Making his way down the hallway towards Clarice’s room, he wondered about Bernice’s reaction. He couldn’t blame her really. Grief was a funny thing. Sometimes there were just no explanations.
‘Hey, guys, what’ve we got?’
Max placed a tiny screwdriver back in his toolkit. ‘The camera was turned off, but from what I can see he was using her own Internet signal to bounce the footage to his location. We’re taking the lot back to the lab and I’ll try to trace back from there.’
Craig chimed in, ‘The camera will be sent off for chemical enhancement, it’s small and fiddly and I don’t want to ruin any potential prints. The Chem Lab will be able to do it better based on the multiple surface types. While Max was looking at the laptop, I had a look through her bedside drawer. She keeps a journal, but the last entry has been ripped out. I’m going to send the journal off for ESDA analysis. Electrostatic detection analysis should highlight the indentations on the next page which may show us what she’d written,’ added Craig.
‘Great, thank you.’ Ali made his way back into the living room. Gill was still sitting where he’d left her.
‘They’re just about done in there. Can I call anyone to come and sit with you?’
‘No thank you, Inspector. I’ll call Bernice later and make peace. Though she has every reason to hate me. I think a little of it is blaming herself. She couldn’t cope when Clarice turned to drugs, with the other three kids only young, she panicked. Didn’t want trouble in the house I suppose. But she loved her daughter dearly. And now she’s gone. And while I know you’re doing everything you can to find the man who did this, it won’t bring her back, will it?’
‘You did a good thing, Gill. You took Clarice in and helped her turn her life around. What happened isn’t your fault. Clarice was a very bright young lady. She was doing well at college. I know because we spoke to her tutors. None of that would have happened if you hadn’t taken her in. Try not to blame yourself. It seems to me you did a lot more for Clarice than you’ve been given credit for. It can’t have been easy getting her off drugs and away from that life.’
‘No, I suppose it wasn’t. I love that girl like she’s my own. She was always a good girl who just got led astray. I wish I knew who her boyfriend was. She’d said she was seeing someone, but I didn’t get any details. He won’t even know what’s happened.’
‘How long had they been together?’
‘Oh, I don’t know, a couple of weeks maybe. Not long. She seemed quite smitten though. I think I’d like to take a rest now…do you mind?’
‘Not at all. I’ll be in touch with you and Bernice shortly, OK?’
He stood to leave just as Bernice walked back in the door, tears streaking her face. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…’ Gill jumped to her feet and pulled her friend into a tight hug as Bernice started sobbing.
Taking his leave by patting Gill’s arm, he left the two of them holding each other. He was glad Bernice had come back – the pair needed each other right now.
Noticing his vehicle was the only one present, he realised Craig and Max had already left. He climbed into the car and rubbed his hands over his face. Damn he was tired, it felt like forever since he’d slept. He felt like there was something he’d missed, something obvious he needed to know. But it wouldn’t come. With a sigh, he started the car and headed back to the nick.
Chapter Thirty-one
O’Byrne Residence, Sunderland
I swear I’m going nuts being cooped up in here. I can’t do this anymore.’ Ben was on the phone to Cass and felt the need to vent.
‘Listen to me, you need to stay there. Grace and Aoife are safe, and you need to be too. You can’t go about your normal business until this nut job is caught, do you understand me? This guy is dangerous, Ben. The last thing anyone wants is for him to get his mitts on you because you were too damn stubborn to listen to advice. I’m coming over tonight. Me and Alex, we’ll bring Isobel.’
‘No! You can’t bring the baby here. Hell, you can’t even come here, Cass. If this monster is watching and sees you guys, he might decide to hurt you, too. You’ve been through enough.’
‘But I’m worried about you. I know how hard it was for you to tell me everything that happened. This guy is gunning for you. I need to know you’re safe.’
‘Look, I promise I won’t go back to work or even leave the house without a cop with me. But there’s nothing in the fridge for a start, I need to go get some food. And I haven’t seen Grace in two days. I’m honestly going stir crazy in here. How long will it take for Ali to catch this guy?’
