by Kay Leitch
'Tracy…Tracy…you might as well come out, I will find you…' he had obviously thought she had gone back into the kitchen and she could hear him searching in the huge pantries and store cupboards in there, but now he had started his way towards her.
Tracy could barely suppress her terror, she tried to reach out and hold on to the handle on the inside of the door, maybe he would be fooled into thinking it was locked and pass her by…his footsteps were coming nearer and nearer…then they stopped…she could hear him breathing on the other side of the door, he tried the handle. Tracy hung on to it with all her strength as he yanked at it a couple of times, then he seemed to give up and she could hear his footsteps as they moved on down the hallway…she let out the breath she had been holding, she was shaking all over and tears were streaming down her cheeks, she had no clear idea of how she was going to get out of here…she needed to get help Giles was obviously in desperate trouble not to mention that there was a terrifying psycho after her now. As slowly as she could she reached round and pulled her mobile out of her back pocket and flicked it open…damn she barely had a signal but maybe there was just enough…she found Carla's number and waited while it connected…every sound seemed to be magnified in the tiny cupboard so she slipped the phone under a pile of napkins in an attempt to suppress the sound, and nearly wept with frustration as she got through to Carla's voice mail, she waited until the message had finished and then:
'Carla,' she whispered, 'please help me I'm at the p…'
Suddenly the door of the cupboard was flung open and Tracy was dragged kicking and screaming out of the cupboard…her assailant lifted her up over his shoulders and dumped her unceremoniously on the floor in the living room near where Giles was tied up, he groaned when he saw her and Tracy was able to get a good look at him for the first time. What she saw filled her with terror, Giles had obviously suffered at the hands of this man, his face was covered in bruises and his nose was jutting off at an angle, there was a stream of blood trickling from it…she reached out a hand to him but it was kicked roughly away.
'Who the fuck are you and what are you doing here?' the man bellowed at her.
'Please…' Tracy pleaded. 'Just let us go, I don't know what your problem is but surely it can be sorted out without all…' she broke off as the man let out a loud laugh.
'Are you really that thick you stupid bint…you are going nowhere and neither is our friend Giles here…big mistake sweetheart you coming here…big mistake.'
'Please Vince…don't hurt her…nothing to do with her…pleas…' Giles’s pleas were cut short with a violent backhander.
'Shut the fuck up Giles,' Vince shouted, 'this is all your fault, you and that bitch Vanessa, and don't think she's going to get away with it either…no one cheats Vince and gets away with it. I fucking took care of the old man listening to his moaning and groaning day after day, putting up with his stink…doing your dirty work for you…what did you think I was doing all of that for, love? For a favour? I was promised money Giles, ten fucking grand, where the fuck is it?'
Giles tried to lift his head, 'You'll get it Vince I promise, I had to hide it so Vanessa didn't find it… I'll take you to it…you've got to believe me…'
'Well I don't fucking believe you, you lying cunt…you and your fucking cunt of a wife are trying to set me up…you forget I know Vanessa of old, I know just how her devious little brain works.'
'No you've got it all wrong, Vanessa knows nothing about this…don't hurt her she…'
'Shut the fuck up Giles…don't take me for a fucking fool…' Vince seemed to be getting angrier and angrier as he continued ranting at Giles. Tracy had no idea who the old man was that he kept referring to but he seemed to be working himself up into a frenzy, he also seemed to have forgotten Tracy crouched on the floor behind him, so she started edging very slowly towards the door. She nearly made it but he must have caught a movement in the corner of his eye because with a terrifying roar he swung round and subjected Tracy to the full force of his fury by smashing his fist into the side of her face and kicking her a couple of times in the ribs, she tried to curl up into a ball but the blows kept raining down on top of her, on her head and her sides…she felt her mouth fill with blood and screamed with agony as one of Vince's boots found contact with her hand breaking a couple of fingers, at last he seemed to run out of steam.
