Psychological Thriller Series: Adam Stanley Boxed Set: Behind Shadows, Positively Murder and Mind Bender

by Netta Newbound

  Sunday 14th October

  Request from Judy for quote

  Key code and address emailed

  Arranged initial inspection for following day.

  Monday 15th October

  Inspected property and sent quote through.

  Between 12th & 17th October

  Dennis killed.

  Friday 26th October

  Visit from DS Stanley — missing person’s enquiry.

  Email from Judy confirming the job was mine.

  Monday 29th October

  Started work on Kingsley house.

  Bad smell noticed and plumber called.

  Wednesday 31st October

  Annie killed.

  No alibi — stayed late working.

  Friday 2nd November

  Annie's body found.

  Visit to police after I heard about it.

  Saturday 3rd November

  Met with homicide — Kate King.

  Questioned and kept in overnight.

  Witness statements describe me as the person who walked Annie home. Another witness identifies me as buying the vodka left at Annie's place.

  Michael moved to Toni's with the kids.

  Sunday 4th November

  Released without charge.

  Car wouldn't start; DS Stanley drove me home.

  He spotted a prowler in my garden.

  Monday 5th November

  Plumber rang to confirm appointment.

  Took taxi to Kingsley.

  Discovered Dennis' body.

  I was found by Michael and DS Stanley, and taken to hospital.

  Michael returned home with the kids.

  Tuesday 6th November

  Brian Crosby found dead.

  I woke up in hospital.

  Somebody broke into our house.

  Wednesday 7th November

  Left hospital.

  Found message on computer screen threatening Michael.

  Monday 12th November

  Dennis' funeral.

  Saw Andrew in cemetery?

  Toni goes missing.

  Tuesday 13th November (today)

  Visited Judy

  Michael arrested

  Once I reached the end of the timeline I was none the wiser.

  The back door opened and Sandra appeared, looking seriously windswept.

  "Shall I make us a nice cuppa?" I said, jumping to my feet.

  "I think we can find something a little more exciting," she said. "Have a look in the fridge—there should be a couple of bottles of white."

  I poured us both a glass of chardonnay and carried them through to the lounge. Sandra was sitting staring at the list in a world of her own.

  "Penny for them?" I said as I passed her a glass.

  "Oh—sorry, love, I'm trying to get my head around everything."

  "Yeah, I'm surprised you're not dizzy. There's a lot to take in."

  "It's just … something is puzzling me."

  "What is?" I set my glass down on the coffee table in front of us.

  "According to this, your father went missing before you'd even started work on the house."

  "Aha."

  "So whoever it was gained access, killed him, and left his body there for you to find—and all this before you even got the job."

  "I hadn't thought about that." Sandra was very astute—even Adam had never mentioned this contradiction. "Which takes us back to Judy," I whispered.

  "Do you think another visit is in order?"

  ***

  Sandra offered to look after the children for me while I went to see Judy. I decided not to take them to the day-care. I'd been shocked to find out Michael had been leaving them alone there.

  As I gathered up my bag, my phone rang for what seemed like the thousandth time this morning. The following beep indicated yet another message. I'd already cleared several from Michael, but more kept coming through. He had been released and was now in search of the children, but I wasn't in the mood to speak to him.

  I perched on the edge of the bed and dialled my voicemail again. Six messages in half an hour for heaven's sake. The first three were more from Michael—ranting and raving, demanding all sorts. The next two were silent apart from some heavy breathing.

  The last one was the same, more breathing, and I was about to hang up when I heard a faint voice. "Amanda, I need to see you. Please call me as soon as you can."

  Judy was the last person I would have expected to hear from. I'd been stressing about how she was going to react to me turning up unannounced. I called her back, and Mary answered.

  "Hi, Mary, it's Amanda Flynn. I missed a call from your mum. Can I talk to her, please?"

  "She can't come to the phone right now—the nurse is in with her. She said to tell you to come over. She has something she needs to discuss with you, but it has to be between ten and twelve today."

  I glanced at my watch—8.50am. I would need to get my skates on. "Tell her I'll be there."

  I found Sandra and the children having breakfast at the dining table. Jacob was sitting in a booster seat attached to a chair.

  "Oh, that's a good contraption. Where did you find it?"

  "I've had it for years from my fostering days. I'd forgotten all about it."

  "Sandra," I said, lowering my voice. "I need to go sooner than expected. Judy called and needs to see me."

  "Judy called you?"

  "Yeah—coincidence or what?"

  "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

  "I'll be fine. Maybe she's remembered something."

  "Call me as soon as you're out of there."

  I wasn't used to having somebody care about me, and it brought tears to my eyes.

  "I will. I promise. Thank you, Sandra. You're a true friend."

  "Oh, get on with ya." She pretended to shove me away. "Just keep yourself safe, you hear?

  Chapter 38

  Adam

  Adam felt as if he’d been bamboozled into an awkward position.

  Since Sarah died, he didn't want anything to do with homicide or death in any way, shape or form.

  During his years in homicide, he'd investigated and solved several high-profile murders. He’d seen everything, or so he thought. That was until that fateful Wednesday morning.

