Bear Witness

By Laura E Simms

DI Joseph Hunter is back!

It's 2004, months after the revelations of Charlie Hunter's Christening.

After swearing he wouldn't work with him again DS Bruno Potter has no choice.

Student Emma Blundale has been murdered and Imogene Eyre is missing.

DI Hunter finds himself in mortal danger. DS Potter must make anther choice

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura E Simms
• Release date: Dec 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781310210471

Laura E Simms

Laura Simms 1987-BooksEnd GameThe Legend of the Talking SwordTaken for a MugHorses For CoursesMillionaire's PlaypenGemini BloodThe Irony of de ja vuI have wanted to be an author since I was 6. So this is a dream realised for me.The last year has been very productive with lots more writing to come hopefully.But I will let you be the judge of what you read, so all that remains to be said isHappy reading

Book preview

Bear Witness

Laura E Simms

Trip Down Memory Lane

Laura E Simms 2013

Smashwords Edition

In Loving Memory of Kathleen Mary Simms

1922-1997

Nearly 16 years on and the pain doesn’t lessen. Still think about you often and wonder whether you’d be proud of me. I hope you are.

Do you talk to the other angels who come to visit you on your cloud and say that’s my granddaughter? Do you and Grandma get together and natter?

One day I will see you again and you’ll open the pearly gates for me when it’s my time.

Suddenly you find yourself reunited with

Frederick John Simms

1924-2013

Are you both happy now? Grandad, are you pain free for the first time in ages. I know you’ve been working your way back to Nan for a while now. Hope you’ve sought each other out.

The hole you left gapes like an open wound. Didn’t realise I was quite so unprepared.

Perhaps you have met some old friends and some new ones you never knew existed.

Look after each other. Hugs to you both. This is for the both of you.

Notes

Placental abruption is when the placenta detaches from the lining of the uterus either partially or totally during pregnancy.

Typically happens in the latter stages of pregnancy i.e. the third trimester, but can happen as early as the first.

Can cause premature birth

Possible contributing factor to conditions such as Cerebral Palsy.

Symptoms include

Contractions that don’t stop. So fast they can seem continuous.

Pain in the uterus

Tender abdomen

Bleeding vagina (sometimes)

Unusually large uterus

Pallor

This is not a medical opinion and a doctor’s advice should always be sought.

Prologue

To bear witness to something is to prove by your presence that something exists.

The survivors of the tragic disaster bear witness to events they would rather forget.

World Wars I and II could be described as such. Many soldiers involved in the horrific events, refuse to talk of them, even to their dying day.

Chapter One

Craig Eyre had no idea his life was about to change. As far as he was concerned it was just another day in November 2004.

He was feeling somewhat relaxed after a bitch of a day. He worked in a bank and his boss had given him a bollocking for something, which wasn’t even his fault.

He was on a final warning because some lazy bastard hadn’t done their job. He must stop thinking about this. It was rather counter-productive. He wasn’t at work now.

He would worry about it on Monday. He was just thankful he hadn’t yet lost his job. He didn’t as yet have to tell Imogene.

Smudge the Dalmatian brought his attention sharply back to reality as he finished cocking his leg against a tree. Smudge pulled the lead, nearly herding him into a fall.

A blonde woman ran past him. She was obviously on a late night jog. Her hair was done in a loose ponytail, but had sweat mixed in it. Her face was red with effort.

She jogged on the spot, staring obsessively at a watch, which presumably had a stopwatch component. She scowled obviously not liking what the dial read.

She stretched on a warm down, bending down to reach her toes. Craig thought he should stop staring at her stick thin figure and take Smudge back home before Imogene sent out a search party. Smudge was rooting around for something, but not finding it. He was about to jerk on the lead to reclaim the dog’s attention, but something moved in the shadows.

He waited. Nothing. He blinked, maybe he’d imagined it. Once again he’d just decided to leave the scene, when there was a rustle of leaves.

Once again his eyes were drawn back to the spot. He was being paranoid. There was nothing there. He shook himself. He should go home to Imogene. She would have the Hot Chocolate with brandy ready by now.

Suddenly he blinked. The blonde woman was on the ground. A black clad figure was behind her. Craig ducked down quickly behind a nearby bush.

He was just in time. The figure’s eyes roved the bush. The dog was visible. He’d wrapped the lead round his leg when Craig let go of it.

The figure must know he was there, but he shrugged and departed the scene.

Once sure he was gone, Craig hurriedly went over to the fallen woman.

He bent down beside her and felt for a pulse. He couldn’t feel one. Her