The Silent Quarry Page 6

  He walked briskly back to his office and closed the door before rummaging around in his desk drawer for the bottle of whisky he kept for emergencies. He took a swig from the bottle and felt the grip on his chest loosen as the warm liquid spread.

  I’m sure the police would have come by now if Gwen had remembered. He checked his watch. Another four hours until I can leave. Then I will have to destroy the pictures. He took another gulp of whiskey before stowing it safely back in the drawer.

  The afternoon dragged by as Giles struggled against a throbbing headache. Finally the school bell rang, signalling the end of the day. He stood by the window watching the pupils hurry to catch the bus home. His mind wandered back in time to when he taught English. It was easy back then to get a pupil to stay behind on the pretence of detention or discussing grades. A smile played on his lips as he recalled young flesh trapped with him in a room alone. Oh, the power I had. There was respect back then, kids didn’t question your authority.

  A knock at the door brought him back to the present. Catrin entered carrying a file.

  ‘Some letters for you to sign.’

  ‘Just leave them on the desk.’ Giles turned away from the window. ‘That will be all for today. You can go early.’

  Catrin raised her eyebrows.

  ‘To be honest I’m not feeling too clever.’

  ‘You do look a bit peaky today.’ She smiled. ‘Well, if you’re sure there is nothing else I’ll be on my way.’ She left the office, closing the door gently.

  Giles scribbled his signature on the letters without bothering to read the contents, then hurried out of the building. The drive home was a blur, his mind in such turmoil that his focus didn’t return until he pulled the car into his driveway. The dog barked in greeting when he opened the door. Ignoring the yaps he locked the door and entered his study. While he waited for the computer to boot up he took a large envelope from the desk drawer and tipped out the contents. Photographs scattered across the desk. Some Polaroid, others he had developed himself.

  ‘Beautiful,’ he whispered as he ran his fingers over the photos. I don’t want to let them go.

  Over the next hour he scanned the photos into the computer and saved them onto a memory stick. He made sure there was no trace on the hard drive then shut down the computer. Outside in his garden he made a small bonfire and burned his entire collection. Only the memory stick remained. He took it from inside his jacket pocket and stared at the small device. I need to keep it somewhere safe, it can’t be in the house or school office, but I need it to be close. An idea struck him and he smiled to himself as he placed the memory stick in a tin and buried it under a rose bush. Back indoors he sat down heavily in his armchair, a glass of whiskey in his hands. No evidence now. It’s just her word against mine.

  Chapter Eleven

  Meadows sprinted up the stairs leading to his office, his legs still smarting from a run that morning. He knew he had pushed his body to the limits over the past two days trying to rid himself of the frustration that tormented him night and day. Thoughts of Gwen kept snaking their way into his mind, stirring up old feelings that he couldn’t act upon. Flexing his muscles as he inhaled deeply he pushed open the door. He had noticed Edris’ car in the car park on the way in and hoped the young DC had some news about the case files.

  As he walked across the office he saw Edris stacking files on his desk, he turned and beamed at Meadows.

  ‘Just picked these up, case notes and statements. The scene of crime photographs, physical evidence, and post-mortem report should be here later this afternoon.’

  ‘Good work, you must have hounded the storage guys to move it along this quickly.’

  ‘I used my charm,’ Edris winked. ‘Where would you like me to start?’

  ‘You can start by taking a look through the statements, sort them into order, then you can start entering the details onto the database. It’s a long shot but you might get a match on one of the names.’

  Edris hovered by the desk. ‘Would you like me to fetch you a coffee?’

  ‘That’d be great, then move your stuff over here. We’ll share my desk for now, that way we can discuss anything you find of interest as we go along.’

