Stop Dead Read online

  Detective Inspector Geraldine Steel returns in an exhilarating case of grisly murder in London

  When a successful businessman is brutally murdered, the police suspect his glamorous wife and her young lover. Then the victim’s business partner suffers the same gruesome fate and when yet another body is discovered, seemingly unrelated to the first two, the police are baffled. The only clue is DNA that leads them to two women: one dead, the other in prison.

  With a steady stream of bodies arriving at the morgue, can DI Geraldine Steel find the killer before the killer stages another deadly attack?

  Leigh Russell studied at the University of Kent gaining a Masters degree in English and American literature. A secondary school teacher, specialising in supporting pupils with Specific Learning Difficulties as well as teaching English, Leigh Russell is married with two daughters and lives in Hertfordshire. Her first novel, Cut Short, was published in 2009, followed by Road Closed in 2010, Dead End in 2011 and Death Bed in 2012.

  CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL’S STOP DEAD

  ‘Taut and compelling’ – Peter James

  CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL’S DEATH BED

  ‘Earlier books by Russell have marked her out as one of the most able practitioners in the current field and this latest entry for her doughty policewoman continues the momentum’

  – Barry Forshaw, Crime Time

  ‘Death Bed is a marvellous entry in this highly acclaimed series’

  – Lizzie Hayes, Promoting Crime Fiction

  ‘An innovative and refreshing take on the psychological thriller’

  – Books Plus Food

  ‘Russell’s strength as a writer is her ability to portray believable characters’

  – Crimesquad

  ‘A well written, well plotted crime novel with fantastic pace and lots of intrigue’

  – Helen Hunt, Bookersatz

  ‘Truly a great crime thriller’

  – Nayu’s Reading Corner

  ‘DEATH BED is her most exciting and well-written to date. And, as the others are superb, that is really saying something! 5* ’

  – Amanda Gillies, Eurocrime

  ‘The story itself was as usual a good one, and the descriptive gruesomeness of some scenes was brilliant. 4* ’

  – Best Crime Books

  CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL’S DEAD END

  ‘All the ingredients combine to make a tense, clever police whodunnit’

  – Marcel Berlins, The Times

  ‘I could not put this book down’

  – Ann Marie Muldoon, Newbooks magazine

  ‘A brilliant talent in the thriller field’

  – Jeffery Deaver

  ‘An encounter that will take them into the darkest recesses of the human psyche’

  – Barry Forshaw, Crime Time

  ‘Well written and chock full of surprises, this hard-hitting, edge- of-the seat instalment is yet another treat… Geraldine Steel looks set to become a household name. Highly recommended’

  – Amanda Gillies, Eurocrime

  ‘Good, old-fashioned, heart-hammering police thriller…a no-frills delivery of pure excitement’

  – SAGA Magazine

  ‘the critical acclaim heaped on Russell thus far in her literary career is well deserved’

  – Mike Stafford, bookgeeks.co.uk

  ‘a macabre read, full of enthralling characters and gruesome details which kept me glued from first page to last’

  – GS, www.crimesquad.com

  ‘cleverly thought out, gripping and convincing… I couldn’t put this book down… can’t wait for the next Geraldine Steel story to come out’

  – Helen M Hunt, bookersatz.blogspot.com

  ‘a series that can rival other major crime writers out there… Can’t wait for the next one!’

  – Best Books to Read

  CRITICAL ACCLAIM FOR LEIGH RUSSELL’S ROAD CLOSED

  ‘A well-written, soundly plotted, psychologically acute story’

  – Marcel Berlins, The Times

  ‘Well-written and absorbing right from the get-go… with an exhilarating climax that you don’t see coming’

  – Amanda Gillies, eurocrime.co.uk

  ‘Leigh Russell does a good job of keeping her readers guessing. She also uses a deft hand developing her characters, especially the low-lifes… a good read’

  – Marj Stuart, San Francisco Book Review

  ‘perfect character building… cleverly written… can’t wait for the next one’

  – bestbookstoread.co.uk

  ‘New star of crime fiction, Leigh Russell’s chilling psychological thriller is terrific & terrifying!’

