‘This is Kevin and Gemma,’ Jane said.
‘Hello, Kevin. I’m DI Winter Meadows.’ Meadows stepped forward.
‘Winter?’ Kevin’s eyes grew wide.
‘Yes, Winter.’
‘Winter, Winter!’ Kevin cried as a broad grin lifted his face. ‘Make it snow, make it snow, Winter Man!’ He leaped up and down, his hands flapping widely.
‘Shit,’ Edris hissed and moved behind Meadows.
‘Interesting name,’ Jane commented.
Gemma put a calming hand on Kevin. ‘Snow in fourteen days, remember.’
‘Fourteen days,’ Kevin repeated. ‘You make it snow in fourteen days.’ He eyed the inspector.
‘Well, I…’ Meadows saw Gemma nod at the side of Kevin. ‘Yes, fourteen days.’
Kevin gave a booming laugh which shook his body. ‘The Winter Man makes it snow. Do you want to build a snowman?’ Kevin sang.
‘Kevin’s favourite film is Frozen,’ Gemma explained. ‘We’re going to Lapland in two weeks.’
‘Frozen! That’s appropriate, don’t you think?’ Edris whispered.
Meadows ignored his constable. ‘Kevin, would you like to show me and Edris around the house?’
Kevin stopped singing and looked at Edris. ‘Show you?’
Edris looked relieved that his name hadn’t sparked another outburst. ‘Yes.’
‘I think it might be better if Miles–’ Jane began but Meadows cut her off.
‘You can show us around your home,’ Meadows coaxed. ‘You can be the boss.’
Kevin grinned. ‘Like boss lady.’ He looked at Jane. ‘Yes.’
‘OK’
Meadows turned to Jane. ‘I think we’ll manage fine with Kevin and Gemma. If you could put together the paperwork, I’ll collect it when I’ve finished my tour.’
‘Very well,’ Jane snapped and she turned back into her office, firmly shutting the door.
‘Come on then, Kevin, where shall we start?’ Meadows said with a smile.
‘Boss lady’s room,’ Kevin pointed to the office door.
‘Do you go into this room?’ Meadows asked.
‘No.’ Kevin frowned.
‘Can’t say I blame you,’ Edris said.
Kevin ambled to the next door, humming and swinging his arms. Edris kept close to Meadows as they followed.
‘You were on duty Monday night?’ Meadows said, addressing Gemma.
‘Yes, why? Is that when Alan was…?’ Gemma’s eyes widened.
‘We aren’t certain, but as Alan was last seen on Monday evening…’ Edris said.
‘Who was the sleep-in?’
Meadows watched her movements closely. She seemed frightened. Was it because she had been alone that night with a killer roaming the building? Or is it something else?
‘Leah.’
‘Did you see Alan on Monday evening?’
‘He came into the sitting room about six o’clock to say he was leaving.’ Gemma folded her hands across her chest as she spoke.
‘And after that?’
‘No.’
‘Other than Leah, did you see anyone else on Monday evening?’
‘No, well, just the residents.’
Kevin was hopping from foot to foot by the next door. Meadows sensed he was eager to get on with the tour. ‘So what door is this, Kevin?’
‘Food store.’ Kevin’s eyes danced. ‘Lots of ice cream.’
‘Do you like ice cream?’
‘Yes.’ Kevin nodded and a grin spread across his face.
‘Do you go to the cellar, I mean food store, to eat the ice cream?’
‘No, not allowed. The door’s locked. Boss lady has the key. I eat the ice cream in the kitchen when they are all asleep.’ Kevin gave a booming laugh which shook his body.
‘So it was you that ate all the ice cream!’ Gemma said and shook her head playfully.
‘What night did you eat the ice cream?’
Kevin looked blankly at Meadows.
‘He doesn’t really understand the concept of time. I’m afraid days of the week are meaningless,’ Gemma explained.
‘Do the residents get up during the night?’
‘Sometimes?’
‘And Monday night?’
‘No,’ Gemma looked at Kevin. ‘We had a quiet night on Monday.’
Meadows noticed the colour rise in her cheeks but didn’t comment. ‘OK. Next door, Kevin.’
