Page 37 of Three for a Girl

“So the killer cuts out her kidneys and sticks them in the post to mock her?”

“The killer’s twisted,” Faye said, shaking her head. “Mocking not just Ellen, but an ill teenage girl, too.”

“Kerion might not have fled.” The DI said. “If Ellen was killed because of the money, that means he’s in danger, too. We need to check CCTV, find out where he went after we spoke to him yesterday.”

Faye’s phone rang, and she snatched it off her desk. Her eyebrows pulled together as she listened to the voice on the other end. She pressed the phone to her chest as she spoke to the DI. “They’ve found his bike.”

“Where?”

Faye gestured to the window. “Northgate parking lot.”

The DI scratched his head, darting looks to each of them. “That’s where he parked up yesterday. He parked there, and walked to the station.”

“Looks like he didn’t leave.”

****

Chad tried his best to ignore the eyes watching him. He reminded himself it was because they were with police officers. It was the uniformed officers and cars drawing attention, not Chad himself.

The hairs on his arms pricked when someone pointed at him, and he turned his back on them.

He had to focus on the job, push his discomfort aside.

Chad scanned the area for a CCTV camera, there was one in prime position facing the parking lot. It was their best hope of finding out whether Kerion returned to his bike.

“It doesn’t work.” Ally said.

“How do you know?”

“Electricity was down on this side of the street, half of yesterday.”

“How convenient…”

“It was a scheduled repair.” Ally said. “The residents had lots of warning it was going to happen, still a few of them bothered Barry on reception to complain about it.”

Chad pictured Zac, then shook his head. Zac was hundreds of miles away.

“Have you met Barry yet?”

“No.”

“He’s a bad-tempered bastard.”

“I look forward to meeting him.”

Ally laughed, knocking into him.

Chad pointed up and down the street. It was busy, there were people about, topless kids riding by on their bikes, parents huffing and puffing as they pushed strollers along.

“They’re all staring.”

“There is about twenty of us surrounding a bike…”

“I know but… Look.” Chad said.

Two men leaned against the wall of the convenience shop. One whispered to the other before they both laughed. Chad’s heart picked up the pace, and his mouth dried.

Ally hummed. “Yeah, I fancy an ice cream, too.”

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