Desolate Hearts

by Robin Roughley

  'Honestly, Beth, you can be a nightmare at times, but I love you, you're my kid sister.'

  Beth felt the tears, cold and wet, on her cheeks. 'Just hurry, please,' she said.

  'Leaving now,' Kath replied, and then the phone died.

  Beth stood on the deserted lane as the hush descended, when a clump of snow fell from one of the overhanging trees she screamed before turning and running towards the shelter, her coat flapping, a second scream building as the terror took hold.

  86

  Lasser sat in the canteen sipping from the plastic cup of coffee, his eyes fixed on the window, watching the snow continue to drift down from the darkening ironclad sky.

  When he heard the door open behind him, he glanced over his shoulder seeing Bannister walk towards him.

  'How did it go with Carole?'

  Pulling out a chair, the DCI slumped down. 'Well, one good piece of news is that Carmen Dean is still alive, they performed surgery on her and she's stable.'

  'What about the rest of the team?'

  'Every bugger is out there trying to find this maniac but nothing so far.'

  'Don't worry, we'll catch the bastard.'

  Bannister raised an eyebrow. 'No doubt we will, but how many other poor sods have to die in the meantime?'

  Draining the cup, Lasser rose to his feet and headed over to the bin, dropping it in just as a red Astra pulled in through the station gates.

  He watched it park up and then frowned slightly as he recognised the woman who stepped from the car and hurried towards the station entrance.

  'Do you still have that list of people who attended the Christmas party with the Deans?' Bannister asked.

  Turning from the window, Lasser frowned before checking his pockets and pulling out the crumpled sheet of paper.

  'There were four other people who attended the party without their partners, weren't there?

  Lasser handed the paper over before sitting back down and stifling a yawn. 'Yeah, as far as I can remember.'

  The DCI flattened the paper on the table before peering at it, when he looked up Lasser saw the frown marring his brow. 'One of the names on here is Beth Rowntree,' he said.

  Lasser felt his own face settle into a frown. 'Is it?'

  Bannister spun the paper around and slid it towards Lasser. 'You didn't know?'

  'I just asked Carmen Dean who, out of the people who attended, were having marital problems, and she only mentioned Shipley,' Lasser explained.

  Bannister scratched his chin thoughtfully. 'We know a Davy Rowntree argued with Marsh, but Jesus Christ it was around ten years ago, and perhaps he got his own back on the old bastard by slashing the tyres and smashing the lights on the Land Rover.'

  Lasser tried to imagine anyone holding a grudge for over a decade, ending in the beheading of the man who had refused to cough up what he owed.

  Before he could form a reply, the door opened, and Sergeant Meadows walked into the room with the woman Lasser had seen walking towards the station.

  Bannister sat up straight in the chair and smiled. 'Problem, Sergeant?'

  'Sorry to bother you, boss, but this is…'

  'Tess,' Lasser said as he stood up.

  The woman smiled, though her face looked etched with concern. 'I'm sorry to bother you and I know this might sound stupid but I was wondering if you knew where John was?'

  'John?' Bannister asked in confusion.

  'Spenner,' Lasser hissed from the corner of his mouth, and suddenly Bannister was on his feet.

  Lasser pulled out another chair and Tess crossed the room before sitting down.

  'I know it might be me worrying about nothing, but I haven't seen him since yesterday morning.'

  'I tried telling the lady that it's Spenner's day off today and…'

  'He was meant to come around to my house last night,' Tess interrupted. 'He sent a text and said he wouldn't be long, but he never turned up. I've tried ringing him, but he isn't answering.'

  'What time was this?' Lasser asked.

  'He sent the text just before seven.'

  Lasser looked at Meadows. 'What shift was he on yesterday?'

  'Ten till six.'

  Lasser could feel the concern increase.

  'I'm worried because he was driving his new car yesterday and…'

  'New car?' Bannister interrupted.

