The Necklace

By Cheryl Russell

Strange things are happening to Annabel. The mystery begins with an early morning police raid and the theft of her late mother's necklace and letters. As things unravel, Annabel and her boss, Adrian, find themselves suspects in a grisly murder. With a killer on the loose, Annabel must figure out who to trust, before she becomes the next victim.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cheryl Russell
• Release date: Sep 2, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370700974

Cheryl Russell

I am a multiple genre author. My favourite genres are historical fiction and thrillers. These are also the genres I enjoy reading. I love to write and ideas are always buzzing around in my mind waiting to get out onto paper. I take pen and paper with me everywhere in case an idea comes into my mind and I want to remember it. Ideas have come on public transport or just people watching. It was very exciting when I published my first book on Amazon. (Lily of the Valley) and now to have my second book The Necklace available as well it's just amazing. I am recovering from severe ME/CFS. It was whilst bedbound that ideas for novels started coming into my mind. At that time I couldn't do anything about it but write them in my mind. It was last year when I was finally able to start putting pen to paper, or should I say fingers to keyboard. I am crazy about gerbils but don't have any at the moment.

Book preview

The Necklace

By

Cheryl Russell

Copyright © 2017 Cheryl Russell

The moral right of the author has been asserted. Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and patent Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case or reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside those terms should be sent to the publishers.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Chapter One

The doorbell rang, waking her up. Annabel squinted at the clock, trying to make out the time through bleary eyes, still half asleep. It was only six in the morning. They kept their finger on the bell. She couldn’t ignore it. They weren’t going away. Scrambling about for her glasses and putting her dressing gown on before she went to the door.

Who is it? she called, not wanting to open at this early hour.

Police, said a voice.

Opening the door revealed not one but five officers. She gasped and her face paled. They pushed passed her without even a hello. They spread out, going all over the flat except for one who stayed with her in the hall. When she tried to follow they restrained her.

What’s going on? she asked with panic in her voice. What was this? She’d never been in touch with the police before.

The officer with her held out a piece of paper for her to see. It was a search warrant, but why? This had to be a mistake.

What’s this about? she asked, confused. Why do you need a search warrant?

The officer did not reply. It seemed as if they were deliberately keeping her in the dark.

It was a while before the other officers came back, shaking their heads, indicating nothing had been found.

You are Miss Annabel Fair? the officer with her queried. She nodded, unable to speak.

We’re searching for your boyfriend Mr Snow, said the officer with a hint of something in his voice which she didn’t understand.

She shook her head, even more confused. I don’t know that name and I don’t have a boyfriend. There must be some mistake, she said.

Ok lads, there is nothing here. Let’s go back to the station. Sorry to have bothered you miss. If we find out you’re lying to us we will be back.

Annabel shut the door behind them and sank to the floor. She realised she was shaking. She stayed there for a while until she felt steadier hugging her knees.

She stood up and went to the living room, everything was upside down and papers were strewn across the floor. They had made a mess of the whole flat. She put things away and tried to restore order in place of the chaos they had left behind. She was in her bedroom when she discovered her jewellery was missing. Her lovely necklace which had been the last thing her mother gave her before her death the year before. It had been pearl with a moon shaped silver locket attached to it. The locket had nothing in, it was just of sentimental value. Light to hold, she never attempted to wear it, it just sat there in its box. Every now and again she would take it out and look at it. She saw it as part of her mother. It was nice when she needed comfort. She felt closer to her.

Rushing to the phone and dialling the local station she explained the situation.

Sorry miss, said the voice at the end. No officers were sent out to your address this morning. I’ll send someone out to take a statement. We’ll need details of your necklace and as much as you can give us about the men who raided your flat.

She put the phone down and put her head in her hands, what was going on? Who were those men she had so trustingly let in?

Annabel brushed her hands through her blonde hair, frightened and not knowing what to do. She really should have a shower and breakfast but she didn’t know when the police would turn up. She stood up shakily but sat back down again when the room started spinning. Desperate to find the answer to the mystery she thought back over her life. She tried to work out if she knew a Mr Snow, but didn’t recognise that name, certainly no one she’d ever met or heard of from her mother. She was an only child brought up solely by her mother, a single parent. He was a stranger to her.

