Shattered Lives (A psychological thriller) Read online

  SHATTERED LIVES

  A PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER

  M A COMLEY

  Copyright © 2022 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.

  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.

  CONTENTS

  Also by M A Comley

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Keep in touch with M A Comley

  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)

  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)

  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)

  I Know The Truth (A Psychological thriller)

  She’s Gone (A psychological thriller)

  Shattered Lives (A psychological thriller coming Aug 2022)

  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)

  PROLOGUE

  Joel inched his head around in a large circle, wincing when the expected cracks hit the air. “Boy, am I ready for this time away. Work has been full-on, non-stop aggro for weeks now, and I can foresee it only getting worse if this contract we’ve placed a bid for comes to fruition.”

  Rick, his second-in-command, downed the rest of his lager and leapt to his feet. “It’s my round. Another one, Joel?”

  Joel blew out a breath, tempted, but aware he was dangerously close to his limit already. “I’d better not, not if I intend getting home in one piece. I’ll leave you guys to it. Have fun, kiddos, just make sure you don’t come into the office hungover tomorrow. We’ve got masses of work to get through before I take off next week. I want every account looked over and tinkered with in the next seven days, you hear me?”

  “You’re stressing for no reason, Joel, we’ve got this, like always. You’ve got the dream team working for you. You push us to get the results you need, and have we ever let you down yet?” Rick replied. He took a discreet step towards the bar.

  “Not yet, but there’s always a first time.”

  Rick glanced at their two associates and rolled his eyes. “He’s no fun, is he?”

  Carly and Sandra both stifled a grin behind their tumblers and took a swig of their gin and tonics.

  “Keep us out of your petty arguments,” Carly murmured, loud enough f
or Joel to hear.

  “Something wrong, Carly?” Joel asked. “You do realise I was joking, don’t you?”

  She stared at him, her blue eyes glistening from the glare of the lights overhead, and said with the straightest of faces, “Were you? I really can’t tell sometimes.”

  He held her gaze for a few seconds longer. “Are you kidding me?”

  She laughed so hard. “Of course I am. You’re far too serious these days, we’ve all noticed.”

  Joel slapped a hand over his chest. “Moi? Never. I have my moments, admittedly, but most of the time I’m chilled.”

  “You reckon,” Carly bit back.

  Joel was surprised by her curt tone and narrowed his eyes. He paused before he retaliated, aware that, if challenged, she could be a mardy cow for weeks. He decided to let the matter lie there and go home instead. “I’ll see you both in the morning, I have a wife and kids to get home to.” He waved and turned on his heel and crossed the room to the bar where Rick was standing in line. He patted him on the back. “See you tomorrow. Carly’s got one on her, just warning you to be careful. Don’t let her wind you up. I can do without there being an atmosphere at work over the next few days, we have a lot to get through.”

  Rick cast a quick glance over his shoulder at the two women. “She’s a pussycat with me. I’ll give her a few strokes under the table when I get back and all will be good again.”

  “Putty in your hands, right?”

  Rick gave him a knowing wink. “See you in the morning, boss.”

  “Have fun—not too much fun, though.” He left the bar shaking his head at the prospect of what lay ahead of Rick. He knew that he and Carly would probably end up sharing a bed together later that evening. They could deny it all they liked, but he wasn’t dense enough to believe their claims that nothing was going on between them, the sexual tension was there for all to see.

  Joel pressed the key fob to open his steel-grey Lexus RX. Nestled behind the wheel, he drew away from the pub car park and began the drive home to Chelsea. He loved the area. They’d only been there two years since the business had struck gold. Now it was steadily climbing to who knew where, but he intended to enjoy the ride.

  The traffic was minimal at this time of night, residents either at home with their families or more likely, most of them still at the pub or frequenting the numerous wine bars in the area. Joel couldn’t wait to get back to Mandy and his two children. The digital clock on the dash screamed it was well past the kids’ bedtime. He put his foot down just as a text message tinkled on his phone.

  As he reached for it on the passenger seat, he felt a thud and the car jerked from side to side. His gaze quickly sought out the rear-view mirror, and that’s when he saw the figure lying in the road.

  Shit, I’ve hit a damn cyclist. I should stop, check they’re all right. Shouldn’t I?

  He cupped his hand over his mouth and expelled a breath then smelt the palm of his hand. Not bloody likely. I’m borderline over the limit. I’d get arrested as soon as the cops came near me. Shit, shit, shit! What the fuck do I do now?

  Another car came around the corner, forcing him to push down hard on the accelerator. He watched the car pull over and the driver get out to assist the cyclist. Joel freaked out and put his foot down firmer to get away. His tyres screeched. He didn’t want to know what the outcome was, or did he?

  Jesus, what if I’ve killed them? What then? There are cameras all around, I’ll get caught. I know I will.

  Another five minutes of going back and forth in his head, and by the time he drew up outside his substantial home, he had managed to completely work himself up to a frenzy about the possibility of having his arse pulled in on a manslaughter or murder charge.

  It wasn’t my fault. I was distracted by my phone.

  That’s no excuse. What the fuck was I thinking?