  Tess nodded, her blue eyes sparkling with unshed tears. 'He said it was getting harder to get to work on the scooter, especially in this weather, and he'd always wanted a Leon, so he bought one. I was cooking a meal last night and he couldn't wait to show me the car, but he never turned up.'

  Bannister and Lasser locked eyes, seeing the concern and subtle hint of dread in the other's gaze.

  Then Bannister pulled out his phone and got Spenner's number up, the drone sounding loud in the silence as they waited for him to answer.

  When the call died, Bannister tried again as Lasser ran a hand across the back of his neck, his lips pursed.

  The phone beeped for a second time and Bannister dropped it into his pocket. 'Have you tried his flat?' he asked.

  Tess nodded. 'It's the first place I tried, but there was no car on the parking area. I rang the bell for ages, and I'm worried in case he decided to drive around in the car and lost control and…'

  'He wouldn't have done that,' Lasser said.

  Tess looked at him and swallowed. 'I know, I'm just clutching at straws but I'm worried about him.'

  Bannister glanced at his watch before looking towards the window as the lights on the car park spluttered to life. 'Right, thanks for coming, we'll take it from here,' he said.

  'But…'

  'Try not to worry, Tess, we'll sort it,' Lasser said, his voice full of empathy.

  Taking hold of her elbow, Meadows led her back through the door, her shoulders slumped, head bowed as the door closed quietly behind her.

  'Right, Lasser, I'm going to head over to Odette's,' Bannister said as he pulled out his car fob.

  'You want me to come with you?'

  Bannister shook his head, his face carved with agitation. 'No, I want you to find out about this Beth Rowntree, see if there's any link with the man that Dot mentioned.'

  'Will do.'

  They headed for the door, Bannister heading right, Lasser turning left.

  Both sporting looks of trepidation as they parted.

  87

  Beth was standing in the opening to the wooden bus shelter, shivering; she tried to tell herself it was because of the freezing weather, but the truth was it was fear that trembled through her body. The light had vanished, even the snow looked dull as the rising moon was hidden by a dark bank of cloud.

  She looked across the road into the woodland opposite, the shadows seemed to shift and darken, melding into one black wave that crept towards the road.

  When she saw headlights to her left she felt a surge of relief, seconds later, the relief vanished as her sister's words came back to her.

  ''Unless you've forgotten, there's a maniac out there, and the police haven't caught them yet.''

  Beth hitched in a sharp gasp of fear as the twin lights came crawling towards her, too bright to see what lay beyond, she heard the crunch of tyres in thick snow.

  The voice inside told her to back up into the shelter, but terror anchored her to the spot, all she could do was squint against the onslaught of light. When the van pulled parallel to where she stood she felt all the tension and fear flood from her mind and body as Davy looked at her through the side window of the van.

  'Oh, thank God,' she sobbed, her breath streaming out into the crisp air.

  The van door opened, and he climbed out, Beth felt the tears shining in her eyes as she looked at her husband, his face in shadow, snow starting to flutter down again from the darkness.

  Beth stepped forwards, the fear had vanished, but apprehension took its place as she realised she had to make things right, had to make him see that over the last few months she had not been thinking straigh
t.

  She walked through the snow, her head lowered, the shame bringing colour to her frozen cheeks.

  When she glanced up, the look on her husband's face brought her to a sudden halt.

  His hair, ruffled and tangled, was standing out in all directions, stubble coated his cheeks, his dark eyes glared at her, firing out pulses of anger.

  'Davy, I'm so sorry, I never meant to hurt you,' she said in a hesitant voice. 'I've been stupid and selfish, you're a good man and I love you, I don't want us to separate, I…'

  Suddenly, she was flying sideways as her husband's work-calloused hand cracked across her cheek, she landed on her side in the snow, her ears ringing, the pain flaring.

  The shock of what had happened tore through her, Davy didn't hit her, he didn't shout or demand, he was a kind man, a good man.

