The Hill - Carla’s Story (Book Two): A Paranormal Murder Mystery Thriller. (Book Two)

by Andrew M Stafford

  Judd could tell by the way Christopher was talking that Ben was beginning to fade.

  “Markland, don’t stop, I don’t think we have much time left, Ben’s starting to get tired,” said Judd in a whispered, but urgent voice.

  Garraway nodded and turned his attention back to Christopher.

  “Tom’s right, I’m finding it hard to concentrate,” said Ben.

  “There something I need to tell you, something which may be important………..I heard Liz’s voice…….she spoke to me and she said something and I need to tell you what she said.”

  “Tell me quickly Ben, we don’t have much time.”

  “She said to me ‘Ben, when it’s time, meet me at the hill………..and don’t be late’.”

  Terry Mason stared intently at Christopher as he listened to the words spoken by the little boy.

  “OK Ben, I’ve noted what you’ve told me………” said Garraway, but was interrupted by Ben.

  “Markland, what happened to Liz? I mean after we were attacked, is she OK?”

  Garraway was quiet, he didn’t plan for this question, although it had been brought up at the meeting in his house on Friday, he wasn’t sure exactly what to say. He looked toward Esther who was vying to get his attention.

  “You must tell him, he needs to know the truth,” she whispered.

  Terry Mason nodded in agreement.

  “Tell him Mr Garraway.”

  “OK Ben, Liz survived the attack, but………but she’s been in a coma ever since.”

  “When you say ever since, is ever since a long time?”

  Garraway wasn’t sure how to answer Ben’s question. He knew that Ben had lost the concept of time and found it impossible to measure.

  “She’s been unconscious for a while, but everyone is hoping she’ll wake up soon.”

  Garraway hoped his answer wouldn’t overly upset Ben, as from a selfish point of view, he needed Ben to remain focused so he could answer the next question before fading away.

  “Now this will probably be the last question and it’s an important one………other than your murderer, the boys who were attacking you and the boy who was attacking Liz, was there anybody else present,………perhaps a girl, an onlooker, someone not getting involved?”

  He was hoping that Ben would remember the girl that had come to him in his strange dream, the same girl whose picture had appeared in the back of the book earlier in the week.

  “I don’t remem…………I don’t…………”

  “Are you saying there was or wasn’t a girl amongst the attackers……..please Ben, I just need a simple yes or no answer…… was there a girl, about fourteen years old, short dark hair and brown eyes?..........just answer yes or no.”

  Christopher’s head began to rock from side to side.

  “He’s waking up,” said Judd.

  “Ben, please try and answer me, yes or no.”

  “………….no………..sorry, no girl.”

  And then Ben was gone.

  Garraway was exhausted, both physically and mentally. His body ached more than ever and he was utterly drained. He was also disappointed. He was certain that the girl in his dream would have been there when Ben was murdered, there was no shadow of a doubt. He was sure that the hill had reached out to him and let him know she was there, and that she was the key to unlock the mystery.

  Terry Mason stood forward.

  “What did he mean? What was it he just said about my Liz? ‘Ben, when it’s time, meet me at the hill………..and don’t be late’…….what the hell does that mean?”

  “What does any of it mean?” said Judd.

  “I’m serious, he said about Liz meeting with Ben at the hill, you must get Ben back now and find out what he means.”

  “I’m afraid that won’t be happening today, Ben’s gone now and I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him again…….I’ve promised Maria,” said Judd.

  Christopher was crying, he was tired and upset.

  “I’ve got to get my little boy home, this is just too much to ask…….I don’t think he can go through this anymore.”

  Maria was right. The attention that Christopher was getting was too much for a boy of his age. He no longer liked to be hypnotised and he didn’t like all the strangers being there.

  “You’ve got what you came for Mr. Garraway, now it’s up to you to use what you have to find Ben’s killer, but please leave us alone now, there is nothing else we can do for you……..please leave my family alone.”

  Maria picked up Christopher and nodded to Campbell indicating that it was time for them to leave.

  Campbell turned to Judd and Garraway.

  “I’m sorry, but Maria is right. I don’t think there is any more information you will get from Ben and this is getting too much for Christopher. Ben said that he can’t remember his killer’s name, but he gave you a pretty good description and also what happened that night, so use the information he’s given you as best as you can……….and let me know what happens.”

  Campbell followed Maria and Christopher out of the Quiet Area, up the stairs and out of the building. Samreen chased after them calling for them to come back, and then she was also gone.

  Judd, Garraway, Mason and Esther sat in the Quiet Area. Nobody spoke.

  Terry Mason was trying to deal with what he’d just witnessed and was staring into space.

  Garraway was exhausted and disappointed, he’d hoped to get more from Ben. He knew it was a longshot, but he’d wished that Ben had known the person who had killed him.

  “So what happens next?” asked Judd.

  Garraway didn’t answer. He sat on the settee, rubbing his chin.

  “You’ve got a good description, why can’t you get a photofit or an E-Fit made, or whatever they’re called these days and get it out there,” asked Mason in a demanding manner.

  “It’s not as simple as that,” replied Garraway.

