When the devil holds the dice, the odds are stacked against you.

Inspector Hardy has retreated to Dorset on the south coast where he plans to spend long overdue quality time with his young daughters and pregnant partner. The sabbatical is short-lived when he is thrust back into the dark world of murder after a family with twin boys is found dead at their home in the countryside.

Hardy pulls together a small team to investigate the devastating crime, which is the latest in a series of similar crimes. With no apparent motive and the only similarity between the families being twin boys, the team struggle to hunt a killer who seems unstoppable.

Murder and nail-biting suspense are infused with dark humour and romance in this fast-paced crime thriller set in and around the glorious Dorset coastline.

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PAPERBACK

Killing Shadows

(Chief Inspector James Hardy Series, Book 5)

By Jay Gill

Chapter 1

I was giddy with excitement. I opened the car door for Monica and grabbed a kiss. ‘I love you.’

Monica chuckled, ‘Love you too.’ She lowered herself into the car seat.

After helping her with the seatbelt I closed the door, walked around the car and climbed in beside her.

‘Good news,’ I said while putting on my seatbelt.

We’d just come from an antenatal check with our midwife, Sally. She’d told us Monica’s blood pressure was a little high and that was most likely the reason she’d been getting headaches. She’d keep monitoring her blood pressure, but at this stage it was nothing to worry about.

Monica looked relieved. ‘You know, in just a few weeks we’re going to be up to our armpits in dirty nappies and bleary eyed from sleepless nights. This is really happening.’

I looked down at the bump. Our baby. Then back up at Monica. Glowing. So beautiful. We looked into each other’s eyes for a moment then burst out laughing. ‘We must be crazy,’ said Monica. ‘Are we really doing this?’

‘We are, and I’m pretty sure it’s too late to change our minds now,’ I joked.

Monica placed her hands over the bump and caressed it as the baby moved. She spoke softly to our baby. ‘Did we wake you up? Your mummy and daddy are having an hysterical moment. We love you, baby. You have two big sisters who cannot wait to meet you. And grandparents who are going to spoil you rotten.’

I started the car. We were going to have lunch at Oriel on the Quay. Just the two of us. Their excellent Mediterranean cuisine has quickly made it a favourite of ours. With hand-painted murals on the walls and views overlooking Poole Harbour and Brownsea Island it’s a place we need little excuse to go to when we want to spoil ourselves. I checked my jacket pocket and my heart sank. With all the madness that goes with simply trying to get out of the front door these days I’d forgotten something. Knowing it would be just the two of us and assuming we’d be on cloud nine there was something very important I had meant to bring with me. Trying to hide my disappointment I pretended nothing was amiss. ‘Every time I speak to your mum and dad I can tell they can’t believe it. I think they’d given up on ever having a grandchild,’ I said.

‘They know everything has worked out for the best. They never warmed to Scott; I suppose they could sense something I couldn’t. When I finally admitted to them how he was they insisted I use any means necessary to get away from him. They were heartbroken to think I was in an abusive relationship. They were scared for me. As much as I’ve always wanted children I’m so glad Scott and I didn’t have any. Children with him was the last thing on my mind.’ She sighed. ‘Those final years with him and the divorce feel like a lifetime ago. It’s as though it happened to someone else, not me. Does that make sense?’

‘It makes perfect sense.’ I could feel the atmosphere darken. Monica’s mood changed when she thought about her time with Scott, his drinking and violent outbursts. I didn’t want to lose the joy of the moment and moved the subject back to our baby. I said, ‘Baby names. If it’s a boy I was thinking Odysseus, Thor or Hercules. I don’t mind which.’

Monica chuckled and joined in. ‘That’s fine. But if it’s a girl we’re going with Barbarella or Glitter.’

I laughed and nodded in agreement. ‘Barbarella Hardy does have a certain ring to it. I like it.’

‘So does Odysseus Hardy. That could work.’ We both howled with laughter. We chatted excitedly for the rest of the drive and all through lunch about what our new life would be like. It was a wonderful day. Life felt good.

Chapter 2

Detective Inspector Gabriel Rayner pushed the wheelchair up the path to the front door. He found the key and unlocked it. The smell of new carpet greeted him as he pushed the door wide open.

‘I can walk from here,’ insisted Jenny. ‘Don’t give me that look. I’m going to walk.’ She passed Rayner her bag of medication; antibiotics, painkillers and more. He tucked it under his arm.

‘Okay, honey.’ Rayner crooked his elbow and Jenny used it to pull herself upright. She stepped carefully over the front step. They moved slowly through the bungalow, peering into each room.

‘You’re doing great.’ As she winced Rayner could see the pain in her eyes. ‘This is the living room. There’s a seat here by the patio doors. I thought you’d like it. You can watch the birds in the garden. There’s a lamp so you can read. A coffee table for the TV remote, magazines. It has a drawer for your painkillers. Behind the chair I had a plug point put in so you can keep your mobile phone and your Kindle charged. There’s also a small heater I bought for when the days are a bit nippy.’

Jenny eased herself into the armchair. Rayner grabbed a soft grey throw from the footstool beside Jenny’s armchair and placed it over her bandaged legs.

‘You’ve thought of everything,’ said Jenny. ‘It all looks nice.’

Rayner put the bag of medication on the coffee table.

‘You like the place? I know it’s not home, not yet, but we’ll make it ours. We can rent out the west London house until we’re ready to move back. It won’t be long – as soon as your burns are healed properly and there’s no danger of infection. The physiotherapy is going to help too. You’ll be back to running rings around me in no time.’

A tear ran down Jenny’s cheek, she swiped it away but it was quickly followed by an uncontrollable flood.

‘Hey, Jen. What’s wrong?’ Rayner knelt down, and put his huge arms around her. He pulled her to him. Kissed the top of her head and dabbed the tears away. ‘What is it, baby?’