  Bloody hell. What if that person is dead?

  He locked the car, checked the nearside front bumper and, finding nothing out of place, tore into the house and went straight into the lounge to switch on Sky News.

  “Is that you, love?” Mandy shouted from upstairs.

  He ignored her the first and second time, his attention drawn to the newscaster, waiting for the accident to be announced.

  Would they be interested in a hit-and-run? How ridiculous am I being?

  Mandy came tearing into the room. “Why didn’t you bloody answer me? I thought we had an intruder.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Sorry, there was something I wanted to watch on the TV, and the news caught my attention.”

  “Sod that.” Mandy jabbed him firmly in the arm. “You scared the shit out of me. Have some thought for other people in this house for a change. You’re so caught up in your own secret world most days, neither I nor the kids get a look-in.”

  He tutted and shook his head. “This is typical of you, blowing things out of proportion all the time. My world doesn’t revolve around you and the kids, I have bigger fish to fry.” As soon as the words tumbled out of his mouth, he knew he would receive a backlash for his misdemeanour.

  Enraged, Mandy took two steps towards him and slapped him hard around the face. “How dare you? I have no idea what has got into you lately but I’m sick to death of you throwing snide remarks like that around. There was a time when the kids and I meant everything to you. Not any more, apparently.”

  “What the fuck are you on about? Jesus, I left the pub early to be with you all, and here you are, flinging this shit at me.”

  “Stop having a go at me. You need to take a step back and assess the situation before you open that trap of yours. You manage to do it at work, why can’t you do it at home as well?”

  “Because I shouldn’t have to be on my best behaviour at home, that’s why.”

  Her eyes widened in the death stare she’d developed lately. “How dare you think you can take us for granted like that? I should have listened to my mother. She tried her hardest to make me see sense when we announced our engagement.”

  “Yes, maybe you should have listened to the old dragon after all.” He marched past her into the kitchen, his mission to watch the news all but forgotten. There was only one thing on his mind now, to grab his bottle of whisky and retire to his study, where he could obtain some peace and quiet.

  Mandy followed him through to the kitchen and then into the study.

  He flung himself into the executive chair behind his large mahogany desk. “Don’t start, Mandy. Not in here. This is my domain and off limits to the rest of the family, you know that.”

  Her temper flared, and she lashed out, her arms swinging like the pendulum of the grandfather clock sitting in the hallway, an heirloom passed down from his grandparents. The antique Tiffany lamp took the brunt of the force, along with the large mermaid paperweight his children had given him for Christmas the year before last. The two items crashed to the floor, shattering on impact.

  “What the fuck are you doing, woman? You’re out of your mind. You can explain that one to the children, I’m having none of it.”

  Mandy took one look at the damage she’d caused, and her legs gave way beneath her. She buried her head in her hands and rocked back and forth, the tears accompanied by deafening sobs. “You bastard.”

  He left his chair, feeling every bit the bastard she perceived him to be, and got down on his knees to cradle her. “I’m sorry, I never meant to be such a…”

  “Prick,” she whispered through her sobs.

  “Yes. You know how much you and the kids mean to me.”

  “Do I? Sometimes I wonder if you even like us, let alone love us. I’m not sure if I can take much more of this.”

  He leaned back on his haunches. “What? Our marriage?”

  “Yes. I hate tiptoeing around you all the time, and the kids are always asking when Daddy is going to be in a good mood, like he used to be.”

  He shook his head. “I’m so sorry, I had no idea. Blame it on work, the stress I have to deal with every day
of the bloody week.”

  “That’s no excuse. If you can’t handle it, walk away. Find something less stressful and more conducive with family life. We should be your priority. I can’t raise these two kids on my own, that was never the plan when we set out on our life journey together. You promised me you would never turn your back on your kids and would always spend quality time with us, and here we are, at eight o’clock, and you haven’t laid eyes on them since the two minutes you spent with them at breakfast. That’s totally unacceptable. Things have to change.”

  “You’re making me out to be a right bastard. I spend as much time as I can with you and the kids.”

  “You do?” She stared at him, nothing but misery and sorrow welling up in her eyes.

  His heart ached for the pain he was putting her through. “Of course I do, whenever possible. It takes a huge amount of integrity and work to be in charge of a vastly successful advertising company, Mand, don’t pile this crap on me.”

  “I’m not, all I’m asking is that you take a step back and reassess which direction our lives are leading us now and again.”

  “I do, constantly.”

  “I’m not talking professionally here. I’m talking about us, where our lives are going, as a family.”

  “You guys are always at the forefront of my mind. I swear you are.”

  “We are? I find that incredibly hard to believe. When was the last time you attended any of the kids’ activities, at school, I mean? You promised you wouldn’t miss out on their sports day this year, and yet you did exactly that.”

  “Something cropped up at work which needed my immediate attention. I explained how important that meeting was at the time, and you accepted it. So why are you bringing it up now?”

  “Because it still hurts… you putting your work before us, every second of the day. If one of us dropped dead tomorrow, you’d probably shrug your shoulders and say, ‘Shit happens, I have a meeting I have to attend, it’s a matter of life or death.’ Wouldn’t you?”