The Principle of Evil: A Fast-Paced Serial Killer Thriller (DCI Claire Winters, Book 2)

by T. M. E. Walsh

  She wanted to offer Stefan thanks, but she thought her voice might falter, betray her inner suffering if she revealed just how much loyalty she felt for him.

  She couldn’t even bring herself to thank him. The risk of crying was far too great.

  He sat on the chair beside her bed. This was the first time Claire had seen or spoken to Stefan properly since everything had happened.

  ‘How’s Fallon?’ she managed, breaking the tension.

  ‘She’s OK. The shot to her leg looked worse than it was. She had mild hypothermia but she went home yesterday to a very relieved father.’ He paused. ‘Even her mother has been staying in the family home the last few days. I don’t think it’ll be a bed of roses but she is trying to make things right… The mother, I mean.’

  Claire nodded, but kept her eyes trained on the floor. She had so many questions but didn’t know where to start.

  He filled her in on Olivia.

  She felt sick and couldn’t bring herself to speak. She didn’t ask any questions, just listened. Then his voice changed and his eyes came over all dark.

  ‘I’ve seen that look before, Fletch. It never means good news.’

  He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘We found another body in the forest.’ He let Claire’s eyes wander over his face before he spoke again. ‘Her name was Roberta Parry. She was Hatcher’s first victim. Lucas’s first chosen one.’

  She paused. ‘You’ve lost me.’

  ‘Hatcher has given us his version of events… Roberta Parry was married with two young girls. She lost all of them in a car crash a year ago. She disappeared at the end of October and her sister reported her missing. She said Roberta was being treated for depression and she feared her sister may have taken her own life. Roberta never forgave herself for the death of her husband and children.’

  Claire raised her eyebrows.

  ‘She was driving but it wasn’t her fault. A drunk driver crashed into their car. Roberta escaped with a few broken bones. Her husband Anthony and their daughter Jasmine were killed instantly. Isabelle died a few days later.’

  ‘God, that’s horrible… How does Hatcher fit into all this?’

  ‘He came into Parry’s life purely by accident.’

  ‘Some accident.’

  ‘He’s been pretty sketchy on the details,’ Stefan said. ‘He says he tried to help her with her grief, but I showed the sister a photo of Hatcher and she said she’d never seen him before and she was with her sister most days since the accident.’

  Claire sighed. ‘So he’s lying to us.’

  ‘Not exactly. Hatcher came across Parry because she attended Focus Being as well. Lucas chose her, just like he chose Hatcher.’

  ‘That place needs a health warning itself.’

  ‘God, your jokes are bad.’

  ‘And ill-timed?’

  Stefan’s smile was faint. ‘Just a little.’

  ‘I do that when I’m nervous. There’s more you’re not telling me. I can feel it.’

  Stefan pulled his chair a little closer to her. ‘I’ve not been able to find out who leaked Nola’s pregnancy. The team’s tight. Maybe the press got wind of it elsewhere.’

  Claire shook her head. She couldn’t accept that. The idea that there was someone she couldn’t trust on the team made her restless. She demanded loyalty and she knew she’d track down who betrayed them no matter how long it took.

  Stefan watched her face, gauging her reaction. There was more to tell her and she looked apprehensive.

  ‘Olivia wants to see you.’

  Claire grew concerned. ‘Why?’

  He shrugged. ‘I think she wants to apologise.’

  ‘That bitch can shove her apology.’

  ‘I thought you’d say that. Told her as much but she was still adamant that you go and see her.’

  Claire stared at the blank white wall ahead. Her brow furrowed and her hands balled up into tight fists, gripping the sheets tight.

  ‘What do you think I should do?’

  He sat back in his chair and shrugged.

  ‘It doesn’t matter what I say. You’ll do what you think is best… you always do.’

  CHAPTER 102

  6 weeks later – HMP Holloway, London

  As Claire sat down in front of the table, she instantly felt her stomach turn as Olivia smiled.

  ‘How are you?’

  Claire blinked at her. Her mouth was set firm and it took every ounce of strength not to hurl her fist into her lying, treacherous face. ‘I mean it,’ Olivia said, hope in her voice. ‘I was glad when they told me you survived.’

  ‘Were you?’ Claire shot back, her voice cold. ‘The way I heard it, you were pretty much gunning on your brother murdering me.’

  Olivia looked away. ‘I’ve changed. Being in here waiting for the trial is teaching me what’s right. What’s important.’

  ‘You suddenly have a conscience? You can’t just magic that out of thin air.’

  ‘My childhood was one massive fuck-up,’ she said with venom. ‘People like me don’t have a choice. Sometimes we do things, evil things, to survive.’

  Claire gave a mock laugh. ‘Mummy gave you a bad childhood, your brother screwed you over and everyone else in society has to accept what you did, and support the families left behind.’ She shook her head. ‘You’re a fool if you think I’ll accept that. Even more so if you think you can convince a jury you were just as much a victim of your brother as the others.’

