The Devil Inside

by Heather Atkinson

  “I mean Pete.”

  The twitch vanished. “Oh aye, he’s alright. Dunno, he’d have to get permission from Neville’s doctor. I don’t know how much you’d get out of him though.”

  “I’ll get Pete to have a word with his doctor.”

  “How deep is your investigation going anyway? Have they been giving you any bother?”

  “Nothing we can’t handle.”

  “You sure about that?” he frowned.

  “Aye, course. Don’t you worry, we’re just fine.”

  “Good because you’re my family, you too Cass,” he said with a gentle smile.

  She grasped his hand. “Thank you. I consider you to be my brother Ricky.”

  “Put her down, you’re gonnae squish her,” said Brodie when Ricky once again enveloped his fiancée in a hug.

  “Sorry,” he said, releasing her. “I’m just emotional.”

  “It’s all the dancing about the garden in your jammies. It’s turning you into a wee lassie.”

  “Don’t knock it till you try it Brodie. You could use some relaxation yourself, you look wound up tight.”

  “That’s how I always look.”

  “You’ve got Cass to consider now, so try and look after yourself a bit better.”

  “Hey, I’m no’ going to seed. I work out and eat healthily. Apart from the doughnuts.”

  “I mean up here,” said Ricky, tapping the side of his head. “Don’t go burning yourself out.”

  “Mental health advice from the man locked up in here. Great.”

  “He’s talking sense Brodie,” said Cass. “You could do with chilling a bit.”

  “I’ll relax on the honeymoon.”

  “You decided where you’re going yet?” said Ricky.

  “Not yet,” said Cass.

  They chatted for a bit longer before one of the orderlies came out and said it was time for Ricky’s medication.

  “Well, see you again soon pal,” said Brodie.

  “With more wedding stuff?”

  “Aye, with more wedding stuff.”

  After exchanging hugs Brodie watched his brother amble inside with a big grin on his face.

  “We really made his day,” said Cass.

  Brodie turned to her and took her hands. “Are you sure you don’t mind having the ceremony here doll? Because there’s a good chance his doctor won’t let him out.”

  “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. Look at these gardens, they’re beautiful.” She frowned when she spotted a panting patient leaning against a tree, his hand frantically moving inside his pyjama bottoms.

  “Don’t worry hen, we won’t invite him,” said Brodie, making her laugh.

  “I know how much having Ricky there means to you and if that’s the only way to make that happen then that’s what we’ll do. Just don’t expect me to ask Natalie to be a bridesmaid.”

  “I wouldnae expect that hen. But it is quite funny that you prefer my brother, who’s locked up in a loony bin for life, over her.”

  “Ricky’s a good bloke. It’s not his fault he’s in here. I’m going to ask Morgan and my friend Tricia to be my bridesmaids.”

  “Alright, it’s a plan.” He took her hand. “Now let’s go and talk to Ricky’s doctor.”

  They wandered back inside to be greeted by one of the orderlies.

  “Alright Trevor? Can we talk to Arthur?” said Brodie. He was well known at the hospital, so introductions weren’t necessary.

  “Aye, I’ll see if he’s free. Back in a sec.”

  Trevor returned a few minutes later and led them through the corridors - which were a lot more welcoming than Malachi’s compound - into a rather splendid office overlooking the gardens.

  “Brodie, nice to see you,” said the distinguished grey-haired gent, getting to his feet to shake his hand.

  “Thanks for seeing us Arthur.”

  “Anytime for you.” He looked to the orderly. “Trevor, could you go outside and sort out Simon please. He’s had his hand in his trousers for the last fifteen minutes. He’ll exhaust himself again.”

  Brodie looked down at the carpet, fighting to repress his snigger.

  Trevor didn’t even flinch. “Aye Sir, I’ll get right on it.”

  “Urgh,” Brodie murmured to himself.

  “Please sit,” said Arthur, gesturing to the chairs opposite his desk.

  Brodie and Cass took a seat each.

  “I’m afraid I don’t know you,” Arthur politely told Cass.

