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

Then there was Thomas Hartley. Matilda couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the teenager trapped in Starling House with those murderers, the abusive staff, and goodness knows what else went on that was being kept hidden from Matilda and her team. The evidence that had led him to being locked up was purely circumstantial so why had he been jailed for life? What had been uncovered, or not uncovered, during the investigation that had implicated Thomas Hartley as the most likely suspect? Did nobody think to question his motive? If Thomas was innocent, there must have been a massive cover-up at Greater Manchester Police. But who was involved, how high did this go, and what the hell was Matilda getting herself into?

FIFTY-TWO

Kate Moloney had hardly slept. She had still been awake at two o’clock. Her mind a whirl with everything that had occurred over the past few days – Ryan Asher’s murder, now Jacob Brown being killed. Her staff all seemed to be hiding something dark in their past, and she was dreading what tomorrow would bring.

Tomorrow was now here. Kate was back in her office, hair uncombed, no make-up, no bright red lipstick, no killer heels. There was a large and very strong black coffee on her desk in front of her but it hadn’t been touched. She had no drive or motivation to do anything.

An image out of the window caught her attention and she looked up to see a fleet of cars and police vans heading down the drive. What fresh hell was about to descend upon Starling House?

She opened the cupboard in the corner of the room and took out a black jacket. She pulled her hair back into a tight ponytail and looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror on the back of the door. She looked a mess. She looked tired. She looked as if she had given up. However, she would have to do for now.

‘DCI Darke, how can I help you?’ she asked as she exited her office and saw Matilda lead the way with a troop of uniformed and plain-clothed officers behind her.

‘We’re here to take all of the inmates back to South Yorkshire Police and formally interview them.’

‘What? You can’t do that?’

‘I think you’ll find I can. I’ll also be doing the same with your staff, including you.’

‘This is outrageous.’

‘What’s outrageous is the fact Starling House has been allowed to operate without being supervised for so long.’

Kate tried to say something but was too taken aback to speak. There was nothing she could do as a team of officers filed into the building and headed for the stairs to collect the inmates. This would definitely mark the final nail in the coffin for Starling House.

Within half an hour of them arriving, Matilda and her team had secured all six remaining inmates in marked police vehicles and were heading to HQ. There, they would be held in separate cells and interviewed individually. By the end of the day, hopefully, they would have a clear picture of just what had been going on in Starling House.

Kate stood in the doorway and watched as the fleet of police cars disappeared through the iron gates, turned left and headed for Sheffield city centre. When she turned around she saw Matilda in the foyer talking to some of the staff.

‘Richard Grover, I am arresting you for causing a child to engage in sexual activity and aggravated assault by abusing a position of trust. 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. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’

‘What the hell—?’ Kate almost screamed. ‘This is too much. Abusing a position of trust? Richard is one of the most dedicated and hard-working members of staff I’ve ever employed.’

Matilda ignored Kate and moved on to Fred Percival. ‘Mr Percival, I’d like you to go with my officers to be formally interviewed back at the station. I believe you know what this is about.’

Fred didn’t reply. His face said it all. Gone was the annoying smile and the air of superiority, replaced by a hangdog look of regret. Sian Mills led him out of the building by the elbow to a waiting unmarked car.

‘Are you going to tell me what is going on?’ Kate said, blocking Matilda from leaving.

‘Fred Percival has a record of underage sex among young boys. Richard Grover has been engaging in sexual activity with some of the inmates here. God only knows what the others have been up to,’ she said, looking at the remaining staff over her shoulder. ‘I have put steps in place to have Starling House temporarily closed down while you can be replaced and a new team of staff can be employed. I’m waiting to hear from BB Security, Sheffield City Council, and the Home Office.’

‘You’re closing us down?’

‘Temporarily.’

‘No,’ Kate said. Despite the fact she knew it was all over for her she couldn’t quite let go. ‘No, I won’t have it. I’m not leaving. I’ve been here for twenty years. You know … You know what it’s like … I’ve told you … You’ve seen.’ She started panicking. A rage had taken over her and her entire body was shaking with adrenaline as she started to lose grip on her emotions and reality. ‘I want you to leave. Until I’m told otherwise, I am still in charge of Starling House. I want you out. I want you and your team out of this building right now,’ she screamed in Matilda’s face.

‘We will leave, but we will be back. And if you attempt to stop us gaining access I will have you arrested for obstructing a murder investigation. I’m going to be leaving police officers here too. I’m sorry Kate, but I can’t trust you or your staff anymore.’

With the last word, Matilda turned and left the building with her