘That’s a bit out of the blue! Why do you ask?’

‘I overheard Lydia and Mary talking about it just now, and I’ve seen her name mentioned in a couple of places.’

Joe sighed. ‘That was a long time ago… yet in ways it’s like yesterday. Do you not know what happened to her?’

‘I know she was murdered and her body was found in the forest.’

‘Yes, and she was… well, you know…’

‘She was what?’

‘She was… she was molested,’ whispered Joe, his voice quivering on the last word. ‘From the… evidence left on her body they were able to determine the blood type of the killer… they took blood samples from all the men around here to try and find a match. I gave a sample, along with all the other men in the village.’

‘But they didn’t find a match?’

‘Well, I suppose they narrowed it down to a certain number, but they didn’t have enough evidence to charge anybody.’

‘Why didn’t they do DNA testing?’

‘That wasn’t available back then.’ Joe took a puff from his cigarette. ‘Personally I didn’t think anyone from around here would be capable of murder… But the human mind is a strange thing… You never know what will make somebody snap.’

Chapter 17

I was resting on one of our patio recliners practising Van Morrison’s ‘Have I Told You Lately’ for Mary’s party. I sat cross-legged, playing my guitar. I loved my guitar – it sounded awesome and was pretty much an extension of me. I played it so much that it looked kind of battered. My gran had bought me a guitar case for my birthday. Reluctantly, because she’d wanted me to learn piano. I’d gone for a few lessons, and knew the basics, but guitar was my first love. As I practised the song over and over, I wondered why Mary and Joe hadn’t ended up together. I was sure they would have made a sweet couple. I’d seen Sergeant Reynolds around the village, and had to admit he was more handsome, but Joe Clancy was so nice.

‘Jacki,’ said Mum. ‘I like that song, but if I hear it one more time I will have to bash you over the head with that guitar. Could you not play something different?’

‘Oh, I forgot to tell you,’ I said. ‘I have my first paid gig. I’m singing at Mary’s fiftieth. Remember you told me to be enterprising?’

‘That’s great! Congratulations! But you had that song perfect half an hour ago. Play me one of your own. I haven’t heard a new one in ages.’ Mum sat up and adjusted her sunglasses.

‘OK,’ I said, tuning my guitar. ‘By the way… I need new strings.’

‘So your first gig is costing me money?’ said Mum with a sigh.

‘I’ll pay you back.’

‘Go on then, let’s hear it.’

What had started as an upbeat love song had now morphed into a bleak ballad, but I sang it nonetheless.

‘This tough love is making me

Give up, it’s breaking me

Deep in the shadows I hide.

Love is a losing game,

Dirty cold ruleless game,

Lost in one blink of an eye.

“I love you” he said but my

Heart it still bled; this was

Pain I couldn’t ignore.

So no tears left my eyes when

I lay by his side and said,

“Baby, I love you no more.”’

‘Very nice, Jacki, good lyrics.’

‘Thanks, Mum!’

‘I almost forgot, can you go down to the shop to get stamps and post these letters for me?’ She rooted around in her handbag and pulled out two envelopes.

‘That’s it? That’s all you have to say about my song?’

‘You know I think all your songs are great. But I really have to get these in the post.’

‘Sorry, Mum, I can’t go down to the shop.’ I pulled the guitar strap off over my head and put the guitar back in its case.

‘Why, what’s up? Is something wrong?’

I wanted to tell her, but if I told her one thing I’d have to tell her everything. So I decided against it.

‘Long story,’ I said, zipping up the case.

‘Well, you can either go down to the shop or there’s a pile of dishes mounting up inside.’ I looked up at Mum, hoping she was joking, but her stare confirmed that she wasn’t.

‘Fine! I’ll go then.’

When I got to the door of the shop I took a deep breath, pushed it open and stepped inside. There was nobody there.

I heard some activity and voices out the back.

‘For God’s sake, Mary!’ a man’s voice bellowed from inside the storeroom. They mustn’t have heard me come in. My heart pounded. I stood still, behind one of the shelves, unsure of what to do next.

‘Michael, please… please just calm down,’ said Mary.

It was her husband who was yelling at her. Part of me wanted to quickly leave… to get as far away as possible, but another part of me needed to stay and listen.

‘How dare you… how dare you bring that murderer on to my premises?’

Murderer? Had I heard that right? Michael’s voice frightened me. It had a quality that made me shiver.

‘I didn’t ask him to come in. He just happened to be in the shop the morning it broke. Who told you that -’

‘Oh, so you didn’t think I’d find out?’

‘No… I…’ Mary’s voice was shaking. ‘He offered to help. I could hardly say no. He was only here for a few minutes… He fixed it in no time… I couldn’t afford to wait.’ Mary paused and then continued with slightly more force in her voice. ‘Besides there was never any proof that he -’

I heard a dull thud, something being thrown on the floor. Then I thought I heard a whimpering sound.

‘You know as well as I do…’ Michael was yelling, ‘he didn’t have an alibi for that night. Half the village knows he did it. That should be enough for you… What is it going to look like… you hiring him to fix our bloody freezer? A killer on my premises. You’re so stupid sometimes.’

There was silence.

‘You didn’t have one either,’ she said.

‘Excuse me?’

‘You didn’t have an alibi for that night either, Michael.’

There was another loud crash and Mary yelped.

‘How dare you,’ said Michael. ‘Keep your mouth shut. And if you ever invite Des Butler into this shop again, you will be very, very sorry.’