Finally managing to stand, Annabel made it into the shower, scrubbing herself hard as if to wash away all trace of the trauma she had been through.

Sipping a cup of hot, sweet tea she started feeling a bit better, but food was impossible at the moment. Nausea made it too hard to eat, she would only have gagged on it. Feeling more human the tears started to fall. Not knowing what was happening was disorientating and the fear overwhelming. How would she know the police were who they said they were when they arrived? The bogus ones had seemed so real, the uniforms they wore looked genuine. Her only experience of the police was from watching tv programmes featuring them admittedly.

The phone rang, making Annabel jump. Hello, are you coming into work today? asked her boss, Adrian.

No sorry, I should have rung you, said Annabel realising it was already after nine.

Are you all right? he asked, concerned. You don’t sound like your normal self.

Sorry, it’s just a bit crazy here, I had a break in if you can call it that. I let police in and they ransacked the flat, taking the necklace my mum gave me shortly before she died, she explained briefly.

What are you talking about, you’re not making any sense why would police raid your flat and take your necklace?

I don’t know, Annabel said, beginning to cry again.

Hearing her distress, Adrian asked if he should come round. It sounded as if Annabel shouldn’t be on her own.

No, no I’ll be fine, she said, unconvincingly.

If you’re sure then. I’ll give you a ring later. Adrian put the phone down and sat deep in thought. He had feelings for Annabel although he was careful not to let them show. He didn’t want it to ruin their working relationship and she was a good worker, someone he didn’t want to lose. He harboured thoughts that she would see him as more than a boss.

Adrian was tall with black hair. He always looked smart in his suit. Even when not at work he liked to look good, taking particular care of his appearance. He and Annabel had worked together for a year, ever since she applied for the position as his secretary. He didn’t know what he would do without her. She was invaluable. Neat and organised, totally opposite to him. She managed to keep everything up to date and filed away properly. He always knew where to look for a client’s file. He didn’t know how she put up with him, she always managed to keep him organised. He decided to pop round after work just to make sure she really was all right. Sighing, he reached for the file he was working on. As an accountant he needed to keep up to date with the figures. Now, figures he could deal with, they were no problem for him, but when it came to relationships he was stranded. He tried to hide how he felt for his secretary, not wanting to lose her. Having no idea how she felt for him but sure Annabel would only see it as a working relationship. If he tried to take things further it might mess that up and he was under no illusions she was the best secretary he had ever had.

………

Meanwhile, a quivering wreck, Annabel was curled up on the sofa waiting impatiently for the police to arrive. She felt as if she had been there for days but it was only a few hours. They had not given any timescale of when they would arrive. Only saying it would be sometime that day. She had been told if the men came back she was to call 999 immediately. She was worried she wouldn’t know if it was the real police or the bogus ones again. She had been instructed to ask for identification which they would show through the letter box. She was told to ring the station to confirm they were legitimate.

It was during this period of waiting in suspense, not knowing what was happening that Annabel wished she drank, but she didn’t, not even a single glass of wine crossed her lips. Her mum had always been against drink even the smallest drop of alcohol was frowned upon. Annabel had always kept to that, feeling it would tarnish her mother’s memory if she tried it. Anyway it wasn’t necessary, soft drinks were better.

The doorbell rang finally, making Annabel jump. She got to her feet and surreptitiously looked out of the window, moving the net curtain slightly. She saw what looked like two police officers at the door, with an official car on the street. At the door she called out asking who they were. As instructed they passed their id through the letter box for her to look at. According to this they were Officers Glass and Spence. She asked them to wait a minute while she checked with the station. Understanding the situation and expecting it and were happy to wait. A moment later she was back cautiously opening the door.

Hello, you must be Miss Fair. I am PC Glass and this is my partner PC Spence.

She nodded and let them in. They followed her into the living room where they sat on the sofa. They got straight to the point, You reported that five men came earlier announcing themselves to be police officers with a search warrant. You later discovered your necklace to be missing.

