Dead to Me: A serial killer thriller (Detective Kate Matthews Crime Thriller Series Book 1)

by Stephen Edger

  ‘What! I thought this was cut and dried?’

  ‘We’ve been speaking to our informants on the street, and none of them are fingering Fenton.’

  ‘So, who have you got in the frame?’

  ‘The name that keeps cropping up is Jimmy Torero, Fenton’s right-hand man.’

  Kate flashed to the memory of Torero’s warning in the back of the car outside Nicholson’s place: you need to look elsewhere.

  The supe, calmer now, was chewing on the leg of his glasses again. ‘What possible motive would this Torero have to kill Watson? Surely he wouldn’t act without Fenton’s approval?’

  ‘We’re working on that at the moment. It’s possible Torero was trying to frame Fenton, so he could step into his shoes at some point.’

  Kate couldn’t keep quiet any longer. ‘That’s ridiculous! Jimmy Torero is no mastermind criminal. He’s someone Fenton uses to carry out his dirty work. If Torero killed Watson it was under Fenton’s direction. Fenton doesn’t have an alibi, so don’t—’

  ‘What the hell would you know about it?’ Hendrix glowered. ‘I’ve been working to bring down these syndicates for years, so I think I trust my informants over the gut feeling of a burnt-out copper who prefers to listen to the voices in her head over the evidence in front of her.’

  ‘That’s enough,’ the supe shouted. ‘Whatever’s going on between the two of you, just bury it. You hear me? If Hendrix says Torero’s behind it then I’m sure she won’t have trouble securing the evidence to convict, starting with the murder weapon.’

  Hendrix turned back to face him. ‘I have the divers back in the water tomorrow, sir. They’ve already found one foot; the head, other foot, and murder weapon will follow.’

  Kate silently shook her head, but didn’t utter another word.

  The supe nodded at Underhill. ‘You next. Does our drowned victim have a name yet?’

  ‘She does, sir. Olivia Yen was a nurse at the Southampton General Hospital. She was renting a property nearby.’

  ‘What led to the breakthrough?’

  He looked over to Kate, but didn’t speak at first, as if he was trying to decide whether to take the credit himself. ‘It was DI Matthews who helped actually, sir. We were chatting it through earlier, and something she said triggered a thought in my mind. I sent DC Stewart to the hospital this morning to check their records and she found her. Apparently, Yen was supposed to have been going to Hong Kong to visit family, which is why nobody had reported her missing. We’ve got SSD at the house now to determine if that’s where she was killed. Should have a better idea by Monday.’

  ‘Looks like that bottle might be yours.’ He briefly glanced at Kate. ‘I said you had a nose for complex cases. Well done too, Kate.’

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ Kate sighed, resigning herself to the understated praise. ‘Shall I go next?’

  He nodded. ‘Please.’

  ‘We found Eleanor Jacobs’s car this afternoon, abandoned in the Sainsbury’s car park at Lordshill. We’d put a call out to uniform to look out for the registration number, and one officer reported dealing with a complaint about her Mercedes this morning. We’re checking security footage for the last forty-eight hours, but we believe our perp may have used her vehicle to transport her to the pub and then drove away, abandoning it in the car park before departing in an alternative vehicle. SSD will be dusting it for prints and DNA over the weekend. If our killer was in that car, there’s a good chance traces remain.’

  She paused to allow him to process the information. ‘Trotter and I went to her place of work this afternoon, and I conducted interviews with her colleagues while Trotter reviewed Eleanor’s recent case history. Her ex-lover, Nicolas Altier, warrants further investigation. He was bitter about their break-up, and had made several verbal complaints about Eleanor’s behaviour in the workplace. The crime wasn’t one of passion, but they broke up some time ago and who knows how long he could have been planning his revenge. He’s certainly a person of interest for now. As a backup, the team will pull up a list of plaintiffs and defendants from Eleanor’s cases, so we can see who has form and motive. It won’t be a quick process, but I feel like we’re getting closer to the truth.’

  ‘Good, okay.’ He checked his watch. ‘You three are dismissed. We’ll meet again at eight a.m. on Monday.’

