The Hangman’s Hold: A gripping serial killer thriller that will keep you hooked. Michael Wood

charity. I lost someone close to me a couple of years ago. His wife and I are doing the race to raise money in his memory.’

      There was a brief pause in the conversation as the topic slowly died and neither knew where to go next. They both took lingering sips of their drinks.

      ‘Do you run?’ Adele asked.

      ‘No. Dodgy knee. I walk a lot though. I like to get out into the country when I can.’

      ‘Oh yes, I remember you saying that’s why you chose to move to Sheffield.’

      ‘Yes, a large city but right on the doorstep of the countryside. It’s ideal.’

      ‘So why did you decide to return to England after eight years in the States?’

      ‘Well I was made redundant and rather than try to find work I thought I’d come home. I never intended to stay out there as long as I did.’

      ‘Why did you go in the first place?’ Adele asked, leaning forward. She seemed genuinely interested.

      ‘Well,’ he said, blowing out his cheeks. ‘I’d just split from the wife and wanted a clean break of things. I thought an ocean between us might help the healing process.’

      ‘Did it?’

      ‘Yes,’ he smiled. ‘It did.’

      ‘I can still detect a London accent.’

      ‘Oh I’ll never lose that,’ he grinned. ‘Would you like another drink or shall we go for something to eat?’

      Adele looked at her watch. It wasn’t even eight o’clock yet. There was plenty of time for a meal. They decided on another drink. Adele told him more about her work and her friends. Brian mentioned about his ex-wife and how he found her in bed with another woman. In the toilets he refused to look at his reflection; he genuinely liked this woman; how could he tell her so many lies?

      ***

      By nine o’clock they were sitting at a table by the window in a restaurant in Leopold Square waiting for their starters.

      Adele had been in here many times with Matilda and felt relaxed.

      Brian looked around him like an excited child on his first trip to a theme park. The delight in his eyes soon disappeared when he noticed a woman staring at him. Her lingering glances were unsettling. Had she recognized him? If he’d taken Adele’s seat, his back would have been to the restaurant and he could have concentrated on his date. Shit.

      ‘Go on,’ Adele prompted.

      ‘Sorry?’

      ‘You were saying about your surprise visitor.’

      ‘What? Oh … yes.’ He tried to ignore the woman across the room, but it wasn’t easy. Why did she keep looking at him? ‘We were told there was going to be someone important visiting the school. We all thought it would probably be some reality TV so-called celebrity the kids would go crazy over but none of the teachers would recognize. I was halfway through my lesson when there was a knock on the door and in walked Michelle Obama.’

      ‘You’re joking!’ Adele gasped.

      ‘No word of a lie. It was incredible. She had all these security people with her with their dark glasses.’

      ‘Did you actually talk to her?’

      ‘I did. She sat in on the lesson for a while and watched the kids read then she came over and spoke to me. She asked where I was from and joked about my accent.’

      ‘What was she like?’

      ‘She was lovely. Very warm, welcoming, easy to talk to. She genuinely seemed interested.’

      ‘That’s brilliant. I love Michelle Obama,’ Adele said. ‘I’ve never met anyone famous. Well, no one alive anyway,’ she said, thinking back to a former soap star she once had on her pathology table.

      ‘No one alive? What are you, pathologist to the stars?’

      ‘Something like that.’ She smiled.

      ‘I bet you have a few stories to tell.’

      ‘Plenty. And not a single one of them appropriate over dinner,’ she said as the waitress arrived with their first course.

      He looked over again at the woman. This time, she gave a hint of a smile and nodded her head at him. It was a knowing smile and he didn’t like it. Then, the penny dropped. Of course, she’d trimmed his hair this morning. Crisis averted.

      ‘Is this the first time you’ve used a dating website?’ Brian asked once the coffee had arrived at the end of their meal.

      ‘Yes. I was extremely nervous about it, if I’m honest. I’m not used to putting my life on a website like that. It was strange. We put so much of ourselves on the Internet, don’t we? I dread to think what will come up if I ever google myself.’ She smiled.

      Brian googled himself on an almost daily basis. His life was laid bare for everyone to pore over. Fortunately, there wasn’t a recent photograph of him. Besides, who would be looking for him in Sheffield?

      ‘I know what you mean. Finding seventy-five words to describe yourself is harder than you expect. And I was suddenly very self-conscious about my height,’ he laughed.

      ‘I had a half-hour debate with my son over my eyes. I think they’re blue; he thinks they’re green.’

      Brian leaned forward. ‘They’re definitely blue. A lovely warm blue.’

      Adele blushed.

      ‘So.’ Brian sat back, obviously uncomfortable. ‘Why decide to do it now?’

      ‘Well, Chris doesn’t need looking after anymore. I’ve got my life back. Unfortunately, the world has changed since I last went on a date. This seems to be the way of doing things now. What about you? Wasn’t there anyone in America?’

      ‘No. Well, there were a few dates, but never anything long-lasting.’

      ‘Would you have stayed out there if there had been?’

      ‘I’m not sure. The longer I was there the more I missed England.’ He paused, ‘I’ve really enjoyed this evening, Adele. You’ve made me laugh for the first time in ages.’

      Adele blushed as she smiled. ‘That’s kind of you to say, thank you.’

      ‘Would you like to meet up again?’

      ‘Yes. I’d like that.’

      The bill arrived, and they agreed to pay half each without any argument. When they left, the temperature had dropped, and Adele shivered. Brian helped her with her coat and they made eye contact. He leaned in and kissed her on the lips. It lingered for a few seconds before Adele pulled away.

      ‘Sorry,’ he said.

      ‘No … I just …’

      ‘That’s OK. I understand. Take things slowly.’

      ‘Exactly. You don’t mind?’

      ‘No. Of course not. May I walk you to your car?’

      ‘I’m getting a taxi home.’

      ‘I’ll walk you to the taxi rank then.’

      They shared another brief kiss at the taxi, and Brian closed the door once Adele was safely inside. As it pulled away from the kerb she turned back and waved. Brian waited until the taxi had turned the corner before he headed for the car park. He took out his mobile and opened up the photos app. He scrolled through the pictures he had taken of Adele standing outside the City Hall before they’d met. She smiled at a passer-by. She looked at her watch. She looked left and right, then left again. She paced. She checked the time once more. There was a reason he was a few minutes late. He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

      Adele sat back in the taxi and found she