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

watched as his eyes closed for the last time.

End of Act One.

FIFTEEN

Sian and Rory were alone in the boardroom of Starling House. The files of staff and inmates were all mingled together in a disorganized heap in front of them. Matilda had set them the difficult task of getting to know the people living and working at Starling House in order to brief everyone else later. Nobody wanted this task and nobody had volunteered.

Rory had taken off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. His tie was loosened and the top button undone. His hair was ruffled too. The usually pristine and well-kept Rory looked more like the dishevelled and downtrodden Matilda.

‘I think I need a cigarette,’ Rory said, shattering the heavy silence.

‘I didn’t think you smoked.’

‘I don’t. Bloody hell, this is depressing stuff. On the drive over here I actually wanted to know what all these boys had done. Now I’m not so sure. Have you read about that Lewis Chapman?’

‘No.’

‘He killed his little brother like he was a character in a horror film. Can you believe that? There was no motive at all, other than because he wanted to. I mean … why?’

‘I’ve no idea, Rory.’ Sian looked down at the desk. She was struggling with this case. Two of her four children were teenagers like the inmates of Starling House, and she couldn’t help but make comparisons. Would any of her kids turn out the way Lewis Chapman or Lee Marriott?

‘And look at that Callum Nixon? He purposely went into school with a knife to kill two teachers. I never … ’

Rory kicked his chair back and walked over to the window. It was open slightly to let in the autumnal breeze but he pushed it fully open. He leaned on the frame and stuck his head out, taking deep breaths. Sian went up behind him and put a protective arm around his shoulders.

‘Rory, you can’t let these lads get to you. Yes, they’ve committed the worst crimes imaginable but they’re paying for them. That, at least, should give you some comfort.’

‘It’s the fact they committed them in the first place. I’ve got a brother and cousins who are the age of some of these lads. What if they turn into killers?’

‘I don’t think it works like that, Rory. You don’t just turn into a killer. It’s background, circumstance, upbringing. So many factors go into creating who we are. Your brother, and your cousins, will be well-loved, looked after, brought up in a stable environment. I bet the majority of the boys in here didn’t have any of that?’

‘And what about the minority?’

‘Sorry?’

‘You said the majority of the boys in here won’t have had a stable environment, but not all of them. So there will be a couple who did have a stable background. Why did they turn to murder?’

‘Oh Rory, I wish I could answer your questions but I can’t. I’m not a psychologist. I have no idea what makes the mind of a murderer tick.’

Rory took a deep breath. ‘I think I need to know.’

‘Really? Are you sure you want to do that?’

‘Yes,’ he said with conviction. ‘If I’m going to be a good detective, if I want to get promotion, I’m going to have to understand the killers, find out why they do what they do. Surely there’s a recognized sign or brain patterns or something that can identify a killer.’

‘Rory, before you even look into doing this kind of research talk it over with Matilda and Amelia first because it’s really going to screw with your mind. I know you, you’ll let this consume you, and you’ll start looking for killers everywhere. That will have an impact on your relationship with Amelia and your role within the force.’

‘I don’t need to talk it over with anyone,’ Rory said. He moved away from the window and picked up his jacket from the back of his chair. ‘Read what Craig Hodge did, what Lee Marriott did, what Jacob Brown did – we need to understand why they killed and look at ways to prevent it happening again, not just shutting them away in a building in the middle of nowhere and pretending they don’t exist. Besides, what relationship with Amelia? I moved out last week.’

Leaving Sian open-mouthed, he took large determined strides to the door and left, slamming it shut behind him.

Sian sat back down and blew out her cheeks. She knew this was going to be no ordinary case, but she had no idea it was going to be such a game changer among the team.

SIXTEEN

‘Who is your head of security here?’

‘Gavin Ryecroft. He’s on holiday in Norfolk. I’ve contacted him and he’s on his way back.’

‘Who is in charge when he’s not here?’

‘That would Charles Dillane. He’s on long-term sick at present.’

Matilda was back in Kate Moloney’s office going through the day-to-day running of Starling House. She was trying to get a feel for the place, the outline of an ordinary day. Although, was there such as thing as an ordinary day in a building full of multiple murderers?

‘So who takes care of the alarms and CCTV when Gavin is away?’

‘The staff have been sharing the duties. They’re all very capable.’ She couldn’t make eye contact with Matilda.

‘I’m sure they are but they won’t be as qualified as Gavin Ryecroft, will they?’

‘Well, no.’

‘So mistakes could have been made.’

‘Such as?’

‘Such as the alarms on the patio doors in the recreation room. Are you sure they were switched on last night?’

‘Of course I’m sure.’ Kate went on the defensive straight away. ‘DCI Darke, I don’t know what you’re implying here, but none of my staff will have knowingly left this building in a compromising position. Besides, there is no need for the patio doors to be opened at this time of year. It’s cold and damp. They’re only open during the summer months, and only then during hot weather.’

‘Kate, I’m merely trying to find out how the killer gained access to