To control them a lake d.., p.1
To Control Them: A Lake District Thriller (DI Sam Cobbs Book 8), page 1
TO CONTROL THEM
DI SAM COBBS
BOOK EIGHT
M A COMLEY
Copyright © 2023 by M A Comley
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
For Paul, my wonderful FA, thank you for giving me the idea for this one.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks as always go to @studioenp for their superb cover design expertise.
My heartfelt thanks go to my wonderful editor Emmy, and my proofreaders Joseph and Barbara for spotting all the lingering nits.
Thank you also to my amazing ARC Group who help to keep me sane during this process.
To Mary, gone, but never forgotten. I hope you found the peace you were searching for my dear friend. I miss you each and every day.
ALSO BY M A COMLEY
Blind Justice (Novella)
Cruel Justice (Book #1)
Mortal Justice (Novella)
Impeding Justice (Book #2)
Final Justice (Book #3)
Foul Justice (Book #4)
Guaranteed Justice (Book #5)
Ultimate Justice (Book #6)
Virtual Justice (Book #7)
Hostile Justice (Book #8)
Tortured Justice (Book #9)
Rough Justice (Book #10)
Dubious Justice (Book #11)
Calculated Justice (Book #12)
Twisted Justice (Book #13)
Justice at Christmas (Short Story)
Prime Justice (Book #14)
Heroic Justice (Book #15)
Shameful Justice (Book #16)
Immoral Justice (Book #17)
Toxic Justice (Book #18)
Overdue Justice (Book #19)
Unfair Justice (a 10,000 word short story)
Irrational Justice (a 10,000 word short story)
Seeking Justice (a 15,000 word novella)
Caring For Justice (a 24,000 word novella)
Savage Justice ( a 17,000 word novella)
Justice at Christmas #2 (a 15,000 word novella)
Gone in Seconds (Justice Again series #1)
Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again series #2)
Shot of Silence (Justice Again series #3)
Taste of Fury (Justice Again series #4)
Crying Shame (Justice Again series #5)
To Die For (DI Sam Cobbs #1)
To Silence Them (DI Sam Cobbs #2)
To Make Them Pay (DI Sam Cobbs #3)
To Prove Fatal (DI Sam Cobbs #4)
To Condemn Them (DI Sam Cobbs #5)
To Punish Them (DI Sam Cobbs #6)
To Entice Them (DI Sam Cobbs #7)
To Control Them (DI Sam Cobbs #8)
Forever Watching You (DI Miranda Carr thriller)
Wrong Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #1)
No Hiding Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #2)
Cold Case (DI Sally Parker thriller#3)
Deadly Encounter (DI Sally Parker thriller #4)
Lost Innocence (DI Sally Parker thriller #5)
Goodbye My Precious Child (DI Sally Parker #6)
The Missing Wife (DI Sally Parker #7)
Truth or Dare (DI Sally Parker #8)
Web of Deceit (DI Sally Parker Novella with Tara Lyons)
The Missing Children (DI Kayli Bright #1)
Killer On The Run (DI Kayli Bright #2)
Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright #3)
Murderous Betrayal (Kayli Bright #4)
Dying Breath (Kayli Bright #5)
Taken (DI Kayli Bright #6)
The Hostage Takers (DI Kayli Bright Novella)
No Right to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #1)
Killer Blow (DI Sara Ramsey #2)
The Dead Can’t Speak (DI Sara Ramsey #3)
Deluded (DI Sara Ramsey #4)
The Murder Pact (DI Sara Ramsey #5)
Twisted Revenge (DI Sara Ramsey #6)
The Lies She Told (DI Sara Ramsey #7)
For The Love Of… (DI Sara Ramsey #8)
Run for Your Life (DI Sara Ramsey #9)
Cold Mercy (DI Sara Ramsey #10)
Sign of Evil (DI Sara Ramsey #11)
Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey #12)
Locked Away (DI Sara Ramsey #13)
I Can See You (DI Sara Ramsey #14)
The Kill List (DI Sara Ramsey #15)
Crossing The Line (DI Sara Ramsey #16)
Time to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #17)
Deadly Passion (DI Sara Ramsey #18)
Son Of The Dead (DI Sara Ramsey #19)
I Know The Truth (A Psychological thriller)
She’s Gone (A psychological thriller)
Shattered Lives (A psychological thriller)
Evil In Disguise – a novel based on True events
Deadly Act (Hero series novella)
Torn Apart (Hero series #1)
End Result (Hero series #2)
In Plain Sight (Hero Series #3)
Double Jeopardy (Hero Series #4)
Criminal Actions (Hero Series #5)
Regrets Mean Nothing (Hero series #6)
Prowlers (Di Hero Series #7)
Sole Intention (Intention series #1)
Grave Intention (Intention series #2)
Devious Intention (Intention #3)
Cozy mysteries
Murder at the Wedding
Murder at the Hotel
Murder by the Sea
Death on the Coast
Death By Association
Merry Widow (A Lorne Simpkins short story)
It’s A Dog’s Life (A Lorne Simpkins short story)
A Time To Heal (A Sweet Romance)
A Time For Change (A Sweet Romance)
High Spirits
The Temptation series (Romantic Suspense/New Adult Novellas)
Past Temptation
Lost Temptation
Clever Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
Tragic Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
Sinful Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Keep in touch with M A Comley
PROLOGUE
“What? Are you locking up again tonight, Mum?”
