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Dead Nasty

Page 19

by Helen H. Durrant


  Ruth caught him up and grabbed his arm. “I understand. But you scared me. I can cope with the Tom Calladine I work with, but nothing more.”

  He looked at her and gave a sad smile. “I’m sorry.”

  “What I’m saying, Tom, is don’t ruin what we’ve got. You are a good friend. I love you as a friend. Let’s leave it at that.”

  “Love me, do you? And I had no idea.” He tried to make a joke of it but his words died away. Calladine saw Julian, weeping on his own.

  Ruth continued. “Don’t push it. We’re none of us in a good place right now. We have to keep it together for the others. You, especially.”

  “I’ll try. Will you help me?”

  “Yes, but no more hugging, alright?”

  “OK.”

  THE END

  AVAILABLE NOW BY HELEN H. DURRANT

  THE CALLADINE AND BAYLISS MYSTERIES (book 3 features DI GRECO)

  BOOK 1 DEAD WRONG:

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/

  http://www.amazon.com/WRONG-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B010Y7641M/

  First a shooting, then a grisly discovery on the common . . .

  Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss race against time to track down a killer before the whole area erupts in violence. Their boss thinks it’s all down to drug lord Ray Fallon, but Calladine’s instincts say something far nastier is happening on the Hobfield housing estate.

  Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies and before the press publicize the gruesome crimes? Detectives Calladine and Bayliss are led on a trail which gets dangerously close to home. In a thrilling finale they race against time to rescue someone very close to Calladine’s heart.

  BOOK 2: DEAD SILENT

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/

  http://www.amazon.com/SILENT-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01185U8NE/

  A body is found in a car crash, but the victim was already dead . . .

  BOOK 3: DEAD LIST

  This book is the first to feature D.I Greco

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW

  http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B013J9BUAW

  An unlikely serial killer with a bucket list of victims . . .

  BOOK 4: DEAD LOST

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/

  http://www.amazon.com/DEAD-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B018W6EANQ/

  An abandoned cotton mill holds horrific secrets

  Police partners, D.I. Calladine and D.S. Ruth Bayliss face one of their toughest challenges yet. A group of homeless people have set up camp in the grounds of a disused cotton mill belonging to local businessman Damien Chase.

  BOOK 5: DEAD & BURIED

  https://www.amazon.co.uk/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/

  https://www.amazon.com/BURIED-gripping-crime-thriller-twists-ebook/dp/B01HXXTWKA/

  Annie Naden and her husband buy a remote country cottage at auction. It’s the home of their own that they always wanted, but as they begin renovations, Annie discovers a satchel in a dusty old hidden cupboard. Inside are the usual schoolbooks, now over 40 years old, and a girl’s diary. Among the record of day-to-day crushes and pop concerts, is a secret whose terrible consequences are still resonating to this day

  THE DI GRECO MYSTERIES

  DI GRECO BOOK 1: DARK MURDER

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/

  http://www.amazon.com/MURDER-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B0163DVHC2/

  A woman is found dead by a canal . . . why have her eyes have been viciously poked out?

  Detective Stephen Greco has just started a new job at Oldston CID and now he faces a series of murders with seemingly no connection but the brutal disfigurement of the victims. Greco’s team is falling apart under the pressure and he doesn't know who he can trust. Then they discover a link to a local drug dealer, but maybe it’s not all that it seems.

  Can Greco get control of his chaotic team and stop the murders?

  DI GRECO BOOK 2: DARK HOUSES

  http://www.amazon.co.uk/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ

  http://www.amazon.com/HOUSES-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B01CGR9KEQ

  A young woman is found brutally murdered in an empty house

  Detective Stephen Greco and his team must piece together her life as quickly as possible. Within twenty-four hours there is another killing using the same method. The detectives realise that the victims are random but the locations are not. The killer is more concerned with finding the right house – somewhere he won’t be disturbed.