He left Tracy half conscious where she lay and turned his attention back to Giles, stuffing an old rag into his mouth and once again turning to his instruments of torture. Tracy couldn't see much of what went on over the next ten minutes or so but she could hear the Giles's muffled screams of terror and agony and see the blood on the floor then Giles's screams seemed to reach new heights and she saw Vince reach for the blowtorch waving it around in front of Giles's terrified eyes…when suddenly he seemed to stop in his tracks as if he had heard something…then Tracy heard it too… the tinny sound of the birdy song, her ring tone, coming from the linen cupboard where Tracy had left her phone. Carla must be returning her call. Vince put down the blowtorch and after checking that Giles and Tracy were incapable of escaping he went to investigate.
'Giles…Giles…oh come on Giles wake up,' whispered Tracy urgently, she could hear Vince rummaging around furiously looking for the phone…she knew she only had a couple of minutes at the most to try and help Giles, very gingerly Tracy tried to move, the pain in her side was intense it felt like he had managed to break a couple of her ribs, but, sweating and swearing, she somehow managed to shuffle over to where Giles was tied up. She tried to untie his legs using just the one hand that wasn't broken but she was shaking so much that it was virtually impossible, any moment now Vince was going to come back, she edged closer to his chair to try and get a better grip.
'Oh come on…' she told herself, 'come on you stupid cow…aaaaggghhh!' Tracy screamed in agony as Vince grabbed her broken fingers and pulled her away from Giles.
'You just don't know when to give up do you…I just don't have fucking time for all this,' and with that he put his hands around Tracy's neck and began to squeeze. Tracy began to flail about trying desperately to get him off her, she could see his face above her…see the pleasure he was getting in his cruelty…her lungs were in agony trying to find some air from somewhere and Tracy could feel herself losing the battle…her mind started playing tricks on her, she thought she could hear sounds that seemed to be coming from far away, a cry of anguish (from Giles maybe) and then a roar of anger before she started to lose consciousness…it felt like she was lifted up, floating above the scene below, then it seemed like the room had suddenly filled with people all of them shouting, but little by little she became aware of one voice that was louder than the rest…
'Tracy…Tracy… darling come on… Tracy wake up…oh god no you can't die on me TRACY!...come on sweetheart.'
'Simon! Let the paramedics get through, they need to try and ventilate her,' Carla's voice, what the hell was Carla doing here…something being shoved down my throat…oh god not again…finally oblivion.
Tracy opened her eyes slowly, and then shut them again fast against the blinding pain in her head, her head felt like someone was hitting it with a hammer, and her throat felt like she had swallowed a handful of razorblades, she felt a warm hand on her arm and slowly tried to open her eyes again, an angel stood by her bed smiling down at her with such beautiful eyes.
'Well hello there,' the angel said in a soft Irish accent. 'Look who's waking up,' and with that she turned and left the room, a hospital room Tracy now realised.
A couple of minutes later, a huge scruffy bearded man came running through the door and lunged at her grabbing her hand and raining kisses down on it.
'God…you look terrible,' squeaked Tracy, through her swollen throat, Simon just laughed and kissed her all the more.
'Says the black and blue gorgon in the bed, I don't think either of us will be winning any beauty competitions in the near future sweetheart.' From outside the door Carla watched the two love birds
giving them a bit of time. That had been a close call, if Simon hadn't got it into his head to drive over and make sure Tracy was ok, if he hadn't phoned her to make sure that Tracy had checked with her about the whereabouts of Giles, Tracy would be surely dead by now. Carla could still feel the icy cold fear that she had felt when she had finally checked her phone and heard the whispered message that Tracy had left for her, and it became obvious that Tracy was in the pub with Giles, and she had never seen such terrified determination as she had seen from Simon as he charged up the stairs and into the flat to rescue his girl, he was oblivious to all her pleas for caution. Tracy was in danger that was all he had thought about as he went hurtling into that room. Simon became aware of Carla watching them and beckoned her into the room,' I don't think she's suffered any brain damage detective,' he said smiling at her, 'she's still managing to insult me, of course she doesn't realise yet that I saved her life, I expect when she does she will be all grovelling humility.'
