When the Evil Waits M Lee (e book reader .txt) 📖

When the Evil Waits

Cover

Title Page

Thursday, July 23

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Two Weeks Later

On the First Day

Tuesday, August 4

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

On the Second Day

Wednesday, August 5

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

On the Third Day

Thursday, August 6

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

On the Fourth Day

Friday, August 7

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

On the Fifth Day

Saturday, August 9

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

On the Sixth Day

Sunday, August 10

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Two Weeks Later

Sunday, August 23

Chapter 101

DI Ridpath Crime Thriller

Canelo Crime

About the Author

Also by M J Lee

Copyright

Cover

Table of Contents

Start of Content

Thursday, July 23

Chapter 1

They had first met in the early days of lockdown.

Walking their dogs in Chorlton Ees to get out of the stifling atmosphere in their homes, finding a few moments’ rest in the peace and quiet of the trees and meadows bordering the Mersey.

It was their dogs who encountered each other first, with her male Jack Russell being more than a match for his rather docile Labrador.

She had apologised profusely in a very English way for the behaviour of her dog and he had accepted in an equally English manner; all diffidence and explaining it was actually his dog’s fault.

It wasn’t long before they were timing their visits to meet each other and chat each morning, without their respective spouses’ knowledge, of course. And not long after that, they were discovering the quiet pathways of the Ees, holding hands like a couple, while their dogs explored the surrounding forest.

It was on one of these walks that they found the body of a child.

Or rather, the Labrador discovered it, followed by the Jack Russell; the frenzied barking of the latter forcing the couple to leave the comfort of each other’s arms and discover why their dogs were so excited.

The woman, Shirley Burgess, led the way. ‘What’s the matter? Why such a racket?’ she shouted as she brushed aside a branch blocking her way.

‘Oh my God.’ Her hand went to her mouth and she stood there, transfixed.

The naked boy – he wasn’t more than seven years old – was lying on the ground with his arms stretched out at either side, his sightless eyes open and staring up at the sky, a kiss-curl of blond hair like a comma across his forehead. Around his neck, a snake of rope dug deep into the skin. By his side, his clothes were folded neatly as if coming straight from a laundry, the bright red of a United shirt lying on top.

‘Where are you, Shirl?’

Her lockdown lover, Jon Morgan, was pushing aside the same branch. ‘Jesus Christ.’

‘Is it alive?’ she asked, still not moving.

He took two steps and then leant forward, peering down. ‘I think he’s dead.’

The Labrador was wagging his tail and sniffing the lifeless head. ‘Come away, Major.’

The dog obeyed, returning to his master to be put back on the lead.

The woman called her dog too and, for once, he responded. ‘What are we going to do?’

The man checked over his shoulder. ‘I think I should call the police.’

‘I can’t be found here with you. My husband, he…’

‘Of course, you take your dog back and I’ll ring them. We can’t leave him lying here.’ He stared down at the boy.

‘You sure?’ she asked.

He nodded his head. ‘You go home. I’ll wait here for the police.’

She turned and pushed her way through the undergrowth, dragging the reluctant dog behind her, moving as fast as she could to escape.

She didn’t look back.

Jon Morgan waited until he could no longer hear her before he took out his mobile and rang 999.

‘Emergency Services. How can I help you?’

‘I think… I think I’ve found a dead body. It’s a young boy and he’s naked. You have to get here quickly.’

‘Where are you, sir?’

‘Chorlton Ees, not far from the school.’

‘And are you alone?’

The man looked over his shoulder. ‘Yes.’

‘The police are on their way. Their ETA is seven minutes.’

‘Should I go back to the main road?’

‘Are you sure the boy is dead?’

Jon Morgan looked down at the pale, almost white skin. There was something missing from it. That spark of life, that animation that everybody had. This boy looked more like a mannequin in a store than a human being.

‘He’s dead,’ he finally answered.

‘Please don’t touch anything, sir.’

‘I won’t.’

In the distance, he could hear the faint whine of a police siren.

Closer at hand, there was the screech of a hawk or an owl hunting for prey in the forest. Beside him, Major was gnawing at one of the Jack Russell’s toys, trying to get at the bell inside.

There was no sound from the boy.

Chapter 2

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Turnbull arrived at the scene of the crime less than thirty minutes after the first call had been made by Jon Morgan.

The local coppers had done a good job; the first tapes were already going up and two plods had been posted on the lane leading to Chorlton Ees.

He quickly found the sergeant in charge, showing him his warrant card. ‘Right, I’m taking charge. Has the medical examiner been called?’

‘He’s on his way, sir.’

‘Who is it?’

‘A Dr Schofield, sir.’

‘Squeaky voice? Couldn’t we get someone else?’

They were both walking down the lane to the Ees, DI Harry Makepeace, DS Emily Parkinson and one of his new hires, DC Sam Arkwright, trailing in their wake.

‘He was the one on duty, sir,’ the sergeant answered.

‘Right, where’s the body?’

The sergeant pointed off to the left, towards a clump of trees. ‘Over there.’

‘Nobody’s touched it?’

‘No, sir.’

Turnbull did a 360-degree turn, taking in the surroundings. ‘Weird,