The Wilderness Murders: DI Giles Book 16 (DI Giles Suspense Thriller Series)

by Anna-Marie Morgan

“Yes, what is this all about?”

  “We found these belongings in the countryside. The circumstances in which we discovered them struck me, and I couldn’t help drawing parallels between them and the finding of your husband’s things. I wondered if there might be a connection.”

  “I see.” Sian narrowed her eyes. “Jason’s backpack is smaller, and black. It’s in our wardrobe, if you want to look?”

  “I’d appreciate that.” Yvonne followed her through to the couple’s bedroom, furnished with a bed, two bedside tables, and a built-in wardrobe with sliding doors that took up one whole wall opposite the window.

  Sian slid open the door, pointing to the floor of the wardrobe. “It’s there,” she said.

  The DI donned latex gloves from her bag before opening the backpack. It was empty, save for a torch and a pair of binoculars.

  “He hasn’t used it for a while,” Mrs Timms explained. “He sometimes goes fishing with friends and watches birds at the same time. Except… he seemed to lose interest in it all lately. He hasn’t really fished at all so far this summer.”

  “Did he give any reason for that?”

  Sian shrugged. “No, not to me, anyway.”

  “And you said your relationship was good?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “And he didn’t discuss leaving, or appear depressed at all?”

  “No, I told you, everything was fine.” Mrs Timms placed her hands on her hips.

  “I’m sorry.” Yvonne rubbed her forehead. “I’m simply doing my job.”

  “That’s a good excuse, isn’t it?”

  “Sorry?”

  “You can pry into anything you like. You can get to know all the gossip and, when challenged, you can blame it all on the job. But this is our lives, you know? Mine and Jason’s.”

  The DI frowned. “Mrs Timms-”

  “Sian.”

  “Sian, your husband is missing, and we are doing our very best to find him. Right at this moment, we have officers dredging the river and missing meals trying to find him. We have forensic officers examining his things for DNA and fingerprints, anything that might give a clue to his whereabouts. It’s my job to get the backstory, to make the haystack a bit smaller. You’ll forgive me if I pry. I really am only interested in finding your husband and bringing him safely home.”

  The other woman sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be ungrateful, it's just that I’ve been worried. I haven’t slept for the last few nights.”

  Yvonne scoured Sian’s face, struggling to find any sign of the alleged restless nights. “Of course, I understand.” She didn’t. Mrs Timms’ demeanour made the DI uneasy. She was hiding something.

  Yvonne pondered Sian’s behaviour as she left the Timms' house.

  “Have you found him yet?” An elderly male voice stopped her in her tracks.

  “Sorry?” She swung round, shading her eyes from the sun.

  A weathered face peered at her over the fence. “I was asking if you’d found Jason?”

  She flicked a glance behind her.

  Sian Timms had disappeared. The front door was closed. The DI walked around to the neighbour's gate. “Not yet. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

  He leaned on his stick, his head inclined in thought. “No, I haven’t seen him in over a week.”

  “And you are?” she asked.

  “Dan… Dan Owen, I’m his neighbour.”

  “How did he seem, when you last saw him?”

  “He looked preoccupied.”

  “Was he worried about something?”

  “He looked like he was working something out in his head. I shouted hello, but he didn’t hear me, he was lost in his own world.”

  “I see.” She turned to go.

  “They argued, you know.”

  “Did they?”

  “Some rows were really intense.”

  “All couples row, Dan.”

  “Yes, but these would go on for a while. I mean shouting and screaming at each other for ages… hours, sometimes.”

  “I see…” She looked back towards the house. His version contradicted Sian’s view of her relationship. “Would you be willing to make a statement, were it needed?”

  “Yes, I’d make a statement.”

  “Thank you. Do you know what they rowed about?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Well, thanks for talking.” She turned away from the gate.

  “He had life insurance, you know…”

  “Did he?” She turned her attention back to the elderly man, noticing the brown cardigan he wore over his shirt despite the heat.

  “That’s what he said.”

  “He told you that?”

  “Sure, he told me a few months back that he’d just taken it out. A hundred-and-fifty thousand, I think he said.”

  “That’s a lot of money.”

  “It is.”

  She wasn’t sure what to make of the Timms’ neighbour, but this was a readily checkable fact. She’d get Callum on it.

  While still in Welshpool, she headed to the Sidoli factory, where Jason worked.

  The manager introduced himself as Wyn Davies. He wore a hair net under his white hat, and a white coat over his clothing.

  He took her into a side office, occupied by a desk covered in paperwork and a computer, and pulled a chair out for her.

  She estimated him to be early forties. “Thank you, for taking the time to see me,” she began. “I know it was short notice.”

  “If it helps find Jason, it will be worth it.” His deep voice vibrated the papers on the desk.

  “What is he like?”

  “Jason? He’s a good worker. Always on time, and doesn’t shirk his duties. He works in the shop when we need cover, and he never complains.”

  “Does he get on with everyone here?”

  “As far as I know, yes. I’ve had no complaints. He’s usually on the factory floor. He’s responsible for the machinery.”

  “When was the last time you saw him?”

