The Cliff-Top Killer (The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series Book 8) Read online

  THE CLIFF-TOP KILLER

  Book Eight of the Sydney Harbour Hospital Series

  Chris Taylor

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE CLIFF-TOP KILLER

  Dedication

  Other Books by Chris Taylor

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Epilogue

  Note to Readers

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Copyright

  This book is dedicated to Pat Thomas, editor extraordinaire. Nineteen books and counting and you still get a thrill out of my stories. Thank you.

  And as always, to my rock: my husband, Linden. I love you.

  OTHER BOOKS BY CHRIS TAYLOR

  Find all of Chris Taylor’s books on Amazon

  The Munro Family Series

  (in order)

  The Profiler

  The Investigator

  The Predator

  The Betrayal

  The Deception

  The Negotiator

  The Christmas Vigil (a novella)

  The Ransom

  The Defendant

  The Shooting

  The Maker

  The Sydney Harbour Hospital Series

  (in order)

  The Perfect Husband

  The Body Thief

  The Baby Snatchers

  The Final Bullet

  The Debt Collector

  The Lab Test

  The Stolen Identity

  The Cliff-top Killer

  The Likeable Fraudster

  The Sydney Legal Series

  (in order)

  An Accidental Murderer

  At the Hand of her Father

  A Woman Scorned

  Lies and Deception

  Ordinary Evil

  The Perfect Crime

  Malicious Love

  Toxic Inheritance

  The Craigdon Family Series

  (in order)

  Callum

  Joel

  Isabella

  Nicholas

  Sophia

  Flynn

  Noah

  Logan

  Elizabeth

  The Barrington Family Series

  (in order)

  Broken Lives

  Broken Promises

  Broken Bonds

  Broken Spirits

  Broken Vows

  Broken Minds

  Broken Dreams

  Broken Hearts

  Broken Homes

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  PROLOGUE

  Dear Diary,

  I went down there last night, after the house was silent and still. I shouldn’t have gone. It’s not like I didn’t know what I would find. But I couldn’t help it. It’s as if I was trying to punish myself. All it did was make me angry, so angry I could barely breathe. My pulse raced. It was like an elephant sat on my chest. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. Keel over, dead, right there on the floor of our basement. Imagine that?

  Of course, I didn’t. With an effort, I got my fury under control, until its white-hot heat had settled into an icy block of contempt, way down low in my stomach. As I returned to my usual state of calmness, everything became clear, like morning sunlight flooding a room on a glorious summer day. I knew what I had to do…

  CHAPTER ONE

  Three months later

  With an impatient sound in the back of her throat, Shelby Gianopoulos pushed a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes and ploughed her way through the crowd of early morning commuters departing the train station. Again she cursed the alarm that had failed to go off at the prescribed hour. She was going to be late for her first shift at the Sydney Harbour Hospital.

  “Excuse me,” she murmured, pushing past a woman dressed in a smart business suit and carrying a briefcase that looked like it cost more than Shelby earned in a month.

  The woman threw her a stern look, her red lips pursed in a frown, but thankfully she moved out of the way. Shelby hurried forward a more few feet and then came up short behind two student types with backpacks slung over their shoulders. They strode casually in front of her, blocking her path.

  “Please, I’m running late. Do you mind?” she said to their backs, raising her voice above the din of several hundred people, all intent on reaching their destination.

  One of the young men glanced at her over his shoulder and then continued on his way. His pace remained slow and measured. Shelby gritted her teeth and tried again.

  “Look, boys, I understand that you have all day to get to your lecture hall, but some of us have to work for a living. I’m late for the first day of my new job. That’s not your fault, but I’d appreciate it if you’d step aside and let me through. Please, I really need to get to work.”

  This time, the men stopped and turned to face her. The one who’d dismissed her, shot her a lop-sided, self-assured grin that immediately reminded her of her youngest brother. John was eighteen and every bit as good looking—and just as cocky as these two.

  “What do you do?” the man asked, giving her a quick once-over.

  Shelby suppressed a grin. She was close to a decade older than the guy and yet, his dark brown eyes shone with interest.

  “I’m a midwife,” she supplied. “I work at the Sydney Harbour Hospital. At least, I will if I manage to get there without being fired for being late on my first day.” She softened her words with a smile.

  The boy who’d spoken glanced at his mate and then grinned at her again. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

  Without warning, he let out an ear piercing whistle that sent commuters scurrying in all directions.

  “Hey!” he yelled to no one in particular. “Move aside, this lady needs to get through. She has an emergency to attend.”

  Like Moses at the Red Sea, the crowds ahead of them parted. Shelby shook her head in amazement. She looked at the man responsible for the miracle.

