Deadly Secrets by Ann Girdharry

Author:Ann Girdharry [Girdharry, Ann]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913419622
Publisher: Bloodhound Books - crime, thriller and mystery
Published: 2020-06-29T04:00:00+00:00

Ruby gave the chief a look of admiration. No wonder he was so respected in the Sussex force.

‘I found two serial killers with traits similar to our suspects. Olinger and Klemper both cut their victims’ faces out of photographs. I think we’re dealing with a serial killer.’

There was a soft knock and Mrs Pritti came in carrying a tea tray. ‘Scones and jam, DCI Grant? I thought you might like some refreshments courtesy of the hotel.’

‘How kind of you.’

When the manager left, Grant helped himself to a scone and he heaped on butter and a thick layer of jam. ‘It’s only one innocent scone so please don’t give me a lecture about cholesterol. Having Delaney and McGowan on at me is more than enough.’

Grant took a bite. ‘What else have you been thinking? Because I’m sure you’re developing your own working theory.’

Ruby shook her head. ‘It’s been bugging me why Shona was killed. You might be right the killer murdered Michelle and Ridley to guard a secret, though I’m not so sure that’s why Shona was killed.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because of what Tom told us about her.’

Tom had reported back to the team about Shona’s background. Shona had been the same as Nurse Dixon – a genuine caring young woman. Shona had no dodgy boyfriends, she didn’t do drugs and she had no money issues. Everyone Tom had spoken to had something nice to say about her – Shona partied, she studied hard, she looked after her granddad and her mother. And Tom had been sure if Shona had known something which would have helped find her grandfather, she would have told them. Which was why Tom didn’t believe Shona was killed because she knew something important.

Tom was like Grant – victims sensed his commitment and his caring, and Ruby felt sure Tom had been right in his assessment of Shona.

‘Like Tom said, Shona was a nice girl, the same as Michelle Dixon,’ Ruby said. ‘If she knew something worth being killed for, then she didn’t know she knew it.’

Grant put on a bit more jam and stuffed in the last bit. ‘Perhaps. Who knows, maybe our killer doesn’t like nice girls.’

‘What?’

‘I’m not being serious.’ Grant rolled up the map. ‘Once we’ve finished our afternoon tea, I think we’re done here.’

‘Wait, I just thought of something. We know violence wasn’t used against Ridley and we’re assuming he was murdered. What would make a loving grandfather walk into the sea?’

Grant was about to stretch a rubber band around the map. He let it go and it pinged across the room. ‘A threat to his family.’

‘Or more specifically a threat to Shona. You remember the way Ian Ridley talked about Shona? How he was so proud of her? Perhaps that’s the significance of taking out their faces – it was because they weren’t simply nice girls, they were also cared about. It was the same motive with Olinger.’

The more Ruby worked it out in her head, the more it made sense.

‘The family photographs depicted how important those young women were to their families,’ she said.

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