A Knot of Sparrows

by Cheryl Rees-Price

  ‘There is also a connection to Stacey,’ Edris said.

  ‘Only that he had an affair with her mother and that sounds like some time ago.’

  ‘What if he turned his attention to Stacey? Linda said he liked his women young.’

  ‘It’s possible. We’ll have to check if the doctor has a tattoo. But would that be motive for Linda to kill him? She said she knew about his affairs.’

  ‘Maybe Stacey wanted more. What if the doctor was going to leave Linda for Stacey? That would be a scandal, plus she already admitted she didn’t want to give up the house and her entitlement to a good life.’

  ‘It’s a good theory but why the biblical messages?’ Meadows asked.

  ‘Linda does go to church.’

  ‘It’s worth checking out the sons. It may just be a domestic and the Bible reference on Stacey was to throw us off the case.’

  ‘Then there’s Donald,’ Edris said. ‘He was following Stacey so he would have known that she was having an affair with the doctor.’

  ‘So, he tells Linda. Maybe he knew about the doctor being killed and that’s why he has run. If he is a witness or knows something he could be in danger. I shouldn’t have been so quick to call off the search,’ Meadows said as they left Gaer Fawr behind.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The man that sat holding Blackwell’s hand let go when Meadows and Edris entered the room.

  ‘Ah, more visitors, Stef.’ The man stood. ‘I’ll get out of your way.’ He smiled at Meadows.

  ‘There is no need to leave,’ Meadows said.

  ‘It’s no problem. I’ll go and get myself a coffee. There is only two visitors allowed at a time. Once he gets moved to the wards there’ll be more room. See you later.’ The man left the room.

  Blackwell looked pale, he was hooked up to monitors with a drip in his arm and an oxygen tube clipped at his nose.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ Meadows asked as he took a seat.

  ‘Like an idiot,’ Blackwell said.

  ‘I’m sorry–’ Edris began but Blackwell silenced him by holding up his hand.

  ‘It was a blockage, could have happened any time so you’re not taking the credit,’ he said with a hint of a smile. ‘Have you found Donald Hobson?’

  ‘No work talk,’ Meadows said. ‘You have to rest.’

  ‘I’m already sick of people pussyfooting around me and I’ve nothing to do but lie here. The least you can do is entertain me.’

  ‘Okay, no we haven’t found him yet.’ Meadows filled Blackwell in on their visit to Linda Rowlands.

  ‘I shouldn’t have been so hard on Valentine,’ Blackwell said. ‘I was more pissed off with myself about the doctor turning up dead.’

  ‘You had no reason to believe anything had happened to him,’ Meadows said.

  ‘Yeah, he was probably already dead by the time he was reported missing,’ Edris added.

  ‘Is that supposed to make me feel better?’

  Edris shrugged his shoulders. ‘If you’d prefer, I could get a book and read to you.’

  ‘Fuck off.’

  Meadows laughed. ‘That’s more like it. You’ll be back with the team before you know it.’

  They talked a while longer then left the room as Blackwell began to doze. The man that had been sat with Blackwell was waiting outside the room cradling a paper cup.

  ‘He’s just nodded off, so we thought we’d leave him,’ Meadows said.

  ‘I think the anaesthetic and the shock has worn him out. I’m Alex.’ He held out his hand.

  ‘Winter Meadows.’

  ‘And you must be Edris,’ Alex said. ‘Stefan talks a lot about you two.’

  ‘I can imagine,’ Edris said.

  ‘All good I promise you. He may come across as a bit gruff, but he has a heart of gold and he has a lot of respect for you.’ Alex smiled at Meadows.

  ‘How long have you been together?’ Meadows asked.

  ‘On and off for about ten years. Stef’s father doesn’t approve of our relationship and it has made things difficult. I blame myself for this. We’d argued. I didn’t find out until late last night what had happened. No one told me.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Meadows said. ‘We only had Stefan’s father as next of kin to contact.’

