The Night Stalker (Detective Erika Foster 2)

The only person she had been able to visualise was Mark: how he used to slouch on the sofa, and the way she fitted snugly under his arm. That’s what she’d visualised during the live broadcast. And now she was home, she realised she’d found yet another way to miss him. She missed coming home to him sitting on the sofa, watching television. She missed having someone to talk to, someone to get her out of her own head. Here, she just had the four bare walls closing in on her.

Her phone rang and she fumbled in her bag to answer it. It was Mark’s dad.

‘You didn’t tell me you were going to be on telly,’ said Edward.

It had been a few weeks since they’d spoken, Erika realised guiltily. Her emotions caught in her throat for a split second. Edward sounded so much like Mark.

‘It was all a bit last minute… I haven’t seen it back yet. I didn’t come across all schoolmarmish, did I?’

Edward chuckled. ‘No, lass, you did well. Although it sounds like you’ve got another nutter on the loose. I hope you’re going to be careful?’

‘This one likes men,’ said Erika. ‘No – I don’t mean to be flippant. So far, she’s targeted men.’

‘Yes. I saw the programme,’ said Edward. ‘Do you really think a woman’s got it in her, to do all that?’

‘You’d be horrified about the state of the human psyche if you came to work with me for a couple of days…’

‘I bet I would. But as I always say, love. Be brave, but don’t be stupid.’

‘I’ll try.’

‘I’ve been meaning to give you a buzz, but seeing your mug on the telly jogged me into it. I wanted to ask for your sister Lenka’s address.’

‘Hang on, I’ve got it somewhere here,’ said Erika, putting the phone under her chin, moving to the shelves and scrabbling about amongst the takeaway leaflets. She found her slim address book.

‘How come you want Lenka’s address?’ she asked, flicking through pages.

‘Isn’t her little baby due soon?’

‘Oh, yes, I almost forgot. She’s due in a few weeks.’

‘Doesn’t time fly when you’re hunting people on the run?’ Edward said.

‘Very funny! You should be a stand-up comedian,’ Erika laughed.

‘Her little boy and girl are lovely,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t understand what they were jabbering on about, or your sister, but we got by!’

When Erika’s sister had come to stay, Edward had travelled down on the train for the day and they’d all gone to the Tower of London. It had been an exhausting day. Lenka didn’t speak a word of English and Erika had found herself having to be translator for her and the kids, Karolina and Jakub.

‘Do you think they liked it, the Tower of London?’ asked Edward.

‘No, I think Lenka was a bit bored. All she really wanted to do was stock up on new clothes at Primark,’ replied Erika, dryly.

‘Weren’t it expensive, though, the tower? I wonder what percentage the Queen is on?’

Erika smiled. She missed Edward and wished he lived closer.

‘Ah, here it is,’ she said, and she read out the address to him.

‘Thanks, love. I was going to pop in some Euros, for the baby, if I can get to the big post office in Wakefield. Did you know they’ve shut the money exchange at our local post office.’

‘It’s the age of austerity,’ said Erika.

There was silence. Edward cleared his throat. ‘It’s come round again, hasn’t it?’ he said, softly. He was referring to the anniversary of Mark’s death.

‘Yes, it has. Two years.’

‘Do you want me to come down? I can stop with you for a few days. Your sofa’s comfy.’

’No. Thank you. I’ve got so much work. Let’s wait until I’m finished with this case and then do something properly. I’d love a few days up north… What are you going to do?’

‘I’ve been asked to make up the team for indoor bowls. I think they know I need my mind taken off things.’

‘Then you should do that,’ said Erika. ‘You take care.’

‘You take care too, lass,’ he said.

When he’d hung up, Erika flicked on the television just in time for the Crimewatch reconstruction recap show. She was quite horrified seeing herself in high definition: every line, bag and wrinkle. When the number flashed up at the end, her phone rang again. She answered it.

‘DCI Foster?’ came a muffled, high voice.