Taunting the Dead (DS Allie Shenton)

by Sherratt, Mel

  EPILOGUE – NEW YEAR’S EVE

  Allie pushed open the reception door of Riverdale Residential Home and bustled in out of the cold. Music played low in the background and the lights on the Christmas tree sparkled as if trying to keep in time with the music. She’d left behind the smell of snow in the air and the sky looking full of it but for now it was only a mere promise and she relished the heat that engulfed her as she entered the building.

  Miriam Walters wasn’t on reception duties today. It was Mick Irvine’s turn. Mick had been at Riverdale for a couple of years now and her sister’s face always lit up whenever he came into her room. He was a tall, gangly man in his late twenties but with the swagger of a teen. His dyed black hair suited him far more than it should and, although cut into a funky style, most of it was hidden today underneath a beanie hat. He smiled a welcome.

  ‘New Year’s Eve, already,’ he said. ‘Where do the years go? Karen’s in her room. She was a bit tired from her physio yesterday but apart from that she’s been fine.’

  ‘Thanks, Mick.’ Allie smiled back before heading down the corridor.

  Karen was awake when she entered the room. Sat in her wheelchair, she’d been positioned to look out over the garden. She was wearing a jumper that Allie had bought her that Christmas. Her freshly washed hair was held back by an Alice band and she had a tiny bit of pink lipstick left.

  ‘Hey, chick.’ Allie leaned forward to kiss her forehead. ‘How are you doing?’

  Karen smiled and blinked her eyes rapidly, trying to make a sound that was recognisable as a word. But Allie finished off for her.

  ‘That good, hmm?’ She checked the CD in the player, selected a track and sat down opposite her. ‘Let’s have a bit of Wham before we can’t play it again until next year. “Last Christmas.” What do you reckon?’

  She hung up her coat before pulling up a chair.

  ‘So, how’s tricks? You been out gallivanting with Mick lately?’ She took her sister’s hand in her own.

  A knock on the door and Mick popped his head around the frame.

  ‘Talk of the devil,’ Allie grinned at him.

  ‘This has just been delivered, Allie.’

  Mick handed her a white rectangular box. It was tied with red ribbon. She noticed the name Fresh Bloomers woven into it here and there and frowned. That was the florist Terry Ryder had used to send her the bouquet of flowers after the charity event. A quick examination of the box revealed no addressee on it. There was no card, no tiny envelope.

  ‘How did you know it was for Karen?’ Allie shouted to Mike, who was disappearing out of view. He popped his head around the frame again.

  ‘It had the room number on the delivery note.’

  ‘Thanks.’ She nodded and let him go on his way. Karen made a noise. Allie lifted the box for her to see. ‘It’s for you, Karen. It looks a strange shape for flowers, though.’

  The ribbon slid off easily and she placed the box onto Karen’s bed. She shrugged off the lid. Wrapped in white paper tissue was a single red rose. Allie lifted it out to show her sister, careful to watch for the thorns. It was then she noticed the blank envelope underneath it. She pulled out the card inside and read the message.

  Karen, until we meet again, my fallen angel.

  One day you will be all mine.

  And you, little sister, Allie.

  Don’t you ever stop looking for me.

  Allie gasped. She dropped the rose and it fell to the floor. Delicate petals came away from its base, scattering the carpet at her feet like confetti. She shuddered as realisation sank in. The rose must be from Karen’s attacker. Why now? Why, after all these years? How did he know that Karen was here? And how did he know that she would be here, too?

  She raced to the window, her eyes scanning every car as it drove past. The car park to her right showed no signs of movement. On the pavement in front, a man walked past with his dog. Was it him? Would he look up? In the grounds below, a man was balanced on a ladder, pulling down Christmas lights on the outside tree. Was it him? Would he look up?

  Allie stared for ages but there was nothing to be seen. It was hopeless anyway. Even if he was watching, he wouldn’t have known she would look out of the window right at that very moment.

  No, he wouldn’t be watching.

  Would he?

  The End

  The End

  If you enjoyed reading TAUNTING THE DEAD, please could I ask for a moment of your time to leave a review on your favourite e-book or reading site? It would mean so much for me to know: word of mouth is a great thing. Thank you so much.

