ONE
Becky Henderson stepped out of the warm doorway, relieved to get away from the stench of urine. A sharp shiver snaked down her back, and her teeth chattered. She gave her dark hair a flick and pulled the cheap cardigan around her frail body. A small, tattered blue car drew to a stop, and she scurried across the pavement towards the kerb side. With a broad smile, her brown eyes lit up as she knew both the car and the handsome occupant. The window on the passenger’s side slid down, and she bent forward to speak to the driver.
“Hello, stranger, I haven’t seen you for a while.”
“No! I’ve been too busy. So how are you, Becky?”
“Same old, you can guess how things can be in this job.” She rolled her eyes and flicked her head as if to accentuate what she said.
“Not really, but if you want to go for a drive, we could stop for a brew and chat.” He raised his eyebrows and nodded at the empty passenger seat.
A worried expression creased her brow as she pulled her lips into a grimace.
“Sorry, I can’t, I need to work. If I don’t take enough money back, Vinnie said he’ll…” Her voice trailed off.
“Oh come on Becky, we’ll stick to our usual arrangement. I’ll pay for your time. We can have a bit of fun.”
She hesitated for a moment before grinning and pulling open the door. With a glance up and down the deserted street, she jumped into the inviting warmth of the car.
They drove out of Runcorn along the Main Street away from the imposing arch of the Runcorn/Widnes Bridge as it straddled the River Mersey. Intermittent flashes of sunlight reflected off the windows of the cars and lorries speeding past the bridge’s enormous metal girders. Becky glanced back over her shoulder as they turned off from the town and headed towards the expressway. A sense of nostalgia tugged at her heart.
“Where are we going? She asked staring out of the window.”
“Back to Frodsham, and then drive up to Warburton Woods.”
“I thought you said we’d go for a brew.”
“Yes we are, I’ve brought a flask of tea.”
Becky scowled with disappointment. She’d imagined going to a warm, cosy café, not sitting outside drinking tea from a plastic cup.
“Why some grotty woods, of all places?” Her tone sounded flat and petulant.
“I found a fabulous little wooded area on the outskirts of Kingsley village, by the edge of the River Weaver. Fresh air and peace, you’ll love it.”
Becky stared at him. How can anybody get excited over a bunch of trees for God’s sake? Was he mad?
A smile played across his lips, and his eyes crinkled at the corners. He turned and caught her making a face at him.
His smile deepened, as he patted her knee “Don’t worry Beck’s you’ll enjoy yourself, I promise. We’re going to have some fun.”
The car’s shuddering standstill bounced Becky awake after she dozed off in the warmth of the car. A door slammed. Groggy and disorientated she pulled herself into an upright position and glanced out of the window. He had lifted a large tartan rug out of the boot, followed by a small rucksack. She tottered from the car, still dazed when he shouted.
Unholy Revenge Description:
A fast paced thriller. A family is being killed one by one in a quiet market town. Detective Helen Cooke is called in to investigate the death of a woman found near a river. She is still looking for clues when another body is found in a house fire. Not until an unsolved murder in Durham is revealed is Helen able to fit the pieces together.
A serial killer is on the loose, and a life and death race is on to save a further victim.
