The Hill
A Paranormal Murder Mystery Thriller
Ben’s Story
(Book One)
By Andrew M Stafford
‘The Hill reveals the world for what it is; a place where the impossible is real, and the dead speak with the living’
Text Copyright © 2014 Andy Stafford
All Rights Reserved
All the characters in this book are fictitious, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.
Thank you to
DC Rob Callaway (Retired) for his advice on matters of the law
Penny Rowe for proof reading
Ian CP Irvine, Claire Herbert and Michael Lewis for their advice and encouragement
For Kerry, Olivia, Sam, Mum and Sharon.
Especially for Dad.
Please note: This is the first book in a two part series. The story begins with Book One, carries on seamlessly and concludes with Book Two.
Alternatively, you have the option to purchase an omnibus version containing both Book One and Book two, which readers are recommended to purchase.
(The above links are for Amazon UK. To find ‘The Hill’ on Amazon in your country please go to your country’s Amazon site and search ‘Andrew M Stafford’ under Kindle Store).
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Reviews from Amazon UK for The Hill (Omnibus edition containing both Book one and Book two).
Click here to read all reviews from Amazon UK
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, 2 Aug. 2015
What a fantastic book. I have been reading books for 50 +years and never ever have I come across anything like this one. I just had to keep reading and reading. The plot was unlike anything I have ever encountered. Very well thought out and even believable. I was constantly asking myself if the story could be based on truth it was so convincing. I find it hard to believe this was the author’s first book.
The spelling was very good and the grammar(apart from 2 or 3 mistakes) was excellent) far better than most books I buy on Kindle I sincerely hope there will be further books from this author.
Give yourself a pat on the back Andrew you deserve it.
5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read on kindle, 21 April 2015
I loved this book, I felt as though I was there with the characters. Full of suspense and would love to see it made into a film. Can't wait for more by this author. Well done Andrew Stafford.
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb! 19 April 2015
This is a truly excellent book and a page turner from start to finish. It has a gripping plot and holds the attention all the way through. I can thoroughly recommend it as an excellent read.
5.0 out of 5 stars would make good viewing, 12 April 2015
Can't wait for his next book. Why don't they make films or TV dramas, would make good viewing
5.0 out of 5 stars A truly amazing read best book I've read by far, 7 April 2015
A truly amazing read best book I've read by far and I read a lot. A fantastic story of which you feel every emotion cannot rate it highly enough truly brilliant.
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this book and couldn't put it down, 28 Mar. 2015
I loved this book and couldn't put it down. .would make a fabulous mini series or film.. highly recommend. .
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best books read lately really enjoyed it... , 28 Mar. 2015
One of the best books read lately really enjoyed it both story and writing ,HOPE that there will be another book soon.
5.0 out of 5 stars The Hill best read I have had for ages. brilliant., 13 Mar. 2015
This book is amazing kept me glued all the way through.. I would love to read another book by Andrew M Stafford. Hope it will not be too long to wait. Great stuff. Keep writing Andrew.
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
Chapter twenty three
Chapter twenty four
Chapter twenty five
Chapter twenty six
Chapter twenty seven
Chapter twenty eight
Chapter twenty nine
Chapter thirty
Chapter thirty one
Chapter thirty two
Chapter thirty three
Chapter thirty four
Chapter thirty five
Chapter thirty six
Chapter thirty seven
Chapter thirty eight
Chapter thirty nine
Chapter forty
Chapter forty one
Chapter forty two
Chapter forty three
Chapter forty four
Chapter forty five
Chapter forty six
Chapter forty seven
Chapter forty eight
Chapter forty nine
Chapter fifty
Chapter fifty one
Chapter fifty two
Chapter fifty three
Chapter fifty four
Chapter fifty five
Chapter fifty six
Chapter fifty seven
Chapter fifty eight
Chapter fifty nine
Chapter sixty
Chapter sixty one
Chapter sixty two
Chapter sixty three
Chapter sixty four
Chapter sixty five
Chapter sixty six
Chapter sixty seven
Chapter sixty eight
Chapter sixty nine
Chapter seventy
Chapter seventy one
Chapter seventy two
Chapter seventy three
Chapter seventy four
Chapter seventy five
Please note: This is the first book in a two part series. The story begins with Book One, carries on seamlessly and concludes with Book Two.
At Badock’s Wood ghostly windmill sails turn and, like a rewound film, spin through history to remote times when this was burial place for Bronze Aged warrior in that landscape wolves prowled and nervy red deer grazed while hogs rooted among trees
John Fairfax (1930 – 2009)
Chapter one
Bristol
11.24 am
Sunday 6th September 2009
He’d done it. Ben Walker had only gone and done it.
