The Hill - Carla’s Story (Book Two): A Paranormal Murder Mystery Thriller. (Book Two)

by Andrew M Stafford

  He knew that the Scot had been a long serving detective with the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. His success rate was outstanding and until the Ben Walker murder case his career had been one of success. He had met Garraway before and had liked the man, and he particularly liked the attitude he took towards his work. He understood that several of his peers disapproved of some of the techniques he used when solving cases, and this was something that Lester liked about him.

  “OK, you’ve got forty five minutes of my time, and then I’m out of here,” said Lester looking at his watch.

  “Is there somewhere we can talk that is a little more private?” asked Garraway as he looked around the open plan office.

  Lester checked his computer and searched for an available meeting room.

  “OK, follow me.”

  Lester jumped up, picked up his coffee and quickly made his way through the main doors of the office and along a corridor. He stopped outside an empty office and turned to talk to Garraway.

  “Where the hell?” he said under his breath when he saw that Garraway was nowhere to be seen.

  He walked back along the corridor and into the open plan office where he saw him slowly getting to his feet and putting the strap of his laptop case over his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry Ian, you’ll have to bear with me, I’m not so fast on my feet these days.”

  Lester apologised and walked alongside as Garraway struggled with his crutches.

  Lester opened the door to the small office and held it for him. He shut it behind him and pulled the blinds.

  Garraway slumped onto an office chair, dropped his laptop case to the floor, smiled and let out a heavy sigh.

  “Thank you for seeing me Ian, I appreciate how busy you are.”

  Lester smiled.

  “What is it I can do for you?”

  “Well it’s something that we can do for each other.”

  Lester looked at Garraway with a slightly raised eyebrow.

  “I have something for you and it’s something I think you would want to report in your newspaper.”

  “And…..?”

  “I was heading up a murder case several years ago, it was the last case I was working on until all this started to happen,” said Garraway pointing to his crutches.

  “You may remember it? The murder of a young man which took place in Badock’s Wood and his girlfriend was left for dead.”

  “Yes……..if my memory serves me well it happened back in autumn two thousand and nine……..that was before I worked at the Post, but I do remember it, and I remember the press conference at the time.”

  Lester’s memory was impeccable. He could clearly recall Garraway asking for anyone to come forward who could help the police with their enquiries.

  “The murderer was never caught if I remember correctly.”

  “You’re right, he’s still at large.”

  Garraway filled Lester in on the basics of the case. He told him of the DNA on the police database, and that there was no one that they were able to match it with. He told him about Liz Mason and how she’d remained in a coma since the attack. Lester was sad to hear that Liz was back in hospital and her health was in decline.

  “So what can I report about this case? It seems as if the trail went cold a long time ago,” asked Lester.

  “Well, there have been developments, fairly significant ones, but the issue is that the detective who is now assigned to the case won’t touch the latest evidence with a dirty pole.”

  “Why not? Surely evidence is evidence, no matter how it’s presented.”

  “I know, that would have been my attitude, but Colin Matthews, who worked with me on the case, and is now in charge of it, agrees to differ with me.”

  Lester was becoming interested.

  “How is it that I can help? You know there is a limit to what I am allowed to report on an ongoing case.”

  “I know, and this is where I would like to think you would be willing to take a risk, which if it worked in your favour, and the favour of the family of Ben Walker, would forward your career as a journalist many years.”

  “When you say take a risk, I assume that if things worked against me, things could go tits up in major way.”

  “Well, yes, possibly…..in theory,” replied Garraway in a cagey manner.

  Garraway had Lester’s full attention.

  “OK, what have you got?”

  Garraway repeated the story from beginning to end, which like Campbell and Tom Judd before him he was beginning to feel he was just going through the motions. But Lester was a different kind of listener. He showed no sign of cynicism and didn’t seem to doubt what he was being told. In fact he had so many questions for Garraway it was refreshing for him to relay what had happened to an audience that seemed to believe what he was saying.

  Lester wanted to know everything that had happened to Garraway at the hill and about Polly Ellis, her suicide and the note she’d left with Sarah’s unexplained handwriting. He was enthralled by the girl in his dream and was fascinated by how the sketch of the same girl appeared mysteriously in the back pages of the book.

  “Wasn’t there somewhere you needed to be?” asked Garraway as he pointed to the clock on the wall.

  “Shit,” said Lester. It was quarter past twelve. He had a meeting at twelve and had been so intrigued with Garraway’s story he had lost track of time. He grabbed his phone and made a call.

  “Hi Emily, it’s Ian, I’m sorry, something’s come up, we’re going to have to rearrange.”

  “I hate cancelling on people, but I’m sure Emily will understand when I get this story to print.”

  Garraway was relieved that he believed him. Lester was as open minded as Garraway, and was always on the lookout for a story with a difference.

  “When you say that you’re going to print this story, would it also go on the internet?”

  “Yeah, it will go to print and also be on the Bristol Post website.”

  “So, you could show video clips on your website?”

  “Video clips?” asked Lester curiously.