  “Five days ago, he worked his Friday shift as normal, then failed to show up on Monday. We haven’t seen him since.”

  “Has he ever done this before?”

  Davies shook his head. “He’s only had one absence for illness in eight years.”

  “Did he use all his leave?”

  “Yes, we make sure our employees use their holidays. It’s part of our health and safety police.”

  “I see. And he never mentioned being unhappy, or wanting to disappear?”

  “No, never… It’s a mystery, isn’t it?”

  She nodded. “It is. Did he ever mention his wife?”

  “Sian? Yes, he would occasionally talk about her.”

  “What sort of things would he discuss?”

  “Let me see… He’d ask for suggestions for birthday and anniversary presents, talk about their plans for holidays, and maybe discuss what they had done on the weekend. Usual banter, you know.”

  “Did he ever talk about arguments between them?”

  “Yes, I think he mentioned rows occasionally. They would sometimes spend a day not talking to one another, but they would always come round in the end.”

  “Could you have foreseen his disappearance?”

  “No, not at all. There was no hint this would happen. We are all pretty shocked and, when we heard they'd found his stuff by the river, we were shocked.” He shifted in his seat. “We’re hoping he hasn’t done something silly.”

  Yvonne nodded. “We’re hoping that, too.” She pulled out a card. “If he turns up, or makes contact, could you let me know? If he is afraid of someone, or if he is in danger, we can help.”

  “Of course.” Davies nodded. “We’ll let you know straight away.”

  “Thanks.” She rose to leave. “We’ll be in touch.”

  “Just one more thing before you go…”

  “Yes?”

  The Sidoli manager scratched his head. “She never called us, you know.”<
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  “Who? Sian Timms?”

  “Yes. She hasn’t once asked us about her husband’s disappearance, or ask if he was here.”

  “Really?” The DI frowned. “How odd.”

  13

  The wood for the trees

  “Yvonne, good of you to make an appearance.” DCI Chris Llewelyn pushed his glasses up onto his head, leaning back in his chair, shirt open at the neck.

  She regarded him without expression, considering her words. “I’m sorry, sir, it’s not like you to be sarcastic?”

  “Where have you been?”

  She noted the furrowed brow and unkempt hair. “I’ve been chasing up a missing person.”

  “A missing person…” He took a deep breath, exaggerating it for effect. “Good for you… I mean, it’s not as though we have a two-time, double murderer to look for, or anything.”

  She clenched her fists as fiery blood flooded her cheeks. “It’s not the way it looks.”

  “How does it look, do you think? And, I’m not even referring to myself. I’m worried about them out there. You know, the terrified public, news-desperate journalists camping on our doorstep, and the crime commissioner who wants an update on the murder investigations, PDQ.”

  “I take it you’ve been looking for me.” She couldn’t help herself.

  “It’s not a joke. I was looking for you earlier, and Dewi told me you had popped into Welshpool to talk to associates of Jason Timms.”

  She bit her lip. “So, you knew exactly where I was?”

  “I did, and I am concerned about your priorities, Yvonne. What’s going on?”

  She sighed. “If you give me a chance, I can explain.”

  The furrows disappeared. “I’m all ears, fire away.” He folded his arms.

  She kept calm, even though his tone irked her. “There’s a good reason for following up the Timms’ case.”

  “Uniformed officers could do it adequately.”

  “If you would let me finish, sir?” She fixed him with her stare. “As you know, Miles and Seren Payne were murdered near their wild camping site on the Kerry Ridgeway, and some of their personal effects stolen… Mobile phones, bank cards, and so on. One item not taken was a book, a thriller, which was pushed into a gap in a tree trunk near their tent. The force used was so great, the book was misshapen, but it enabled the front cover to face forward, presumably for whoever happened upon the scene. The title of the book was ‘Spilled Blood.’”

  “Is that significant?”

  “Well, since the couple were shot, I can’t help but suspect it was put there by the killer. I can’t see the victims doing that with their own book.”

  “Go on…”

  “We found no other belongings, aside from their tent, camping gear, and vehicle.”

  “What has that to do with Jason Timms’ disappearance?” He frowned.

  “At around the time of the murders, a rucksack was placed on the Ridgeway track. It was found by three teenagers. The bag contained personal items, and nothing else. A wallet with the bank cards removed, a compass, pens, and a camera with a brand new memory card. The images were not the sort people would normally take. They were unusual, even unnerving, and gave a feeling of desperation. That’s the effect they had on me.”

  He pulled a face. “Were they taken accidentally?”

  “That was my first thought, but bear with me… The items were swabbed for DNA, and blood specks on the rucksack were also tested. None corresponded to the Paynes, and the male victim’s brother stated he had seen none of the items before. He said his brother had a grey rucksack, which we have not yet found. I am assuming it contains the couple’s personal effects.”