  Underhill left the office without holding the door for his colleagues, and as soon as they were back in the corridor, Hendrix turned on Kate. ‘You think I didn’t see what you were trying to do in there? I warned you not to cross me.’

  ‘Back off, Hendrix. If you want to screw up your enquiry, be my guest. Have you actually met Torero? He couldn’t organise a piss-up in a brewery.’

  ‘That’s your problem, Kate: you always underestimate those around you. Well, don’t underestimate me, or what I’ll do to you if you try and undercut me again.’

  Hendrix stalked off down the corridor and Kate pulled out her phone. She’d missed a call from Chloe’s childminder and another couple from her mother’s care home.

  35

  He starts the engine as he sees Kate’s Audi appear at the barrier and join the traffic at the lights. Pulling out five cars back, the LED on the satnav flashes to confirm she is just ahead.

  He already knows where she’s going, but he wants to be certain.

  The thrill is building.

  The time is now.

  36

  With Chloe fed, washed and in bed, Kate headed for the kitchen and she apprehensively switched on her laptop. The High Tech Crime Unit, part of Scientific Services, had declared the laptop virus-free and ready to use, though they’d also warned her to upgrade her Internet security to be safe.

  She went to the fridge and poured a large glass of wine. She really ought to cut back, to keep sharp, but it had been a long day and she just needed something to take the edge off. She peered back at the screen, half-expecting to see a fresh message window, but the default desktop image remained.

  She opened her emails and read the half dozen messages she’d received from the dating site, advising her that there had been interest in her profile. She could kill Trish for convincing her to set up the profile to begin with, but her heart had been in the right place. Maybe it was time for her to venture out socially again, but not today. She deleted the emails: love could wait for now.

  She logged in to her work emails and was disappointed to see that SSD had yet to send over a report of their findings from Eleanor Jacobs’s house. The newspaper cuttings they’d found in the spare room still troubled her. Why could nobody else see that they were out of place in Eleanor’s otherwise pristine life?

  Her mobile vibrated on the countertop, but the number was withheld, so she left it. If it was work related they would leave a voicemail or follow up with a text message. The buzzing stopped and she waited to hear if a voicemail had been left, and reached for her glass of wine.

  She jumped as the phone erupted into life again. Withheld. Then silence returned.

  She was about to switch off the laptop when the phone lit up once more.

  She answered it. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Is that Kate Matthews?’

  ‘Yes. Who is this?’

  ‘My name’s Angela Donovan and I’m a nursing assistant at the Happy Acres care home. I help look after your mother.’

  Kate checked the display again. ‘But you’re calling from a private number. I don’t understand.’

  ‘Oh, I’m phoning from the hospital—’

  Kate gasped. ‘Hospital? Is she all right?’

  The woman’s voice remained calm and soothing. ‘I don’t want you to worry, Ms Matthews. Hilary is okay. She had a nasty fall this evening, but the doctor has examined her and there is nothing broken.’

  ‘Do you need me to come and collect her?’

  ‘No, no, that’s okay. The doctor should be finished with her soon, and then we’ll transport her back to the home. It’s late, and we don’t like non-residents roaming the corridors at this time of n
ight. But we have a duty of care to inform relatives of any incidents.’

  ‘Of course, of course. But she’s okay, yes?’

  ‘She’s a little shaken, to be honest, and she keeps apologising for being a nuisance, but some sweet tea and a good night’s sleep will do her the world of good.’

  ‘I’ll have to try and come and see her at some point when she gets back to the home.’

  ‘She did mention that it’s been a while since she saw you, but it isn’t my place to pry.’

  ‘I’m in the police, and there’s just never enough time.’

  Kate couldn’t understand why she felt obliged to justify why she hadn’t called by in more than a month. It wasn’t as if her layabout brother made any effort to stay in touch with her.

  ‘I understand, Ms Matthews. I know it can be tough.’

  ‘Can you tell me what happened? You said she fell?’

  ‘She said she was going for a walk after dinner. The grounds are secured by a fence, and she often likes to wander around the garden alone. It was Greg who found—’

  ‘Sorry, who’s Greg?’

