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Bert was a shrink-wrapped version of his twin; his face thin and scrawny, with blond hair drained to a brittle white. He bunched his fists as he screamed, his scaly pink scalp visible underneath the wisps of his listless hair. It was his anger, his fury at the world that ensured his survival.
His mother hid Bert away from visitors, producing Callum for their adoration. But the benefit of having a ‘sickly child’ gave Grace the excuse she needed to stay cocooned in her three-bedroom home. She ventured only to church on a Sunday, her lips moving in silent prayer as she drove the three miles into town for the nine o’clock sermon. Praying distracted her anxious mind from open spaces, and the rosary beads swinging from the mirror of their Ford car amused Callum as he accompanied her on these visits. Bert knew all this because of the cards. These dips into the past gave him answers to questions that swarmed in his mind. And it made him feel better about what happened with mother.
Bert pushed aside the thoughts. Throwing the cushions off the bed, he slid between the sheets, reaching for the well-thumbed newspaper on the bedside table. He smiled as he re-read the headlines on the second page. ‘Celebrity Psychic’s Tragic Fiancée Crash’. Bert picked up his glasses and sca
A TV reality star bride to be was involved in a one-car crash on the M25 on Thursday evening when the victim’s car, 23-year-old Felicity Baron, veered off the M25 and plummeted down an embankment. After leaving the road, the vehicle dropped approximately 30ft down a steep slope and crashed into some trees on the border of a woodland reservation.
Baron, star of The Beauty Salon, was on her way to Brighton with friends to celebrate her hen party when the accident occurred. While it is believed the members of her group had been drinking, friends report that Baron had been sober when her car veered out of control. She received a head injury and was airlifted to hospital where she later died. The other four passengers escaped with minor injuries.
The accident happened one week before Baron’s pla
Police say excessive speed may have been a factor in the crash. Investigators are yet to determine if faulty mechanics played a role.
‘If you go down to the woods tonight you’re in for a big surprise,’ Bert sang, dropping the paper. A guttural laugh rose from the pit of his stomach, as a sense of accomplishment surged through him. He did it again. He chuckled as he fell asleep. He couldn’t wait to give another prediction, and with the help of the cards, he had just the person in mind.
Chapter Seven
A two-bar heater warmed Je
Claire took a sip of her sugarless brew. The ‘World’s Okayest Boss’ mug was a secret Santa present she had received at Christmas, and it never failed to put a smile on her face. She turned to Je
Je
Claire nodded. ‘Good. Have you got found him yet?’
‘I’ve contacted The Rivers, but they’re ru
‘Then I need you to chase them up. I take it you haven’t seen the news.’
Je
‘The next time you speak to Christian Bowes you might want to handle him sensitively …’ Claire said, pausing as Je
‘I’m not treating him any differently just because he’s a celebrity.’
The phone emitted a shrill ring. Silencing the call, Claire turned back around. ‘It’s nothing to do with that. It’s his fiancée. She crashed her car yesterday. She’s dead.’
‘Oh,’ Je
‘Forensics are examining the car. But get this. Her friends stated she was read her fortune by an old man when they stopped off for a drink.’
‘And you think it’s the same man that prophesied Alan Price’s death?’
‘It’s too much of a coincidence not to be. Lexton CID have got a hold of the case and are refusing to relinquish it to us as it’s on their patch …’
‘But … No, they can’t …’ Je
Claire ignored her protest and carried on. ‘We’ve come to a compromise and it’s been agreed you can work together on the case. Obviously if there is any paranormal element you keep that information within our team. It’s very early days, but if Christian Bowe’s cousin is responsible then you need to liaise with them so they can effect an arrest early doors.’
Je
‘You have no choice. If this turns out to be a murder, we won’t have the manpower to investigate it by ourselves. Does it matter who does the nicking as long as the case is solved?’
It did to Je
‘You’re right,’ Je
[#]
Given the mood she was in, Je