  “This is Cass, my fiancée,” said Brodie. “Ricky let’s her hug him. They’re really fond of each other.”

  “Wow, high praise indeed. Ricky’s told me all about you Cass. That’s now three people in the world who can touch him.”

  “We’re getting married soon and I want Ricky to be my best man,” said Brodie.

  “I see,” said Arthur slowly.

  “So we wondered if he could be sprung from this place for a couple of hours or, if not, would we be able to have the ceremony in the garden?”

  “Hmmm,” said Arthur, reclining back in his chair and pressing his fingertips together. “When is the wedding?”

  “We haven’t set a date yet.”

  “Are we talking this year or next year?”

  “This year, hopefully. As soon as we can.”

  “It’s wonderful that you want to include Ricky but I couldn’t possibly recommend allowing him to leave the hospital. If he saw a police officer on the streets…”

  “It would send him doolally.”

  “I’m afraid it would and if he hurt anyone he would be devastated. He’s finally on an even keel. We’ve been able to reduce his medication and he hasn’t needed to be sedated for months. This is excellent progress and I’m loathe to disturb it.”

  “I hear you doc.” Brodie was disappointed but this hadn’t been unexpected.

  “Having the ceremony here however, that is something we could perhaps do.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. Of course you’d have to have the reception elsewhere but we could set up a marquee in the gardens. Our gardener really is very talented, he’s made them bloom beautifully, which brings the patients a lot of pleasure. But I’m afraid you could only have a small gathering. Ricky’s been in here for thirty five years. I want to give him something to look forward to, something that will make him feel part of the world again.”

  “We’ll pay for everything,” said Brodie eagerly. “It won’t cost the hospital a penny.”

  “In that case, how could I refuse? We can make sure all the other patients are kept inside for the ceremony. I just hope the weather is fine for you.”

  “Thank you so much. You’ve no idea what this means to us.”

  “I think I can imagine,” he replied with a gentle smile. “But I have to ask, are you sure you want to get married here? I’m perfectly aware we’re hardly the most romantic backdrop. I’d hate for him to get excited about it then have it taken from him.”

  “We wouldn’t do that,” said Cass. “We want Ricky to be a part of it.”

  “We’re no’ changing our minds,” added Brodie.

  “Very well. I’ll speak to the board of governors but I doubt they’ll have a problem with it. I’ll be in touch soon.”

  Brodie got to his feet and pumped his hand. “Thank you.”

  “You’re very welcome.”

  As they left they passed by the window of the dayroom where Ricky was knocking back his tablets with a cup of water. Brodie gave him the thumbs up as he went by, making him grin.

  “Well hen,” he said. “It looks like we could be getting wed here. Who’d have thought it?”

  “Not me,” she smiled.

  “You sure about it? I know women when they’re wee girls dream about a big white wedding in a church.”

  “I didn’t. I dreamed I was She-Ra kicking the shit out of bad guys.”

  “She-Ra?” he laughed. “Well, you’re certainly living that dream hen. You ever get the costume?�
� he winked.

  “Actually I did when I was nine. I had a plastic sword too. I used to batter my brother over the head with it.”

  “The prick deserved it. You sure about not inviting your parents or brother?”

  “Yep. My brother’s an arrogant arsehole. You or the boys will end up knocking him out and I don’t want my parents here either. They’ll only criticise everything.”

  “Especially if we’re getting married in a psychiatric hospital?”

  She nodded.

  “Are you really sure hen? Please don’t feel you have to do it.”

  “I’m perfectly happy to have it here. Like I said, all that matters is marrying you and having our friends around us, who are our real family. I thought we could visit my parents for a couple of days after we’re married. That’ll placate them. They’ll want to meet you.”

  “They won’t be pissed off that they weren’t invited?”

  “Probably but this is our day, not theirs and I don’t want them there.”

