Page 126 of Child's Play

‘Bloody hell,’ Kim said, realising that just about everyone they’d spoken to was tied to this event in one way or another.

‘Not sure how you’re gonna top that one, Stace,’ Kim admitted.

‘Ah well, I like to save the best for last,’ she said, raising her eyebrows.

‘The final sibling connection I can find where there was contact with all three of our victims and have been right under our nose the whole time, are our very own Serena and Jared Welmsley, the organisers of the whole event.’

Ninety-Four

Kim stood aside for a family barrelling down the corridor towards them, chatting and laughing as a little boy beamed holding a sizeable glass trophy.

‘He’s a happy chappie,’ Bryant remarked, with a smile.

‘Course he is, he won,’ she replied, as she headed into the reception area. Squeals of delight reached her as parents and children pored over certificates, cups, badges and trophies. She spotted Damien Crouch watching proudly as his daughter Matilda showed off a pink ribboned rosette pinned to her cardigan.

‘Looks like we’re at the tail end of it,’ Bryant observed. ‘Just the last main quiz to go and no incidents…’

‘Don’t even jinx us, Bryant. Our killer is here somewhere and we’ve got to make sure we catch him before the event ends completely. If there’s anyone else on his kill list, they’re gonna be right—’

‘Inspector, still here I see?’ Serena said from behind them.

The woman was carrying a clutch of rosettes, a clipboard and a single child’s trainer.

She followed Kim’s gaze. ‘Don’t ask.’

‘Almost done?’ Bryant asked.

She beamed happily, glancing around at the children and parents finally making some noise.

‘The event has been a huge success,’ she said, and then seemed to remember herself. ‘Apart from the recent tragedies of course,’ she acknowledged. ‘But just the quiz to go now and then we’re done for another year.’

‘Splendid,’ Kim said. ‘Serena, did Barry Nixon ever bring his wife with him to this event?’

‘Just last year, she came along with him. It was lovely to see her again after all these—’

‘And was a ticket put aside for her this year?’

‘Of course. I understood that they were attending together.’

‘And has her ticket been claimed?’ Kim asked, as her stomach flipped.

‘I’m sorry, officer, I have no idea,’ she said, edging away. ‘Jared takes care of the attendance records.’

‘And would you mind telling me where I can find your brother?’

Serena looked genuinely taken aback by the question.

‘My brother, Inspector? I’m sorry but I haven’t seen Jared for hours.’

Ninety-Five

‘You reckon Jared could be our guy?’ Bryant asked as they headed for the main hall. After there’d been no reply from his mobile phone it had been Serena’s best guess before hurrying off to lost property.

‘I’ll let you know after he explains where he’s been during all of our murders, but I still have a feeling there’s much more to learn about Beth Nixon. We still don’t know what prompted her stay in a mental health facility, and she was due to come here with her husband.’

‘You think she could have killed her own husband though, guv?’ Bryant asked, doubtfully. ‘She seems to have loved him very much.’

‘Yeah that’s the impression I get too but it wouldn’t be the first time we’ve questioned a serial killer and not known it. We’re dealing with some pretty clever folks here.’