Woman in Black Read Online Free PDF Page B

looking at her but Jessica saw a swish of long black hair out of the corner of her eye behind them. Someone had been walking towards where they were but quickly turned around. The person was moving quickly but not running. It was clearly a woman and, despite the ongoing June heat, she was wearing knee-length black leather boots with a short black dress. The woman reached the corner where the shops met the first house of a row and her head disappeared behind a hedge.
    Jessica started walking quickly in the direction the woman had headed. ‘I think she was just here,’ she said as the three detectives followed her.
    They got to the corner and could see the woman walking quickly away from them. As she moved, the girl turned and noticed the police officers, breaking into a run.
    Jessica started sprinting too. It was a warm day and she didn’t think her dark grey work suit was really the best attire to be running in. The other officers followed, one of the uniformed constables bolting past her in pursuit, weaving in and out of the other people on the pavement. Jessica was trying to watch where she was going while also keeping an eye on the woman and officer ahead.
    The figure in front dashed across a patch of grass but Jessica could see the constable was right behind her. She gave another half-look backwards and, when she saw how close the man in uniform was, stopped running, turning around and holding her hands to the side.
    Jessica slowed as she neared them.
    ‘Are you January Forrester?’ she asked as she came to a stop, trying not to sound too exhausted.
    ‘Yeah, what’s it to you?’ January didn’t seem out of breath but the officer who had caught had barely broken sweat. Jessica thought she would remember his face if she ever needed to take another team out with her.
    The other uniformed officer had kept pace with her while Rowlands finally arrived at the scene and instantly bent over with his hands on his knees, sweat drenching his forehead. Jessica tried not to smile. She wanted to give him a ‘where were you?’ look but he was staring at the ground trying to catch his breath.
    Jessica took out her identification and introduced herself. ‘Why did you run, January?’
    ‘No reason, I run a lot. I didn’t know you were chasing me.’ She pointed at the officer who had caught her. ‘As soon as I saw this guy, I stopped.’
    ‘Do you always go out for a run in knee boots and a dress?’
    The young woman sounded defiant. ‘Sometimes. Why, is that a crime?’
    ‘No but we’re here to talk about your missing boyfriend.’
    ‘Did you find Lewis?’ January’s voice had raised an octave. She could have been putting it on but it did sound as if there was hope in the tone.
    ‘Not exactly, no,’ Jessica said.
    January rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, right. His cow of a mum has been to see you, hasn’t she? What is it this time?’
    Jessica explained that they didn’t want to arrest her but would really like it if she came with them to the station. ‘We want to ask you about your boyfriend’s disappearance, that’s all.’
    January pointed out that she’d already given a statement but, after some swearing, she finally agreed to go. Jessica didn’t want to arrest her but they were allowed to keep people without charge for up to twenty-four hours. If she caused them any more hassle in the interview room, given the fact she had run as well, Jessica had half a mind to see if the custody sergeant would keep her in the cells in the hope the forensic results from the hand would be back before the time was up.
    Jessica put January in the car with the two uniformed officers and let Rowlands drive her back to the station in the other vehicle.
    ‘I didn’t realise you were so unfit,’ she said as the man drove.
    ‘You guys got a bit of a head-start on me, that’s all.’
    ‘Rubbish. You were stood next to us. Are you sure it’s not your age?’
    ‘You’re older than me.’
    ‘Yeah and look who got to January the