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. You are invited to visit www.thebookfolks.com and sign up to our mailing list to hear about new releases, free book promotions and other special offers. We hope you enjoy the book. 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 FREE BOOKS IN YOUR INBOX 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.
