Nine Lives, Anita Waller [best interesting books to read .txt] 📗

Imogen’s fiancé in tomorrow for the formal identification. Will she be ready?’

‘She will. I’ll finish tonight with her. You’re going to tell him she was pregnant?’

‘I am. It will come out eventually, and I’d rather he knew from the beginning. Let’s hope we’re not meeting up tomorrow for another PM, this week surely can’t get any worse.’

The university was obliging, and had allocated a small office for police use during the investigation. The Tech department had set up two computers, and Erica and Beth walked in, looking around with a degree of surprise.

‘This is smart,’ Erica said. ‘Puts my cubbyhole to shame.’

Beth picked up a note leaning against one of the monitors. ‘They’ve organised for the first two on our list to be available at four. They’re better organised than we are.’ She looked at Erica. She knew she was thinking about the issue of having to tell Peter Vanton about his baby.

‘Wouldn’t take much to be better organised than us,’ Erica snapped. ‘Since Monday morning we’ve had three bodies pass through our system, despite our taking people out of the way to keep them safe. Who’s first on that list?’

‘That girl in the wheelchair, Jenna…’ Beth hesitated while double-checking her list, ‘Jenna Armstrong, followed by Dom Andrews. Then there’s a further list of six for tomorrow. That’s all the people who went to the Macbeth performance and who saw Susie there.’

‘Okay.’ Erica checked her watch. ‘Shall we have a coffee before Jenna Armstrong arrives?’

Beth moved over to the coffee machine, and spent a couple of minutes working out how to use it. Eventually it was sorted and she turned to Erica who was checking something on the computer. ‘While we’re drinking this I’ll fill you in on what happened last night.’

She picked up the two mugs and walked across to Erica’s desk. ‘I had my locks changed,’ she said, moving to her own desk. ‘All went well, and when the locksmith had gone I set about changing stuff, moving the furniture around, that sort of thing. I ordered a desk from Argos which was delivered last night, but at one point I thought my heart was going to stop.’

Erica lifted her head. ‘Why?’

‘I heard a key in the lock. I knew it was Evan, and of course he couldn’t get in. He kicked the front door, said a few choice words, then went round to the back door. He tried to unlock that one, but I’ve had everything changed, plus extra bolts on, so he’s not getting in at all. It scared me, made me feel… oh, I don’t know, inadequate I suppose.’

‘He didn’t know you were in?’

‘No, I parked higher up the street, and he doesn’t know I’ve changed cars. He would have thought I hadn’t got home from work.’

‘You want me to have a word?’

‘Not yet. If he continues it might come to that, but I wanted you to be aware, just in case.’

‘You think he would attack you?’

‘Six months ago I would have laughed at the idea, but he’s changed. Don’t worry, if I feel he needs some heavy-handed treatment, I’ll tell you. Now, how do we handle these students? Gently, I assume?’

‘With care, definitely, unless we feel they’re holding back on something. I should imagine the women are feeling uneasy. I know our third victim wasn’t from the uni, but they don’t know that. And that little fact tells us that whatever is connecting these victims in this murderer’s brain isn’t the university. It’s something else.’

‘Pretty girls? All three girls have been really attractive, all had good figures which is what he likes the world to see. I don’t think it’s really that, it’s too simplistic. In twenty-fourteen it was all about the pretty girls and the way he displayed them, but their names did all begin with L, which was a much bigger link. I don’t think it’s only about them being physically attractive, it’s more than that, and until we recognise that link he’s going to carry on killing.’

‘Let’s hope the link isn’t one body a night, because if it is we’ll be up early again tomorrow.’ Erica sipped at her coffee. She looked up in response to a knock at the door.

Beth moved around her desk and helped Jenna manoeuvre her wheelchair through the opening that was only just big enough to accommodate it.

Erica smiled at the girl with the glowing cheeks.

Jenna shrugged off the all-enveloping rain cape and ruffled her hands through her curly red hair. ‘It’s pissing down again,’ she stated, ‘and I’m fed up with being wet. I’m Jenna Armstrong, although I suppose you’ve guessed that.’

‘Kind of.’ Erica laughed. ‘You need a paper towel or something to dry off? A coffee?’

‘I’d love a coffee. I’m chilled through. Bloody weather,’ she grumbled.

Beth stood. ‘I’ll get you one. Milk?’ She took the cape from Jenna and hung it on the coat stand in the corner of the room, then pushed it closer to the radiator. ‘That should dry it out, but I can’t control how wet it gets when you go back outside.’ She couldn’t help but smile at the vivacious girl in front of them.

‘Milk and one sugar, please,’ Jenna confirmed. ‘I’m not sure if I can be of any help to you, but I do realise you’ll be talking to all of us who were there that night. It wasn’t only uni people though. Others who simply enjoy Shakespeare.’

Erica gave a slight nod in acknowledgement. ‘We realise that, but we’re making life a little easier by starting with those who knew Susanna and were there with her. I understand you sat next to her?’

Beth passed Jenna her drink, and Jenna smiled. ‘Thanks. I need this. Yes, I did. I like… liked Susie and Clare. Susie was in the end seat, Clare next to her, so I parked my wheelchair in the aisle and sat with them. It’s easier for me if I stay in my chair.’

‘Did you have any concerns about anything? Did anybody speak to them who you