My Little Eye by Stephanie Marland

Author:Stephanie Marland [Marland, Stephanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781409171980
Publisher: Orion
Published: 2017-11-02T00:00:00+00:00

32

CLEMENTINE

The Wetherspoons is what’s left of an old Victorian pub that’s had its guts pulled out and been refurbished into something generic. Death Stalker’s choice is an interesting one; according to his police source, this was where Kate Adams spent her last night out before she died. There’s no media here, though. Tonight, the benches lining the pavement are vacant aside from a few hard-core smokers.

Pushing open the sturdy door, I step into the pub. It’s busy. Most seats are taken and there’s a ring of people around the bar. I scan the room, looking for Bob, but don’t spot him. There’s a group of people by the fireplace. I watch them, wondering if Bob’s late and that’s the rest of the group. No. Their laughter is shrill, and there are shot glasses piled on the table in front of them. I discount them and keep looking.

Another minute passes. I’m feeling awkward now. I can’t stand by the door forever. I make my way across to the bar and order gin and soda. I don’t usually drink alcohol in public; I can’t risk the lack of control, the dulling of the senses it brings. The heightened risk that people will see me for what I am.

Tonight’s different, though. Tonight I need some extra courage.

‘Five pounds ninety,’ the floppy-haired blond barman says. His accent’s Australian, but his pasty skin has a proper London pallor.

I hand him the cash. ‘I’m looking for a meeting of—’

‘What’s the booking under?’

I look blank. I don’t know Death Stalker’s real name, and the other option is going to sound odd. ‘I’m not sure.’

The barman raises an eyebrow. He speaks slower, as if he thinks I’m stupid and unable to understand the question. ‘What’s the name of the person who booked?’

Over the noise of the bar, I say the only name I have. ‘Death Stalker.’

He shows no surprise. ‘Back room,’ he says, nodding to the far end of the bar. ‘Through the curtain.’

Weird. ‘Thanks.’

Taking my drink, I move along the bar and through the gaps between the sofas cluttering the space by the fire until I’m standing in front of a black velvet curtain hanging ceiling to floor.

My mouth feels dry. This is my last chance to opt out. Once I open the curtain and step inside, they’ll know what I look like. I won’t be able to hide. I think of Wade’s concern, and of the mystery surrounding Death Stalker’s identity.

Walk away.

I take a gulp of my drink and hope it helps me hold my nerve. If I leave now I’ll be cast out of the group. I can’t let that happen; this amateur group has to beat the police. I have to prove it’s possible, even if I fear the Lover could be one of them. I messaged Wade before I came here, told him the location of this meeting; thought it would give me some comfort, him knowing. It doesn’t feel that way, though. Not now I’m here.

I take another mouthful of gin, then

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.