A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith (great books of all time .TXT) 📕

had a brief conversation with him, but in less than five minutes, he imparted a lot of wisdom about establishing a charity.

Despite herself, Beth was enjoying the experience. Forster was bigging her up more than she cared for, but he was selling the concept of the charity to everyone he spoke to.

What amazed Beth more than anything, was the way people were offering patronage to the charity before it was even established. This was an element of society she neither knew nor understood. They had their reservations about her, she could see that and she didn’t mind. It was natural for them to be wary.

The only downside to the day so far had been Forster’s hands. They hadn’t wandered or anything crass like that, it was just that every time he touched her back, either the tips of his fingers or the ball of his thumb landed on the clasp of her bra.

She was standing with Forster when a familiar face approached her. It took Beth a moment to place him because he was out of uniform, but there was no doubt it was the chief super.

Her first thought was panic. He was expecting her to be working not mingling in the same social group as him.

‘I hear you had something of a result today.’ Hilton’s inscrutable face cracked into a tight smile. ‘In fact, I do believe you deserve praise for your actions. Well done, DC Young.’

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘I also hear that you’re working with Mayor Forster to set up a charity for rape victims. And that you’re insistent on helping the victims to report their ordeal.’ Hilton gave a sharp nod. ‘That is something I can only applaud. Should you run into any issues dealing with members of Cumbria Constabulary, my door will always be open.’

‘Thank you, sir, I appreciate your support and endorsement.’

A wry smile caressed Hilton’s mouth. ‘Careful now, you’re starting to talk like a politician. Be yourself at all times. Show your determination and that fine mind of yours and you’ll do well. Become another corporate drone and you’ll end up being ignored.’ Hilton gave her an exaggerated wink as he turned to leave. ‘Oh, and well done again for catching “Justin”.’

Beth felt her own smile widening as she realised the undertone to the conversation she’d just had. With Hilton, she now had a high-ranking ally, but his parting shot at the end had also been a warning. To the best of her knowledge, only the four members of FMIT knew about Thompson christening the killer with the derogatory name ‘Justin’, yet the chief super had heard about it. That meant he had spies in the camp.

Another pleasant hour passed and then the host stood on a chair to make a speech. He was a good orator who could work a crowd, but when he waxed lyrical about the rape charity and called Beth and Forster to his side, Beth knew the perspiration covering her body had little to do with the evening sun.

As she posed for pictures with the host and Forster, Beth could feel the mayor’s hand on her back. Unlike the host, who’d kept his arm at shoulder height, the mayor’s hand was lower. So low she could feel his fingertips against the waistband of her skirt. When he lifted his hand away, he ran one finger upwards over the knuckles of her spine.

Had Ethan done the same thing, Beth would have shivered for a different reason. Forster’s smile told her that he thought he’d had the effect she expected from Ethan.

As confusing as this was for Beth, due to the way she was beginning to feel about the mayor, she knew that so long as she was seeing Ethan, nothing would happen.

After another half hour, she made her excuses and left. Forster gave her a goodbye hug that saw his fingers again caress the fastening of her bra, and arranged for them to meet later in the week to start getting the charity established.

Seventy 2 August

Dear Diary

I let Derek seduce me and forsook every vow I said in God’s house.

Howard must never learn of this secret.

I no longer feel that I can cuddle my husband because I fear he’ll feel my betrayal against his skin.

My marriage lies broken around me and I do not have the strength to fix it.

If Howard learns of what I’ve done, he’ll be destroyed. I cannot let that happen.

Goodbye, Dear Diary. You’ve been a good friend to me. A companion through my life. You’ve never judged me. I, however, have judged myself, and I’m broken by what I’ve become.

P.S. At least I’ll soon see poor darling Harriet once again, and am safe knowing that whoever raped and killed her will be going to Hell.

Seventy-One

Beth raised her glass in a silent toast to the day’s successes. Ethan chinked his pint against her wine glass and gave her a smile before he continued with his story.

Rather than dine somewhere in Penrith, they’d driven the five miles to Langwathby. It had been Ethan’s suggestion and Beth liked the idea of having him to herself without any of their friends joining them at any point. They both knew a lot of people in Penrith, and by coming out to the Drover’s Rest they’d reduced the chances of interruptions to their conversation. Being out here would also mean she could focus on Ethan rather than get distracted with her habit of scanning her surroundings looking for the man with kisses tattooed on his neck.

The Drover’s Rest was a typical village hotel-cum-pub. There was a small dining room and a comfortable bar which had a beamed ceiling and an earthy, yet homely feel. It was the kind of place where strangers are a welcome distraction to the regulars. Pewter tankards hung from eyehooks screwed into the beams and there was more chance of getting a flight to the moon than a cocktail.

‘So there we are, treating this woman for a broken wrist when her husband appears at the ambulance