IMPURITY
A thrilling murder mystery full of devilish twists
THE DI GARDENER CRIME FICTION SERIES
BOOK 1
RAY CLARK
Published by
THE BOOK FOLKS
London, 2019
© Ray Clark
Polite note to the reader
This book is written in British English except where fidelity to other languages or accents is appropriate.
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IMPURITY is the first book in a series of four murder mysteries by Ray Clark featuring DI Stewart Gardener. Full details about the other books can be found at the end of this one.
Impurity: 1. Being impure. 2. A substance that makes another impure by being present in it.
“They very commonly construct for themselves a life-romance, a personal myth in which they are the maltreated hero, which secret is the key of their battle against despair.”
William Bolitho
Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Chapter Thirty-two
Chapter Thirty-three
Chapter Thirty-four
Chapter Thirty-five
Chapter Thirty-six
Chapter Thirty-seven
Chapter Thirty-eight
Chapter Thirty-nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-one
Chapter Forty-two
Chapter Forty-three
Chapter Forty-four
Chapter Forty-five
Chapter Forty-six
Chapter Forty-seven
Chapter Forty-eight
Chapter Forty-nine
Chapter Fifty
Chapter Fifty-one
Chapter Fifty-two
Chapter Fifty-three
Chapter Fifty-four
Chapter Fifty-five
Chapter Fifty-six
Chapter Fifty-seven
Chapter Fifty-eight
Chapter Fifty-nine
Chapter Sixty
Chapter Sixty-one
Chapter Sixty-two
Chapter Sixty-three
Chapter Sixty-four
Chapter Sixty-five
Chapter Sixty-six
Chapter Sixty-seven
Chapter Sixty-eight
Chapter Sixty-nine
Chapter Seventy
Chapter Seventy-one
Chapter Seventy-two
Chapter Seventy-three
Chapter Seventy-four
Chapter Seventy-five
Chapter Seventy-six
Chapter Seventy-seven
Chapter Seventy-eight
Chapter Seventy-nine
Chapter Eighty
Chapter Eighty-one
Chapter Eighty-two
Chapter Eighty-three
Epilogue
More fiction in this series
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Prologue
Leeds, West Yorkshire. Twelve Months Ago.
“All set?” he asked as he held her coat open.
She nodded and slipped into the garment. He put his hat on as they left the restaurant.
Sarah had presented it to him before they went out for the evening.
“I still can’t believe you bought this. What possessed you?” he asked.
Sarah glanced up and adjusted it. “It was you. The minute I saw it I fell in love with it. As I knew you would.”
He laughed. He had to admit, it was comfortable. The grey Australian leather hat resembled a Stetson with a narrower brim. Two studded holes sat on either side of it, with a braid circling its base. A six-pointed gold badge graced one side of the crown.
Despite being early December, the weather was mild. Gardener carried his topcoat over one arm, held Sarah’s hand with the other. The couple were enjoying a relaxing evening together before the onslaught of Christmas left them with little, if any, time for themselves. They passed courting couples whispering and giggling to each other. At the intersection with Boar Lane, a large group of youths spilled out from a pub. They headed toward The Corn Exchange in search of one of the city’s many nightclubs.
“What it is to be young,” commented Sarah.
“We’re still young.”
“I know, but we’re not going to a nightclub, are we?”
Her comment amused him, and he laughed.
“What’s funny?” asked Sarah, chuckling herself.
“We’re only young in mind, these days.”
They both laughed again. Gardener wrapped his arms around Sarah, lifting her up, swinging her round. He recited the lyrics to an obscure pop song, which would be the nearest they would come to a club tonight.
Sarah giggled. “For God’s sake, put me down. You’ll put your back out.”
As soon as she’d spoken the words, Gardener took a step back, and cried out in pain. He put her down, placing both hands on the base of his spine.
“Stewart! Are you all right? I warned you.”
As Sarah bent closer, he leaped upwards and grabbed her around the waist.
He nuzzled his face into her neck and growled as he bit her. He kissed her – a long, lingering kiss he wished would last forever. The curves of Sarah’s body aroused him. He never tired of running his fingers over her smooth skin, a testament to the strength of their physical relationship. They made love as often as when first married, twenty years previously.
“I have another surprise for you when we get home,” she said.
“Have you now?”
“It’s not what you’re thinking, but you can have that as well.”
Gardener laughed. “So, what is it?”
“You’ll have to wait and see.”
Gardener’s curiosity was piqued, but he decided not to press any further. He raised his head, took her hand, and led her across Duncan Street. They were heading towards the intersection of Briggate and Boar Lane. They passed a busy McDonald’s, heading for the NCP car park next to the now-closed travel agency.
As they turned the corner, hand in hand, they were completely unaware of the skirmish that had brewed between two men.
“Get the fuck off me!”
The couple stopped. The smaller of the two men held his victim by the throat up against the shop window, repeatedly crashing him into the glass.
Sarah gripped Gardener’s hand tighter, to warn him against becoming involved.
Gardener’s police instincts spurred him to action. “Come on lads, break it up.” He pulled at the smaller man’s shoulder. As the man turned, Gardener observed a misshapen forehead and a cluster of foreign bodies attached to his skin, like barnacles.
“You keep your face out of my business,” said Warthead, in a cockney accent.