  ‘That’s okay, Stefan likes to keep his life private. He’d pitch a fit if he knew I was talking to you. You see, he is one of three boys. His two brothers are in the army and Stefan took a lot of stick growing up. That’s why he is always on the defensive. Anyway, I’ve probably said too much. I’ll let you go.’

  ‘It was nice to meet you,’ Meadows said. ‘Make sure he gets plenty of rest.’

  ‘Well, that’s a turn up,’ Edris said as they walked down the corridor.

  ‘Not a word to Blackwell. He is entitled to his privacy,’ Meadows said.

  ‘My lips are sealed. I actually feel sorry for him. Sad to think his family would make life difficult for him.’

  ‘It happens, there are still bigots in the world. It would be nice if people would bury their archaic opinions, but Blackwell’s father is a different generation. Discrimination is taught and handed down. Maybe this will be a good thing and he will consider his son’s happiness and break the cycle.’

  ‘I don’t know how you manage to find the good in everyone,’ Edris said with a laugh. ‘I would just say his dad is a dick and leave it at that.’

  ‘You’ve a lot to learn,’ Meadows said. ‘Right, while we are here, we may as well call in to see Daisy. Hopefully, she has finished the post-mortem.’

  The lift took them to the basement floor, and they followed the corridor through the old section of the hospital to the morgue.

  ‘You’re keen,’ Daisy said when they entered. ‘And have perfect timing. I’ve just received confirmation that the body in the graveyard is that of Dr David Rowlands.’

  ‘That’s a relief,’ Meadows said. ‘It would have made things a lot more complicated if it wasn’t, although I doubt his family would see it that way.’

  ‘I’m not sure his wife would be too bothered,’ Edris said.

  ‘Don’t be relieved too soon, as there is a lot to go through. I take it you would rather look at the photos,’ she said with a hint of a smile.

  ‘Yes please,’ Edris said. ‘I don’t know how you deal with something like that. It’s hard enough when it’s a fresh body.’

  ‘A fresh body?’ Daisy shook her head. ‘Honestly, I sometimes wonder if you’re safe to be let loose on the general public. You have no sensitivity. Maybe you should sit this one out. The photos are not very pleasant.’

  ‘I can handle it,’ Edris said. ‘And for your information I am very sensitive.’

  ‘If you say so,’ Daisy said with a laugh. ‘Grab a seat and I’ll talk you through the injuries found on the victim.’

  They gathered around the screen and Daisy opened a file. The image showed a close-up of the victim’s mouth.

  ‘Death by asphyxiation.’ She pointed to the screen. ‘Earth found in his mouth, throat, nostrils, and lungs.’

  ‘You mean he was buried alive?’ Meadows asked.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Poor bugger,’ Edris said.

  ‘I think it unlikely that he was conscious at the time. There were no signs that he tried to claw away at the earth. Also, although there are marks from where his hands were bound, there were no bindings when they brought him in. He’s been dead between twenty-two and twenty-seven days.’

  ‘That fits with our timeline, although it could be that he was held somewhere before being killed,’ Meadows said.

  Meadows was so close to Daisy he could smell her perfume. He glanced at her, noticing that wisps of hair had escaped her ponytail and curled down her neck. He forced his attention back to the screen.

  ‘There were also caustic burns to his mouth, throat and stomach. I’ve sent off a sample for analysis, but my best guess would be bleach. Blood samples show alcohol and morphine.’

  ‘So, he could have been an
alcoholic and drug user. I guess he would be able to get his hands on morphine,’ Edris said.

  ‘Or the killer could have given it to him to keep him compliant. How much was in his system?’ Meadows asked.

  ‘Enough to make him very drowsy and combined with alcohol I doubt he would have been able to put up much of a fight.’

  Daisy clicked the mouse and the image changed to a hand with black and swollen flesh. ‘Injuries were anti-mortem. All fingers on the right hand were broken, the thumb was left intact.’ She changed the photo. ‘Small and ring finger broken on the left hand. As you can see the skin has deteriorated so it makes it difficult to determine what weapon was used. They are not snapped. Blunt force has shattered the bone. Possibly a hammer. It’s the same with the toes. All toes broken on the right foot.’

