One Left Alive: A heart-stopping and gripping crime thriller (Detective Morgan Brookes Book 1)

by Helen Phifer

  ‘Has her boyfriend been in today?’

  She shook her head. ‘No, he hasn’t been here since the day before yesterday. I sent him home, told him he was no use to her if he was exhausted. I thought he’d have been back before now though.’

  Morgan wondered how much information she was permitted to share with the woman, and then wondered how she could protect Bronte if she didn’t know what was happening. She would take the flak for it if needed, she decided. She leant forward and lowered her voice.

  ‘He tried to kill himself yesterday and was on Ward 12, but he’s discharged himself and I’m worried about him.’

  The nurse’s hand lifted to her mouth. ‘Oh no, is it because I sent him home?’

  Morgan shook her head. ‘No, I wouldn’t think so. Did you speak to him much?’

  ‘Not really, he wasn’t the talking type. He spent most of his time staring at his phone and taking selfies.’

  ‘What of? Him in here?’

  ‘Mostly, a few times I caught him crouched next to Bronte’s bed. I don’t want to sound mean, though, and I know that’s what all kids do now. They live their lives on their phones and forever take pictures, but it made me a bit uncomfortable of the ones he took with Bronte. I mean, the girl is in a bad way and there he is spending twenty minutes making sure his hair looked right before taking photos of them both. Another thing as well, he never looked sad on them; he always had this big grin with his white teeth showing.’

  ‘That’s odd, I’d feel uncomfortable too. Did you ever ask him why he was taking them?’

  ‘I did, once, he said they were so Bronte could see how poorly she was and how he’d always been there for her when she did wake up. He started crying and I felt mean, so I left him to it. I hope to God he wasn’t putting them on Snapchat or Instagram.’

  Morgan was starting to get a really bad feeling about Harrison Wright. What if Ben was right and he was loving all the attention and drama? Maybe he wasn’t so innocent in all of this.

  ‘My sergeant wanted me to ask if Bronte had full blood work done when she was admitted.’

  The nurse nodded. ‘All patients in a serious condition do.’

  ‘Would they have run toxicology tests?’

  ‘Given the circumstances I would have assumed so, let me check her notes.’

  They walked into the room. It was much quieter in here without the ventilator. Morgan reached out, gently taking hold of the girl’s hand.

  ‘Hi, Bronte, it’s me, Morgan, from the police. Glad to see you’re fighting. Keep going, we’re all rooting for you.’ Tears welled in her eyes and she lifted her sleeve to brush them away. This was so hard; that poor girl didn’t deserve any of this.

  The nurse smiled at her. ‘You’re pretty nice for a copper. I take it you haven’t been one very long.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Oh, just a guess. You’ll get used to it eventually, although not always. I’ve been working in here for nine years and most days I can go home and try to switch off, you have to, or it would send you insane. But occasionally someone will end up in here and they’re far too young and didn’t deserve it. Those days it can be difficult to leave it all behind. Yes, here we go. There were no traces of anything unusual.’

  ‘Oh, right. Thank you, I just need to check in with my boss.’

  She left and went in search of the canteen. She needed something to eat and coffee. Ben didn’t answer so she left him a voicemail. Taking her latte and slice of Victoria sponge, she went and sat at the table she’d shared with Harrison. Pulling a notepad out of her bag, she began to scribble notes inside of everything she’d been told since she got here. It occurred to her she could go and speak to the pathologist while she was here. He may be able to help. As she left the dining room, she stopped a porter.

  ‘Please can you tell me how to get to the mortuary?’

  He pointed to the far end of the corridor. ‘Down there, turn right, straight on then first left.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  She headed in that direction and hoped that Declan would speak to her. She didn’t want to go back to Ben without anything of value.

