Cliff Edge: A Gripping Psychological Mystery

By Florrie Palmer

In this chilling mystery from the author of The Decoy, a DCI investigates when a quaint Christmas holiday at a seaside cottage is interrupted by murder.

When Sara is invited by Bette and Mike to spend Christmas in an idyllic cottage on the coast, she jumps at the chance. The couple appear to have a perfect life, but appearances can be deceiving . . .

As secrets come to light, tensions in the cottage mount. When a body is discovered near the cottage, DCI Jane Owen is given the case. But how can she solve the mystery when so many lies obscure the truth? And when Mike goes missing, Owen suspects the answers may lie in the darkest places . . .

Cliff Edge is a twisty and suspenseful mystery that will appeal to fans of authors like Joy Ellis, LJ Ross and Frances Lloyd.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Oct 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781504071345

Book preview

Prologue

Dwarfed by the wild north Pembrokeshire scenery and the scale of the massive cliffs, two figures battled against what had become a strong north-easterly wind. Kinder when they had set out, the weather had worsened. Their trekking poles were little help on the rocky surface of the cliff path as it descended toward the collapsed sea cave. The vast, noisy Atlantic drove its angry passage past Ireland to merge with the Irish Sea and smash against the cliff walls below.

The couple made slow progress until one of them stopped, seeming to want to turn back. The one in front appeared to remonstrate and urge the other forward. Tentatively, the two picked their way downhill until they reached a precarious, bridge-like arch that crossed a huge blowhole in the grassed clifftop. Coral-billed choughs cawed and flew off their rock perches as the people approached.

Water surged through the sea-tunnel into the pool below and monstrous sucking sounds emanated from the raging waves as they entered the cave, flinging volumes of surf high into the air. Awestruck by the seething sight below, the pair stood gazing down. Above, hovering seagulls watched one of them stumble, lose their footing and lurch forward. In a useless attempt to maintain balance, their arms flailed as their terrified scream was drowned by the howl and roar of the wind and sea.

On its way to meet death, the falling body did not hear the edge of triumph in the voice of the other as it cut through the air, ‘Happy New Year!’

1

3 January 2018. Llangunnor, Carmarthen, Wales

DCI Jane Owen gets up a little later than usual. She’s on from 0830 today. Apart from road accidents – of which there were always more than usual in icy conditions – there are few incidents requiring police attention. Crime seems to slow down, and people are not keen to go out to commit theft or get up to no good in weather like they’ve been having, so there’s not a lot going on for her at the moment. But then you never know. She rubs the sand out of her eyes and yawns one more time before jumping out of bed and reaching for her fleecy dressing gown and fluffy slippers. She shuffles to the bathroom where she showers and performs the usual morning requisites. Today, she decides to wear the navy wool office trouser suit with the cream polo neck underneath. That should keep her warm over the thermal long johns and vest. The station heating is unreliable at best.

Returning to her bedroom, she dresses before sitting down at her small, messy dressing table. Watching herself in the mirror, she combs her thick, short, straight brown hair back from her face, but it is so floppy that it won’t be long before it’s worked its way forward again so she has to tuck it behind pretty, neat little ears. She cut off her longer locks a while back. Nowadays, her life needs to be as easy as she can make it and she doesn’t have time for getting long hair to look good. She still misses it but doesn’t think she looks too bad with it short.

She is new to her position and wants to look as good as she can in the role so takes care over her appearance.

Dotting two right-hand fingers with foundation, she circles and spreads it carefully to cover her long, intelligent face. Mascara is brushed onto the long lashes that surround her doe-like brown eyes and from a small selection of colours, she carefully chooses a pale-pink lipstick to paint her small mouth. Slipping on her flat, black fur-lined boots, she is now in her ‘battle dress’. She’ll be driving to the station today –far too cold to walk. Smacking her lips together, she checks her face one last time before leaving her bedroom.

She crosses the small kitchen where she draws back the curtains, opens the window to the silent, frozen morning and calls, ‘Ma-a-army!’

