SHE: A gripping serial killer detective thriller (Detective Inspector Munro murder mysteries Book 1) by Pete Brassett

Author:Pete Brassett [Brassett, Pete]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: THE BOOK FOLKS bestselling crime fiction publisher
Published: 2016-02-28T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 10

SPRATT HALL ROAD, WANSTEAD. 5:50am

Munro stopped dead in his tracks. There was little that shocked him, but the sight of D.S. West sitting at her desk, knocked him for a six.

‘Do you know what time it is?’ he said, flabbergasted.

West glanced at the wall clock.

‘Early,’ she said, matter of factly.

The glare of the laptop accentuated the bags under her eyes. Her face creased with a smile.

‘I’ve been busy,’ she said. ‘Up all night. Tea?’

‘Aye,’ said Munro, as he placed a greasy, paper bag on his desk and removed his coat. ‘That would be most welcome. Have you had yourself some breakfast?’

West hesitated.

‘Yes, thanks,’ she said. ‘I had some… some muesli. Before I left. Muesli and yogurt.’

Munro said nothing, simply shook his head, opened the bag and handed her one half of a toasted, bacon sandwich.

‘So,’ he said. ‘What have you got?’

‘Samantha Louise Baker,’ said West, devouring the sarnie. ‘The ex. She’s living in Waterloo.’

‘Waterloo?’ said Munro. ‘Is that not a wee bit, metropolitan, for someone of her breeding? Mind you, I suppose she could be living in one of those fancy riverside apartments.’

‘Fraid not,’ said West. ‘Ospringe House, Wootton Street. It’s a council flat. Couldn’t find anything about her on the work front, though.’

‘And you’re sure it’s her?’

‘Positive. Her Facebook page is so old it even has a few pics of Harry on it.’

‘Is that so? Good work, Charlie. I’m impressed. We’ll pay her a visit, right enough. Is that it?’

‘Not quite,’ said West. ‘You’ll like this. Annabel Parkes. You were right.’

‘I was? That’s nice to know,’ said Munro. ‘In what way, exactly?’

‘She’s not dead.’

Munro stopped chewing.

‘Sorry, Charlie,’ he said, ‘tis early yet and I’ve not finished my breakfast. Say that again.’

‘Annabel Parkes. She didn’t drown.’

‘What?’

‘She’s alive and well. And living in Winnersh.’

Munro chuckled to himself.

‘Och, no, you must be wrong, lassie. That theory was intended as an exercise to make you think, that’s all. Must be another Annabel Parkes. Must be hundreds of them.’

‘There are,’ said West. ‘But only one in Winnersh.’

Munro eased himself into his chair, crossed his legs and regarded West curiously.

‘Come on then, Charlie,’ he said. ‘Enlighten me. If she’s not dead, what do you think happened?’

‘I’m thinking that she faked her own death.’

‘I see. And why would that be?’

‘Who knows? Fed up? Not cut out for marriage? Someone else on the side?’

Munro dusted the crumbs from his fingertips and reached for his tea.

‘All the obvious reasons. No. Sorry, Charlie. I don’t buy it. Do you not think they’d have checked her out when she went missing? They would have…’

‘They didn’t,’ said West, abruptly. ‘I’ve been through the records. The inquiry focused on Aldeburgh and the search and rescue. They didn’t bother looking any further.’

‘Didn’t try her home address? Didn’t inform the parents?’

‘What parents? You know she didn’t have any, the Farnsworth-Browns told us as much.’

‘I still don’t buy it. You’re telling me a girl disappears, presumed drowned, then pops up…’

‘With all due respect, sir,’ said West, raising her voice. ‘She’s the only Annabel Parkes,

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