“What d’you reckon he’s done with the women, sir?”
“They could be anywhere. Buried in the garden, bricked up behind a wall — who knows?”
* * *
Trusting Bella was a risk Mark was prepared to take. His farmhouse was miles from the nearest village on the edge of open moorland, and he’d locked up tight. Two of his nearest neighbours were abroad and the third was an elderly woman. Even if she did escape, Bella had no idea where she was, and wouldn’t get far. Did he believe her soft words? He wanted to. The others had done nothing but whine and complain, so she was a refreshing change. She’d said she wanted them to be friends. He wanted it to be true. Perhaps it was, she was vulnerable and alone. Now she was his prisoner and reliant on him for everything. He’d chosen well. As he considered things, the more he realised that she really was the one.
It was several miles to Marsden where the nearest supermarket was. He’d get enough supplies for the next few days. He didn’t want to go out again. He needed to spend time with Bella. They’d get to know each other better.
For the first time in years, Mark felt happy. Much more so than with the other two. Somehow, deep down, he’d known they weren’t right. They had looked the part, but his love for them had not been reciprocated. Bella was different.
Walking towards the store, he passed a newsagent. The headline on the boards outside read: ‘Police closing in on child abductor.’ He laughed, he couldn’t help it. They were wrong. But there was no room for complacency. He had to tread carefully, give nothing away. He’d been meticulous so far.
He wandered around the supermarket, humming to himself. Things had not been this good in months. He got everything he needed and headed to the checkout. It was then that he realised something was wrong.
* * *
After a quick scuffle, Mark Turner was apprehended. He barely put up any resistance. During the fifteen minutes or so it had taken him to do his shopping, the supermarket had been emptied, and plain-clothes officers had taken the shoppers’ places. He’d been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he hadn’t noticed.
“This is down to that scheming bitch!” he spat at the officer who handcuffed him. “She did this! But she won’t get away with it. I’ll have her, you’ll see!” He could not understand what had gone wrong. The questions in his head made him dizzy. He was good at this, up until now, faultless. What had happened?
* * *
“We’ve got him, sir. Food shopping in Marsden, bold as brass. They’ve taken him to Huddersfield but he hasn’t said a word,” Lily said.
Matt felt a rush of relief. Forensics were well under way with their search of the farmhouse. He and Lily were standing in the cellar.
“No sign of Caroline and Anita,” Lily said. “Bella told me that Turner had a wife. Her name was Kitty. She probably went the way of the other two. Bella is okay. The drugs he gave her won’t do her any lasting harm. She had the wit to keep her cool, and made out she was happy to be there. That probably saved her life. She wouldn’t have kept it up, though, not for long.”
“No, she wouldn’t, because Turner is a killer. He would have found some reason to incarcerate her in that cellar and do his worst.”
Lily shuddered. “Bella knew him as James, not Doug. As far as she was concerned, he was her contact in the programme. You were right about that. Bella never suspected that he was a fake. It was him who took her to the prison in York. She had no idea that he was using a false name, or that he’d ever worked with Nolan.”
“Like I said, clever. He made her believe she was being protected. He kept her isolated from everything and everyone she had ever known, so he could strike at will.”
Lily looked at him. “Have we finished here, sir? This place is making me feel queasy.”
A voice boomed down from the top of the cellar steps. “DI Brindle! Great job you’ve done. Now we’ve got him, we can’t stop the bastard talking.” It was Dyson. The stone steps were steep and worn with age, and he trod gingerly.
“Mad as a box of frogs, he is. He’s admitted to the lot, including being our ‘Mr Apology’ and killing the so-called randoms. Apparently the stamps on the arms were part of some ritual. They were his way of saying sorry for taking their lives. Each woman had a special colour. Caroline was green, Anita red and Bella blue. God knows why. Like I said — bonkers.”
Lily looked up at him. “Did he say anything about that cigarette end, sir? We were almost thrown off the scent there.”
“He wanted us to blame Chalker. Wouldn’t say where he got it from though. Don’t think he can remember, to be honest. We’re getting his DNA matched with what was taken from under Agnes Harvey’s fingernails. That and his confession will nail the bugger for good.”
They heard a voice calling down from the kitchen. “I think we may have found your missing women!”
Matt and Lily looked at each other. This was not going to be pleasant. Dyson led the way up to the kitchen. “Come on then, let’s see what the bugger did with them.”
