Boxed Set: The Deadly Series: Detective Jack Mackinnon: Books 1-3 Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Deadly Obsession

  Copyright

  Blurb

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  Thank you!

  Deadly Motive

  Copyright

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  Thank you!

  Deadly Revenge

  Copyright

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  Thank you!

  Extract

  About the Author

  Acknowledgements

  DEADLY BOXSET

  D. S. Butler

  Copyright © 2014 D. S. Butler

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

  Deadly Obsession

  D. S. Butler

  Copyright © 2012 D. S. Butler

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from the author.

  DEADLY OBSESSION IS THE first book in the DS Jack Mackinnon Crime Series.

  HE WATCHES ... HE WAITS ... HE STRIKES

  A young Polish girl fixated on fame. A killer with a deadly obsession.

  DS Jack Mackinnon has his work cut out trying to track down missing student, Anya Blonski. As Mackinnon follows the trail of obsession to the shady owners of the Star Academy, who thrive on society's obsession with reality TV shows, he realises the fame they offer comes at a price.

  When a second girl goes missing, Mackinnon believes a serial killer is stalking the city.

  DEADLY OBSESSION is a British police procedural, perfect for fans of Peter James and his Roy Grace series.

  1

  THE MAN WAITED ON the corner of Queen’s street, outside Oakland’s Furniture Store.

  He took a quick glance at his watch and smiled. Only a few more minutes to go.

  Dressed like an American tourist, he blended in with the bustling crowds. He wore a pair of beige, baggy cargo trousers, and a faded, blue, loose cotton shirt with the arms rolled up. His Dodgers baseball cap was pulled down low, and wraparound shades hid his eyes. Despite the setting sun, he kept the glasses on. In London, thousands of CCTV cameras recorded the public’s every move, and he didn’t want anyone identifying him from the video footage.

  He stepped to his right, moving out of the way, as a customer left the furniture store. He studied his reflection in the shiny store windows, hardly recognising himself.

  The heat from the pavement seeped up through the soles of his sh
oes, making his feet hot and uncomfortable.

  An expensive video camera hung from a thin, grey, nylon cord around his neck. He looked like just another visitor, taking in the historical sights London had to offer.

  His video camera was a premium, state-of-the-art Nikon. He slipped the black cap off the upgraded lens. The zoom lens alone cost him over a thousand pounds. But it was worth it. He needed to get the shot right the first time. There would be no second chances. No reruns.

  He raised a hand to his shirt pocket, and his fingers gripped the hard square of the spare memory card. That was good. The one in the camera already contained hours of entertainment, and it wouldn’t do to run out of memory today. Not when he had such plans.

  He licked his dry lips and closed his eyes. He could hardly bear the anticipation. If only she knew the effect she had on him. But of course, she knew. They all did.

  He pointed the video camera at the entrance, so he would be ready when she left the building. His hands trembled so much, the picture in the viewfinder jumped and jerked around. He would have to hold the camera steady with both hands to get a decent recording.

  Two women walked past him, city workers dressed in tight skirt suits and the kind of towering shoes that required a desk job. The taller woman glanced at him as she strode past. She tossed her long, brown hair and took a second look, staring at him with obvious curiosity, wondering what he was filming.

  Nosy busybody.

  The man turned away and pulled out a crumpled packet of Silk Cut cigarettes from his trouser pocket. He didn’t want people watching him. He wanted to fade into the background. He had to look like he was just exploring the city. One of many sightseers London saw every day. Then no one would remember him.

  It was important to go unnoticed today because if everything went as arranged…

  A red, double-decker bus squealed to a halt at the bus stop in front of him.

  The man crushed the cigarette in his fist. No! This was not part of the plan.

  He watched as passengers clambered off the bus. One, two, three… They kept coming. No! Now there were too many people around. His plan was ruined. The intricate calculations, the careful consideration of possibilities, working out the timing – all for nothing. How could he concentrate with all these people squeezing up against him?

  What if one of them remembered him?

  ‘Yes, officer, there was a man lurking around. Of course, I can give you an accurate description…”

  No, no, no. It wouldn’t do at all.

  He shot an anxious glance to the doorway on his right. Any moment now, she would walk through that archway. The culmination of weeks of preparation. It should be the perfect moment. A special moment he would remember for months. A memory he could relive, over and over; but all these people were spoiling it.

  White-hot rage blistered in his chest. His hands shook as he tried to pluck another cigarette from the packet. Beads of sweat broke out on his forehead and down the length of his back. He threw the second cigarette on the floor and stamped on it. What was wrong with him? If he weren’t careful, he would ruin the whole thing. He needed to keep calm and stay in control.

  It would be all right. If he could just keep a clear head, he might be able to pull it off. The bus pulled away, behind a transit van that belched out diesel fumes; and the passengers were leaving now, clearing a path for him. How considerate. Everything would work out perfectly. He allowed himself a small smile.

  The door opened, and he caught his breath.

  There she was. Anya. His star.

  Her eyes swept over him, then she looked away.

  Oh, she was a good actress, pretending not to know him. Pretending she didn’t know what was about to happen, as if she hadn’t been communicating with him for weeks with those longing looks and secret smiles.

  He switched on the video camera, and a blinking red light appeared in the corner of the screen.

  How clever of her. She was sending him more signals today. Wasn’t she wearing pink? She picked out that soft, rose-coloured cardigan that clung to all her curves just for him. It was a signal, a sign that she was ready, ripe for the plucking. She was telling him she was willing, telling him it had to be today.

