His Third Victim

by Helen H. Durrant

  “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