  “Why not?”

  “You try convincing my Detective Superintendent…….my boss, that we put out a picture asking for the public to be on the lookout for Ben Walker’s murderer…….and that the description came to me by way a two year old boy, who wasn’t even born when the murder took place…….it’ll never happen.”

  “Lie then, tell him you got the description from someone else.”

  “Like who, I can’t just make this stuff up. Whatever is used has to stand up in a court of law.”

  “Well, what was the point in all of this, if none of what Ben, or Christopher, or whoever the fuck was supposed to be speaking, would stand up in court?”

  Garraway knew that Mason was right. The whole thing had probably been a complete waste of everybody’s time.

  What Garraway had wanted, other than finding out the name of the killer, was to find out more about the girl he’d dreamt about. He was certain that she’d been there.

  “I’m sorry Mr Mason, I am just as confused by the situation as you are……..I’ve never done anything like this before, and there is no blueprint, there’s nothing for me to follow, I’ve just got to go with this and hope something will come up.”

  Terry Mason was struggling with the whole thing. He’d just heard the voice of his daughter’s friend. The voice had given a detailed description of Liz, right down to the scar on her lip and the tattoo on her back. What scared Mason the most was what Ben had said about hearing Liz’s words, ‘Ben, when it’s time, meet me at the hill………..and don’t be late’.

  He didn’t know what it meant and he didn’t like the sound of it. It was clearly very important and that scared him.

  Mason stood up, grabbed his jacket and announced he was leaving.

  “If you need me for anything, you know where to contact me.”

  Mason slammed the door behind him, climbed the stairs to the ground floor and left the building.

  Esther, Garraway and Judd sat quietly. Now that Terry Mason had left, the three of them felt more comfortable discussing what had just happened. Mason
was an emotional wreck and just being in the room with him felt awkward.

  “So where do we go from here?” asked Judd.

  Maria had made it very clear that Christopher was not to be hypnotised and Judd and Markland had to respect her wishes. In Christopher’s best interest Esther agreed with Maria.

  “I don’t really know,” replied Garraway.

  “Even if I was to speak with Ben again, I don’t think he would tell me anything else.”

  An atmosphere of despondency filled the room.

  “If you don’t mind I would like to go home now,” said Garraway.

  “It’s going to take me a good fifteen minutes to climb your stairs Mr. Judd, so I’d better get a move on.”

  Judd helped Garraway up from the settee and passed his crutches. Garraway said he didn’t need any help climbing the stairs. Judd and Esther waited at the bottom until he had made it to the top step. They followed him to the ground level where Judd opened the door.

  “If any of you get any bright ideas, let me know……….I’m not giving up, not yet, but I could do with as much help as I can get,” said Garraway before bidding Esther and Judd farewell.

  They watched as he drove away.

  “Don’t worry Tom, we’ve got this far…….I’m sure Markland will find a way around all of this. He’s a clever man.”

  Chapter one hundred and twenty

  Markland Garraway’s home

  11.16pm

  Sunday 3rd June

  Garraway lay in bed and thought about what had happened that day. Despite all the strange things that went hand in hand with Ben Walker’s case, he found what had happened unbelievable. He’d actually spoken to someone who was dead. The implications were immense. It proved with no shadow of a doubt that there was life after death. Sure there were many reports, stories of reincarnation, sightings of ghosts, but none of them were ever tangible. This was different. Ben had said things about his past that no one else could have known, and the fact his conduit was a two year old boy made the entire thing even more amazing.

  If this was ever reported on television, or in the newspapers then people would be talking about it for years to come, he thought.

  The implications on mankind would be colossal.

  And then it came to him.

  As he lay in the dark an idea formed. He smiled as the germ of a plan started to evolve in his tired and overworked brain.

  He picked up a notepad by his bed and jotted down four words to remind him what to do in the morning.

  ‘Flush out the girl’.

  Chapter one hundred and twenty one

  Avon and Somerset Police

  Kenneth Steele House

  10.18am

  Monday 4th June

  Garraway had woken early. The events of the previous day had resulted in a restless night’s sleep. His dreams had been punctuated by the plan he’d thought of the night before. For the first time in a long time he was excited. He had woken with something to look forward to. Had it not been for his arthritis, he would have jumped out of bed with a spring in his step. The notepad was where he had left it and it was the first thing he saw when he woke. He read the note he had scribbled on the pad.

  ‘Flush out the girl’

  The plan he had formulated had lost none of its lustre. In fact it seemed to make more sense than it did when he’d been lying in bed last night.

  What Garraway had in mind was as crazy as the whole Ben Walker case had proven to be. Before he could get the ball rolling he had to speak with Colin Matthews. Matthews had worked with him closely and since Garraway’s breakdown had taken over the case.

  There was no love lost between Garraway and Matthews. Garraway thought Matthews to be slovenly, considered him a sloppy worker and he was frustrated because he wouldn’t deviate from the rule book.