He fell to his bed, blew air through his cheeks and let his phone drop to the floor. His heart was pounding and his stomach was churning.
He found it difficult to take in, but she’d definitely said yes, she really had said yes. He smiled as he blinked at the morning sun streaming in through the blinds.
He wanted to open the window and shout it to the world. But he didn’t. Instead he lay on his bed and thought out loud in a whisper. “She actually said yes.”
He spent the rest of the morning and the best part of the afternoon finding it hard to concentrate on anyth
ing else. He felt ill with excitement.
He’d been smitten with Liz Mason for eight months and over the last few weeks he’d been desperate to say something, just a little hint about how he felt about her. But he couldn’t. He was just too damn shy. This morning he had made up his mind to not let his shyness get the better of him.
Liz knew how he felt towards her. She’d sensed his jealousy when other boys were around. So it hadn’t been a surprise when he’d called. It had only been of a matter of time.
She’d always liked Ben, but lately she’d become more attracted to him. There was something different about him. Something that made him stand out from the other testosterone fuelled boys that buzzed around. He was a quiet person who was a good listener. And with that quietness there was also compassion. He was a good looking lad who was well built, strong and just shy of six foot.
A few hours later they were alone and walking through Badock’s Wood on a cool September evening. Twigs snapped beneath their feet and a few of the trees hinted that autumn would soon be here. They weren’t quite hand in hand, but Ben was hopeful that they would become closer by the end of the evening.
A robin sang from a branch, but was cut short by a squirrel zigzagging through a nearby tree.
They stopped to watch a pair of Painted Ladies flutter around a crop of dandelions.
“Do you know they’re used in medicine?” said Ben breaking the silence.
Liz looked at him puzzled. “Do you mean they use butterflies as medicine?”
Ben laughed and explained that dandelions were used as medicine, not butterflies. Liz giggled at her stupidity.
Liz’s naivety was something he loved. He liked the way she would laugh about something that other people wouldn’t find remotely amusing. There was no doubt about it, he was falling even further for her.
He loved her imperfections and found the tiny scar above her lip cute.
Liz was barely out of her teens, but had the confidence of someone in their thirties. Her self-confidence was due to achieving a second Dan in Taekwondo and becoming an instructor before she’d hit twenty.
Ben wasn’t much older. He’d been a Police Community Support Officer since he was seventeen and now, five years later, he was about to start a new career as a fully qualified police officer. Tomorrow he would be PC Ben Walker.
Ben loved Badock’s Wood. It was somewhere he’d played as a boy. He’d climbed the trees and paddled through the stream which ran through the middle. The woods smelt good. It was a smell that brought back special memories of his childhood. He knew Liz would like the place, which is why he chose it for their first date.
They emerged from the canopy of trees into a clearing where the sun was low in the evening sky. In front of them was a small hill. This was his favourite part of the woods.
When Ben was younger, he’d spent weekends with his brother Michael playing on the hill, letting it fuel their imaginations by pretending it was a castle, or a mountain and even the surface of another planet.
It was a Bronze Age burial mound, and knowing this had made the place even more thrilling for the boys. They had been playing upon a hill full of dead people.
Ben and Liz walked towards it and his memories came flooding back. Words could not explain how much he missed his brother, whose young life had been wrenched from him at such an unreasonable age. He hated the C word with a fury. Stupid cancer.
Ben stopped walking and was briefly lost in thought. Liz looked at him from the side and wondered what he was thinking as a look of sadness crossed his face.
“Race you to the top,” she shouted as she charged ahead of him.
He snapped out of his stupor and chased after her as she laughed and scrambled her way up the hill.
He was just behind her when he noticed something he had not seen before. As her t-shirt rode up he saw a small tattoo of a butterfly on the base of her back peeking out over her shorts. He wasn’t keen on tattoos, but like the little scar above her lip, he thought it was cute.
He heard a yelp. He looked up and saw the tattoo very much closer than it had been a second ago. She had lost her footing and was falling back towards him. She crashed into him and they tumbled down the sloping mound and came to a halt with Liz lying on top.
They lay quietly for second or two until she let out a big huff and launched into an uncontrollable giggle. Ben lay beneath looking up into her eyes. She stopped giggling and looked down at him. Neither of them spoke. She moved closer and put her lips to his. He needed no encouragement. Ben closed his eyes and kissed her.
He wanted the moment to last forever, because if this moment was to last forever, he was sure he would be the happiest man alive.
Ben had no way of knowing what was about to happen next.
