The Hindleford Killer
By
Danielle Rose-West
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.
The Hindleford Killer
Copyright © 2016 by Danielle Rose-West
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
Publishing History: First Edition
Kindle Edition
Cover Design by Danielle Rose-West
Other Books by Danielle Rose-West
The Fairy Tale Match Series
Wild Fire (book 1)
Forever You (book 2)
Phoenix Rising (book 3
Haunted by the Past Series
Hidden in Shadows (book1)
Shadow of Suspicion (book 2)
Shadows in the Night (book 3)
Table of Contents
Other Books by Danielle Rose-West
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Epilogue
A Note from the Author
Chapter One
Paige opened the oven door and slid the heavy tray containing her sweet tear and share bread into the oven to bake. She sighed and ran a hand through her dark hair, dislodging several strands from the rough bun she’d tied it in. The dull ache in her head had abated slightly with the therapeutic action of baking, but the fact it still throbbed was not a good sign.
Paige bit her lip, anxiety eating at her insides. She set the timer for her bread and glanced at the washing up piled in the sink. It could wait. She didn’t feel like tackling it just yet.
Paige fixed herself a cup of coffee and wandered over to the wooden dining table that sat in the large kitchen diner. She stood at the double doors that led into the garden and watched the sun begin to paint the landscape with a golden light. She wished the peace of the dawn could eradicate the anxiety clawing away at her, but she could not shake off the worry. It sat like a heavy cloak around her shoulders.
Something bad had happened. She’d been awakened in the early hours, sweating and shaking with a scream on her lips. The dream had faded almost immediately, but the feelings had remained. Paige had been terrified, her mind haunted by pain and fear beyond imagining. To anyone else, it would be a simple nightmare, something to dismiss in the waking world. But Paige wasn’t anyone else and this was no simple nightmare.
She swallowed hard and rubbed a hand over her face. She sipped her coffee, the beverage burning her lips. Why had she been cursed with this ability? Her Nana had always told her she had a gift. The women of her family line had always been blessed in such a way and Paige’s gifts were incredibly strong. Nana had filled her head with the belief she was meant to help people in some special way, to make the world a better place.
Paige had lapped it all up as a child. It had helped to erase the pain of her mother’s cold rejection of her. Meredith had been completely unaware of the peculiarities of her first husband’s family when she’d married him. As the daughter of a wealthy and successful businessman, Meredith was horrified when she found out. Status and image were everything to her. Being saddled with an abnormal child had never been in her plans. Especially when that child unwittingly spilled secrets she should never have had any way of knowing. Meredith’s friends had stopped calling, afraid of what the devil child would reveal next and her mother had hated her for it.
Her father had tried to shield her, but how could he stop Paige feeling her mother’s anger and disgust? Even without her gift, her ears had continuously rung with her mother’s bitter voice, urging her to at least act normal. The arguments between her parents had been terrible to behold. It had been so much worse knowing she was the cause of their unhappiness.
Paige had only been five when her parents divorced and she’d been given to her father with no fight whatsoever. Her mother had wasted no time in remarrying and had swiftly borne another daughter and a son. After that, Paige had been forgotten. Replaced by normal children her mother could be proud of. It was like Paige had never existed.
Paige sipped her coffee, trying to push the painful memories away. Dwelling on the past solved nothing. It didn’t explain why her gift had awoken her with one of those dreams. She hadn’t had such an experience in years. Until she knew what had happened, she couldn’t keep the barely controlled panic at bay.
“Wow, what’s that wonderful smell?”
Paige turned around to see one of her lodgers stumbling into the room. She’d taken two in after Nana had left her the Victorian house, so she’d always have a safe haven to call home. Paige needed the company as well as the extra income, especially since her own business was still in its first year. The Rise and Shine café had built up a good amount of regulars, but she didn’t want to strain her finances if she could help it. Luckily, the two people she’d chosen to share her home with had become very good friends.
Beth yawned and scratched at her mussed blonde, shoulder length hair. She still wore her nightshirt that bore a picture of Bambi on the front. Her feet were encased inside fluffy bunny slippers.
“I’ve made us all a tear and share breakfast loaf,” Paige informed her. “I thought it would be a nice treat.”
Beth frowned. “What time did you get up? The crack of dawn?”
Paige laughed. “Actually, it was well before that. I couldn’t sleep.”
Beth gazed at her with bleary eyes. “Anything wrong? You don’t look good.” She waved her fingers in the direction of Paige’s face. “You’re all pale and gaunt.”
Paige shrugged and glanced down at her coffee. “I’m fine. It was just a bad dream.”
Nobody knew of her gifts in Oakwood Grove and she intended to keep it that way. Especially her lodgers. Paige was all too aware that most people could not accept such things. She didn’t want to lose anyone else because of it.
