Frozen Minds: A murder mystery set deep in Wales (DI Winter Meadows Book 2)

  FROZEN MINDS

  A murder mystery set deep in Wales

  CHERYL REES-PRICE

  Published by

  THE BOOK FOLKS

  London, 2020

  © Cheryl Rees-Price

  Polite note to the reader

  This book is written in British English except where fidelity to other languages or accents is appropriate.

  You are invited to visit www.thebookfolks.com and sign up to our mailing list to hear about new releases, free book promotions and other special offers.

  We hope you enjoy the book.

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-one

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Chapter Twenty-four

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Chapter Twenty-seven

  Chapter Twenty-eight

  Chapter Twenty-nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-one

  Chapter Thirty-two

  Chapter Thirty-three

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Chapter Thirty-five

  List of Characters

  Also featuring DI Winter Meadows

  Other titles of interest

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  Chapter One

  The jangle of the phone alarm woke Leah from her dream. She snatched the phone from the bedside table, hitting snooze before bringing her arm back under the warm duvet. Curling up, she closed her eyes and willed the dream to come back.

  It was no use, she was awake and could already feel anxiety snaking its way around her body, knotting her stomach and crushing her chest. A feeling of impending doom was with her every morning now. Work served as a distraction but the feeling was always present, heavy in her stomach.

  She flung back the duvet and felt the cold air raise goosebumps on her arms. She shrugged on a robe before walking into the bathroom. Avoiding the mirror, she washed, brushed her teeth, then swilled down her medication with a glass of water. Back in the sleep-in room she hurriedly dressed in jeans and a jumper before pulling back the curtains. Outside, frost crystallised the grass on the lawn, heralding another chilly November day.

  It was quiet in the corridor, most of the residents were still asleep. At the first bedroom on the right, she knocked before entering.

  ‘Leah!’ A young man with white-blond hair and small, narrow eyes set in a boyish face grinned at her.

  ‘Morning, Liam,’ she said and immediately felt her spirits rise.

  ‘Look, I already dressed myself,’ he announced, standing proudly before her.

  Leah looked at the inside-out T-shirt hanging over his jeans and the sandals on the wrong feet.

  ‘Wow, you must have woken up really early this morning.’

  ‘I’ve been waiting hours, days, and months for you to come,’ he said, with a mischievous grin.

  ‘More like a few minutes, I think.’ Leah couldn’t help smiling too. ‘You might want to put a jumper on this morning. Look outside.’

  Liam shuffled to the window. ‘The sun is out.’

  ‘Yes, but look at the frost, it’s going to be cold.’ Leah went over to the wardrobe and took out two jumpers. ‘Which one?’

  Liam screwed up his face in concentration. ‘Um… the blue one.’

  ‘Excellent choice, now how about some socks and trainers.’

  Leah helped Liam on with his trainers and they left the room.

  ‘Better hurry up or Kevin will eat all the cereal,’ she teased as they walked down the corridor.

  Liam giggled as he trundled along beside her. They entered the kitchen where one of the other residents, Kevin, sat at a large pine table stuffing spoonfuls of cereal into his mouth. Two other staff members, Cillian and Gemma, stood at the kitchen counter. Cillian turned as soon as Leah entered the room.

  ‘How did you sleep?’ He smiled warmly.

  She felt her heart flutter at the sight of him.

  ‘Good. It was a quiet night.’

  ‘Not for me,’ Gemma said as she took a sip of tea. ‘Kev was up twice, and Eddy had a seizure.’

  ‘You should have buzzed me,’ Leah scolded. She took a bowl from the cupboard and placed it in front of Liam.

  ‘It wasn’t a bad seizure, besides, you looked so tired yesterday I thought you could do with a night of unbroken sleep.’

  ‘Thanks, Gemma,’ Leah said as she handed a box of cereal to Liam who carefully measured it into his bowl with a spoon. ‘But if you want to catch a few hours’ sleep I’ll be alright with Kev and Liam for the moment.’

  ‘I’m good, I want to stay up or I won’t sleep tonight. Your turn for night shift tonight, Cillian.’

  ‘Don’t remind me.’ He grinned then winked at Leah. ‘I’d better make a start getting the others up.’

  Leah watched him leave then turned her attention back to Gemma.

  ‘Well, if you’re flagging this afternoon the offer still stands.’

  ‘Thanks, Leah, but we’ve got a busy day planned today, haven’t we, Kev?’ Kevin looked up from his bowl but continued to fill his mouth. ‘Hey Kev, what day is it today?’

  ‘Ice cream day!’ he cried out, bits of cereal flying from his mouth.

  Liam gave Kevin a shove. ‘Pig!’

  ‘No, it’s pantomime day, but it is ice cream day as well. Better check we have enough.’ She pulled open the top drawer of the freezer and let out a sigh. ‘Oh great, looks like someone had a feast.’

  Leah moved closer to the freezer and peered into the drawer. A hole had been dug out of the large tub of ice cream, the lid discarded to the side.

  ‘Who’s been eating the ice cream?’ Leah looked at Kevin who sniggered and kept his head down.