  “Hypnosis, all the sessions of the little boy under hypnosis.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Do you want to see them now?”

  “God yes, this is getting better.”

  Garraway took his laptop from its case and Ian Lester looked like a kid in a toy shop. Garraway started the videos, swiveled the computer around to face Lester and sat back with his arms folded as he watched the look on the young journalist’s face.

  After he’d watched the clips he asked whether he could get his hands on them. Garraway reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a memory stick and tossed it over to Lester.

  “You’ll need to pixelate the little boy’s face, we need to protect his identity.”

  Lester nodded.

  “But I think his voice sounds so different, you can keep it as it is.”

  “I’m going to need something in writing from all who are concerned with this story to confirm that they are happy for me to go ahead.”

  “I’ve spoken to the parents of the boy, the hypnotist and both Liz Mason’s and Ben Walker’s family and they’ve all said yes, and don’t worry, I’ll get it in writing.”

  “Good, leave it with me and I’ll get started……although I will need something from you, an interview and an appeal would be great.”

  “Just let me know when you need me,” replied Garraway.

  Garraway closed the computer, slowly stood up, shook Lester’s hand and made his way home.

  Chapter one hundred and twenty seven

  Tom Judd’s home

  7.18pm

  Friday 15th June

  Ian Lester, Markland Garraway, Terry Mason, Esther Hall, Maria, Claire and Campbell were shoe horned into Judd’s lounge.

  Lester had handed out copies of what he proposed to print in Monday’s edition of the Bristol Post.

  They were pouring over the news item Lester had written
, whilst he sat patiently awaiting their criticisms. Normally he wouldn’t be overly concerned about what people thought about his work. He had his critics, but rarely took on board their comments.

  But this was different. He had to get it right and he wanted everyone who had been directly affected by the events which had happened since September 2009 to approve of what he intended to print.

  The room was silent as everyone read his report.

  ------------------------------------------

  Two year old boy recalls death of man who died at the time of his birth

  By Ian Lester

  A two year old Bristol boy, who underwent hypnotherapy as a last ditch attempt to stop Rhythmic Movement Disorder has recalled details of how a man was murdered at the precise time the boy was born.

  The boy, who cannot be named, underwent hypnotherapy at a Bristol practice by local hypnotherapist Mr. Tom Judd.

  Ben Walker, was 21 years old when he was brutally and fatally attacked in Badock’s Wood in the Henleaze/Southmead area of the city, whilst walking with his girlfriend, Liz Mason. Miss Mason was left in a coma, from which she has never awoken. The murderer was never found.

  Mr Judd has told The Post how the boy recalled the exact details of how Mr Walker was murdered.

  “The boy’s parents approached me as they wanted to try hypnotherapy to stop their son’s severe Rhythmic Movement Disorder. I was able to hypnotise him easily. As soon as he had been hypnotised he was referring to himself as Ben and was speaking like an adult. I brought him out of hypnosis as both his parents and I were concerned for his safety. His parents agreed that he should be hypnotised a second time to find out more about Ben. The second and subsequent times I put the boy under hypnosis he described, in the words of Ben Walker, how he was murdered in Badock’s Wood in Bristol.

  I contacted Detective Markland Garraway who was in charge of the murder case at the time. Detective Garraway was present during the last time the boy was hypnotised and spoke with the character pertaining to be Ben Walker who was able to provide a detailed account of how he was murdered.”

  Detective Chief Inspector Garraway has spoken with The Post and has described what happened when he talked to the boy who was under hypnosis.

  “I’ve never seen or heard anything like it. The boy was able to provide details of the murder of Ben Walker, which would only have been known by Mr Walker or his killer. He was able to provide a detailed description of his murderer.”

  When asked whether it could be an elaborate hoax, DCI Garraway said,

  “Unless the boy was prompted to say the words by someone who was there when Ben Walker was murdered, then no. It’s not only what the boy says when under hypnosis, it’s also how he talks. When he speaks as Ben Walker, his voice changes and takes on the characteristics of Mr. Walker.”

  DCI Garraway would like to speak to a girl who he believes can help the police with their enquiries. A drawing of the girl is shown below. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the girl matching the picture below, please contact DCI Garraway via Ian Lester at The Bristol Post. Anyone who contacts The Post will be dealt with in the strictest confidence.

  When asked, DCI Garraway said that he was unable to say who provided the information of the girl in the picture.

  (Picture to go here)

  To see a video of the boy whilst under hypnosis and speaking as Ben Walker go to The Post’s website at: (URL to go here).

  -----------------------------------------

  “Short and sweet, not really front page material,” said Campbell.

  “It won’t be going on the front page,” replied Lester.

  “Why ever not, it’s such a short story, it could get overlooked if it’s lost somewhere in the middle of the newspaper,” added Esther.

  “I need to sneak the story in without bringing it to the attention of my editors.”

  Lester stood up and walked towards the window and turned around before continuing.