  – Clem Chambers

  ‘Road Closed is a gripping, fast-paced read, pulling you in from the very first tense page and keeping you captivated right to the end with its refreshingly compelling and original narrative’

  – Sam Millar, New York Journal of Books

  CRITICAL ACCLAIM for Cut Short

  ‘Cut Short is a stylish, top-of-the-line crime tale, a seamless blending of psychological sophistication and gritty police procedure. And you’re just plain going to love DI Geraldine Steel’

  – Jeffery Deaver

  ‘Russell paints a careful and intriguing portrait of a small British community while developing a compassionate and complex heroine who’s sure to win fans’

  – Publishers Weekly

  ‘an excellent debut’

  - Mark Campbell, Crime Time

  ‘It’s an easy read with the strength of the story at its core…….If you want to be swept along with the story above all else, Cut Short is certainly a novel for you’

  – crimeficreader,itsacrime.typepad.com

  ‘Simply awesome! This debut novel by Leigh Russell will take your breath away’

  – Amanda C M Gillies, eurocrime.co.uk

  ‘an excellent book…Truly a great start for new mystery author Leigh Russell‘

  – Michael Lipkin, New York Journal of Books

  Cut Short is a book I had to read in one sitting… excellent new series’

  – Beth, Murder by Type

  ‘a surefire hit - a taut, slick, easy to read thriller ’

  – Melanie Dakin, Watford Observer

  ‘a pretty fine police procedural, with a convincing if disconcerting feel of contemporary Britain’

  -PPO Kane, The Compulsive Reader

  ‘Cut Short featured in one of Eurocrime’s reviewers’ Top Reads for 2009’

  – Amanda Gillies, Eurocrime

  ‘Cut Short is not a comfortable read, but it is a compelling and important one. Highly recommended’

  – Radmila May, Mystery Women

  ‘well written debut psychological thriller’

  – stopyourekillingme.com

  ‘gritty and totally addictive debut novel’

  - Sam Millar, New York Journal of Books

  ‘If you’re a real fan of police procedurals, you’ll probably enjoy this read’

  – Claudette C. Smith, Sacramento Book Review

  ‘’I found Cut Short to be a fantastic read, taking me only days to finish. I thought it to be well-written and well-paced, with a fresh batch of intriguing characters to go along with a fresh tight plot’

  – James Garcia Jr., Dance on Fire

  ‘Leigh Russell may look like your everyday school teacher, but unlike most other English tutors she is also a bestselling crime writer’

  – Tori Giglio , Bushey News

  ‘an excellent story, skilfully built and well told’

  – Sue Magee, www.thebookbag.co.uk

  ‘intelligently written, gripping crime fiction’

  – Helen M. Hunt, Bookersatz Blogspot

  ‘I look forward to the second book in t
he series’

  – Nayu’s Reading Corner

  ‘a very excellent book!’

  – The Book Buff Blog

  ‘a wonderful series’

  – Clarissa Draper, clarissadraper.blogspot.com

  ‘difficult to put down’

  – Calum, The Secret Writer

  Also by Leigh Russell

  Cut Short

  Road Closed

  Dead End

  Death Bed

  Dedicated to,

  Michael, Jo and Phill

  Acknowledgements

  I would like to thank Dr Leonard Russell for his expert medical help, my brilliant editor Keshini, my advisors on the Metropolitan Police for their time and consideration, and all the wonderful team at No Exit Press.