  “Thank you.” She laughed. “I wasn’t expecting you to do that, but I really appreciate it.”

  He shot her a wink and she couldn’t help the way her belly did a little somersault. If only he were ten years older… Swallowing a sigh and with a brief wave of farewell, she surged forward through the gap in the pedestrian traffic and continued on her way.

  The entrance to the Sydney Harbour Hospital, with its wide, double glass doors, was just as impressive as the sixteen-story sandstone building that towered before her. Butterflies churned in her stomach and she breathed deeply, hoping to calm her sudden rush of nerves. Adjusting her shoulder bag, she made her way down the cobblestoned path that led to the front doors.

  Stepping inside, she breathed in the familiar hospital scent. It was the same in hospitals everywhere. A unique combination of disinfe
ctant and other cleaning solutions. Uniformed staff members brushed past her, chatting to each other as they made their way to work. A surge of excitement went through her like it always did when she was in a hospital. There was nothing she didn’t love about being a nurse.

  Not far past the main foyer, she spied an information desk. It was manned by a white-haired woman with the word ‘volunteer’ printed on a tag she wore. Shelby fumbled inside her bag and retrieved the crumpled letter she’d received from the hospital’s HR department a fortnight earlier, confirming her acceptance for the position. She smiled at the woman behind the counter.

  “Hello, I was wondering if you could tell me how to get to level seven of E Block?”

  The woman’s eyes twinkled with pleasure. “Good morning, and welcome to the Sydney Harbour Hospital. You’re looking for one of our maternity wards. I take it you’re new?”

  Shelby nodded. “Yes. I’m Shelby Gianopoulos. This is my first day.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Shelby. What a lovely name!”

  Shelby blushed. “Thank you. I was named after Julia Robert’s character in the movie Steel Magnolias. My mom watched it not long before I was born and sobbed all the way home from the theater. My dad protested because he wanted a traditional Greek name, like all the other girls in his family, but Mom would have none of that.”

  The woman smiled. “Well, I’m glad your mom held out. I’m Marjorie Campbell, by the way. You can find me most mornings right here at the information desk. I share it with Dottie Featherdale. Between the two of us, there’s nothing we don’t know about this place.” She winked and Shelby couldn’t help but chuckle even though she was anxious to get on her way.

  “That’s good to know, Marjorie and it’s nice to meet you. I’d love to stay and chat some more, but I’m in a bit of a hurry. Do you mind telling me where I can find the maternity ward? If I don’t get a move on, I’m going to be late.”

  “Of course, honey.” She pointed down the corridor. “You’re already in E Block. Keep heading in that direction. You’ll go past the coffee shop and a florist. Keep going until you come to a bank of elevators. Take one up to level seven. The ward’s on the left off the elevator.”

  “Thanks so much, Marjorie. I appreciate your help.” She shot the woman a smile.

  “You’re more than welcome, Shelby. I look forward to seeing you around. You have a nice day, won’t you?”

  Turning away, Shelby stuffed the letter back into her bag and took off toward the elevators. She glanced at her watch and cursed under her breath. She had less than three minutes.

  Half-running, she once again ducked and wove her way through people who were hurrying to work. The woman in front of her came to a sudden halt and it was all Shelby could do not to collide with her. With a quick sidestep, she avoided the collision, but ran into something solid.

  “Oh!” A gasp fell from her mouth.

  She looked up in time to see a large brown stain spreading over the crisp white coat of the man who stood beside her. In his hand was an almost empty jumbo-sized Styrofoam coffee cup. Realization suddenly hit her: She was responsible for the damage to his coat.

  “Oh, my goodness! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to run into you. I was just trying to…” She shook her head, helpless to explain. He regarded her calmly. Heat burst across her cheeks.

  He shot her a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. It was an accident.”

  Embarrassment continued to wash over her. “I’m sorry. Give me your details. I’ll pay for the dry cleaning.”

  His smile morphed into a chuckle. “Don’t be silly. I have plenty of coats. Besides, it’s just a coffee stain. It’ll wash out.”

  “But… But it’s only early. You’ll be walking around like that all day,” she protested.

  The man shrugged and smiled again. “I’m sure I’ve walked around in worse. In fact, I know I have.”

  Shelby’s face grew warm again and it had nothing to do with embarrassment. Belatedly, she noticed how attractive he was as he casually brushed away her concerns with grace and charm. Her stomach somersaulted with a different kind of nerves. All of a sudden, she was eager to get away from him.

  “Well, if you’re sure. I guess… I guess I’d better get to work. I don’t want to be late.”

  “No, you don’t.” He gave her a wink.

  With another blush burning a path across her cheeks, she turned and fled.