  Another click and Dr Rowlands’ head appeared. Meadows felt his stomach contract and was glad he was only looking at photos. It would have been virtually impossible to identify him from them.

  ‘Damage to the right eye and cheek, again blunt force trauma. A nail had also been hammered into his left temple.’

  ‘Someone really didn’t like this guy,’ Edris said.

  ‘Finally, we have the writing on the body. Almost missed it given the discolouration.’ Daisy changed the picture. ‘It’s not very clear, but there are the letters LEV and numbers two, four, one, nine, two, and one.’

  ‘I’ll look.’ Edris pulled out his phone. ‘Well, this one is to the point: “And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbour, as he hath done, so shall it be done to him. Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, as he hath caused a blemish in a man so shall it be done to him again.”’

  ‘Is that what the writing on the victims is, Bible quotes?’ Daisy asked.

  ‘Yes,’ Meadows said. ‘I don’t like the sound of this one. It could mean our killer is taking exact revenge. The question is, are the victims well known to him and have wronged him personally or is it just anyone he considers has done wrong?’

  ‘If that’s the case you’ll be looking at a whole lot of victims,’ Edris said.

  ‘That’s what I’m afraid of.’ Meadows stood up. ‘By the way, did the doctor have a tattoo on his right arm?’

  ‘No, but what may interest you is the same synthetic hairs that were found on Stacey Evans were also found on Dr Rowlands. Also, there was a bloodstained large flat stone, looks like limestone, that was found with the body. Everything has been sent off for testing.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘Good luck,’ Daisy said.

  Meadows’ phoned bleeped and he took it from his pocket and read the message. ‘Vicar Daniels has asked that we go to see him.’

  ‘I hope he hasn’t found another body,’ Edris said.

  ‘So do I.’

  Chapter Sixteen

  They found Vicar Daniels in the church kneeling at the altar in prayer. Meadows and Edris stood silently waiting for him to finish. Flower arrangements now decorated the window ledges and tea lights flickered on a metal stand. Vicar Daniels stood and turned around.

  ‘Oh, I didn’t hear you come in. I’m sorry to have made you wait.’

  ‘It’s no problem,’ Meadows said. He noticed the dark circles under the vicar’s eyes and thought the recent events must be taking their toll.

  ‘Thank you for coming, I understand that you must be very busy but there is something I need to show you at the vicarage.’ He turned to look at the candles. ‘I’m sure it will be alright to leave the church open. People have been coming to pray and light candles for Stacey and Dr Rowlands.’

  ‘I understand that Linda Rowlands is a member of your congregation,’ Meadows said as they left the church.

  ‘Yes, she attends regularly. She came this morning. I said a prayer with her.’

  ‘How did she seem?’

  ‘Considering what’s happened, she was very composed.’

  ‘Did Dr Rowlands attend church?’

  ‘Only on special occasions.’ Vicar Daniels stepped onto the path that led through the graveyard. ‘Before we get to the vicarage, there is something I want to talk to you about. I’ve wrestled with my conscience all night. You see I do have a responsibility to keep a confidence but sometimes it is in the individual’s best interest for me to break that confidence.’

  ‘I understand,’ Meadows said. ‘Has someone told you something about Stacey Evans or Dr Rowlands?’

  ‘Not exactly. It’s Donald. I’m very worried about him. He called me last night.’

  ‘Did he tell you where he was?’

  ‘No, he told me that the police had come to arrest him. Is that true?’

  ‘We needed to ask him a few questions in connection to the murder of Stacey Evans, but I can’t tell you more than that.’

  ‘I see.’ Vicar Daniels opened the gate and they stepped through. ‘He seemed to think he was in trouble and he would go to prison. He said he had done something.’

  ‘Did he say what he had done?’ Edris asked.

  ‘No, he wouldn’t tell me. He said he was ashamed and that his parents would disown him. He was very distressed and claimed he could never come home. I told him whatever it was that he had done couldn’t be that bad and all he had to do was ask for forgiveness. I tried to persuade him to come to the church and then go to the police. That it would be better for him to come clean. I offered to stay with him.’