  Liam looked alarmed. ‘It wasn’t me. I didn’t do it.’

  ‘I know you didn’t,’ Leah said as she ruffled his hair fondly. ‘Come on, you can help me get another tub. We don’t want Kevin to miss his ice cream tonight.’

  They left the kitchen and Leah grabbed the keys from the office then opened the cellar door.

  ‘Hold the rail when you go down,’ she advised. She watched Liam take his first two heavy steps then followed. The chill penetrated her jumper and she rubbed her arms. ‘Bloody freezing down here.’

  ‘Bloody freezing,’ Liam repeated and giggled.

  They reached the bottom of the stairs and Leah walked towards the large chest freezer. Using two hands she pulled up the lid and peered inside. Two glassy eyes stared back. The air caught in her throat, and every muscle in her body tensed leaving her grounded. She wanted to look away, but she was transfixed.

  Ice glimmered on the dead man’s lashes, his mouth gaped open, and his skin had a purplish hue. She tried to draw in a breath while beside her Liam leaned forward and began poking the body.

  ‘Bloody freezing,’ he said, laughing. ‘He’s bloody freezing.’

  Chapter Two

  Detect
ive Inspector Winter Meadows sat at his desk staring at the computer screen. Around him was the usual office chatter, which he had perfected fading out until it became a low hum in the background. His thoughts were not on work this morning, but on the upcoming sentencing taking place at Swansea Crown Court following his last case.

  ‘Morning.’ A mug of coffee was set on the desk, snapping Meadows from his thoughts. He looked up and smiled at Detective Constable Edris.

  ‘Thanks.’

  Edris took a seat, laying a file on the desk, and turned to Meadows.

  ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘I’m fine.’ He picked up his coffee and took a sip, grimacing as it burned his tongue.

  ‘Is it the sentencing today?’ Edris asked.

  ‘No, it’s tomorrow…’

  ‘Are you going to go?’

  ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea. It’s up to the judge now.’ He indicated the file on the desk. ‘What have you got?’

  ‘Missing person. Alan Whitby, fifty-five years old, married. Reported missing by his wife yesterday morning. According to her he went out Monday evening saying that he would be back in a couple of hours. He never came home and didn’t show for work the next day.’

  ‘So, about thirty-six hours.’

  ‘Yes, something like that. Uniform have done all the usual checks. No accidents reported and no sign of his car. They want to know if you’ll look into it.’

  ‘Why not? Nothing much happening at the moment.’

  Meadows was getting used to the ways of the small police department. Having transferred from London eighteen months earlier, he’d found it a little too quiet at first. Now he was used to taking cases usually dealt with by uniform, and when his department needed assistance, he was never short of help. There was no “them and us” in the valleys.

  Meadows read through the file while he finished the rest of his coffee. There didn’t appear to be any obvious reason for Alan Whitby’s disappearance. No depression, financial troubles or arguments according to his wife.

  ‘Not high risk, but we’ll go and see Mrs Whitby.’

  At least I can get out of here for a while.

  Meadows logged off the computer and grabbed his coat. They were heading down the stairs when they met Sergeant Dyfan Folland.

  ‘Just coming up to see you,’ he said, wheezing.

  ‘I think you need to spend some time in the gym, fit up,’ Edris said.

  ‘I could still put you down, boy. Got a few pounds on you.’ Sergeant Folland patted his paunch. ‘Anyway, it’s not like you set foot in the gym, from what I hear the only exercise you get is in the bedroom.’

  ‘You shouldn’t listen to gossip,’ Edris retorted, his face reddening.

  ‘What have you got for us, then?’ Meadows asked, keen to put an end to the banter.

  ‘Suspicious death in Ynys Melyn, Bethesda House. Do you know it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Meadows replied.

  ‘No,’ Edris said at the same time.

  ‘Residential home,’ Folland explained. ‘Doc and SOCO are already there. Uniform called it in.’

  ‘Well it looks like our missing man will have to wait a bit longer.’ Meadows started down the stairs. ‘Have you informed the DCI?’

  ‘Yep.’

  ‘Good, I’ll keep you updated.’

  Folland headed for the front desk, and Edris and Meadows for the exit. A blast of cold air hit them as the doors opened.

  ‘Nice crisp morning,’ Meadows noted, pulling up the collar on his coat.

  * * *

  In the car Edris turned up the heater as Meadows drove through the centre of Bryn Mawr. He stopped at the traffic lights and watched the shoppers scurrying across the road.

  ‘They have some good plays on in there,’ Edris said.

  Meadows turned his head to look at the old miner’s welfare hall.

  ‘Go there often, do you?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s a cheap night out. Watch a play, have a few drinks. If you go into Swansea it costs a fortune to get a taxi home.’

  ‘It used to be full of old men when I was young,’ Meadows said.

  ‘Yeah, I guess this place has changed a lot since then.’

  ‘Not really. Same old building, just different shops. Not even a decent restaurant.’

  ‘You’ve spent too much time in London.’

  The lights changed to green and Meadows pulled away.

  ‘Well this shouldn’t take too long, some old biddy probably croaked it in the night and they are being over-cautious.’ Edris adjusted the seat and leaned back.

