Die Happy by J. M. Gregson Page A

discussed at length and the matter decided at a previous meeting.’
    â€˜But as you write crime books yourself and were the means of persuading Mr Knight to speak in Oldford, Mr Preston’s discontent focussed upon you.’
    â€˜I suppose it did, yes. Particularly as he hasn’t a high opinion of either Sam Hilton or Ros Barker and I also found myself on their side in the exchanges within the committee.’
    â€˜Mrs Charles, I have to ask you formally whether you think Peter Preston might have sent you this note.’
    â€˜It’s inconceivable, to me. It doesn’t seem like the sort of thing he would do. But then it seems even more inconceivable that anyone else would threaten me like this, even as a joke. Unless it was kids, of course, who wouldn’t realize the distress they were causing. Peter’s the only person I’ve had any sort of dispute with over the last two or three months.’
    â€˜It’s important that you don’t try to do anything about this yourself. You could accuse entirely the wrong person and end up at best highly embarrassed and at worst losing a friend. Be assured that we shall follow it up. We can be far more impersonal and we have far more resources than you have.’
    â€˜That’s why I came here, Detective Sergeant Hook. The days of Miss Marple are long gone, if indeed they ever existed!’
    â€˜I don’t wish to be alarmist, but have you anyone who could move into the house with you for a night or two?’
    She smiled wanly. ‘I could probably pack up my laptop and go to stay with my daughter for a couple of days. I’m due for a visit.’
    â€˜That would probably be best. If you give me the phone number, I’ll make sure someone contacts you to let you know the outcome of our enquiries.’
    â€˜Thank you again for being so understanding.’
    Hook stood up. ‘We always treat these things seriously. As I say, it will probably turn out to be some tasteless hoax, but it needs investigation.’
    As he prepared to usher her out, a young woman PC appeared in the doorway, looking a little embarrassed. ‘Sorry to interrupt you, DS Hook, but I thought from what this lady said at the desk that her complaint might be related to what you’re discussing with Mrs Charles.’
    Hook saw behind her a diffident young woman, following the officer somewhat reluctantly into the depths of Oldford police station. A fresh-faced woman, with a few freckles still evident in her small, kitten-like features. Older than he’d thought at first; she was probably in her late twenties, he thought. Bert had many years of experience now in assessing ages, a police skill he had found very difficult when he was as young as the officer who had brought in this woman.
    He was about to say that he would speak to her after he had seen Sue Charles out when the new entrant spoke, delivering her message hastily and without pause, as if she feared that she might turn tail and flee if she paused for thought. ‘My name is Kate Merrick. My partner is Ros Barker. This threat was to her, not to me, but she wouldn’t take it seriously. I brought it here because I thought you should see it.’
    She stood panting, then thrust an envelope towards him with both hands, like a child anxious to be rid of something that frightened her.
    Hook looked at her for a second or two without a word as he donned the plastic gloves he had recently discarded to extract the single sheet from within the envelope.
    RESIGN NOW FROM THE FESTIVAL COMMITTEE IF YOU WISH TO REMAIN ALIVE
    He said tersely, ‘I think Chief Superintendent Lambert should know about this.’

SEVEN
    S pring was advancing quickly. The chestnuts were in leaf; even the oak and the ash were swelling their buds. And the daylight was stretching as the year advanced; only eight weeks now until the longest day.
    Sam Hilton waited impatiently for the darkness to descend. As usual, his