Quickly closing the window, she looks across the front garden that slopes down to the road with its scattering of a few other bungalows either side, beyond which the whitened land rises high to frosted hills. The weather is still at sub-zero but at least it has stopped snowing for the moment, although the white blanket of sky augurs more to come. There’s already been more than enough and it’s time it stopped now.

A ginger cat hurtles through the cat flap. Making voracious mewing sounds as it pads across the floor to her feet, it rubs an icy cheek against Jane’s ankles and executes a sensual circle of her lower legs, the furry body and tail transferring its chill and some hairs to her trousers. Jane moves her legs out of the way and bends to give the animal a quick stroke. ‘Nobbling out, is it?’

The cat arches its spine. Amazing, she thinks, how these animals don’t seem to mind the cold, especially since they love the warmth so much. She bends to open a cupboard from which she takes a tin of cat food from a box of six. She peels back the lid and throws it in the swing bin. Glancing at her watch, she thinks she should probably hurry. She takes the fork left ready on the worktop beside the cat bowl and dollops half the tinned meat into it, then covers the half-filled tin with the plastic lid also left ready and puts it in the refrigerator. She places the bowl on the floor. The purring cat gobbles it down.

Returning to the bathroom, Jane unhooks a plastic kitchen apron from the back of the door, picks up the washing-up bowl from its place beside the basin pedestal, puts it in the bath under the taps and half-fills it with warm water into which she adds some soap bubbles and drops the big pink sponge. She dons the apron then takes a towel from the rail and drapes it over her arm. Then she carries the bowl to a bedroom door, grips it carefully with one hand, knocking loudly with the other before opening it and entering the room. She flicks the light switch by the door and walks carefully to the bedside where she places the bowl on the floor. She’s glad they bought this place a few years ago. It works for Meg and is so much easier for them both. She is now so close to work she can walk if she feels like it.

The lilt in her voice is like a soft morning song. ‘Hello, lovely, how did you sleep?’

Half awake, Meg mumbles into her pillow. But she seems okay so Jane doesn’t waste time. She gives her sister a hand to lift herself up into a sitting position and prop herself against the bedhead.

‘Arms up, darling.’

Meg is twenty-two years old and taller than her sister who is ten years her senior. Extremely young to be in the position she is, Jane has fast-tracked her way in the department and there is a certain resentment amongst some of her elders, of which she is painfully aware.

Meg raises her left arm and with shaky difficulty only manages to raise the other about halfway up. Jane peels the nightie over her sleepy head then deftly takes the plastic nappy changer from the bedside cupboard, unrolls and places it on the edge of the bed as close to the girl’s hips as possible. With one practised arm, she lifts and rolls Meg towards her while the other feeds the changer under her bottom.

Now awake, Meg pinches her sister’s bum as she bends to the bowl to squeeze the warm wet sponge. Jane pinches her sister’s forearm in retaliation. The sisters have a special relationship that has become more than its genetic origin. They are in turn each other’s mothers, daughters, closest friends and at times, though fortunately seldom, each other’s worst enemies. They have reached a stage where words are often not necessary to convey their thoughts to one another – almost as if they were identical twins in spite of their ten years and biological differences. They have also now reached a stage when neither can imagine life without the other.

There is a special lift for the bath but that is only used once a week when there is the luxury of time. Jane passes the sponge to Meg who washes and towels her top half first and her groin. Then she pulls the changer down and hastily washes the withered, useless legs before drying them and dressing Meg in some clothing they had agreed the night before: loose knickers and black elastic-waisted trousers draped on the back of the chair beside the bed.

Jane hands Meg a roll-on deodorant, a blue shirt and thick blue cardigan. Her sister leans herself forward and puts on the deodorant and clothes by herself. They never chatter much at this hour, both being slow wake-uppers and natural night owls. It always takes a cup of tea for Meg and coffee for Jane to properly come to life.

Jane crosses the room, pulls back the curtains and brings the wheelchair over to the bed and puts on the brakes so that it can’t move about. Now comes the tricky bit. Meg swivels herself onto the side of the bed in readiness for Jane’s help. Jane dresses the dangling feet in socks and cosy fur-lined slippers. Her least liked task. Paralysed feet are not obliging and do not stay put.