  Sarah had been an early childhood teacher and ten years younger than him. Neither of them had ever been in a serious relationship before they met, but once they did, it was as though his life suddenly made sense.

  He'd already been with the police for nine years by then, and had been promoted to the homicide division. Sarah was the younger sister of a colleague—his ex-partner, Matt, to be exact. They met at Matt's birthday party.

  She was so beautiful that he never imagined she'd look twice in his direction. However, Matt couldn't wait to tell him of the half-hour quizzing she'd put her brother through.

  With Matt playing matchmaker, Adam and Sarah arranged to meet the following weekend, and from that day on they'd been inseparable.

  They'd planned to have at least three children, and even though they weren't ready to start a family, it hadn't stopped them practising at every opportunity. They had more than sex in common, though. It was as if their minds were fused together and they functioned as one, often finishing each other's sentences.

  That morning started out no different than many others, apart from the alarm clock failing to go off, which made him late for work. He'd rushed around getting ready, before racing back to the bedroom for a goodbye kiss.

  Sarah lay on her stomach, one gorgeous, shapely leg and her bottom uncovered. Adam grabbed her foot and began nibbling from her ankle up, growling like an animal, before reaching her buttocks. Sarah squealed and wriggled to escape, but he held on tight. With a swift movement, he flipped her over, pinning her on her back. He kissed her sexy full lips passionately, then he jumped from the bed leaving her panting for more.

  "Aw, no! Adam. Come back here this minute!"

  "Can't—sorry, baby, I'm late. Take it as a taste
r of what to expect later." He winked at her.

  "Just a few minutes, plee-ease?" she begged.

  "Nah, gotta go. I love you."

  The amount of times he'd gone over that day in his head, wondering if anything would have altered if he spent an extra half-hour with her instead of rushing off to work.

  He first knew something was wrong was when Matt came to his office looking as though he'd had the fright of his life.

  Adam's stomach hit the floor.

  Sarah had been in an accident.

  They had been taking a group of children to the local jungle gym as they did every Wednesday morning. One of the children, a little girl called Molly, ran into the road. Sarah had managed to push the child to safety before a car struck Sarah head on.

  Witnesses said she died instantly. She never uttered any last words of true love like they do in the movies. The driver had slowed, before slamming down the accelerator and fleeing the scene.

  The driver hadn't been found to this day.

  That had been the hardest thing to deal with. Knowing the person that killed his wife was still out there getting on with their life as if nothing had happened. Adam's life, on the other hand, was devastated beyond recognition. The fact that he couldn't find the person responsible ate away at him the way a parasite.

  The reality that it hadn't been the driver's fault made no difference at all. The witnesses said there was no way the car could have avoided her—it had happened too fast—but Adam had been like a man obsessed. So much so that when he couldn't find them, he'd doubted himself as a policeman.

  After a long absence, he handed in his notice, but his sergeant wouldn't accept it. Instead, he'd convinced Adam to transfer to another area on light duties, hence Missing Persons in the London borough of Pinevale.

  Yet now here he was, up to his eyeballs in dead bodies and with no idea who was responsible.

  He glanced at the thick file on the kitchen bench. He intended going through it until something made sense. It was meant to be his day off, but he knew he wouldn't be able to rest with all this going around and round in his head.

  After making a large pot of coffee, he sat down for what he expected could be a very long day.

  Chapter 39

  Amanda

  The gates stood open as I arrived at Judy's house, so I drove straight in and parked in front of the steps. I wrapped my scarf around my neck and darted to the front door to get out of the rain.

  After the third knock had gone unanswered, I tried the doorknob and was surprised when it opened.

  "Hello …" My voice was little more than a whisper. I cleared my throat before trying again. "Hello."

  I pushed the door wide and stepped into the hallway, wondering where everybody could be. I closed the door behind me, feeling like an intruder and didn't want to go any further without an invitation.

  "Hello, Judy? Anybody?"

  I heard a faint sound coming from the end of the hallway, Judy's bedroom. Seeing her door was ajar, I eased it open fully and saw Judy sitting upright in bed. The curtains were pulled and although it was a cold, dark day the light made the room look much brighter and more welcoming than it had the day before.

  "Oh, hi, Judy. I'm sorry to barge in on you. I did knock."

  Judy beckoned me into the room with her frail hand. "I know. I asked…the nurse to leave…the door unlocked. I…sent her away so…we can—talk." Her words were little more than a hoarse whisper, but I could understand her.

  "Where's Mary? Are you alone?"

  "Her father…took her to music class. That's why it…was important…you come at this time." She gripped one arm of the chair at the side of the bed and nodded towards it.

  I sat down. "How are you feeling?"

  "To be bru…tally honest, I don't…have much…longer. My husband…doesn't like me talking like…this but I don't…see the…point pretending.

  "I'm so sorry." She seemed much worse even than yesterday.

  Judy shrugged. "Just…one of those…things, I'm afraid. There's some…thing I need to…see to, though. That's…what I need…to talk to you…about."

