Hugendubel.info - Die B2B Online-Buchhandlung 

Merkliste
Die Merkliste ist leer.
Bitte warten - die Druckansicht der Seite wird vorbereitet.
Der Druckdialog öffnet sich, sobald die Seite vollständig geladen wurde.
Sollte die Druckvorschau unvollständig sein, bitte schliessen und "Erneut drucken" wählen.

The Devil Inside

Pantera Presserschienen am01.07.2020
Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Revelation 2:10 In a peaceful coastal town, a young woman is found brutally murdered, a piece of scripture held tightly in her hand. Local detective Charlotte Callaghan is put on the case, and she's glad for the distraction - Gull Bay can be a hard place to keep a secret, and she's holding on to a few. After Charlotte asks her brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, about the verse, her suspicions fall on his parishioners. Then a second victim is found, along with another biblical message. A dark betrayal is concealed within the small community. For Charlotte, there's something personal about this case, something that threatens the very core of her beliefs. Can she unravel this mystery before it tears her town apart? A gripping crime novel about murder, betrayal, and the monsters who hide in plain sight.

D.L. Hicks is a police officer with the Victorian Police. In his twenty-five years of service he has been on the frontline of everything from drug busts to serious collisions and all manner of violent crime. His debut novel, The Devil Inside, examines the line between good and evil and how circumstance can alter a person's life in the blink of an eye. He lives in Geelong with his family.mehr
Verfügbare Formate
TaschenbuchKartoniert, Paperback
EUR18,00

Produkt

KlappentextDo not fear what you are about to suffer. Revelation 2:10 In a peaceful coastal town, a young woman is found brutally murdered, a piece of scripture held tightly in her hand. Local detective Charlotte Callaghan is put on the case, and she's glad for the distraction - Gull Bay can be a hard place to keep a secret, and she's holding on to a few. After Charlotte asks her brother, Father Joseph Callaghan, about the verse, her suspicions fall on his parishioners. Then a second victim is found, along with another biblical message. A dark betrayal is concealed within the small community. For Charlotte, there's something personal about this case, something that threatens the very core of her beliefs. Can she unravel this mystery before it tears her town apart? A gripping crime novel about murder, betrayal, and the monsters who hide in plain sight.

D.L. Hicks is a police officer with the Victorian Police. In his twenty-five years of service he has been on the frontline of everything from drug busts to serious collisions and all manner of violent crime. His debut novel, The Devil Inside, examines the line between good and evil and how circumstance can alter a person's life in the blink of an eye. He lives in Geelong with his family.
Details
Weitere ISBN/GTIN9781925700824
ProduktartE-Book
EinbandartE-Book
FormatEPUB
Erscheinungsjahr2020
Erscheinungsdatum01.07.2020
Seiten350 Seiten
SpracheEnglisch
Dateigrösse1013
Artikel-Nr.11934242
Rubriken
Genre9200

Inhalt/Kritik

Leseprobe


CHAPTER 4

Charlotte sat in the driver s seat of the station s recently acquired Ford Territory - gunmetal grey with pitch-dark windows. The car s attempts to be covert only made it stand out more as an unmarked police vehicle. The door was open and her feet rested on the ground outside as she watched the undertaker unceremoniously load the stretchered body bag into the rear of the van.

Just like that, the scene is clear, she said. Wish our work was done that easily.

Yep, Wally said from the passenger seat beside her. His jaw worked away at his chewing gum as he spoke. That s the last box ticked - statements taken, scene photographed, scene examined, body removed. That weirdo McBride s still hanging around though, lurking like the freak she is. Now we just gotta figure out who done it. Hope you haven t got too much other work on the go.

Charlotte had only worked with Wally a handful of times, and each time the reputation that preceded him was proven correct. He was the kind of person whose physical appearance mirrored his attitude. Overweight and shaped like a quince, Wally s look did nothing to inspire confidence whatsoever. Even his pasty facial features looked like they were melting off his dial, as if even they were bored being there. Not a day went by that Charlotte didn t thank the stars for her usual pairing with J.D. - theirs was a partnership built on mutual respect and trust, as it should be. She just had to get through today and equilibrium would be restored.

I presume the job s mine then? Charlotte said. Thought as much. Thanks for your help.

You re welcome, Wally said, missing the sarcasm.

Charlotte leant back in her seat and spread her daybook across her lap. The timeline on the open page recounted every moment of the investigation so far, from when she had received Tom s phone call to the removal of the body.

You spoke to the witnesses, she directed at Wally. Anything to add?

Reaching up to his mouth, Wally spat his chewing gum into its wrapper then squished it into a ball, which he tossed out the window.

Who calls their kid Wally anyway? Charlotte wondered.

He slipped a fresh piece of gum into his waiting gob. Not a great deal, to be honest, he mumbled. But the uniforms have taken detailed statements - pretty good ones, surprisingly.

Not really, Charlotte said shortly. She fully appreciated the quality - and importance - of the van crews. Did the witnesses see anyone hanging around? Anything at all that caught their eye?

Oh yeah, they did actually, Wally said, and Charlotte took a fortifying breath. I meant to tell you; I m not sure how relevant it is, but there was someone they described as a homeless guy who was packing up his stuff into a roll bag when they got here. After they found the handbag, they spoke to him, but he just grunted back apparently, then wandered off in the direction of town. Scruffy-looking bloke, wearing an overcoat and a beanie.

