Free A Deadly Thaw by Sarah Ward

for you. The man who answered the phone treated me like I was an idiot.’
    ‘In what way?’ Connie made a mental note to have a word with him.
    ‘It was a case of “There, there dear. We’ve all got a lookalike somewhere.” And I said to him, “It didn’t just look like him. It was him.” But it didn’t make any difference, and by the end of the call it was just easier to agree with him. He treated me like I was a daft old bat. It’s what happens when you reach a certain age. You’ve got that to look forward to.’
    Connie laughed. ‘You should see the way my colleague treats me. I think I’ve reached it already.’
    Jane Reynolds narrowed her eyes. ‘You haven’t.’ And then smiled.
    Connie changed tack. ‘How did he look? Andrew Fisher. Did he look well? Or like he’d been sleeping rough?’
    The woman considered the question with the tip of the bourbon biscuit between her teeth. ‘He looked well. Relaxed. I was surprised at how well he looked. Considering he was supposed to be dead.’
    Connie laughed again, and Jane Reynolds laughed too and then stopped abruptly. ‘I’ve heard about the body at Hale’s End. Is that why you’re asking me all these things? And I know it’s him. The boss in your place went round to see Andrew’s mum yesterday. We all know.’
    Nothing stays secret around here , thought Connie, and then realised how completely untrue that was. ‘Any idea why he would be in Whitby? There’s not much of a connection to the area. It’s a good three-hour drive from here.’
    The woman shrugged. ‘No idea. He was always a funny one, Andrew. A real mummy’s boy. You wouldn’t have thought it to look at him. Big chunky lad that he was but he adored his mum. What did she say about Andrew being alive all these years?’
    She was looking at Connie with a sharp expression. Should she tell her that Andrew’s mother had been kept in the dark too? Connie wondered what this must have cost a man who was so close to his parent.
    Jane Reynolds was good at reading other people’s expressions. ‘You don’t think she knew?’ Jane Reynolds sniffed. ‘I wouldn’t be so sure about that if I were you. We’re good at keeping secrets round here. That’s as much as I’m going to say. But you won’t get far taking what everyone says at face value.’

21
    Kat managed to get through most of the morning harnessed to adrenalin and caffeine. The fruit she’d brought for a snack lay in her bag untouched, but she’d made serious inroads into the packet of coffee she kept in the small kitchen fridge. Her head was buzzing in anger at the infliction she had put on her body, but the loud thud of her heart had as much to do with what was nestled in her handbag, wrapped in her scarf.
    She sat in her therapy room and waited for Mark’s knock. The thought of his solid presence was both comforting and thrilling. Underneath that was a profound fear when she thought of what she had been given.
    He was, as usual, exactly on time. She opened the door, and he smiled down at her, his scarred cheek puckering lopsidedly. ‘Come in.’ The relief washed over her. She let him enter the room first, and he strolled over to the seat at the far side of the room and settled himself in.
    ‘How are you?’ It was always him first. Asking after her welfare.
    ‘Fine. How are you?’ Her stock answer. Fine was all her clients ever got from her.
    ‘Not bad. I’ve been thinking about some of the things you spoke about in our last session. I’m sorry for texting you, by the way. I just wanted to thank you for giving me something to think about.’
    He didn’t look sorry at all. Kat smiled, pleased, but said nothing.
    ‘When you said that not everything deserves a response. I appreciate you telling me about that. I’ve been thinking about it all week and I’ve decided not to reply. I’ve been mulling it over, and I think you’re right. She’s the one who chose the time to get in touch with me. Then suddenly I’m