Dark Skies_A DCI Ryan Mystery by LJ Ross

Author:LJ Ross [Ross, LJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-12-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

Sunday, 2nd October

The sun had not yet risen before the media caught the scent of murder and began to arrive at Kielder Forest in their droves. Like a pack of ravenous wolves, they roamed the villages in search of a juicy, early-morning titbit to satisfy their readership and, by the time Ryan had kissed Anna goodbye and made the short journey from the lodge to his car, he found several reporters gathered around it.

“Chief Inspector! Is it true there’s a serial killer at large?”

“No comment.”

“Is it true another one of The Hacker’s victims has been found?”

Ryan almost laughed. They’d do anything to milk that man’s devastating legacy, even down to inventing new victims that bore no resemblance to his usual type.

“No comment.”

“Is it true there’s a mass grave lying beneath the surface of the reservoir? Is it true that the Kielder Ghost is responsible for these deaths?”

The what?

Ryan glared at the journalist who’d shouted those inane questions and at least he had the grace to look abashed. Clearly, pickings had been slim on the news desk lately.

“If you have any intelligent questions to ask, contact the Press Office,” he said, witheringly.

“What about the traffic cordons, Inspector? People have a right to know if they should be on their guard!” another reporter shouted at him. “They have a right to know!”

Ryan’s hand stilled on the car door and he turned to look at the journalist. Her face was earnest, seemingly passionate about uncovering the truth, and if he was feeling charitable he might have admired it. However, more important concerns weighed upon his mind, such as not being responsible for starting a widespread panic and finding justice for the dead according to proper procedures. It was true that the media could be useful to an investigation sometimes but he’d learned it was a double-edged sword that should be wielded lightly.

“At present, official advice remains the same,” he said. “That is, to exercise common sense and avoid situations which may give rise to danger wherever possible. No further comment.”

Their cries buzzed like flies in his ear and then muted as the car door slammed shut behind him. Ryan rested his hands on the steering wheel and then gave a brief toot of his horn, to clear a path on the road ahead. He could only imagine what Lucas would have to say about public relations if he mowed down a group of journalists in cold blood.

It was tempting, but he had to be satisfied with their shocked expressions as he fired the engine and missed them by inches.

* * *

While Phillips and Yates oversaw operations at Kielder, Ryan returned to the office to meet Guy Sullivan’s parents who had returned from Lanzarote late the previous evening. He’d taken the trouble to wear a suit and tie and spent the long drive back to the city preparing himself for an emotional meeting. It was never going to be easy to face the parents of a young man whose life had been taken

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