Love Kills: A tense, gripping thriller full of twists and turns by David Jackson

Author:David Jackson [Jackson, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Redshank Press
Published: 2024-07-16T00:00:00+00:00

20

Stupid Love – Lady Gaga

For the most part, Cody feels no guilt over murder victims. Blame upbringing, blame inflamed passions, blame greed, blame jealousy, blame hatred, but don’t blame him. Police officers do what they can to enforce the law, but they can’t be everywhere at once, and not everyone has the same regard for the law as he does. If they did, he’d be out of a job.

What does cause him to experience guilt, though, is when he doesn’t catch a killer who subsequently goes on to kill again. Over forty-eight hours have passed since the body of Alexa Selby was discovered. They should have found Oliver Selby before now. They should have him locked up in a cell. He shouldn’t have been allowed the opportunity to get anywhere near Ridley.

So, yes, Cody takes that as a personal failure.

The pressure has definitely intensified from above, too. Nobody likes the thought of a multiple killer roaming the streets, not least of all the higher ranks in the police force whose reputations and careers depend on results.

The thinking is that somebody is hiding Oliver Selby. Someone knows exactly where he is. Cody and his colleagues have been instructed to turn up the heat on everyone who knows him. Where possible, all interviews should be conducted face to face.

Which is why Cody and Webley now find themselves on the way to Alderley Edge, just south of Manchester. If Caldy has been the home of Benítez, Alderley Edge has seen the likes of David Beckham, Rio Ferdinand and Cristiano Ronaldo living here. More importantly in the eyes of some, it has been the area of choice for several stars of Coronation Street.

While Cody admires all the huge, luxurious houses as they flash by, he notices that Webley seems to be oblivious to the outside world.

He says, ‘You still haven’t told me.’

Webley blinks out of her reverie. ‘Told you what?’

‘Whatever it is that’s been bothering you all morning.’

She hesitates. ‘It’s nothing.’

Which perhaps ought to be left at that. But Cody knows her too well.

‘Nah. It’s something.’

He feels Webley’s eyes burning into him, and he begins to wonder what he’s done wrong.

She says, ‘Can I ask you something first?’

Uh-oh, he thinks. I’m definitely in trouble.

‘Go ahead.’

‘We’ve just had April Fools’ Day, right?’

This seems such a non-sequitur. Maybe it’s a trick question, designed to throw him off-guard.

‘Yeah.’

‘Okay, well… did that put something in your head? Like maybe playing a series of pranks on me?’

‘What kind of pranks?’

‘Those flowers. You know, the ones that arrived on my desk. They weren’t from you by any chance, were they?’

‘Me? Of course not. Why would I send you flowers?’

‘All right, Cody. A simple no would suffice. There’s no need to be that negative about the idea.’

And now he doesn’t know where he is. Did he give the wrong answer?

‘Did you want me to send you flowers?’

A sigh. ‘No, Cody, I don’t want you to send me flowers. I was just checking it wasn’t you pissing about.’

He’s really confused now, and for some reason feeling he’s guilty of more than merely failing to catch a murderer.

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