by Diane Hester
Lindsay stumbled to a halt and stared. Nothing but broken shards lined the frame. Jagged teeth in the jaws of some unspeakable beast, many with flecks of blood on their tips.
She held up her hands. Beneath the bandages she felt the bite of those teeth in her flesh, tearing and slicing. The same thing Jennifer Dawson had felt when …
She pushed the sensation firmly aside and looked down at the dog. ‘Okay, I know this place. But why are you showing me this again, I’ve already seen it.’
The dog stared back.
She clenched her fists. ‘Don’t you understand, this tells me nothing!’
The hound looked up at the window and whined.
Steeling herself, Lindsay stepped closer. Clearly he wanted her to look again. What wasn’t she getting? What could she see from this new perspective that she hadn’t already—
Her eyes widened.
It wasn’t the window. It was what lay beyond.
Chapter 42
The dusty hood was whisked from her head. Shaunwyn shook the hair from her eyes to find her captor standing over her.
He was staring at her just as he had the first time, with that strange mix of rage and uncertainty. If she could only talk to him … If he’d just take the gag out she might have a chance …
He leaned down and turned on the bedside lamp, shone it in her face. He grabbed her chin, wrenched her head one way, then the other. When he finally let go, all trace of uncertainty was gone from his eyes.
‘You think you can fool me, do you? Well, it’s not going to work.’ He lunged, clamping his hands round her throat.
Her paralysis broke. She writhed and bucked, arched her back. But rage had once again empowered him. She tried rolling free. He climbed on top of her, pinning her to the filthy mattress.
The bedside light was growing dim when he suddenly froze. He jumped off her and rushed to the door.
Shaunwyn fought to suck air past her gag as the man stood listening. Why had he stopped? What had distracted him?
Then she heard it. Someone knocking.
She lifted her head to see his reaction. By his look, the caller wasn’t expected. He shot her a glance, stood undecided a moment longer, then slipped out the door. The dead bolt clicked as he locked it behind him.
Hope wild and unrestrained spiked in her veins. A chance at least!
She tried to scream but her ravaged throat produced little sound. And what it did produce, with a rag in her mouth, would never carry beyond the room. She rubbed the gag against her shoulder, across the pillow, then the mattress. All were too soft. The strip of fabric was tightly bound—it wouldn’t budge.
She rolled and twisted to look behind her. The headboard was a flat slab of wood—no posts or edges to brace against. Ah, but the night stand!
Flopping aside, she hooked the gag on the table’s corner. The fabric shifted. Snagged on her tooth. Scraped down her gums. And at last pulled free.
With her throat now recovered, Shaunwyn filled her lungs and screamed.
***
Lindsay stared out the factory window, a second-floor aspect framing an unfamiliar section of the city. Still Adelaide, she sensed, yet nothing she recognised. The scene’s most prominent feature was a grey stone church in the middle distance.
From across the network of empty channels and aging wharfs between the two, she picked up a sound. The steeple bell ringing.
But, no, the sound was closer than that. From somewhere behind her. And perhaps not a bell so much as a …
She turned from the window and found herself sitting at the table in her flat. The dog and everything he’d shown her was gone.
She straightened slowly. The doll’s house was just a doll’s house again. No church, no factory, no broken window. Just the incessant trill of her mobile—the sound she’d transmuted into church bells.
She grabbed it and fumbled it to her ear.
‘Mac!’ Excitement gripped her at hearing his voice. ‘I saw something more about the factory. It might give us a better idea where it is. There’s a church nearby, a graveyard on one side, a park on the other.’
‘Lindsay, wait—’
‘I saw it from one of the upstairs windows. The one Jen Dawson broke trying to escape. The factory’s on some kind of river or channel, the church in the distance on the other side.’
‘Sounds like the docks at the old marina. But, Lindsay, listen—’
‘Mac, if we can figure out where that church is and then find the building, it’s visible from—’
‘Will you listen to me! It’s over; we found her.’
Her heart stood still.
‘You hear me? We found Shaunwyn. She’s okay.’
Tears instantly stung her eyes. ‘You mean it? She’s really all right?’
‘She’s shaken but physically unhurt. She’ll need some time, but she’s going to be fine.’
The pain in her hands told her she was gripping the phone too tightly. ‘So you found the house? The one with the letterbox? Number twenty-eight?’
‘It was all there, Lindsay, just like you saw it. And you know what else?’ She heard a smile brighten his voice. ‘We caught the bloody son-of-a-bitch.’
‘Oh my god, he was actually there? Who was it? Was it Collier?’
‘No. No-one we were looking into. He doesn’t even seem to be associated with the uni.’
‘But he didn’t hurt Shaunwyn?’
‘It was close; we got to her just in time. Which we wouldn’t have if not for you.’
The words stopped her short. She felt her throat tighten.
‘Did you hear what I said? If not, I’ll repeat it. Shaunwyn’s alive because of you. You saved her life.’
The tightness was pinching more tears from her eyes.
‘Lindsay? You there?’
‘Yeah,’ she croaked wiping her face. ‘Can I talk to her?’
‘That’s going to have to wait, I’m afraid. She has to give a statement and then see the counsellor.’
