NO AGE TO DIE: The release of a dangerous prisoner leads to murder (DCI John Blizzard Book 9) by John Dean (free ebook reader for android .TXT) 📗

‘I believe so, yes. Twice, in fact. Including the well.’

‘So how come no one found her?’ asked Blizzard.

‘Presumably because she came back,’ said Ramsey. ‘That’s the thing with dementia sufferers when they go missing – they just keep walking and often double back on themselves.’

‘Natural causes?’ asked Blizzard.

‘Looks like it. We’ll have to wait for Reynolds to do his thing, of course, but there’s nothing obvious. I’d say it’s straightforward. She wanders into the garden, maybe when darkness had fallen, doesn’t see the well and…’

His voice tailed off and the officers stood and thought about the pensioner’s final moments, wondered if she had died instantly or had lain at the bottom of the well, calling for help that never came until her voice grew weaker and she finally slipped away. Blizzard closed his eyes for a second and thought of his recent nightmares. Thought of the walls closing in, recalled the sense of despair, felt once again the sheer terror, knew what the dream had meant.

‘Doesn’t bear thinking about,’ said Rowan, breaking into everyone’s thoughts.

Blizzard opened his eyes again.

‘No, it doesn’t,’ he said. ‘It really doesn’t but at least we found her. That’s something.’

He looked at Rowan and Leighton.

‘Thanks for your efforts, guys,’ he said.

‘Do you want me to tell her husband?’ asked Rowan.

‘No, it should be me that does it,’ said Blizzard. ‘I made Tom a promise. Besides, I need to tell him that we reckon that it was Matthew St Clair who pushed him over.’

It did not take the inspector long to drive to the general hospital but when he walked into the side room, the bed was empty and there was no sign of Tom Raine. A nurse entered the room.

‘Can I help you?’ she asked.

‘I’m looking for Tom.’

‘I am afraid he died this morning. I’m sorry, are you family?’

Blizzard shook his head.

‘No,’ he said. ‘Just a friend.’

Epilogue

Several months later, John Blizzard dropped Michael off at the childminder to allow Fee to get to work then headed for Hafton Crown Court for the start of sentencing proceedings. Just after 1.00pm, he, Arthur Ronald and David Colley were sitting at the corner table of the city centre pub opposite the court, nursing pints of beer and waiting for the barmaid to bring over their sandwiches.

‘Not a bad morning, all in all,’ said Ronald. He used his fingers to tick off the sentences imposed by the judge. ‘Bob Lennox sent away for life, Margaret Hatton gets a minimum of twenty-three years, Steve Holdsworth and Lennox’s son go down for kidnap and you two get commendations. Very satisfactory.’

‘And don’t forget the vicar last week,’ said Colley. ‘Four years for theft is not bad at all. You might get to appear on that Channel 5 documentary, after all, sir. I’m kinda glad that the CPS did not charge Phil Calvert in the end. He just got in over his head. He never meant any of it to happen.’

‘Maybe,’ said Blizzard. ‘I’d still have liked to get the developer who came to the agreement with St Clair, mind.’

‘You can’t have everything,’ said Ronald. ‘And the CPS are probably right – he may be a sharp operator but there was no way we can prove that he knew what St Clair was up to. No, it’s as good as we could have hoped for, John.’

‘I guess.’ Blizzard took a sip of beer. ‘It’s just a pity that the church had to close after all. Those people didn’t deserve that to happen.’

‘At least we’ve got rid of the hostel,’ said Ronald.

They drank in silence for a few moments then Blizzard noticed Rory Gill enter the bar.

‘That’s all I need,’ he said.

The councillor walked over to the table and looked down at the detectives.

‘Gentlemen,’ he said.

‘Councillor,’ said Ronald. He pulled out a chair. ‘Why don’t you get yourself a drink and join us?’

Rory Gill shot him a grateful look.

‘Thank you, Superintendent,’ he said. ‘I seem to be a bit short of friends, at the moment. I take it you heard that I lost the election for leader?’

‘I did,’ said Ronald. ‘Maybe next time, eh?’

Gill shook his head.

‘No, that’s me done with politics,’ he said. He looked at Blizzard. ‘You’ll probably not mourn my passing, Chief Inspector. I mean, you’ve got what you wanted, haven’t you?’

‘Not me,’ said Blizzard. He shook his head and drained his glass. ‘No, what I want is another pint.’

Gill looked at him uncertainly for a few moments, unsure what to say. Eventually, he gave a slight smile.

‘Then allow me to buy it,’ he said.

‘I thought you’d never ask,’ said Blizzard.

THE END

List of Characters

Hafton Police Officers:

DCI John Blizzard – head of Western Division CID

DI Chris Ramsey – Western CID Detective Inspector

DI Graham Ross – head of forensics, Western Division

Inspector Gerry Craven

DS David Colley

DC Sarah Allatt

PC Danny Rowan

PC Keith Leighton

County force:

Detective Superintendent Arthur Ronald – head of CID in the southern half of the force (which includes Western Division)

DC Angie Gaylard – Economic Crime Unit

Alice Greer – Press Officer

St John’s Church:

Jamie Holdsworth – member of the Scouts

Steve Holdsworth – his father

Marian Holdsworth – his mother

Agnes Proud – former congregation member

Tom Raine – former congregation member

Martha Raine – his wife

Jacob Reed – hostel worker

Edgar Rose-Harvey – chair of the church council

Glenda Rutherford – hostel assistant manager

The Rev Henry Sanders - vicar

Others:

Brian Brattan – oil rig worker

Phil Calvert – businessman

Fee Ellis – Blizzard’s partner

Rory Gill – city councillor

Chaz Gray – police informant

Margaret Hatton – safeguarding campaigner

Jay – Colley’s partner

Jenny – childminder

Miss Josephs – lawyer

Danny Lennox – murdered teenager

Bob Lennox –