  Olivia’s eyes grew dark. ‘I thought you’d understand me.’

  Claire leaned forward across the table. ‘What I don’t understand is that your brother ruined and took away lives.’ She paused. ‘He nearly took Fallon’s… He nearly took mine.’

  Olivia was stony-faced.

  ‘I don’t give a fuck about you, Olivia. I don’t care about your childhood. I don’t care how your mother made you feel or how Lucas used you. All I care about is getting justice for the families you helped destroy.’

  ‘Then what’re you doing here?’ she said. Her voice had a cruel edge to it. ‘Why did you come?’

  Claire’s eyes met hers, until Olivia looked away. Claire didn’t waver. ‘I know there’s more to your story.’

  Olivia shrugged. ‘Is there?’

  ‘Oh, there’s a hell of a lot more. You helped your brother and William more than you’ve admitted to so far.’

  Olivia leaned across the table. The tone of her voice was almost seductive. ‘And do you have any proof?’

  Claire remained silent.

  Olivia smiled. ‘It’s what you can prove in court that counts.’

  ‘I wouldn’t count on William keeping your secrets. He has no reason to save your neck. Not now he knows you helped to set him up to take all the responsibility for those murders.’

  A sickly smile spread across Olivia’s face. ‘Is that why you came? To tell me that?’

  ‘I came for two reasons.’

  ‘I’m all ears.’

  ‘I came to see if I could see through your lies.’

  ‘And what do you see?’ Olivia raised her eyebrows, eager for an answer.

  ‘I see a frightened little girl who thinks she can lie her way out of this. But I know different, and deep down so do you. I see through your lies and so will a jury.’

  Olivia let out a little laugh, still cocky as she said, ‘And the second?’

  ‘I want to know the real reason you helped your brother. It was more than just money.’

  A long pause hung heavy in the air before she answered. ‘He was family.’

  Claire stayed silent.

  ‘My turn,’ Olivia said. ‘How did it feel for you, watching him die? You could’ve saved him.’

  Claire’s eyes flickered. She swallowed hard. Hoped Olivia didn’t notice. ‘I passed out on the ice. There was nothing I could’ve done.’

  Olivia’s face was serious. ‘Now I can see through your lies.’

  Claire held her gaze a moment longer than she should hav
e, giving Olivia an unspoken answer, confirming all she needed to, before she pushed her chair back with a loud scrape across the linoleum floor.

  Olivia raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘You’re going?’ Claire ignored her, instead nodding her head towards the prison guard to let her out.

  ‘I’m glad he didn’t kill you.’ Claire stopped, turned. Olivia was grinning. ‘Out of them all, I’m glad you survived.’

  ‘Fallon’s alive and well.’

  Olivia sighed and shook her head. ‘I know… unfortunately.’ Claire’s eyes narrowed at the coldness in her voice. ‘Still,’ Olivia continued, ‘I bet you’re grateful now?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘You heard me… I said, I bet you’re grateful now. After what my brother did, it forced you to see how things could’ve turned out. But now you’re grateful for the life you have. You passed a test… Maybe Lucas taught you something after all.’

  Claire thought back to the look in Lucas’s eyes before he drowned. It was a look that would be burned into her soul for the rest of her life. Professionally, she’d made the wrong choice. She should have tried to save him so he could stand trial. It was, after all, why she did this job. Wasn’t it?

  Yes, professionally it had been the wrong decision… Deep down inside her, however, if she had her time over again, could rewind to that split second in time, she’d let him die a thousand times over and over again if she could.

  There was one nagging question though.

  If she’d made the right decision, why did her conscience pull at her inside? Did letting Lucas die make her any better than him?

  Mercy… It’s what makes us human.

  ‘Did I touch a nerve, Chief Inspector?’ Claire was shaken from her thoughts as Olivia grinned.

  Claire strode towards her and slammed her hands down as she leaned over the table. Olivia recoiled back in her seat. ‘Why’d you do it? Just tell me that much. The real reason you helped Lucas.’

  ‘You really wanna know?’

  ‘I won’t ask you again.’

  ‘What if you’re not satisfied with my answer?’

  Claire’s face looked pinched, almost cruel. She smiled faintly, shaking her head, and turned on her heels, walking back towards the door. ‘See you in court, Olivia.’

  ‘No, wait!’ Olivia said, standing up from her seat. ‘Don’t walk away from me.’

  ‘You want an audience.’ Claire barely turned as she spoke to her. ‘I’m not giving you that satisfaction.’ The look in her face was calm, unsympathetic, and her voice was unyielding.

  Cold.

  Heartless.

  Just as Lucas had been to her and all of the other victims.

