A Room Full of Killers, Michael Wood [best books for students to read txt] 📗

him. Matilda pushed the photo to Samuel.

‘This is Thomas Hartley. You met him, briefly. Look at him. Young, happy, good-looking, intelligent. He’s got his whole life ahead of him. He could be anything he wants. Instead, he’s languishing in a Young Offenders Unit for a crime he didn’t commit. I think you went back to Manchester while you were high on meth, and you killed Daniel and Laura and Ruby when you couldn’t get any more money out of Daniel.’

Samuel looked at the photo. He didn’t touch it, he leaned over the table and stared, analysing the picture.

‘You’re in here for the rest of your life anyway, Samuel. Is it really worth ruining another boy’s life by not owning up to what you’ve done?’

Samuel couldn’t take his eyes from the photograph. The clock at the back of the room ticked away a painfully long minute. Eventually, he looked Matilda in the eye. ‘I’m a killer. I killed Felix Myers for no reason. I’ll admit that as I know, hand on heart, that I did it. Killing is in me. Crystal meth gives you a rush of confidence and energy. It makes you believe you can do anything you want. I’ve no idea what I was doing around the time Daniel and his family were killed. But when I read about it in the papers, when I saw the way they died, I knew it was me. I knew I’d done it. I just couldn’t prove it. Not even to myself.’

Inside, Matilda was cheering. She’d just secured Thomas Hartley’s release from prison.

SEVENTY-THREE

Kate Moloney was walking past the back entrance to Starling House when she saw the three detectives approaching. She pulled opened the door and let in a torrent of rain. She shivered against the cold stiff breeze.

‘What are you doing here?’ Kate looked dreadful. Her hair was tangled, her face was make-up free and every wrinkle and line was on show. ‘Don’t you think you’ve done enough damage?’

‘We need to talk to your staff again.’

‘You’re joking, surely. You still think one of the staff killed Ryan and Jacob? Bloody hell, it’s no wonder Matilda Darke couldn’t find Carl Meagan when you’re constantly looking in the wrong direction.’

‘Where are your staff, Ms Moloney?’ Christian said, ignoring the remark about his boss.

‘I have no idea and I’m not in the slightest bit interested.’

‘Is the representative from BB Security here yet?’ Sian asked.

‘No. They’ve had storms in Ireland too. No planes out until tomorrow at the earliest.’

‘Do you mind if we have a look around?’

‘You can do what the hell you want. I’m past caring.’ She turned and headed off back down the corridor.

‘Kate, how long have your staff been working here?’ Sian asked.

‘Does any of that matter now? We’re all out of a job.’

‘Humour me.’ Sian stared her out.

Kate took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh. ‘Peter McFly has only been here a few weeks. Rebecca Childs about a year or so. Same for Gavin Ryecroft. Oliver Byron, a few months, maybe—’

‘None of them for very long then?’

‘We were all new at some point. Now, if you’ll excuse me,’ she said. She turned and headed down the corridor.

‘Ms Moloney, I’d like you to come with us if you don’t mind,’ Christian said.

‘Why?’

‘Please.’

‘I’ll be glad to see the back of you lot,’ she said under her breath but loud enough for them to hear it.

Oliver, Gavin, Rebecca, and Peter were all in the staffroom having a sandwich. The atmosphere was tense and the conversation was stilted. They were making pointless small talk just for something to say, to take the edge off the situation.

‘Would anyone mind if I closed the window?’ Rebecca asked.

‘I would. The smell of whatever it is you’re putting in your sandwich is turning my stomach,’ Gavin said.

‘Fine. I’ll freeze to death then, don’t worry about me.’ She purposely made a performance out of zipping up her jacket and took her sandwich and mug of tea to the table.

The door opened and Kate entered with the detectives following her.

‘Here they all are. Which one do you want to accuse this time?’

‘What’s going on?’ Gavin asked, his mouth full of a cheese and pickle sandwich.

‘These detectives have put all our names in a hat and pulled one out at random and whoever they’ve chosen is going to be framed for Ryan and Jacob’s murder. Isn’t that right, detective?’

‘There really is no need for that attitude, Kate,’ Sian said, slowly losing patience with her.

‘Isn’t there? You come in here and blunder your way through a murder investigation and allow another inmate to be killed under your noses. Thanks to your ineptitude you’ve probably managed to get this place closed down and all of us fired. Don’t you think we have a right to be slightly pissed off?’

Christian Brady ignored her and stepped forward. ‘Oliver Byron, we’d like a word in private.’

‘With me?’ he asked.

‘Yes. If you’d like to come with us?’

‘Why?’

‘If you could come with us we can talk about this in another room.’

‘Don’t worry about it, Oliver,’ Kate said. ‘They’ll blame you for half an hour then they’ll change their mind and try and pin the murder on Rebecca. Then it’ll be Peter’s turn.’

‘I don’t understand,’ Oliver said.

‘I think you do, John.’

The room fell silent. Christian and Oliver stared at each other. Neither one of them wanting to flinch first.

‘John? Who’s John?’ Rebecca asked.

‘You know?’ Oliver looked up with wide eyes.

‘We know,’ Christian said. It was evident he was taking no pleasure out of this. Nobody who had children would relish taking another father into custody for protecting their own child. ‘John Preston, I’m arresting you for the murder of Ryan Asher and Jacob Brown. You do not have to say anything; but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court.’

‘What the hell is going on?’ Gavin protested. ‘Who’s John Preston?’

‘Would you come with us, please, John,’ Christian said.

‘No. I’m sorry, no. I’m not going