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

Any news on Rory?

He came out of theatre about 10 mins ago.

And?

No idea yet.

Are his parents there?

Yes. Amelia has come 2.

How are they?

Not gud.

Keep me informed.

Will do.

Despite what Adele said to her in the mortuary, Matilda would blame herself if anything happened to Rory. He was a member of her team, and he had been injured whilst on duty. Therefore, by default, she was to blame, and no Jammie Dodger therapy would change that.

She closed her eyes and could see the stricken detective on the floor of the interview room. His once handsome face was a swollen mess of bruises and cuts where Callum’s fists had struck. What had he done to deserve that? Nothing, apart from doing his job, which is exactly what the teachers had been doing when Callum callously murdered them. That boy was pure evil.

‘We’re here,’ Pat said, turning around in the front passenger seat.

‘Where’s here?’ Matilda looked out of the window at the row of depressed-looking terraced houses.

‘We’re seeing Debbie Hartley.’

‘Oh. Yes. Of course,’ Matilda replied as if she had been in a daze for the whole journey, which wasn’t far from the truth.

‘You came back! That’s great. I’m so pleased. Come on in,’ Debbie said. Her face lit up the second she opened the door and saw Pat Campbell standing on the doorstep.

‘I’ve brought a couple of friends, I hope you don’t mind.’

‘No, of course not. The more the merrier. I have a sofa and two armchairs. There’s enough for us all to sit down.’

Debbie beckoned them all in and led the way into the living room. Again the television was off. It was as if she had been waiting for someone to arrive.

‘Take a seat wherever you want.’

‘Debbie, let me introduce you to my friends,’ Pat said. ‘This is Adele, she’s a doctor, and this is Matilda, she’s a detective. The one I told you about.’

‘Oh my God. You’re Matilda?’ she asked, as if she had been introduced to an A-list celebrity. ‘Are you the one who tried to find little Carl Meagan?’

Matilda smiled through the pain she felt every time she heard his name. ‘Yes. That’s right.’

‘I bought the book this morning,’ Debbie said. She grabbed it from a coffee table beside her armchair and held it aloft. ‘I remember Pat here telling me about you, and when I saw this in Sainsbury’s I had to buy it. It was half price too. Will you sign it for me?’ She handed the book out for Matilda.

‘What?’

Adele stifled a laugh and tried to turn it into a cough.

‘Go on, please. For me. I’ve never met anyone famous before. Well, I walked past Carol Vorderman in town once but that’s not the same thing, is it?’

‘I didn’t actually write this book, Debbie.’

‘No. I know, but your photo is inside it. You could sign your picture for me. I won’t put it on eBay, I promise.’ Debbie began frantically flicking through the pages to the photos section.

‘Debbie, I don’t really think it’s appropriate for Matilda to sign a book about a missing child, do you?’ Pat said, leaping to Matilda’s defence.

‘Oh. No, you’re probably right. It is a bit morbid, isn’t it? I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t offend you.’

‘No. That’s fine,’ Matilda said, smiling through gritted teeth again.

‘I’m not a very fast reader so it might take me a while to finish it but it’s started well. I hope he gets found in the end.’

Matilda looked at Pat with a frown. Could Debbie really be relied upon as a vital witness to get Thomas out of prison?

‘Debbie, is there any chance we could have a drink? It’s really cold outside.’

‘Oh, I’m so sorry,’ she replied. ‘Where are my manners? You can tell I’m not used to having company, can’t you? I’ll make us all a nice hot chocolate. That’ll warm you up. I’ve got plenty. Sit down and make yourselves comfortable.’ She ran out of the room like a child eager to please.

‘Her heart’s in the right place,’ Pat said quietly by way of an excuse.

‘If the Hartley case gets reopened she will get slaughtered on the witness stand,’ Matilda said.

‘You should have seen your face when she asked you to sign the book,’ Adele laughed.

‘It’s not funny.’

‘It is. I wish I’d taken a photo.’ Adele picked up the book and flicked through the pages. ‘She really thinks this is a story, doesn’t she? Bless her. Oh dear, Mat, not a very flattering picture of you here.’

‘Mat, look in that drawer over there. That’s where the passport was in a different woman’s name.’ Pat whispered. She went over to the door and kept a lookout for Debbie returning.

Matilda opened the drawer. It was full of old bills and bank statements.

‘Next one down,’ Pat whispered loudly.

The next drawer contained letters and receipts. At the bottom she pulled out a passport. She opened it at the back and saw the name Catherine Downy written in block capitals. The date of birth was 12th March 1977. The photograph showed a chubby, blonde-haired young girl who looked like she was trying her hardest to suppress a smile. The passport had expired years ago.

‘Catherine Downy,’ Matilda said.

‘Who’s that?’ Adele asked.

‘Catherine Downy. Catherine Downy,’ Matilda repeated to herself. ‘Why do I know that name?’

‘I’ve never heard of it,’ Adele said.

‘I have but I can’t think where from.’

‘She’s coming back,’ Pat said, running from the door to the sofa.

Matilda quickly threw the passport back in the drawer and returned to the sofa just in time as Debbie kicked open the door. She carried a tray with four mugs of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and tiny marshmallows.

‘I thought I’d give us all a nice treat.’

SIXTY

The sleuthing team of Matilda, Adele, and Pat walked silently back to the car. Matilda didn’t moan about having to sit in the back. As soon as they pulled away from Debbie’s house, Matilda took out her phone and began scouring the internet. It didn’t take her long to find what