STRANGE BODIES (a gripping crime thriller)

by Antonia Marlowe

  He lay back thankfully and sighed at the comfort of her bed and the cloudlike pillows. He stretched out a hand to her. She took it and said, ‘Will you stay with me tonight, Nick. I don’t want to be alone. Just stay here and talk to me.’

  He propped himself up on one elbow and looked at her. The temptation was too much… he kissed those perfect lips gently for a few seconds, then forced himself to pull back. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered. ‘I just can’t believe this. You there … me … in, on your bed.’

  She smiled slightly. ‘Let’s just see how it goes. I’m just as confused as you, Nick. Why don’t you tell me that story of your marriage you wanted to tell me before.’

  ‘Are you sure you want to hear this? At this time?’

  ‘Yes, how about we exchange marriage stories, as it were, get them out of the way then see where we go from there. Oh, do you still have the data Marcus gave you?’

  ‘Yes, it’s in my jacket.’

  ‘We’ll listen to it together then I’ll fill in the blanks. But now tell me about Isobel.’

  ‘Where to begin. Right, well Isobel’s parents and mine were friends. She had a brother my age, and of course at fifteen we didn’t want a girl hanging around with us … she was two years younger. One day, I was hiding in a tree and she spotted me, threw a stone or something and when I ducked I fell out of the tree and landed on my back, thoroughly winded. Before I could get my breath back she was on top of me, and started kissing me. I couldn’t believe a kid, as I thought of her, could kiss like that, passionately, like I’d seen in movies. Next thing our parents came strolling along … they often went walking together. You can imagine the rest.

  ‘I got a clip over the ear and was told to keep my hands to myself in future. Mind you, I had actually done nothing, I was so winded by the fall that I was still trying to breath properly.’

  He laughed a little at the memory.

  ‘Isobel was packed off quick smart, to a convent in Switzerland. Yes, I know, like something out of a nineteenth century novel, but this wasn’t the first time apparently. I found out years later that she was no virgin; she’d seduced a couple of the village boys and tried it on with one of her father’s friends. Yes, at thirteen.

  ‘Fast forward to the year I turned twenty-three. I’d about finished my year with the Peacekeepers, deferred while I finished my law degree. I’d applied to the Metropolitan Police and I got a call from my CO who told me to go to London as I had an interview arranged.

  ‘Look, I can’t go into too many details but I was told to go to a certain address, an old manor house just outside Cheltenham, present my ID and …’

  ‘… and ask for a Major Smith,’ she finished for him. ‘Yes, me too.’ She glanced at him. ‘I turned them down flat.’

  ‘That’s exactly what I did. Anyway the point of this is that I went home for a visit and who should be there but Isobel and her mother. Her father had died not long before and they were spending a few weeks at our house. I got the impression that they had been left very badly off. That was later confirmed … her father had died owing large sums of money.

  ‘I contacted my CO to tell him what had happened with the spooks and he told me another appointment had been arranged, in London this time with the Metropolitan Police, you know, Scotland Yard.’

  ‘I did know, actually. Marcus is a friend of current Commissioner. Where are you going with this?’

  ‘Patience, beautiful one. I need a drink. Do you have anything here? Or should I go down to the kitchen?’ He was struck by a sudden thought. ‘Security. What about the security?’

  She just smiled then and said, ‘All done … you have the freedom of the house. Down the end there,’ she pointed to the panelled wall at the other end of the room, another riotous scene of tropical plants and flowers. ‘The panel on the right, just touch the red hibiscus and … well just touch it and see,’ she giggled as he got up and walked down the end of the room. A panel opened to reveal a mini kitchen with a small refrigerator, an automatic coffee maker and a tiny sink. Overhead cupboards held an assortment of plates, cups and glasses.

  ‘What can I get you? Anything?’ asked Nicholas as he opened the fridge.

  ‘Cold water would be good, but take whatever you like.’

  He settled for water too, poured it into two glasses and brought them to her side of the bed. He slid an arm very carefully under her shoulders, lifting her to take a few sips of water, then lowering her back on to the pillows just as gently.

