Aftermath

PROLOGUE

‘It’s the look, that short-lived look in their eyes.’ The man smiled at the recollection of pleasant memories. ‘When they realize what’s happening. . that look of betrayal. I mean that they realize that they have been betrayed.’ The woman hooked her arm inside the man’s arm as they walked.

‘It’s always the same,’ the man replied, ‘like will find like. You found me and I found you.’

‘Like finds like,’ the woman echoed.

They halted to enjoy the view across the Vale of York to where the City of York lay nestled amid a lush patchwork of fields and small stands of woodland.

‘It’s like an addict with his drug. . you need the next fix. . you need the next look in the victim’s eyes.’

‘And you need a partner you can trust,’ the woman added. ‘It’s all about trust.’

‘Yes. . I knew we were made for each other. . I saw it in your eyes.’

The woman laughed softly. ‘The cat was the first. . that old cat. . years ago now.’

‘Yes, but the look that flashed across its eyes was identical.’

‘Delicious. . delicious. And we were both still at school then.’

‘No. I had already left. . one year ahead of you. Remember? But all so naive and needy.’

‘All so naive or so needy, mainly needy. . but all had that same look in the eyes when their time came.’

‘A few escaped,’ the woman commented as her eye was drawn to a hovering sparrowhawk above the adjacent field. ‘What was that girl’s name. .? Tilly something. . she didn’t keep the rendezvous. . saved her life by doing so. . it was like she smelled a rat. She didn’t report us though.’

‘She had nothing to report. We just invited her to go to the coast with us.’

‘We should have kept photographs.’ The woman sighed.

‘That would have been suicidal. They have nothing to link us to them when they are found and I want to continue to enjoy walks like this, on days like this, for a few years yet.’

‘I suppose you are right. . glad we stopped though. . you were right about that. Quit while ahead. . but those looks they gave at the end. . those looks. . heavenly.’