The Birthday: An absolutely gripping crime thriller (Detective Natalie Ward Book 1)

by Carol Wyer

  ‘Split up and take the left. I’ll go right. Shout if you see him and be careful not to spook him, especially if he has Sage with him. Murray, you on your way?’ The last remark was into the unit. It spluttered into life.

  ‘Roger that,’ came the reply.

  Natalie walked briskly around tables of spring flowers and tubs and into an open-roofed area. She circumnavigated endless ceramic pots in violets, creams and pinks stacked under tables of flowers and plants of similar shades. Then it struck her where he might be. The tables were colour-coded. She edged away from the table of pink flowers. Beyond stood another, awash with vibrant reds and oranges. She skirted around it in search of a table of yellow flowers and, spotting it three tables ahead, whispered her location to Lucy. The reply was equally hushed. ‘No sign here. I’m near fruit trees.’

  ‘Head this way.’

  Walking casually, as if a customer, Natalie continued. It was surprisingly quiet and she was beginning to lose hope of spotting anyone at all when she saw another person, dressed in dark clothing, stooped over and examining the plants by some wooden sheds. She caught sight of Lucy moving in. Lucy saw her too and signalled she was moving towards the person. They acted in a pincer movement, each silently and swiftly headed towards their quarry. While Natalie rounded the table, Lucy advanced from his rear. He stood up quickly, surprised by the movement around him, then smiled. ‘Morning,’ he said.

  It wasn’t Ned. Natalie mumbled a response and they moved away.

  ‘Where now?’

  Natalie turned in a steady circle, searching for exits or areas where Ned might have taken Sage. Her attention was caught by a flicker of movement. She made out the wheels and wire cage of a low trolley, out of view behind trellises of climbing clematis not yet in bloom. She hastened towards it, Lucy matching her pace. The owner of the trolley came into view, his back to them.

  Natalie sprinted towards him. With each step, she was confident she had found her man. He was the right size and shape. She put a hand on his shoulder and he turned to face her. He cradled the pot containing bare-stemmed roses, his face completely impassive.

  ‘Ned Coleman, I’m arresting you in connection with the murders of Audrey Briggs and Rainey Kilburn and the disappearance of Sage Franks. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

  He shook his head. ‘You misunderstand. I didn’t murder them. They died accidentally.’

  Lucy moved towards him. ‘Put down the pot, sir.’ She withdrew a pair of police-issue handcuffs. He obliged by gently replacing the pot among the others and stretching out his arms.

  Natalie stared at the man, who seemed relaxed and unflustered as Lucy cuffed him. His mild manner irritated her further. ‘Where’s Sage?’

  He didn’t answer.

  ‘I asked you a question. Where is Sage?’

  He blinked several times. ‘I was choosing a special rose for her. I decided on this one – Rosa Hakuun. It will look so pretty when it flowers. I wanted to do it properly this time. I didn’t want to get it wrong. The other little maids shouldn’t have struggled. I was only being friendly.’

  ‘Mr Coleman, I’m going to ask you one last time. Where is she?’ Natalie’s face was up close to Ned’s, dark eyes boring into his, but still he did not flinch. The communications unit burst into life once more. Murray spoke, his voice breathless, his words urgent.

  ‘Outside,’ he said. ‘I’ve found her.’

  There was a commotion in the car park. Ned’s dog was still barking furiously, hurling itself against the passenger window, teeth bared. Murray was at the rear of the car, speaking loudly. He caught sight of Natalie and Lucy with Ned Coleman between them.

  ‘There’s somebody in the boot. I think I can hear faint knocking when that confounded dog shuts up.’

  ‘Where are the car keys?’ Her words were directed at Ned.

  ‘Pocket.’ He looked down at his right trouser pocket.

  Natalie retrieved them and pressed the release button so all the doors unlocked with a simultaneous click. The dog, spotting his master, wagged his tail and ceased its racket. A tapping replaced the barking. Murray and Natalie dived for the boot and lifted the lid. A slight girl with light-brown hair, wearing a yellow dress, looked up, her eyes huge with fear.

  ‘It’s okay, Sage sweetheart, we’ve got you. We’re the police. We’re going to take you home to your daddy.’ Natalie’s voice was thick with emotion.