  Cass’s relationship with her parents and brother had been rocky to say the least ever since she was attacked as a teenager by her brother’s best friend. They’d believed him over her and it had practically destroyed their relationship. She’d barely seen them since she’d moved to Glasgow. On the odd occasion she had visited them it had only been because she’d made the effort to go back to Lancashire. They’d never bothered to see her new life for themselves.

  “I can’t promise I’ll be polite when I meet them,” growled Brodie. The Carlisle family’s treatment of their only daughter made him furious.

  “I don’t care if you aren’t,” she replied. “It’ll do them good. Right, back to work. What do we do now?”

  “I need to call Pete and put him onto Nervous Neville. Hopefully he’ll be allowed to talk to him.”

  Before he could make the call his phone rang. “Hello?” he said into the handset. “Hello,” he repeated louder when there was no reply.

  “Mr Brodie?”

  “It’s MacBride,” he sighed.

  Cass smiled. Soon she was going to have the same battle. She couldn’t wait.

  “It’s Steven Silvers,” whispered the voice. “I want out.”

  “That’s fantastic pal. Do you need help?”

  “I’m in the Glasgow church. A couple of them are keeping an eye on me. They’ve got wind I want to leave. Please help. I’m frightened of what they’re going to do.”

  “Then why have they let you have access to a phone?” he said suspiciously.

  “They haven’t. One of the members is prone to black-outs. He’s out cold on the floor, so I borrowed his phone. I’ll delete all trace of this call, don’t worry.”

  “Alright pal, we’re on our way. Just hang tight.”

  “Please hurry Mr Brodie,” he whispered before hanging up.

  “That was Steven Silvers,” Brodie told Cass. “He wants out. Right now. He’s waiting for us at the church.”

  “Could it be a trap?”

  “Maybe but I don’t want to take the chance that it’s not. He wants out, I know it, I saw it in his eyes at the Kelvingrove. You drive hen. I’ll rally the troops.”

  CHAPTER 23

  Cass parked Brodie’s SUV down the street from the church. Elliott, Christian and Ross were already there, waiting for them.

  “What’s he doing here?” sighed Brodie when he saw Mason among their number.

  “I haven’t been able to get near the church for a long time,” he replied, eagerly clutching his camera. “I’m not missing out on this chance.”

  “Alright, fine but don’t get in the way and don’t do anything stupid or we’ll leave you behind.”

  “Understood.”

  “What’s the plan Bossman?” said Christian.

  “The usual. Barge in there, grab Steven and get out before anyone realises what’s happened. I called Pete so if it is a trap someone knows where the hell we are.”

  Brodie shoved open the door and strode inside, closely followed by the others. The church appeared to be deserted and was totally silent. Brodie’s gaze homed in on the two portraits hanging at the head of the room - one of a smug Malachi and another of an old bald man who looked like someone you wouldn’t leave alone with your children.

  At the sound of a cry they all charged into a side room off to their left. They found Steven being manhandled by three disciples towards a hatch in the centre of the floor, screaming and thrashing. A fourth was slumped on the floor, looking dazed and confused, giving truth to the story Steven had given Brodie.

  “Hey you freaks,” yelled Brodie. “Get off him.”

  “It’s the traitor,” hissed one of the disciples. “You betrayed us.”

  “No I didn’t because I was never one of you and if you don’t get off him I’ll stick your heid up your own hole.”

  The three men were easily overcome and Steven clung onto Brodie, shaking.

  “Thank you,” he breathed. “Thank you so much. We need to get out of here. There are security cameras in here linked to the compound. Someone will have seen what’s happened.”

  “Let’s go,” said Brodie, already marching for the door, pulling Steven along with him because his legs had gone weak.

  “Mason, come on,” said Cass as he peered down into the void in the middle of the floor, frantically snapping photos with his phone.

  “I can hear voices down there,” he replied.

  “They’re coming from the compound,” said Steven. “That tunnel leads directly to The Breach. We have to go now or we’ll all end up down there.”

  This statement made Mason sprint for the door, racing past them all.

  Elliott pulled him back. “There could be more of them out there.”

  Mason gasped and retreated behind him, peeking over his shoulder as he opened the door.