  Glossary of English Slang for US readers

  A & E: Accident and emergency department in a hospital

  Aggro: Violent behaviour, aggression

  A level: exams taken between 16 and 18

  Barm: bread roll

  Beaker: glass or cup for holding liquids

  Benefits: social security

  Bent: corrupt

  Betting shop: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports

  Bin: wastebasket (noun), or throw in rubbish (verb)

  Bloke: guy

  Blow: cocaine

  Bob: money

  Bookies: a place where you can place bets on horses and other sports

  Burger bar: hamburger fast-food restaurant

  Buy-to-let: Buying a house/apartment to rent it out for profit

  Charity Shop: thrift store

  Carrier bag: plastic bag from supermarket

  Care Home: an institution where old people are cared for

  Car park: parking lot

  Chat-up: flirt, trying to pick up someone with witty banter or compliments

  Chemist: pharmacy

  Chinwag: conversation

  CID: Criminal Investigation Department

  Clock: punch

  Cock up: mess up, make a mistake

  Common: an area of park land/ or lower class

  Common or garden: ordinary

  Comprehensive School (Comp.): High school

  Cop hold of: grab

  Copper: police officer

  Coverall: coveralls, or boiler suit

  CPS: Crown Prosecution Service, decide whether police cases go forward

  Childminder: someone who looks after children for money

  Council: local government

  Crown Jewels: the Queen’s jewels and crown worn on state occasions (can also be an expression for anything valuable)

  DCI: Detective Chief Inspector

  Deck: one of the landings on a floor of a tower block

  DI: Detective Inspector

  DS: Detective Sergeant

  Do a bunk: disappear

  Do a runner: disappear

  Do one: go away

  Doc Martens: Heavy boots with an air-cushioned sole

  DS: detective sergeant

  ED: accident and emergency department of hospital

  Early dart: to leave work early

  Estate: public/social housing estate (similar to housing projects)

  Estate agent: realtor (US)

  Fag: cigarette

  Garden Centre: a business where plants and gardening equipment are sold

  Get rid: dispose of

  GP: general practitioner, a doctor based in the community

  Graft: hard work

  Hard nut: tough person

  HOLMES: UK police computer system used during investigation of major incidents

  Home: care home for elderly or sick people

  Inne: isn’t he

  Into care: a child taken away from their family by the social services

  Kark: die

  Kneecapping: punish by sh
ooting in the kneecap

  Lad: young man

  Lass: young woman

  Lecky: electricity

  Lift: elevator

  Lippy: lipstick — can also mean loquacious

  Lorry: a truck

  Mare: derogatory term for woman, or can mean having a bad day (nightmare)

  Missus: wife

  MIT: Major Investigation Team

  Mobile phone: cell phone

  MP: Member of Parliament, politician representing an area

  Naff: lame, not good

  Narky: bad-tempered

  Net curtains: a type of semi-transparent curtain

  NHS: National Health Service, public health service of UK

  Nick: police station (as verb: to arrest)

  No-mark: loser

  Nowt: nothing

  NQT: Newly qualified teacher

  Nutter: insane person

  Nursery: a place which grows plants, shrubs and trees for sale (often wholesale)

  Owt: anything

  Pay-as-you-go: a cell phone you pay for calls in advance

  PC: police constable

  Pear-shaped: go wrong

  Petrol: gasoline

  Piss off: as exclamation, go away (rude). Also can mean annoy.

  Pissing down: raining

  Pleb: ordinary person (often insulting)

  Portakabin: portable building used as temporary office etc.

  Planning Department: the local authority department which issues licences to build and develop property

  Premier League: top English soccer division

  Prom: a classical music concert where some of the audience stands

  Punter: someone who gambles in a betting shop

  Querent: person for whom the tarot card reading is done

  Rag: newspaper

  Ram-raiding: robbery where a vehicle is rammed through a shop window

  Randy: horny

  Right state: messy

  Ring: telephone (verb)

  Roadworks: repairs done to roads

  Scally: scallywag

  Scroat: low life

  Semi: Semi-detached house, house with another house joined to it on one side only

  Shedload: a large amount

  Shout the odds: talk in a loud bossy way

  Sixth form college: school for high school students in final two years.

  SIO: senior investigating officer

  Skip: a large open container used for building waste

  Slapper: slag

  SOCO: scenes of crime officer, police officer who gathers forensic evidence

  Sod: an annoying person

  Sort: to do or make

  Solicitor: lawyer

  Stunner: beautiful woman

  Super: superintendent (police rank)

  Sweeting: endearment, like sweetheart

  Tabloid: newspaper

  Tea: Dinner (Northern English)

  Till: cash register

  Tipsy: a bit drunk

  Toerag: a bad person

  Ton: a hundred pounds

  Torch: flashlight

  Tutor: university teacher

  Tower block: tall building containing apartments (usually social housing)

  Undertaker: mortician

  Upmarket: affluent or fancy

  Wash: the washing machine

  Water board: company supplying water to an area

  Wheelie bin: a large refuse bin on wheels

  White van man: typical working-class man who drives a small truck

  CHARACTER LIST

  Detective Inspector Tom Calladine

  He is single, just past fifty. He is tall, his hair used to be dark but is now greying and is cut close to his head. He has been on a health kick and lost weight, and improved his fitness. His daughter is called Zoe, she resulted from his short-lived marriage and he only found out about her recently. He has had a chequered love life. Currently the woman in his life is Shelley Mortimer.

