Under The Woods: a heart-stopping police thriller (The Forensic Files Book 4)

by K. A. Richardson

  TJ didn’t hug him this time – she handed him a tissue and put her hand on his shoulder, patiently waiting until he calmed himself down. ‘Was it you who left the tip with the police?’

  Matthew nodded, drawing in some deep breaths and blowing his nose. ‘I couldn’t tell them who I was. I thought they’d think I was lying or something. I’ve… had a few problems lately. No more, though, I promise.’

  ‘Good. Promises mean something to me, mind. I want you to tell your aunt everything you’ve told me when she picks you up. All she wants is to protect you and keep you happy. And I know you love the horses, and you’re absolutely welcome back as soon as Christmas is over, but I want you to stay away for a bit until all of this gets resolved. I’ll speak to the detective that came out later today – let him know that it was you and that I believe you. This isn’t a punishment – I just need to make sure you’re okay. We’ll see what happens from there with whatever evidence Jackson and his team recovered. I don’t want you to be scared, okay? You’re very brave for speaking up. And you’re doing the right thing. I will get this all sorted out.’

  Matthew sniffed a couple of times then nodded.

  ‘Good. Go and wash your face. We’ll go bring the horses in and give them some carrots. Then, I’ll ring the detective.’

  * * *

  18th December, 1940 hours – Sunderland City Police Station

  Ali was shattered. He’d just finished doing the paperwork he needed to do in relation to the wheelie bin murders. A different bin wagon had been dispatched to deal with the rest of the commercial bins and had found the second body. A woman this time. Bruised and battered, her head still attached. The method of death was different for both – so different, he’d struggled linking them together. With nothing to tie them together, he’d all but written them off as separate incidents. Until one of the shop owners had come forward with CCTV footage from the alley showing one vehicle entering the alley and hitting the wall – the footage was grainy and poor – the quality not sufficient to get the registration for the vehicle or even an accurate description of the killer. But it definitely showed one person dumping both bodies.

  The scene was still cordoned off with a cop permanently on duty until he stood them down. Kev Lang had called in separate CSIs to deal with the second body to avoid any contamination – prior to the knowledge that the same person had dumped both.

  It was plain they hadn’t been killed at the scene – even if he hadn’t seen the CCTV, he’d have known that. There was a distinct lack of blood in the bin holding the male. Whoever had killed him had done it elsewhere. Both bodies had started to decompose – they’d been dead at least a few days, according to the force medical examiner. He’d booked both post-mortems in for the next day.

  Tomorrow, he’d hopefully get the identifications through – neither had ID on them.

  He uploaded the last bit of information onto the Holmes system and decided he would call at the hospital on his way home and speak with Sally. With everything he’d had on, he hadn’t had chance to tell her the good news. Her son was coming home.

  And on days like this, where he was completely and emotionally numb, passing good news was a good thing. It didn’t happen nearly often enough.

  He nodded to himself again, mentally ticking off the things he had to do before he got in the car. Holmes was done, he had the crime scene photos in his inbox from Kev.

  My phone – I need to check my phone. It had been ringing and buzzing all afternoon with comms, his brother and God knew who else messaging him. He hadn’t been able to take all the calls there and then.

  Hospital first – then check phone over a cup of coffee. I can always come back to the nick if I need to.

  Decision made, he locked his PC and grabbed his coat.

  * * *

  18th December, 1945 hours – Rainbow Riding Stables

  TJ made her way down the track to tuck the horses in and make sure all was well at the stables. She was a little annoyed – she’d left three messages for DI McKay, and he had yet to respond to any of them. Then, Jackson had rang and told her about his crazy ex and added he’d been called into work due to a murder. She figured the detective was probably dealing with the murder, but it didn’t change how it made her feel. He could have at least acknowledged her calls.