  At times Matthews found Garraway to be patronising and sarcastic. He didn’t like the way he treated him as if he was a mere boy, despite being in his mid-thirties. But what Matthews really thought about Garraway he had kept to himself. He considered the man to be an idiot and all the nonsense that he had come out with about the supernatural powers of Badock’s Wood had proved this.

  Since Matthews had taken over the case, things had ground to a halt. In Matthews’ defense, there was little to go on. There was just not enough evidence to pinpoint anyone present at the time of the murder. As time went on, his caseload increased and with Garraway being signed off as unfit for work, all detectives were picking up the slack and taking on more work than they could cope with.

  Although he’d never let it be known, Matthews was pleased when Garraway had been signed off. As far as work was concerned, with Garraway being off the scene, Matthews had a new lease of life. He no longer felt as if he was playing second fiddle to the Scottish detective and was free to make his own decisions.

  There had been times when they had bumped into each other in the canteen or in corridors and things had been awkward. After a couple of minutes of small talk any conversation was over.

  They knew how they felt about each other, and it was no secret around the force that they disliked one another. This in itself wasn’t unusual. The place was a melting pot of diverse and disparate characters, some of whom just didn’t fit in. There was jealousy, rivalry, competition and at times the force could be a very unharmonious place to work.

  Matthews was relieved when he’d found out that Garraway wouldn’t be coming back to work as a detective after his return to the force. He found it laughable that he was able to retain the title of Detective Chief Inspector, and yet have nothing to do with the role. He had heard that Garraway had found a new position as a trainer and had turned out to be excellent at coaching rooky detectives.

  It had come as a surprise to Matthews when out of the blue he’d received a call from Garraway suggesting that they should meet as he had new information on the Walker case. Information that Garraway knew would be of interest to him.

  Garraway had told Matthews that he wanted to meet in private and not in the general office area, which was full of other detectives and administration staff. He told him he wanted to meet somewhere quiet and suggested meeting room three, which by chance was available that morning and also happened to be the last room along the corridor, which meant it had very few passers-by.

  Matthews had agreed to meet Garraway at ten thirty.

  Garraway was already in the room when Matthews knocked on the door.

  “Come in,” called Garraway, smiling at Matthews as he shut the door behind him. Matthews viewed Garraway’s smile cautiously. He thought the man looked demented. On the table in front of Garraway was his mobile phone and two cups of coffee.

  “White with no sugar, if I remember correctly,” he said as he passed one of the cups to Matthews.

  “Thank you, sir,” replied Matthews, instantly regretting that he’d just referred to him as sir.

  Old habits are hard to break thought Matthews.

  “How are you Colin, I’ve not seen you in ages, I trust you’re keeping busy?”

  “Very busy, as always it’s nonstop.”

  “Have you found yourself a woman yet?”

  “No, I’m a bit like you sir, you know, married to the job.”

  Garraway knew that Matthews was making an underhanded remark referring to the fact that his wife had recently left him.

  Garraway nodded and mentally brushed the glib comment to one side.

  “I understand you wanted to see me about the Ben Walker case sir, you said that you had some new information?”

  Matthews cringed as he heard himself refer to Garraway as sir again.

  As Garraway began to speak, Matthews saw how old looking his ex-work colleague had become. He had developed bags beneath his eyes large enough to carry a week’s worth of shopping, his skin was lined with cracks and his thinning hair was showing signs of grey. He looked pitiful as he hobbled around the building struggling on his crutches.

  “Yes, I do Colin, I have somet
hing I think you’ll find very interesting and I’m sure the case will spring to life after what I am about to tell you.”

  Matthews took a sip of coffee and waited for Garraway to continue.

  “I have a full description of the murderer and a picture of someone who was there and witnessed the whole thing. Unfortunately I don’t have any names to put to the faces, but I think it’s a step in the right direction, don’t you?”

  “How did you come by this new information?” asked Matthews.

  “Don’t worry about that right now, I’ll tell you later.”

  Garraway pulled the notebook from his jacket pocket, the same notebook he’d jotted down the description Ben had given him the day before.

  “Now, you might want to write this down,” said Garraway as he began to describe the person who murdered Ben Walker.

  “Hang on, hang on a minute,” said Matthews holding a hand in the air.

  “Who gave you this description?”

  “I’ll come to that in minute……..why aren’t you writing this down, you’ll need to write it down?”

  Matthews saw a glint in his eye and something about his smile that made the man appear deranged.

  “OK, OK I’ll write it down.”

  Garraway read the description again as Matthews reluctantly wrote it down.

  “And that’s not all,” added Garraway after he’d finished describing the killer.

  “Look at this,” Garraway took the Dostoevsky novel from his case, opened it to the back inside cover and showed Matthews the sketch of the girl.

  “Who’s she?”

  “She is the one I just told you about. She’s our key witness. If you can trace her, she’ll tell you what happened that night……..she’ll tell you the whole thing.”

  Matthews looked at the girl and looked to the opposite page and read the notes Garraway had made of the dream he’d had on the first anniversary of Ben Walker’s murder.

  “And what’s this all about?” asked Matthews as he pointed to the notes written by Garraway.

  “Oh, that’s nothing, that’s just some stuff I jotted down about what happened the night of the murder.”