by Gareth Otton
He looked like a man who had just been sideswiped. It was a pained expression that looked every bit as bad as she felt the night before. Her words scored a hit, and she had never been more glad when the Holiday Lodge appeared around the next corner.
She pulled into the carpark, slipped into her professional persona, and climbed out of the car.
She had work to do.
If you’ve seen one Holiday Lodge, you’ve seen them all. That wasn’t a bad thing, Stella liked the uniformity. She knew what to expect.
The manager of the hotel led her, Tad and three plain clothed officers down a hall that was familiar even though she had never been there before. It was long, covered in beige, striped wallpaper with a dark, patterned carpet underfoot. Uninspired and deliberately neutral artwork hung at even intervals between the doors.
They were on the fourth floor headed down to the far end of the corridor toward the fire exit. Cleopatra’s room was at the end of the hall. Stella expected that the door would open any moment and a woman would run out, go through that fire door and try to escape. It was why she had two more policemen waiting at the bottom of those stairs. She wasn’t taking any chances.
But the door never opened, and they approached without incident.
“Open it,” she whispered to the manager who hesitated just as he had when she first showed him the warrant. She wasn’t in the mood for hesitation. She snatched the key card and pushed it into the slot on the door. The click of the lock was drowned out by the sound of breaking glass.
“Shit,” she swore and barged through the door.
She was just in time to glimpse Cleopatra as she disappeared out the window. She was barely dressed, wearing only a robe and underclothes, and her hair was wet. She calmly met Stella’s eyes and dropped out the window.
Stella ran into the room, noting the black chord tied to the leg of the desk beneath the window, the burning papers in the bin, and yet more smoke coming from under the bathroom door. If Stella didn’t act quickly, she would lose everything.
She got to the window just in time to see Cleopatra detach herself from a device that held her to the rope. She didn’t look up, just ran for the car park.
Stella swore, reaching for the rope to climb out the window and go after her. A strong hand on her arm stopped her.
“Don’t be stupid,” Tad hissed. “A fall from this height will kill you.”
She wanted to argue, but he was right. Instead she shook off his hand and grabbed her radio.
“The suspect is on the ground below her room window and is running for the car park. Don’t let her get away.”
She looked at the burning papers and smoky room with dismay before sprinting again. The manager could put out the fires, she had a suspect to catch.
She took a right as she exited, crashing through the fire doors and starting down the stairs at a reckless pace. The clanging of feet on metal told her Tad wasn’t far behind.
The men she posted at the ground floor were in pursuit, so hopefully when she turned the corner she’d find the suspect in custody. She was disappointed. They had caught up to her, but it hadn’t gone well for either of them.
One man was unconscious with blood streaming from his nose and another was rolling around holding his crotch. Stella looked past them to Cleopatra who ran over the grass verge between the building and the car park, her open robe billowing behind her like a cape.
At least the officers had slowed her, but if she had a car ready to go then she was likely to get away.
That couldn’t happen.
Stella let her single minded focus give her strength and she picked up as much speed as she could. Those hours of running every day better pay off or she would burn her treadmill the second she got home.
“Tony, Charles, Miriam. I need you.”
She tried to ignore Tad, but couldn’t. What new way was he going to blow her mind today? She had her answer a half second later.
His tall, skinny shape shot past her right side. He had a hell of a stride, so it made sense he was quicker. What bothered her was how much quicker. She couldn’t be sure, but she didn’t think race-cars accelerated to that speed in so short a distance.
By the time she had taken three steps he had halved the distance between himself and Cleopatra. Three seconds later he was almost on top of her. It would take Stella half a minute to cover that distance.
Tad reached Cleopatra just as she was about to open her car door. He grabbed her shoulder and Stella thought that was it, even slowing her pace. She had seen Tad fight, and the woman wasn’t a match for him.
Only, she was.
She grabbed his hand and before he could counter, she twisted it at an awkward angle, forcing him to his knees in a lock no normal person could break. Tad was no normal person. His strength surprised Cleopatra as he forced his way out of the arm lock.
He reached to incapacitate her again, but Cleopatra adapted quickly. She moved before he could touch her, avoiding his hand and striking at his throat. Tad was too quick, but he couldn’t get an advantage.
He was quicker and stronger, but his movements were clumsy. He relied on speed, strength and reach alone to win the day. But, if he couldn’t catch her, those advantages meant nothing.
The woman was reading Tad easily, avoiding his clumsy attempts to grab her. But, no matter how well trained she was, she couldn’t get the advantage. Skill only gets you so far, that much speed and strength was a lot to overcome.
They fought to a stalemate which gave Stella a chance to close the distance.
Cleopatra’s back was to Stella as she struggled with Tad. Something alerted her at the last second and Stella got to see her surprised expression as she turned directly into Stella’s outstretched hand.
Stella had only been trying to grab the woman, but when she turned Stella tightened her fingers into a fist. It was not her best punch, but it was good enough to stun Cleopatra and give Stella chance to land a second.