Tammy tapped her finger on the back of her mobile. “Don’t start, Zoe. The boss has other things on his agenda right now; his wife was rushed into hospital, the baby is due within the next few hours. I volunteered to lock up for him, he didn’t force me to do it.”
“Christ, really? You’re so naïve, you can’t even see how much he takes you for granted, can you?”
“He does not. Let’s change the subject. Has Neil told you where he’s taking you this weekend? It’s all very exciting, isn’t it?”
“No, and I wish you’d pack it in doing that. I was in the middle of fighting your corner, and here you are, putting up a brick wall, as usual. Stop it, just stop it. When are you going to call a halt to men walking all over you? You let him sodding do it for years, and now that idiot of a boss is doing the very same thing.”
“You don’t need to look out for me, role reversal doesn’t exist in our relationship. May I remind you, young lady, that I’m fifty, not five.”
“Get you. Are you telling me to keep my nose out or telling me it’s wrong of me to care about what happens to my own mother?”
Tammy covered the mouthpiece of her phone and let out a sigh. When she didn’t answer immediately, Zoe repeated the question, only firmer this time. “Let’s not fall out about this, daughter dearest, we’ve only just started speaking again after a six-month break.”
“And whose fault was that?” Zoe snapped.
Tammy was aware that if she didn’t back down then there would be hell to pay and yet another strained few months between them. “Mine, dear, all mine, of course.” Even though it wasn’t. Tammy had tried to offer some unwanted relationship advice for Zoe to take on board about how to handle her fella. Zoe had flipped, told Tammy where to get off, and had great pleasure in pointing out that her mother and father were now the proud owners of divorce papers.
“There, I knew you would see sense, eventually. Now tell that boss of yours to get one of the other staff, preferably a male, to shut up shop at night. It’s not your responsibility.”
“Ah, now that’s a no-no. If women want equality in their roles at work, those words should never leave our mouths.”
“Give me a break, Mum. This has nothing to do with equality. I’m talking about basic care for your staff, and you know it. That place takes a lot of money, and the responsibility lies with you to ensure the garage is locked up in the early hours of the morning. That’s grossly unfair, especially at your age.”
“Jesus Christ, I’ve heard it all now. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a gazillion, trillion times, no one will jump me on the way home. If they do, I’d give them what for, without a second’s hesitation, you hear me?”
& nbsp; “I do, and believe me, I know what you’re capable of when the chips are down.”
“Ha, you don’t. Your father might, although that’s a different story.”
“I knew it. You’ve denied it all these years, but I used to hear you crying in your bedroom at night most of the time. He beat you, didn’t he?”
“Yes and no. It was six of one and half a dozen of the other. In the end, I gave as good as I got, no fear about that. Now go and enjoy the rest of your evening. That’s an order.”
“Okay. Take care. Is your phone charged?”
“Of course it is, or it was. It’s running down more every second I remain on the phone to you.”
“I can take the hint. I’ll drop round and see you tomorrow. It is still your day off, isn’t it? Or have you given that up as well?”
Tammy cringed and closed her eyes, not daring to tell her daughter the truth, that it was on the cards if the boss’s baby hadn’t arrived by the morning. “No, still on a day off. Call round for lunch. I’ll fix you a bacon sandwich made in the air fryer, you can’t beat it.”
“Well, that’s sealed the deal. I’ll be there with bells on. Love you, Ma.”
“Love you, too, sweetheart. Go make wonderful plans for the weekend. You can tell me all about the arrangements tomorrow.”
Tammy ended the call as the door opened and one of the regulars came in to pay for his diesel. “All right, Mick, how’s it diddling, mate?”
“Hi, Tammy. Same old. The wages don’t stretch far enough for the missus to put more clothes in that bulging wardrobe of hers. I fear my dinners are going to get smaller every day until she can afford that new dress she keeps banging on about.”
They both laughed.
“Go on, give in, you know it’ll be worth your while.”
“How did I know you’d come down on her side? You women are all the same, you all stick together, even when it’s blatantly obvious you’re in the wrong.”
Tammy gave him an extra-wide grin along with his receipt. “Men, you think you’ve got us all worked out, but nothing could be further from the truth.”
He turned and headed back towards the door. “Ha… have a good one. See you at the weekend.”
“I’ll be here. Don’t forget to bung Sandra an extra tenner here and there, if you want an easy life.”