That done, she half-lifts Meg onto the chair. A small-framed woman, Jane stands five feet four and weighs only nine stone. But she’s wiry, strong and has a determined nature, like Meg who once in the chair, takes over and wheels herself through to the bathroom. The self-propelling wheelchair has a commode in the seat, so if needs must Meg can use it. Usually she can hang on till Carys arrives and helps her to the toilet, but not always. The bathroom is wheelchair friendly, but she doesn’t yet have the strength to lift herself from the chair onto the adapted toilet. Through physiotherapy Meg has developed good strength in her left arm, but although it is slowly improving, her right only has just enough to help propel herself forward. The wheelchair has a habit of veering to the right on account of this imbalance.

A physiotherapist still visits fortnightly and the arm and hand exercises are ongoing but torn nerves take a long time to recover. Meg still has to lift her mobile to her ear with the left hand. It is hoped that in time she will regain full use of the right arm. Luckily, the young woman has a positive spirit and tries hard to keep cheerful.

Jane follows her into the bathroom, carefully lets down one arm of the chair so that she can help slide and lift Meg onto the high, wide-seated toilet, then leaves her to it, the sliding door slightly open. She goes to the kitchen and flips the already half-filled kettle on. Opening the fridge, she pulls out the sliced, brown sourdough bread and slots one piece into the toaster. Taking out a small jug of milk, the packet of low-fat spread and a probiotic drink, she places them where Meg can reach them.

Some time ago, she discovered through trial and error that it is easier to prepare as much as she can of breakfast the night before. The little blue-and-white-stripy teapot waits on a circular laminated mat on the table with a tea bag already in it for Meg. Two matching breakfast bowls and mugs and spoons are also laid on the table.

‘Janey!’

She returns to the bathroom to help Meg back onto her chair. Meg then gets herself into the kitchen and wheels herself to the table. Reaching for the muesli packet, she half-fills her bowl. It is important she eats healthily and keeps her weight under control as much as possible. No sugar anymore: now it’s diabetic marmalade on the toast that, fortunately, Meg says is delicious, and blueberries on the cereal. Jane has a stash of Meg’s favourite mint-and-choc-chip ice cream that she allows on high days and holidays.

Picking up the milk jug, Meg splashes some over her muesli. It slightly misses the mark and some of it goes onto the table. Jane, who hasn’t yet sat down, pulls off a length of kitchen roll and passes it to Meg without a word, who blots up the spill wearing an exaggerated expression of tragedy but says nothing in response to Jane’s dismissive wave. She takes the used piece of paper and chucks it in the kitchen swing bin.

The radio sits on the table and Meg switches it on – she’s interested in current affairs and likes Radio Four when she’s alone. Jane empties the kettle into the teapot, gives it a stir. She makes herself a mug of instant coffee then eats her own cereal. While Meg is still on her muesli, Jane leaps to her feet, kisses her on the cheek, apologises for her rush and reminds her Carys will be over at 10am. She unhooks her big padded jacket with the fur-edged hood from the rack in the hallway and puts it on. She is just about to leave the front door when Meg calls, ‘Mobile, Janey.’

‘Oh God! My fault, darling.’

Jane runs back to Meg’s bedroom where her phone is on a charger beside her bed. Meg grins at Jane as she runs back into the kitchen and places the fully-charged phone carefully in an especially made elastic pouch attached to the outside of the chair. If Meg put it on her lap, she could drop it and it is vital she has it close to hand. Besides, her lap is the cat’s place.

‘Idiot!’

Jane turns back toward the door.

‘Toast, Inspector.’

Jane turns back with comic timing. It’s like a farce. She grabs the piece of toast from the toaster and drops it onto Meg’s side plate. The spread and marmalade are nearby, spoons and knives already on the table.

‘Sixes and sevens this morning. Left it a bit late.’

‘Eights and nines at least.’

‘I know. I just hate getting out of bed in this bitter weather.’

‘Me too.’

Jane kisses the curly-haired top of Meg’s head. ‘Call if you need anything. Be good.’

‘As though I could be anything else.’

Meg blows her a kiss. Jane glances back at her before she leaves the door. She is busy stroking Marmalade who has already settled on her lap.

