Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again Book 2) by M Comley (best books under 200 pages txt) 📕

“Well, first of all, I have four men sitting here with me. Want me to give you their names?”

“Why not?”

“All righty then. I’ve got Bruce, Dale, Robin and Ellis around me now, ladies. What do you want to ask them?”

“Where do you start?” Katy whispered to Charlie.

“At the beginning,” Charlie responded, then chewed on her lip anxiously.

“Okay, Carol, perhaps the gents wouldn’t mind telling us what went on that night twenty-four years ago.”

“I’ll ask. Oh dear, a few of them have bowed their heads in shame. All right, boys, let’s have it.” A few moments of silence passed before Carol spoke again. “Most of them are remorseful, with one exception, Bruce. He’s telling me she deserved what she got.”

“Why am I not surprised to hear that?” Katy replied. “Let’s ignore him for a moment and concentrate on the others, Carol.”

“As you want. Come on, guys, let’s help the police officers out here. Tell me what happened.” Another lull was followed by Carol gasping.

“Are you all right, Carol?”

“I’m fine. Oh my, that poor defenceless woman. You men should be ashamed of yourselves for putting her through that. And you, Bruce, you’re a despicable piece of shit. I hope Hell welcomes you with open arms for treating your wife, and daughters, come to that, in such a horrendous way.”

“What’s going on, Carol?” Katy queried, eager to know.

“That night, like many others before, all the men raped Sonia Crawford. Things went too far. They tried something different to add to the thrill. Two of them tried strangling her and, well…their little game went too far and she died.”

“Okay, that account matches up with what we already know, Carol. Thank them for their honesty.” The words stuck in Katy’s throat. Why should she thank a bloody murderer, least of all a dead one, communicating with her through a medium? It was beyond her but a necessity all the same, if they were going to find out where the body was buried. “I need to know what happened to her body once it left the house and was placed in the boot of the car.”

Carol then asked the spirits who surrounded her the question. “Right, okay, they’re telling me that Sonia is buried in a forest. Which one…? Shendon Forest, do you know it, Katy?”

Charlie picked up her phone and did the relevant search. She angled the phone in Katy’s direction.

“Yep, I’ve got it. They need to give me more than that. How far in? Any markers to identify where?”

“Come on, guys, you can do better than that. Where exactly is she buried?”

The silence in between the questions was killing Katy. She gestured for the proceedings to go faster, and Charlie chuckled.

“Okay, I have a location for you. There’s an opening trail that leads into the woods. Take the right fork and go twenty feet or so. On the right, there’s a marker of sorts, at least there was back then, they’re telling me. She’s buried there, still wrapped in the rug.”

“Thanks, Carol. Dare I ask if Sonia’s spirit is there with you?”

“No. She wouldn’t show up, not with this mob present. I’ll leave it a while and try to contact her later. I’ll call you if I succeed.”

“You’re a star, thanks, Carol. Speak soon.”

“Katy, I’m glad you rang. I’m always here at your disposal, remember that.”

“Thanks. Will do. I’d better go and get on the phone to organise a search of the forest.”

“Good luck. Love to both of you. Don’t be a stranger, Charlie.”

“I won’t. I’ve been working flat out, Carol. I’ll make it up to you soon, I promise.”

“I know you have. You’re in my thoughts, ladies.”

Katy ended the call and lifted her office phone. “Bring the team up to date, will you, Charlie? I won’t be long.”

Charlie rushed out of the room and closed the door behind her.

“Patti, sorry to trouble you. I have some news.”

“Go on, surprise me.”

Katy filled her in on what Carol had revealed and asked for assistance. “Can we get SOCO over there to check it out?”

“I can arrange that for you. I might even take a wander out that way myself if I can finish the next PM promptly. How exciting. Sorry, that sounded bad. I didn’t mean it to come across that way. I meant after all this time, it’ll be a relief to finally lay that woman to rest properly, not in a pauper’s grave. And good on Carol for playing her part in all this as well.”

“We’ll see if what she told us turns out to be the truth or not. I wouldn’t put it past these men to be winding us up even through their spirits.”

“There is that. Let me get the ball rolling. See you out at the site later.”

“Definitely. Thanks, Patti.”

Katy sat back after ending the call and reflected on whether she was doing the right thing or not, taking the word of four spirits. She shook her head. It sounded unreasonable to consider, but at this point, she was willing to do just about anything to get a result. Maybe Sonia’s spirit would show up soon and talk to Carol, possibly even reveal who the damn killer was.

She joined the rest of the team not long after. “Charlie, come on, we’ll take a leisurely drive over there. I want to be there when they start digging. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be a false alarm.”

“I’m sure it won’t. Have faith in Carol’s abilities, she’s never let Mum down in the past, has she?”

Katy cast her mind back and had to admit, she couldn’t think of a time when Carol had failed them. “You’re right, let’s hope this isn’t the first time.”

14

The forest was a well-known walkers’ paradise in the local area, but even on a bright August day there was an eeriness to it. The paths were well cared for. A sign told Katy that the upkeep was down to the National Trust. “Looks like SOCO are already here.”

“Wonder how long