The Two Towns (The Lakeland Murders)

  Jane Francis didn’t go straight home either. She drove to the supermarket, and did a proper shop. The one she’d been meaning to do all week. She was still in the vegetable aisle when she heard her name, and turned to see Sarah Walker. Like Jane she was pushing a small trolley.

  ‘We can’t go on meeting like this’ said Jane, smiling.

  ‘I know. Folk will talk.’

  ‘It’s strange. Walking round here, it’s as if I’ve never moved. This place is just like the one at home. Until I hear someone speak that is, and then I notice that the accent is different.’

  ‘You’re not homesick already, are you?’

  ‘Manchester was never home. Not really. It was just where I worked, you know. Maybe Kendal will become home, eventually.’

  ‘There are worse places to live.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right. And how about you? Have you got a busy weekend planned?’

  ‘I’m not sure. I doubt it. I told Phil that I’m not moving in with him.’

  ‘Oh. I see. How did he take it?’

  ‘Not very well, if I’m honest. Your name came up, as it happens.’

  ‘He blames me? I’m sorry if that’s the case.’

  ‘I’m not. I’ve no idea if he, you know, did it. Not really. But not being absolutely sure that he didn’t, well that was enough for me to decide, somehow.’

  ‘Do you think it’s over between you?’

  ‘Probably. So it’s back to the meals for one for me, I suppose.’

  ‘Join the club. And at least you always get to eat whatever you fancy.’

  ‘There is that, I suppose. Anyway, I mustn’t keep you.’

  Jane smiled. ‘You take care, and keep in touch, yeah?’

  DC Francis was still smiling when she reached the frozen foods, and she treated herself to a tub of luxury ice cream. She wished she had someone to talk to about what had just happened, but she doubted that Mann or Dixon would be all that interested. But Jane had a feeling that Andy Hall would get it, and that they’d both see it in much the same way: as just the smallest act of retribution, but also the largest one that they could ever expect to achieve when it came Phil Clark. It wasn’t much, and certainly not enough, but at least it was something. She pushed her trolley to the tills, got lucky with one that was just opening, and thought about the weekend ahead. She was looking forward to putting her feet up with a glass of decent wine, and a nice big bowl of that ice cream.

  Publisher’s note: We hope that you’ve enjoyed this introduction to Andy Hall, Jane Francis, Ian Mann and the rest of the Kendal CID team. Separated at Death is the first full-length novel in J J Salkeld’s acclaimed Lakeland Murders series. It is available for download from the Kindle store now.