Closing his eyes, he smiled as he played back the interview with DC Maggie Jamieson in his head.
His trophies.
He could see it all in his mind. Just like it was yesterday. Holding the lifeless bodies in his arms. Stroking them. His heart raced.
Sitting in the field, talking to his buried treasures. All of them.
Collecting the missing animal posters and folding them neatly. Placing them in his memory box so he could relive the experience at a later time.
The excitement overwhelmed him.
He came.
Wiping his hand with a tissue he smiled again.
As for mummy-dearest, I have plans for her. One day.
Thanks for the memories, DC Jamieson.
CHAPTER NINETY-FOUR
‘You did it, Maggie, and you were right all along. I’m sorry we ever doubted you.’ She couldn’t say for sure, but Maggie thought her boss almost looked embarrassed.
‘To be fair, it wasn’t just me. It was all of us. But thanks for giving me the leeway, even when you didn’t want to. Kate really pulled things together for us. I’m just angry that people still died before we had all the solid evidence we needed.’
Despite the fact that Raven’s appeal was thrown out of court and there was no chance he would be released, Maggie didn’t feel like celebrating. She couldn’t help but wonder if she had pushed harder, demanded the higher ups took her more seriously, maybe Raven’s sister could have been brought to justice sooner. She wasn’t surprised to learn that Sasha had been found dead of a heroin overdose in her cell. They had requested that Sasha be put in the Vulnerable Persons Unit for her own protection, but she refused. Although it couldn’t be proven, Raven clearly did have reach and influence beyond his prison cell.
Maggie had been bombarded by the media on a daily basis since Raven’s further arrest but refused to speak with them. All interviews would go through police Comms and they’d give the official line. She could just imagine how embarrassing that would be. Although nobody knew how active a role Adrian Harrison or Raven’s sister played at the time of the original conviction, and with Harrison and Sasha dead, it would only be Raven who faced the consequences.
It was almost a fluke that the team, well Bethany and her eagle eye, had discovered that Raven’s estranged brother had never visited him in custody and that it was in fact Adrian Harrison posing as his brother. The police suspected that it was at these visits that Adrian and Raven worked the plan to get Raven out. Sasha was claiming that Raven had threatened her to go along with everything or he would have her killed, but Maggie was sure there was more to the story. Maggie had no doubt that Bill Raven would be holding that information close until he felt it may be of some benefit. Perhaps a bargaining tool for something he wanted in prison.
She only hoped that the victims’ families’ anger would subside, though she couldn’t blame them. The courts had nearly released the man who conspired to murder their loved ones, and who had murdered young women in the past. The media lapped it up with their sensational headlines.
‘You can’t beat yourself up about this, Maggie. You worked hard to ensure that we kept Raven in our sights, even when we didn’t want to. The CCRC still noted their own concerns about how the initial investigation was handled. There will be criticisms and learning points to take away but, ultimately, no blemish on your record. That’s a positive and I think we can all take something away from this. Things could have ended up very differently if you had not persevered.’
‘That’s very kind of you to say, ma’am, and I do appreciate it. I really can’t take all the credit – Dr Moloney was key in all this.’
‘Yes, Dr Moloney and you work well together. I was speaking to DCI Hastings about the possibility of funding for a consultant on our team.’
Maggie couldn’t hide her excitement. ‘And?’
‘Well, let’s just say that he wasn’t against the idea and the PCC has asked me to put together a proposal. I’ll need your help if you’re up for it? Dr Moloney’s secondment in the DAHU is coming to an end soon, so I’ll speak to her. See if she is up for some profiling work on a consultancy basis with us for a bit.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’ Maggie smiled.
‘I’ve seen what she can do, and I’m more than impressed. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet. I meant to ask: has anything come about with those threats she’d been receiving?’
Maggie’s face twisted. ‘Not yet, ma’am. Everything has been logged and Kate is keeping the police informed, but I don’t think they believe it’s a feasible threat at this time. The tests on the box came back showing it was coloured water, not blood, and pieces of dried pork rather than human skin.’ Kate had become increasingly reserved since it all started, but it wasn’t for her to point that out. If Kate wanted to talk about it, she would, and she hadn’t.
‘Is everything OK, Maggie?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Look, I’m not going to push you, but if there’s something that I should know, I trust you’ll tell me about it.’
‘Of course. There’s nothing, well nothing in terms of me. But if I do feel it’s relevant and my place to say something, I will.’
‘Shall we head back out to the team and update them on everything?’
‘Sounds like a plan, and boss …’
‘Yes.’
‘Thanks again.’
DI Rutherford’s lip curled, and Maggie almost saw a smile crack on an otherwise stern face. She followed her boss out and was pleasantly surprised when her colleagues cheered.
Nathan called out to her, his breath shaking.
‘What is it?’ Her heart drummed.
‘You’re not going to like this one bit.’
‘Spit it out, Nathan. You’re beginning to ruin my mood.’
‘Just had a call come in. Police are on the scene. Body of a female has been found. Initial description sounds just like your friend Dr Moloney. I’m so sorry, Maggie …’
THE END
If you enjoyed Dead Wrong, be sure to follow Noelle Holten on Twitter @nholten40, on Facebook @noelleholtenauthor, and check out her website crimebookjunkie.co.uk for all the updates on her latest work.