  Anya turned and began to walk away.

  He felt a flash of fire in his chest. Then he took a breath, dispersing the anger, and smiled. Of course, this was all part of the game. She wanted him to follow her.

  He would play along. For now. But soon she would realise that he made the rules.

  He hung back for a few moments; then, with his heart pounding, he dropped into step behind her, unable to wipe the smile from his face.

  He had waited for this moment for so long. He even dreamed about it. But this was no dream. He clenched and unclenched his fists. This was real.

  Her long, fair hair tumbled down her back, swaying from side to side as she walked. She pulled off her pink cardigan and tied it around her tiny waist. She wore a bright blue, short skirt, which showed off her long, dancer’s legs and rose a little higher with each step. He bit the side of his mouth. He was enjoying the game.

  He kept his camera focused on her back, zooming in until she filled the frame.

  At first, he stayed a safe distance behind her. From experience, he knew surprise was his best weapon. He followed quietly, a few feet behind her, crossing the road when she did.

  She turned right into Bakers Lane. It was quieter here. The traffic from the main road was muffled. He heard the distant ring of church bells and the caw of a crow.

  He waited for a moment, looking up and down the street, until he was certain they were alone; then he left the camera dangling from his neck and made his approach.

  Hearing his footsteps, she whirled around. Her face was white, pinched and scared.

  She put a fluttering hand to her chest and let out a little high-pitched giggle. “You scared me. I didn’t realise it was you.”

  He smiled back at her, walking closer as his hand closed around the knife in his coat pocket.

  “Well, I’d better be getting home,” she said in her delightful accent.

  How sweet! She was still playing the game. His thumb pressed lightly against the sharp edge of the knife.

  Her baby blue eyes gazed up at him, wide and trusting.

  But why shouldn’t she trust him? She knew him, didn’t she? At least, she thought she did.

  And after tonight, she would know him better than anyone. And he would know every inch of her.

  2

  AT EIGHT FIFTEEN ON Wednesday morning, Henryk Blonski, watched the taxi pull up outside his block of flats on the Towers Estate.

  After he stopped, the middle-aged taxi driver peered through the insect-splattered windscreen, looking uneasy. Henryk couldn’t say he blamed him. It was a horrible area. For the hundredth time this morning, Henryk wondered why he and his sister ever left Poland.

  Henryk walked towards the passenger side of the taxi and waited while the driver looked him up and down. The driver’s eyes lingered over Henryk’s crumpled jeans and t-shirt as well as the stubble on his chin.

  Henryk had not had time for a shave this morning. Impatiently, he pushed his dark hair out of his eyes and rapped on the passenger window.

  Obviously deciding Henryk looked safe enough, the driver unlocked the passenger door, and Henryk climbed into the sagging front passenger seat.

  “Where to, mate?” the driver asked. His breath smelled of cigarettes and Polo mints.

  “Wood Street Police Station,” Henryk said.

  The driver didn’t look surprised by the request, probably assuming residents on this estate had to spend a good deal of time at police stations.

  At first, the driver didn’t try to engage Henryk in conversation, which was a good thing. Henryk Blonski had other things on his mind.

  His sister, Anya, had not come home last night.

  Henryk had not noticed she was missing until this morning. He felt his stomach churn. Anya was not the sort o
f girl to stay out all night. He’d taken a cup of tea into her at seven thirty, as usual, and dropped it on the floor when he saw her bed had not been slept in.

  “So whatcha going to see the boys in blue for?” The taxi driver asked as he braked hard at a red light.

  Henryk blinked and turned to the driver. Henryk guessed he was in his early sixties. There was a photograph of a couple of small children taped to his dashboard, maybe his children or grandchildren. A family man anyway.

  “I’m sorry?” Henryk said.

  “The police. Why are you going there?”

  Henryk could have told the man to mind his own business, but instead, he bowed his head and said, “My sister. She is missing.”

  “Missing? I’m sorry to hear that.”

  Henryk accepted the man’s sympathy with a nod.

  The driver pulled away from the traffic lights and overtook a single-decker bus without indicating.

  “So how long has she been gone?”

  “She didn’t come home last night.”

  “Just the one night?” The taxi driver shrugged. “How old is she?”

  “Nineteen.”

  The old man’s face relaxed, and he smacked his lips together. “She’ll be home, right as rain. She probably just pulled an all-nighter. You know what girls her age are like.” The driver gave Henryk a wink.

  “My sister is not like that,” Henryk said, his voice stiff.

  “Well, no,” the taxi driver shifted in his seat. “I don’t suppose she is. I didn’t mean any offence. I hope you find her.”

  Henryk stayed silent.

  “Where are you from?”

  “Poland.”

  The taxi driver was quiet for a moment. He drummed his fingers against the steering wheel. Then suddenly, as if coming to a decision, he turned to Henryk. “A little bit of advice, son, for dealing with the police.”

  Henryk nodded.

  “You’ve got to handle them right. You need to have them on your side. I can see you’re worried, and you’re angry, but you need to keep your cool. Do you understand? I used to be a copper, so I know what I’m talking about. They’ll want to help you, but they’ll have to ask questions about your sister, questions you might not like.”

  Henryk only half-listened as the taxi driver spoke, his mind focused on what in the world he would tell his mother. How could he tell his parents that Anya was missing?

  Henryk gave another curt nod and looked out of the window. Despite staring out at the road, Henryk wouldn’t have been able to describe the route the taxi driver took between the Towers Estate and the police station; his thoughts were occupied by what he would tell the police.