  ‘He’s one of our volunteers; he pops by a couple of times a week to read and play games with the residents.’

  ‘That still doesn’t explain what happened? Why did she fall? Where did she fall?’

  ‘It happened somewhere between the bandstand and the main building. Her legs gave way, or something, and she caught her face on a wall on the way down.’

  ‘Do you think it was because of her dementia? Is it getting worse?’

  ‘You’ll have to speak to her physician about that. I only work nights.’

  ‘Is she speaking? Has she asked for anything?’

  ‘Try not to worry,’ the nurse soothed. ‘Her face will be tender for a few days, but the bruising will pass, and she should make a full recovery.’

  Kate sipped her wine. ‘Is there anything she needs? Uh… I can—’

  ‘I’d better go, Ms Matthews. I’ll let her know you were asking after her and will be by soon.’

  The line disconnected.

  Kate fought against the sting in her eyes. ‘There’s nothing you can do,’ she mumbled to herself. ‘She’s in the best place.’

  She stifled a yawn and checked the time on her watch. If she went to bed now, her mind wouldn’t let her switch off, and she’d toss and turn until fatigue would eventually win. She drained her glass, and reached for the folder at the top of the pile she’d brought home.

  37

  He slips into the room. Despite the warm night, the duvet is pulled up close under her chin. The air smells of moisturising cream, and there is a large kitchen knife on the nightstand.

  She stirs.

  Dropping to his hands and knees, he pushes himself into the shadow of the nightstand, wrapping gloved hands over his mouth and nose to mask his heavy breaths. He waits, frozen, as he hears her get up and pad over to the bathroom. He hears the toilet flush, followed by footsteps returning.

  It is time to leave.

  38

  SATURDAY

  Kate could barely control the tremor in her hand as she turned the photograph over and read the message on the back.

  CATCH A KILLER. I’M WATCHING YOU.

  It was the same scrawled handwriting as the image of the nurse.

  He’d come back.

  She rushed to the front door and checked the latch. She’d locked it before going to bed, and had double-checked it before falling asleep. He couldn’t have got in.

  The door didn’t open. Her mind hunted for an explanation.

  She hurried to the living room and confirmed the windows were locked. She repeated the exercise with the windows in her own room and the kitchen, before her eyes fell on the door to the spare room.

  She nearly tripped as she charged towards the room and flung the door wide. Chloe’s eyes shot open, and she huddled back against the wall. Kate lifted the net curtain and checked the latch, but it didn’t budge.

  When she saw the terrified look on her daughter’s face, she wanted to cuddle her close, and to tell her there was nothing to worry about, but she couldn’t bring herself to lie. She smiled weakly and dashed back to the living room.

  Danny Fenton’s grinning face stared up at her from the carpet where the photograph had fallen. She’d grabbed it in panic. It had been a natural response when she’d come in to gather up the files, ready to return them to the office.

  Why had he come back, and why had he left the picture of Fenton holding some kind of blade? Was he trying to help her? Was that it? But it was too late: Hendrix was running the Watson murder investigation. Leaving the picture at Kate’s place made no sense.

  He had to be taunting her, specifically, proving that he had the upper hand. But if he wanted to help her, why was he going to such great lengths to cover his trail? Whoever he was, every time he made contact, he was revealing something more about himself. Was that his game? Did he want her to find him?

  She slumped on the sofa and buried her face in her hands, swallowing her nausea and trying to focus on one train of thought.

  He got in here.

  No matter his reason for leaving the image, he’d broken in again. He couldn’t be allowed to get in a third time. The image definitely hadn’t been there the night before, which meant he’d risked coming to the flat while she and Chloe were sleeping. The thought made her sick.

  Neither of the alarm companies had responded to her request for a quote. She couldn’t wait any longer. She needed someone to fit one today. No matter the expense.

  Her skin crawled at the thought of him creeping through the flat while they slept. How many times had he been here without her knowing? Was that why her alarm clock had been playing up? And the boiler? What else had he done while he was here?