  “I’m on dodgy ground with this story. It’s reporting unofficial information on an ongoing police investigation. I’m including a picture of a girl, who quite frankly no one knows where it came from and there will be video clips on the website of Christopher under hypnosis giving details of the murder of Ben Walker. If I pushed for it to hit the front pages it wouldn’t even make it to print. I’m hoping it will bypass the editors if I slip the story between pages five and eight.”

  “And what if your editor eventually finds it?” asked Terry Mason.

  “Then I’ll have a lot of explaining to do, but hopefully before then, enough people will have read the story and watched the clips on-line, and with luck on our side, someone will recognise the girl in the picture and Mr. Garraway can bring her in…………”

  “At which point I’ll have no option but to pass her over to Colin Matthews to interview and hopefully she’ll name Ben’s murderer,” interrupted Garraway.

  “Why should she name him, it will place her as an accessory to murder?” asked Maria.

  “I’m convinced this girl was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I believe she had somehow got mixed up with the wrong crowd of people. In my dream, she is the one who ended the fighting and if it wasn’t for her I am sure that Liz would have also died that night.”

  “I still think it should go on the front page,” mumbled Esther quietly.

  “OK, so if nobody has anything else to add I’ll get this in Monday’s edition of The Post………if anyone does have any last minute suggestions, they’ll need to let me know by close of business tomorrow,” said Lester.

  Tom Judd stood up, walked over to Lester and was about to shake his hand and thank him when Terry Mason’s phone rang.

  “Hello, yes this is Mason…………………sorry, can you say that again please.”

  Mason’s knees buckled and he dropped to the floor holding the phone tightly in his hand.

  Campbell rushed over and could hear a voice speaking over Mason’s phone.

  “Mr Mason, are you OK, can you hear me?”

  Mason dropped the phone, looked towards Campbell and with an unsteady voice he spoke.

  “It’s the hospital…………..Liz is awake…….and she’s talking.”

  Chapter one hundred and twenty eight

  Southmead Hospital

  8.50am

  Sunday 17th June

  Liz had woken from the coma just over thirty six hours ago. She was very weak and to complicate matters she was still affected by the pneumonia she had contracted at the end of May.

  She had been speaking, although her voice was shaky and feeble and she was finding it difficult to get her words out. Terry and Anne were beside themselves with joy.

  The word had spread that she was awake and the visitors who had initially called to see her when she was first taken to Southmead almost three years ago were clambering over each other to be the first to see her now she was conscious.

  Terry and Anne had requested that their daughter received no callers, at least not for the time being. The medical staff at the hospital agreed. Liz should not be put through any undue stress at this time. She needed to come to terms with what had happened and to be gently eased back to the land of the living.

  She had a long way to go. The treatment ahead would aim to improve function, prevent further complications and rehabilitate her and her family both physically and emotionally. Her muscles had deteriorated meaning she would need to undergo physiotherapy so she could build up strength to allow her to walk.

  Although the pneumonia was improving, and she had been off the ventilator since the end of last week, the doctors were still concerned and were monitoring her very closely.

  “Hello Mummy,” said Liz, as Anne Mason held her daughter’s hand.

  Anne leant forward and kissed her forehead and stroked her hair.

  Anne had to keep her ear close to Liz’s mouth to understand what she was saying. She hadn’t said much since she’d woken.

  Doctors had advised her
parents not to encourage her to talk too much in the early days of recovery and to let Liz come around at her own pace.

  Detective Colin Matthews had been notified that Liz was awake and he was keen to speak with her as soon as possible. Other than Garraway’s ridiculous and unsubstantiated new evidence the other day, Liz was the only person who could provide positive information which could lead to the arrest of Ben Walker’s killer and anyone else who had been involved in the attack.

  Matthews had been advised by the medical staff not to speak to her just yet. He would need to wait a few days until she was strong enough to be interviewed.

  He didn’t want to risk the chance of Liz slipping back into a coma, or the pneumonia worsening and preventing her from giving vital information. He pleaded with the doctors, but his request had been denied.

  Liz looked around the hospital ward and saw the get well cards festooned around her bed. Since she’d woken the cards had arrived by the dozen and not all of them could be displayed.

  Anne read the messages from her friends. Liz was having difficulty in remembering who all the well-wishers were. She remembered a few of the names, but struggled to think who most of them were.

  “What do you remember?” asked Terry as he held her hand.

  “I remember you and mummy,” replied Liz in a dry and croaky voice.

  “I know darling, but what can you remember before you became ill, what’s the last thing you recall?”

  Liz lay quietly holding her father’s hand as she thought hard about what had happened to her. Terry didn’t speak. He wanted to give her time to gather her thoughts and recall something of the night she was attacked.

  A minute passed, which to Terry seemed an awfully long time, and then she spoke.

  “I remember Ben. I remember we were walking together. He took me somewhere nice.”

  “You’re right, you were with Ben. The two of you were out walking in the woods.”

  Liz smiled as she recalled the handsome young man who she’d fallen in love with. No time seemed to have passed since she last saw him, but at the same time it seemed a lifetime ago.