Buried alive, p.1
Buried Alive, page 1
BURIED ALIVE
AN UNPUTDOWNABLE DCI GLOVER SCOTTISH CRIME THRILLER
BOOK 2
OLIVER DAVIES
Copyright © 2025 by Oliver Davies
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.
CONTENTS
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
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
A Message from the Author
1
12 Years Ago
“Amelia!”
Amelia Graham looked to her right to see a few of her classmates waving at her, looking keen to get her attention. Brian, a ginger haired lad who was shockingly tall for an eighteen-year-old, stood with Bryony, a girl with short blonde hair, and Hazel, a slender girl with long brown hair. Amelia smiled as she waved back at them, then pointed the Nikon camera that was dangling around her neck in their direction. The moment they saw the camera their faces lit up with excitement and they posed. They all laughed and pulled different faces with each photo that she took. The girls mostly pulled serious, attractive faces, while Brian tried hard to play the class clown. Amelia laughed along with them, snapping as many photos as she could.
They had just finished their final year at the Charleston Academy, and tonight was their graduation party. To commemorate it, Amelia wanted to capture as many memories as possible. Anyone who knew Amelia knew she always had her camera on her, and there was no way she was going to forget it that night.
After a couple of minutes, the group of classmates gestured for her to join them. She politely declined as she waved her camera in the air, hinting that she was too preoccupied to leave her spot. Although they looked disappointed, they continued onward. Amelia had always been a well-liked girl—she was the most popular girl in her year—and she often found herself having to pick and choose who to be with. She liked to make the time for everyone, but it was often an impossible job. Luckily, that night she was focused on her photography, which provided a polite and convenient excuse to mostly keep to herself. As the group walked away, she looked at her camera and started to flick through the photos. Amelia analysed the photos—nodding approvingly at the ones she liked and instantly deleting the ones she didn’t—then gently let go of the camera so it hung against her chest. Its weight was a comfort. Her camera was her prized possession, and she cradled it close to her like a newborn child. Photography was her passion, and she planned on using it to get out of Leachkin, a small suburb on the outskirts of Inverness.
As she continued to lean against the wall and glance around the crowded hall filled with students drinking, eating, or dancing, she couldn’t help but pity a lot of them. They were lovely people—mostly—who she wished the best for, but she knew a lot of them would never venture far from the small suburbs of Scotland. Village life tended to keep people rooted in, but Amelia was keen to spread her wings and fly away. She’d always been ambitious, but turning eighteen a couple of months ago had only heightened her desire to graduate and start her photography course at Glasgow University.
Glasgow, Amelia thought with desire. Big city life where I’ll get far more opportunities than I’d ever get in a place like Leachkin or Kinmylies!
Her life was soon about to begin, and Amelia couldn’t be more ready.
To her, village life was mundane and a bit soul-destroying. Amelia was a creative, a visionary, and she knew Glasgow would have kindred spirits. She had a few close friends from school who she knew would be in her life forever, but she couldn’t deny how excited she was to meet some people with like-minded interests and goals.
Her eyes scanned the crowd for one of those close school friends now: Lucy Dunlop. She and Lucy had grown close recently, especially after she’d gone through a breakup, and she was one of the few people Amelia truly cared about. Lucy was kind, hilarious, attractive, and had a way of making Amelia see the best in herself. It had been Lucy who pointed out Amelia’s skill with a camera, which had spurred her desire to make photography a career, something that wouldn’t have been possible without Lucy giving her the push she needed. When she’d spoken to Lucy earlier that day, she’d informed Amelia how excited she was for the graduation party. She said she couldn’t wait to come, and yet she still wasn’t there. Amelia couldn’t help but be concerned—Lucy always kept her promises—so she grabbed her phone and frowned when she saw no new messages or calls from her. This only intensified her worry, so she sent Lucy a quick text before pocketing her phone and returning to her surroundings.
For fifteen more minutes, Amelia took photos, engaged in small talk with numerous people from her year, and tried to enjoy the party, but it was impossible to do so without Lucy there. She still hadn’t seen Lucy or any of her other close friends, and while she enjoyed playing with her camera, it wasn’t the same without them by her side.
“Does Charleston Academy’s most popular lass have a moment?”
Amelia smiled and turned to her left to see Reuben Fairbairn. Reuben stood beside her, his hands casually in his pockets and a wide smile on his face. A lot of people questioned why they were friends—Reuben was overweight and dorky with severe acne, while Amelia was beautiful and popular—but she’d known the lad since they were children. He had always been loyal and kind to her, and Amelia valued those two traits more than anything else. Reuben was a good friend and a dependable person. She’d always find the time for him, and he’d always done the same for her.
“Aye, of course, Reubs!” Amelia giggled.
Reuben leaned against the wall beside her and playfully elbowed her in the side. “Trust ye tae be here with that camera, eh?”
Amelia stroked the top of her camera gently. “It widnae be a graduation party without me gett’n a few photos, now wid it?”
Reuben snorted. “A few? We both ken ye will be editing through hundreds later on.” He smiled. “How many have ye taken so far?”