The slate tiles on the kitchen floor had been taken up and were stacked in neat piles to one side.
“There. See? All that’s left are three incomplete skeletons. Once we moved the car we found a pit in that outhouse. We will do tests, but I believe it was where he burned the bodies.”
Lily grimaced. “So he killed his wife too. If it’s okay with you, I’ll wait outside. I’ve seen and heard enough. This is a dreadful place!”
Matt followed her out. “I’ll speak to Bella later, and find out what she plans to do now.”
Lily nodded. “She told me she feels guilty about Dawson. She said some nasty things to him, apparently. I did explain that it’s down to him and his obsession with her that her life was saved.”
“That, and Chalker recognising ‘doorstep man’ as our Mr Apology. We would not have found her without the input from both of them.”
“I still think Joel Dawson is creepy, though. I wouldn’t want anyone following me around, taking photos.”
Matt smiled. “Ah well. Saved the day this time.”
Lily looked at him, head to one side. “Have you made a decision about the job, sir?”
“Yes, Lily, but more about that tomorrow. I want you and Talbot to come up to the house and do me a small favour.”
Epilogue
“The idea is that when visitors come into this room, they learn something about the history of the house and the family.” Matt waved a hand.
“Stick some posters on the wall,” Dyson suggested.
“No. People won’t read them. I’ve got a much better idea. We’ll give them a place to sit down and something to watch.”
Lily smiled. “Like a movie?”
Matt nodded. “A very short one, no more than ten minutes.”
“So why are we here?” Dyson asked.
“Because the two of you are going to be in it.”
Dyson turned to Lily. “Don’t like the sound of this, love. He’s going to dress us up in some outlandish period costume and make bloody fools of us.”
“Not at all.” Evelyn Brindle strode into the room holding up two coat hangers. One held a long woollen dress and brown pinafore, with a small white hat. On the other, a pair of satin breeches, a frock coat and a frilly shirt. This she handed to Dyson. “I have a wig and shoes to go with these. Be very careful with them, they are the genuine article. Walter actually wore that outfit. We have a portrait in the drawing room of him dressed in it.”
“You want me to wear this lot?”
Matt smiled at him. “You will make a perfect Walter Brindle. He was something of a dandy — loved his clothes and his fine wine. All you have to do is put the clothes on, sit on that fancy chair, and read from these cards. I’ll hold them up for you. Josh here will do the filming.”
A young man waiting at the back of the room made a little bow.
“And me?” Lily asked. “What’s my part in this charade?”
“Scullery maid!” Evelyn Brindle replied with re
lish. “Halfway through, you will enter and put fresh coals on the fire.”
“How long is this reading?”
“Not long, Talbot. The idea is that the visitors will push a button on the wall, and that will start the film. You’ll be in that chair, snoozing. When they press the button, you’ll wake up, welcome them and talk about your day.”
Dyson sighed. Resignedly, he took the clothes from Evelyn. “Okay. But there’ll be a price to pay for this, lad. You. At the station Monday morning, all fresh, and ready to sort out your new team.”
“I can live with that, Talbot. As for the team, I’ve already made my mind up. I’d like Lily and Beckwith, if it’s alright with you?” He turned to Lily. “That okay? Fancy giving ‘chalk and cheese’ a go?”
THE END
AVAILABLE NOW BY HELEN H. DURRANT
THE DCI GRECO BOOKS
Book 1: DARK MURDER
Book 2: DARK HOUSES
Book 3: DARK TRADE
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERY SERIES
Book 1: DEAD WRONG
Book 2: DEAD SILENT
Book 3: DEAD LIST
Book 4: DEAD LOST
Book 5: DEAD & BURIED
Book 6: DEAD NASTY
Book 7: DEAD JEALOUS
THE CALLADINE & BAYLISS MYSTERIES (book 3 features DI GRECO)
BOOK 1 DEAD WRONG:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
http://www.amazon.com/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/
First a shooting, then a grisly discovery on the common . . .
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.
Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies and before the press publicize the gruesome crimes? Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are led on a trail which gets dangerously close to home. In a thrilling finale they race against time to rescue someone very close to Calladine’s heart.
BOOK 2: DEAD SILENT
http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
http://www.amazon.com/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/
A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .
BOOK 3: DEAD LIST
This book is the first to feature D.I Greco
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW
An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .
BOOK 4: DEAD LOST
http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/
An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets
Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.
BOOK 5: DEAD & BURIED
https://www.amazon.co.uk/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
https://www.amazon.com/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/
Annie Naden and her husband buy a remote country cottage at auction. It’s the home of their own that they always wanted, but as they begin renovations, Annie discovers a satchel in a dusty old hidden cupboard. Inside are the usual schoolbooks, now over 40 years old, and a girl’s diary. Among the record of day-to-day crushes and pop concerts, is a secret whose terrible consequences are still resonating to this day
THE DI GRECO MYSTERIES
DI GRECO BOOK 1: DARK MURDER
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/
A woman is found dead by a canal . . . why have her eyes have been viciously poked out?
Detective Stephen Greco has just started a new job at Oldston CID and now he faces a series of murders with seemingly no connection but the brutal disfigurement of the victims. Greco’s team is falling apart under the pressure and he doesn't know who he can trust. Then they discover a link to a local drug dealer, but maybe it’s not all that it seems.
Can Greco get control of his chaotic team and stop the murders?
DI GRECO BOOK 2: DARK HOUSES
http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
http://www.amazon.com/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ
A young woman is found brutally murdered in an empty house
Detective Stephen Greco and his team must piece together her life as quickly as possible. Within twenty-four hours there is another killing using the same method. The detectives realise that the victims are random but the locations are not. The killer is more concerned with finding the right house – somewhere he won’t be disturbed.
Glossary of English Slang for US readers
A & E: accident and emergency department in a hospital
Aggro: violent behaviour, aggression
A level: exams taken between 16 and 18
Allotment: a plot of land rented from the council, used to grow vegetables or flowers
Barm: bread roll
Beaker: glass or cup for holding liquids
Benefits: social security
Bent: corrupt
Betting shop: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Bin: wastebasket (noun), or throw in rubbish (verb)
Bloke: guy
Blow: cocaine
Bob: money
Bookies: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports
Burger bar: hamburger fast-food restaurant
Buy-to-let: Buying a house/apartment to rent it out for profit
Charity Shop: thrift store
Carrier bag: plastic bag from supermarket
Care Home: an institution where old people are cared for
Car park: parking lot
Chat-up: flirt, trying to pick up someone with witty banter or compliments
Chemist: pharmacy
Chinwag: conversation
CID: Criminal Investigation Department
Clock: punch
Cock-up: mess up, make a mistake
Common: an area of park land/ or lower class
Common or garden: ordinary
Comprehensive School (Comp.): High school
Cop hold of: grab
Copper: police officer
Coverall: coveralls, or boiler suit
CPS: Crown Prosecution Service, decide whether police cases go forward
Childminder: someone who looks after children for money
Council: local government
Crown Jewels: the Queen’s jewels and crown worn on state occasions (can also be an expression for anything valuable)
DCI: Detective Chief Inspector
Deck: one of the floors of a tower block
DI: Detective Inspector
DS: Detective Sergeant
Do a bunk: disappear
Do a runner: disappear
Do one: go away
Doc Martens: Heavy boots with an air-cushioned sole
DS: detective sergeant
ED: accident and emergency department of hospital
Early dart: to leave work early
Estate: public/social housing estate (similar to housing projects)
Estate agent: realtor (US)
Fag: cigarette
Garden Centre: a business where plants and gardening equipment are sol
d
Get rid: dispose of
GP: general practitioner, a doctor based in the community
Graft: hard work
Hairslide: barrette
Hard nut: tough person
HOLMES: UK police computer system used during investigation of major incidents
Home: care home for elderly or sick people
Inne: isn’t he
Into care: a child taken away from their family by the social services
Kark: die
Kneecapping: punish by shooting in the kneecap
Lad: young man
Lass: young woman
Lecky: electricity
Lift: elevator
Lippy: lipstick — can also mean loquacious
Lorry: a truck
Mare: derogatory term for woman, or can mean having a bad day (nightmare)
Missus: wife
MIT: Major Investigation Team
Mobile phone: cell phone
MP: Member of Parliament, politician representing an area
Naff: lame, not good
Narky: bad-tempered
Net curtains: a type of semi-transparent curtain
NHS: National Health Service, public health service of UK
Nick: police station (as verb: to arrest)
No-mark: loser
Nowt: nothing
NQT: Newly qualified teacher
Nutter: insane person
His Third Victim Page 19
