She fumbled quickly in her bag, desperate to get to thephone before it clicked over to voicemail. Grabbing hold of it, she wassurprised to see who was calling. It was Kent.
“Hello,” she said, “and Merry Christmas!”
Kent didn’t return her greeting, a sense of urgency in hisvoice as he said, “Have you seen the news?”
“No,” replied Kay. “Why? What’s happened?”
“There’s been another murder,” replied Kent. “Right here intown. The Christmas Killer has struck again.”
“So that’s what all the police and reporters were about,”said Kay. “I saw them earlier up by the park.”
“Yes, that’s where it happened,” replied Kent. “I’m watchingit on telly right now. Can you switch the TV on?”
“I’m not at home,” replied Kay. There was the telly in theflat but she wasn’t going back up there, and in any case the electricity hadbeen cut off.
“Well, I’m watching it and it looks pretty grisly. Anotheryoung girl apparently – raped and murdered on the woody path last night.Speaking of which, where were you last night? I thought you would have beendown the pub.”
“I decided to have a quiet night in,” replied Kay. “I’llexplain more later.”
“Well, that’s brings me on to the purpose of my call,” saidKent. “I need to see you later – can we meet?”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” asked Kay. “I’m sure yourwife won’t be too pleased with you leaving her at home on Christmas Day. Can itwait until tomorrow?”
Much as she would enjoy spending some more time with Kent,Kay had already planned to spend the day at home with her daughter.
“It can’t wait until tomorrow,” replied Kent. “It’s aboutthe murders. I know how we – or rather, you – can solve them. If we leave itanother day, someone else could die.”
It wasn’t difficult to work out what he had in mind.
“I see where you’re coming from,” replied Kay. “Listen, Ineed to get back home now. I’ve already taken my trip back in time for today,so we can’t do any more until the morning. Let me think about it, and we’ll tryand have a get-together and a proper chat later.”
“OK,” replied Kent. “Craig said he’s opening the pub for acouple of hours tonight, just for the regulars. Can you get down there, then?”
“I’ll see what I can do,” replied Kay. “Speak later.”
It was obvious that he was going to ask her to go back intime to unmask the murderer. She was going to have to go back past the scene ofthe crime to get home, so it would be a good time to try and see what more shecould find out. Walking back up the road, she double-checked exactly where theincident had taken place. Quite clearly it had been somewhere on the woody pathbetween the road and the park.
She tried speaking to another policeman at the scene but wasmet with the same stony-faced, tight-lipped response as before. She would bebetter off putting the news on at home.
When she got back, it was past 11am but Maddie was stillasleep. Kay really ought to get started on the dinner but her mind was nowpreoccupied with the murder. She had to find out more.
Watching the rolling news coverage in the living room didn’tdo much to add to what she already knew. The attack had taken place exactlywhere she expected, sometime the previous night, but they didn’t seem to know exactlywhen. The body had not been discovered until a dog walker had found it afterfirst light. The victim had not yet been formally identified, but the news didstate that it fitted the pattern of the other murders. That meant that it wouldhave been a young girl, late-teens or early twenties.
She continued to watch the coverage as she wrapped Maddie’spresent with some leftover wrapping paper she found behind the Christmas tree.When she had finished she added her present to the pile underneath the tree.Alan and Lucy had taken the presents they had bought for each other theprevious day, but had left some for Maddie.
Kay’s didn’t look like much compared to what Alan hadprobably spent, especially with his huge pot of dirty cash to draw on, but itwould have to do for now. He had always spoiled his daughter rotten atChristmas, whilst Kay’s presents from him had steadily declined over the years,both in value and how much thought had gone into them. If she recalledcorrectly, last year his generosity had extended to a new iron and a tub ofQuality Street.
No matter, Kay would treat Maddie to something special afterChristmas when she had her finances properly sorted.
She turned the volume up on the TV and headed back to thekitchen to start the cooking. Kay loved cooking roasts and the Christmas dinnerwas the best of all, especially this year, because everything she needed wasthere in the fridge and the cupboard, right down to the cranberry sauce.Sorting through it all, she could see that Alan and Lucy had really splashedout. It was all top-quality stuff, mostly from Marks & Spencer.
So much for only shopping at the retailer he worked for.There were hundreds of pounds’ worth of food and drink in the house. He hadnever spent this much on Christmas when Kay had been with him. It seemed thathe was generous to a T with almost everyone except his wife. That was what madeeating the Christmas food he had bought to impress Lucy so satisfying. Todaywas well and truly payback time.
She wondered where he and Lucy would be spending theirChristmas Day. Well, wherever it was, she wasn’t going to allow herself to feelsorry for them. They had brought their current situation upon themselves.
As she was peeling spuds, a sleepy and hungover-lookingMaddie appeared at the kitchen door.
“What have you got the telly on so loud for?” shecomplained. “My head hurts.”
“I’m not surprised,” said Kay. “Sit yourself down and I’llmake you some coffee – and Merry Christmas, by the way!”
Kay went back through to the living room to turn the TV off.It had moved