Jane’s Ford Focus Estate car splutters as she attempts to start it up and for a moment she thinks it may be going to refuse, but then it complies.

It starts as a fairly humdrum day at the Dyfed-Powys Police headquarters. A large building with a workforce of over a thousand full-time officers, the station covers the four counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Powys with a population of almost half a million people.

Today, a car is stuck in a snowdrift between Llangynin and Castell Gorford and some of the men are drafted in to help clear the consequent pile-up of cars behind it.

A couple of shoplifters are caught on CCTV in Pembroke and need dealing with. A lad has to be stopped from climbing on the metal structure of a high bridge. A large dog bites a little one and the owner complains to the police.

But in a police station everything can quickly change, and at 2.07pm a missing person report comes in. On 2 January, a woman called Gwyneth who had been staying with her son in Swansea over Christmas and the New Year had been driven directly by him to a house she was cleaning in the afternoon near her home in the village of Moylegrove. The owners had promised to drive her home with her suitcase after she had ‘done’ for them. Apparently, she never appeared at this house, nor at her home and has not been seen since.

Her son, who claims he definitely left her outside the house where she cleans, is distraught. He called her on 3 January just to check she was okay but she hadn’t answered her landline. Having tried a few more times, he’d then contacted her close friend and next-door neighbour who had been expecting to see her that day but there had been no sign of her. The neighbour who had a key to her friend’s house has been in to look for her, but there are no signs Gwyneth has been in. No suitcase, no mail picked up from the doormat. No sign of her anywhere.

Late morning of 3 January the son files a missing person report with the Swansea police. But since the woman comes from the Dyfed-Powys Police area, it falls to that force to conduct the search. This is put into operation at once and it is all systems go.

Jane jumps into action and arranges for a forensic team to search the woman’s empty home and a photographer to take photos. She has asked the woman’s son from Swansea to meet her there where she and Detective Sergeant Ross Evans will interview him first and then the neighbour. Even though it is only about thirty-six miles it will take a good hour to drive there which means they won’t reach Moylegrove till after 3.30. The time needed to do the interviews and see the lay of the land means Jane will be late back this evening. She calls Carys and Meg to let them know. Carys promises to stay late with Meg, who says there’s some good telly on that evening so she’ll be quite happy, and not to worry.

Jane organises some police officers to do house-to-house enquiries while others check hospital admissions and review CCTV footage in possible locations.

She buzzes Evans to her office to explain what they are about to do. A minute later, a thickset young man of distinctly rumpled appearance wearing a creased, mid-grey, ill-fitting suit, shoes that have seen better days and with slightly dishevelled spikey red hair knocks on her door. Answering her invitation to enter, he shuffles into her office in his characteristic way and stands awkwardly in front of her desk. This doesn’t mean anything. Ross Evans may be an ungainly person but he’s a good detective.

Jane gestures at the seat the other side of her desk. ‘Afternoon, Evans.’

‘Ma’am.’ He sits on the tired wooden chair with the worn, red plastic seat.

‘I’ll explain in the car. We’re off to Moylegrove, north Pem. A woman’s gone missing. We have to leave now.’

‘Missing? Sounds interesting. I’ll just grab my recorder.’

In minutes with Evans at her side clutching his trusted recording equipment, they are on the road for the north where they will interview the woman’s son and her neighbour. While they are up in Moylegrove, the Swansea police are conducting a covert search of the son’s flat in case they find anything suspicious there.

It’s annoying when there are two police forces involved on the same job but it can’t be helped in this case. They just have to co-ordinate their efforts to find the poor woman.

By 4.10pm, Jane and Evans have led cars with the rest of the people assigned to the job into the tiny, ancient village of Moylegrove. With a mix of traditional colour-washed and stone cottages and houses and a couple of stone chapels as well as a church and a quiet little river running through it, it is surprisingly unspoilt and turns out to be mostly Welsh-speaking. They find Gwyneth’s house easily and meet the son there. A big, burly, overweight chap who looks as though he eats nothing but burgers shows them into his mother’s immaculate small stone cottage with a garden at