‘Yes, Winter Man.’ Kevin shuffled to the adjacent door. ‘Sleepy room.’ He knocked loudly on the door. ‘No one home.’
‘Can we have a look?’
Kevin turned to Gemma, who nodded. He opened the door and stepped inside. It was a small room, sparsely furnished with a single bed and bedside table. A door led to an en suite.
‘The room is fitted with an alarm to alert the sleep-in when assistance is needed,’ Gemma explained.
They left the room and proceeded to the next door.
‘Liam’s room.’ Kevin knocked. ‘No one home.’
‘The rooms are close to the cellar,’ Edris said.
‘Close enough to hear an argument,’ Meadows agreed.
‘Come on, Winter Man,’ Kevin said.
They stopped at the last door on that side of the corridor.
‘My room.’ Kevin beamed. He tapped his fingers on the door. ‘No one in.’
Meadows laughed. ‘Can we see your room?’
‘OK.’ Kevin led them inside.
It was not what Meadows expected. They stood in a sitting room with comfy seating in the centre and a large television mounted on the wall. A table was set against the wall with two chairs. The room was decorated in various shades of blue, with winter landscapes in frames. A shelf held rows of DVDs and underneath it stood a large plush snowman.
‘You have a very nice room.’ Meadows smiled at Kevin.
‘All the residents’ rooms are similar, with sitting room, bedroom and en suite. Some have a small kitchen to make a drink and snack,’ Gemma explained. ‘We’ve just redecorated this room, haven’t we, Kevin?’
‘I picked the colour,’ Kevin said proudly. He moved across the room and picked up the plush toy. ‘Do you want to build a snowman?’ he sang.
Meadows laughed. ‘I’ll have to learn that song.’
They left Kevin’s room and moved to the room opposite.
‘Nicole’s room,’ Kevin said.
Meadows knocked the door and waited. ‘Nobody home.’
Kevin giggled then led them back to the hall where Valentine was standing guard at the main door.
‘There are another three rooms upstairs and a separate bathroom and massage room,’ Gemma said.
‘I don’t think we need to go up,’ Meadows said. ‘What about this door, Kevin?’ He pointed to a door near the entrance.
‘It’s the place that no one has been,’ Kevin said.
‘Stairs to the bell tower and roof,’ Gemma explained. ‘The door is kept locked.’
The front door opened and they all turned to see a young man and woman enter.
‘Leah and Liam,’ Valentine said.
They stopped at the sight of the strangers. Both were the same height and the first thing Meadows noticed was Leah’s pale complexion. Despite being out in the cold, her skin was ivory, with dark shadows under pale blue eyes. Her skeletal figure was evident beneath her coat. In her hand she clutched a plastic shopping bag.
Liam moved behind Leah, glaring. His narrow lips were set into a round face. His hair was white blond and showed the pink of his scalp beneath.
‘Hello, Liam, the Winter Man is here,’ Kevin said.
‘We’ve got the ice cream.’ Leah lifted the bag up.
‘Yeah, ice cream!’ Kevin danced happily.
‘For later. We’d better take it to the kitchen before it melts. Come on, Liam.’ She smiled weakly at Meadows before entering the sitting room with Liam shuffling close behind.
Meadows turned to Edris, who was eying the sitting room with unease. ‘Why don’t you go and see if Jane
has the paperwork ready while I see the sitting room and kitchen with Kevin.’
Relief flooded Edris’ face. ‘I’ll see you back here.’
‘Come on then, Kevin, show me the sitting room.’
They entered to a hubbub of noise. The sitting room was spacious with several sofas and chairs, where the residents sat doing various activities. Meadows looked around, then up at the high ceiling with the original church beams still visible.
‘Everyone is here,’ Kevin said.
The residents took no notice of Meadows and continued with their activities. All except the man Meadows had seen on the stairs earlier. He stood staring, the black book still clutched in his hand, his face expressionless. Meadows tried smiling but got no response. The man took a pen from his pocket, opened the book and started scribbling.
‘That’s Eddy, I think your presence is unsettling him,’ Gemma said. She turned to Kevin. ‘Do you want to show us the kitchen?’
Kevin nodded and led the way.