  ‘Bethesda is a residential home for adults with learning difficulties.’

  ‘What’s that then, like a psychiatric hospital? There was one when I was a kid. Hillside. My parents used to threaten to send me there when I was naughty.’

  ‘Sometimes I worry about you.’ Meadows laughed. ‘You were obviously a very naughty boy. Hillside is a young offender institution. Bethesda is assisted living.’

  A half hour later they turned off the main road and crossed the bridge that led to Ynys Melyn.

  ‘It’s like the twilight zone here.’ Edris glanced out of the window. ‘One road in and out – that’s if you ever get out. All the undesirables live here.’

  ‘It’s not that bad, I’ve been in far worse places.’

  Meadows glanced to the side where a group of ponies huddled together in a field; beyond, the scars of the open-cast mining in the area were still visible.

  They drove a few miles on a straight road, passing the old National Coal Board offices which had been turned into a community centre. A sign announced that they had entered the village, which was dominated by a large council estate. Side streets led off the main road, lined with terraced houses which had once housed the miners.

  ‘It’s like a ghost town,’ Edris said. ‘Wednesday morning and no sign of life.’

  ‘Maybe they’re all in work.’

  ‘In bed more likely.’

  Meadows swung the car around a sharp bend and proceeded up a steep hill until they came to a converted church with a large extension to the side. He pulled up in the adjacent car park and they left the warmth of the car. As they walked, he surveyed the building. It was a tall grey stone structure with the original bell tower. The name Bethesda was carved into the stone above the door. To the left of the building a large oak tree stood, its branches stretching over the roof.

  ‘Strange place,’ Edris said. ‘Don’t think I’d like to live in an old church.’

  ‘Afraid of ghosts, are you?’

  Meadows looked at the front entrance where he could see PC Reena Valentine moving from foot to foot and rubbing her hands together.

  ‘Poor girl looks frozen.’

  ‘I wouldn’t mind warming her up.’ Edris grinned.

  Meadows clicked his tongue and shook his head. What had happened to the quiet constable who had followed him around six months ago, desperate for approval?

  ‘Morning, Valentine.’ Edris smiled as he approached.

  She returned Edris’ smile before addressing Meadows. ‘Morning, sir.’

  Meadows returned the greeting as he appraised the young woman. Shoulder-length ebony hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail and glistened in the sun. She was tall and slender with soft brown eyes framed by long dark lashes. ‘What have you got for us, Val?’

  ‘Body discovered at approximately 8 a.m. in the storage freezer in the cellar by a staff member, Leah Parry, and one of the residents, Liam Casey. The body is believed to be that of the supervisor, Mr Alan Whitby. The manager, Jane Pritchard, and another member of staff, Cillian Treharne, went down the cellar when they heard shouts from Leah.’

  ‘Looks like we’ve found our missing man,’ Edris said. ‘In the freezer?’ He raised his eyebrows.

  ‘Yes. I’ve taken down the names of all the staff and residents present this morning.’ Valentine rubbed her hands together nervously.

  Meadows guessed there was more she wanted to say, but it
was obviously causing her embarrassment. ‘Anything else?’ he prompted.

  ‘Leah and Liam left about fifteen minutes ago to get some ice cream.’

  ‘Ice cream?’ Meadows felt a flicker of annoyance.

  She should have known better.

  ‘Yes… Apparently that’s why they were down the cellar, to pick up some more ice cream. The manager was insistent. She said it would calm Liam down after his ordeal. I’m sorry.’

  No point humiliating her in front of Edris.

  ‘OK. Let me know when they return. In the meantime, make sure no one else leaves. If you have any problems with the manager give me a shout and I will deal with it.’

  ‘Thanks, sir.’ Valentine gave him a weak smile.

  Meadows nodded. ‘Right, let’s take a look.’

  ‘The manager has requested that you use the back entrance to the cellar. She doesn’t want the residents disrupted any more than they have been.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to meeting her later.’

  ‘See you,’ Edris said with a wink.

  ‘Have you and Valentine got something going on?’ Meadows asked as they walked around the back of the building.

  ‘I’m working on it!’

  ‘Well, just make sure you keep your mind on the job.’

  They met with PC Matt Hanes, who stood at the entrance to the cellar.

  ‘Alright, Hanes?’ Edris said.

  ‘Freezing my arse off,’ Hanes complained. ‘SOCO are in there, so you’d better suit up.’

  Meadows pulled on a protective suit and stepped into the cellar. The first thing he noticed was a smell of bleach lingering in the air. Someone has tried to clear away any evidence. His gaze roamed around the room. It had a low ceiling with fluorescent strip lights, giving Meadows the urge to bend his head. Along the wall were shelves holding various household cleaners and a large toolbox. Cardboard boxes were stacked in a corner. Along the opposite wall was the chest freezer, about five feet in length. Meadows recognised the police doctor stood next to the freezer scribbling notes. He turned as Meadows approached.

  ‘I’ve pronounced him dead, it’s the best I can do. Impossible to make an examination.’ He frowned at Meadows as if he was somehow to blame for the situation. ‘Don’t even think about asking for a time of death.’