02 The Lonely Lake Killings by Wes Markin

Author:Wes Markin
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3
Tags: Thrillers, Crime, Police Procedural, Fiction, Mystery & Detective
ISBN: 9781804837580
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2023-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

Outside, he called a taxi and waited, wishing he had some more vodka to steady his nerves. Of course, he’d not brought any with him. He’d never have gained entrance to a prison with a hipflask.

The anger burned fiercely inside him as he paced the car park. He looked up at the imposing gates of the prison.

Why am I still alive?

He hadn’t expected such a question.

Why am I still alive?

The problem was – it was a bloody good question. ‘Why are you still alive?’

He stopped pacing and slipped a photograph of his wife, Rachel, and his twins, Lucy and Molly, from his wallet.

He stared at their immortalised faces.

For years, he’d imagined their presence. The way they looked had never changed.

Because it never would change.

He looked up at the prison gates again and saw again that monster smiling at him.

‘Why are you still alive, Ronnie Haller?’

The phone rang. The number was unknown. ‘Hello, DI Riddick? It’s Harry. One of the guards from before.’

‘I know who you are. Again, I’m sorry. If you’ve changed your mind, I understand. You probably should report it,’ Riddick said.

‘Look, Detective Inspector, we discussed this already, and we meant what we said. This isn’t going any further,’ Harry said. ‘That man in there is evil, pure and simple, and what he did… well, I can’t imagine. I’m so sorry.’

‘Thanks,’ Riddick said, wondering if Harry would still have the same view after reading Marianne Perse’s impending article. How would he react to discovering that he’d just allowed a corrupt, alcoholic officer access to a dangerous prisoner?

‘But that’s not why I’m phoning, Detective Inspector,’ Harry said. ‘After you left, Haller spoke to me. He asked me to tell you three things. All relevant to your investigation.’

Curious. Riddick’s heart started to beat faster. ‘Go on.’

‘Firstly, Si Meadows is gay.’

Riddick inwardly groaned. Yes… we know that already.

‘Secondly, Haller wants you to know that he thinks Si Meadows has it in him to kill his own daughter rather than let the truth get out.’

‘Sounds to me like he’s got it in for Meadows and is just trying to score points,’ Riddick said, not bothering to reach into his pocket for his notepad just yet. ‘You said there was something else?’ His heart settled back down as his hopes quickly faded.

‘He said one more thing. I wrote it down as quickly as I could because it sounded so accusatory. Do you have a pen?’

He kept his phone pinned to his ear with his shoulder to free his hands, and plucked out his notepad and pen. ‘Yes. Ready.’

‘He said, “Paul Riddick took me off the street, then he took Neil Taylor off the street. But he left two foxes behind. Si Meadows and Rhys Hunt. Two tight foxes.”’

Rhys Hunt. Another local businessman with lots of money and few morals. Based in Harrogate.

So, Rhys Hunt was tight with Si Meadows. Nothing special there. All crooks in North Yorkshire were tight with Meadows. Unless… Was Haller pointing out something relevant out here? But why would he

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.