Without a Trace Read Online Free PDF Page A

before I like different men for different things. Gerry is good in bed, but he’s a mean bastard and no fun. Brian is boring, but he’s kind and lovely with Petal. Mike is really good fun, generous, too, but he’s as unpredictable as the weather and I never know when he’ll turn up.’
    ‘Did you admit to Gerry that you were seeing other men?’
    ‘Yes, no names, of course, and I said they are just mates,not lovers. But Gerry went mad, saying I was a tart, and a whole lot more, which I won’t go into.’
    ‘Did Petal hear all this?’
    ‘No, at least I don’t think so. We were outside. She had gone to bed and was asleep before he arrived. She was still asleep when he left.’
    ‘How did you leave it with him?’ Molly asked.
    Cassie shrugged. ‘Told him he had no right to tell me who I could or couldn’t see, and if he didn’t like the way I was he could sling his hook. Or words to that effect. He took a step towards me like he was going to hit me, but I picked up a bottle to let him know he’d have a fight on his hands. He left then.’
    Cassie dropped the subject and began to talk about the vegetables she was growing, and Molly left soon afterwards to get back to the shop.
    She realized she had to tell George about this, but she didn’t know how to. Cassie was the only person she’d ever met who talked about sex openly; other girls either didn’t mention it at all or used prim little euphemisms. Molly knew that if she repeated what Cassie had told her word for word, George and the other policemen would think her friend was a common tart, and she couldn’t bear the thought of them sniggering about her and making crude remarks.
    ‘I only stayed for about half an hour with them,’ she said carefully, trying to give herself time to think of a way to tell George what she knew. But just as she was preparing herself, the door opened and Sergeant Bailey came in. He was a burly man in his fifties and he’d been at Sawbridge police station for as long as Molly could remember.
    ‘How are you bearing up, Molly?’ he said, crouching down by her chair, his big face soft with sympathy. ‘It must havebeen an awful shock to walk in on something so nasty. You were right, Miss March is dead, and I’m very sorry to have to tell you, but we think it was murder.’
    ‘No!’ Molly shrieked in horror. It was one thing thinking it, but quite another to have it confirmed. ‘Why would anyone want to kill her? And where is Petal? Has she been killed, too?’
    ‘There is nothing at the cottage to suggest Petal has been hurt. We made a quick search of the surroundings, but found no sign of her. I’ve called in some of my men and some reinforcements from Bristol to do a thorough search, but I doubt they will arrive today. As to your question about why would anyone want to kill Miss March, that’s what we need to find out. And you can help us with that by telling us all you know about her.’
    ‘But all your men should be searching for Petal now,’ she burst out. ‘She’s only six, she must be terrified; cold and wet, too. You can’t leave her out there till tomorrow.’
    Sergeant Bailey and George exchanged glances. ‘Molly was telling me about the last time she spent some time with Miss March,’ George said. ‘But I could go up to Stone Cottage now and start searching if you like.’
    The sergeant looked from George to Molly, then patted her on the shoulder. ‘Carry on talking to PC Walsh. I have to get in touch with CID at Bridewell in Bristol, and talk to people to see if anyone saw or heard anything unusual today. Couldn’t have picked a worse day for a serious crime – half the force are on leave and the rain is likely to wash away evidence. But we’ll try to get a search going today, I promise you.’
    Molly still thought that finding a missing young child should be the priority, not questioning villagers. But she could hardly argue with him.
    George touched her elbow as the sergeant left the room.