The Dungeon House (Lake District Mysteries) by Martin Edwards Page A

Before she met your Dad, she had bad luck with men. She was terrified of losing him, and he felt sorry for her. She’d lost her parents young, and later she lost her best friend, in horrific circumstances.’
    Daniel withdrew his hand. ‘Your best friend died too.’
    ‘Uh-huh. I suppose it gives me a better insight into Cheryl’s experience. Losing your parents is desperately hard to cope with, but it’s part of the expected order of things. When someone you’ve grown up with dies suddenly, it’s a reversal of nature. It shouldn’t happen. You’ve lost someone close to you, and received a sharp reminder of your own mortality, at one and the same time.’ She took a breath. ‘I’d never really thought about dying until …’
    ‘Yeah, I know.’ He wrapped his arm around her. ‘Do you really need to talk to Cheryl?’
    ‘It’s not my idea of a fun day out, but she can tell me more about the Whiteleys, Gray Elstone, and their circle. It’s appalling, how much they’ve suffered. The killings at the Dungeon House, the Elstone girl vanishing, now Shona Whiteley.’
    ‘You don’t seriously believe the cases are connected?’
    ‘Not directly, no. Malcolm Whiteley killed himself and Lysette, and presumably was responsible for Amber’s death. But we can’t rule out a link between what happened to Lily, and Shona’s disappearance. Cheryl knew Gray Elstone, and Malcolm Whiteley, and whatever her faults, she’s sharp. Ben said Cheryl was a good sounding board, especially in their early years together, before they got on each other’s nerves. They must have discussed his suspicion that the whole truth never came out about Amber’s death.’
    ‘This mysterious missing witness Dad told you about?’
    ‘His greatest strength as a detective was his instinct. If he thought there was more to that drunken driver’s story than met the eye, I’d back his judgement over Desmond Loney’s, any day.’
    ‘And you want to talk to Cheryl rather than send Maggie?’
    ‘If Maggie talks to Cheryl, she’ll get the brush off.’
    ‘Cheryl won’t be overjoyed to see you.’
    ‘Trust me, the feeling will be mutual, but the two of us go back a long way, and I’ve the best chance of finding out anything worth knowing.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll wear my body armour.’
    He laughed, and his hand resumed its journey underneath her shirt. ‘Okay, but you’re not putting it on just yet.’
     
     
    Joanna found sleep elusive. Tired as she was, her mind wouldn’t stop buzzing. It wasn’t merely excitement about tomorrow’s trip to Ravenglass that kept her awake, there was also the shock of seeing Robbie Dean again. She’d scarcely thought about him for years, and it had certainly never occurred to her that he’d be working for Nigel. The legend on the van said Deano Garden Services . He and Nigel had been friends since they were kids playing football together. Robbie never said much, and Joanna had always felt rather afraid of him, but Nigel admired and envied his sporting prowess. Everyone predicted stardom for Robbie. Nigel never made it as a footballer, but neither did Robbie, in the end. The injuries he’d sustained in the crash that killed poor Carrie saw to that. His pelvis was fractured, and one kneecap broken, leaving him with a permanent limp, and his dreams of football fame shattered. Nigel had talked his uncle into giving Robbie a job as a handyman and gardener at the Dungeon House. Quite a comedown for a boy who’d once had the world at his feet. Twenty years on, he was still working at the same place.
    She hauled herself out of bed, and told Darcy about what had happened all those years ago, while she made herself a mug of Ovaltine. The cat purred contentedly, and settled himself back in his basket as she carried the mug to her bedside table, and snuggled under the blankets, waiting for her drink to cool.
    What would she do, if and when she returned to the Dungeon House, or whatever Nigel called it nowadays,