  Turning into the corridor that led to the mortuary, she noticed the dark green paint on the walls was peeling and chipped. It badly needed painting to brighten it up; a few more lights wouldn’t go amiss either. Compared to the rest of the hospital it was as if they didn’t pay the electric bill down here. Morgan wished she had her jacket and hadn’t left it in the car. She shivered in the cool breeze flowing along the corridor. She felt as if she was going downhill into a gloomy, damp tunnel rather than walking along a hospital corridor. She supposed it made sense for it to run down; easier to push the trolleys that carried the dead.

  She stopped in her tracks, a feeling of unease spreading over her. Footsteps not too far behind made the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. A porter came into view and she screeched.

  ‘Blimey, love, sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I was just coming to make sure you’d found it all right.’

  Realising it was the man she’d asked for directions, she let out a loud laugh.

  ‘Oh, my God. I’m so sorry, I got a little freaked out.’

  He grinned. ‘I believe you. I probably should have sent you out to go via the main entrance instead of down here into the depths of hell.’

  ‘It is a bit like that, isn’t it? I watch too many ghost-hunting programmes on television.’

  He caught up with her and carried on walking towards the double doors in the distance.

  ‘I realised you wouldn’t get in without a card.’ He waved his pass at her. ‘This place is ancient, but the security is pretty good. I don’t suppose the board want visitors stumbling into the mortuary. It’s not the nicest place to be.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose it is.’

  They reached the doors and he pressed his card onto the small electronic reader, then pushed the door, holding it open for her. She was right in the thick of the mortuary. Next to her was a bank of fridges that filled an entire wall along with a couple of examination tables.

  ‘Lucky for you the doc isn’t in the middle of a PM.’

  The tall, blonde man she recognised as Declan, wearing a pair of blue scrubs, walked in, a clipboard under his arm and a pen tucked behind his wavy hair.

  ‘Lee, what you doing bringing people into my humble abode without an invitation?’

  Morgan really wished she’d come the front way.

  ‘Sorry, Declan, she was looking for you. I didn’t think.’

  Declan stared at her. ‘And you are?’

  ‘Morgan.’ She coughed. ‘PC Morgan Brookes; I’m working with Ben Matthews on the Potter murders. I was here the other day.’

  She hoped she sounded more professional than she felt.

  ‘Ah, so you were, Morgan. I’ve a terrible memory for faces. Names, now, they always stick in my head. Cool.’ Turning to Lee, he waved. ‘You’re all forgiven, we’re good.’

  Lee gave him a thumbs up and went back out the doors they’d just entered through.

  ‘How can I help?’

  Declan led her out of the air-conditioned room which was so cold she was sure her fingers had frostbite. She followed him as they went into an office and he pointed to a chair which had seen better days. She sank down into it, realising it was actually quite comfy.

  ‘Ben said the tox reports showed GHB in the Potters’ results. I’ve just visited the girl who survived in ICU, and the nurse checked her notes; nothing showed up for her. I wondered if you knew why?’

  ‘Good question, Morgan, basically GHB is broken down by the body really fast. The detection window is short; it’s only detectable in the blood for up to eight hours and twelve hours in urine. It’s a central nervous system depressant also known as a date-rape drug, but you already know that bit, I imagine?’

  She nodded; she knew some of it.

  ‘It’s highly potent and can be slipped into a drink or food unnoticed, which is why it’s so d
angerous. The effects usually kick in after ten minutes of ingesting it and can last quite a few hours.’

  ‘So more than enough time to murder an entire family if they’d been given enough to render them unconscious?’

  ‘Absolutely.’

  ‘I still don’t understand how you found it in the Potters then. They weren’t found for at least twenty-four hours and Olivia’s post-mortem wasn’t until the next day.’

  ‘I took samples of femoral blood and vitreous humour, which came back positive. I can also send hair samples to be analysed, but the results were conclusive without the need for that.’

  ‘Wow, that’s clever. Does that mean if we take a sample of Bronte’s hair you could send that off to be tested to see if it was administered to her?’

  ‘I can, yes. Though it would have to be taken by a CSI and submitted to protect the chain of evidence. I would imagine if her family were given it then she would as well.’

