The Frozen Shroud by Martin Edwards

Author:Martin Edwards [Martin Edwards]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9780749014605
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2013-09-19T04:00:00+00:00

Hurrying down the corridor back to her office, keen to have a few minutes to herself to get her head straight, she ran into Maggie Eyre. The DC’s face was an open book, as usual. Her frantic sympathy said louder than any words that everyone knew the DCI’s best friend was dead.

‘DS Wharf is looking for you, ma’am. He’s heard that DCI Larter brought you back from Lancaster.’ Maggie’s voice faltered. ‘It’s shocking news about …’

Hannah touched her arm. ‘Thanks, Maggie. Let’s hope the man who did it is nicked before the day is out, eh?’

She found Greg by the coffee machine. He started to say how sorry he was about Terri, but she cut him short and beckoned him into her room. When they’d last talked, a few hours earlier, it had seemed things could only get better after the debacle at Undercrag, and Marc’s car crash. If she could rewind the clock …

As the thought entered her mind, she banished it. Fern was right. The past was for learning from, not for living in.

‘I suppose there’s no doubt that Stefan killed her?’ Greg said.

‘Not in my mind. I’ve never known any man scare Terri before.’

‘Yeah, but Fern Larter won’t have ruled out other lines of enquiry.’

‘Such as?’ Hannah frowned. ‘Terri wasn’t someone who made enemies.’

‘Didn’t you tell me once she’d been married three times? Makes me look like a novice in the matrimonial stakes. Even if she never knew it, she won’t have been everyone’s cup of tea.’

Hannah shrugged. ‘Terri was no saint, but that doesn’t mean anyone else wanted her dead. She wasn’t at daggers drawn with any of her exes.’

‘How can you be sure? They’ll have to be questioned.’

‘Not as easy as you may think. One moved to London, another emigrated to Crete, the third died last year of liver failure. Take it from me, Stefan’s the man. He was spotted in the vicinity of the murder scene, and promptly did a runner. The facts speak for themselves.’

‘Okay, okay.’ He was ready to change the subject. ‘I hate to say this, but you need to take a break. You look totally knackered.’

‘That’s twice in ten minutes I’ve been reminded what an ugly old hag I’ve become.’

‘You’ll be fine,’ he said. ‘But for a day or two, you need to look after yourself. Have you got anyone to stay with?’

Hannah’s eyes narrowed. Was Greg about to make her an offer she would have to refuse?

‘I’m sorted, thanks.’

He studied her, as if conducting a visual lie-detector test. Evidently he wasn’t convinced, but he didn’t push the point, and for that she was grateful. He sprang to his feet.

‘If I can do anything, even just offer a shoulder to cry on, you only have to call.’

‘Thanks.’

She avoided his eyes. Decision made. Last night had been a colossal mistake. She wasn’t going to make it again.

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