A Body in the Lakes by Graham Smith (great books of all time .TXT) 📕

definite campaign. First the minor attacks, then the child abuse images were secreted onto your computer so they’d be there when your PC was taken in response to the anonymous letter sent to the chief constable. When the letter sat unopened for almost a fortnight, the person framing you escalated his campaign by stealing your credit card and then leaving it beside Felicia Evans’s corpse. There was even an invitation to one of your Christmas balls to make it crystal clear which Derek Forster owned the credit card.’

Beth used a soft tone as she spoke, but there was no lessening the impact of her words. The colour drained from the mayor’s face and he looked as if he was about to collapse.

‘Are you sure? Please, tell me this is a sick joke.’ There was no mistaking the beseeching tone or the look of desperation in Forster’s eyes.

‘I’m sorry, but while we can never be certain of anything without hard evidence, everything we’ve worked out suggests that what I’m telling you is correct.’

‘Oh God. That poor woman. She died because of me. Because someone hates me. Surely ruining me isn’t as precious as that lady’s life?’

‘If it helps, and I don’t expect that it does, she had terminal cancer and only had a few weeks to live.’

The mayor shook his head then knuckled at both of his eyes. ‘It doesn’t help. She died because of me. Nothing you say, however well-meaning, will help. She died because of me and I have to find a way to live with that fact.’

Beth was full of sympathy for Forster, but she still hadn’t got to the reason why she was here.

‘You will. However, you’ve more pressing concerns at the moment. We believe the person who killed Felicia Evans will try and attack you again. Only now that everything else he’s tried has failed, we’re concerned that he’ll try and attack you in person.’ Beth locked eyes with Forster as she was unsure her words were sinking in. ‘We’d like you to stay in a hotel tonight until we can organise some protection for you or catch the person who’s trying to frame you.’

Forster gave a shake of his head as if he could toss out the bad thoughts and escape the fact his life may well be under threat.

‘No. No way. I won’t hear of it. I’m not staying in a hotel. If this… this despicable fiend is going to target me, then there’s no way on earth I’m having anyone else’s life put at risk.’ Another shake of the head. ‘I’ll stay in my own home and take my chances.’

‘Derek. That’s not a good idea. You’ll be safer in a hotel.’

‘Maybe. But it’s bad enough one person has died because of me. There’s no way I’m prepared to gamble that the person after me won’t kill a hotel worker or another guest to get at me. Not happening.’

Behind Forster, Beth saw the doors to the Lonsdale Suite open and a smartly attired woman approach them.

‘Derek, is everything okay? You’re due to say your piece in a couple of minutes.’

Forster gave his head another shake and took a deep breath. ‘I’m fine.’ His gaze shifted to Beth. ‘I’ve a speech to give and then I’ve got the closing address to make. After that, I’m going home.’

The determination in Forster’s expression told Beth that it would be a waste of time arguing with him. She made a snap decision and fired a question at Forster.

He looked at the ceiling before answering her. ‘Around eleven I should imagine.’

‘Fine. I’ll pick you up then.’

Seventy-Three

Beth settled herself into a chair and smiled at the message from Ethan. It was a welcome spot of light relief as Forster had been more than a little difficult. He’d taken the news about Felicia Evans’s murder hard, and when she’d arrived back at Halston Hotel to pick him up he’d been on the verge of being drunk.

She’d debated going home to pick up a change of clothes and her toothbrush, but had decided against it. Instead she’d nipped to Asda after grabbing a McDonald’s.

Forster had argued about the need for her to stay at his house, but having seen how much he’d drunk, there was no way Beth was going to back down.

He’d continued drinking when he’d got home and when he’d tottered off to bed, he was paralytic. When she’d heard the click of a lock being turned in the solid bedroom door, she’d retrieved a chair from a spare bedroom and had positioned herself where she could ambush anyone who came up the stairs.

Beth had called Control and requested another officer to stand guard with her, but she’d ended up getting a mouthful from an Inspector who’d come on the line and told her that without a direct order from the silver commander – the senior officer who was on call for major incidents – there weren’t any officers to spare for an unspecified risk.

It had crossed Beth’s mind to call O’Dowd so she could get her to put the request to the ACC, who was this week’s silver commander, until a shudder-inducing memory of the DI’s plans for the evening changed her mind.

The more she thought about it, the more she doubted that anything would happen tonight, but that didn’t stop her from making sure her collapsible baton was fully extended and laid across her lap. Beside the chair she had placed a pair of ornate candlesticks. As makeshift weapons they were heavy and cumbersome, but their presence at her side reassured her.

She adjusted herself in the chair and prepared a reply to Ethan’s message. Once that was sent, she bent her mind to the case and tried to work out who was framing the mayor.

Beth woke with a start. At first she was unsure where she was, but she soon realised she was in the mayor’s house.

She wasn’t sure what had woken her but there was a strange whooshing roar coming from downstairs.

It was decision time. She