Kissing the Demons by Kate Ellis Page B

didn’t want him . . . or any of the others for that matter. It watched from the shadows, hostile and full of resentment. It wished them ill. He’d always prided himself on being level headed – a man of science. But since he’d found out about the history of the house, the place frightened him.
    He sat at his desk for a while staring at the notes in front of him, his eyes hardly focusing. Then he remembered that a couple of days ago he had seen an article in the local paper about a clergyman who worked at the cathedral. The journalist had portrayed this George Merryweather as a pleasant, down-to-earth man, even though his role was the Diocesan exorcist – or, Deliverance Minister as he preferred to be called. Matt had torn the piece from the paper and kept it, not quite knowing why. Perhaps it was the thought that Obediah Shrowton or his victims hadn’t quite gone away. He wasn’t sure but he kept hold of that newspaper cutting like a talisman. If things got really bad in the house, George Merryweather seemed the type who wouldn’t laugh at his fears.
    He spread his notes out on the desk in front of him and turned up the volume on his iPod. Then he heard something behind the thumping rhythm of the music. The doorbell. Someone was at the door.
    He switched the music off and made his way downstairs. The sight of DI Plantagenet and DCI Thwaite standing on the doorstep with solemn faces told him something was wrong. When they’d come before they’d been friendly and smiling. But now they looked like the bearers of bad news. He stood aside to let them in.
    â€˜Let’s go and sit down, shall we,’ Joe said gently.
    Matt allowed himself to be shepherded into the living room where he sat on the sagging sofa.
    â€˜We’ve found a body,’ Joe said softly. ‘And I’m afraid we think it’s Petulia. We’ll need to talk to you and everyone else in the house. And we’ll need to contact her next of kin.’
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ Emily said. ‘It must be a shock.’
    Matt felt numb, as though his body didn’t quite belong to him. He’d been worried about Pet but somehow he hadn’t expected this brutal finality.
    â€˜Her family . . . do you know where they live?’
    â€˜No. I only know her dad’s in Dubai and she didn’t get on with her stepmother.’ He took a deep breath. ‘How . . . how did she die?’
    â€˜We think she was murdered.’
    Matt could hear his heart thumping as if it was trying to escape the cage of his chest. ‘Where was she found?’
    â€˜Behind Bearsley Leisure Centre. Do you know of any reason why she should be there?’
    Matt shook his head vigorously. Pet had never been one for sweaty gyms or early morning swims and he said as much to Joe and Emily.
    â€˜Is anybody else in?’ Joe asked.
    Before Matt could answer he heard the sound of the front door opening and they all looked round as Jason entered the room, wearing his combat jacket, buttoned up against the cold of the morning.
    â€˜This is starting to feel like police harassment.’
    Matt turned round. ‘Shut up, Jason. Pet’s dead.’
    Jason froze. ‘You’re joking,’ he said after a few long seconds.
    â€˜It’s hardly the sort of thing I’d joke about,’ Matt said. ‘They found her body this morning. At the leisure centre.’
    Jason opened his mouth to say something then shut it again. He looked shocked but not particularly upset.
    â€˜They need to ask us some questions . . . and they’ve got to trace her family.’
    â€˜She didn’t get on with them.’
    â€˜So I’ve heard,’ said Emily. ‘But they still need to be told.’
    Jason bowed his head, his first gesture of sorrow. ‘How did she die?’
    â€˜She was murdered . . . stabbed,’ said Emily bluntly.
    â€˜I expect it was