  By the time Edris returned with the coffee, Meadows was engrossed in the case notes. His eyes scanned the document picking out the fine details of the case. Jack Hopkins, Bethan’s father, had been the first to alert the police. The call was logged at 11.05 p.m. on Saturday 20th June 1987. At this stage the call wasn’t given high priority as it had only been ten hours since Bethan was last seen. Another call from Jack Hopkins was logged at 11.15 p.m. This time he was insistent that his daughter would not deliberately stay out late and that an officer be sent. Jack, a local councillor, was well respected in the community and a known friend of the then Chief Inspector. PC Aneurin Davies was despatched and called in a report to the station at 12.15 am, stating that he believed there to be reasonable cause for concern. Bethan had not been seen since 1 p.m. on Saturday afternoon after leaving the house to go for a walk and saying she would be back in a couple of hours. All her friends and relatives had been contacted but no one had seen or spoken to her.

  At 12.30 a.m. a call was logged from David Collier stating that his niece Gwen had not returned home since leaving the house that morning. CID were informed of the missing girls and DS Mike Funning took over the enquiry. After both sets of parents had been interviewed it became apparent that the girls were likely to be together. While Jack Hopkins had insisted there were no problems within the family, Gwen’s mother Sue had stated that there had been an argument between herself and her daughter that morning.

  Neither of the girls were carrying money when they left the house so it was probable that they were still in the area and could be at a friend’s house or hiding in one of the neighbouring farm out buildings. A decision was made to wait until first light; if the girls had not returned officers would start house-to-house enquiries and search the area.

  Meadows took a sip of his coffee and leaned back in his chair stretching his arms above his head. He noticed Edris was still engrossed in the statements, his eyes darting from side to side as he devoured each page.

  The case notes continued, dated Sunday 21st June. Jack Hopkins had become increasingly agitated during the night, insisting that the officers should be out searching. By first light he had organised a search party, this consisted of friends, neighbours, and relatives. Among them was Gwen’s uncle, David Collier. It was suggested that Jack stay home with his wife to await news but ignoring this advice he set off with the party to search the mountain and neighbouring farm buildings.

  House to house enquires began and a friend of the girls, Catrin Evans, informed officers that although she hadn’t seen the girls they quite often hung around the old quarry. A search was made of the quarry and footpath leading onto the mountain. At 2 p.m. the body of Bethan Hopkins was discovered in a disused tool shack on the quarry footpath.

  Scene of crime officers were called in and the area cordoned off. Officers were dispatched to find the search party and head them off before they reached the quarry. Both sets of parents were informed of the developments but not told at this stage which of the girls had been found.

  Meadows felt his skin prickle and ran his hand over his face. Anxiety knotted his stomach as he thought of the turmoil the parents went through at that time. Knowing a body had been found but not the identity. Caught between a world of despair and hope. A flicker of a memory flashed across his mind. Waiting outside the morgue, the same feelings clawing at his stomach. His intellect telling him that it was her behind the door, identification was just a formality but against all reason there was still that hope, that moment when you bargain with God. Plead for a different outcome, then pinch your skin hoping to chase away the nightmare. He closed down the memory, pulling a curtain around the pain. I can’t go there, not now. He forced his concentration back onto the case notes.

  The search continued for Gwen, up the
footpath onto the mountain and in barns and out buildings. At 4.15 p.m. she was spotted lying at the bottom of the ravine half in the water. It looked like she had gone over just opposite the shack but had not been spotted in the initial search. A rescue team rigged equipment to nearby trees. The operation was difficult but when the crew reached Gwen she was still breathing, although suffering from serious injuries and exposure.

  Meadows closed the file and handed it to Edris. ‘Have a read through this before you finish the statements. I don’t think we should read any further than when the girls were found. Let’s treat it as if it were a new case and draw our own conclusions.’

  While Edris read through the case notes Meadows leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. The quarry path is isolated, unlikely it would be a random attack, so it has to be someone known to the girls, someone they felt comfortable with. Perhaps someone who had been to the shack with them on previous occasions.

  ‘Must be an interesting case.’

  Meadows opened his eyes and saw Blackwell standing at the desk, a sour look on his face.

  ‘Did you need to talk to me about something?’ Meadows challenged.

  ‘No.’ Blackwell sauntered back to his desk.

