Sue Marshall was making herself a coffee in the kitchen at the rear of her house in Essex Street when she heard the front doorbell ring. She stopped what she was doing and wondered who she’d find when she opened the door. Her friends knew to come around to the back of the house, so she knew it wouldn’t be one of them. She walked up the passageway and opened the door to a policeman standing on her veranda. He looked uncomfortable. She felt a sense of dread.
‘Sue Marshall?’
‘Yes.’
‘My name’s Bob Davenport. I’m the sergeant at the local police station.’ He twisted his hat in his hands. ‘Do you think I could come in? I’ve got some rather unpleasant news for you.’
Sue felt her knees knock together. ‘Has something happened to Chris?’
‘No. Chris is fine.’
There was concern in his eyes. It w
