Silent Voices (Vera Stanhope 4) (40 page)

‘Eliot almost killed a four-year-old child because he was jealous of her?’ Ashworth was incredulous.

Vera shrugged. ‘We’ll probably never know exactly why he threw her in the water. His brother had drowned, and so had his sister’s son. Maybe there on the boathouse deck he saw it as payback time.’

‘Is that what you think this was all about?’ Charlie raised his head far enough from the table to speak.

‘Doesn’t matter what I believe, does it? The CPS has got him for two murders that he’s admitted. They probably won’t push him on the child. And Connie won’t want to go through another court case, so I imagine she’ll be happy to let it drop.’

‘Another child that’ll be terrified of water all her life,’ Holly said.

‘Aye, maybe.’ But Vera wasn’t sure about all this cause and effect. Life was less predictable and more messy than that. Best leave the theories to the shrinks and social workers. ‘Or she could turn out to be an Olympic swimmer.’

Also by Ann Cleeves

A Lesson in Dying Murder in My Back Yard

Another Man’s Poison Killjoy

The Healers High Island Blues

Burial of Ghosts

Acknowledgements

I’m grateful as always to the old team – Julie, Catherine, Helen, Roger, Jean, Rebecca, Sara and her associates worldwide. Thanks also to the new team – Elaine, Paul, Brenda and David – who have helped me look at my characters in a different way.

First published 2011 by Macmillan

This electronic edition published 2011 by Macmillan
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ISBN 978-0-230-75811-7 PDF
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Copyright © Ann Cleeves 2011

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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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