The Missing Man: An Inspector Walter Darriteau Novella (Inspector Walter Darriteau cases Book 9)

Towards the end of a busy day, Inspector Walter Darriteau returnsto his workstation. There's a neatly written pink notelet on his desk.Please ring Mrs Susan Woodhams, and a local number. He picksup the phone and pokes in the digits. After three rings, a woman answers.

'There's something preying on my mind,' she says, 'and it has been for more than twenty years.'

'Go on,' says Walter, imagining it was something and nothing.

'Almost a quarter of a century ago, I murdered my husband.'

There was a brief silence before she spoke again.

She wantsWalter to call at her apartment at 10am the following morning when she'lltell him all about it.

But gives him a warning. 'Come alone or I won't say a thing.'

Hewarns her of the consequences of wasting police time, but seems satisfied and curious, and agrees to call.

Susancoughs up the address and abruptly rings off.

Could the woman be serious? Or maybe she's lonely and wants male company. Or could she be setting him up?

Either way, Walter will call by, and can't stop himself imagining how she might have done the deed.

Poison in the tea? Knife in the back? Pushed him down the stairs. Run him over in the garage? Eaten him? It had happened before.

There were plenty of choices, andit would be fun finding out.

The case of The Missing Man was open, an Inspector Walter Darriteau novella and like all the others, set in and around the ancient city of Chester in the north-west of England.