Chapter two
Badock’s Wood
Doncaster Road entrance
9.35pm
Danny 'Boy' Boyd entered the woods accompanied by a gang of youths.
Boyd was trouble. Wherever he went something happened. Petty crime, fights, theft....., if he was around, then something bad was bound to take place.
Earlier in the evening he had stolen a Toyota Previa.
The owner of the vehicle had left the keys in the ignition with the engine running whilst withdrawing money from an ATM. The Previa had been only feet away, but he was too busy reading the screen of the ATM to notice Boyd in the shadows putting on a pair of black gloves and then quietly climbing in. He put it into gear, released the handbrake and the vehicle jerked forward. The owner looked round to see his car lurching away. Boyd’s dirty grey hoody was over his head. The owner ran to the driver's door and their eyes met. He briefly saw Boyd's face just as his beloved Previa disappeared from view.
Shit! thought Boyd. He saw me, he'll recognise me.
Boyd clumsily handled the vehicle through the back streets of the east of the city, hitting kerbs and cutting corners. He had no licence and had taught himself to drive.
He had taken the thing on the fly, without having any idea why he was stealing it. The Previa had just been there for the taking. He had not thought it through and was worried the owner would recognise him. He blew out a long sigh.
He craned his neck and looked around the vehicle. He guessed he could fit five or six of his friends in the back. Why not? he thought. If I'm going to get caught driving this thing, I may as well not be alone.
He aimed the Previa towards the centre of the city and headed off to pick up as many of his gang of under-achievers as he could.
The theft of the Previa was reported to the police at 8.41pm.
It was a Sunday evening and the streets were quiet. He decided to veer left in the direction of the Foundation.
By day the Foundation was a fantastic place for the community, offering opportunities to the unemployed. But by night it was a different place. After hours, the doorway transformed into a magnet, attracting groups of youths with whom Boyd had become friends.
This evening six bored teenagers were hanging around the entrance. Four boys and two girls.
He pulled up and lowered the window. He knew all of them, with the exception of one of the girls. She didn't look much older than fourteen.
"Oi, you lot, fancy a ride?”
The kids looked up and saw Boyd at the wheel. They glanced at each other and shrugged their shoulders. Without any discussion they apathetically clambered aboard. The only one who showed an air of nervousness was Carla, the young girl who Boyd didn't know.
"Where did you get this thing from?” shouted Mossy.
"Mind your own fuckin’ business," snapped Boyd whilst looking in the driver's mirror. "You’d best not ask," he added with a wry smile on his face.
"Where are we going?” asked Greeny.
"I dunno, but don't worry, I'll find us something to do."
He did know where they were going. They were heading to north Bristol and to the adventure playground on Doncaster Road. He was sure that on a Sunday evening there would be a group of young k
ids who he could intimidate and bully. He knew that his passengers would enjoy joining in.
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Daniel John Boyd was twenty one years old, long-limbed and thin like an insect. He had a dull pallor which gave his skin the appearance of clay. His hair was so greasy it looked as though it was permanently wet.
He hadn't always been bad, but something happened just after he’d turned fourteen. Whether it was down to puberty or something else no one seemed to know, but he had just changed. He had given up on his studies, given up on his interests, given up on his friends and retreated into himself. Things had gone from bad to worse and he’d been expelled from school.
By the time he was eighteen his parents had turned their backs on him and two years ago he’d walked out of the family home.
Since then he had careered out of control, moving from squat, to park bench and occasionally a friend's couch. He had survived by stealing, dealing and handouts. Although his life had turned to one of crime, he’d never been arrested or charged. He had always been quick enough to not get caught. To this day, Daniel Boyd was still unknown to the law.
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As the Previa approached Doncaster Road, Boyd shouted to one of the other boys, who was at the back of the vehicle between the two girls.
“Got any Speed, Seb?”
“No, Danny Boy, I'm all out”.
“Well, what have you got?”
“Just a bit of crack, mate.”
“Come on, share the wealth.”
Seb knew it wasn't worth arguing with Boyd as he would have beaten it out of him if he didn't hand over the drugs of his own free will.
Boyd had become dependent on drugs which had increased his paranoia.
He looked at his passengers in the rear view mirror as he inhaled the drug which smelt like burning plastic.
There was Stuart 'Mossy' Moss and Paul 'Greeny' Green, who were sixteen and came from similar backgrounds. Both had alcoholic parents who were never there for their boys. They had begun to hang around with Boyd for the kick. Something always happened with him. They enjoyed getting into trouble and looked up to him as a mentor.
The Hill - Ben’s Story (Book One).: A Paranormal Murder Mystery Thriller. (Book One). Page 1