  ‘Unless you killed them or were an accomplice to their murder, but the murderer turned on you… Sorry, just thinking out loud. Thank you, Declan, this is great. I’ll let Ben know.’

  She stood up. When she reached the door she turned around. ‘Are you really good friends with Ben?’

  ‘I’d like to think so, why?’

  Was this any of her business? Probably not and she didn’t know whether to divulge the information or not. Ben might be angry with her.

  ‘I don’t know him very well, but the other night—’

  ‘He got hammered and thought about taking an overdose. How do you know?’

  ‘How do you know?’

  ‘You first?’ Declan smiled at her.

  ‘I needed to talk to him about this case and I went to his house; it was quite late. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a row of tablets in front of him. He said it was the anniversary of his wife’s death.’

  ‘Shit, I forgot all about Cindy’s anniversary. I usually take him to the pub, he tells me how he’s going to do it and I tell him not to bother because having to do his post-mortem is way beyond the realms of our friendship.’

  ‘Oh, so he wouldn’t have?’

  ‘I like to think not. He was devasted to find Cindy dead and blames himself, but he knows suicide won’t help anyone. Look how it’s left him.’

  ‘She killed herself. Oh God, I thought she’d died accidentally.’

  ‘No, it would have been better for Ben if she had. He wouldn’t be shouldering the guilt like he is. I’ll give him a ring. Thank you for reminding me.’

  ‘Please don’t tell him I told you. I don’t want him to think I’m interfering or gossiping.’

  He smiled. ‘I won’t, it’s not interfering when you’re concerned. I can’t believe I didn’t remember; it was the day the Potters turned up. No excuse, but it was busier than it’s been in here in a very long time. I’ll let you out the main entrance.’

  Leading her to the door she came through with Ben the other day, he held one open. ‘You take care, Morgan.’

  ‘Thanks, I will. You too.’ She walked back to her car, a whirlwind of emotions blowing in her mind.

  Forty

  Ben stood in front of the briefing room, which was full. As he looked around, the only person missing was Morgan. Dan was sitting next to Abigail at the front, his legs crossed, staring at his phone, and just looking at him made Ben want to take the phone from him and slap him with it. He’d never known anyone irritate him as much as he did.

  ‘Right, we are in what I would say is a bit of a mess. You already know about the Potter family; we are progressing that investigation. I still need a lot of work doing in regard to that case and several of you are going to be tasked with enquiries, so hang on after this finishes. Amy will go through what I need you to do. This morning a male was found brutally murdered at the offices of the Cumbrian News. We believe this male to be Jamie Stone, the editor in chief of the paper.’

  There were murmurs around the room; everyone knew him. Most people disliked him and the way he ran the paper. He loved to write stories that slated the local police and officers. Ben waited for them to quiet.

  ‘He hasn’t been formally identified yet, although the co-worker who found the body thinks it might have been him. I’m also pretty sure it is after a bit of a run-in with him outside the Potters’ the other day. She didn’t look long enough to make a positive ID. However, his car was parked outside on the double yellows and the engine was cold, so it had been there some time. No one else was in the building, so it’s highly likely to be him. Dan, can you go check out the home address and any other addresses on the list I’ll give you just to make sure he’s not in bed nursing a hangover?’

  Dan rolled his eyes. Ben clenched his knuckles under the podium he was leaning against. The door opened and Morgan slipped through it, mouthing ‘sorry’. He nodded and continued, but not before noticing the look of contempt Dan threw her way. He was going to have to speak to the little git at some point and remind him about his attitude.

  ‘Send Morgan, I have some urgent enquiries.’

  Ben stared at Dan, not quite believing what he was hearing. ‘Morgan is tied up.’

  ‘Yeah, I bet she is.’ Dan sniggered and a few of the others joined in.

  Ben couldn’t look at her. He could sense she was trying to squeeze further into the corner she’d already backed herself into.

  ‘I’ve already cleared it with the duty sergeant, she said it was fine.’