  “Oh shit,” said Elliott.

  Before them stood a group of almost a hundred disciples, blocking their exit from the church, a smiling Malachi at their centre. Behind them came more voices, emerging from the side room.

  “We’re trapped,” said Cass.

  Brodie, who still had hold of Steven, shook him vigorously. “You set a trap.”

  “No, I didn’t. Promise.”

  “He’s telling you the truth,” said Malachi, stepping forward. “I sensed he was a weak link, that he wanted out. So I had him closely watched. When poor John had one of his episodes and passed out I knew he wouldn’t be able to resist.”

  “Oh God I’m so sorry,” gasped Steven, tears running down his face.

  “Don’t apologise,” Brodie told him. “It’s that walloper’s fault,” he added, pointing at Malachi.

  Cass and Elliott slammed the church doors shut while Christian and Ross picked up a pew between them and used it to wedge the doors shut.

  “You two,” Brodie told Mason and Steven. “Get in the corner and keep your heids down.”

  They leapt to obey, cowering in the corner while the others turned to face the security team that emerged from the side room, two of whom were Cain and Abel.

  “Payback,” grinned Cain, producing a stun gun, which crackled menacingly.

  Brodie smiled when he heard sirens. “Oh aye prick?”

  “Back to The Breach,” Abel ordered them all.

  “Stop that pair,” yelled Brodie, charging at Cain, grabbing his legs and rugby-tackling him to the ground.

  Christian and Ross between them shoved Abel to the floor, pinning him down.

  Cass peered out of the window and smiled. “It’s Donaldson with back-up. All the bats have already done one.”

  “Wussies,” said Brodie. He looked to Mason and Steven, who were still crouched in a corner. “You can get up now ladies, the cavalry’s arrived.”

  “Is he always so rude?” Steven asked Mason.

  “Pretty much but you want him on your side.”

  “So I see.”

  Christian and Ross removed the barricade so Brodie could fling open the main doors.
“Donaldson, you have fucking beautiful timing.”

  “What the hell are you playing at now Brodie?” he demanded.

  “They came to rescue me,” said Steven. “I want out of the church. Security were trying to bundle me down into The Breach when they got here.”

  “And this pair,” said Brodie, nodding at Cain and Abel. “Are armed with stun guns.”

  “Nick them,” said Donaldson, nodding from Brodie to Cass.

  “You fucking what?” exploded Brodie.

  “You’re both under arrest for intimidation and trespass. Don’t be awkward and make trouble Brodie.”

  “Make trouble?” He rounded on the two uniformed officers converging on him. “You pair touch me and I’ll tear off your arms and gie’ them to the bats to make an interesting display for their leaflets.”

  The officers, who knew exactly who Brodie was, stopped and looked at each other.

  “I’m doing you a favour,” Donaldson whispered in Brodie’s ear. “Trust me. Pete will explain.”

  “Best do as he says Brodie,” said Cass.

  “Oy, don’t you dare cuff her,” Brodie roared at the officer who was in the middle of restraining her.

  “It’s okay,” she told the officer. “Go ahead.”

  “And nick that pair too for carrying illegal weapons,” Donaldson told his men, pointing to Cain and Abel.

  Brodie’s laugh rang out as their gloating smiles fell.

  “They’re not ours,” said Cain. “That lot brought them.”

  “So when we check them for fingerprints whose will we find on there?” countered Donaldson.

  Neither man replied.

  “Take Mason and Steven back to the office,” Brodie told Elliott. “Let no one in but us.” He lowered his voice to add, “Check Steven for tracking devices before going anywhere near the safe house.”

  “Will do.”

  Elliott, Christian and Ross escorted their charges out of the church along with the police and bundled them into the car. Malachi and his disciples hung about outside to watch. Brodie’s eyes connected with the leader’s, anger rippling through him as Malachi’s look told him he’d got exactly what he wanted. By charging in to rescue Steven he’d played right into the bastard’s hands.

  Cass and Brodie were put in the back of a patrol car together.