  ‘I think I’ll stretch my legs,’ Meadows said. Blackwell was starting to irritate him and if he didn’t take a walk he would end up having words with him. It’s going to have to happen soon, I can’t work with him much longer. He left Edris reading the case notes and walked around the station, stopping to talk to Dyfan at the front desk. When he got back to his desk he felt calmer, his focus back on the case.

  ‘So what do you think?’ Meadows asked as soon as Edris closed the case notes.

  A grin spread across Edris’ face. Meadows suspected that he wasn’t often asked to give his opinion. ‘Definitely someone known to the girls judging by the location and there being two of them. It’s a big risk though, one of them could have run for help.’

  ‘My thoughts exactly. Maybe one of them did try to escape.’

  ‘You mean Gwen, as she was found down the ravine while Bethan was killed in the shack.’ Edris sat back in his chair and swivelled it back and forth.

  ‘It’s possible, but why would she run in that direction? Surely she would have run down the path to get help.’

  ‘She could have tried but he caught her and pushed her down the ravine,’ Edris suggested.

  ‘Which means he would have already killed Bethan.’ Meadows tried to imagine the scene. Bethan would have to be already dead or unconscious for Gwen not to have had enough time to run before the killer caught her, otherwise Bethan would have tried to escape. The killer wouldn’t have been able to chase both girls. Gwen went over the ravine opposite the shack which means she didn’t get very far. Then again, she might have tried to help Beth, maybe fought with the killer. So was Bethan the target? She must have been attacked first.

  ‘I can’t see it being someone their own age.’ Edris interrupted his thoughts.

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Well, he would have to be strong to overpower two girls. A fifteen-year-old boy? I can’t see it myself.’

  ‘Not impossible though. Both girls were petite and most boys by fifteen have outgrown girls of their own age. Maybe someone a little older. Girls that age tend to be attracted to older boys. Could be a seventeen or eighteen-year-old.’

  ‘Or an adult they trusted. Jack Hopkins seemed certain something had happened to his daughter from the start. He called the station just after 11 p.m., Gwen wasn’t reported missing until later.’

  ‘No one likes to think that a father would do that to his own daughter but it has been known to happen. Find out everything you can about Jack Hopkins. I’ll take a look at Gwen’s uncle. This would have been done at the time but it won’t hurt to look again.’

  Edris scribbled down some notes, then turned to Meadows. ‘I noticed that there was no mention of Gwen’s father in the case notes.’

  ‘He died of cancer when Gwen was eleven years old. It was just Gwen and her mother. No siblings. Her father’s brother, David, helped out. I’m not sure how Gwen felt about him. Come on, let’s finish the statements and break for lunch.’

  Meadows picked up Doreen Hopkins’ statement. Doreen stated that Bethan left the house at about 1 p.m., saying she was going out for a walk and would be back in a couple of hours. She was wearing a denim jacket and a blue flowered skirt. Meadows noted down the description of the clothes. That’s what Gwen had described Bethan wearing when she had a flashback. Doreen also stated that Bethan had left the house alone and there had been no recent arguments in the family.

  ‘That’s interesting.’

  ‘What’s interesting?’ Edris looked up from the statement he was reading.

  ‘Doreen Hopkins doesn’t mention seeing Gwen that day or that her daughter had been unwell. Gwen remembered calling at the house that morning. The girls were supposed to catch the bus to go shopping.’

  ‘Do you think that Gwen’s memory is accurate? It’s been a long time.’

  ‘I’ve no reason to believe otherwise. Everything else adds up. What have you got?’

  ‘Interview with Sam Morris. He states he met up with Gwen about noon and that she appeared to be upset. They spent some time in the park, then went into the trees behind the rugby field and smoked a few cigarettes. He claims Gwen didn’t tell him why she was upset but had mentioned that she was supposed to meet Bethan that morning. I suppose that ties up with what Gwen told you.’

  ‘Go on.’

