Matt Brolly [Brolly - Dead Water

Following his law degree where he developed an interest in criminal law, Matt Brolly completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University.

He is the bestselling author of the DCI Lambert crime novels, Dead Eyed, Dead Lucky, Dead Embers, and Dead Time as well as the acclaimed near future crime novel, Zero, and the US thriller, The Controller.

In 2020 the first of a new crime series set in the West Country of the UK will be released by Thomas and Mercer (Amazon Publishing)

Matt also writes children's books as M.J. Brolly. His first children's book, The Sleeping Bug, was released by Oblong Books in December 2018.

Matt lives in London with his wife and their two young children. You can find out more about Matt at his website www.mattbrolly.co.uk or by following him on twitter: @MattBrollyUK

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The pub was stationed less than a hundred yards from Belmarsh prison in southeast London. Detective Chief Superintendent Glenn Tillman had called in a favour and shut down the place for the day. A hush descended over the room as, head bowed, Alice Fowler opened the door, followed by her mother.

The situation was a first for DCI Michael Lambert. While Alice had spent the last hour in the prison for the parole hearing of Joseph Wyatt, Lambert had been in the bar with Alices father and the families of the victims.

Twenty-five years ago, Joseph Wyatt had been convicted for the murder of two young women and the attempted murder of Alice Fowler. Like his victims, Wyatt had been a member of the university rowing team.

Lambert was at a table with Tillman and the two former officers whod arrested Wyatt.

How did it go, dear? asked Alices father, Tom.

Alice crashed down onto a chair as if her legs had been kicked away from her. I hardly recognised him, hes changed so much. she said, downing the offered vodka in one quick gulp.

Tillman walked from behind the bar and placed a second drink in front of Alice. What happened? he asked Alices mother.

He was still being questioned when we left. Alice and I read out our statements. The woman hung onto the solid arm of her husband, who stared ahead with stoic intensity. His air of hostility hadnt faded since earlier in the morning when theyd first gathered. Hed appeared to be on a hair trigger, and Lambert had been waiting for the man to explode ever since.

You should have seen him, said Mrs Fowler, shaking her head. Im scared, Tom, she said to her husband, as if they were alone. He was acting like he was sorry, that he regretted everything and I think they believed him.

Didnt they listen to what you said? asked Tom Fowler.

I told them the impact he had on our lives, Dad, said Alice. On everyones lives, she added, glancing at the families of the other victims, who had not been so fortunate. Its up to them now.

Tom Fowler went behind the bar and poured some more vodka. You cant let this happen, he said to Tillman.

Lets wait and see what they come back with, Mr Fowler, said Tillman.

When will we know? said Tom Fowler.

They have fourteen days but Ill find out earlier. I promise you all, I will notify you as soon as I know, said Tillman.

Lambert stood as the families filtered out. The signs of loss were unmistakable and Lambert thought about his daughter, Chloe, and how inconceivable it would be to live without her. The families exchanged words with Tillman and the other officers until only the Fowlers were left.

Tom Fowler offered his hand to Tillman, the hardness still in his eyes. They looked like a close-knit family but Wyatts attack had impacted them as much as the others. Alice had dropped out of university, and had suffered from depression ever since. Lambert understood Mr Fowlers anger. Wyatts attacks had been savage. Alices witness statement recalled in terrifying detail how hed attacked her by the river, the grip of his hands against her throat as hed held her under the water, the attack made worse by the fact she knew and trusted her assailant. And she was the lucky one, the one still alive to tell the tale. I wanted him to rot in there, said Fowler.

We all did, said Tillman, breaking free of the handshake.

Tillman was Lamberts direct supervisor within a specialised division of the Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) known as the Group. Hed suggested Lambert attend as a neutral observer but this cold case had no relevance to Lambert and he wanted to be away from the graveyard feel, and return to work on the numerous cases that needed his urgent attention.

Once the families were gone, Tillman retrieved a bottle of whisky from behind the bar and placed it on the table. The only people left were Tillmans two former colleagues from the investigation, Mark Devlin and Terry Kirby - and Dan Hogg, a journalist who was friends with the trio, and whod reported on the Wyatt case.

Lambert wanted to object but Kirby had already started pouring the drinks. Reluctantly, Lambert joined the four men in a silent toast.

He hasnt changed, Tillman said eventually, undoing his top button. Tillman had the upper body of a body builder, albeit one who was slightly out of shape. Yet he still insisted on wearing shirts one size too small for him.

Remember when we brought him in? said Kirby, his mouth half full of whisky. Absolutely no remorse for what hed done.

He was proud. Thought he was something special. Those poor girls, said Devlin.

Tillmans eyes lowered but he didnt comment.

You reported on it? Lambert asked the journalist, Hogg, whod been silent ever since Alice Fowler had returned.

First major case.

Lambert looked over at Tillman who was unusually silent. You all knew each other before though?

We were at university together.

Lambert smiled at the idea of Tillman being at university. He couldnt picture his superior at lectures, or even at a student bar. He viewed Tillman as someone whod been fully formed as a policeman and struggled to imagine him listening to anyone elses opinion. So you three joined the Met, and you became a journalist?

He couldnt hack real life, even back then, could you Hoggy? said Kirby.

Hogg sighed and drank some whisky. I wanted to write about corruption not be at the heart of it, he said, with a wry smile.

Didnt have the balls, said Kirby.