Meadows took one more look around the sitting room then followed Kevin into the kitchen area, where Liam was sitting at a large pine dining table. Leah acknowledged them with a smile as she made tea.
‘Get out!’ Liam shouted, his eyes challenging the detective.
‘Hi, Liam. Kevin is just showing me the kitchen,’ Meadows explained, trying to keep his voice friendly and smiled.
Liam leapt out of his seat. ‘Get out, I don’t want you here.’
‘It’s OK, Liam,’ Leah said as she put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Kevin shuffled in front of Meadows. ‘Don’t shout at the Winter Man, Liam.’
‘Fuck off, Kevin,’ Liam bellowed.
‘That’s enough, Liam. Now say sorry to Kevin. You know you shouldn’t say bad words.’
‘Alan says the F-word,’ Kevin said.
Meadows noticed the look exchanged between Gemma and Leah. Maybe Alan hadn’t had much patience with the residents. Liam’s fists were clenched and he appeared to be struggling to hold his temper.
‘It’s OK, Liam, I’m going now. Thank you for showing me around, Kevin. I’ll come and see you again.’
As Meadows left the kitchen, he heard Kevin shout at Liam. ‘You made the Winter Man go away.’
He couldn’t help smiling.
In the hallway he met with Edris who was clutching a stack of files.
‘The residents’ personal files. Jane Pritchard says she wants them back ASAP.’ Edris grinned.
‘She’ll get them back when I’ve finished with them,’ Meadows said and then turned to Valentine. ‘They shouldn’t be much longer in the cellar. At least you look a little warmer now.’
‘I am, thanks,’ Valentine said with a smile.
‘Come on, Edris, we’d better break the news to Alan Whitby’s wife.’
‘See you later.’ Edris winked at Valentine before leaving the building.
Chapter Six
‘Are you OK?’ Meadows glanced sideways at Edris who was looking out of the car window.
‘Yeah, I’m good now we are away from that place.’
‘You surprise me. I wouldn’t have thought you would be prejudiced against those with mental health conditions.’
‘I’m not.’ Edris bristled. ‘It’s just… They make me feel uncomfortable.’
Meadows sensed there was more to it.
‘You were really good with Kevin. I was impressed,’ Edris said.
‘Thanks. There was a guy called Billy in the commune when I was growing up. He was a bit like Kevin. He was about forty with a mental age of ten. He used to like to play with us kids. We just accepted him as one of us. It was the reason his family came to live in the commune. Little understanding of mental health in those days. He never harmed any of us, even when he threw a tantrum, and boy did he have a wicked temper when he didn’t get his own way.’ Meadows smiled at the memory.
‘I wouldn’t like to see Kevin throw a tantrum. Did you see the size of his hands? I reckon he could easily have put Alan Whitby in the freezer,’ Edris said.
‘You’re kidding? Why would he want to do that?’
‘Well, all that talk about snowmen and Frozen. Maybe he couldn’t wait to make a snowman.’
Meadows chuckled. ‘He has a mental age of about six. If he did shove Alan Whitby into the freezer, I doubt he would have kept quiet about it.’
‘I suppose not, but what if someone helped him cover it up? He would’ve wanted to show Gemma his handiwork and she could’ve told him not to say anything, then moved Alan’s car.’
‘But why would she do that?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe she’s fond of Kevin and didn’t want him taken away.’ Edris turned in his seat to face Meadows. ‘Maybe they don’t want the home to get a bad reputation or be shut down. That Jane was a bit shifty.’
‘Yeah, she was. She certainly knows more than she’s letting on. I think you’re right, we have to treat this like any other investigation and keep an open mind. Gemma did look a bit worried when I asked her about Monday night. Then again, it would be worrying to know someone was murdered so close by. If Leah was asleep that would have left Gemma alone and vulnerable. What if the killer thought she saw or heard something?’
‘What if Gemma knows who the killer is and is too frightened to come forward?’ Edris added.
‘I think it would be wise to keep a round-the-clock presence at the home.’
‘As long as you’re not suggesting that I take that job.’
