For lovers of crime-thriller-horror novels with a touch of sci-fi here’s Chapter 6 from the upcoming novel Silent Fear — co-authored by the writers of The Orphan Trilogy, Into the Americas and White Spirit.
First, here’s the storyline in brief:
Detective Valerie Crowther is assigned to investigate the murder of a student at a university for the deaf in London. The murder investigation coincides with a deadly flu virus outbreak, resulting in the university being quarantined from the outside world. When more deaf students are murdered, it’s clearly the work of a serial killer. The stakes rise when Valerie becomes the killer’s next target and the deadly virus claims more lives.
Silent Fear – Chapter 6
The two law enforcement officers looked on as Wandsworth University’s chancellor adjusted his hearing aid. It was one of several little idiosyncrasies Valerie had noticed Ron Fairbrother indulge in every so often on the other side of the large desk he occupied. Another was removing and polishing his fashionable glasses, which he had just finished doing before attacking his hearing aid for the second time in the last five minutes.
Sitting alongside Bennett, Valerie sensed the chief was growing impatient, but he hid it well. She knew him better than most so picked up signs others may miss.
On the desktop between the two parties lay a copy of today’s Daily Mirror newspaper. Its centre spread was devoted to the global flu pandemic, and the main headline screamed “Global death toll soars as Monkey Flu claims more victims!”
Neither Fairbrother nor his two visitors mentioned the H7N7 pandemic, but they didn’t have to: it was always there, in the background, whenever they opened a newspaper, turned on the television, checked social media sites or listened to the radio.
Valerie turned her attention to a spiral-bound set of profiles of all Wandsworth’s students and staff. It was one of three sets Fairbrother had ready and waiting for them upon arrival – Bennett now had the other two – and it was in addition to an electronic copy he’d emailed to the chief thirty minutes earlier. The glossy printouts included head-and-shoulder photographs of everyone involved with the uni – even cleaners, security guards and part-time teachers on call – together with personal details for each.
Fairbrother finished fiddling with his hearing aid, and eyeballed his visitors. “Nothing like this has ever happened here before,” he lamented. “I’m still reeling. I can’t believe such a horrific… thing” – he couldn’t bring himself to use the word murder – “happened right under our noses.”
“We are sparing no resources to solve this crime,” Bennett assured him. “As you know, Detective Superintendent Crowther is spearheading the investigation.”
Valerie noticed the dapper West Indian cocked his head slightly to one side whenever someone spoke, a sign he favoured one ear when listening.
Fairbrother looked at Valerie. “The Chief informs me you are proficient in sign, Detective Crowther,” he said.
Valerie confirmed that by answering in sign language. “Yes, that’s why I’ve been brought in to head this investigation,” she signed.
Responding in like fashion, the chancellor signed, “It’s a relief you’re here. Police efforts to date have been hopeless.” Fairbrother remembered Bennett and reverted to the spoken word. “Sorry, Chief Superintendent. We use sign all day here and it’s easy to forget our manners.”
If he was annoyed, Bennett hid it well. “Are you aware of friction between any of the students?” he asked. “Especially the international students?”
“You must understand, Wandsworth is more than a university,” the chancellor said. “It’s a minority community.” He swivelled ninety degrees in his chair and looked up at the large, framed photograph of Wandsworth’s four hundred and fifty students hanging on the near wall. “There’s a common bond inside the deaf community… it seems to cancel out other differences. They’re accepted for who they are here in Wandsworth. Within this institution, they have a sense of belonging. Outside, beyond these walls, only the strongest of them will cut it.”
Valerie stood and walked over to study the photo up close. She noticed Jamie Lewis. The nuggetty student was hard to miss given he was near the middle of the front row of students. He was smiling directly at the camera. His was an endearing smile. Valerie’s heart went out to his family as she replayed his ghastly death in her mind.
Fairbrother continued, “These students become like family during their time here. You would not believe how tight-knit they are. It’s just such a shame that some outside influence has breached the walls of this sanctuary under cover of darkness and committed the ultimate evil.”
Dismissing the chancellor’s comments as highly speculative, Valerie tapped the glass covering the photo. “That’s a lot of students to keep track of.”
“Yes, and I know every one of them personally. None would ever harm a fellow student. Whoever killed Jamie was an outsider, trust me.”
“We’ll see. For now, every single student, staff member and associate of Wandsworth will be treated as a potential suspect.”
Fairbrother looked at the chief to ascertain whether he agreed with the high-flier female detective who, if he wasn’t mistaken, seemed to be Bennett’s equal in every way except rank.
“Detective Crowther will tread carefully, Chancellor,” the chief said a little too quickly for Valerie’s liking.