‘It’s everything. Our life as we knew it is over. We had it all. A baby on the way.’ She shoved the bag of medicine off the coffee table. ‘Who knows what these are doing to the baby.’

‘It’s okay,’ said Rayner.

‘It’s not okay. We’ve lost everything. We had great jobs. A lovely house. Wonderful friends. I should have known it wouldn’t last. Nothing good ever does.’ She rubbed her eyes with the grey throw then pulled it up to reveal her bandaged legs. ‘Look at me. I can barely stand on my own two feet. I can’t sleep without nightmares. How am I going to look after the baby when it comes? And how can you love me like this? I can’t even look at my own body any more. How can you stand to look at me? Everything we dreamed of is gone. I’m not the same woman you married. I’m not me any more. When James and Monica’s house burned to the ground the life we dreamed of went up in smoke, and me with it. None of this is okay. Can’t you see that? It’s all over.’

Rayner stroked Jen’s hair, soothed her and let her cry it out. He fought back his own heartache as he held her. After a while he said, ‘I love you. That hasn’t changed. I’m sorry this happened to you. Not a day goes by when I don’t wish I’d got back to the house sooner or fought harder to get you out, or better still, never left you alone in the house in the first place. There are so many things I would change if I could but I can’t. If I could have the scars and pain instead of you I would, without hesitation. You have to understand you’re still my Jen. I love you more today than ever. You’re the strongest, bravest and most beautiful woman I’ve ever known. When I look at you I don’t see those scars. They mean nothing to me. I see you. You, my Jen. The whole person. Your loving and generous heart, your amazing laugh when I tell a bad joke, the fact that you scare me when you’re cross.’ Jen cracked a grin. ‘You’re a part of me Jenny Hot Lips. I’m nothing without you. You’re my girl.’ Rayner gently held her chin and kissed her again, this time on the lips. He could taste the tears. He looked into her eyes, chuckled and winked.

Jenny smiled back. ‘You big softy. I don’t deserve you!’

‘Everything is going to be fine. You’ll see. The burns hospital here is one of the best in the country. The most important thing right now is to get the best treatment, continue the physiotherapy and keep a positive mind-set. When you’re up to it, we’ll move back to London. So no more tears. You look after yourself. And this baby of ours.’ Rayner put a hand on Jen’s tummy. ‘That bump is getting bigger.’

‘It sure is,’ said Jen. She put a hand to Rayner’s cheek. ‘I love you Gabriel Rayner. You’re a good man. You’ve been amazing. I don’t know how I can ever repay you for everything you’ve done.’

Rayner began to chuckle his naughty laugh. He raised an eyebrow up and down a few times. ‘I can think of a few ways.’

Jenny pushed him away with a giggle. ‘Get out of here, you great fool.’

‘I’m joking,’ said Rayner. He raised his hands in protest. He was relieved to see her laughing again. ‘I’m just kidding. You can’t blame me for trying. You do make a very sexy patient. How about I carry you to the bedroom and give you a bed bath?’

Rayner’s mobile phone started to ring.

Jenny took another playful swipe at him and he jumped back to avoid it. ‘Maybe another time. Right now you’d better get your phone. I’ll give you one guess who it is.’

Rayner pretended to look disappointed. He took the call and at the same time mouthed, ‘Tea?’ Jen nodded and he headed to the kitchen to put the kettle on.

The caller was Hardy. ‘I’m sorry to bother you today of all days,’ he said.

‘That’s okay. What’s up?’

‘Another family has been targeted. A family with twins. We need to get over there. I’ll text you the address. I’m not asking you to come right away. Get there when you can.’

He felt his fist tighten. ‘Two boys?’

‘Afraid so.’

‘Parents?’

‘Whole family. Just like the others.’

‘Okay. It’s no problem. I’ll make sure Jen’s settled in and set off as soon as I can.’

‘Sorry. Give Jenny my love.’

‘Will do.’ Rayner hung up and waited for the address to come through. When he looked around Jen was standing at the kitchen door. She held onto the frame to steady herself. ‘If you need to get going, leave the tea. I can make my own. I need to be able to look after myself. You have a job to do.’

Rayner took a cup from the cupboard and dropped in a teabag. ‘You’re what’s most important.’ He waited for the kettle then poured hot water into the cup.

‘You’ve also got to keep working,’ said Jenny.

‘It’s another family with twins. It could be the same guy. James must think it’s likely, to have called me today when he knows you’re just out of hospital.’

Jenny winced as she moved; she held onto the fridge freezer to steady herself.

‘How can I leave you like this? What if you fall?’

‘I’m not going to fall. And I’m not asking. I’m telling you to go. Now shoo!’ Jenny flapped her hand to get Rayner out of her way and out of the small kitchen. ‘Go on, get out, you great lummox.’

Rayner moved behind her, his huge frame filling the doorway as he watched.

She opened the fridge and took out the milk. Sliding the container along as she went she gripped the worktop with her free hand and inched along, carefully putting one foot in front of another. She placed the milk next to the teacup. Reaching the drawers she opened them in turn until she found the cutlery drawer and took out a teaspoon.

‘Will you go? I’ll be fine. Go!’

Jenny took over making the tea as Rayner hunted around the lounge area wondering where he’d left his car keys. ‘They’re here, on top of the microwave, Detective Inspector.’ She dangled the keys.

Rayner reappeared. He held out his hand. ‘Thank you. I’ll see you later.’ He gave Jenny a peck on the cheek. ‘Are you sure you don’t need a bed bath before I go?’ He ducked in case she took another swing at him.

‘Goodbye,’ said Jenny. She called after him as he headed for the door. ‘And I don’t need you calling me every five minutes. Go do your job.’