  ‘They talked about Bethan. Sam said she had been acting odd lately and thought she wanted to break up. He said the last time he saw her was Friday at school. They were supposed to meet up that evening but Bethan didn’t show. Later he walked with Gwen to the top of Mountain Road, only as far as the cattle grid. He says he couldn’t be certain of the time but thinks it was about 4 p.m. It started to rain and he suggested they go home. Gwen was reluctant so he gave her his coat. He claimed that was the last time he saw Gwen and he did not see Bethan at all that day.’

  ‘Interesting. He was the prime suspect at the time. We’ll have to wait for the evidence log to see why. Gwen remembers him giving her his coat. I remember him from school. He wasn’t a tall boy, skinny as I recall.’

  Edris rubbed his hand over his chin, a look of concentration on his face. ‘It sounds like he was very friendly with Gwen. Giving her his coat would perhaps suggest stronger feelings. They could have walked to the quarry path from the mountain end. Then he could have tried it on with Gwen and she became upset.’

  ‘What about Bethan?’

  ‘She could have turned up. Maybe she even followed them to see what they were up to.’

  ‘Did you come across any sighting of Bethan from the statement?’

  ‘No, not yet. Plenty of Gwen and Sam.’

  ‘If Bethan left the house at 1 p.m. where did she go? Sam and Gwen were together until 4 p.m. Someone must have seen Bethan and if they did they didn’t come forward at the time. Keep looking see what you can find out and keep those theories coming. I think Sam Morris is definitely worth a visit.’ Meadows smiled at Edris and they continued to trawl through the statements but they didn’t turn up any sightings of Bethan.

  They took a late lunch in the canteen where they sat discussing the case and when they returned to the office they saw a stack of containers.

  ‘Looks like the evidence has arrived.’ Edris grinned. ‘This should be interesting, my first murder case and I get a chance to look at all the evidence.’

  ‘Let’s see what we’ve got.’ Meadows opened the first container and pulled out a labelled plastic bag containing an item of clothing. ‘Gwen’s T-shirt.’ He wrinkled his nose at the bloodstains.

  Edris opened a second box and between them they examined each piece of evidence. Among the items of clothing were an empty bottle of cider, cigarette butts, and an axe. A crowd of officers including Blackwell gathered around the desk.

  ‘Murder weapon?’
Edris picked up the axe and examined it through the plastic.

  ‘Nasty,’ Blackwell commented.

  ‘OK, check this lot against the log and send it off to the lab. I want it all re-tested.’ Meadows picked up the file containing the crime scene photographs and sat at his desk.

  The first photo showed the shack taken from the outside. The door was open, as it had been when they discovered Bethan’s body. Why leave the door open? Not a calculated act. The killer would want to conceal the body for as long as possible. If Gwen had tried to escape, the killer would have chased her and that would explain the open door. But surely he would check that Bethan was dead and close the door.

  He moved on to the next photo. This one showed footprints leading in and out of the shack. It had rained that afternoon so the earth was sodden, leaving clear prints. The officers’ prints would have been eliminated. Meadows checked the scene of crime report. There was only one set of unidentified prints. A size ten training shoe, with little wear on the tread indicating that they were recently bought. Gwen’s prints were identified but no prints matching Bethan’s. She must have entered the shack before it started to rain, or was carried inside.

  The office grew quiet as officers left for the weekend. Some would be on call but the majority would be taking advantage of a quiet period in the station. Meadows could hear Edris’ rhythmic tapping of the keyboard.

  ‘You can go now, I’ll call you if there are any developments.’

  Edris looked up from the screen. ‘I’ll stay a bit longer. I just want to get the rest of the information onto the database.’

  Meadows nodded his approval. He’s certainly keen. He returned his attention to the photographs; the next set showed the inside of the shack. Various rusting tools were hung between nails in the wall. A close-up of an axe wedged between two nails showed congealed blood and hair. Why would you hang an axe with the blade facing outward? It must have originally been positioned flat against the wall. Unless the killer used the axe then hung it back on the wall. He looked at the rest of the tools; all of them were hung at awkward and dangerous angles. Strange, not the sort of place you would expect teenage girls to hang out.