‘Any idea when she’ll be back?’
‘To the flat? Not till late afternoon at the earliest. She may even want a night in hospital. Could you bring yourself to visit her there if she did?’
‘I think I can overcome my phobia for Shaun.’
‘Good to hear. Look I’m going to be tied up here for the rest of the day. I’ll let you know as soon as I can what’s happening.’
‘Thanks, I appreciate it.’
He was silent a second. ‘I suppose you’ll be calling Ikeman now to tell him the news.’
Lindsay smiled. ‘Macklyn?’
‘Yeah?’
‘Sometimes you can be amazingly transparent.’
Chapter 43
Lindsay dropped heavily onto her bed. Waves of elation kept breaking over her. Shaunwyn was safe. Alive and unharmed. Her dearest friend had survived being kidnapped by the man who had strangled three other women.
Because of you.
She couldn’t believe Mac had said the words. He hadn’t challenged her on how she’d known where the killer’s house was. He hadn’t accused her of being involved. He’d just believed.
What a strange and overwhelming sensation it was. To be believed. Trusted. And by a cop, no less. No, not just a cop. A man who’d come to mean a great deal more to her. Someone whose opinion of her she valued almost as much as her own.
She smiled, recalling their parting words before they’d hung up.
‘Just so you know, I never slept with him,’ she’d said to him after his crack about Ikeman.
‘Why tell me?’ He’d tried for indifferent but she’d seen right through it.
‘You sticky-beak cops like to know everything.’
At that she’d heard him give a soft laugh. ‘You can give me your full confession later.’
‘I look forward to that.’ And she’d meant every word.
Yet before he’d hung up, her thoughts had returned to her one last concern. ‘Mac, I still have a bad feeling about the factory.’
Shaunwyn is safe. Yes, of course, that was all that mattered. The killer was caught and Shaunwyn was safe.
Because of you.
Lindsay jumped up and spun in circles across the room. She felt as though a weight she’d been carrying for untold years had suddenly been lifted. And perhaps the biggest triumph of all was that she’d done it herself. For the first time in her life, instead of denying her gift, she’d actually found the courage to use it.
She stopped her twirling and closed her eyes. At once a round pixie face was before her. ‘Does this mean you can forgive me, Adelle? Does it mean I can finally forgive myself?’
When her phone trilled again, she picked it up quickly, hoping it was Mac. ‘Hello?’
‘Lindsay. I take it you weren’t asleep. At least I hope not; I’d feel awful knowing I’d woken you.’
‘Doctor Ikeman?’
‘Ron, remember? I know it’s early but I wanted to make sure you’re okay. And to let you know that as soon as you’re ready to renew your efforts to find your friend—’
‘Ron, listen, the most wonderful thing has happened. They found her; they found Shaunwyn. She’s all right. What’s more, they caught the killer.’
‘Caught him?’ A heartbeat of silence. ‘Why, I’m astounded. When did this happen?’
Lindsay filled him in on the timing.
His voice grew eager. ‘So was it something you told them? Did you end up seeing—’
‘Yes, yes. I was going through Shaunwyn’s things and got an impression of a house she was being held in.’
‘A house? But I thought—’
‘Mac managed to locate the place. He and another officer went in, found Shaunwyn and arrested the killer.’
More silence as he processed this. ‘Well, that’s absolutely wonderful, Lindsay. I’m happy for you, more than you can know. And I’m glad the detective finally managed to open his mind enough to listen to you.’
‘Yes, of course, but none of that matters anymore. The important thing is, they found her in time.’
‘Well, it’s not the only important thing. This is a tremendous step you’ve taken. Now that you’ve fully accepted your gift it’ll likely just keep getting stronger and stronger.’
‘And you know the truly amazing part? I’m okay with that. I want to use my gift to help people. It’s what I’ve wanted all along. I’d be doing it this very moment, except …’ She hadn’t realised she’d resumed her pacing until she stumbled to a halt again. ‘There’s more to this, I know there is. I can feel it. It’s just …’
‘What is it? Surely you can have no regrets about how things turned out in this case.’
‘No, but …’ She turned and walked back the other way. ‘There is one thing that’s still bothering me. When I got the impression of the place where Shaunwyn was being held, I saw a second place. The same one I saw in my vision of Jennifer.’
‘The factory.’
‘Yes.’
‘I remember. That’s why I was surprised that you mentioned a house. But if Shaunwyn and the killer were both there …’
‘I know, I know. Still, I can’t get rid of this feeling.’
‘Well, is Macklyn going to follow up on that? Won’t he want to find the place?’
‘He does and he will, but he can’t right now. He’s tied up interviewing the killer. It’ll take most of the day, he said.’
‘And in the meanwhile you’re left hanging.’ His silence this time suggested displeasure. ‘Lindsay, you’ve had a tremendous breakthrough today. Not merely regarding your psychic abilities but your feelings over the death of your childhood friend. This is a turning point for you, a new beginning.’
She bowed her head. ‘Yes, I know; I can feel it.’
‘In my opinion it would be a mistake to wait on this. I feel it’s important for you to keep going, to see this through. To fully unburden yourself of the guilt you’ve been carrying all these years. What’s more, I’m prepared to help you do it.’