Annabel didn’t say anything but started to shake. They were very sympathetic to her plight and suggested putting the kettle on, that a cup of tea might help her settle. PC Glass went through to the kitchen to see to that. Annabel was in no fit state to do it for herself, as scared as she so obviously was. PC Spence watched her with a look of concern on her face. She was pale and tense, with red rimmed bloodshot eyes which told of a lot of crying. He just hoped the tea would help as right now he was worried that collapse wasn’t far off. He was an experienced officer who was used to seeing traumatised victims and she looked like one of those.

PC Glass was back soon with three mugs of tea on a pink and white polka dot tray which he placed on the glass coffee table and passed the mugs around.

Miss Fair I have put sugar in it as you’re in shock, it will help you feel a bit better.

Annabel took the cup, cradling it in her hands. She sipped her tea slowly, grimacing at the sweet taste. She wasn’t used to sugar in tea and the officer had been liberal with it.

The officers were pleased to see a bit of colour come back into her face as she drank the tea. They had been drinking in silence while looking around the room. It was obviously a very feminine room with two vases of flowers, one on the coffee table, the other on the windowsill. The sofa and armchair were a very comfortable leather. They noticed just one photo of an elderly woman. The lack of photos made them realise they were dealing with a very private person who probably didn’t have much family.

PC Glass put his cup down and pulled out his notebook and pen ready to take a statement.

Can you tell us what happened in your own words please, he asked, sounding official and business like.

Slowly Annabel started going over what had happened that morning. The officers listened in silence, not asking any question for the moment. They wanted her to get it all out in her own words before jumping in with questions of their own. PC Glass was making notes as she spoke, every now and again glancing at his colleague.

When she finished PC Glass looked up from his notepad and started the questions, needing to get things clearer in his mind. Can you describe the necklace to me please?

It was pearl with a moon shaped locket hanging from it.

Was it a long chain? Short? Anything else you can say about it? What about where and when you got it? PC Glass fired these questions at her rapidly, one after the other.

Annabel shrank back, intimidated by all these questions and not sure what to say. After some thought she replied, It was average length. There was nothing special about it. My mum gave it to me a few weeks before she died. I’ve never worn it wanting to keep it safe as it was the last thing she gave to me. She told me to look after it. I feel I’ve failed her now it’s gone. She stopped as the tears poured out, unable to continue with this line of thought.

She still missed her mum although it had been a year and it was a blessed release when she had died. She had suffered from Parkinsons and early stages of dementia. When she gave her the necklace she had been having a lucid moment.

PC Spence patted her arm uncomfortable at this raw display of emotion. This was one part of the job he found difficult to deal with.

Annabel composed herself before saying, Sorry I really don’t think there is anything further I can add about the necklace.

PC Glass looked disapproving, this whole story was very strange and part of him wanted to think she was making it all up. Why would anyone want to steal an ordinary necklace that had once belonged to an old woman? Why would men posing as police officers raid a flat of a seemingly innocent, unassuming young woman?

Can you describe these men that came this morning and allegedly ransacked your flat?

No, it was early, I was only half awake and just assumed they were who they said they were.

The two officers exchanged glances, they both thought the same way, this was a time wasting, attention seeker.

Why did you tidy the flat up? queried PC Spence.

I didn’t realise at the time that it would matter. They were police officers looking for Mr Snow so I thought they had found nothing and left, leaving me to clear up the mess.

Now you’ve brought up the subject of a Mr Snow, do you know of anyone of this name, or did your mother?

Annabel shook her head, nothing further to add.

The officers glanced at each other again. This was going nowhere, they had nothing to go on at all.

They stood up and politely shook hands and told her to ring the station if she thought of anything further.

They saw themselves out, leaving Annabel on the sofa near to tears. She had seen the glances between them and knew they didn’t believe her. She didn’t blame them in some ways, as it was all highly unbelievable to her and she knew it had happened. What was she to do now? Was there anything she could do from here? If anything were to happen next she knew it would be down to her to try and investigate but where to start. It was like one of the thrillers she read. Or maybe a soap opera on television. Who needed books and television when she had it all happening in real life. Truth be told she was