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  ALSO BY MEL SHERRATT

  A New Series, THE ESTATE

  Somewhere to Hide (The Estate, Book one)

  Welcome to The Estate - a hint of SHAMELESS, a dash of EASTENDERS, a sprinkling of THE ACCUSED, plus a murder or two...

  Liz, with her young daughter, runs from her husband, the man who has beaten her senseless on several occasions.

  Sixteen-year-old Becky stabs her uncle before he abuses her again and makes a run for it.

  Back in prison after selling her body for drugs, Cheryl will be out soon with no one to turn to.

  All three are looking for somewhere to stay.

  Following the tragic death of her husband, Cathy Mason opens her home to young women who need a roof over their head and a sympathetic ear. But strange things start to happen - malicious notes are posted through her door, her belongings trashed and a homeless teenager is found murdered. Cathy reckons it’s just part of daily life on the estate but when those she cares about most fall prey to violence, she begins to suspect a past mistake is about to catch up with her - and she’s unsure that she’ll ever be ready for it...

  SOMEWHERE TO HIDE is psychological suspense that will test your every emotion. So pound those streets, open those doors, pull back those curtains and take a peep into the lives of the people from The Estate – because you really wouldn’t want to live there…

  Behind a Closed Door

  The Estate, Book Two

  Housing office Josie Mellor loves the community spirit of the notorious Mitchell Estate – when it doesn’t involve benefit cheats, aggression, or murder and mayhem, that is.

  But it isn’t exactly a party for some of her tenants...

  Kelly Winterton thinks Josie is sticking her nose in where it’s not wanted. Her partner’s just been packed off to prison and she’s left worrying how to fend for herself and her young daughter.

  Charlotte Hatfield has fled from her violent partner. With four children in tow, she lives in fear of him finding her again.

  Amy Cartwright has learning difficulties. She finds it hard enough looking out for herself and her six-month-old baby without being taken advantage of.

  In the midst of it all, Josie has secrets of her own. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she struggles to escape her controlling husband. And as her home life deteriorates, she realises only a thin line separates her from the people she’s trying to help. Can Josie save herself and return the estate to relative normality when a spate of burglaries causes havoc and deadly violence erupts? Or will both she and her tenants become victims of violence that no one will see?

  BEHIND A CLOSED DOOR - lies, dishonesty, heartbreak and betrayal... and the feeling that you’ll never trust anyone again.

  Fighting for Survival

  The Estate, Book Three

  When Caren Williams finds herself back on the estate she fought so hard to get away from, little does she realise she’ll be living opposite her arch-enemy, Gina Bradley. Gina thinks she and her family rule Stanley Avenue so when Caren starts to become popular, she decides to hit her where it will hurt the most – she wants her husband.

  Lonely and depressed, Ruth Millington turns to drinking and self-harm to get her through the dark times but finds it’s a constant struggle. Spiralling out of control, maybe she should let Gina’s husband help her ou
t when he comes calling.

  Twins, Rachel and Claire Bradley, took control of the girl-gang, the Mitchell Mob, when their leader was sent to juvie for assault. But Stacey Hunter is out now and wants to hold the position again. No one will back down – let battle commence.

  Brawling in the street, fighting on the square and conforming to peer pressure – it all comes down to holding your nerve. But this time not everyone will stay alive on the notorious Stanley Avenue…

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Ever since she can remember, Mel Sherratt has been a meddler of words. Right from those early childhood scribbles when she won her first and only writing competition at the age of 11, she was rarely without a pen in her hand or, indeed, her nose in a book.

  Born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Mel used her beloved city as a backdrop for her first novel, Taunting the Dead, and it went on to be a Kindle #1 best seller. It was also one of the top 10 best selling Amazon Kindle KDP books of 2012 in the UK. Mel’s new series, The Estate, has also hit the number one bestseller lists in thrillers and suspense and psychological thrillers.

  You can find out more at www.melsherratt.co.uk and on Twitter as @writermels

  You can email her at mel@melsherratt.co.uk and she has a Facebook page