Amelia casually looked through the settings on her camera. “I have aboot one hundred photos, but ma card had a fair few photos on it before tonight.”
Reuben whistled. “Ye have been a busy lass!”
“This is our last night together, Reubs,” Amelia said with a wistful smile. “It widnae be right tae not document it.”
“Aye, that’s true.” Reuben sighed. “I cannae believe we’ve finished high school now! Can ye?”
“Nae, I cannae,” Amelia answered. “These last few years have gone by so quickly.”
“Who’d have kent that we wid still be hanging out after all of these years, eh?” he asked playfully.
“I wid,” Amelia said warmly as she touched Reuben’s arm. “Ye ken ye are one of ma best friends, Reubs. High school widnae have been the same without ye.”
“Dinnae make me blush, Am,” Reuben answered cheekily.
“It widnae be hard tae,” Amelia responded, playfully prodding at Reuben’s face. “Ye go as red as a berry at any wee thing.”
Reuben laughed awkwardly as he rubbed the part of his face Amelia touched. “Aye, that’s true.”
“Have ye seen Lucy at all?” Amelia queried.
“Nae, I havnae.” Reuben furrowed his brows as he looked around the crowded hall. “I thought she’d have been here by now.”
Amelia nodded slowly. “Aye, me tae. It isnae like her tae be late.”
“I’m sure she will be here soon, Am, dinnae worry,” Reuben answered reassuringly. “I guess ye will just have tae put up with ma company until she gets here.”
Amelia smiled. “I’m sure I can cope with that.”
For a few seconds, the two stood there in a comfortable silence. Although she felt safe next to Reuben, she couldn’t stop worrying about Lucy. Lucy was always glued to her phone, and yet she still hadn’t gotten a reply from Lucy.
Had something happened to her?
Dinnae be silly! Amelia thought. Lucy will be here soon. Just be patient.
“So how did ye dae, anyway?” Reuben asked, breaking Amelia away from her thoughts. “Ye havnae said much aboot it.”
Amelia didn’t need to ask what he meant, she knew right away he was talking about her grades. While she didn’t do as well as she would have wanted in subjects like maths and science, she did well in her creative classes, which helped her get into Glasgow’s photography programme. For a moment she chewed her lip nervously, try ing to figure out how to tell Reuben. She still hadn’t told any of her close friends about the move, but she knew she had to. Deep down, she knew he’d be okay and only wanted the best for her, but she still didn’t want to upset him.
“Cat got ye tongue?” Reuben asked with a wink.
Amelia laughed. “I didnae dae tae badly... I got what I needed, anyway.”
“And what were ye needing?” Reuben inquired curiously.
Amelia hesitated for half a second.
Come on, ye wee wuss! Amelia berated. Just tell him!
“I didnae say anything before as I didnae want tae jinx it,” Amelia started cautiously. “But I applied tae Glasgow… I found out two days ago that they’ve accepted me for their photography course.”
Reuben’s eyes widened in shock. “And I take it ye accepted?”
Amelia nodded excitedly. “Aye, of course!”
“T-that’s... great news, Am, really great,” Reuben answered with a small smile.
The smile didn’t quite reach Reuben’s eyes, which sent a cold shiver of guilt through Amelia’s body. Still, she smiled gratefully at the fact Reuben was trying to show her his support.
That was classic Reuben behaviour... putting her needs before his own in order to keep being a good friend.
She touched his arm gently. “Thanks, Reubs! I cannae believe I got in.”
“I can, ye are talented and deserve it,” Reuben answered affectionately. He hesitated as he cleared his throat. “So, when will ye be going?”
“Ma mam is taking me tae ma new place in a month,” Amelia answered.
Reuben pouted his lips but quickly changed his expression. “Wow, so ye have got most of it sorted then?”
Amelia nodded. “Aye, the moment I had ma acceptance letter, we got tae work sorting accommodation and gett’n ma course books.”
“Ye need books fur photography?” Reuben asked. “I thought all ye did was point and click?”
Amelia playfully kicked Reuben in the ankle. “Shut it, ye!”
Reuben laughed happily, but the laughter soon left his face when he looked into the crowd. Amelia followed his gaze and groaned when she saw her ex-boyfriend, Cory Stirling, standing with a group of friends. Cory was a handsome boy with slicked back blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and always wore the same oversized leather jacket. When they had been dating, Amelia loved the biker look, but now when she looked at him all she felt was revulsion. Cory was acting as though he didn’t know Amelia was there, but Amelia had sensed his repeated glances ever since the party had started. She’d even seen him kissing a girl earlier, then pointedly looking in her direction to see if she’d noticed.
It made her feel an odd mixture of nausea at his behaviour and relief that she would soon no longer be around him.
“I guess he is one person ye winnae be missing when ye move,” Reuben said bitterly.
Amelia nodded coldly. “Aye, the sooner I get away from him the better.”
“He is still pining over ye, ye ken?” Reuben asked coldly. “All he seems tae dae is talk aboot ye. I cannae stand him.”