‘Well if you’re offering…’
Bryn Coed village was a mixture of terraced houses, a newly built estate, and old stone semis. The river Amman ran through the centre. Over a bridge and down a narrow road, houses were set amongst the trees. It was here that the Whitbys lived. Meadows stepped out of the car and surveyed the well-kept semi-detached house. Large clay pots flanked the door and a caravan stood on the gravel driveway.
‘He seems to have done well for himself,’ Edris commented. ‘The caravan looks new, and the missing Jag is less than a year old. They don’t come cheap.’
‘No, I don’t suppose he earned that much as a supervisor. He could have had a windfall or maybe he just saved. Worth checking into his finances.’
They got out of the car and Meadows saw the curtains twitch. He hated this part of the job.
As they approached the house the front door was flung open and a woman in her early fifties stepped out. She had short brown hair speckled with grey. It stuck out at an angle where she had obviously been running her hand through it.
‘Mrs Whitby?’ Meadows asked.
‘Yes.’ She twisted her hands together, looking frantically between the detectives.
‘Detective Inspector Meadows and this is Detective Constable Edris.’
‘Have you found him?’ Her voice was high-pitched, anxious.
‘Perhaps it would be better if we went inside.’ Meadows smiled kindly.
‘Oh, God!’ Her hands flew to her mouth. ‘It’s bad news isn’t it?’
‘Please, Mrs Whitby – Melanie. It would be better if we came in,’ Meadows coaxed.
She led them into the sitting room and turned expectantly to Meadows. ‘Please just tell me.’
‘I’m very sorry–’ Meadows began. ‘The body of a man answering the description of your husband was found this morning.’
The colour drained from her face and she let out a wounded howl. Meadows took her arm and gently led her to the sofa where she sank down, her arms wrapped around her body.
‘Edris, go and make Melanie a cup of tea, please, plenty of sugar.’
Edris left the room and Meadows took a seat in the chair opposite Melanie Whitby. The shock of the news made her body tremble and she rocked slightly as she sat. There were no tears, but Meadows knew they would come when the news sank in. He waited for the inevitable questions. In the background he could here Edris tinkering in the kitchen.
‘Are you sure it’s Alan?’
‘We are fairly certain, yes. Th
ere will need to be a formal identification from a family member,’ Meadows said.
‘Was it a car accident?’ she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
‘No, I’m afraid it wasn’t an accident. Is there someone we can call for you?’
She shook her head.
‘It would be better to have someone with you.’
‘My daughter. Claire. She’s at work.’
Edris came back into the room and placed a mug of steaming tea into Melanie Whitby’s hands.
‘Oh God, how am I going to tell her?’ Sobs wracked her body and the tea spilled over her hands. Edris moved quickly, taking the mug and placing it on a nearby table.
‘We’ll contact her for you, can you give us her number?’ Edris asked.
‘My mobile’s on the kitchen table. Claire’s work and mobile numbers are in the contact list. But you can’t tell her on the phone…’
She hiccoughed.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll tell her when she gets here.’ Meadows nodded at Edris who left to search for the phone.
‘What happened?’ She wiped the tears with the back of her hand.
Meadows picked his words carefully. ‘Your husband was found at Bethesda House early this morning. I’m afraid we are treating his death as suspicious.’
Melanie looked blankly at Meadows, then confusion gave way to anger. ‘You mean one of those loonies killed Alan?’
It saddened Meadows that blame would be laid on those who couldn’t defend themselves.
‘I don’t think–’
‘I told him it wasn’t safe to work there, but he wouldn’t listen,’ Melanie ranted.
‘Please, Melanie, at this stage we don’t know the circumstances surrounding Alan’s death. I can however tell you that we don’t believe any of the residents of Bethesda are responsible for what happened.’
‘What are you saying?’ she asked, her forehead creased with confusion. ‘Was there a break-in?’
‘We don’t know at this stage, but I promise you we’re doing everything we can to find out what happened to your husband.’
‘Oh God.’ Melanie put her hands over her face. ‘I can’t believe this is happening.’
‘Claire is on her way and I’ve requested a family liaison officer,’ Edris said when he walked back into the room. He had a box of tissues in his hand and placed them on the table next to Melanie.
Frozen Minds: A murder mystery set deep in Wales (DI Winter Meadows Book 2) Page 3