‘Alex said he’s going back to work to help. Jacob’s team are working on all the digital angles and Kevin has all the other stuff under control. All you need to do is stay safe so that beautiful little girl keeps her mum. I know it’s not easy, but I know first-hand what happens when someone bad gets their mucky mitts on you. You’re my friend, Ben. I don’t want anything to happen to you.’
‘I know. I’m sorry, you’re right. I’ll stay inside.’ Ben said the words, but she still wasn’t quite sure she believed them herself yet. Saying her goodbyes, she hung up the phone.
Jacob had been listening from the kitchen table. ‘She’s right you know. You should stay inside. But I know what you mean, it’s tough. Why don’t I phone Ali and say we’re both going out, me and you? I’ll drive us to Asda, we can have a wander, get the bits you need, and maybe have a coffee in the café. You can ring Grace. At least it’s a slip of normalcy? And nothing would happen in a crowded supermarket.’
Ben walked over and put her arms around his neck from behind. He kissed her forearm and placed his hand over her arm. They stood for a moment, and when Ben released him, he grabbed his mobile and spoke to Ali. It took some persuading, but eventually he agreed. The surveillance team would stay outside the house, and he was arranging an escort to follow them to the supermarket, and Jacob was under strict instructions to check back in as soon as they returned. But they had permission to go out. It felt oddly liberating. Like a couple of school kids flouting the rules they jumped into Jacob’s car and drove off.
O’Byrne Residence, Sunderland
The trip to Asda had been worthwhile.
Ben had put the shepherd’s pie in the oven and was heading down the hall to the stairs when a loud bang came from upstairs. She heard Jacob cry out in pain and realised he’d hurt himself.
She took the stairs two at a time and slammed open the door to the bathroom. ‘Jacob, you OK?’
He was sprawled in the bath, his face contorted in pain.
‘Slipped,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘If I help you, can you get up do you think?’
He nodded and Ben moved to the side of the bath. He grunted as he pulled himself up, using the wall behind him to support his weight.
Ben stood sideways, bending her knees slightly, as he leaned on her shoulder and gingerly manoeuvred his bad leg over the edge of the bath and onto the floor. He grunted again as his leg took his weight momentarily while he got his other leg out. His face was still twisted in a grimace, and Ben knew it was bad.
She helped him hobble to the bedroom, grabbing his stick from where it rested by the sink as she passed. As Jacob lowered himself onto the bed, she left his side and grabbed his wash bag. He kept his tablets there –she’d seen him take them that morning.
‘I’ll need the Oramorph.’
She opened the childproof top and handed him the bottle, watching as he took an unmeasured swig.
After a couple of minutes, the contorted look of pain on his face eased.
‘I’m sorry. I slipped on some soap and went down like a ton of bricks. It’ll ease off in a couple of minutes. I owe you a shower rail.’
‘Don’t worry about the rail – we needed a new one, anyway. You just gunna sit here for a bit ’til the drugs kick in? I can help you downstairs if you like.’
‘No, I’m good. I’ll get dressed in a sec and meet you downstairs. Honest, I’ll be fi
ne, it’ll ease off.’
Ben nodded. She knew how embarrassed he must feel right now, he didn’t need to be, but she’d be the same in his situation. She leaned across him and kissed him gently on the lips before leaving the room.
Tunstall, Sunderland City Centre
Stan could barely contain his anger. Why the hell hadn’t he placed a camera or mic in the kitchen? The pair seemed to spend more time in there than anywhere else and he was missing conversations that could have been important. He considered going back to the address in his disguise but dismissed the idea as soon as it occurred. It wouldn’t be long now, anyway. And what information could have possibly been that vital that he needed to hear it?
He knew he couldn’t wait much longer, though. She was in his every waking thought. His dreams were filled with images of him having her again and again, teaching her she shouldn’t have lived because she couldn’t obey. Even if she did obey this time, he knew she was dead. There was no way he’d make the same mistake twice.
