A Room Full of Killers: A gripping crime thriller with twists you won’t see coming. Michael Wood

       SIX

      ‘How long has Starling House been open, now?’ Adele asked from the front passenger seat of Matilda’s silver Ford Focus.

      ‘I’ve no idea. Mid ’90s wasn’t it?’

      ‘Something like that. Have you ever been inside?’

      ‘No. I know people aren’t too happy about it being used as a prison. However, there’s never been any trouble – no riots, no break-outs, no deliberate fires or anything.’

      ‘Until now.’

      Matilda looked across at Adele. ‘The press are going to have a field day, aren’t they?’

      ‘They certainly are. If this isn’t a hot topic I don’t know what is.’

      Matilda turned down Limb Lane. With drystone walls and tall trees on each side, they were plunged into darkness as the thick branches blocked out the autumn sun. On the right was farmland, on the left was an open playing field. Matilda indicated left and they turned onto a dirt track. The car struggled over the cavernous potholes and breaks in the single lane road. They pulled up at the security gates, and Matilda leaned out of the window to press the intercom.

      ‘Yes?’ asked a tired voice.

      ‘DCI Matilda Darke from South Yorkshire Police and Doctor Adele Kean.’

      There was no reply, just a long wait while the gates slowly opened. The second set of gates were already wide open to avoid any delay to the emergency vehicles.

      At the end of the long drive, a fleet of marked and unmarked police cars, along with a Crime Scene Investigation van were parked haphazardly. All vehicles were empty. As Matilda pulled up, DC Rory Fleming stepped out of the building as if he had been waiting just inside the door. Always the gentleman, Rory opened the door for her.

      ‘Good morning, Rory.’

      ‘Morning, boss. Nice day off yesterday?’

      ‘Fine, thanks.’

      ‘You know, I’ve never taken much notice of this building before. It’s gorgeous. Have you seen those gargoyles?’ He looked up at the imposing building and marvelled at the intricate architecture. ‘According to one of the staff, this place was built in—’

      ‘Perhaps we can save the history lesson for another time, Rory. I’ve been told there’s a little matter of a dead body?’

      ‘Yes, sorry. He’s through here. Follow me.’

      Rory led the way with a scowling Matilda and a smiling Adele following.

      This was the closest Matilda had ever been to Starling House. Up close it was an ugly, dark, crumbling building. The brickwork was gnarled from centuries of harsh Yorkshire weather battering it. The features on the gargoyles had almost been rubbed away; yet their unwelcoming stare and toothy grins were frighteningly detailed. Matilda turned to look at an upstairs room and saw a curtain twitch. Alfred Hitchcock would have loved this place.

      ‘Where are all the inmates?’ she asked as she looked around the large open foyer, finding nobody.

      ‘There are currently only eight boys staying here – well, seven now – and they’re all in the dining room.’

      ‘Staff?’

      ‘The manager is Kate Moloney. She was down at the recreation room when I left. She’s milling around trying to show her authority but she’s just getting in everyone’s way. A couple of the guards are in the dining room with the inmates along with a few PCs. I think the remainder of the staff are in the staffroom. Aaron’s told them all to stay there until you decided what you want to do.’

      ‘Good. So what—?’

      ‘Speaking of Aaron – Katrina’s pregnant. Can you believe that? I didn’t think he had it in him.’

      ‘That’s brilliant news,’ Adele chimed in. ‘I know they’ve been trying for ages. Aaron said Katrina’s had a few miscarriages in the past. How far gone is she?’

      ‘About three months I think he said.’

      ‘Oh I am pleased. Do they know what they’re having yet? I’ll have to—’

      ‘Any chance of getting back on topic here?’ Matilda interrupted. ‘Rory, what do we know so far?’

      They turned down corridor after corridor. Rory stopped suddenly at one point to get his bearings.

      ‘Well, the young lad is Ryan Asher. He arrived on Sunday night under the cover of darkness by all accounts. Very military. He was locked in his room at nine o’clock last night, which is normal, and this morning he was found dead on the pool table in the rec. room.’

      ‘Who found him?’

      Rory looked at his notebook. ‘One of the senior officers, an Oliver Byron. Apparently, when Ryan didn’t turn up to breakfast Mr Byron went looking for him and discovered him in the recreation room.’

      They arrived at the room which had been sealed off by tape. Inside, a team of forensic officers was examining the scene. Floodlights had been erected and white suited CSIs were busy looking for evidence. Adele slipped into a blue forensic suit and went to join her assistant, Victoria Pinder, who had arrived shortly beforehand and was busy laying foot plates on the floor.

      ‘Rory,’ Matilda took the young DC to one side and lowered her voice. ‘The press is going to be all over this but I don’t want anything getting out until it’s absolutely necessary. Get uniform to give you a hand and move all the vehicles at the front to the back of the building. I don’t want photographers taking snapshots and making up their own stories.’

      ‘Will do. Oh, by the way, the ACC is on her way over.’

      ‘I thought she would be. Thanks for the heads-up.’

      The Assistant Chief Constable rarely attended a crime scene. The fact she was on her way was testament to how serious this case was going to be. Obviously, every murder was serious, but this was Starling House. The place was already swarming with killers. This is the kind of case tabloids have wet dreams about.

      DS Sian Mills handed Matilda a forensic suit and waited while the senior officer struggled to get into it. Once inside the recreation room, Matilda stood in silence and surveyed the scene. She wanted to take it all in: the dimensions, the furniture, the layout. This room was going to be vital in solving this case, she could feel it.

      It was a large room at the back of Starling House and looked out onto a wide open space of well-kept garden. The room was decorated in magnolia and the carpet was hard-wearing, but looked tired. There were scuff marks on the walls, and the carpet was stained. In the corner of the high ceiling, a few dark cobwebs hung down, evidence of a lack of regular cleaning.

      ‘Right, Sian, talk me through it.’

      ‘Well, I’m sure you know who Ryan Asher is.’

      ‘Is there anyone in this country who doesn’t?’

      ‘Sadly, I did have to explain him to Rory. Anyway, Ryan Asher arrived on Sunday night. He spent the whole day yesterday being shown around, introduced to the various members of staff and the other boys. In the evening he and the others spent a few hours in here playing pool, watching TV or what have you, and then they were tucked up in bed by nine o’clock.’

      ‘Fast forward to this morning.’

      ‘The doors are unlocked and the boys make their way to the dining room for breakfast. However, one of them is missing. Off goes an officer to find him, and there he is.’ Sian pointed to the pool