  Murray lifted the girl out. Her hands were tied and a piece of tape had been stuck over her mouth. Lucy marched Ned to Murray’s squad car. The sound of sirens approached, their unified wailing increasing as they neared the garden centre. Murray left Natalie with Sage and began ushering the small crowds of people from the car park and out of sight inside the centre. Natalie stood protectively beside the child, released her bounds and stripped away the tape with soothing noises. ‘You’re safe now, Sage. Your daddy is on his way.’

  The little girl began to shake with shock. Natalie knelt and wrapped warm arms around her, allowing her own tears to tumble onto the child’s hair. This time she hadn’t failed.

  Forty

  WEDNESDAY, 26 APRIL – AFTERNOON

  AUDREY BRIGGS

  ‘Mum, there’s no cola!’

  Audrey shuts the fridge door, disappointed. Her baby sister, Libby, is wailing, her face purple and tiny fists clenched. Her teeth are coming through and must be hurting her like crazy judging by the racket she’s making. Mum’s tried teething crystals but Libby screamed all the way home from the dance academy. Audrey tests her front teeth. The top one is beginning to wobble. They’re late coming out but she doesn’t mind. She hopes the new teeth don’t hurt like Libby’s do.

  ‘Can I go to the shop and buy some?’

  ‘Can’t you have some water or juice instead?’ asks her mum, lifting Libby. She sniffs the baby and screws up her face. ‘I have to change her.’

  ‘Mu-um!’ Audrey urges. ‘I’ll take my bike. I won’t be long.’

  Her mum removes the head from the china frog on the window ledge and tips out the contents – two one-pound coins – onto the table. ‘Go on, then.’

  Audrey puts the money into her cardigan pocket, races outside, collects her bike and lets herself out of the side gate onto the pathway, where she wheels her bike to the main pavement. It’s not yet too busy with traffic. As she climbs onto the bike to pedal off, she hears a shout. She turns around and sees Mr Coleman rushing down the road. He’s carrying a plastic bag and holding a yellow dog lead.

  ‘Audrey, can you help me find Rex? He’s run off into the park. You’ve got your bike. You might be able to catch up with him.’

  She looks anxious. She’s not allowed to cross the road alone but there’s no traffic about.

  ‘Quickly, please. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to him.’

  She thinks about Muffin, her own sweet puppy. He was only eight months old when he ran off and was hit by a car. Before she knows it, she’s turned her handlebars and is riding across the road, Mr Coleman by her side.

  She rides along the path and at the fork is not sure if she should go right or left. Mr Coleman behind her shouts, ‘There, to the right. I see him.’

  She pushes down hard on her pedals, head turning looking for the animal, but can’t see him. She hears her name again. Mr Coleman is yelling, ‘He’s in the bushes.’

  She comes to a quick halt and leaps from the bike, which falls away into the grass, and darts towards the bushes, shouting the dog’s name. There she drops on all fours and hunts for the dog in the undergrowth, but there’s no sign of him. She emerges again and almost runs headlong into Mr Coleman. He’s looking at her strangely.

  ‘It’s okay,’ he whispers.

  She doesn’t know what he means by that. ‘Rex isn’t here,’ she says.

  ‘No, he’s run back home.’

  He doesn’t mo
ve and she’s suddenly aware they’re alone behind the bush. Nobody can see them. He crouches down, his face serious. ‘I want you to have this.’

  He hands her the plastic bag. She takes it and looks inside. It’s a dress; a yellow dress.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because you’re my friend.’ He smiles at her.

  She’s unsure how to react. She’s spoken to him a few times when she’s seen him outside, and patted Rex, but she isn’t his friend. ‘I don’t want it,’ she says, passing the bag back. It’s the wrong thing to say. His face changes and the smile vanishes in a flash.

  ‘Take it. Put it on. Put it on now.’

  ‘I don’t want to.’

  ‘Put… it… on.’

  She’s now scared of him. She surges forwards to run away from him, but in that instant he grabs the top of her arm, and she wonders why he’s wearing gloves on a warm day. ‘No. Put it on first.’