  When she felt his hand grab the collar of her jacket, she whipped her head around and cried out as his face ballooned towards her, it was Davy's face and yet it wasn't, his mouth was twisted, teeth bared, his eyes looking huge and filled to the brim with hatred.

  'Cunt!' he roared, peppering her face with spittle.

  Beth screamed again as he lashed out, his fist slammed against her mouth, sending a smattering of red to the ground. Seconds later, he tossed her over his shoulder, her head hanging down as more blood dripped to the snow. Making his way back to the van, he tossed her over the front seats, pushing her legs to one side as he climbed behind the wheel.

  'Got you now, you common whore,' he growled, before turning the van around and driving back the way he had come.

  'At　last.　Fun　and　games　time!' the voice inside cheered in ecstasy.

  The snow stopped as quickly as it had started, silence fell again on the now-deserted lane.

  88

  When Bannister saw the woman standing on the pavement with the small child in her arms he slowed the car down. She was standing by the side of a Vauxhall Corsa, the hazard lights on, blinking in the darkness.

  He drove past and then sighed heavily, indicating he pulled to the left. He could see the woman and child looking frozen, a couple of taxis drove by ignoring her completely.

  Bannister felt the urgency to get to Odette's apartment grow, but he knew he would have to assist the woman first, there was no way he could simply drive away and leave them both at the side of the road.

  Hitting his own hazard lights he climbed out and walked towards them.

  When she saw him approach, the woman smiled nervously, by the time he reached her he had his warrant card out.

  'Having trouble?' he asked, as he held it out.

  The woman adjusted the girl in her arms before studying the card. 'You're a police officer?' she asked.

  'I am, now have you got help on the way?'

  'I've tried ringing my mum, but to be honest I live at home and this is her car, so even if I spoke to her then she wouldn't be able to do anything.'

  The little girl peeped at Bannister, she looked to be around four or five, her cheeks rosy-red, her pale-brown eyes huge and trusting, framed by the fluffy hood of her jacket.

  When he smiled she grinned back at him.

  'Do you live locally?' he asked.

  'In Leigh, so not really local.'

  Inwardly, Bannister groaned as he realised that in this weather it would take him a good half an hour to get over to Leigh and the same to get back to Odette's flat.

  'Look, I can't just leave you here, so why don't you get in the car and I'll run you home?'

  'But what about my mum's car?' she asked.

  'Are you a member of the RAC?'

  The woman shook her head.

  'What about the AA?'

  'I'm sorry but no, we only ever use it to potter around town in, so we've never bothered with any breakdown cover.'

  'Well, I can't see you getting anyone out to tow it home, not in this weather.'

  The woman sighed as the little girl buried her head into her shoulder.

  'Are you sure you don't mind dropping us off?'

  'Not a problem, now, have you got all your valuables out of the car?'

  'There was none in to start with, I've got the only valuable thing in my arms,' she said with a small smile.

  'Well, I'll have to get the child seat out, if that's OK?'

  'Oh right, that's fine,' she replied as she clicked the alarm.

  Seconds later, he had unfastened the seat and lifted it out. 'Right, come on, let's get you two home.'

  A couple of minutes later, he had fitted the seat into the Range Rover, the little girl in the back, the woman in the passenger seat.

  'By the way, I'm Tracey and this is my daughter, Billy.'

  'Pleased to meet you both,' Bannister said as he checked the mirrors and pulled out onto the road.

  Tracey eased back in the seat and sighed. 'God, it's freezing out there.'

  'Had you been there long?' Bannister asked as he went through the gears.

  'About half an hour, loads of cars drove past but you were the only one to actually stop and offer to help.'

  Bannister frowned at her words. 'Don't worry, I'll soon have you home.'

  'Thanks, I've still got presents to wrap for tomorrow and God knows what would have happened if you hadn't stopped.'

  Bannister felt the surprise twitch on his face, he had completely forgotten it was Christmas Eve.

  'Well, Merry Christmas to you both,' he said, suddenly feeling like Scrooge waking up after spending a night with the three spirits.

