Late afternoon at Susanna’s 2nd Hand Bookshop. I knew I shouldn’t have brought Zoe out with me today. She’s just started walking and loves to run off without telling me. I was reading the backcover of the latest John Irving novel when I noticed her rounding the corner of the Spirituality and New Age shelf.
“Zoe!!!” I called.
I put the book back on the shelf and went after her.
“There you are. Please stay next to Mummy…what…what’s this stuff on your hands?”
It was red and sticky.
I looked beyond her and stopped.
No, it can’t be.
Lying on the floor was a woman, her dark hair splayed around her head, her hemline fallen above her knees, her eyes wide open, as if she was staring at the ceiling, oblivious to the knife protruding from the waistband of her stained blue dress.
