Web of Lies Sally Rigby Copyright © 2021 by Sally Rigby All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, organisations or places, events and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any persons, alive or dead, events or locals is almost entirely coincidental. Edited by Emma Mitchell of @ Creating Perfection. Cover Design by Stuart Bache of Books Covered Contents Introduction Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 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 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Read more about Sebastian Clifford Also by Sally Rigby Acknowledgments About the Author GET ANOTHER BOOK FOR FREE! To instantly receive Nowhere to Hide, a free novella from the Detective Sebastian Clifford series, featuring DC Lucinda Bird when she first joined CID, sign up here for Sally Rigby’s free author newsletter. Chapter 1 11 April ‘For goodness’ sake,’ Jenny Johnson said, turning to look in the back seat of the car where her two sons were squabbling, as usual, this time over a toy truck. ‘The plan was for a nice day out, so stop arguing.’ Her body tensed. Was it going to be like this for the entire day? If so, she’d sooner go back home and get on with the pile of ironing waiting for her. It was late Sunday morning on a beautiful spring day, with the sky a soft pale blue and an array of yellows and oranges from the wild daffodils in bloom growing on the side of the lane as they drove through the countryside. She loved this time of year. It was perfect for a trip to Foxton Locks, their favourite place to visit. Though she suspected lots of other people would be there, too. Weather could be so hit-and-miss it was best to take advantage of it when you could. ‘Are we there yet?’ Lucas, the younger of her two boys, asked, fidgeting excitedly in his seat. ‘I hope we see a boat coming through.’ ‘Yeah, that would be great, wouldn’t it?’ Tyler said. At least it had stopped their latest argument. She’d wanted the day to be special because it was the first time in ages since her husband, Kyle, had a day off. He’d been working seven days a week to get a big order shipped out. They were glad of the overtime, but it meant she’d had sole responsibility for the boys, who could be a handful, and that was putting it mildly. ‘Boys, I’ve got a surprise for you,’ Kyle said. ‘But only if you’re good.’ ‘We’re good, aren’t we, Tyler?’ Lucas said. ‘What is it, Dad?’ ‘Do you promise?’ ‘Yes,’ Lucas said. ‘Me, too,’ Tyler agreed. ‘Okay. I’ve booked us on a narrowboat for a trip down the canal after lunch. But if you keep fighting, I’m going to cancel it.’ ‘Yay. We’re going on a boat. Thanks, Dad,’ Tyler said. ‘We’ll be nice to each other. You can have the truck, Lucas,’ he said handing it over to his younger brother. Jenny smiled to herself and turned back to face the front of the car. ‘Nice one,’ she whispered to her husband. He glanced at her and winked. Even though the boat trip had been her idea, she didn’t resent him taking the credit if it gave her some peace and quiet. There were times when she could cheerfully take herself off and never come back. But those moments were few and far between. She loved her kids. And her life. It wasn’t like every other family didn’t have their share of problems. She saw the state of some of her friends’ marriages and knew that she was luckier than most. ‘There’s the prison,’ Tyler said, as they drove past it on the left. ‘Do prisoners escape from there?’ ‘No. It’s perfectly safe,’ his mother said. ‘If they do, I’ll smash myself into them and knock ’em over. Then I’ll kick and …’ ‘Tyler, no one’s going to escape from the prison.’ ‘But what if they did?’ Lucas, who wasn’t as fearless as his older brother, asked. ‘They won’t. Look out the window, boys. We’re nearly there. There’s the signpost for the Foxton Locks top car park,’ Kyle said. ‘Can’t we get any closer? Let’s try the lower car park, especially as we’ve got the picnic and blankets to carry,’ Jenny said, not fancying the fifteen-minute walk with the boys in tow. She’d been looking forward to having lunch at the picnic tables close to the lock and the gift shop, which she loved to look around. ‘Okay, but at this time of day it’s bound to be full. So don’t blame me if we end up having to turn around and come back.’ Kyle took a right turn and after driving for a few minutes, they came to the lower car park. It was full. People were milling around, heading straight to the canal staircase lock and the museum. And, of course, the pub. ‘Sorry. Should have listened to you,’ Jenny said, hoping it wouldn’t set the boys off again, although judging by their shrieks of glee in the back they were so excited about the boat trip she suspected they wouldn’t much care. Kyle turned the car around and headed back along Gumley Road towards the top car park, joining a steady flow of traffic. ‘Let’s hope there’s still somewhere in the overspill section.’ She sensed the frustration in his voice. Luckily, there were still some spaces, although Kyle had to drive right to the far side where it backed onto some overgrown wasteland. ‘Can we have lunch at the pub?’ Tyler asked. ‘I want some beer.’ Jenny laughed. ‘First of all, no. We’ve brought a picnic. And second of all, you’re only eleven and much too