This one was better. It came from the hip and connected with Cleopatra’s jaw hard enough to knock her back a few steps. Tad was waiting. This time he wrapped an arm around her throat and trapped her arms with his second. She wasn’t getting free.
Stella shook the pain from the knuckles in her left hand and reached for her cuffs with her right.
“You have the right to remain silent,” she began, and all fight left Cleopatra.
Stella continued to speak, all the while looking at Cleopatra’s face. There was no fear, no frustration, not even anger. She took it calmly and, dare Stella even think it, she looked relieved.
By the time the other police caught up, Stella had her cuffed and secured.
Cleopatra hadn’t said a word.
Stella was breathing hard as her colleagues led Cleopatra away, but she was grinning. Months of following this case, just as long getting nowhere with it, and finally she had her woman.
She looked at Tad before she could think better of it, the huge smile on her face taking him by surprise and drawing a cautious one from him in return.
His reticence dampened her mood, and she remembered her thoughts preceding their arrival. She would not let it bring her down. This feeling when she caught her suspect was the reason she was stupid to ever think she needed someone in her life.
What she told Tad was true, she was married to her job. Right then, riding the high of the moment, she wondered how she’d ever forgotten.
Stella didn’t look back as she returned to the hotel. She would go find out what survived the fire and if there was nothing, then she at least had Cleopatra to question.
Maybe this day would turn out alright after all.
24
Friday, 28th November 2015
18:00
Tad returned to the police station by six o’clock.
He picked Jen up from school, told her the good news, then arranged for Letty to sit for her again. He presided over their awkward reunion as Jen apologised for sneaking out. Letty was quicker than expected to forgive her, an
d by the time Tad left they were on good terms again.
He made the short drive back to the police station feeling more relaxed than he had in months. Maggie’s killer was caught and in police custody. Cleopatra had been taken down and was no longer hunting Jen. Everything was falling into place.
His mood must have been good as he barely noticed the uncomfortable looks directed his way as he moved through the station. His smile remained until he entered the monitor room. He should be able to see the interrogation underway, but instead he found Stella in front of a monitor rather than in with Cleopatra.
“Hey Stella, any news?”
He forced his tone to be light-hearted, but didn’t get a smile in return. She only looked at him long enough to nod in greeting before turning back to the monitors
“Nothing,” she said. Short and efficient. No follow up information.
Tad felt a pang of annoyance. So he misread the situation between them. There was no need for this new coldness. Even her aura wasn’t giving anything away. She had it muted as though dampening her emotions.
He did his best to put his annoyance aside and stepped further into the room. He took a free chair and wheeled it to the desk next to Stella.
The monitor in front of her focused on Cleopatra, sat in the interrogation room behind a bare table. Her head was resting on her arms that were crossed over that table and she was sleeping.
“What’s this?” he asked. “Why aren’t you talking to her?”
Stella flicked an irritated glance at him, then sighed. She didn’t answer, just kept filling out paperwork.
“Come on Stella, give me something.”
“I already told you. There’s nothing to say. She’s not talking. Hasn’t said a word since we got her. We’ve run her prints but got no hits. I have no idea who she is and I’m fed up of talking to someone who won’t talk back.”
“So what are you going to do next?”
She turned her attention from the screen and stared at him.
“You don’t need to be here for this. Thanks for your work so far, but our suspect is in custody and your services are no longer required.”
Tad said nothing for a few seconds as her words registered. Slowly his anger spiked, and he said goodbye to his good mood.
“What? You can’t be serious.”
“I am. There’s nothing more you can do, Mr Holcroft. I suggest you go home.”
“Mr Holcroft? Really? That’s how you’re playing this?” He laughed and climbed to his feet. “Grow up D.I. Martin. You had best keep me informed or I’ll go over your head. With all the crazy stuff that’s been going on, I have a feeling your bosses want to keep the only Proxy they know happy. I’m sure they’ll tell me a thing or two.”
He didn’t give her chance to answer, and neither did he look back. Instead he walked out and nearly collided with someone.
Maggie jumped in shock when he appeared and put her hand over her heart as though she still had a heart to worry about.
“Jesus Tad, you made me jump.”
“Sorry. You looking for me?”
She nodded. “I thought you’d be back by now. Figured you might want an update on how Kate’s getting on.”
“Good news I hope.”
She was about to answer when her eyes focused over his shoulder. Tad turned to find Stella standing in the doorway. Her expression had softened, and it looked as though she wanted to say something to him. Then Tad did something stupid. He had got into the habit of letting people see his ghosts when they were present. He did so again on instinct and whatever Stella had been about to say froze in her throat as her eyes darted to Maggie.
There was a moment of frozen silence, then her mouth closed abruptly. She stepped out of the room, slammed the door, and walked down the corridor away from them both.
“What’s her problem?” Maggie asked once they were sure she was out of earshot.
Tad shook his head. “I have no idea.” Turning back to her he asked, “You said you had news?”
She nodded. “Not good though. They’re not talking and Kate doesn’t know how much longer she can hold them.”