  Matthew had seemed much less perturbed after speaking to her earlier. She hated that he felt so guilty about everything. The kid had problems – she knew that. Carolyn had said his counselling hadn’t been going well lately – she wasn’t surprised. The sheer knowledge of what he knew and had told her would mess anyone up. She’d wanted to talk to DI McKay today, so he was aware that it was Matthew who had reported there had been a body on her land.

  She shuddered suddenly – vomit rose up her oesophagus for the fourth time since Matthew had told her with utmost conviction what he’d seen. Whilst she had no reason to doubt him, there was a niggle in her mind that what he was saying couldn’t be true. Barry had been at the stables for years – long before she’d even taken over. He was a solid worker – rarely off sick and a pleasant enough man to speak to. He kept himself to himself – she didn’t know a great deal about him, really – but she’d always thought he was a genuine man.

  Maybe Matthew was somehow wrong – it didn’t make sense that Barry was involved in anything untoward. But Matthew had seemed very certain when he was telling her. And she hadn’t been there.

  She was still lost in her thoughts when she reached the yard and realised the tack room light was on.

  She froze – she was sure she’d turned it off. Now, you’re just being silly. Seeing conspiracies everywhere. Don’t be stupid.

  TJ strode forward and flung the door open – half expecting to see someone lurking inside. When there wasn’t anyone, she let out a short giggle. She was seeing ghosts where there was nothing to see.

  She would have believed that, too, if not for a sudden noise at the back of the stable block holding the horses. The horses whinnied amongst themselves.

  Something, or someone, was out there.

  She grabbed the nearest hard thing to her – a shovel – and silently strode round to the back of the stables.

  ‘Hope you’re not planning on using that on me?’ Paul’s voice cut through the darkness making her jump.

  ‘Jesus, you scared me half to death. What are you doing lurking around down here in the dark?’

  ‘I’m not lurking. I’ve been here all day. The fences in the east paddock have been fixed; I’ve felled a few trees down in the gulley that were dead. I came back up here and realised the troughs were almost empty, so figured I’d fill them before I head off. Know it’s going to be a cold one tonight – figured it would freeze, anyway, but better it freezes in the troughs than in the hose. Barry’s only just gone.’

  TJ stared at Paul in surprise. ‘Barry? He’s been sick today – he wasn’t coming in.’

  ‘He was here – said he’d been laying the concrete over the water pipes after putting insulation on them. Maybe he wasn’t here long and didn’t want to bother you.’

  ‘Which water pipes?’

  ‘The ones at the far end of the stable – where he dug the trough.’

  ‘Not behind the burnt stables? The other one?’

  ‘Are you okay, TJ? You’re acting a little off.’

  ‘Sorry, yeah, I’m alright. Just threw me as Barry had rang in – didn’t think he’d think to insulate and lay the concrete tonight. It’s bloody freezing.’

  TJ hid her discomfort as best she could. It was odd that Barry was there, but it was the kind of thing he would do – he’d not had a day sick as long as she’d known him. It’s natural he would worry. Isn’t it? Doubt clawed up her chest, though. What if Matthew was right?

  ‘Well, if you’re done with me, I’ll head off. See you tomorrow.’

  ‘Okay, Paul – thanks.’

  TJ turned and headed into the stable block where she rested her head against the cold stone wall. I don’t
know what to believe and what not to believe. Freaking out – right here! I need to speak to Jacob. Her brother had always been her go-to. Whenever anything had stressed her out, she’d gone to him. Maybe he could make sense of it all.

  * * *

  18th December, 1950 hours – Rainbow Riding Stables

  Barry stood in the shadows of the trees behind the burned-out stable block. He was close enough to hear the conversation between Paul and TJ but far enough away so they wouldn’t see him.

  There was still a stray strand of police tape around the upturned earth where he’d first hidden the two bodies.

  They know.

  He had no idea how they knew, but he was sure they did. TJ’s voice had sounded shocked he had been there. That shock could only come through that bad if she knew. And the police tape? That was evidence as plain as the nose on his face.