  Glossary of acronyms

  DCI

  –

  Detective Chief Inspector (senior officer on case)

  DI

  –

  Detective Inspector

  DS

  –

  Detective Sergeant

  SOCO

  –

  Scene of Crime Officer (collects forensic evidence at scene)

  PM

  –

  Post-Mortem or Autopsy (examination of dead

  body to establish cause of death)

  CCTV

  –

  Closed Circuit Television (security cameras)

  Prologue

  She dashed across the cold kitchen floor. The sound of his feet pounded in her ears as he raced down the stairs. It wouldn’t be long before he caught up with her. Her thoughts spun wildly. She had to get away. Hide somewhere. Anywhere. As the back door swung shut behind her, the evening air felt cool on her tears. She stared around in terror at the darkness, searching for somewhere to hide. The garden was overgrown with scratchy brambles. Frantically she ran across the weedy lawn, the dry grass prickly beneath her bare feet, forcing her muscles to keep going, faster and faster. Any second now he would emerge through the door behind her.

  She darted into the shed. Bent almost double, she struggled to catch her breath. Her chest was burning. Her lungs felt as though they would burst. She was drowning. As her breathing slowed, she became aware that her legs ached painfully from running. They were shaking so violently she could barely stand.

  He burst in, slamming the door against the shed wall. With a roar he launched himself at her, dragging her onto the ground. She hit her head as she fell, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was that he was there. She grappled feebly with him, but was no match for his vigorous assault. It was happening again and she was powerless to stop him.

  Over his shoulder, through her tears she saw a figure hovering in the doorway, one hand raised in a futile gesture. But there was no point calling out for help. Scrabbling on the ground, her fingers closed on the handle of something very heavy. In that instant, she knew what she had to do. With a surge of adrenaline she raised the hammer as high as she could and swung it down.

  There was a loud crack, like a window breaking, and he slumped forwards. Whimpering, she struggled out from beneath him. It wasn’t easy. His inert body weighed down on her, but she managed to crawl free. Groaning, he rolled away from her, onto his back, exposing his genitals. Yelling in fear and ecstasy she raised the hammer again.

  CHAPTER 1

  Amy glanced fearfully at her watch.

  ‘I’ve got to get going. He’ll be expecting me.’

  She sat up and swung her slim legs out of the bed.

  ‘Stay a bit longer. You only just got here. Stay.’

  ‘You know I can’t.’

  ‘Of course you can.’

  Guy propped himself up on one elbow and leaned across to pat her pillow with his free hand.

  ‘Come back to bed. Can’t you forget about him for once? What’s he going to do? You’re not his bloody prisoner.’

  Amy twisted round and caressed his smooth chest delicately with the tips of her dark red nails. Blonde curls swung around her face as she shook her head.

  ‘You don’t know him like I do. You don’t know what he’s capable of when he’s in a temper.’

  Guy lunged forwards, grabbed her by the wrist, pulled her back down onto the bed beside him and kissed her, savouring her perfume and the smell and feel of her body still warm from lying in bed.

  Guy had never met anyone like Amy before: on the surface so intimidating with her sophisticated, knowing manner, yet beneath that show of confidence more vulnerable than anyone he had ever known. At twenty-three his previous relationships had been short-lived affairs with shallow ignorant girls, mannequins with screechy voices. Amy was a mature woman, wealthy and classy, informed about life and the wider world. It seemed to him almost miraculous that she would treat him as an equal.

  ‘So who’s this mystery woman of yours?’ his mates clamoured to know.

  ‘I can’t say.’

  ‘She married then?’

  When Guy shrugged the lads had chuckled and slapped him on the back. Only one had warned him to take care.

  ‘What about her husband?’

  ‘Don’t be a prick,’ another one chipped in. ‘He’s getting his leg over, isn’t he? She must be a looker at any rate, and that’s all there is to it. Guy’s not going to be banging her forever, are you? Get out before the problems kick off, and you’re alright, mate.’

  ‘It’s not like that,’ Guy had begun then stopped, embarrassed to admit that he was in love.

  His mates had roared with laughter.

  ‘He’s got it bad.’

  A few months earlier, Guy would have shared their amusement if any of his friends had turned soft but since meeting Amy his perspective had changed completely. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. Not having her to himself was driving him crazy.

