by Nigel Cooper
He looked up again, just in time to witness the cruel black clouds giving birth to several large menacing swirling demons. They were upon him now, he could feel the cold dampness of them on his face and in his hair – like spiders from some deep dark abyss – as they snatched and grabbed at him, tugging and pulling until he lost his footing on the ledge. Father Derek Stanton screamed all the way down.
DS Damon Rhodes was right when he said, ‘If you go down to the river and sit on the bank and wait long enough, eventually, you’ll see the bodies of your enemies float by.’
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Thank you.
Nigel Cooper
©2017 Nigel Cooper
Acknowledgements
IMPORTANT: Please read this acknowledgements page after you have read the book as there are some potential plot spoilers herein.
As with all my previous books I’ve received a lot of help with this one, so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who helped me during the research and writing stage of this novel. They kindly donated their time and expertise in helping and advising me on many subjects. Without them, this novel would not have manifested itself in quite the same way. Their input helped make the novel come to life, made the characters more believable, and gave the story that real detail and feel that readers can relate to. It is for this reason that I would like to acknowledge all those who were kind enough to give up their time via email, on the phone, or over a pub lunch with my Dictaphone balanced on a ketchup bottle on the table between us.
First I’d like to thank the deeply knowledgeable Detective Superintendent Jon Hutchinson of Hinchingbrooke FHQ for taking the time out of his busy work schedule to talk on the phone and meet up with me in person so I could pick his brains regarding police procedural matters, and for answering the many questions that I fired into his email inbox on a regular basis, but above all, for reading – and checking for accuracy and authenticity regarding the police stuff – the manuscript during the writing stages. I especially want to thank Jon for spending an hour with me in Costa so we could thrash out various ways in which the character in the novel, Father Derek Stanton, could get his case thrown out of court for such a heinous and brutal crime; sorry for eating all the chocolate bread twists, Jon.
Next I’d like to thank the coolest dude on the force, Detective Sergeant Simon Oldfield of Luton CID, for sharing many anecdotes from his years working in CID – some dark and morbid, some side-splittingly hilarious.
Next up, Principle Scene Of Crime Officer at Peterborough, Mark Kelly, for sharing his incredibly deep knowledge, expertise and experience on all things relating to crime scene investigation and forensic science. Every time I meet up with Mark, or chat with him on the phone, I feel like I’ve just completed a mini-diploma in policing and forensics; thank you, Mark.
I owe a massive debt of gratitude to the ex-Para and Sniper, Frank – the sharpshooter who never misses – for advising me on all the sniper and ballistics stuff. Also, for inviting me down to Bisley Shooting Range in Surrey on a number of occasions, to give me sniper training on 400-yard and 600-yard ranges. Even for a pacifist like me, the two days spent on the shooting range with Frank were awesome; even if it was absolutely hammering down with rain for one of them. Still, that didn’t stop me hitting a target the size of a mango from 600-yards with my first shot, thanks to Frank’s incredible sniper training. It was because of Frank’s vast and deep knowledge of all things military, sniping and ballistics (not to mention his knowledge of the history in these subjects) and the training that he gave me that allowed the character in the book, Helen Kramer, to be so authentic and to be able to shoot with such accuracy in a totally believable way. What Helen did in the novel was totally accurate as she basically did what I did during my research with Frank. There are a surprisingly large number of female snipers, not only today, but historically too.
I’d also like to thank you, the novel-devouring readers. The way I see it, the reader is the final part of the long writing and publication process, without you it wouldn’t be complete; thank you.
And last, but never the least, Louise Wessman, for keeping me on my toes.
About The Author
Nigel Cooper was born in England, UK. He grew up in the Lake District, but later moved down south to London.
Nigel wouldn’t really want to work for any company that would employ him, he has been self-employed for most of his working life as a: photographer, classical pianist, private detective, video producer, magazine founder/editor, columnist and journalist.
In his early years Nigel also had several inconsequential jobs including: working as a stretch limousine driver, a chauffeur and a one-man bus driver/operator for London Transport – he still has his PSV (Public Service Vehicle) licence, badge and pass to prove it.
While in the employment of another company he actually got fired for being too efficient at what he did; piece-work at a belt factory in Queens Crescent, North London. It upset the other factory workers that he was earning three times as much money as they were. The boss (sad as it made him) had to let Nigel go due to the unrest and tension it caused on the factory floor.
Of the menial jobs where Nigel was employed, they never lasted more than nine months; at least his boredom threshold didn’t. Working as a commis chef, a bus driver and a salesman, all ended after nine months, or slightly premature to this. The fact that these jobs lasted the term of a pregnancy is purely coincidental.
His shortest term of employment lasted only three hours; his personal best record. This was during his first ever job as an apprentice barber in Swiss Cottage, North London. Three hours of sweeping up hair, refilling shampoo bottles and cleaning sinks was all he could take – he left at lunchtime. This record was followed closely by his brief spell as a secondary school teacher, which lasted just two days.
Later, he got serious and studied screenwriting in London where he learned the art and craft of creative writing for film and television. In 1999 he set up his own video production company specialising in corporate video – he also undertook television work as a freelance lighting cameraman. Then in 2004 he became the founder/editor of a specialist television/broadcast video production magazine. Although it was hugely successful, he sold the magazine in November 2011 to become a full-time author of fiction.
In 2001 Nigel completed a 1-year intensive study course – attaining a diploma – in Private Investigation. He worked as a freelance private investigator working with two local solicitor firms in Cambridgeshire. Today, this knowledge and experience comes in handy with his crime writing.
Nigel has had many years' experience as a writer of technical articles, tutorials, stories, reviews, news and journalism, not only for his own magazine, but also for many other well known publications, magazines and newspapers. It was during these years as a writer/magazine editor that he found his 'voice' which made his transition to becoming a novelist an easy one.
In 2011 Nigel had an overwhelming desire to move into fiction writing so he set about researching his debut novel in the dark romance vampire genre. This desire had been smouldering inside him for a few years. Having seen various classic vampire movies in the past, he decided to write a vampire story that he himself would want to read – something organic and tangible. After extensive research and planning Nigel completed his debut novel, Email From A Vampire, which was published in July 2012.
After more research and writing during 2013 he completed his second novel, Sophia – a psychological thriller. Sophia was published in January 2014.
In 2014 (after a friend suggested it) Nigel also wrote his harrowing and disturbing autobiographical childhood memoir entitled Boy. A compelling, gripping, and powerfully written true story. Boy was published in August 2015 by Ebury, Penguin Random House.
He has since written a supernatural thriller entitled S.U.N.D.S. The Sound Of Crying is his fourth novel.
Nigel
writes across a diverse range of genres including: contemporary fiction, psychological thrillers, crime and supernatural.
In his spare time Nigel enjoys playing the piano. He studied classical music, first with the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, then with Trinity College Of Music, London, where he attained a Performance Certificate in classical piano and became an accomplished classical pianist. He loves nothing more that to sit and play Beethoven Sonatas and Chopin Nocturnes when he isn't writing. He also enjoys photography, swimming and badminton, loitering in coffee shops and eating out. He's a huge movie fan and can often be found browsing in Fopps music shop in Cambridge. He's also an animal lover, especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and small affectionate toy dog breeds.
Nigel lives and writes in Cambridgeshire, UK.
For more details about the author visit: www.nigelcooperauthor.co.uk
by the same author:
EMAIL FROM A VAMPIRE
BOY
SOPHIA
S.U.N.D.S
Table of Contents
Copyright © Nigel Cooper, 2017
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About The Author