  It won’t hurt to do as he says. She’ll put it on and then he’ll be happy and let her go. She pulls it out. It’s a party dress with a large bow at the front. Audrey doesn’t like the colour. She’d have preferred pink. She removes her cardigan, drops it on the floor and pulls the dress over her head. It’s a bit tight but she tugs it over the leotard and tights until it fits. He seems happier all of a sudden.

  ‘Pretty,’ he says.

  His face has twisted and the way he’s looking at her freaks her out. He’s no longer old Mr Coleman, the nice man who lives down the road. He’s frightening. He’s looking at her like he wants to eat her.

  ‘Turn around. Let me make sure the zip is done up,’ he says.

  She obliges but before he can reach for her, she bolts. She doesn’t get far. Only a few steps and she’s lassoed around the neck by the lead he’s been carrying, and she’s yanked back.

  ‘You mustn’t run.’

  Audrey splutters, tugging at the lead that tightens around her throat, and lands a light kick on his shin. She can’t breathe any more.

  ‘No, Sherry. That’s naughty. I only want to be your friend.’

  Forty-One

  MONDAY, 1 MAY – LATE AFTERNOON

  There’d been sufficient evidence to charge Ned. They’d found everything they’d hoped for, including the lipstick he’d used on the girls – it was in the pocket of his trousers, ready to be used on Sage. He’d been compliant and polite but Natalie had been horrified at his confession. Ned had behaved as if it were perfectly normal to steal and kill a child.

  Natalie couldn’t get over how innocent he appeared as he sat opposite her: a gentle, old man sat next to his lawyer, not at all a vicious killer. She and Murray interviewed him, aware of the rest of the team behind the two-way glass.

  ‘You know why you’ve been charged. Do you have anything you wish to say?’ Natalie asked.

  A furrow appeared between Ned’s grey eyebrows as if it were all too confusing. ‘I didn’t ever intend to hurt them. They tried to run away, you see? They shouldn’t have done that. I forget how strong I am. I only meant to restrain them.’ He shook his head sadly.

  ‘Are you saying you never intended harming the girls? What were your intentions?’ Natalie kept a cool gaze on the man, who looked quizzically at her as if she ought to know the answer to the question she was asking.

  ‘To plant them, of course.’ He smiled serenely. ‘Little maids, all in a row. You must know the rhyme.’

  Natalie shook her head. ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

  He ignored the response and continued in a semi-rambling way. ‘All in a row, perfect forever, and they wouldn’t be alone. I’d made sure of that. They’d have other pretty maids with them.’

  ‘You mean other girls?’

  ‘Yes, little maidens.’

  ‘You were going to bury them in your allotment?’

  ‘Yes.’ He gave her another gentle smile. ‘Where’s Rex? Is he okay?’

  ‘He’s fine. He’s being looked after. How did you plan on murdering the girls? Or were you going to bury them alive?’

  ‘I was going to send them to sleep. I haven’t been able to sleep properly since Lorna died. The doctor gave me a prescription for some medication to assist. I was going to give the sleeping pills to the little girls. There’d be no pain. No suffering. Just sleep. A beautiful, long sleep. They shouldn’t have tried to get away from me. They ruined the plan. They should have come away with me. I wanted to go back and fetch them, but it was too risky, and then they were found and it was out of the question to take them to be planted. Such a shame to leave them like that. They ought to have been in the special place I prepared for them.’ He rested his large hands in his lap and waited for the next question. His lawyer shifted in his seat but kept his head down.

  ‘The plot at the allotment?’

  ‘Yes. It was all ready for them,’ he replied.

  ‘Why did you want to kill them?’ Natalie asked.

  ‘Because they’re all so pretty and sweet, and I love pretty girls.’

  ‘Do you admit to killing Audrey Briggs and Rainey Kilburn?’

  Ned’s lawyer gave a cough and spoke quietly to Ned, who shook his head angrily. ‘I want to explain,’ he said firmly, waiting until the lawyer sat back in his seat before continuing. ‘It was an accident. I planned it wrong. I had such lovely party dresses for each of them. I carried one in a plastic bag at all times, ready to hand out to a pretty girl. I thought they’d be really happy with the dresses and we’d be friends and then I’d send them to sleep. But you see, they didn’t want to be friends with me and tried to run off and… I don’t know how it happened, but they broke… like the doll.’

