The Silent Quarry: A gripping Welsh murder mystery by Cheryl Rees-Price

Author:Cheryl Rees-Price [Rees-Price, Cheryl]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: THE BOOK FOLKS bestselling crime fiction publisher
Published: 2020-07-19T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Matt opened a bottle of beer and sat opposite Gwen, his eyes narrowed.

‘You’re spending quite a bit of time with Hippy Winter.’

The tension in the kitchen after Meadows left had sent Ariana and Alex scuttling to their bedrooms.

‘Don’t call him that.’

‘Why not? That’s what he is,’ Matt sneered.

‘He’s Detective Inspector Meadows. I think he’s done well for himself.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Matt leant forward.

‘Nothing.’

‘No, really? I know exactly what you’re implying. You think he’s better than me.’

Gwen sighed. ‘I didn’t say that.’

‘But you think it. Maybe if I’d had the chance to go to university I’d be in a titled position and not some poxy retail manager.’

Gwen picked up the cups and dumped them in the sink. There was no point in arguing with him when he was in this mood. She turned on the taps and watched the water flow into the sink.

‘You stay away from him. Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you look at him, it’s pathetic! He’s not to come into my house again. I don’t want talk in the village.’

Gwen felt anger spike at her veins. She spun around and glared at Matt. ‘How dare you! You’ve screwed every tart in the village, well, the ones who’re desperate, and you aren’t even discreet.’

Matt jumped up from his seat. ‘You ungrateful little bitch, after all I’ve done for you.’ He stepped closer until he was inches from her face. Blue jumped between them and growled but Matt ignored him. ‘Do you think anyone else would have married you? I felt sorry for you. And so what if I need to run my hands over some soft skin now and again? Any other man would run a mile from those hideous scars. I stayed with you, gave you a home and family. You can’t even hold down a job because of your fucked-up head. Even Hippy Winter ran away.’

Gwen ran her hand down her arm and felt the protrusion of the scar. She’d had skin grafts on her legs where chunks of flesh had been gouged out from the fall. Nothing could be done about the appearance of the thick scars from the operations. He’s right, who would want me? she thought.

‘Sometimes I wish I’d never married you,’ she said.

‘Leave if you really feel that way.’

She shoved past him, grabbed the box of Beth’s possessions, and bolted upstairs to the bedroom.

‘Bastard.’ She felt the tears trickle down her cheeks and wiped them away with the back of her hand.

There was a soft knock on the door. ‘Mum, are you OK?’ Ariana opened the door then came in gingerly and perched on the bed.

‘I’m fine, love. It’s just been a difficult day. Lots of memories.’

‘You don’t have to make excuses for him. I don’t know why you take that shit.’

‘Do you want to look through the box with me?’ Gwen desperately wanted to distract her daughter, she didn’t have the energy to try to defend Matt.

‘OK.’ Ariana opened the box and took out a T-shirt. She looked at the picture of the band on the front.

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