Charlotte frowned. Norman?

By the sounds of it, Wally said. He s the only hobo in town at the moment, as far as I know.

Right. Looks like we need to pay old Norman a visit then.

Charlotte switched on the ignition, slammed her door shut and eased the transmission into reverse. After swinging the car around, she planted her foot down and took off across the leafy car park.

As she turned onto the road, she glanced in the rear-view mirror to catch Katelyn McBride watching them leave, her pen scribbling furiously.

Charlotte pulled the Territory into the rear corner of the public library s car park. The grilled exterior light above the library s alcove-style entrance still glowed despite the mid-morning sunshine. The chalky-white statue of a general on a rearing horse cast a thin shadow across the ground, a pigeon perched on his outstretched sword, cleaning its beak.

She stepped out of the vehicle. Behind her, Wally flung his door wide open but remained seated, his focus solely on the iPhone clutched in his hand.

At least he opened the door, Charlotte thought. It never ceased to amaze her what she was willing to put up with on a daily basis.

Standing at the alcove, she checked the concrete wall for spiders before leaning gingerly against it, her skin absorbing the cool surface temperature. Extending her right foot, she gave the bundle of blankets on the ground before her a soft nudge.

Fuck off.

The voice surprised her; it came from the opposite end of the clustered mass. The sentiment, however, did not.

Norman, wake up. Charlotte knelt down and shook the mass more vigorously this time. It s the police; we need to have a chat.

Grumbling, Norman rolled over and propped himself up, his beanie hanging precariously off the side of his head, a patch of dribble smeared on the right corner of his stubbled chin. Charlotte grimaced as he burped forcefully, the remnants of that morning s - or last night s - meal still stuck to the corners of his mouth. Forcing a swallow, Charlotte felt bile burn the back of her throat as a wave of nausea rocked her for the second time that morning.

Shuffling himself back against the wall, Norman scratched at his head and looked around. Spotting what he was searching for, he reached for the brown paper bag concealed in the darkest corner of the alcove. He peeled back the top until a green bottleneck materialised, then took a deep swig. Charlotte heard the liquid glug.

Ahh ⦠He swiped at his mouth with the back of one filthy hand. What the fuck do you want then, hey?

Just a chat, nothing more, Charlotte said. Norman was unpredictable at the best of times - mental illness mixed with a copious amount of alcohol usually had that affect. I think you might be able to help us out with a job. You happy to do that?

Norman scowled. I help no one but meself, so you can piss off and leave me alone.

As he took another swig, Charlotte reached into her pocket and slid out a ten-dollar note. She placed it on the blanket nearest her; a mousetrap waiting to snap. Norman s bloodshot eyes followed the cash, his hand already snaking towards it.

Uh-uh. Charlotte snatched the money back before he could get anywhere near it. I m not that stupid. You know me, Norman - we ve played this game before. You answer, the money s yours. You don t, I m off for another cappuccino, and maybe a vanilla slice. Clear?

Norman crossed his arms defiantly, but nodded.

Satisfied, Charlotte took out her notebook. Let s start off with the easy ones - and no bullshitting me, all right? This morning, you were down at the beach ⦠Correct? Norman nodded slowly, his misty eyes masking a vigilance Charlotte knew was hiding there. What were you doing down there?

Slept there. I do that sometimes, just for a change.

And you bumped into an elderly couple out for an early walk, is that right?

Yep. Big deal.

Maybe, maybe not. They spoke to you about a handbag they d found sitting on the wall - remember that?

Yep.

What can you tell me about that bag?

Nothing.

Nothing. Really?

Yep.

Did you touch that bag?

Nup.

Not at all? Are you sure?

I didn t touch it. Why would I? Who cares anyway? Norman started fidgeting as Charlotte fired questions at him. He picked at the blackened cuticles on his right index finger, his bottle still parked upright between his legs.

I care. Charlotte cleared her throat. And you might too. You see we re getting that handbag and its contents printed, and if it has your dabs on it, then ⦠Well, we ll have to have a bit more of a formal chat down at the station.

Over a theft? Norman yelled, his mood escalating rapidly. You re fucking kidding me! I didn t take it, all right? I found it. Here - have it, it s bloody useless anyway.

Charlotte drew back as Norman reached under his blankets, scrambling for something. Hand on her holster, she felt the cold steel of her firearm, taking comfort in the fact that it was there and she was not afraid to use it. Keeping her eyes trained on Norman, she straightened up to create some distance between them.

There - it s yours. Norman tossed an old-school Nokia mobile phone in Charlotte s direction. It clattered across the bare concrete before coming to a stop at her feet. She bent down and picked it up.

Give it back to the blonde bitch, Norman said. And keep your fucking ten bucks.

Charlotte stared down at the prone figure before her. That bitch, as you call her, is dead, Norman. Murdered. And before I go, how...
mehr

Autor

D.L. Hicks is a police officer with the Victorian Police. In his twenty-five years of service he has been on the frontline of everything from drug busts to serious collisions and all manner of violent crime. His debut novel, The Devil Inside, examines the line between good and evil and how circumstance can alter a person's life in the blink of an eye. He lives in Geelong with his family.
Weitere Artikel von
Hicks, D.L.