  'And you,' Tracey smiled.

  Bannister got his foot down, the sense of unease growing with every snowy mile he covered.

  89

  Kath felt the wheels spin for a moment, and then the car crawled forwards and she sighed in relief.

  Part of her was mad at Beth for being so irresponsible, yet she was relieved that at last her sister had seen the truth of her life.

  Davy might be a bit rough and ready, but that didn't make him a lesser man.

  She thought of her own husband, John, he worked in sales and was great at his job but just occasionally Kath had thought it would have been nice to be married to someone who could change a washer on the taps or fix the car if it broke down.

  She thought about the upcoming Christmas dinner, watching her father and husband talk about money and wealth. Her father had taken early retirement from the NatWest bank, he had been a mortgage advisor and Kath knew he had delighted in turning people down, shattering their dreams and sucking up to the ones who had real money.

  Then she thought of Davy, his hands were normally oil-stained, his clothes grubby from work, but he could turn his hands to anything and he wasn't interested in brown nosing to anyone in a suit.

  The car snaked along the road, lights shining to her right, a tall red line stretching into the sky from the mast on top of Winter Hill.

  She remembered talking to Davy last Christmas, they had come for dinner and her father had looked at him with barely-concealed contempt, her mother looking as if someone had farted at the table.

  Davy had sat and listened as John and his father-in-law talked shop like two men from a bygone era, all they had needed was the cigars and brandy and a room to retire to then the womenfolk could tidy up the table.

  Ten minutes later she had found Davy in the garden smoking a cigarette, he had smiled as she approached.

  'Lovely meal, Kath,' he had said.

  It was then and there that Kath realised he wasn't uncomfortable with being snubbed by her husband and father, in fact he looked relieved not to have to sit and listen to their bullshit.

  He was a man who looked content with life and confident in his abilities to provide for his family without having to mingle or crawl to someone with cap in hand.

  The wheel twitched in her hand, bringing her back to the present. Flicking on the main beam she saw the wooden shelter on the left and wondered when the last time a bus actually stopped here to pick anyone up or drop them off.

  The shelter was in th
e middle of nowhere, no houses or shops nearby, just the woods on either side of the road.

  As the headlights hit the wooden structure Kath frowned, there was no sign of her sister.

  Leaning forwards, she felt the confusion pluck at her senses as she pulled up and glanced left hoping to see Beth sitting on the wooden bench inside the shelter. When she saw the empty space, the confusion turned to fear. Yanking on the handbrake, she pulled the phone from the handbag on the passenger seat and tapped the screen.

  She listened to the ringing tone, her hands suddenly tacky with sweat, after ten rings the phone bleeped, and the screen went dark.

  'Come on, Beth, what the hell are you playing at,' she whispered as she pushed the door open and stepped out into a silent world of white.

  She shivered in dread as her fearful eyes scanned the trees, then she tapped at the screen again and held the phone to her ear. When she heard the slight echo trilling, she frowned, her right hand falling to her side as she staggered forwards through the snow, the sound growing louder with each faltering step. When she saw her sister's phone flashing in the snow at her feet she whimpered in fear, when her eyes fell on the smattering of red, she screamed into the growing darkness.

  90

  Bannister waved as he pulled away from the front of the tidy bungalow.

  Tracey stood with Billy in her arms, both waving back as the car moved away down the street.

  As mother and daughter had climbed from the car, he had tried Spenner again and then Odette, the tension mounting as he got no response from either of them.

  Glancing at the dashboard clock, he wiped the sweat from his brow before lighting a cigarette and cracking the window open.

  Christmas Eve and the roads were virtually deserted as people waited for the big day to arrive. The only vehicles he came across were taxis and the occasional empty bus crawling through the snow, like a fatally-wounded dinosaur waiting to die in the new ice age.

  Heading through Leigh town centre, the car was suddenly peppered with snowballs, thrown by a group of teenagers loitering in the shop doorway of Cash Convertors.