Read Online Absolution - The First Book Of The Vampire Immortalis Trilogy by Elizabeth Mitchell - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Elizabeth Mitchell
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have aged a single day. That would freak any visitor out, even a goth.
As they walked along, Lisa pointed out any passing attractions. The entrance to the small housing estate where she lived was first on the list. Fairways was where the houses ran out and Chiefswood Road became a tree lined country lane with hedged fields on both sides. The hillside that kids sledged down when it snowed was mentioned, as was the back entrance to the Borders General Hospital, but the conversation flowed so easily that it didn't seem to matter that there was so little worth mentioning. Lisa felt completely comfortable in Adam's company and the feeling seemed to be mutual. He even gave her a piggyback ride for part of the way.
As they reached the junction at the bottom of Chiefswood Road, Lisa and Adam could see the activity surrounding the rugby field where Jim Scott's dead body had been found. The police had cordoned off the area and a large white marquee-style tent had been erected on the pitch. Uniformed police officers prevented the small group of onlookers from getting too close to the crime scene, but you could still come and go along High Cross Avenue, and there was no shortage of car drivers and pedestrians passing by, hoping to satisfy their curiosity.
Standing behind a small gaggle of children was Peter Cameron. He had woken up with yet another splitting headache and had come out in the hope that some fresh air would help clear his head. Without really thinking about where he was going, he had found himself at the scene of Jim Scott's murder. He certainly wouldn't be shedding any tears over the man's death. There had been plenty of times in their youth when he had wished Scott dead.
Out of the blue, Peter heard a voice inside his head.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
He had absolutely no idea where those words had come from. Thoughts of school must have triggered a distant memory from an R.E. Class or something.
As he stood watching police officers meticulously comb the rugby pitch in search of clues, Peter Cameron was rubbing his neck. A small swollen lump had appeared below his left ear. It wasn't sore, but together with the severe headaches, it had Peter worried. If it got any bigger he would go to see the doctor.
Lisa hadn't seen Peter Cameron as she passed by with Adam, but Peter had seen Lisa, laughing and joking with a lad he had never seen before. He didn't like the idea that she might be seeing someone behind his son's back, even if his own relationship with Liam had reached rock bottom.
* * *
DCI Buchan was standing by the marquee tent, drinking a truly awful coffee from a paper cup, when he saw Detective Constable Jane Carver coming towards him.
“There's been a new development, sir,” she said. “A body has been found in the grounds of the youth hostel.”
“You better be kidding me on,” said Buchan, not wanting to believe what he was hearing.
Jane Carver ignored his remark and began to read from her notebook. “White male, positively identified by a New Zealand driving licence found in his possession as Steven Baker, 20 years of age, from Christchurch. He had been staying at the hostel and wasn't due to check out until yesterday.”
“Cause of death?”
“To be determined. Definite signs of injury to the neck. Likely strangulation.”
“Time of death?”
“Forensics are saying within the last couple of days. He was definitely alive on Friday evening because he was seen by the receptionist leaving the hostel around seven o'clock. Nobody recalls seeing him return that night and nobody has seen him since.”
“One murder on my patch is unfortunate,” said Buchan after a minute of silence. “Two murders and it looks like carelessness on our part. I want whoever is responsible for these murders caught before they strike again.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
News of a second
As they walked along, Lisa pointed out any passing attractions. The entrance to the small housing estate where she lived was first on the list. Fairways was where the houses ran out and Chiefswood Road became a tree lined country lane with hedged fields on both sides. The hillside that kids sledged down when it snowed was mentioned, as was the back entrance to the Borders General Hospital, but the conversation flowed so easily that it didn't seem to matter that there was so little worth mentioning. Lisa felt completely comfortable in Adam's company and the feeling seemed to be mutual. He even gave her a piggyback ride for part of the way.
As they reached the junction at the bottom of Chiefswood Road, Lisa and Adam could see the activity surrounding the rugby field where Jim Scott's dead body had been found. The police had cordoned off the area and a large white marquee-style tent had been erected on the pitch. Uniformed police officers prevented the small group of onlookers from getting too close to the crime scene, but you could still come and go along High Cross Avenue, and there was no shortage of car drivers and pedestrians passing by, hoping to satisfy their curiosity.
Standing behind a small gaggle of children was Peter Cameron. He had woken up with yet another splitting headache and had come out in the hope that some fresh air would help clear his head. Without really thinking about where he was going, he had found himself at the scene of Jim Scott's murder. He certainly wouldn't be shedding any tears over the man's death. There had been plenty of times in their youth when he had wished Scott dead.
Out of the blue, Peter heard a voice inside his head.
The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
He had absolutely no idea where those words had come from. Thoughts of school must have triggered a distant memory from an R.E. Class or something.
As he stood watching police officers meticulously comb the rugby pitch in search of clues, Peter Cameron was rubbing his neck. A small swollen lump had appeared below his left ear. It wasn't sore, but together with the severe headaches, it had Peter worried. If it got any bigger he would go to see the doctor.
Lisa hadn't seen Peter Cameron as she passed by with Adam, but Peter had seen Lisa, laughing and joking with a lad he had never seen before. He didn't like the idea that she might be seeing someone behind his son's back, even if his own relationship with Liam had reached rock bottom.
* * *
DCI Buchan was standing by the marquee tent, drinking a truly awful coffee from a paper cup, when he saw Detective Constable Jane Carver coming towards him.
“There's been a new development, sir,” she said. “A body has been found in the grounds of the youth hostel.”
“You better be kidding me on,” said Buchan, not wanting to believe what he was hearing.
Jane Carver ignored his remark and began to read from her notebook. “White male, positively identified by a New Zealand driving licence found in his possession as Steven Baker, 20 years of age, from Christchurch. He had been staying at the hostel and wasn't due to check out until yesterday.”
“Cause of death?”
“To be determined. Definite signs of injury to the neck. Likely strangulation.”
“Time of death?”
“Forensics are saying within the last couple of days. He was definitely alive on Friday evening because he was seen by the receptionist leaving the hostel around seven o'clock. Nobody recalls seeing him return that night and nobody has seen him since.”
“One murder on my patch is unfortunate,” said Buchan after a minute of silence. “Two murders and it looks like carelessness on our part. I want whoever is responsible for these murders caught before they strike again.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
News of a second
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