  Amy shook her head, pushing him away.

  ‘Stop it, Guy. I’ve got to go. I’m late.’

  Extricating herself from his embrace she slipped out of bed and he lay back, watching her blonde hair skim the top of her round white shoulder. Her profile didn’t do her looks justice, emphasising her straight nose which was a shade too big and her pointed chin, while her long hair concealed the piercing grey eyes which were her most striking feature.

  ‘Maybe we should just forget the whole thing,’ he grumbled, watching the curve of her vertebrae as she crouched down to gather up her clothes.

  ‘What do you mean?’ she asked without turning round.

  ‘You’re never going to leave him, are you? It’s the same thing every week. I mean, what the hell are you doing, staying with him? What are you waiting for?’

  She turned and looked down at him, her grey eyes troubled.

  ‘I’m working on it. I do want to be with you, you know I do. But you’ve got to let me deal with this in my own way. You just have to be patient. It’s the only way.’

  ‘Amy, I want you to come and live with me all the time, now. Why does it have to be so complicated? Just leave him. What are you waiting for? Pack a bag and come here. Tonight. In fact, don’t even bother going back for your things. We can get you new stuff tomorrow. I’ll take the day off and we’ll go shopping, I’ll buy you anything you want –’

  She sat down again, cupping his shoulder in her hand. He seized her wrist and kissed her fingers, one after another.

  ‘Oh Guy, he’d take everything, the house, the car, everything’s in his name. He’d even take the dog from me. You don’t know what he’s like when he doesn’t get his own way. He’s vindictive. I’m scared of him, Guy.’

  ‘Why don’t you let me deal with him then? There’s nothing for you to worry about, trust me. I’ll take care of everything. We don’t need his money. I can take care of you.’

  ‘You don’t know him.’

  She paused, watching his face closely, then looked away.

  ‘Sometimes he can be violent when he’s been drinking. He yells at me – threatens me – it’s happened more than once –’

  Guy sat upright
, gripping her hand so tightly she winced.

  ‘What do you mean he threatens you? Jesus, if he so much as touches a hair on your head – Just leave, Amy. Do it tonight.’

  His eyes shone with passion and she smiled.

  ‘Oh Guy, don’t be so naïve. I’m not worried for myself. He won’t hurt me, not really. But he’ll kill you if he finds out about us.’

  Guy laughed uneasily.

  ‘Not if I kill him first,’ he blustered, flinging himself back on his pillow. ‘If he so much as touches you, I’ll do it. I swear I will.’

  Amy perched on the edge of the bed without looking at him, her shoulders tense. Although she spoke softly, he heard every word.

  ‘You know what to do.’

  She pulled on her shoes, stood up, smoothed her pencil skirt over her thighs and, with a flick of her blonde hair, was gone.

  Guy lay on the bed gazing up at the ceiling, biting his lip. He wished she had the guts to leave her bastard of a husband. It was hard to ignore the nagging suspicion that she was never going to give up her affluent lifestyle to move in with him. What did he have to offer a woman like Amy? Turning his head from side to side on the pillow he considered her suggestion. She made it sound so simple.

  ‘The restaurant’s called Mireille,’ she had told him, warning him not to write it down.

  She made him repeat the address until he knew it.

  ‘He leaves after it closes around one in the morning, earlier on a Sunday. All you have to do is follow him and– Well, just make sure he doesn’t get home, that’s all.’

  At first he hadn’t been sure he understood. Finally she had grown impatient.

  ‘Oh do I really have to spell it out to you? Once he’s out of the way, everything will be ours. It all comes to me. We’ll be free of him, and you’ll never have to work again.’

  ‘A kept man,’ he had laughed, not believing she was serious.

  But she had leaned forward until her hair fell across his face as she whispered, ‘You could do it for me. For us.’

  He had kept silent, not knowing what to say. Thinking about it, he still wasn’t sure if she was seriously asking him to kill her husband.