Beth crossed the kitchen and helped herself to coffee. She sniffed appreciatively at the air. “When’s the bread ready? I’m starved.”
Paige made her way towards the timer. She lifted it and glanced at the screen. “Not yet. It will need to cool a little before we eat, so you have time if you want to shower.”
Beth shook her head. “I don’t have to be in work early, so I’m in no rush.”
Beth worked in Hindleford, a larger town a few miles from Oakwood Grove. She’d managed to land her dream job as a beautician there, but hadn’t been able to afford the rental prices near her work. Thankfully, Oakwood Grove was only a ten minute drive away, so the Victorian had suited her perfectly.
Beth yawned widely. “Sheesh, you’d think the coffee would help me wake up, but I feel half dead this morning.”
Her words
caused a shiver to skitter over Paige’s skin. She attempted a laugh, but it sounded strained even to her own ears. “At least you’re up. Jeremy hasn’t stirred yet. Knowing him, we’ll be lucky to see him before 8.30 when he does his usual mad dash for work. I don’t know how that guy consistently sleeps through his alarm!”
Beth rolled her eyes. “Just as well he’s a lazy bones. Jeremy will devour that whole loaf by himself, given half a chance.”
As if summoned by their words, Paige’s other lodger breezed into the kitchen, fully dressed in a suit of all things, with a perky spring to his step. Paige and Beth’s jaw’s dropped. They both glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall and back to Jeremy.
Jeremy saw their expressions and laughed. “What? I can get up early.”
Beth shook her head and grinned at Paige. “I don’t know. Up early. Wearing a suit! I would say something fishy is going on, wouldn’t you?”
Paige sniffed at the air around Jeremy. “Is that aftershave I smell?”
Jeremy’s face turned several shades of red. He tugged at his collar. “I’m just making an effort for my meeting with the new game’s rep for Warrington Games. Nothing wrong with wanting to make a good impression.”
Jeremy owned a game’s shop in the high street with two of his best friends. They sold computer games as well as the traditional board games. The guys even did reviews of new games that were coming onto the market over the internet. They’d become so popular that gaming companies now sent advanced copies of their games for the trio to try out and review.
Beth smirked knowingly. “Pretty, is she?”
Jeremy’s face positively burst into flames. “Who said anything about the rep being a woman?”
“Your face, for one!” Paige giggled and began ticking the evidence off on her fingers. “Then there’s the suit, aftershave, and out of bed before 8.30. It all adds up, my friend.”
Jeremy threw his hands in the air in defeat and glared at the ceiling. “What did I do to deserve housemates like these?”
Beth threw her head back and laughed. “You know you love us.”
The timer beeped behind Paige. She hurried to the oven and opened the door. The sweet smell of baked fruit and nut bread rose into the air. She set the tray down and carefully turned the loaf to test the bottom. The hollow sound told her it was ready. Smiling she placed the bread on a cooling rack.
Jeremy sailed over and breathed deeply. “Okay, Paige is worth it. She bakes great treats. You, however……” He waved his hand dismissively at Beth.
Beth stuck her tongue out and wandered over to switch on the TV that was mounted on the wall near the dining table. Paige smiled, warmth filling her insides, driving away the coldness that had been present since she’d woken up. The banter with her friends had made her feel so much better. She slipped rubber gloves onto her hands and began to tackle the washing up.
The sound of the early morning breakfast news reached her ears. “…….it has been confirmed that another body has been discovered early this morning by a local man while running through the park. This makes the second killing in Hindleford in the past month. Detectives at the scene are not releasing any information at this time, but there is speculation among the community as to whether the two incidents are connected.”
Paige’s breath froze in her lungs. Her legs shook as she slowly peeled off her gloves and set them aside. In a trance, she crossed the room and stared up at the screen. Could this be what she’d dreamt about? It made no sense. The first murder hadn’t caused her any trouble. She’d heard it on the news like everyone else. It couldn’t be, could it?
“Oh my God, it’s just awful!” Beth wrung her hands. “One death was bad enough, but two?”
Jeremy came to stand beside them, his face white. “To think something like this has happened so close to where we live.”
Paige remained silent, her gaze fixed on the reporter. The woman turned towards a man who was walking away from the cordoned off area where the body had been discovered. Even through the TV, she could see the tension in his body as he moved.
“Detective? Do you have a moment to answer some questions?” The reporter raced forwards and shoved her microphone towards his face. The camera shook as the person holding it tried to keep up.
The detective glanced up at the camera. His silver grey eyes seemed to stare right at Paige, his serious gaze pierced through her. His dark brown hair looked mussed, as if he’d run his hands through it many times throughout the morning.
