The Lipstick Killers

while inside.’
    ‘Of course. There’s no hurry. Take as much time as you need.’
    As Margaret stepped away from the car the door to the cottage opened and Frankie walked down the short path to the gate. Margaret took Roxie’s arm and they joined her. Frankie was white faced and her eyes were swollen. ‘Don’t tell me,’ she said. ‘I can see by the look on your faces.’
    ‘It’s bad news,’ said Margaret, softly.
    ‘When isn’t it, lately?’
    ‘There’s no way to make this easy,’ said Margaret. ‘Sharon died an hour ago.’
    Frankie grabbed hold of the gate and she closed her eyes. ‘What have we done to deserve this?’ she said with a voice they hardly recognised. ‘What? Why is this happening to us?’
    ‘We’ve done nothing,’ said Roxie. ‘This is no time for blame. Those two inside need us now more than ever.’
    ‘How are we going to tell them?’ said Frankie, her voice thick with tears.
    ‘The three of us will,’ said Margaret. ‘Together.’

61
     
     
     
    Peter and Susan were cuddled up to the policewoman on the sofa in the cottage’s tiny living room when the three sisters got inside. ‘Can we have a moment alone?’ asked Margaret.
    The police woman nodded and left the room. Margaret, Roxie and Frankie went to the children at the sofa, Roxie and Frankie sitting either side of the children, their arms around them. Margaret said, ‘Peter, Susan, I’m afraid I’ve got bad news.’
    ‘Where’s mummy?’ asked Susan.
    ‘Mummy’s in heaven with daddy,’ said Roxie. ‘I’m so sorry, my darlings.’
    The two children looked at each other with expressions of disbelief, their faces quickly contorting with sobs. ‘No,’ said Peter. ‘She said she’d look after us.’
    ‘I’m going to look after you now,’ said Frankie, and she gathered them into her arms. ‘Me, and Auntie Roxie and Auntie Mags. Aren’t we?’ she said looking at the other two. ‘We’ll always be here for you.’
    Both nodded, and Frankie pulled Susan onto her knee as Margaret took Peter in her arms. All five sat together in silence, broken only by the children’s long anguished sobs. They stayed together until both Peter and Susan fell asleep from exhaustion. ‘I’m going to take them home,’ said Frankie. ‘This place gives me the creeps.’
    ‘Are you sure?’ said Margaret.
    ‘Why not? Monty, Joyce and Sharon are all gone now. What more can these people – whoever they are – do to us now? They would never hurt the children. You know Monty, he was a good man. He would never have got mixed up in anything too bad.’
    Margaret looked at Roxie. ‘We don’t know what he was involved in. But three people are dead,’ she said. ‘I think you’d be safer here for the time being.’
    ‘Okay. Whatever you think is best,’ said Frankie, her voice flat.
    ‘I’ll stay too,’ said Roxie. ‘Margaret needs to see that copper Mahoney tonight to catch up with what’s going on.’
    ‘Fine,’ said Frankie.
    ‘He’s waiting for me outside,’ said Margaret. ‘I’d better go and see him.’
    She carefully extracted herself from her sleeping nephew and went outside where Mahoney was talking to the female officer.
    She moved away from the car when she saw Margaret. ‘I’m sorry about your sister,’ she said. ‘She was a nice woman.’
    ‘Thanks,’ said Margaret. ‘And thanks for being here and calling the ambulance.’
    ‘Just doing my job. They were very quick, if that’s any consolation.’
    ‘Some.’ Margaret nodded at Mahoney’s car. ‘I just need to speak to him for a minute.’
    ‘Of course. I’ll go and make some tea. That’s all you can do at a time like this. How are Peter and Susan holding up?’
    ‘As to be expected,’ said Margaret. ‘Orphaned in less than a week. They’re exhausted.’
    When the woman left, Margaret joined Mahoney in his car. ‘I owe you dinner,’ she said.
    ‘Don’t worry about that.’
    ‘I’m not worrying, but I do owe you dinner,’ she repeated.
    ‘Fine. We’ll make a date,’ Mahoney said.
    ‘Tonight.’
    ‘Are you sure?’
    ‘It has to be tonight,’ said Margaret, her tone a little more forceful.
    ‘Well, if you insist. I’d like that. Shall we go to the Chinese place again?’
    ‘How about a take-out at your place?’
    Mahoney’s brow furrowed. ‘Is that a good idea?’ he asked. ‘Today of all days… Wouldn’t you rather be with your family?’
    ‘We need to talk, and it would be best out of earshot,’ she