  Shit. How do they know? They’ll be looking for me now. I need to go – somewhere. Away from here.

  His mind immediately negated that – it wasn’t like he could just load his Angels up to take them with him. It didn’t work like that. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t leave them behind.

  No one knew about his Angels. Did they?

  Sudden fear and doubt crippled him – what if his Angels had been found?

  He slunk further into the shadows and half ran, half walked round the circumference of the stables – making his way urgently to the clearing.

  Nothing seemed disturbed.

  The snow was frozen solid, a funny colour where it had absorbed the blood shed a few days before when he’d cut Alan’s throat. Stupid idiot. How dare he enter this sacred place? If I hadn’t already killed him, I’d kill him again.

  It crunched beneath his feet as he strode into the clearing. He knew exactly where his current number one was. Third tree on the left, head to the middle of the clearing, take two steps back. It was simple, really.

  His gloved hands scraped off the snow where her face lay. She was tinged with blue – ice crystals sparkled around the holes that were left of her eyes and mouth, which was permanently in a shocked ‘O’ now. Mostly because the vermin had been chewing on her skin and lips, but also because, despite the ice, her jaw had relaxed.

  The urge to satisfy himself came on quickly – he was hard as a rock in seconds. So hard that even the cold wouldn’t get rid of this hard-on.

  He peeled his trousers down to just below his arse, his erection jutting forward proudly.

  Kneeling over his Angel, he shoved his dick into her open mouth. It literally took two thrusts before he came powerfully, grunting loudly at the release.

  He wanted to stay – lie with her a while. His Angels liked that. When he spent time with them, he felt like nothing in the world could touch him.

  A loud crack sounded suddenly around the wood, and he pulled his trousers back up and jumped to his feet. Moving quickly, he shoved snow and decaying leaves over his Angel’s face and ran for the tree line. That crack wasn’t the sound of an animal approaching. That was a person standing on a twig and breaking it. He knew it with all his heart.

  It panicked him that much that he kept running until he reached his car. His lungs felt like they would burst, the pain across his ribs was so severe he was seeing bright stars in front of his vision. But he couldn’t be caught. If he was seen or caught there, they’d take them away. They’d take his Angels.

  He knew he had to lie low for a while. It dawned on him that he couldn’t go home. They would know where he lived – the police. It left him with one choice – the choice he dreaded the most. He would need to go and ask her for help. The one person he hated the most in the whole world.

  His mother.

  23

  18th December, 1955 hours – woods near Rainbow Riding Stables

  TJ stepped into the clearing in the woods, the clearing that was meant for her external riding paddock. She could practically see it in her head. She knew there’d be some jumps on one side once it was levelled, only low jumps and only for the riders who had the capability, but she knew the feeling jumping gave. And for some of the kids taught at the stables, that feeling was one they’d never have experienced.

  The snow crunched under her feet, her breath leaving her mouth in a puff of steam. It really was cold tonight. The sky was clear – the moon bright and full. When she thought about it, she remembered it was the last full moon of the year – a super-moon, if the news reports were to be believed. It definitely looks super to me.

  She didn’t come out here as often as she’d like – with one thing and another, she just never found the time. But she loved these woods. They were pretty expansive. The fact she’d been granted planning permission in the first place was only because she’d agreed to replace the trees that needed cutting down further down the woods towards the rocky outcrop that lay at the end. It dropped about twenty feet there, almost like a cliff. Sharp, jagged rocks covered the floor at the bottom – it was dead space, really. She could never do anything with that bit of land. Except plant more trees in the space near the edge.

  And even then, it was all provided she could get the planning permission back. If she couldn’t, then all her plans were for nothing. How did it all go wrong? I didn’t sign that cancellation document. I know I didn’t. This should have been simple.

  She knew she had to write her objections in to the council – ask them for copies of the signature to be able to prove it wasn’t hers. But that all took time.