An electric current ran through Paige’s body and it felt as if something inside her clicked into place. She felt a connection with this man. Deep inside, she knew she was going to meet him. Their lives would cross paths and intertwine in some way. But how? Dread filled her. Was this another sign that her gift had indeed, pointed to this incident? God, she hoped not.
“I can’t comment on anything at this time. Sorry.” He raised a hand and continued walking. The reporter doggedly followed, shooting questions at his retreating back.
Finally, she gave up and turned back to her audience. “With the police remaining silent on this latest murder, it remains to be seen whether Hindleford has indeed got its first ever serial killer.”
Beth flicked off the TV, her face drawn. “Do you think it’s a serial killer on the loose?” she asked in a small voice.
Jeremy moved to her side and patted her shoulder. “There is nothing to say the deaths are linked. There is no point panicking yet.”
Beth batted aside his hand. “That’s easy for you to say. You don’t work there.” She turned to Paige. “What do you think, Paige?”
Paige wrung her hands over and over, her mind and emotions spinning wildly. “I think it prudent to take precautions,” she choked out.
Beth’s eyes widened. “You think it’s a serial killer?”
Paige shrugged. “It doesn’t hurt to be cautious.”
But she already knew, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Hindleford had a serial killer. Everything inside her cried out against that deep knowledge. Paige closed her eyes. Her body shook and her skin broke out into a clammy sweat. Her mind spun over last night’s experience, this morning’s news, and the man who was running the investigation. Nothing had happened when the first death occurred, so why was she feeling and experiencing this now? What did it mean?
Her breath shuddered out of her body and she mumbled something to her friends about needing a shower. She stumbled out of the kitchen and practically ran to her room. Collapsing on the bed, she slumped forwards with her head in her hands. It was all too much. Fear caused her breath to stick in her throat, almost choking her.
She glanced up. Her gaze caught her reflection in the mirror of her dressing table. Her face was chalk white and her emerald green eyes looked haunted and hollow.
“I can’t,” she whispered to herself. “I can’t do it again. It’s too much to ask.”
Guilt ate at her insides as she thought of the woman that died the previous night. Even though it hadn’t been announced, she knew the victim had been female. She’d felt it in the dream. A faceless woman that had had her life ended in the most horrible way imaginable.
Tears fell from Paige’s eyes. She had to believe the detective could solve the case without her, despite what her gift seemed to be saying. She just couldn’t get involved. After all, the last time she’d helped the police, she’d been no help at all.
Chapter Two
The news of the latest murder spread like wildfire through Oakwood Grove. Almost as soon as the café opened its doors, it seemed like the entire community descended. Everyone wanted to be together and talk about the horrible development. To Paige’s utter amazement, some people actually seemed excited by the whole awful affair.
“I just can’t believe it. Who do you suppose was killed?” Mrs Buckley leaned over the counter and stared at Paige as if she had the answer. Little wisps of grey hair stuck out from under her blue felt hat, making her appear slightly wild.
“
I’m sure we’ll hear soon, Mrs Buckley. Did you want your usual?” Paige resisted the urge to rub her temples. The emotional noise buzzing around the premises was overwhelming. Mentally, she carefully reinforced the bubble of light she normally wrapped around herself, trying to combat the chaos that hovered in the air.
“What?” Mrs Buckley glanced around her, as if she only now just realised she was in a café. “Oh, yes, that would be fine.”
Paige placed one of her popular double chocolate muffins on a plate. She turned to Jean, one of her employees. “A latte for Mrs Buckley, please.”
Jean nodded and started making the drink with cool efficiency. Paige swiped up the ten pound note Mrs Buckley had left on the counter and rung up the sale.
“What is this world coming to? Murders on our own doorstep. You wouldn’t have heard of such a thing in our day.” Mr Humphries shook his finger in the air to emphasize his point. He wobbled slightly and quickly gripped the counter with a trembling hand. Paige hoped he wouldn’t topple over. That was all she needed!
Mrs Buckley eagerly turned around to face Mr Humphries where he stood in the queue behind her. “Indeed. I am sure we’ve never had such an occurrence near our little town before.” Jean placed Mrs Buckley’s latte on her tray and the woman picked it up.
“Not true,” Mrs Perkins piped up from her seat at the table closest to the counter. “Don’t you remember that dreadful business back in ’79? Gertrude Manning. Beaten to death by that wicked husband of hers. Right here in Oakwood Grove.” She poked her index finger firmly on the surface of her table, a triumphant smile on her face.
Mrs Buckley shook her head, causing her hat to slide to one side, almost covering her right eye. She set her tray down next to Mrs Perkins and took the vacant seat beside the other woman. “That was one isolated incident, dear. Of course we’ve had those.” She paused dramatically. “I’m talking about a serial killer!”
The Hindleford Killer (The Psychic Eye Mysteries Book 1) Page 1