Carla laughed, 'Er don't hold your breath on that one, knowing Tracy I'm sure she'll be able to find a way of turning of this round so that she becomes the heroine,' she came round to the other side of the bed and squeezed Tracy's good hand, 'lovely to see you back in the land of the living honey, you scared the shit out of all of us…what the hell were you playing at, my God Tracy…' Carla took a deep breath, 'anyway I'm not going to go into all that now, you just get better sweetheart…then we will talk.' She kissed Tracy on the cheek and went out of the room. Tracy turned to Simon, 'Sorry,' was all she said, Simon gathered her up into his arms and held her firm, 'Oh you may think you're sorry Tracy my love, but you are not half as sorry as you are going to be after I've finished with you…but as Carla said, you must get well now, that's all that matters…' he stopped as he could hear the clattering of high heels on hospital flooring, 'I think I can hear someone else who has been waiting for nearly a week to see you…' he was nearly knocked sideways by the force of Maggie at full tilt rushing into the hospital room.
'Oh Tracy…Oh thank god you're awake, we have all been so worried…let me look at you…oh blimey love you are going to need a major make over before you can face your public again, but I'm sure it can all be fixed. I've heard that sometimes noses can look even better after a couple of breaks and there are some amazing cosmetic dentists out there…no no alright, I'm only joking, you will be your usual gorgeous self in next to no time, no matter what that sick fucker…' she caught Simon's shake of the head. 'Anyway I have got loads of lovely treats planned for your recuperation, I know this fabulous spa, with the best masseurs you had ever experienced, and let me tell you when they say they know how to hit the right spots…well they definitely hit ALL the right spots if you get my drift…'
'I should think most of the nursing staff gets your drift Maggie,' croaked Tracy laughing, 'and thank you but I think Simon might have other plans for me, where's Helen is she working today, how did her date go?'
Maggie looked slightly awkward, 'Helen's a bit low at the moment sweetie, she asked me to give you all her love, says she'll see you when you get home…um so tell me Simon what plans exactly do you have in mind for our Tracy here…I need to know details.'
CHAPTER 57 - CARLA
Carla sat in her office and appreciated the quiet. The team had all gone to the pub to celebrate the two arrests that had been made. Carla was just filled with a feeling of relief, it could have all ended so differently, Giles could have been brutally mutilated and killed, my god Tracy could be dead and Vincent Harman, notorious sadist and rapist could still be out there to free to indulge in his terrible perversions. As it was Giles had been arrested for the murder of Louise and conspiracy to commit murder in the case of Derek Styles, he had said nothing since being arrested except to ask after Vanessa. When the charges against him were read out he didn't even lift his head, he seemed like a broken man. Harman on the other hand had been shouting obscenities from the roof tops and had had to be restrained when he had been arrested for the kidnap and murder of Styles and for the assault on Tracy. Carla had since found out that Vincent Harman was a man that the Kent police had been hunting for over a decade, so it was quite a feather in her team's cap that they had caught him. Vanessa had been charged with failing to report a crime and obstructing the police, she had been allowed home on police bail…just as she had been about to leave the station she was accosted by a woman, who threw her arms around her and sobbed on her shoulder…Faye Pinner had flown from Australia to be with her sister. Carla had been close to tears as the two sisters wept and hugged each other, she was staying with Vanessa until the court hearing in a few weeks, maybe there could be a happy ending there after all.
Carla sighed and decided to go home, she could do without a visit to the pub, home was where she needed to be…with James and the kids. She had been made to realise just how lucky she was over the last few weeks, she had a wonderful marriage, her love for James was as strong now as it had ever been, and as she watched her three friends desperately searching for happiness she could only count her blessings. Thinking of the witches made her think particularly of Helen…oh poor Helen, to have been rejected twice and in such a way…Helen had met with Mike that evening full of hope, imagining that this would be the start of a new chapter in her life. She had opened herself up to him, even going so far as to sleep with him, the first time she had ever been unfaithful to Will, only to discover afterwards that he had decided to make a go of it with his wife. Helen had said she understood and even applauded his decision, and then had gone home and tried to kill herself with a bottle of pills…Maggie, worried that she hadn't heard from her went round to investigate only to find her comatose on the kitchen floor she had broken every speed limit to get her to the hospital…well she had made it, Helen's stomach had been pumped and she was recovering in hospital (just down the corridor from Tracy actually) for a few days…but something had changed in her, and Carla was very scared that they might never get their friend back again. But they would love and cosset her as best they could and hope for a miracle.