  ‘You are a good man, Nicholas,’ she whispered, holding his gaze. Almost in a dream he bent to her and this time the kiss was not so gentle and lasted more than a few seconds. Her response was warmer this time, but something told him the timing wasn’t quite right yet. He pulled back and smiled at her, then took his own glass of water and walked back to the other side of the bed. He took a few sips and put the glass down on a side table.

  ‘Where was I? Oh, yes …’

  ‘Before you go on, Nick, sorry to interrupt. I think I’ll close the house down now.’

  She said, ‘Jeannie, full security, inside and out. Lights and alarms. Voice acknowledgement not required. Usual morning call. Execute and out.’

  He stretched out on the bed again then continued. ‘I went to London for the interview the next day. What a sad place it had become, grey, cold, spiritless. To cut it short as I came out of the building I ran into, you guessed it, Isobel. I found out later that she had followed me to London. I took her to lunch and somehow we ended up in a hotel where we stayed the night. I contacted my CO and he told me I had been accepted into the Met and they wanted me asap. Isobel was adamant that she wanted to stay with me and I felt a bit guilty I suppose. She helped me look for a flat in London then simply moved in. I contacted her mother who was still with my mother and she was so grateful to me and gave her blessing to our marriage. Apparently Isobel had told her we were engaged and getting married.’

  ‘Nick, I really think you are too nice for your own good. I can almost guess the rest.’

  ‘Yes, well, we got married two weeks later. Then I was called back overseas to sign off from the Peacekeepers and collect my gear before I started my Met training. Look this is getting to be a saga. Are you okay with this, Verity?’

  ‘Yes, yes. Please don’t fret. I am feeling no pain, just very relaxed.’

  ‘That’s not exactly what I meant.’

  ‘Oh, you mean talking about Isobel? No, that’s not bothering me, I really want to know.’

  ‘I can summarise the next few years rapidly. Isobel finally had access to freedom and money. She really had been locked up in a convent for years and when she was finally free she had no money to enjoy herself. Let’s just say she burnt the candle at both ends and the middle. She had admirers, lovers, really. After a while it seemed we just happened to live in the same apartment and bumped into each other occasionally.’

  ‘Oh, Nicholas, that’s so sad.’

  ‘I was really too busy then. My request to her was to be discreet and to give her her due, she was. I was never in love with her, you know, but my pride was hurt. She was fond of me you could say, but I was just a means to an end.

  ‘She was spending a weekend in Scotland when the car she was in went over a mountain road and all four people in it died. Her poor mother was devastated … neither she nor my mother knew the life Isobel had been leading. Her mother died two months later, a heart attack, but my mother always said it was really a broken heart.’

  Nicholas sat up and finished the water then glanced over at Verity. She was very quiet and as he watched he saw a tear roll down her cheek. He bent over her and kissed away the salty drop, ‘Are you crying for me, Verity?’ he asked softly. ‘Please don’t. It was a long time ago.’

  ‘It’s sad … sad for her, sad for you. I guess it’s my turn now, though my story is about a man who was truly evil.’

  Nick was startled. ‘Evil? That’s pretty strong.’

  ‘Nick, only Amy knows most of the truth of what hap
pened. Marcus knows a lot about Terry’s Army career—he has friends in high places; he knows a lot about his career after his discharge and he knows a little about our married life. But not all.’

  She looked at him then, her emerald eyes gazing into his dark blue ones. ‘I want you to stay with me tonight … please.’

  ‘Are you sure about this, Verity?’

  ‘I am, but maybe you should listen to my story before you decide.’

  ‘Don’t be silly … nothing you can tell me will change the way I feel about you. Since the first time I set eyes on you I haven’t been able to think of anyone else but you, and hope you’d care about me one day.’

  ‘We’ll listen to what Marcus has said. Then I can fill in the missing bits. Why don’t you get comfortable while I set it up.’ She patted the bed beside her.

  ‘Would you mind if I have a quick shower first? It was so hot today I still feel a bit sticky. You can just relax for five minutes. Oh, I’ll need to go downstairs for my bag in the car.’