“Aye, ye niver did have much of a poker face, Reubs,” Amelia answered, casually taking some photos as she spoke.
Reuben’s face went bright red. “Aye... I guess not. Ye were always way tae good fur him ”
Amelia pulled her eyes away from Cory and looked back at Reuben. “Well, ye dinnae need tae worry aboot him anymore. I’m well shot of him now.” She plastered on a bright smile. “Anyway, enough aboot me. What is going on with ye, Reubs?”
Reuben’s red face went even redder. “W-what dae ye mean?”
“Ye asked aboot ma grades, but ye havnae told me aboot yers?” she asked keenly. “How did ye get on?”
“Aye, alright,” he answered quickly.
Amelia quirked her brow. “Is that all I’m gett’n out of ye?” she elbowed him. “Come on, ye cannae have done that badly! Ye are one of the smartest lads I ken!”
Amelia watched in surprise as Reuben kept oddly quiet. For a second she looked at him with concern. Had she been bragging about her good grades and university acceptance when Reuben hadn’t had the same luck? She found it hard to believe. He was an intelligent lad, but his body language suggested he was keen for a change of topic.
Amelia opened her mouth to suggest that they talk about something else, but before she had the chance, Reuben cleared his throat and pushed his body away from the wall. “I’m going tae get a drink, alright? See ye in a bit.”
Before Amelia had the chance to stop him, Reuben had pushed himself into the crowd.
For a few seconds Amelia watched Reuben go, trying and failing to figure out an explanation for his behaviour. Reuben had always been an open book with her, so to see him walking off so quickly was disconcerting. Had he not got the grades he had hoped for? Or was he more upset over Amelia’s success than she realised? Reuben had never expressed any desire to leave Inverness, but he had never spoken much to her about his dreams or plans either. Anytime he spoke about the future, it was only ever things the two of them could do together, never anything about his own goals.
With Reuben gone, Amelia’s focus went back to Lucy. She fished her phone out of her pocket and sighed deeply when she saw she still hadn’t replied.
Amelia never enjoyed herself half as much when Lucy wasn’t there. She put her phone away glumly and started to snap a few more photos. Amelia wasn’t going to stay for too long if Lucy didn’t turn up soon. She told herself she’d wait another hour at most, and if Lucy hadn’t arrived, she would leave the party and find her.
2
“Ye cannae have a Chinese without some spring rolls, man!” DC Boyd exclaimed in dismay. “That’s practically sacrilege. Add a few of those bad boys tae the order, will ye?”
I smiled as I gazed around at my colleagues squabbling among themselves over what to put on our takeaway order. I had a cup of hot, strong coffee in my hands, which I slowly savoured as I looked between them all. It was always amusing to watch the way they interacted with one another in more of a social setting, so I relished my role as a spectator and enjoyed the show.
“Alright, alright!” DI Young exclaimed with a slight chuckle. “We can maybe put them on there, but I cannae say I’ll be touching that crap, and I doubt many others wid either.”
“I’m with Boyd on this one,” DC Fenton piped in. “Vegetable spring rolls are a must!”
“I kent I liked ye, lassie,” DC Boyd replied with a wink.
DC Fenton giggled.
DI Young frowned slightly at the interaction before looking at me. “Yer house yer rules, James. Tae spring roll or not tae spring roll?”
“That is the question,” I answered playfully. “I’d rather not piss off Boyd, so put them on there.”
“Good call, sir,” DC Boyd answered.
I chuckled lightly as I took a seat in my armchair. There wasn’t much room in my living room with six of us—seven including my terrier, Max—but I couldn’t deny it was nice to have the space filled with people instead of just pinboards, photos, and documents. DI Young, DS Paterson, DC Fenton, and DC Gamble had all squeezed onto my big sofa together and DC Boyd was happily sitting on the floor, treating the rug as though it were a throne. I always felt bad that Boyd never seemed to get a seat, but he never complained.
Ever since we found Isla Campbell a couple of weeks ago, I’d been spending a lot of my time looking into DI Billie Arnold’s murder. I was surprised, but touched, when my new colleagues from the Beauly team had promised to help me. The team found a couple of nights each week where they would come to my house for takeaway and a brainstorming session. Everyone came to these except for DSI Murray, but that didn’t surprise me.
As much as I had grown to respect Murray, there was always a professional distance between us. Honestly, I was okay with that. Murray was a nice enough bloke, but he was far from the type of person I saw myself having a pint or a round of golf with. His control issues were still at an all-time high, and he was quick to snap at his team if things weren’t going how he wanted. It was a small negative in a sea of positives about Beauly MIT.
As the others finished sorting the order, I caught DS Paterson’s eye. She smiled at me warmly with Max happily cuddled up on her lap. She stroked his head, and Max closed his eyes in the contented way I’d only ever seen him look with either myself or DI Arnold. I could tell Max missed Arnold greatly, so I appreciated the fact he had taken such a liking to Paterson. My own relationship with Paterson only seemed to grow with each day. She was smart, quick, and more capable than most detectives I’d ever met. She had an infectious laugh and a personality that was practically impossible to not like.
