IMPURITY by Ray Clark (which ebook reader txt) 📕

IMPURITY

A thrilling murder mystery full of devilish twists

THE DI GARDENER CRIME FICTION SERIES

BOOK 1

RAY CLARK

Published by

THE BOOK FOLKS

London, 2019

© Ray Clark

Polite note to the reader

This book is written in British English except where fidelity to other languages or accents is appropriate.

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We hope you enjoy the book.

IMPURITY is the first book in a series of four murder mysteries by Ray Clark featuring DI Stewart Gardener. Full details about the other books can be found at the end of this one.

Impurity: 1. Being impure. 2. A substance that makes another impure by being present in it.

“They very commonly construct for themselves a life-romance, a personal myth in which they are the maltreated hero, which secret is the key of their battle against despair.”

William Bolitho

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-one

Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-three

Chapter Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-five

Chapter Twenty-six

Chapter Twenty-seven

Chapter Twenty-eight

Chapter Twenty-nine

Chapter Thirty

Chapter Thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-two

Chapter Thirty-three

Chapter Thirty-four

Chapter Thirty-five

Chapter Thirty-six

Chapter Thirty-seven

Chapter Thirty-eight

Chapter Thirty-nine

Chapter Forty

Chapter Forty-one

Chapter Forty-two

Chapter Forty-three

Chapter Forty-four

Chapter Forty-five

Chapter Forty-six

Chapter Forty-seven

Chapter Forty-eight

Chapter Forty-nine

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty-one

Chapter Fifty-two

Chapter Fifty-three

Chapter Fifty-four

Chapter Fifty-five

Chapter Fifty-six

Chapter Fifty-seven

Chapter Fifty-eight

Chapter Fifty-nine

Chapter Sixty

Chapter Sixty-one

Chapter Sixty-two

Chapter Sixty-three

Chapter Sixty-four

Chapter Sixty-five

Chapter Sixty-six

Chapter Sixty-seven

Chapter Sixty-eight

Chapter Sixty-nine

Chapter Seventy

Chapter Seventy-one

Chapter Seventy-two

Chapter Seventy-three

Chapter Seventy-four

Chapter Seventy-five

Chapter Seventy-six

Chapter Seventy-seven

Chapter Seventy-eight

Chapter Seventy-nine

Chapter Eighty

Chapter Eighty-one

Chapter Eighty-two

Chapter Eighty-three

Epilogue

More fiction in this series

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Prologue

Leeds, West Yorkshire. Twelve Months Ago.

“All set?” he asked as he held her coat open.

She nodded and slipped into the garment. He put his hat on as they left the restaurant.

Sarah had presented it to him before they went out for the evening.

“I still can’t believe you bought this. What possessed you?” he asked.

Sarah glanced up and adjusted it. “It was you. The minute I saw it I fell in love with it. As I knew you would.”

He laughed. He had to admit, it was comfortable. The grey Australian leather hat resembled a Stetson with a narrower brim. Two studded holes sat on either side of it, with a braid circling its base. A six-pointed gold badge graced one side of the crown.

Despite being early December, the weather was mild. Gardener carried his topcoat over one arm, held Sarah’s hand with the other. The couple were enjoying a relaxing evening together before the onslaught of Christmas left them with little, if any, time for themselves. They passed courting couples whispering and giggling to each other. At the intersection with Boar Lane, a large group of youths spilled out from a pub. They headed toward The Corn Exchange in search of one of the city’s many nightclubs.

“What it is to be young,” commented Sarah.

“We’re still young.”

“I know, but we’re not going to a nightclub, are we?”

Her comment amused him, and he laughed.

“What’s funny?” asked Sarah, chuckling herself.

“We’re only young in mind, these days.”

They both laughed again. Gardener wrapped his arms around Sarah, lifting her up, swinging her round. He recited the lyrics to an obscure pop song, which would be the nearest they would come to a club tonight.

Sarah giggled. “For God’s sake, put me down. You’ll put your back out.”

As soon as she’d spoken the words, Gardener took a step back, and cried out in pain. He put her down, placing both hands on the base of his spine.

“Stewart! Are you all right? I warned you.”

As Sarah bent closer, he leaped upwards and grabbed her around the waist.

He nuzzled his face into her neck and growled as he bit her. He kissed her – a long, lingering kiss he wished would last forever. The curves of Sarah’s body aroused him. He never tired of running his fingers over her smooth skin, a testament to the strength of their physical relationship. They made love as often as when first married, twenty years previously.

“I have another surprise for you when we get home,” she said.

“Have you now?”

“It’s not what you’re thinking, but you can have that as well.”

Gardener laughed. “So, what is it?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

Gardener’s curiosity was piqued, but he decided not to press any further. He raised his head, took her hand, and led her across Duncan Street. They were heading towards the intersection of Briggate and Boar Lane. They passed a busy McDonald’s, heading for the NCP car park next to the now-closed travel agency.

As they turned the corner, hand in hand, they were completely unaware of the skirmish that had brewed between two men.

“Get the fuck off me!”

The couple stopped. The smaller of the two men held his victim by the throat up against the shop window, repeatedly crashing him into the glass.

Sarah gripped Gardener’s hand tighter, to warn him against becoming involved.

Gardener’s police instincts spurred him to action. “Come on lads, break it up.” He pulled at the smaller man’s shoulder. As the man turned, Gardener observed a misshapen forehead and a cluster of foreign bodies attached to his skin, like barnacles.

“You keep your face out of my business,” said Warthead, in a cockney accent.