  * * *

  Doctor Samuel Munro stared in appreciation at the woman’s departing back. Her long, dark hair danced around her head with every stride that took her away from him. His gaze roved over her tidy figure. Even under her nurse’s uniform, it was obvious she was soft and curvy in all the right places. He wondered who she was.

  He’d been employed as an obstetrician at the hospital for more than three years and had been a resident there for some years before that. He was sure he hadn’t seen her before. Of course, it was possible she worked in a different building. The hospital was spread over nearly two hectares and employed more than a thousand staff. There were many employees he’d never met.

  But this woman was in his building and had headed in the direction of the elevators. She’d said she was on her way to work. Perhaps she was new on staff? All of a sudden, he was eager to find out.

  “Samuel, my man! What are you up to this fine and sunny day?”

  Samuel turned and greeted his friend and colleague with a smile. “Fancy seeing you here so early, Ian. The way you were knocking back those tequilas last night, I was sure you were rostered on a late shift.”

  Doctor Ian Broderick grabbed Samuel around the neck in a friendly tussle. “Ha! What are you talking about? Do I look like a guy who lets the thought of a little hangover stop him from having a good time?” Releasing his grip, Ian stood back and then frowned. “What the hell happened to your coat? Didn’t your parents teach you how to drink from a cup?”

  Samuel glanced down at the coffee stain marking his jacket and grimaced. “Ha, ha. Aren’t we the comedian today?”

  Ian made a move toward Samuel’s chest with a clenched fist and Samuel deftly sidestepped the mock punch. “So, how’d it go with that girl you were chatting up?” he asked in an effort to deflect Ian’s attention. “You looked pretty friendly when I left.”

  Ian grin turned sour. “Oh, yeah! We got friendly all right. Right up until the moment I tried to kiss her. Then she suddenly remembered she had to get up early the next morning for some important meeting. Didn’t want to oversleep.”

  Samuel shook his head in commiseration. Ian tried so hard to get on with the ladies. Too hard, in Samuel’s opinion, but Ian would hear none of it. Samuel had stopped giving him advice as far as his love life went. Ian was an adult. He’d eventually figure it out. Samuel only hoped it would happen soon. Ian’s whining about how the girls flocked to Samuel without any effort was getting tiresome.

  “Hey, what are you doing Friday night?” Ian asked, dragging Samuel’s attention back to his colleague.

  “I don’t know. I’m working until six. I guess we could do something after that.”

  “Great. I’m not rostered on until midnight. We can go out beforehand. I’ll make some calls. I’m betting the Martin twins will be eager to hang out with us again. We had fun the other night, didn’t we? Christina was all over you, pushing those big tits in your face. Did you get lucky?”

  Samuel stared at his friend in disgust. “Don’t talk about her like that, Ian. She’s a nice girl. We had a good time.”

  Ian immediately looked contrite. “Sorry, mate. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just guy talk, you know. Her sister was just as hot. Maybe we can get the two of them to double date again. What do you think?”

  Samuel thought about Ian’s suggestion. It was true. Christina and Catherine Martin had been fun. Tall, blond and busty, they’d surprised him with their humor. They both worked in the fashion industry and though they probably couldn’t tell him who the current prime minister was, it was easy e
nough to spend a Friday evening with them. They were just the kind of girls he liked to spend his time with. Fun and flirty, with no strings attached.

  He gave Ian a nod. “Sure, why not?”

  Ian’s face immediately broke out into a wide smile. “Great. I’ll call them. See you round.”

  “Yeah, have a good day.”

  Samuel looked down at the stain on his coat and silently debated whether he should detour via his locker and get a clean one. He checked his watch. If he didn’t get moving, he’d be late for the ward round. Geraldine Walker was the Nursing Unit Manager of the maternity ward on level seven and she wasn’t a woman to be messed with.

  He’d been employed at the hospital barely six months when she cornered him in her office and invited him out to dinner. Whilst he’d been flattered, she was at least a decade older than him and though she was an attractive woman, he wasn’t interested. As tactfully as he could, he’d turned her down. It hadn’t gone over well and ever since, she’d made it her business to chew his ass at any opportunity.

  With his mind made up, he ducked into the nearest bathroom and took off his coat. Turning on the water, he held it under the flow and gave it a quick scrub. The stain lightened marginally. It now looked more like newborn baby poo. Too bad he worked on the delivery ward. People might jump to the wrong conclusion. Still, he was out of time. It would have to do.

  * * *

  Shelby smiled a nervous greeting to the nurse beside her and hastily stowed her bag in the locker inside the tearoom like she’d been told. Despite her best efforts, she’d been a couple of minutes late to the ward and had been confronted by a none-too-happy boss. Geraldine Walker had introduced herself in clipped tones and had then told her in no uncertain terms never to be late for a shift again.