The news had been full of Clarice’s murder for days, but now it was petering out to the third and fourth pages in the papers. More important matters were taking the front page… like a politician’s latest indiscretion, and another Hollywood star dying of an overdose. All just crap really, nothing that interested him. He grabbed the Echo and scanned it, noting nothing new that indicated the police had any idea who he was.
He felt frustrated; at least he thought it was frustration. He couldn’t focus on anything but her, felt the need growing inside him. He couldn’t wait a few more days. Stan knew he had to do it tonight. Then it would be time to move to another city, take yet another name and start over again. He’d done it so many times now he could barely remember his own name. As much as he wanted to stay, he knew he couldn’t. The lads at the centre would just have to carry on without his worthwhile influence.
Maybe it’s time to stop, retire. Learn to garden or something. But he knew he’d miss the hunt too much, miss the taste of their fear as they learned what they should already know about their place. He knew he couldn’t stop.
Jumping to his feet, Stan cracked his leg off the edge of the table. It stung, but it also felt good, made him feel alive. Without even thinking, he grabbed the metal ruler from his pen holder, and smacked himself hard across the back of the hand. As it smarted and changed colour, he smiled. Yes, he was still alive, and tonight would prove just how alive he felt. He would have her again, and he would eliminate the cripple who’d tried to claim her. Today would be a good day.
Chapter Thirty-two
O’Byrne Residence, Sunderland – 20 June
Stan was more than ready for this. He’d checked on the officers waiting outside; one was old, maybe in his late forties and had the stomach to prove he was one for the clichéd doughnuts. He wouldn’t be any trouble at all. The other was younger, stronger. He was the one to watch. Setting his panicked face in place, he ran up behind the car and rapped on the window.
‘Help,’ he rasped as the older cop cracked open the door. ‘There was a man with a knife, he’s just attacked me and nicked my wallet. I thought I was going to die.’
His story had the required effect and both men jumped out of the car.
‘Which way?’ asked the younger one.
‘He ducked into a garden around the corner, if you’re quiet he won’t hear you coming. He’s got my phone, too. Tall lad, about thirty, with bald head and tattoos on his neck.’
The younger one ran around the corner, and the older one leant into the vehicle to retrieve something. With the officer’s back turned, Stan knew this was the perfect time to strike. He pulled the shiny blade from the back of his trousers, and in one movement reached around and drew the blade across the man’s throat.
The officer fell forward, a gurgling coming from his neck as he put his hands to his throat. Stan was pleased. His body was almost all in the car, so hoisting his legs in too, Stan closed the door with a quiet click, then stood back and watched as he stopped grabbing at his throat and his eyes turned glassy and still. And then he waited for the other one to come back.
A few minutes later, the young lad made his way back up the street. Stan had hidden himself behind a hedge near the back of the car ready to surprise him before he got to the car.
The officer strode past him, looking around for his colleague and Stan. In one swift movement, Stan had sliced through his throat like it was nothing more than butter and watched as the cop fell to his knees. He opened the back door of the car and pulled the cop to his feet before he bundled him into the back seat.
The man was getting weaker by the second, but he made an attempt to reach his radio. If he could just press the orange button help would come. Stan leaned in and twisted it, removing it from the top of his vest. He threw it into the front of the car and stood back with a smile.
‘Sorry, son, bad day to be a cop.’
Resignation passed over the young lad’s face, and the last speck of light faded from his eyes as he slipped into oblivion.
Stan closed the door with a click, there was nothing he could do about the blood on the pavement or the car, but it was late, and it was the end of the week. All he could do was hope no one walked past.
He retrieved his bag from the garden he’d left it in and made his way around the corner to the old woman’s house. He knew the route now and went to the rear of the garden, nimbly jumping the fence. Ensuring he was hidden behind the rhododendron bush, he lit up his tablet, and prepared his software. Piggy-backing Bree’s own Wi-Fi, he was inside the system in seconds and disabled the alarm. He knew it was linked to the motion sensors, but he trusted his work. They wouldn’t pick up anything while the alarm system wasn’t set.