  TJ sighed as she walked further into the clearing.

  The snow looked odd – darker for a time just in front of her – the moon was so bright, it showed it clearly. It was a strange shape too – almost like a pool. Bending down, she put one finger into the stained snow. What the hell…

  When her fingers came back wet and darkened themselves, she wondered again what it was. Come back tomorrow when it’s light.

  It wasn’t until she turned to leave that she noticed the footprints in the snow.

  Footprints that weren’t hers.

  The fear came on quickly – and she paused for a minute and drew in a shaky breath.

  You’re an idiot. Anyone could have come walking through here. Poachers, kids. Why freeze? More to the point, why was every hair standing to attention on her body? Why did she feel the scent of something sinister seeping into her pores?

  She didn’t dare turn around – no one had been in the clearing when she arrived. She knew that. She’d have seen them.

  But those footprints belong to someone…

  Forcing herself to move one step at a time, she headed back to the house, listening intently for any small change in the night-time sounds surrounding her. Nothing did change, though.

  She reached the house with no problems, pushed the door open and quickly locked it behind her. The hall light illuminated her hand, a browny-red substance covered her fingers where she’d dipped them in the snow. If she didn’t know better, she’d say it looked like blood. She brought her hand to her nose and sniffed. The metallic scent filled her nostrils, and she gasped loudly then exhaled deeply.

  Thinking quickly now, she made her way into the kitchen where she knew she’d left her mobile phone charging.

  Using the hand she hadn’t dipped in the snow, she sent a text to Jackson, then sat on the stool and waited.

  * * *

  18th December, 2020 hours – Sunderland Royal Hospital

  Ali composed himself before pushing open the door to Sally’s room. It had been a long day – this snippet of good news the only light in the darkness for him at that particular moment.

  Sally jumped as he entered, her eyes shrouded with utter terror until she realised it was him, then she relaxed a little. ‘Inspector. I wasn’t expecting you this late.’

  ‘How’d it go with the sketch artist and Jenny? Everything go okay with your statement?’ Ali already knew the answer – he’d seen her statement and the sketch prior to leaving, but it was polite to check on the victim. And besides, he was building up to
telling her the good news.

  ‘Fine. The artist was really good. The sketch is a good likeness of the man who…’ she paused and coughed a little before continuing. ‘… took me. Statement was fine also – Jenny seems really nice. Is that all you came for?’

  Ali couldn’t put his finger on it, but she looked – scared. More scared that when he’d first spoken to her. Giving the statement must have brought all the fear to the forefront.

  ‘I have something to tell you. I spoke with Donaghue’s Interpol connection today. They’ve found Danial. He’s coming home.’

  Tears filled Sally’s eyes, and her hand flew to her mouth. ‘You’re not lying – really? My baby is coming home?’

  Ali took her hand. ‘He’s coming home.’

  Sally started crying – loud sobs that shuddered through her body. She kept hold of Ali’s hand tightly, as if letting go would be letting go of the knowledge. He hadn’t expected her to keep hold of his hand, any more than he’d anticipated the feeling of being overwhelmed taking over him. Ali struggled to hold back his own tears. It was so rare that it was good news like this – he was used to being stoic and detaching from news whether good or bad, because it wasn’t very professional to show an emotional response.

  But he couldn’t help it today. It had been a long, shitty day – all he wanted was to go home now and see Marlo and Elvie. But – he couldn’t quite tear himself away from Sally. He’d never seen such an expression of joy mingled in with tears. A lot of tears.

  It took a minute, but he realised she was both happy and angry at the same time.

  ‘Umm, are you okay? You look a little… mad?’

  ‘Not at the news about Danial. I swear. I do have something to tell you, though. And I need you not to be angry with me. I’m high on painkillers, you’ve just knocked my heart out of my body and then put it back inside. And if you’re angry with me, you won’t help. I don’t want to put Danial at risk. I need to tell you.’