  ‘Did he agree?’ Meadows asked.

  Vicar Daniels stopped at the top of the garden. ‘Not at first. He said he was scared and also cold and hungry. He wanted me to take him food and blankets. I thought if I could see him, I could persuade him to come back with me. In the end he agreed to come to the church to talk. I told him once he had something to eat and was warm, we could discuss what to do. I waited in the church until after midnight then took my car and drove around to see if I could find him.’

  ‘Did he call again?’

  ‘No, I tried calling him, but the phone went straight to voicemail. I hate to think of him alone and scared. I was hoping there was something you could do, maybe trace the call.’

  ‘I’m afraid it doesn’t work like that. We could trace the signal and see which tower pinged when he made the call, but it won’t give us an exact location,’ Edris said. ‘I expect that he has turned the phone off and even if it was on, I doubt he’d keep on his location settings. Then again his battery could have died.’

  ‘What should I do if he calls again? Should I just go to meet him?’

  ‘Try and reassure him. Things are rarely as bad as we imagine,’ Meadows said. ‘We can arrange to speak to him at home if that will make him feel better. I’m sure it will only amount to a ticking off and some embarrassment. At the moment we are only interested in finding Stacey’s killer and he may have information that could help us.’

  ‘I’ll do my best, now about the other thing. Follow me.’ Vicar Daniels led them through the side gate and to the front door to where another Bible verse had been written.

  ‘When did you notice it?’ Meadows asked.

  ‘This morning, I suppose it could have been there last night, but I generally come up the church path and use the back door. Given that you asked about a Bible verse when we first met at the church I thought it may be of interest. Can I ask if it has anything to do with your investigation or is this something separate?’

  ‘Yes, the verse we spoke about does have a bearing on the case, but I would appreciate it if you didn’t mention it to anyone. It’s not public knowledge.’

  ‘Of course. Should I be worried?’

  ‘Have you looked up that particular verse?’ Meadows indicated the door.

  ‘Yes, it’s Deuteronomy. “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to speak or speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.”’

  ‘It does sound like some sort of warning,’ Meadows said. ‘What does that reference mean to you?’

  ‘Well, a lot is said about the fa
lse prophet in the Bible. One that would speak, and others will follow. But it is not the word of God. I’m assuming someone has taken offence to one of my sermons although as far as I am aware I have never misquoted the Bible.’

  ‘I think perhaps you should be extra vigilant. Meanwhile we can send someone to check the security in your home.’

  ‘I’ll put my trust in the Lord.’

  ‘Even so I would be happier if you took some precautions. You said yourself you were at the church until late last night. Perhaps it would be better not to be alone in the church after dark and maybe don’t take in visitors. I understand that it is part of your work but it’s better for the time being.’

  ‘What about visits to my parishioners?’

  ‘Again, I think you should be cautious. Is there anyone that can accompany you, so you are not alone?’

  ‘I could take one of the church wardens on visits. I’m sure I’ll be fine. I’ll just have to write my sermons with a little more care.’ He smiled. ‘I’ll pray for you and the parish that this will be over soon.’

  ‘Thank you, I’m happy to take all the help we can get.’

  Chapter Seventeen

  Meadows gathered the team around the incident board and updated them on the post-mortem and the visit to the vicar. It was strange not to see Blackwell sat in his chair with his legs stretched out. Hanes had joined the group and DCI Lester sat at the back listening intently.

  ‘Do you think that Vicar Daniels is the next intended victim?’ Lester asked.

  ‘I think the killer has had plenty of opportunity and it is just a warning. In the same way the killer could have easily killed me the night I went to Bill Jones’ farm. That was a warning for me to back off, perhaps Vicar Daniels knows something but is not aware of the relevance, and the warning is not to speak to us.’

  ‘I think it would be prudent to keep a presence in Gaer Fawr for now. We can’t have uniform there twenty-four hours but if they are seen to regularly drive around and maybe walk around, talk to people, it will not only reassure the public but may deter the killer,’ Lester said.