Page 75 of Death Kiss

Ellie comes in, sweeping her hair from her face before resting her hands on my shoulders. ‘God, those pictures are awful. They can’t print them like that, right?’

She stares at the photo of Ashworth with the little girl in the sparkly shoes in his lap, right next to the picture I took of that small shoe on a rotten leg, emerging from the mud.

‘I think it pushed the point home, but I’ll avoid printing any of the others. The parents don’t need to be confronted with those, not to mention I’m pretty sure it’s illegal to distribute them. I’m detailed, in clear but roundabout terms, about what else I found.

‘Her poor parents,’ Ellie says with a sigh.

‘There’s a good chance they were involved. From what I’ve gleaned, she was never even reported missing.’

‘This is so much bigger than Liam’s list, isn’t it?’ Ellie threads her fingers into the hair at my nape.

‘We can only hope it sets off a domino of consequences when the link is put in the law’s hands. And that none of them topple toward Kat and Liam.’

‘We can be their alibi. There’s no evidence we weren’t all together on whatever dates they need if Ashworth names them.’ Ellie helps herself to a bag of nuts from the box on the shelf, and passes one to me.

‘I don’t think he’ll name them. He didn’t kill any of these men, and that can likely be corroborated. But he’ll be on the hook for the abuse and murders of the children. Naming a former abuse victim of his only solidifies the case against him. It doesn’t benefit him. He might try to name them after being convicted, but by then, who will believe him? A corrupt cop put away for hurting kids? No one.’ I’ve edited the piece to within an inch of its life, and read it through with Ellie peering over my shoulder.

‘God, you’re good.’ Ellie squeezes my shoulder as we hit the bottom of the page. ‘Like, really good.’

Pleasure floods me as I turn and kiss her, before noticing her tears.

‘Shit, Ellie, are you okay?’

‘The piece, it’s so sad. All those failed kids. I’m angry enough to kill Ashworth my-bloody-self.’

‘Good, that’s exactly what we need people to feel to take the fucker down.’

‘What if he panics and goes after Kat and Liam?’ Ellie asks as I pull her into my lap, careful to steer her elbows away from the keyboard.

‘I’m pretty sure they can take care of themselves.’ I shiver as my head brings up the image of the cock hors d’ouevre scene at the cottage. ‘And we’ll send them the story the minute it’s published. We’ll warn them.’

‘They’re going to be furious if they miss out on finishing their list.’ Ellie toys with the buttons of my shirt, those thick lashes brushing her cheek.

‘But they’ll be alive, and free. Better to be mad at me than separated from each other in prison. I don’t think either of them would cope without the other.’ I’ve never seen two people so utterly obsessed with each other than the brief glimpses I’ve had of them. Though, looking at Ellie, I’m beginning to understand it.

Her lips meet mine in a gentle, seeking kiss. I give myself to her mouth, losing all sense until she breaks the kiss and places her forehead against mine.

‘Send it,’ she whispers.

Reaching behind her, with my heart hammering in my chest, I do.

‘What now?’ Ellie asks.

‘Kiss me again before they come to question me. Give me a reason to lie for them. Remind me how obsessed with you I am.’

THIRTY-SIX

KAT

I’m thankful for the blanket of clouds tonight. The woods behind Ashworth’s house aren’t as thick as I’d like, and even with our dark clothing and masks, it feels a little exposed. Bright moonlight would only exacerbate that further. Liam’s up ahead, picking his footsteps carefully between exposed roots and piling foliage. Branches grab and snag, bare now of their leaves as autumn begins to give way.

My breath clouds in front of me, my fingers already numb around the hilt of my knife. Should have worn my mittens over the less cosy but far more practical gloves I have on. Sure, there’s the whole argument about leaving fibres, but damn, it’s chilly out.

We're near the edge of the trees, looking out at the hedges, and beyond that, Ashworth’s house. It’s a well-presented home, just. missing the picket fence. Who knew hell could look so pleasant.

‘I should have taken him out last time,’ Liam says under his breath, surveying the windows. Most are dark, other than a low light seeping between a crack in the curtains. ‘If it wasn’t for Freddie showing up, Ashworth would be dead.’

‘He will be soon. And then the list is done. We’ll be finished.’ Running my thumb over the handle of my knife, I stare out at the house, inhaling deeply. ‘I can’t believe we’ve done it.’