  ‘Don’t bother with that. If you go through the dressing room between here and the bathroom you’ll find a robe, undies, and so on. Drawers on the right marked M. Just press the silver plate next to the shower and speak your preferences—temperature, number of jets and so on. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.’

  Nicholas gave her a wry grin as he got up and headed for the bathroom. ‘If I didn’t know better I’d think you had a constant flow of male visitors here. I won’t be long. I don’t suppose there’s a robot to scrub my back.’

  He grabbed a cotton robe as he went through the dressing room to the bathroom. And the bathroom was another revelation. There was a huge bath, easily big enough for two, to one side was a shower in a glass enclosure with a multitude of jets on each side and above. Nicholas settled for warm and fast and was just drying himself when he heard a noise. He quickly wrapped a towel around his waist and raced into the bedroom.

  Verity was sitting up in bed, tears on her face, gasping and sobbing. ‘Oh, Nick, I fell asleep and that man was coming for me again. Then he just shrivelled up and collapsed into a heap of grey sticky stuff. I woke up and thought you were gone … and I couldn’t …’

  Nick was riveted to the spot at the end of the bed. He hadn’t realised that Verity was naked in the bed and now sitting up, the covers had dropped and her body was exposed. ‘I’m alright, I’m alright now.’ She gave a watery smile.

  Now that he knew she was safe he just stood and drank her in. She looked down at herself then, smiled and said, ‘I think you’d better get rid of that towel and come to bed.’ As he walked around to the other side of the bed, in a slight daze, she threw back the rest of the covers. A few tears still lay on her face and Nick carefully gathered her to him, kissed them away, then said, ‘I’m here, my darling. I’ll always be here as long as you want me here.’

  The kiss was urgent as she opened her mouth and drank him in. His hand cupped one perfect breast and as he brushed a finger over her nipple she groaned softly. He pulled back and looked at her long slender but curvaceous body. ‘I never imagined you would be like this … so lush, so soft, so … so … words fail me. Why do you hide all this under those loose shirts and pants. You are incredible, your body is perfect.’

  ‘Why are you still talking?’

  He passed his hand down her length then, a caress over her soft skin that outlined the curve of her body, then brushed the top of her thigh. He bent his head and gently licked her breast, then sucked it gently as he slid a finger inside her. The reaction was instantaneous. Her body arched as she climaxed with a small scream. Nicholas kept perfectly still till her breathing slowed. ‘Wow,’ she said. ‘I … just wow. Give me a minute.’ Then she grabbed his face with both hands, her injured shoulder forgotten and dragged him down to a long passionate kiss. ‘Now, Nicholas, yes, now.’ So that he was in absolutely no doubt, she reached down and grasped him lightly.

  He was more than ready but he knew he wasn’t going to last very long, he was so aroused by her. He said, as he took her slowly, ‘Don’t close your eyes, Verity. Look at me.’ He moved with her then, their bodies in harmony, eyes locked, trying to hold back as long as possible. Then her breathing changed and her eyes started to glaze, and he knew she was going to climax again and the pace increased and with his last thrusts her body spasmed around him and he poured himself and his heart and soul into her.

  They lay locked together, hands clasped. After a few minutes, Verity said, ‘That was so wonderful I don’t want to spoil this with talk about him. Do you mind if we have the second part tomorrow?’

  ‘I was thinking the same thing.’

  ‘Yes. I’m so sorry but I can barely keep my eyes open.’

  ‘Oh, God, your shoulder. I almost forgot it. Are you in pain? Can I get you something.’ He looked at her anxiously.

  ‘No, no, I’m fine. Just very happy and very relaxed …’ she yawned, ‘and very sleepy.’

  ‘Sleep, my love. I’ll see you in the morning.’ He kissed her gently then watched as she slid into sleep. As he watched her, he was sure now—quite sure that he loved her.

  Chapter 36

  Nick woke with a start, disorientated for a few seconds. He had a vague memory of waking sometime during the night, staggering to the bathroom then back to bed, looking hard to make sure he wasn’t dreaming, that Verity was there next to him. Then nothing till now. He felt her eyes on him and rolled on his side to look at her.

  ‘Time for part two,’ she whispered, reaching for him.