  “Okay…”

  “Within a few days of this, Jason Timms’ wallet, phone, keys, and shoes were found by the riverbank in Dolerw, in a tidy pile. They were left in full view of anyone picnicking or swimming in that spot. The wallet, and this bit is crucial, contained no licence, or bank cards. And, just as with the wallet found in the rucksack, cash was present. The mobile contained no photo files aside from thirteen images, which were as strange as those found on the camera from the Ridgeway. The data lab have confirmed that other photos and files had existed, but they were wiped with a computer, prior to the strange images being taken, and only a minimal digital trace was left behind. We identified the phone as belonging to Timms and confirmed that he had been missing for a little over forty-eight hours. I was struck by the similarities between the state of his belongings, and those in the rucksack.”

  “So, he went for a swim, and had a mishap.” The DCI sighed. “I agree there is a coincidence regarding the photos, but I think it’s a stretch to connect these lost and found items with the murders. Perhaps, Timms ended it all. Sad, but it happens.”

  “The river has been searched. He’s still missing.”

  “He may have wanted to disappear? You said the bank cards were missing. Has he used them?”

  “No.”

  “Where’s this going?”

  “The teenagers killed above Dolfor were dispatched with the same weapon used on the Paynes.”

  “Yes, I was aware of that.”

  “And, as with the Paynes, no personal items were found with the bodies. Uniform tells me that Kyle and Brianna’s parents are adamant they took bags, phones, and wallets out with them. So, where are they?”

  “Have you spoken to the parents?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Hmm… Well, you need to do that. They’ll want reassurance that we are chasing down their children’s killer.”

  “Of course.”

  “So, what you are saying, is you think the rucksack and Jason Timms’ belongings were planted by the same person who murdered both couples?”

  “That’s what I suspect, yes.”

  “And you think he is taking the belongings of those he kills and planting them elsewhere?”

  “Yes.”

  “So, there may be other as yet undiscovered victims, including Jason Timms?”

  “That is what I am worried about. We have their things, but have yet to find the bodies. I hope I’m wrong.”

  “Well, if you’re right, we can expect the Paynes’ and the teenagers’ belongings to turn up at some point.”

  “I believe so, yes, and it will be at the time of the killer’s choosing, unless we nab him first. Also, if I am right, we’ll find strange photographs on their mobile phones, or cameras.”

  “My God…”

  “Of course, it could also be the case that Timms has something to do with the murders, and he’s living elsewhere while he plays this game. I’m keeping an open mind, as you’d expect. His personal life isn’t running smooth, by the sound of it, and he’d taken out a rather large life insurance recently. The more I dig, the more I find. But, please don’t think I am not focusing on these murders. I am, I simply believe there’s a lot more to what is going than meets the eye. I think our killer is giving us the runaround.”

  “Can you give me a preliminary report on your suspects, and the evidence you have gathered so far? I have to do a press release, and update the crime commissioner. Obviously, I’ll be careful what I say. I don’t want the community to panic, or compromise your investigation.”

  “I’ll get it to you by tomorrow lunchtime, sir.”

  A light breeze stirred the tall grass on either side of the Ridgeway.

  The distant hills were a faded purple in the haze.

  Yvonne inhaled a lungful of fresh air, slipping her hand through Tasha’s arm. “I’m sorry to bring you up here for work on our weekend.” She grimaced. “It’s devastating to think that a couple’s murder happened here, and on such a day as this.”

  The psychologist cast her gaze about their surroundings. “Should I be worried?”

  “I doubt it, not with police tape everywhere, and officers still popping up here regularly.”

  “Thank goodness for that. Not that I would be too concerned, with Dyfed-Powys’ hottest detective in tow.” />
  “I doubt there is much either of us could do against a killer with a shotgun. I’d probably be relying on you to disarm him with your psychologising,” she said, deliberately playing with the word.

  Tasha laughed. “Oh, God… Seriously though, what are we doing here? You’re being mysterious.”

  “Well, you know what I told you about the murders?”

  “Yes…”

  “I wanted to discuss photographs with you.” She pulled the prints from her bag.

  “Are these from the crime scene?”

  “No, though I do want to show you the crime scene at some point, but these are something else.”

  “Okay.”

  “I think they could be related.”

  “Right.”

  “They were extracted from a camera found in a rucksack up here. We think it was left around the time the couple was murdered. The camera’s memory card had twelve photographs on it, none of which made sense in either a touristy way, or an artistic way. They lack a true focal point, or any intelligent composition. See what you think…”

  They sat on the trunk of a fallen tree, where the edge of the wood provided shade.

  Tasha spent several minutes perusing images, before lifting her eyes to Yvonne. “They’re unsettling, aren’t they? They’re hardly happy snaps.”

  “I’m glad you said that. It was my impression too. There’s a sort of desperation in them. The question is, what was the photographer trying to achieve?”

  Tasha’s brow furrowed. “Well, I’d say whoever took these, did so either by accident, or they were lost, and trying to get their bearings.” She shrugged. “Perhaps they had taken drugs, and become disorientated and lost. They could have been snapping features, so they knew where they had been, and didn’t walk in circles.”

  Yvonne nodded. “I had thought something similar, except that some of these images are of patches of grass, and could be literally anywhere. And there are images of the bare blue sky with nothing else. Others are snaps of foliage, which are duplicated.”

  Tasha nodded. “Which brings me back to the idea that the photos were accidental. Someone didn’t know their camera was going off.”