‘What do you mean? Help me do what?’
‘For the sake of your peace of mind, you and I must find this factory.’
Chapter 44
The day had clouded over completely by the time they reached the old marina. Lindsay had driven to Ikeman’s lab and from there they had taken his car.
From the passenger seat she stared out at the rusting hulks of soon-to-be-demolished buildings—a grim enough setting on the brightest of days but light tarnished by massing rainclouds added an eerie, otherworldly quality. Mac had been right. This was the place she’d seen in her vision.
‘So what do you think?’ Ikeman said. ‘Any of this look familiar?’
‘Yes, we’re definitely in the right area. If we can just drive around a bit I might be able to sense something more.’
Ikeman slowly piloted the car down the first of the alleys connecting the main drive to the dock.
‘It’s good of you to do this,’ she told him. ‘You’ve been wonderful through this whole thing in fact. I’m not sure I’d have managed without you.’
‘You’d have done fine. And to be honest, my motives weren’t entirely unselfish.’
She looked away, afraid he’d misunderstood her meaning. She hadn’t meant to suggest—
‘You asked me once if I had your gift and I denied it,’ he went on. ‘The fact is I do have it. Or a form of it. Like you I’ve had it most of my life. Unlike you, whenever I exhibited my unique ability I was punished for it. Severely.’
‘Oh, that’s terrible.’
‘I understand enough about myself to know that’s been the driving motivation behind my research. I wanted to prove to the world once and for all that this gift we possess is something good and not to be feared.’ He looked aside at her. ‘With you I finally have that proof.’
‘What form of ESP do you have?’
‘Let’s not go into that now. This is your moment. I want you to get the very most from it.’ He smiled. ‘So tell me, what are you feeling?’
She looked out at the buildings on either side, nodding as the answer came to her. ‘A sense of purpose. Like I’m making a real contribution.’
‘Exactly what I’d hoped you’d feel, what you’re meant to feel. In the factory will likely be evidence police can use to convict the killer. Evidence they’d never find without you. Remember that.’
At the end of the alley he pulled to a stop beside the dock and they rolled down their windows. Pigeons and seabirds scattered by their passing flew up to roost in the eaves of the buildings towering over them. Water slapped the planks of the channel walls and the stench of creosote rose in their heads.
Lindsay slumped at the sight before them. Row upon row of huge gutted buildings lined the opposite side of the channel. Even if she managed to find the church and use it as a landmark … ‘I hadn’t expected there to be so many. How will I ever know the right one?
‘Trust in yourself. Don’t worry, you’ll find it.’ Ikeman swung the car around and headed back out the alley.
Four lanes further Lindsay was beginning to despair when they again pulled up to the edge of the dock. This time, however, the view was encouraging. A church steeple, previously obscured by a massive conveyor overhanging the channel, was now visible in the distance.
Excitement gripped her. ‘Stop here, please. I’d like to have a look around on foot.’
He shut off the engine and they climbed from the car.
‘You’ll be all right on your own for a moment?’ Ikeman said. ‘I just need to step around the corner for a second and take care of business.’
She smiled. ‘Go ahead. I’ll wait here.’
As she watched him walk off, Lindsay pulled her phone from her pocket. She’d been hoping fo
r a moment to herself. Knowing how Ikeman felt about Mac, she’d been reluctant to place her call with him listening.
***
Sam stepped into the interrogation room and handed Mac a small piece of paper. ‘Lindsay just called. Says she knows where the factory is and you should get back to her when you can.’
Mac nodded as he tucked the paper in his pocket. Unable to leave his interrogation, he’d given Sam his phone to monitor. Sam would never have relayed a personal message aloud unless he’d wanted their prisoner to hear it. Knowing they would soon have more crucial evidence against him would hopefully get the guy to speak.
Suppressing a smile, Mac turned back to the man seated at the table across from him. ‘You hear that, Phillips? We found your other hideaway.’
‘What hideaway?’
‘The place you held your other victims. Care to enlighten us on the details? We’re soon to find it all out anyway.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Mac studied the pathetic figure slumped in the chair. He hardly looked capable of the crimes he’d committed. Not much bigger than the women he’d killed, he seemed to possess neither the physical nor emotional strength to squeeze the life from another human being.
But as Mac had long since learned, madness came in many shapes.
‘I’m talking about the place you took Bethany Willas, Martha Daniels and Jennifer Dawson. The place where you held them, starved them and eventually strangled them.’
‘You’re out of your mind. I don’t know who any of those people are. And I certainly never strangled them.’
‘The woman we found in your house this morning has a different story about your murderous tendencies. She even has the marks on her neck to prove it. You going to sit there and tell me you never touched her?’
The man’s face hardened. ‘Her I touched, I won’t deny it. I’d have done a lot more if you hadn’t arrived.’ He surged to his feet.
‘Easy, mate. Don’t go getting yourself in a twist. We’ve got a lot to get through yet.’
Breathless, the man sank back in his chair.
Mac leaned towards him. ‘So tell me, how did you get them to go with you? Where did you pick up the girl last night?’