Tad frowned. “Even Mark?”
“No, he’s going down for what he did, thank God. The thing is, he isn’t talking. For some reason he’s changed his mind since we overheard him. I can’t figure it out. It’s not like him to be this loyal to anyone.”
What could keep Mark quiet with so much on the line? Tad would have thought a man like him would offer all kinds of information if it meant he could make his own life easier.
“He’s scared,” Tad whispered as the realisation struck.
“He should be. If the rumours are true, they don’t like cops in prison. He’s going to have a—”
“Not that,” Tad interrupted. “Whatever information he has scares him. He’s more afraid of talking about what he knows than he is of staying quiet.”
“That’s it. It explains everything. Mark is too selfish to just sit there and let the rest of them get away with it. This is still all about him. But what could make him so scared?”
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Tad agreed. “We find out the answer to that and we’ll be getting somewhere.”
He swore and shook his head, looking away from Maggie to the door twice removed from the monitor room. Cleopatra was behind that door, sleeping.
“Shit. How did this go all wrong for us, Maggie? Half an hour ago I thought we were nearly done with this. Mark was going down for your thing, he would take down the rest of his crew to make Kate look good, and Cleopatra should be spilling the beans about what’s going on with Proxies. Now she isn’t talking which screws up Stella’s case, and Kate will be left with egg on her face when she doesn’t get the result she needs. The only silver lining is that Mark’s getting what’s coming to him.”
“You don’t have to sound so bummed about that. It’s still a win.”
He tried to smile. “I know, Mags. Sorry. It’s just been a rough couple of months. I was hoping things would get back to normal soon.” He looked back to the closed door and again shook his head. “If only she’d talk.”
“Maybe you should kill her.”
“What?”
“Well, then she’d be a ghost. If she was a ghost, you could merge with her and get her memories.”
“I can’t force it, Mags. She’s got to want—” A memory surfaced and his eyes opened wide. “Of course. Mags, you're a genius.”
He didn’t wait for a response before walking to the closed interrogation room. He looked around to make sure no one was watching, then he opened the door and stepped inside.
“Tad. What are you—” The end of Maggie’s sentence was cut off by the closing door. Once again she forgot she was a ghost and stayed on the other side of the door rather than walking through it. She was about to make a fuss though, so he cut the thread of power that made her visible to normal people. He needed to make sure Cleopatra didn’t wake up.
He turned from the door to face this woman who had been such a big part of his life for months whether he had known it or not. It was strange, she seemed to have shrunk since he fought her that morning. She was unstoppable then, a giant even though she was a fraction of his size.
He shivered in spite of himself. She made him feel useless even though he had the strength of three ghosts added to his own. He assumed that the strength and speed he gained would be enough to win any battle. She proved him wrong. If she’d had a weapon, he would be in a bad state right now. He’d been arrogant, she proved why that was a bad idea. He wouldn’t make that mistake again. With that in mind he kept his distance in spite of how small she seemed now she was sleeping.
He walked to the far wall and sank down against it. He wasn’t sure if he could do this standing up or not, but he didn’t want to find out he couldn’t the hard way.
He turned his full attention to the shape, trying to analyse her as best he could with both his mind and his talent. Her aura was flickering through a
range of colours that he assumed had something to do with her dreams. He hoped so. It was to her dreams that he needed to go.
He tried to remember how Jen had said she’d done it with him. Somehow she connected with his unconscious mind. He hoped it would work with this woman even though she wasn’t a Proxy.
His new ability to see people’s auras was evidence that his power extended to more than death. Maybe Charles was right and his power was actually to interact with a person’s soul. When he had been weaker, his abilities had been limited to the dead because those souls were without the protection of bodies. Now he was stronger he could interact with the living as well.
That was the theory anyway, and it was time to test it.
He focused on the woman's aura. It was a link to her soul, and he thought he might find a way in through that. He concentrated on the colours, trying to feel what each one meant and match his own emotions accordingly. He hadn’t stared this closely at the colours surrounding people before less he be seen as a creep, but now he found them fascinating.
They danced before his eyes, constantly moving and changing. It was easy to lose himself amongst their steady rhythm and it was almost hypnotic. What it wasn’t though, was a gateway to her mind.
Tad pulled himself out of his trance and shook his head. He didn’t have unlimited time to do this. He shouldn’t even be in the room so he had to get this done before anyone saw him.
He had to think.
Jen’s explanation of how she did it kept slipping away from him. He had learned while trying to teach her that how they used their gifts were not always alike. Their power was based on thought and no two people’s thoughts were the same. He needed to find his own path.
His answer came when he evaluated how he normally entered the minds of his ghosts. He would fall asleep and go to what he thought of as his entry room. That was where Jen had found him. Maybe that was where he would find Cleopatra.
He closed his eyes, blinding himself so he could mimic his dream world. He thought of that room, tried to picture it growing around him until he felt it was real. Slowly the ambient sound of the living world faded and his imaginings grew more real.