The chancellor took that on board and wondered if in fact the career woman standing close by was the subordinate in this relationship. Not for the first time since meeting them he sensed the pair shared some kind of personal history. Looking at Valerie, he asked, “Where do you want to start, Detective Crowther?”
Valerie returned to her chair. “I’d like to start by addressing the students and staff as soon as possible… together.”
Humming to himself, Fairbrother casually referred to a diary planner on the laptop screen in front of him.
Valerie bridled at the lack of urgency the chancellor showed. She felt it was as if she was some trainee teacher who had just requested a meeting concerning the amount of calories being served up in students’ lunches in the cafeteria. “Like now, Chancellor,” she prompted, “as in this morning.” She ignored the sideways glance Bennett flashed her way.
A perturbed Fairbrother looked up from his electronic diary. Shaking his head, he said, “I have a meeting soon with the family of the deceased, and then I have an urgent meeting with the board about the state–”
“The board members will have to wait,” Valerie said in a tone that signalled she’d brook no argument.
The chancellor immediately backed down and nodded. “I could arrange for students and staff to assemble in the assembly hall on the first floor in, say,” – he glanced at his watch – “forty-five minutes.”
“Thank you,” Valerie said. “I also need to requisition a roomy office to serve as my site headquarters whilst I’m here.” She wasn’t asking. She was demanding.
“There is a spare office on the first floor.”
Valerie shook her head. “It needs to be here on the ground floor. I want to be close to your office and to the main exit so I can come and go easily.”
Fairbrother thought for a moment. He glanced at a closed door behind his chair. “There is an office through there I often use as a meeting room. I guess you could have that.”
“Can I see it?” Valerie was already standing.
The chancellor stood and opened the door.
Valerie marched through, took one look around and saw immediately that it would meet her needs. It had lockable filing cabinets and a large desk complete with a high quality printer-scanner and desktop computer. There was a comfy couch, which she could see pulled out into a bed, a well-stocked bookcase, glass coffee table, wall-mounted television set and an expensive fish tank complete with rare and even more expensive-looking tropical fish. There was even a bench and sink with tea and coffee-making facilities, and there was an outer door leading to the corridor. “This will do fine,” she said. “Can this door be locked?” she asked, referring to the connecting door Fairbrother had opened.
“Yes I’ll have my PA provide a key for you.”
Valerie took a final look at the room then resumed sitting next to Bennett who was now studying the framed photo on the wall.
“Four hundred and fifty students actually doesn’t seem that many for a university this size,” the chief observed.
“It’s all about maintaining efficient student-teacher ratios,” Fairbrother explained as he sat down. “That and future-proofing the university.” When he saw Bennett wasn’t following him, he said, “For optimum academic results we have found a ratio of one staff member per ten students works best. Hence the forty-five educators we have on staff.” The chancellor added, “And they’re the best available.”
“Sounds costly,” Valerie said.
“It is,” Fairbrother admitted. “Hence our high fees. Wandsworth is one of the most expensive universities in Britain to attend.” Returning to Bennett’s question, he said, “As for future-proofing the university, our founder Lord Wandsworth wanted to establish a learning institution that would last a hundred years. The only way to do that was to attain and maintain high standards of academic excellence, which I believe we are doing, and to ensure we have the space to accommodate future growth, which we obviously have.”
“I understand,” Bennett said, glancing at the wall clock behind the chancellor’s desk. He saw the morning was already half over. Standing, he said, “Well, I will leave you in Detective Crowther’s good hands. Thank you for your time.”
The two men shook hands. Fairbrother didn’t immediately relinquish his grip. Holding on to the other’s hand firmly, he said, “We are relying on the police to solve this terrible crime quickly, Chief Superintendent.”
Bennett nodded and only then did the chancellor release his grip.
On the way out, Valerie paused in the doorway and looked back at Fairbrother. “What are the board members discussing, by the way?” she asked.
“Whether to cancel this afternoon’s lectures, and tomorrow’s, too… Out of respect for Jamie Lewis and his family,” the chancellor said.
“We’d prefer they don’t,” Valerie said quickly before Bennett could comment. “It will make my job easier if all students and staff are here and accessible.” She turned and strode off down the corridor.
Behind his subordinate’s back, Bennett flashed a look Fairbrother’s way that signalled the board would be well advised to do as suggested. He hurried to catch up to Valerie.
Fairbrother observed the two law enforcement officers with some trepidation as they left his office.
Here endeth sample chapters from Silent Fear. (See recent blogs for earlier chapters). If you want to read more, the novel will be published soon… Watch this space!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35626239-silent-fear
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Morcan Books & Films 