Page 40 of Their Burning Graves
‘What if he had a thing for Sally? She might not have been interested in him though. Bev from the tech unit rang whilst you were out to say that Tim had been accessing the Dark Web on a regular basis. Luke teaches at the university right, what if it’s computer science? Then he would know all about the Dark Web, or what if he’s a computer geek? We need to find out, and I think we need to bring him in for more formal questioning about his relationship with Sally Lawson. I also think we need to speak to his wife, to ask if she knows about the photos because if she did then maybe we need to look closer at her. There is nothing like a woman scorned and don’t they say that revenge is a dish best served cold?’
‘I think you’re right, Morgan, but right now the mystery man with Tim is still our most solid lead, let’s not drop the ball on that.’
‘I’ve been thinking about Isaiah too. What if it isn’t a person, what if it’s the name of the game Tim was playing? I’ve asked Bev to search for it anyway, but it’s worth keeping an open mind.’
‘Have you checked our systems for Isaiah? I’m still waiting on Intel to come back to me.’
She shook her head, then logged into the intelligence system and typed it in. After a few seconds the screen loaded with a message saying there were no matches.
‘There’s your answer, nothing.’
Morgan knew they were onto something; she could feel it deep down inside that once they figured out what or who Isaiah was, they were going to find who killed the Lawsons.
TWENTY-SIX
Natalie White walked into the café and sat at her usual seat, brushing past Annie who felt a cold shiver run down the entire left side of her body where they had touched. Instantly, Annie knew something was wrong, she hadn’t had a reaction to someone like that in ages. She found herself staring at Natalie. She was one of her best customers and came here without fail every weekday unless she was on holiday. Something was wrong though, and she turned away, not wanting Natalie to catch her staring, but Annie knew she had to do something. She went to the little storeroom in the back and perched on a large cardboard box. Ever since Sally died she had been sensing things a lot more than she had for quite some time, though she wasn’t sure if it was her gift kicking in or whether she was being more open to reading people because she’d let her guard down and now Sally and her whole family were dead. She hadn’t been able to sleep properly the last few nights, worrying whether she could have done something to prevent what had happened. Will had sensed something was wrong and had sat her down at breakfast this morning to ask if she was okay. She felt terrible that she had done something she hadn’t had to do since she’d left her job as a police officer: she’d lied to him and told him she was fine, a little bit stressed with work but nothing she couldn’t handle. She hated not telling him the truth, but he’d nodded and kissed her before she’d left for work. It was his day off, so he was dropping Alfie at school and picking him up.
Magda came into the room, took one look at Annie and tilted her head.
‘What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’
Annie held up her hand to signal to leave her be for a moment. Was that it? Had she seen a ghost? One that was still breathing, but not for much longer. Oh God, Natalie White, was something awful going to happen to her? She stood up, and looking around for her phone she realised she didn’t have Morgan’s phone number.
‘Magda, have you seen my phone?’
‘Not today, did you bring it with you?’
Annie couldn’t remember if she had or not. ‘It doesn’t matter, I’ll use the shop phone.’ She looked at Magda who was normally quite perceptive and whispered, ‘Can you see the woman sitting alone at the table in the window?’
‘Natalie, yes, I can see her. She’s not a ghost, she’s solid flesh and blood.’
‘I didn’t mean that, can you see anything wrong with her?’
‘Like what, she has an extra ear, two heads?’
‘No, like her aura, can you see that?’
Magda shook her head. ‘I can’t see anything today, Annie, I’m hung-over.’
Annie looked at her then smiled. ‘Magda, it’s a good job you’re not doing any readings then.’
Annie needed to speak to Natalie, but how could she do that without appearing weird? She was going to have to just do it. Where was her friend today? She normally came in with her yoga friend on a Monday. In fact, she noticed now that Natalie wasn’t wearing her usual fitness leggings and crop top, maybe that’s what was different. She was dressed in a pair of jeans, with a baggy T-shirt and her hair was in a scruffy topknot instead of its usual sleek high ponytail. Still, she couldn’t ignore it, so she walked over to her and sat down.
‘Hey, sorry for intruding but I wondered if you were okay.’
Natalie turned her gaze from staring out of the window to stare directly into Annie’s eyes, and she felt that coldness seep down her back again. It was like looking into two black holes with nothing behind them.
‘Excuse me?’
Annie sucked in a breath. ‘I was just checking you’re okay.’
Natalie laughed. ‘Of course, I’m okay, why are you asking?’
‘I…you looked a little distracted, not like your usual self.’
‘I do? I’m tired I suppose. I haven’t been sleeping very well, thank you for asking though and for noticing, that’s kind of you. Jasper hasn’t asked me if I’m okay for at least three years. It’s that bloody house. We should never have bought it, and now we’re stuck there or at least I am, and I hate it.’
‘Have you talked to him about it? Why do you hate it so much?’
