A Murderer's Heart Read Online Free PDF

want me to contact you when she arrives?” asked the nurse.
    “ No, I’m sure she’ll be okay, I’ll see her on Tuesday. Ring me if there are any problems, however.”
    “ That’s fine. Have a good weekend, Doctor.”
    After dropping the ‘phone back into her bag, Anne went upstairs to change.
     
     
    *****
    As Anne drove to the coffee-house, she thought about the conversation she’d had with Jenny. She hadn’t known her as long as Barbara but was a good friend all the same. They had met about five years earlier at their local library. Anne was researching an obscure medical disease; Jenny was looking for background on a story she was writing. Though it was only a local library, it was particularly good for browsing the Internet. She could have done it at home but Anne liked working in its atmosphere; it gave her the same peace as her garden room.
    They had seen each other on previous visits and this time they had sat at adjacent computer terminals -which were situated at the very back of the library. Jenny had glanced at Anne’s monitor and quietly questioned her topic.
    “You must be a doctor,” Jenny had whispered. “That looks very technical.”
    She’d smiled at Anne.
    Answering her smile and liking what she saw – petite and blonde with startling blue eyes – Anne whispered back that she was indeed a doctor and was used to all the jargon that went with the job. Rather than annoy the library staff, they had agreed to go for a coffee when they had finished their research.
    Gathering their notebooks and bags, they silently – feeling a little like naughty schoolgirls – made their way out of the library into the bright sunshine.
    As if by mutual assent they made their way to Alice’s, where the warmth of the day allowed them to use one of the white tables that sat waiting outside the coffee-house.
    So quickly had they become friends that Anne had been invited to Jenny and David’s wedding. She’d also been with her at the birth of the twins – David had been delayed, arriving sweaty and worried just as the twins put in an appearance. There had been problems, but after the birth everything was fine. Both Anne and Sally were the image of their mother.
    Anne thought about their years of friendship. Being godmother to their children, visiting each other when time allowed, and there for each other when needed. David was called away a lot with his job so Anne tried to find the time to visit as much as possible. Yes, she had neglected Jenny; it had been some time since they met.
    Anne parked her car and walked round to the coffee-house; it was 10.25am.
    She was early!
    Jenny was sitting at one of the outside tables waiting for her. She rose when she saw Anne and they embraced.
    “It’s been too long,” said Anne.
    “Yes,” Jenny said simply.
    They both sat; white cloth and a vase of pretty dancing heads between them.
    “Aren’t they gorgeous?” said Anne, if only to give Jenny time to settle.
    She looked pale.
    “Hmm, I always liked sweet peas, beautiful scent and such a fabulous array of colours. It’s so good to see you, Anne.”
    “Yes, I’m sorry it’s been so long.”
    “I...” Jenny began, but was cut off.
    After the waitress had taken their order – one white, one black coffee – Anne looked at Jenny.
    “You seem tired. Are you okay?”
    Jenny shook her head. “Not really,” she said, not elaborating until after their coffees arrived.
    “Mmm,” said Anne, “I’ve forgotten how good the coffee is here.”
    She looked about her and felt comfortable in the morning sunshine. There were quite a number of people here already, Saturdays always brought out many shoppers and Alice’s was a favourite meeting place.
    Looking at Jenny, Anne said, “Come on, tell me about it.”
    “It seems so stupid, really. It must be my imagination; I’m just tired but...” Jenny took another sip of her coffee, putting off what she needed to say.
    “Come on, Jen, it’s me, Anne, you can tell me