  "I was going to call you myself this morning. It seems we both have unfinished business, so maybe we can help each other?"

  "Maybe—" A fit of coughing interrupted her. She bent forward, one hand holding her chest and the other pointing at the box of tissues.

  I reached for them, handing her several. My hand brushed hers and it shocked me how cold she was. I stood close to her and rubbed her back as her frail body was racked with wet-sounding coughs.

  Judy spat into the tissues and wiped her mouth. She seemed to have calmed down, but I was worried it might happen again.

  I handed her the wastepaper basket and she dropped the bloody tissues into it.

  "Are you okay now?" I asked. "You scared me."

  "Pneumonia," she rasped between gasps. "This is…what will finish…me off."

  I handed her some more tissues before putting the box back on the side table.

  "Is there nothing they can do for you?"

  "Nothing they…haven't…already tried. Besides…will be much…easier for everyone…this way."

  "Oh, Judy, how awful."

  Her eyes closed. After a few minutes, I thought she must be asleep. I got up and walked to the door, wanting to check if the nurse was anywhere to be found.

  "Don't go." It was no more than a whisper.

  "I'm not going anywhere, Judy—at least not until somebody else turns up. But you're tiring yourself out. Have a little rest."

  "No, I need…to talk to you…now. It's impor…tant."

  "Okay," I said, sitting back down.

  "Promise me…" She gave another little cough. "Promise me…you'll look after…Mary when I'm…gone."

  "I don't understand. What do you mean?"

  "You will. I'm too…tired to tell you…now. Just…promise me."

  A phone was ringing in another part of the house; it went unanswered and after a short pause began again.

  I didn't want to add to her stress, but I wasn't about to promise I'd do anything of the sort. "Judy, I don't understand. I'm sorry, but why are you asking me this?"

  "She's not…safe. My husband…been…behaving…strangely."

  "Surely that's understandable considering what you're all going through?"

  "I know, but…it's not…that." She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly before continuing. "You've got to under…stand, my hus…band is not…a bad—man, he's the most car…ing and cons…ider…ate person I've ev…er known." Each word was coming out on the end of a pant.

  "Then why is Mary in danger?"

  "He…gets…very…angry."

  I thought back to yesterday's raised voice. "Judy, I know you're concerned about this, but your husband is going through an awful time. To watch you suffer like this must make him very angry—angry with you—angry at the illness—angry at everyone, probably."

  She grasped hold of my hand and I was amazed by the strength in her scrawny fingers. One watery blue eye was like a saucer as she looked at me pleadingly, though the other one was drooping and closed.

  The phone was still ringing. I felt as though I should locate it and put the caller out of their misery, but I didn't want to leave Judy alone.

  "Please…take…her…home…with you."

  "Oh, Judy, you need to rest. You're not making any sense." She was obviously delirious. I was mad at the nurse for leaving her for this long.

  "No!" Judy spat, the frail and timid voice gone for a second before returning even weaker than before.

  "I…need…you…to…promise…keep…her…safe."

  "I'm sorry, Judy, I cannot take her home—and even if I wanted to, I'm sure her father would have something to say about it."

  "She's … not … safe… with … him. He … looks … at her … like … your father … looked…at…you."

  If it had been anybody else, I'd have given them a mouthful. She'd obviously seen the story in the newspaper
and put two and two together because I'd never been named. Though, of course I'd told her yesterday that it was my father who had been killed in her house, so I guess it hadn't been that difficult to work out. I was shocked that she knew, but more so that she felt she could discuss it with me. I felt my face redden, suddenly very annoyed.

  "Yes, Judy, my father looked at me in an unnatural way, but he was a monster who sexually molested me for years. Is that what you're saying your husband is doing to Mary?" I glared at her.

  “No. I don’t…think…so. But … when … I saw … you … yester … day …it all … made … sense.”

  "What on earth do you mean?" My voice was becoming louder. I didn't want to treat a dying woman this way, but the whole conversation was exhausting me. God only knows what it was doing to her. She had slumped down in the bed and was bending over sideways, looking very uncomfortable. I became worried she might topple.

  "Here, let me help you sit up a bit." I put one hand under her nearest armpit and lifted her straight. With my free hand, I pulled the pillow back up behind her head. I heard a sound in another part of the house and prayed it was the nurse.

  I finished straightening her blankets and she looked much more comfortable. "There you go. That's better," I said, then was startled by the horrified look on her face as she stared over my shoulder.

  "Oh, and isn't this cosy," said a male voice, coming from right behind me.

  My stomach flipped as I realised it must be Judy's husband, but I tried not to show how flustered I was. I turned around with a smile on my face and my hand outstretched to introduce myself. But there was no need for an introduction.

  Frozen to the spot, I tried to make sense of the situation. I looked from him to Judy and back to him, unable to work out was happening. I felt confused and dizzy.

  Judy was speaking. Her breathing was even worse now and her speech very hard to understand. "Am-an-da hhh-as que-est-tion-s." She looked petrified and was blinking continually.

  My eyes went from one to the other. I could not utter a word.