When the Evil Waits Cover Title Page Thursday, July 23 Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Two Weeks Later On the First Day Tuesday, August 4 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 On the Second Day Wednesday, August 5 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 On the Third Day Thursday, August 6 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 On the Fourth Day Friday, August 7 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 On the Fifth Day Saturday, August 9 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Chapter 72 Chapter 73 Chapter 74 On the Sixth Day Sunday, August 10 Chapter 75 Chapter 76 Chapter 77 Chapter 78 Chapter 79 Chapter 80 Chapter 81 Chapter 82 Chapter 83 Chapter 84 Chapter 85 Chapter 86 Chapter 87 Chapter 88 Chapter 89 Chapter 90 Chapter 91 Chapter 92 Chapter 93 Chapter 94 Chapter 95 Chapter 96 Chapter 97 Chapter 98 Chapter 99 Chapter 100 Two Weeks Later Sunday, August 23 Chapter 101 DI Ridpath Crime Thriller Canelo Crime About the Author Also by M J Lee Copyright Cover Table of Contents Start of Content Thursday, July 23 Chapter 1 They had first met in the early days of lockdown. Walking their dogs in Chorlton Ees to get out of the stifling atmosphere in their homes, finding a few moments’ rest in the peace and quiet of the trees and meadows bordering the Mersey. It was their dogs who encountered each other first, with her male Jack Russell being more than a match for his rather docile Labrador. She had apologised profusely in a very English way for the behaviour of her dog and he had accepted in an equally English manner; all diffidence and explaining it was actually his dog’s fault. It wasn’t long before they were timing their visits to meet each other and chat each morning, without their respective spouses’ knowledge, of course. And not long after that, they were discovering the quiet pathways of the Ees, holding hands like a couple, while their dogs explored the surrounding forest. It was on one of these walks that they found the body of a child. Or rather, the Labrador discovered it, followed by the Jack Russell; the frenzied barking of the latter forcing the couple to leave the comfort of each other’s arms and discover why their dogs were so excited. The woman, Shirley Burgess, led the way. ‘What’s the matter? Why such a racket?’ she shouted as she brushed aside a branch blocking her way. ‘Oh my God.’ Her hand went to her mouth and she stood there, transfixed. The naked boy – he wasn’t more than seven years old – was lying on the ground with his arms stretched out at either side, his sightless eyes open and staring up at the sky, a kiss-curl of blond hair like a comma across his forehead. Around his neck, a snake of rope dug deep into the skin. By his side, his clothes were folded neatly as if coming straight from a laundry, the bright red of a United shirt lying on top. ‘Where are you, Shirl?’ Her lockdown lover, Jon Morgan, was pushing aside the same branch. ‘Jesus Christ.’ ‘Is it alive?’ she asked, still not moving. He took two steps and then leant forward, peering down. ‘I think he’s dead.’ The Labrador was wagging his tail and sniffing the lifeless head. ‘Come away, Major.’ The dog obeyed, returning to his master to be put back on the lead. The woman called her dog too and, for once, he responded. ‘What are we going to do?’ The man checked over his shoulder. ‘I think I should call the police.’ ‘I can’t be found here with you. My husband, he…’ ‘Of course, you take your dog back and I’ll ring them. We can’t leave him lying here.’ He stared down at the boy. ‘You sure?’ she asked. He nodded his head. ‘You go home. I’ll wait here for the police.’ She turned and pushed her way through the undergrowth, dragging the reluctant dog behind her, moving as fast as she could to escape. She didn’t look back. Jon Morgan waited until he could no longer hear her before he took out his mobile and rang 999. ‘Emergency Services. How can I help you?’ ‘I think… I think I’ve found a dead body. It’s a young boy and he’s naked. You have to get here quickly.’ ‘Where are you, sir?’ ‘Chorlton Ees, not far from the school.’ ‘And are you alone?’ The man looked over his shoulder. ‘Yes.’ ‘The police are on their way. Their ETA is seven minutes.’ ‘Should I go back to the main road?’ ‘Are you sure the boy is dead?’ Jon Morgan looked down at the pale, almost white skin. There was something missing from it. That spark of life, that animation that everybody had. This boy looked more like a mannequin in a store than a human being. ‘He’s dead,’ he finally answered. ‘Please don’t touch anything, sir.’ ‘I won’t.’ In the distance, he could hear the faint whine of a police siren. Closer at hand, there was the screech of a hawk or an owl hunting for prey in the forest. Beside him, Major was gnawing at one of the Jack Russell’s toys, trying to get at the bell inside. There was no sound from the boy. Chapter 2 Detective Chief Inspector Paul Turnbull arrived at the scene of the crime less than thirty minutes after the first call had been made by Jon Morgan. The local coppers had done a good job; the first tapes were already going up and two plods had been posted on the lane leading to Chorlton Ees. He quickly found the sergeant in charge, showing him his warrant card. ‘Right, I’m taking charge. Has the medical examiner been called?’ ‘He’s on his way, sir.’ ‘Who is it?’ ‘A Dr Schofield, sir.’ ‘Squeaky voice? Couldn’t we get someone else?’ They were both walking down the lane to the Ees, DI Harry Makepeace, DS Emily Parkinson and one of his new hires, DC Sam Arkwright, trailing in their wake. ‘He was the one on duty, sir,’ the sergeant answered. ‘Right, where’s the body?’ The sergeant pointed off to the left, towards a clump of trees. ‘Over there.’ ‘Nobody’s touched it?’ ‘No, sir.’ Turnbull did a 360-degree turn, taking in the surroundings. ‘Weird,
