With Melody and Pamela now in handcuffs and being watched over by Constables Evans and Taylor in the bedrooms, Sergeant Wells stepped out into the corridor to radio in what he’d found. Emily heard him mention something about CID as she wandered out into the garden, where Jerome stood with Daniel and Janelle. They all shared the same shell-shocked expression.
“Ben and Sylvia were gone before we could catch up with them,” Janelle said to her. “We had to walk all the way.”
“Look at what you missed,” Emily said. Her eye throbbed. She felt sick to the stomach. And for some ungodly reason, she felt hungry.
It wasn’t long before the drone of a helicopter could be heard. Minutes later, they all covered their ears as an air ambulance landed and paramedics jumped out. Helen was brought out on a stretcher. Her eyes were open, her body halfway between consciousness and unconsciousness. As she was carried past Emily, she lifted a finger. Emily leant down until her ear was by Helen’s lips.
“I give Meadow Pines a one star rating,” she croaked. “I know who you are now.”
Before Emily could respond, Helen was stretchered away and lifted into the waiting helicopter. Turning around, she saw Jerome watching her.
“What did she say?” he asked.
Emily didn’t answer. Instead, she stared out across the meadow, into the darkness of the trees, wanting nothing more than to go home.
MEADOW PINES MASSACRE
SEVERAL DEAD & INJURED AT WEEKEND RETREAT
By Jack Portland
The quiet communities of the New Forest were left reeling in shock last night following a spate of bizarre and gruesome murders at Meadow Pines, a local retreat specialising in digital detox. The retreat’s owner, Pamela Hardy, 44, has been charged with the killings, while Melody Jackson, 25, a regular visitor to Meadow Pines is also currently in police custody. Details of her involvement have not been released. Hardy’s daughter, Marcia, 22, has also been implicated but was pronounced dead on scene, after reportedly taking her own life.
The victims have been named as Oscar Jansen, 47, Samuel Turner, 26, and Franklyn Hobbes, 24. Turner, a chef at Meadow Pines, is thought to have been in a relationship with Marcia Hardy. Hobbes, who had a long history of mental health issues, disappeared in April of last year. Jansen, a private investigator, was hired by the Hobbes family to find him. Franklyn’s mother, Darcy Hobbes, 61, said, ‘He often goes missing for periods of time, sometimes months, but he always comes home eventually.’
Although police have yet to issue an official statement citing the reasons behind the killings, early reports indicate that a shallow grave containing the decomposed remains of Franklyn Hobbes was uncovered by guest, Emily Swanson, 27. Sergeant Wells of Lyndhurst constabulary has praised Swanson, a former teacher, and fellow guest Jerome Miller, 28, for their help in uncovering what he described as, ‘a tragic bloodbath that didn’t need to happen.’
Police have also issued arrest warrants for known criminals Benjamin White, 36, and Sylvia White nee Parsons, 35, who are believed to have robbed follow guests during the chaos.
Journalist Helen Carlson was reviewing the retreat for Modern Living magazine when the murders took place. Turn to pages 3&4 to read her exclusive eye-witness report, with details on how she narrowly escaped becoming Meadow Pines’ fifth victim.