  Kate gripped the arm of the sofa, as the living room door creaked open and Chloe peered around the edge, her eyes watering. Kate beckoned her over and wrapped her arms around her. ‘I’m so sorry if I scared you before. I was just being silly.’

  Chloe nuzzled her face, and Kate felt the tears through her top.

  ‘Shhh-Sh-h, it’s okay,’ she gently rocked. ‘There’s no need to be upset. Everything is going to be okay.’

  ‘I want my mum and dad,’ said Chloe’s muffled voice.

  ‘But I am your mum, Chloe.’

  ‘I want my real mum.’

  Before she could register the sting of those words, Chloe had pulled away, turned and raced back into the spare room, slamming the door behind her.

  Kate hurried after her, gently knocking on the door. ‘Please don’t cry, sweetheart. We need to drop you at the childminder.’

  ‘I don’t want to go back there,’ Chloe screamed through the door.

  ‘Why not? Mrs Gillespie is really nice.’

  ‘I hate it there.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Chloe. Please?’

  ‘I want to go home! I want to see my mum and dad.’

  ‘That’s not possible at the moment, sweetie. We can try and give your dad a call tonight, if you’d like? I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.’

  Chloe’s rapid breathing was causing her to stutter as she spoke. ‘I w-want you to… take… care… of… m-me… today.’

  Kate sank to the floor outside the door. ‘Oh, sweetheart, I wish I could, but I have to go to work. Do you remember me telling you what an important job I do? I have to go to work and catch bad people and keep everyone safe. If I don’t go in, I can’t do that. I promise you, I will try and get some time off work soon, and we can have a day of fun; just the two of us. We can do whatever you like: go shopping, bowling; cinema; whatever you want to do, we’ll do it. We’ll dedicate the day to you. How does that sound?’

  ‘Wh-when?’

  ‘As soon as I catch the bad man I’m after. I promise, Chloe. I’ll make it up to you.’

  The door opened slowly. Chloe’s cheeks looked puffy from crying. She wiped her eyes on her bear, and wrapped her arms around Kate’s nec
k.

  The ache in Kate’s chest grew as she hugged her daughter, and fought to keep her own tears at bay. ‘There’s a good girl. Now, do you think you can get dressed, while I fix you some breakfast?’

  Chloe nodded and sloped off to the bathroom. Kate watched her for a moment longer, tearing herself away to get her morning back on track. It hurt her to send her to the minders once again, but she felt like anywhere was safer than with her.

  Scooping up the photograph she thrust it inside the folder at the top of the pile. She had no desire to help Hendrix’s case, but the image of Fenton proudly clutching a machete wasn’t something she could simply ignore. It didn’t prove he was the killer, but it perhaps proved that Hendrix was wrong to dismiss him as a suspect.

  She hated that an invisible force was driving her actions, but what choice did she have? She was in no position to ignore a helping hand – if it was help. She would just have to play along, for now, until she could determine who was behind it. Then it would be time to turn the tables.

  39

  ‘What do you mean, you don’t work Saturdays?’ Kate pleaded. ‘When I collected Chloe last night, you didn’t say you couldn’t watch her today.’

  Even in a dressing gown, Mrs Gillespie was still formidable. ‘I would have thought that was obvious. Besides, when your ex-husband originally contacted me, he didn’t say you needed Chloe watching at weekends too.’

  Kate felt Chloe’s hot little hand tighten in hers. ‘Is there any way you could make an exception?’

  ‘I’m sorry, no. Don’t you have any friends or family who can help you out?’

  ‘No, I really don’t. It’s just me and I – I need help.’

  Mrs Gillespie folded her arms. ‘Well, I’m sorry but I have plans today.’

  ‘I’ll pay whatever you want.’

  Mrs Gillespie unfolded her arms and gripped the edge of the door. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you.’

  With that, the door closed.

  Kate looked up at the heavens. ‘Perfect.’

  Chloe tugged on her arm. ‘I could go to the police station with you.’

  ‘No, sweetheart, you can’t.’

  ‘Oh please, I’ll be quiet.’

  ‘I’m sure you would be, but it’s not an option.’