  Claire Winters had a conscience but it didn’t extend to murderers and their accomplices. Any doubt she had about Lucas’s death was rapidly fading just as quickly as it had surfaced.

  ‘It’s simple, Chief Inspector.’ Olivia paused as Claire turned to face her. ‘My brother, he…’ She trailed off. She took a deep breath again, as if the next words to come out of her mouth would take all her effort to speak.

  She sighed, raising her eyes back to Claire’s.

  ‘It’s simple really… He got inside my head. He twisted it, danced around in it, leaving nothing behind but bad memories and bloody footprints.’

  EPILOGUE

  January

  Harwood Park Crematorium was a peaceful and beautiful place. Even in the darker months of winter the vast memorial gardens were well tended and, in a strange way, still of comfort.

  Situated on the edge of Stevenage, a large town about a thirty minute drive from Claire’s house, it was surrounded by open countryside.

  The sky was a mix of deep gun metal grey clouds, intercut with hazy sunlight, peeking through any break in the clouds.

  There weren’t many people around today. The rough winds had kept many at home. The darkness of the clouds threatened rain.

  The squawk of a crow above reminded her she wasn’t alone in the world.

  Claire’s eyes rose to the sky, saw the bird dipping, then heading towards the horizon.

  She buried her hands deeper into her coat pockets, and lowered her face, burying her chin into her scarf. Despite the patchy sunlight, the ground still sparkled with early morning frost.

  Claire watched as a lone woman tended a stone vault, clearing the leaves and twigs that the wind had brought to rest on a loved one’s memorial.

  Many people chose to have flower vases, or benches, stone memorials or a simple plaque.

  In Claire’s case, she’d chosen the latter.

  Black with gold writing, raised slightly from the ground, resting on pretty coloured pebbles.

  She stared down at the inscription.

  In loving memory of…

  She didn’t want to read His name today.

  She blinked water away from her eyes. She wasn’t sure if they were tears or just her eyes watering in the bitter wind.

  ‘Did I do the right thing?’ she said.

  She thought back to the look in Lucas’s eyes, the lasting image of terror caught in that final moment when he’d realised his fate, before he sank down into the dark cold depths.

  The lake was still being dredged. His body had yet to be found in the murky waters.

  Claire hoped it stayed that way.

  ‘Was I wrong?’

  She laughed to herself then. Was she really expecting a reply? To hear some voice, His voice, echoing around her. Would he reassure or condemn her for not saving a soul, even if it had been evil?

  ‘I still think of you,’ she said. ‘I never think about… well, I won’t speak her name, not after what she did.’

  She paused a beat. She heard a cawing.

  The crow was back.

  This time it landed, about ten feet from her. It cocked its head, beady black eyes watching.

  She smiled then and it felt like genuine happiness.

  She stared back at the crow. ‘I may not always make the right choices… but I make them for what I believe to be the right reasons.’

  As if on cue, the crow ruffled its feathers, and took off again.

  Claire heard Lucas’s cries for help in her head. She squeezed her eyes shut. He might have made her grateful, that much she couldn’t deny, but she was determined to never feel in his debt.

  ‘I did the right thing,’ she said, opening her eyes.

  She cast one last look at the simple memorial she had chosen for Him, over a year ago, with a name that would always mean something to her, the memory not always pleasant.

  She walked away.

  As she reached her car, her BlackBerry began to vibrate in her coat pocket. Pulling her glove off with her teeth, she retrieved the phone and stared at the screen.

  Unknown number…

  She answered it.

  ‘DCI Claire Winters,’ she said. The wind blew a tangled mess of blonde hair about her face, and whistled through the phone. She had heard a voice, but couldn’t decipher it.

  ‘Could you speak up, please?’ she said, pressing her finger against her other ear, in an effort to drown out the wind.

  ‘Claire…’

  ‘Yes. Who’s this?’

  Static fed back along the line, and then, ‘It’s me… Has it been so long that you don’t recognise your own father’s voice any more?’

  Her body stiffened then and he sensed what she was about to do.

  ‘Please, don’t hang up on me.’

  She swallowed hard, not wanting to hear his words. ‘Dad,’ she said. ‘How’d you get my new number?’

  A rasping followed down the line and she realised he was laughing in exasperation. The laugh soon changed into a hacking cough.

  She closed her eyes, not wanting to hear any of this.

  He soon composed himself and said, voice full of pain, ‘I’m dying, Claire.’

  Her eyes snapped open.

  ‘I’m dying and there’s something I want you to know…’

  CARINA™


  ISBN: 978-1-474-04654-1

  The Principle of Evil

  © 2016 T. M. E. Walsh

  by Carina, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF

  All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.

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  Table of Contents

  Blurb

  Book List

  Title Page

  Author Bio

  Acknowledgement

  Dedication

  Contents

  Prologue

  Part One

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Part Two

  Chapter 9