As Carla wearily reached for her coat, the phone on her desk started ringing; she was tempted to leave it but…
It was a detective sergeant from the Kent police force, congratulating them for the arrest of Vincent Harman.
'Real nasty bit of work he is, we've been trying to get him for as long as I've been working here, but he's always managed to slither out of it somehow, that solicitor of his always seemed to be able to find some legal loophole…mind you we were almost as chuffed about Poole's arrest down here, the number of times our work has all been for nothing because he got them off with some legal loop hole.'
Carla didn't know why but something about what he'd just said sent alarm bell ringing in her head.
'Of course that's where Giles must have met Harman,' she mused, 'he had obviously represented him in court a few times, do you remember him detective Almond? How long have you been working with the Kent police?'
Detective Almond laughed, 'Oh at least twenty years, I started out here, walking the beat, you know…yes I knew all of them…Keith Mobray, Howie, Sharkey…they were a right bunch of scum bags and your friend Giles represented them all, managed to get them all off a few times…not Vince though, no if my memory serves me right he had a different solicitor, right snobby twat…no actually it was Mrs Poole his wife, the lovely Vanessa, that was most closely associated with Vince, they were a right pair…'
Carla sat up straight in her chair, 'Excuse me…did you say that Vanessa knew Vincent Harman?'
'Oh yeh she knew him alright…you see Keith Mobray and Vince were great buddies, and at that time they ran things in and around Kent...drugs, prostitution, gambling, they had control of all of it, until they had a major falling out…I don't know why, at the time it was rumoured that Vince had badly hurt a couple of Keith's girls, you know really badly so that they couldn't work anymore. Anyway whatever it was it caused mayhem, we had shootings and retaliation shootings and all sorts, until of course we h
ad a tip off and Keith was suddenly arrested and put away…it has always been my understanding that Harman with the help of Vanessa had grassed Keith up to the police, of course no one knows for sure, but Harman definitely helped Vanessa get set up on her own, and then of course she did really well, bagging herself a rich solicitor…' Carla felt a tingling up her spine.
'Do you remember Vanessa then; was she somebody that you would have been keeping an eye on?'
'Not really if I'm honest, as long as she kept her business discreet and didn't cause us any trouble we pretty much left her to it… she always was a clever one that Vanessa…strange how life turns out isn't it…I mean how she ended up with another murderer, bloody hell talk about picking the wrong men…anyway Carla, congrats again, we're just glad that nasty fucker has finally been nailed.'
Carla barely remembered saying goodbye to him as she hung up the phone, her head was in a total spin…Vanessa had known and been friends with the man that had viciously tortured and murdered her father…she sat and stared into space for a moment or two desperately trying to collect her thoughts, then she remembered something, an envelope had been put on her desk earlier from the forensics team…enhancements of the photograph that Helen had left for her, she had taken a quick look at them, but because of all the other evidence that they now had she hadn't thought them very important, now where the fuck had she put them? Carla started frantically searching her desk until she found the envelope under a great pile of files…she rummaged around for a magnifying glass and switched on her desk light and then studied the blown up and enhanced photos, the hooded figure was still very blurred, but what soon caught Carla's eye was that it appeared to be not one but two figures, she stared at the images for a long time, yes she was certain, there were definitely two people, one of them (the taller of the two) had their arms around the smaller, holding them directly in front of them… then like a blinding flash of light, two things suddenly struck Carla as she stared at the woodland image, firstly that the taller of the two wasn't that much taller, certainly not as tall as Giles would have been in comparison, and secondly and this discovery made Carla punch the air, the smaller figure in front was wearing very high stiletto heels! Once again Carla sat staring at the wall trying to get her head round these new revelations, she had been so taken in by Vanessa, so blinded by sympathy for her when she had heard what a terrible time she had suffered at the hands of her father that despite all the evidence, she had given her the benefit of the doubt over and over again. But what if she had been wrong what if it had been Vanessa all along…suddenly another horrific possibility reared its ugly head…Carla grabbed her coat and rushed out of the station and ran across the common, Vanessa had taken her sister back to the pub to stay with her while she was in England, but the pub had remained closed ever since that awful night when Tracy nearly got killed, and the girls hadn't been seen out and about. Everybody had respected Vanessa's privacy and had stayed away.