Once he was satisfied, he made his way to the kitchen window. It was old and the putty had already been crumbling. Over the last day or so he’d been picking at it slowly and now the window was barely held in place. It would be quick and easy to remove completely. He was thankful in that moment for the people who retained some original features in these older houses. Either that or couldn’t afford to have them modernised with the rest of the house. The dull glint of the stained-glass side panels shimmered in the moonlight, but he ignored it, focussing instead on what he would do once inside.
He double checked the video feed from the camera in the bedroom and saw that both Ben and Jacob were sound asleep.
Anger pulsed through him as he put his tablet away. With gloved hands, he carefully pulled the window from its frame and set it down on the ground nearby. Stealthily, he climbed up and silently moved the items from the windowsill.
He stepped onto the edge of the sink and lowered himself into the kitchen. Checking his tablet again, he was confident they’d heard nothing.
Packing his tablet away, he pulled out two sets of cable ties and a hammer. He needed to incapacitate the cripple first, he wanted Jacob to live as he taught Bree her lessons, watch and see the cost of trying to steal her away. Once he’d taught her, he would kill her in front of her lover. She would be easy to control too; all he would have to do is hurt the cripple and she would do anything he wanted.
Navigating the stairs with ease, he paused at the bedroom door and stood, just watching the pair sleep for a moment. I wonder why she obeys him when she didn’t obey me. I’ll make her obey me.
He entered the bedroom and raised the hammer above his head. It crashed down onto Jacob’s skull without waking him. Blood dribbled across his face and on to the pillow. Stan grabbed his hands and secured them with cable ties. He’d get control of Ben and then rouse Jacob.
Silently he made his way around the bed and looked at Ben. Her red hair was spread around her head, almost like a halo but he knew she wasn’t an angel. He felt the anger ebb back to a controlled rage – it was definitely time for the lessons to begin.
O’Byrne Residence, Sunderland
Ben lay still under the duvet, her eyes closed. She had no idea what had woken her, but her senses were on overdrive. Her
skin prickled with fear and she almost felt frozen to the spot. She wanted to open her eyes, she really did, but she was petrified of what she would see. She felt Jacob beside her, felt his warmth, but still she couldn’t open her eyes. It was like one of those waking dreams that people have, her mind was wide awake, screaming even, but her body wouldn’t respond.
Forcing herself, she opened her eyes.
As her vision adjusted to the darkness, she moved her eyes round the room. Jacob was facing the other way, but he seemed deep asleep, his breathing steady. She spanned the room in a few seconds and let out the breath. Stupid bugger, there’s nothing there. It’s just your mind playing tricks.
Deciding now she was awake she might as well go for a wee, she stood and padded over the landing to the bathroom. Her heart was still pounding, and she felt uneasy, but she pushed the feeling to one side. Plainly she’d been having a nightmare and had felt the effects when she woke up. A shiver ran down her spine; it seemed chilly for the time of year. Ben flushed and pulled open the bathroom door to head back to the bedroom.
As she walked out of the room, she knew she wasn’t alone. Spinning round towards the stairs, she found herself face-to-face with him. Fear clawed at her insides, all her training flew out of the window and she felt a whimper escape.
He was really there. He had found her and somehow got into her house. She backed away, a tear winding its way down her cheek.
‘Hello, Bree. I’ve been watching you.’
Finding herself at the entrance to the bedroom, she turned and ran to the bed.
‘Jacob, wake up!’ Her voice rose a few octaves higher as she shook his shoulders.
‘Pull the duvet down,’ said Stan from behind her, his voice calm and even.
Ben felt dread replace fear, albeit temporarily. She pulled the duvet down and saw the streaks of red across Jacob’s face. Panic was threatening to overwhelm her but somehow, she kept a grip on reality. She placed a hand in front of his face and felt the soft whisper of his breath on her skin.
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