  Dan shook his head, and Ben had to turn his attention away from him before he launched himself across the room and dragged him outside.

  ‘Harrison Wright is currently missing; he is also top wanted. For anyone who doesn’t know he is the boyfriend of the girl who survived. He tried to hang himself yesterday and failed. I need him locating, not only for a welfare check, but also I want to speak to him again in regards to some new evidence which has come to light. Do not tell him this before he’s been cuffed. I don’t want to scare him off; ask him nicely to come in. That’s it for now, thank you.’

  He walked out, beckoning Morgan to follow and she did. They went upstairs to his office.

  ‘I seriously worry for his health, that Dan is such an idiot. Thank God he didn’t get sent up here to help out, I’d be suspended by now.’

  ‘Was he going to?’

  ‘He was next on the list, yes; he would have been given the opportunity.’

  ‘No wonder he’s so mad with me. I didn’t understand what was going on. I know he’s been wanting to work in CID for ages. He kept telling me he was coming up here eventually. I should apologise to him.’

  ‘For what? He’s the one with a problem. If he wasn’t so difficult then he could have come up here.’

  ‘Is that why you asked me? Not because you think I’d make a good detective or because I have potential but because you think Dan’s an arse?’

  Ben realised he was digging himself into a deeper hole. ‘No, of course not.’ He couldn’t look her in the eyes, though, because technically it was, and he didn’t want to make her any angrier. He could tell by the way she was standing with her feet apart, jaw clenched and the deep furrows on her forehead as she almost sneered the words at him, she was raging.

  ‘What, did you feel sorry for me or something? Because I don’t need you or anyone to feel sorry for me. I just want to do the job I signed up for without any of this bullshit.’

  With that she turned and strode out of his office, straight down the stairs.

  Turning, he looked out of the window down onto the car park and saw her exit the building, striding towards the car. In less than sixty seconds she was gone. Ben was left with a strange feeling of guilt as Amy walked in.

  ‘Phew, she’s feisty that one. What have you done now?’ She began to laugh. ‘I tell you what, though, it’s great entertainment watching you get your arse chewed by a kid. I’ve never had so much fun at work.’

  ‘Piss off, Amy. She’s not a kid, she’s an adult and I probably deserved it.’

/>   ‘Aww, next time you get on my nerves and I tell you to do one we’ll see if you’re as understanding. I think you like her a lot more than you ever anticipated.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Well you must because you’ve been different since she came up here, which is not a bad thing because I was fed up of your moping around.’

  He glared at her.

  ‘Anyway, I gave Dan the worst jobs on the list to keep him busy, thought you’d like that. I’m going to get something to eat, are you hungry?’

  He sat down, not remembering the last time he’d eaten. ‘Yeah, please. Whatever you’re having is fine.’

  She left him to it.

  He stared out of the window, wondering if he was getting too involved and if he needed to back off. He realised that for the first time since Cindy his life had begun to have some meaning, and if that was in the form of Morgan’s friendship then he was thankful. He had to figure out what part she played; was it as a colleague, a student or a friend? After her concern the other night, he decided that a friend was nice, but he didn’t want to make her life awkward or difficult. He probably also needed to apologise to her, for upsetting her even though he hadn’t meant to.

  His phone rang and Declan’s name flashed across the screen.

  ‘What’s up?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I missed Cindy’s anniversary. I shouldn’t have.’

  Ben laughed. ‘You shouldn’t have, I shouldn’t have, but I did until it was almost over. Thanks, Declan, but I think we were all a bit overworked that day. No need to apologise.’

  ‘Well, you know where I am. I’ve told you that before, anytime you need me. Oh your colleague was here before, have you had the chance to speak to her?’

  ‘Sort of, why?’ Ben couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice.

  ‘She came up with a brilliant idea; she wanted me to test the surviving girl to see if she had traces of GHB in her system. Apparently, she checked her notes and nothing showed. She’s been down here to see if I could take a sample of her hair for analysis.’