‘Why didn’t you call the police?’
‘We were afraid. Liam would’ve been taken away and how would we explain Alan and Cillian being there? I took Liam to his room, showered him and put him in fresh pyjamas. I gave him a sedative and he fell asleep.’
‘Cillian had already cleaned up most of the blood by the time I went back to the cellar. He came up with the idea of the freezer, he’d been watching all those crime scene documentaries and thought it best that Liam found the body so any hair or DNA could be explained. We put Liam’s pyjamas in Alan’s car with the food from the freezer then used the hoist to put Alan in.’
‘But he wasn’t dead.’
‘I swear he wasn’t breathing. We wouldn’t have put him in there to die if we had known.’
‘The diazepam mixed with alcohol likely made his breathing very shallow. Didn’t you check for a pulse?’
‘No.’ Leah bit her bottom lip. ‘We panicked. We weren’t thinking straight.’
‘What about Tara?’
‘I don’t know what happened. We were so scared that we were going to be found out, every day I woke up feeling sick and afraid. I didn’t realise at first that my health was deteriorating. That weekend I had been into hospital, the anaemia and high blood pressure was causing a strain on my heart. So now not only had my one kidney failed, my heart was giving up. I told Cillian I wanted to stop the dialysis, there seemed little point. I told him to let me go and I would leave a letter confessing to the murder of Alan, that way Liam would be safe. I guess it must have pushed him over the edge. I really don’t know if he went with the intention of killing her or just to make her feel some of our pain. I didn’t know she was dead until you came to Bethesda asking questions.’
‘He did intend to kill you and Liam.’
‘No, he just wanted us to be together.’
‘Why won’t you try to help yourself? A court would be sympathetic and with your medical condition I doubt you would get a custodial sentence.’
‘There’s nothing left to live for.’ Leah’s voice trembled.
‘There’s Liam. You’re all he’s got.’ Meadows gave her hand a gentle squeeze. ‘Come on, you have to try. Liam used all his strength to save you, he doesn’t want you to die.’
A tear rolled down Leah’s cheek and she turned her head away.
The door opened and Edris peeked inside. Meadows nodded.
‘You have a visitor, Leah.’ He stood and walked to the door.
Liam rushed into the room.
‘Leah!’ He threw himself on the bed.
Dean Casey stood in the doorway. ‘Thank you,’ he said to Meadows.
‘I’ll leave you three alone.’ Meadows looked back and saw Leah stroking Liam’s head. He smiled and left the room.
‘You’re taking a bit of a risk sending Liam in,’ Edris said.
‘I have to give her a reason to live. I just hope it works.’
Chapter Thirty-five
Meadows and Edris stood outside Bethesda House, watching the residents climb into the minibus which would take them to catch a plane to Lapland. Harry stooped beside them and set down her case.
‘Are you looking forward to the trip?’ Meadows asked.
‘Yeah, I don’t know who’s more excited, me or the residents. It’s just a shame that some of us won’t be going. It’s still hard to believe. Leah and Cillian…’
‘Try not to think about it.’ Edris touched her arm.
‘I heard Jane and Miles were released on bail.’
‘One of the conditions is that they don’t come near here,’ Meadows said. ‘The case will go to trial and I would imagine they will both get custodial sentences.’
‘Good, well I better go.’
Edris leaned in and kissed her on the cheek before she climbed on the bus.
‘Dare I ask what all that was about?’ Meadows grinned.
Edris looked coy. ‘I’m sort of seeing her.’
‘What about Valentine?’
‘Well, that didn’t work out.’
‘Didn’t work out? When have you had the time to… oh, never mind. I hope you haven’t left her broken-hearted.’
‘No, actually she used me, took advantage of my body then told me she didn’t want a relationship.’
‘Good for her.’ Meadows laughed.
‘Winter Man!’ Kevin came lumbering out of the front door dragging his pink and white spotted suitcase.
Meadows felt his heart swell and couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face as he walked towards Kevin. He could see that the doctors had shaved his head and a row of stitches were visible beneath the stubble. His eye was swollen and his cheek a purple-yellowish hue.
‘I’m so glad to see you back on your feet.’ Meadows embraced the big man. ‘I have something for you.’ He took a scarf from his pocket and handed it to Kevin. ‘It’s for your snowman. My mum knitted it for you.’
‘You have a mum?’ Kevin’s eyes were wide.
Meadows laughed. ‘Yes.’
‘Come on, Kev, you better get on the bus, you don’t want the plane to leave without you.’ Gemma smiled. ‘He was determined to come on the trip, the doctor thought it would do him good.’
‘I doubt they would’ve been able to stop him. You have a great time, Kevin, take a picture of your snowman and I’ll come and see you when you get back.’
‘Bye bye, Winter Man.’ Kevin grinned and climbed on the bus.
‘You know you frightened the life out of me climbing that tree,’ Edris said as the bus pulled out of the car park.
‘You needn’t have worried. Circus performers used to come to the commune when I was a kid. I was pretty good at trapeze and tightrope.’
‘You’re full of surprises.’ Edris laughed. ‘Shame you don’t have the same skills with women.’
Meadows grinned. ‘I think I’ll leave that up to you!’
‘Christmas dance is coming up. Why don’t you ask Daisy?’
‘Maybe I will.’ Meadows smiled as he watched the bus fade into the distance.
List of Characters
Bryn Mawr police station:
Detective Inspector Winter Meadows
DC Tristan Edris
Sergeant Dyfan Folland – Custody/Desk Sergeant
DS Rowena Paskin
DS Stefan Blackwell
PC Reena Valentine – uniform officer
PC Matthew Hanes – uniform officer
Chief Inspector Nathaniel Lester
Bethesda House:
Alan Whitby – assistant manager
Jane Pritchard – manager
Leah Parry – support worker
Cillian Treharne – support Worker
Gemma Scott – support worker
Miles Flint – support Worker
Harriet Maddox – support worker
Danielle Isaacs – support worker
Liam Casey – resident
Kevin Ellis – resident
Edward Pritchard (Eddy) – resident
Steven Howell – resident
Vanessa Owen – resident
Nicole Lewis – resident
Jason – replacement manager
Others:
Daisy Moore – pathologist
Melanie Whitby – Alan’s wife
Tara Casey – murder victim
Martin Hughes – resident social worker
Fern Meadows – Winter’s mother
Also featuring DI Winter Meadows
FROZEN MINDS is the second book in this series. If you enjoyed it, check out the first book, THE SILENT QUARRY.
Following a fall and a bang to the head, a woman’s memories come flooding back about an incident that occurred twenty years ago in which her friend was murdered. As she pieces together the events and tells the police, she begins to fear repercussions. DI Winter Meadows must work out the identity of the killer before they strike again.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08DD8L5LG/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DD8L5LG/
>
Other titles of interest
DEAD PRETTY by Candy Denman
When a woman is found dead in Hastings, Sussex, the medical examiner feels a murder has taken place. Yet she feels the police are not doing enough because the victim is a prostitute. Dr Callie Hughes will conduct her own investigation, no matter the danger.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B086K14RLN/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086K14RLN/
FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback from Amazon.
DEAD HILL by John Dean
The gruesome murder of a gangland member on a deserted hill brings DI Jack Harris out of his rural reverie. But when the pursuit of the truth sheds light on the detective’s own shady past, those around him will question their loyalties.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B06XH2ZJQ4/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XH2ZJQ4/
FREE with Kindle Unlimited and available in paperback from Amazon.
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Frozen Minds: A murder mystery set deep in Wales (DI Winter Meadows Book 2) Page 24