Beautiful Death by Fiona McIntosh Page B

to make it?’
    ‘I’ll be okay.’
    They moved in silence, dodging people, weaving their way towards the traditional watering hole, easily visible from a distance because of its distinctive black paint. Inside, it was all but deserted, predictable considering the hour.
    ‘What do you want?’
    ‘I don’t care,’ Jack said, looking wan and distracted. ‘But Geoff, no alcohol. The last thing I need is booze on my breath with what’s just happened.’ His friend nodded, turning back to thebar. Jack had felt his phone vibrating several times since he’d met Geoff and without even checking knew it would be Kate, or perhaps Cam. He had no desire to answer Kate’s inevitable questions or hear Cam’s report on Lily’s parents just yet. He needed a few moments longer and some advice. He slumped in a seat by the window, staring sightlessly through the grubby glass into busy Earls Court Road.
    Geoff arrived, with two strong-looking coffees.
    ‘Get that down you,’ he said firmly.
    Jack obeyed, grimacing at the first hit of bitter caffeine. Under the coffee he tasted something stronger still. He looked up at Geoff, query in his face.
    ‘I think you needed that,’ Geoff said lightly but softly. ‘It’s just a splash. Drink, Jack.’
    He finished the cuppa and warmth spread through him from the malt whisky that had lurked beneath the roasted brew.
    ‘You can suck some mints later . . . or refer any complaints to me,’ Geoff counselled. ‘Better?’
    ‘Yeah,’ Jack admitted, but knew it was transient. He felt his eyes water, and covered the pain by pulling out his handkerchief and rubbing his face all over.
    ‘You need to tell me,’ Geoff coaxed.
    He began, words suddenly spilling out easily now that he felt safe, cocooned in his closest, most trusted friend’s attention. ‘I’ve been seeing a woman. Her name’s Lily.’
    ‘The florist, right?’
    Jack nodded. Geoff looked cuddly and that fooled people into thinking his friend was somehow dopey. But Jack didn’t know a sharper brain at work once Geoff threw his into action. He hated playing cards against him.

    ‘I’m impressed you remember,’ he said sadly.
    ‘You met her . . . what? Two years ago, or thereabouts?’
    ‘I did. You’re right, it’s two years. But we’ve only been seeing each other for a few months.’
    ‘All right, so I know this girl is British-born Chinese and beautifully exotic. I think that’s the description you used when you first told me about her.’
    ‘Very good, Geoff. I really am impressed by your memory.’
    ‘So?’
    ‘So . . . now she’s dead,’ he said baldly.
    His friend carefully put down his glass of coffee. He sat back, regarding Jack, his eyes narrowing but filled with concern. ‘I don’t know what to say. Was it an accident?’
    ‘She was murdered.’
    For all his professional composure, Geoff couldn’t hide his astonishment. ‘What? When?’
    ‘Sometime yesterday, I think.’ He made a sound that was half despair, half disbelief. ‘But it gets so much worse, as only my fucked up life can.’ He lifted his gaze to meet Geoff’s. ‘A post-mortem is currently under way on Lily . . . a post-mortem I was sent to observe because she was the latest victim in a killing spree. He likes to cut off their faces.’
    Geoff looked stunned, and said nothing for a few horribly long moments, while Jack gazed at the dregs of his coffee. ‘Operation Panther,’ Geoff finally murmured.
    ‘The very one.’
    ‘You saw her?’ Geoff squirmed as he asked, and Jack imagined his friend regretted the question the second it was out.

    ‘Yes. Of course I didn’t know it was Lily then, because the woman on the table had no face.’ That was harsh. It wasn’t Geoff’s fault. He saw Geoff look down. ‘Sorry, you can’t imagine . . .’
    ‘No, I can’t. I really can’t. Jack, what can I do? Anything.’ He fidgeted with his new beard.
    Jack’s anger fought through the pain. ‘I want to stay on the case,’ he