He shook his head and let the door close behind him. Tammy watched him continue to shake his head on his way back to his car across the forecourt.
That’s what she loved about her job the most, the banter with the punters. Of course, you always got the miserable bugger swooping in now and again, who did nothing more than give a grunt for a response, but overall, the locals were mostly an agreeable bunch. She left the counter, opened the security door to the till section and carried on stocking the shelves in between serving the customers.
Now and again, she sang along to one of the old tunes on the radio. It whiled away the time, which ultimately meant one thing: the end of her shift growing closer.
There was a steady flow of customers throughout the evening, unusual for a Wednesday night, not that she was complaining. At midnight, she switched off the forecourt lights and called it a day. Then she partially cashed up the till, putting the notes away in the safe and leaving the coinage in the cash register for the boss to deal with in the morning. Fifteen minutes later, she secured the front door and set off on foot. Home was a few streets away. She had walked it many times over the years and never had a problem. A couple of young men staggered towards her, obviously the worse for wear.
“Your mothers are going to hit the roof when they see the state of you, Johnny and Tyron.”
“Nah, they’ll be tucked up in bed when we roll up. Need an escort do you, Tammy? We won’t charge you much for the privilege,” Johnny shouted over his shoulder as they passed.
“Cheeky sod. I remember looking out for you when you were wearing short trousers to school.”
“I never did. Must be a figment of your imagination, old-timer.”
The three of them laughed at the words batted between them. It made Tammy’s day, to bring brightness and cheer to everyone she met. Too many of her past years had been stuck in the doldrums. She was glad to see the back of those days, the day her ex had walked out and set up home with his slapper of a girlfriend.
Good luck to them. The cheating fuckers deserve each other after making my life hell. No more. I vowed the day he left that my time would be filled with smiles and laughter and I intend to stick to that pledge.
She turned the next corner, and two more youngsters she knew almost bumped into her.
“All right, Tammy, what are you doing out at this time of night?” Steve asked.
“On my way home to bed, and no, that wasn’t an invitation for you to join me,” she replied when a devilish grin appeared on his cheeky face.
He thrust a clenched fist to his heart. “Your words cut me like a knife. You spoil all my fun.”
“Get away with you. Take care, see you soon.”
“You, too, sweetheart.”
She carried on walking, the area quiet once more, and was relieved when the back of her house came into view. She preferred to use this way, it was closer than having to go around the front. She shoved open the stiff gate that had warped a little in a recent spell of rain and closed it behind her. The back garden was lit by various solar lights she had installed in the summer. Tammy beamed at the way they lit an inviting path, leading to her back door.
See, Zoe needn’t have worried, here I am, home safe and well.
Removing the key from her pocket, she let herself in and put the kettle on.
“I’m dying for a cuppa. It was so busy late on that I forgot to make myself one at eleven, my usual time. Never mind, I’ll soon sort that out.” A meow sounded in the hallway. “Tigs, where are you? Do you want some dinner?”
Her tortoiseshell cat entered the kitchen and did a figure of eight around her legs. She swooped down and collected her in her arms and snuggled into her fur.
“You smell good. I’ve missed you so much this evening.”
Tigs wriggled free from her arms and travelled back and forth along the worktop, pacing for her food.
“You little minx, I can take a hint.” Tammy filled the bowl that had been draining upside down in the sink since breakfast time and placed it on the food mat on the kitchen floor.
Tigs jumped down and tucked into her supper.
Tammy poured herself a mug of tea and went through to the lounge. She switched on the light, stopped mid-step and dropped her mug on the luxury carpet she’d had fitted only the week before. “Who…? What do you want? Why are you in my house? No, don’t bother. Get out before I start screaming!” Her legs weakened and her heart rate increased.
“Do that and I’ll wring your cat’s neck,” the masked male snarled.
Tammy peered closer to see if there was anything about him she could recognise. There wasn’t. His voice sounded disguised. Why? She must know him. Was he a customer at the petrol station?
“Please, don’t hurt my poor cat. I’ll do anything, just don’t hurt her, or me. What do you want?”
“Your money. I hear you have a stash upstairs in your bedroom. You’re another one who doesn’t like banks, aren’t you?”
“Take it. I’ll get it for you.”
She turned to leave the room, but he launched himself at her and grabbed her arm.
“Stay where you are. No, on second thoughts, get that chair.”
He pointed at the single dining chair she kept in the lounge; she had no idea why, it was something her mother had done while she was growing up that had always resonated with her.
“What?”
“You heard me. Bring the chair over here, in the centre of the room.”
Tammy walked hesitantly towards the mahogany chair with its Regency-striped padded seat and dragged it into position. Her gaze trained on the man, still trying to work out where she knew him from.
“Sit down,” he ordered.
“But… you wanted me to get the money for you.” Her voice trailed off when he took two large steps towards her.
Towering over her, he sneered, “Shut that fucking trap of yours and do as you’re told, you hear me?”