  ‘The doll? Is that the same doll we found in a coffin at your allotment?’

  Ned became agitated, his face contorting, and leant closer to Natalie, his hands now flat on the table. ‘You dug her up? You dug up Sherry? No. She has to stay there. Put her back.’

  His lawyer put a warning hand on his arm.

  Natalie wasn’t going to stop now. She fired another question. ‘Sherry? Why did you call her Sherry?’

  Ned sat back, his voice becoming a growl. ‘I don’t wish to discuss it with you. You must return her to her grave. I have the perfect rose for her. It’s going to grow there forever.’

  ‘Ned, did you kill Ava Sawyer?’

  Ned let out a splutter and tears began to fall. ‘You promise to return Sherry to her resting place and I’ll tell you, but only if you promise.’

  Ned was slowly unravelling. He was transforming into a muddled old man, pulling first at the sleeve of his shirt and then rubbing at his chin.

  ‘I promise,’ Natalie said and waited while he scrutinised her.

  ‘You seem honest enough.’

  ‘Tell me about Ava. What happened?’

  ‘I was waiting for the party to end to collect Freddie. I’d only recently lost Lorna, and Roselyn thought it would be good for me to get out. She asked if I’d collect him, knowing I like garden centres. I still had my own car at the time. I arrived too early and decided to look about. I was looking at some roses and thinking about Lorna, and suddenly Ava ran past me, like a little angel. She looked so lovely, just like Sherry did all those years ago, in her party dress. I followed her inside a stable. She was hiding under some blankets. I thought she wanted to play a game of hide and seek. I found her. What happened was an accident. She tried to run off and I only put out my hand to restrain her.’ He looked far off into the distance. ‘I had no idea she’d break so easily. I didn’t realise she was dead at first. I spotted a wheelbarrow in the shed and hid her body in it under some polythene and wheeled her to my car. No one noticed me. I went back inside and collected Freddie and took him home, and all the while, Ava was in my car boot. Of course, by then, everyone knew she’d gone missing. I had to hide her. I kept her in my chest freezer at home. I thought I might plant her in my garden, but Rex would have tried to dig her up. Once the hoo-ha regarding her disappearance had waned, I returned her to the craft centre. Obviously, I couldn’t pu
t her back where I found her without being spotted, so I went to the rear of the craft centre late one evening, and I buried her among the wild meadow flowers. It seemed the right thing to do.’ His hands had returned to his lap and he calmed. ‘You must return Sherry now. I’ve told you about Ava.’

  ‘Can you tell me about the yellow dresses?’

  ‘They’re beautiful, aren’t they?’

  ‘Why did you only purchase five of them?’

  ‘Ava was five years old. It seemed appropriate to buy five to celebrate her departure from this world. She’ll be a pretty girl forever, you know?’

  Natalie didn’t flinch even though his words chilled her. ‘You got them from an Etsy site, using a gift card you bought for your stepdaughter. How did you get hold of the card?’

  He shrugged. ‘It was meant to be. I bought Grace the card as a present. About three weeks after Christmas, I went to visit her, but she was out and the card was on the ground by the back door. I was miffed. I knew Grace didn’t like me much, but to take so little care of something as valuable as that was an insult. I pocketed it. I didn’t have any plans for it at the time, but I certainly didn’t intend on returning it to her. The idea to go online for the dresses only came to me late last year. I signed up for a course in computer literacy at the local library and used the computer there to find the perfect dresses. Up until then, I’d considered buying them from a shop, but finding the Etsy card had been a sign, and I decided using it to purchase the dresses was a better idea. It would preserve my anonymity.’

  Natalie couldn’t fault his logic. He’d almost succeeded.

  ‘What happened to you to make you commit these crimes?’ Natalie couldn’t understand why Ned wasn’t displaying any guilt.

  Ned looked puzzled. ‘Nothing happened to me. I just wanted to keep them pretty forever. And now, I don’t want to say anything further. I’d like to go. I want to see Rex.’