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

smiled at her and she returned the smile. Being around him felt natural to Beth and while she didn’t want to make plans for the future, she was comfortable with the way the relationship was developing.

Her day had started out by attending Derek Forster’s funeral and had progressed through a meeting with Mannequin and a pile of paperwork. To add a further level of sorrow to the day, O’Dowd had informed her and Unthank that Julie Thompson had died peacefully in her sleep.

As tragic as her death was, Thompson would be able to get a level of finality from it.

The case against Stanton had been made with ease. A letter had been tucked into the pouch with his ferry tickets and it had laid everything out for them.

Now the whole sorry affair was over she felt nothing but sadness for all the victims and their families. The victims’ families would get some closure, but Stanton’s family had still lost a loved one, even if he’d been driven to murder.

She’d never forget Stanton’s final letter. It was haunting in its honesty as he bared his soul and admitted his guilt. His handwriting grew erratic as he neared the end and there were splotches on the paper which Beth attributed to teardrops.

To whom it may concern,

I do not blame my wife. I never have. I never will. She was taken in by the seducer Derek Forster. If she’d told me that she’d chosen to sleep with him, I could have found a way to have forgiven her. Could have found a way to get past the hurt and the betrayal.

She didn’t choose though. He chose for her. I don’t believe she was seduced. I believe she was raped. That Derek Forster forced himself on my sweet, gentle Karen against her will.

After what had happened with Harriet, my Karen took her own life rather than hurt me by telling me what he did. That was the cruellest hurt of all. She hid her diary at the back of a drawer. She must have known I’d find it one day.

It was almost a year after her death that I found her diary. I’d thought I was coming to terms with her death. Reading Karen’s diary broke my heart, and if I’m honest with myself, my brain. All I could think of was getting even with the rapist whose seductions had destroyed my wife; my life.

I believed he was responsible for Harriet’s death until my sister called this morning and told me that the Lakeland Ripper had confessed to raping and murdering Harriet.

I wanted Derek Forster to suffer for his actions.

I sent the letter to the chief constable warning that the mayor had killed and raped. I admit that I was the one who planted child pornography on his PC. It shames me to admit to this, but I was the one who killed Felicia Evans and planted evidence with the intention of framing Derek Forster. At the time I killed her, I told myself she was dying and I was easing her suffering. I was a fool. Last night I set Derek Forster’s house on fire. I checked the news. He died in the fire. It was then that I realised what a monster I had become.

I am far worse than Derek Forster. His seduction or rape of my Karen, whichever is the truth, was unforgivable. But I killed the mayor and Felicia Evans through a desire to seek a primal revenge. That is even worse.

I knew what I had to do, so I booked a ticket on the earliest ferry I could, and got ready to reunite myself with Karen. They say that drowning is an easy way to go. I will know in a few minutes. Wait for me my beautiful darling. I will be with you soon.

To the world, I am sorry. I have done things that were unforgivable and rather than cost the state a fortune to try, and then imprison me, I am going to be with my wife.

The first time she read the letter, Beth had been unable to think of anything but Stanton’s last moments. He’d more than likely saved her and O’Dowd’s lives. Then rather than face imprisonment, he’d gone back to his original plan and had chosen to take his own life.

Instead of the peaceful drowning he’d planned, Stanton had died screaming in agony. It was a terrible death and, along with the sleepless nights Beth had had about the fire at Forster’s house, she’d also had nightmares about what happened on that slope.

Despite all this, she knew she had to push those events from her mind and concentrate on the future.

Ethan took a glug of his beer and leaned out of the way as the waitress removed their empty plates. He rested his hands on his stomach and gave Beth another one of his heart-melting smiles.

The chefs at the Drover’s Rest would never win any culinary prizes, but they were very good at traditional pub grub. Beth’s lasagne had been excellent, and the way Ethan had wolfed down his mixed grill spoke of the quality of the cooking.

Beth had been pleased when Ethan had suggested they dine here again. If he hadn’t, she would have.

As nice as the meal was, she knew she’d never bring Ethan back here though. Neck Kisses had just walked in and had ordered, ‘the usual’.

Now Beth had confirmation her one-time attacker was a regular, she’d be back. Alone and prepared to give off the impression she was single. She’d be friendly with Neck Kisses, have a joke or two and then, when she knew more about him, she’d cash in on the justice that was due to her.

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