  Detective Sergeant Ruth Bayliss

  She is single in Dead Wrong but meets someone — teacher Jake Ireson, in Dead Silent. She’s in her mid-thirties, likes birdwatching. Works with Calladine at Leesdon police station. She has been on maternity leave but is about to return to work. Her baby son, Harry, is six months old.

  Detective Constable Simon Rockliffe — Rocco

  A solid team member. He works hard and gets results. He is tipped to go far. He was attacked on the Hobfield in Dead Wrong. He has hinted that he might have a girlfriend but is giving nothing away.

  Detective Constable Imogen Goode

  She is the IT expert of the team. She is intense — very keen on her work — a bit of a nerd. Imogen has long, blonde wavy hair, a buxom figure, and is keen to advance. She is going steady with Julian Batho — the forensics expert. They have recently bought a house together on the same development as Zoe Calladine and her partner live.

  Detective Chief Inspector Rhona Birch

  Rhona has the reputation of being a ‘hatchet queen.’ It is rumoured that she hasn’t more than two years at any station. Much to Calladine’s surprise, it turns out that she has a son and an ex-husband. Calladine sees a new, emotional side to the woman when her son goes missing in Australia.

  Detective Inspector Stephen Greco

  Detective at nearby Oldston police station. Ambitious.

  Doctor Sebastian Hoyle

  Pathologist — now retired but working as a locum at Leesdon Health Centre. Often referred to as the doc.

  Forensic scientist Batho

  Unmarried, but in a long-term relationship with Imogen Goode. He is hardworking and passionate about his work. Not particularly good-looking. He is now working at the Duggan Centre and has been elevated to Professor Batho.

  Monika Smith

  Care-home manager and former girlfriend of Calladine.

  Freda Calladine

  Tom’s late adopted mother — was resident in the care home run by Monika.

  Eve Buckley – nee Walker

  Eve is Calladine’s biological mother. They met for the first time in Dead List. He learned the truth about his birth from a letter his mother left for him to open after her death. Eve wants to try and put things right, to bring Calladine into her family.

  Samantha Hurst

  Eve’s daughter and therefore Calladine’s half-sister. She is a doctor at a hospital in Manchester. They met during Dead List but though he knew who she was, Samantha had no idea about him.

  Shelley Mortimer — known as ‘Shez’

  Calladine’s latest girlfriend. She is ten years his junior. Very attractive with chin-length, black hair. She is rarely seen without make-up, particular her signature red lipstick. Shez runs a model and escort agency on the outskirts of Manchester.

  PC Nigel Hallam

  Young, curly blonde hair and tipped to go far. He is keen to progress to CID.

  DI Alan Reynolds

  Now retired. Still lives in Leesdon with his daughter Kate, who works for Shez. He was Calladine’s DI when he was a DS.

  ACC Pat Kennet

  Now the Assistant Chief Commissioner, he was Reynolds’ DCI when he was in the force.

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br />   http://www.amazon.co.uk/SECRET-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B00XYMC5GI/

  http://www.amazon.com/SECRET-gripping-detective-thriller-suspense-ebook/dp/B00XYMC5GI/

  Shocking family secrets come to light when a young woman is murdered

  Amy Hill, a nineteen-year-old student, is strangled and her body dumped on open ground in the city. New police partners, D.I. Jim Neal and D.S. Ava Merry are called in to investigate this brutal crime. The last person to see Amy alive was Simon, the son of a family friend, but before he can be properly questioned he disappears.

  Detectives Neal and Merry are led on a trail of shocking family secrets and crimes. Can this duo track down the murderer before anyone else dies? Stopping this tragic cycle of violence will put D.S. Merry’s life at risk in a thrilling and heart-stopping finale.

  If you like Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Ruth Rendell, or Mark Billingham you will be gripped by this exciting new crime fiction writer.

  DEAD SECRET is the first in a new series of detective thrillers featuring D.S. Ava Merry and D.I. Jim Neal. Ava Merry is a young policewoman, recently promoted to detective sergeant. She is a fitness fanatic with a taste for dangerous relationships. Jim Neal is a single dad who juggles his devotion to his job with caring for his son.

  Set in the fictional Northern city of Stromford, this detective mystery will have you gripped from start to shocking conclusion.

 

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