‘Do you have anything to do with the people trying to buy the Thirdfield Terrace flat?’
Wendy looked genuinely confused.
‘No.’
‘I don’t think I believe you.’
‘We’ve always rented because of Jonathan’s job.’ It was strange, hearing her refer to her husband as if the marriage was normal and his death had been a natural end.
‘Why did you kill him?’
‘I didn’t! I was in a cinema, watching Marvel, hadn’t you heard?’
‘Why did Dr Hearst kill his friend?’
‘I’ll give you two words to help you work it out. Ready?’
‘Yes.’
‘Assisted—’
There was a single loud bang on the front door. Kim suddenly worried that Stevie might have actually fallen asleep, might now be woken by the noise and come down without thinking.Please Stevie, don’t answer that knock, she willed.
Wendy said, ‘Ah, I only gave you the one word. It’ll have to do. Our visitors are here. Don’t move or it will not go well for you.’
Kim knew this was her only chance. As Wendy opened the front door, she lunged up the stairs. But she missed her footing immediately and heard an exhaled gasp from Wendy and a rush behind her. She was dragged back down the stairs by someone with impossible strength, her head bumping the threadbare carpet on the way down.
In the hallway, Kim lay face down, not wanting to rise and see who had come through the front door. It must be the Hearsts …
She felt Wendy sit on her back.
‘Bitch,’ said Wendy Wrigley. ‘You’re lucky I’m not taking these scissors to your skinny butt. I will in a second.’
Edward shouted, ‘Kim?’
‘Don’t do that,’ said a man’s voice. ‘No marks.’
‘Hmpf,’ said Wendy. ‘Fine.’
Kim shuddered with sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks. Without any chink of doubt, she was going to die.
‘Look at the computer,’ Wendy instructed the new arrival.
Kim heard steps on the carpet – more than one person now – and then, from the lounge, where the computer was, loud cursing. ‘How the fuck did he get these?’
‘It’s that policeman. It must be,’ a second voice said.
‘This is on you,’ voice one said.
‘I don’t see why.’
‘Because you took the crossbow away!’
‘I’ve told you why a thousand times.’
‘Roll her over.’
They took Kim’s body, stiff with panic, and turned her over.