  Being ridiculously careful of her shoulder wound, which she found touching, Nicholas helped her to bathe then to dress in a loose silky shirt and jeans. He carried her down to the kitchen, she protesting all the way. By the time he was dressed, Verity had ordered breakfast, just juice, coffee and toast today. At his look she said, ‘I don’t eat a big breakfast usually. I was just showing off last time, but I can make more later if you like. Anyway it’s not even six o’clock yet and we still have a few things to talk about—like Terry Maguire.’

  After breakfast they shifted to the couch, Verity wincing slightly when she went to reach out with her left arm.

  ‘Do you want me to get Amy? You probably need that dressing changed.’

  ‘No, not yet. It’s alright if I don’t move it too much. I’m keeping the house locked for now … my extended family has a habit of dropping in and I don’t want to be interrupted during this.’

  She looked pale but determined as he handed her the stick Marcus had given him. ‘I think we’d better use a maxi Tyle for this instead of the wall screen.’ She picked up a silver cube and activated it. Just like its smaller brother it slowly unfolded itself. The large holo screen hovered in front of them. She set the cube on Nicholas’s lap then leaned against his shoulder as she slotted in the stick and waited a few seconds for it to begin.

  Marcus’s voice started:

  Verity’s husband was Terry Maguire, Major Terrence Maguire, a psychologist with the US Army Intelligence Unit. Quite simply, he was a charming and handsome bastard, from a respectable Irish-American family, who was discreetly let go by the US Army after 15 years.

  He was about thirty seven, twice married and divorced, and Verity was only twenty four and a little naïve, as she had spent most of her life until then working in labs in the fields of artificial intelligence, computer security development and satellite control. Some of her work was top secret government stuff, so I believe.

  They met at her PhD award ceremony; he was there with his younger sister who was also receiving her PhD. He charmed her, oh, he had bucket loads of charm, and swept her off her feet and persuaded her to marry him just a few weeks later. I was away, one of the few times I was completely out of touch, or I would have found a way to stop it.

  Verity put a finger on the cube to stop it briefly. She said, ‘I don’t think he could have. His sister, Sheila, was a fellow researcher and tried to warn me against him but I was living in a dream world, dazzled by his glamour. My boyfr
iends, very few up till then had been, well, geeks. After he died she told me he had forced her to introduce us. She didn’t say how, but I can guess … she was still terrified of the thought of him even then. He somehow knew I was related to Marcus. What exactly he had in mind I don’t even want to speculate.’

  Maguire’s family was from Boston where Verity was working in the AI lab at MIT and quite happy to stay there but I think she would have settled on the moon if he’d asked her at that stage of their relationship. She was living in a large penthouse apartment and he moved in with her there. That made sense as he was away a lot of the time.

  The Major was in some very secret branch of the military, involved in psychological warfare and covert ops, mainly in South America, I believe. He was an expert in interrogation and he delighted in the nastier side, in other words he wasn’t above using physical as well as psychological methods, in a word, torture. There was one death too many, a young woman suspected terrorist, who was repeatedly abused in every sense of the word by the Major and several of his men. The woman and two males they captured were found in a ditch by the side of the road. The men were dead, tortured, sexually abused too, throats cut; she died a few days later of horrific injuries but was able to give some good descriptions before then. I don’t know all the details. Sealed records I haven’t bothered to investigate. I don’t think they were the first but were certainly the last as far as the army was concerned. Don’t ever ask how I know all this.

  ‘I didn’t know this part. He never told me. Terry said he was blamed for something some of his men did, and being in charge he had to take the responsibility. Sorry to keep interrupting but I was shocked by that, even though I knew him and what he was capable of.’

  Nick said, ‘I think it’s good to clarify things so do it when you feel it’s necessary.’

  Marcus continued:

  While Maguire was in the army things seemed to be fine as far as I know. After he was discharged the jobs he took on were definitely under the radar. He spent a couple of months as a mercenary, but after that I suspect he took on contract work, if you know what I mean. Verity was still on her own a lot of the time as his “work” took him all over. He had developed quite a taste for violence and sexual cruelty and started visiting prostitute who specialised in being tied up and beaten.