And absolutely do not miss the third gripping thriller in the DC Maggie Jamieson series! Preorder it here if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
You can also find us @0neMoreChapter on Twitter and @0neMoreChapter on Facebook, where we’ll be shouting about all our new releases.
In the mood for even more heart-pounding thrillers to keep you racing through the pages?
You will adore The Perfect Couple by Jackie Kabler, a ferocious exploration of the perfect lie at the heart of a picture-perfect marriage set against a thrilling backdrop of secrets and serial killers. Click here if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
Similarly enthralling, The Murder House by Michael Wood is a gripping crime thriller of dark secrets and darker deeds starring the inimitable DCI Matilda Darke in the streets of Sheffield. Click here if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
You will also love Flowers for the Dead by C. K. Williams, an irresistibly tense suspense thriller set amidst the haunted heaths of Yorkshire. Click here if you’re in the UK and here if you’re in the US.
Happy reading!
Acknowledgements
Once again, there are just so many people to thank, so I have to apologize if I am too vague or if I miss anyone out – it is not intentional. Just know that you’re all amazing!
I’d like to thank my family and friends both near and far, for the tremendous support they have given me from the moment they learned I was interested in writing and for cheering me on when Dead Inside was published.
A massive thanks to Finn Cotton, editor extraordinaire for his patience, guidance and belief in me as a writer and to the whole Killer Reads/One More Chapter team who have been fantastic since this crazy journey began.
Special thanks to my beta readers.
You blew me away again with your generous praise and feedback. Thank you to everyone who has allowed me to use their names! And for the most part, their characters are nothing like them in real life … ha ha!
A heartfelt thank you to all the authors who have been so incredibly supportive, you have no idea how much it means to me – particularly Angela Marsons, Martina Cole, Nic Parker, Graham Smith, Mel Comley, Emma Kennedy, Mel Sherratt, Ian Rankin, Robert Bryndza, MW Craven, Howard Linskey, Michael J. Malone, Lisa Regan, Chris Merrit, KL Slater, Rona Halsall, Craig Robertson, Gordon Brown and Caroline Mitchell – a thousand #thankyous would never be enough. Apologies if I missed anyone out.
To the crime writing community – do you know how SUPERB you are? Seriously! I wish I could name each and every one of you – your kind words, encouragement, inspiration and overwhelming support continues to amaze me. Don’t ever change.
To my amazing blogger friends, I want to name you all, but I can’t – so if you are reading this and thinking ‘is she talking about me?’ the answer is – Hell yeah, I am! Love you all. Special mention to the original #blogsquad, as well as Kim Nash, Anne Cater, Rachel Gilbey, and JB Johnston for always letting me be me. You all make me smile each and every day!
A massive thanks to the Bookouture team (both the authors and my colleagues) for all the amazing advice and support!
Of course, I will always mention Tamworth Probation/Tamworth IOM; Stafford IOM; and all my remarkable ex-colleagues within the Police and Probation Service – both the public and private sectors. Your dedication and professionalism astound me – I may have been ‘paroled’ after 18 years of service, but I think about your truly fantastic work all the time – and all the stories I now have to tell! Many thanks to the real DS Jim Hooper and his fabulous wife Rachel for answering any questions I had.
Finally, a massive thanks to all the readers. There are just no words to convey how much your support and reviews have meant to me. You make me believe I can keep on doing this and give me a reason to write.
A Note from Noelle
I said this in my debut novel, Dead Inside, but it is worth noting once again. The book is set in Staffordshire; however, I have used some literary licence by making up names of towns/places to fit with the story.
Having been a Senior/Probation Officer for 18 years, I left in 2017. There are some references to the changes that were implemented in 2015, but I went all nostalgic and some of the work/terms refer to a time when Probation was all one service – though it seems I may have been psychic as the service is coming together under the public banner once again. Regardless, it made things a lot less complicated. Any errors to police procedure/probation or any other agency mentioned within the story are purely my own or intentional to move the story forward.
About the Author
Noelle Holten is an award-winning blogger at www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk. She is the PR & Social Media Manager for Bookouture, a leading digital publisher in the UK, and a regular reviewer on the Two Crime Writers and a Microphone podcast. Noelle worked as a Senior Probation Officer for eighteen years, covering cases of domestic violence and abuse. She has three Hons BA’s – Philosophy, Sociology (Crime & Deviance) and Community Justice – and a Masters in Criminology. Dead Wrong is the second novel in a new series featuring DC Maggie Jamieson.
@nholten40
www.crimebookjunkie.co.uk
Also by Noelle Holten
Dead Inside
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
Bay Adelaide Centre, East Tower
22 Adelaide Street West, 41st Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5H 4E3, Canada
www.harpercollins.ca
India
HarperCollins India
A 75, Sector 57
Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201 301, India
www.harpercollins.co.in
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers New Zealand
Unit D1, 63 Apollo Drive
Rosedale 0632
Auckland, New Zealand
www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF, UK
www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
www.harpercollins.com
The Other Killer Page 26