by JJ Franklin
‘That’s for sure.’
It was a relief when the cortège arrived accompanied by two motorcycle outriders. He waited as the Chief Super helped Lynne and Melli out of the funeral car. Matt thought they both looked overwhelmed and hesitated as to whether he should step forwards. Lynne solved the problem by moving to greet him.
‘Inspector Turrell, I’m so glad you are here. Would you mind escorting us?’
Matt glanced at the super, not wanting to tread on his toes, and received a nod to continue. As they paused for the coffin to be unloaded, Matt sought for something to say. Melli stood pale and quiet, appearing to be in a world of her own. Following the coffin up the aisle, Matt chose to sit next to Lynne, hoping that having someone else to support would take his mind off the fact that Grant was dead and this was the final goodbye.
Lynne remained dry-eyed throughout and didn’t seem to need his support. As always with funerals, the music brought feelings to the surface and Melli burst into tears at the start of the first hymn and cried throughout. The super had come prepared and offered his hankie while Lynne held her hand. Matt hoped this indicated their relationship was back on track.
As the service continued, he risked glancing round to see stony-faced colleagues, including Jane and Sam, successfully burying their feelings and turned back to concentrate on the elaborate carved pulpit. When at last it was over, Matt sensed the relief of the whole congregation.
Outside, as Lynne received condolences from the top brass, Melli dried her eyes and approached him. ‘Inspector Turrell, can I talk to you?’
‘Of course. What’s on your mind, Melli?’
‘I want to join the force, here in Warwickshire, like Dad.’
‘Aren’t you going to university?’
‘Not now.’
Matt paused. This sounded like some sort of grief reaction and he didn’t want to encourage her, even though it echoed his own choices. He was aware of Lynne’s anxious glances towards them and guessed she was aware of Melli’s decision. Choosing his words carefully, he led Melli away from the crowd. ‘This may not be a good time to make such an important decision.’
‘That’s what Mum says.’
‘And she’s right, Melli. You would be better getting your degree and then, if you still want to join the force, it would give you more choices.’
‘Dad worked his way up. I want to do the same.’
‘Things have changed so much since your dad and even I joined. The advance in technology alone calls for better-educated officers. And yes, there are advantages to working your way up, but if you were my daughter, I would recommend getting your degree first.’ Matt realised this was the first time he could understand where his dad was coming from. Could he have been right after all?
Lynne approached. ‘I hope you are not encouraging her, Inspector Turrell.’
‘Of course he isn’t. No one understands.’ Melli began to flounce away.
Matt reached out to stop her. ‘Hang on. I have an idea. You have nine months until you go to university. How about you keep your options open until then and, if you’re still keen, sometime next year I’ll try to get you a few days’ work experience.’
‘You’d do that?’
‘Can’t promise I’ll be able to swing it, but I’ll ask.’
‘No tricks?’
He wanted to laugh, already seeing an astute mind that someday could make an ideal member of the force. ‘None at all. I’ll send you some information meanwhile.’
‘Okay.’
‘Thanks.’ Lynne touched his arm as she followed Melli back towards the cars.
Matt wondered what Grant would have made of his offer. Maybe he wouldn’t thank him.
Chapter 93
It was Christmas Eve and the lights from the Christmas tree bestowed a shimmer on the room, softening the corners and giving it a snug, inviting feel. For the first time, Matt felt the charm of the tree. He drew Eppie onto his knee, enjoying the feel of her body as she relaxed against him. ‘Alone at last.’
‘Not for long. Mum should be back soon.’
‘That’s where you’re wrong.’
Eppie sat up straight and turned to look at him. ‘What are you up to, Matt? You’ve had that look all day.’
‘Your mother is at this moment enjoying a welcome drink…’
‘You found somewhere?’
‘Yes.’
‘Where?’
‘Heath End Spa.’
‘Oh.’
Eppie looked worried and, given the memories of the place, Matt thought it wasn’t surprising. He tried to reassure her. ‘Hey. Clive Draper is in custody. They don’t breed serial killers there.’
‘No. Of course not. It’s just… I can still see… Promise you’ll never take me there.’
‘I’ve got no intention.’
‘Was she pleased?’
‘Couldn’t get out of here fast enough.’
‘Did you tell her it was—’
‘No way. Anyway, I don’t intend to spend Christmas talking about your mother, Mrs Turrell.’ He pulled her close and indulged in a long kiss.
Acknowledgements
Special thanks go to my beta readers: Janet Williams, Maureen Hill, Barbara Speake, and my police advisors, Paul Taberner for Warwickshire and Kevin Robinson for overall police procedure.
I would like to thank Marina Zain, Head of Legal for The Royal Shakespeare Company and Jackie Handy of Stratford-upon-Avon College.
Also Rodney Bright at Wootten Wawen Marina who gave me a lot of help and information regarding narrowboats.
Thanks to Jann Tracey, my editor, for her eagle eye and Jane Dixon-Smith for her work on the cover. Also, for excellent advice given on my first draft, the Hilary Johnson Authors’ Advisory Service.
I’m extremely grateful for the help and advice of Rowena Ball of SilverWood Books in bringing this book to print.
Also by JJ Franklin
Urge to Kill
The first DI Matt Turrell investigation
Matt shivered at the odd mix of images. It was almost as if they had the copper’s nightmare to deal with – a child’s murder. Except this was no innocent child but a young woman; he would guess around twenty-two and with everything to live for. Though it was obvious she was a woman, the bows in her hair, her pink party dress and white ankle socks said she was a little girl.
Detective Inspector Matt Turrell returns from honeymoon to face the most bizarre and dangerous case of his career after the body of a woman is found at a luxury spa near Stratford-upon-Avon. However, struggling within the confines of his new marriage, and haunted by a past mistake, Matt finds it difficult to concentrate.
Killer Clive Draper is a clever, ambiguous character whose motives and personality are not beyond empathy. Empowered by his first kill, Clive uses his charm to draw further victims into his net. Seeing Matt as his mortal enemy, he uses his charisma to lure Matt’s new wife into his snare.
With the danger coming ever closer to home, Matt finds himself drawn into a deadly duel, where he must put his own life on the line and where the stakes have never been higher.
Urge to Kill is the first in a series of novels featuring DI Matt Turrell of the Warwickshire Police. It is a rich psychological thriller with great character development of both the detective and the murderer. The reader quickly becomes engaged in the epic battle between these two men. The book is set within the historic district of Stratford-upon-Avon.
About the Author
JJ Franklin comes from a mental health and counselling background. She wrote scripts for the BBC before penning her first novel, Urge to Kill, a psychological police thriller featuring DI Turrell, set in and around Stratford-upon-Avon, where she runs a crime-writing group. For more by the author visit her website www.bmlittlewood.com
Copyright Notice
Published in 2016 by SilverWood Books
SilverWood Books Ltd
14 Small Street, Bristol, BS1 1DE, United Kingdom
www.silverwoodbooks.co.uk
Copyright © JJ Franklin 2016
The right of JJ Franklin to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the copyright holder.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The Open House was a real event to celebrate the opening of the renovated main theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. The Royal Shakespeare Company has kindly given permission for the theatre setting and the Open House event to be used for the relevant scenes in the book, although the incidents portrayed in this novel are fictional. Gregory Doran, now Artistic Director of The RSC, was involved in The Open House and has graciously given his consent to be mentioned in this regard.
ISBN 978-1-78132-482-0 (paperback)
ISBN 978-0-95719-353-6 (ebook)
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Set in Sabon by SilverWood Books
Printed on responsibly sourced paper