Mason Black (The Complete Collection): 6 Gripping Crime Stories: The Complete Collection + BONUS Story

by Adam Nicholls

  Big mistake, Lady. Big, big mistake.

  Heading back to the shop to pick up her son, Alison opened up the door, noticing that the lock had been busted. Alarm bells rang in her head, but she dismissed them as paranoia. She had probably just shut it too hard when she’d left. Leaving the lights switched on, she grabbed her suitcase from under the desk and headed upstairs. She could pack, grab Luke, and get him somewhere safe before the police arrived at her door. And as for Mason Black? She could always come back into town to deal with him. Maybe just let his sister rot in that basement.

  Alison stomped up the stairs and went straight to the bedroom. She opened the closet and grabbed a handful of her favourite things – not much thought was spent on this. ‘Luke, honey, we need to leave,’ she shouted between the rooms. ‘Go get a small bag of clothes and meet me downstairs in five minutes.’

  After a minute of cramming as much as she could into the case, she noticed the silence. ‘Luke?’ Alison felt that fear, like when you know something is wrong but are trying to tell yourself otherwise. She searched the rooms one by one, ending at the living room where she had left him. ‘Luke!’ she screamed, trying each room again, this time checking under the beds and behind the curtains.

  Gone.

  Alison stood in the doorway, chewing on white knuckles. She had a pretty good idea of where her son might be. Adrenaline and sheer hatred merged together to ignite a fire in her blood. Okay, Lady. Action-plan… She tried to breathe, feeling nothing but panic.

  A minute or two went by. Fuck it, she thought as she punched chips of weak wood off the doorframe. Her teeth were grinding, but she barely noticed. If Mason wants to play, I’ll play.

  63

  Mason reached the corner, scuffing his feet to slow down before bursting out into full speed. Ben was in sight now, but for just how long was uncertain.

  For a fat businessman, the guy can really move!

  Mason sprinted down the street, praying that he wouldn’t pass any police officers on the way. By now they must be out in force, with people keeping an eye out for him. But he couldn’t let it stop him. Ben was his last chance to find Wendell.

  He ran into a store. Mason followed.

  Inside, there was a large crowd of people going about some late-night shopping. People stopped and stared as the desperate manhunt continued around them. Mason pushed through, shouting for people to move out of the way, shoving them. Ben was in full view up ahead, tipping over a large clothes rail to block his path.

  Mason leaped over it, following him through to the back. He burst through the door and into a dark alleyway. He was sweating underneath his coat – not through lack of fitness, but due to fear of losing his contact. He stopped, listened.

  But there was neither sight nor sound.

  Goddamnit. Mason clenched his fists. Of the two opposite ends to walk down, he had to choose. He began walking to the right, just passing by a dumpster, when he heard a rustle coming from behind him.

  Mason turned to see Ben climbing out from behind a stack of damp cardboard boxes. He dashed down the alleyway and Mason continued his pursuit. He wanted to stop, to draw his gun and fire, but couldn’t risk hitting a civilian. Not only that, but somebody would be sure to call the police.

  Luck, as careless and unsporting as it had been lately, finally turned to Mason’s favour.

  Ben reached the end of the alley and came out onto the street. As if from nowhere, a bicycle struck his hip, knocking him to the ground. The cyclist went over and landed on his back. He scrambled to his feet, swore at Ben and stormed off with a buckled bicycle.

  Mason stood in shock before jogging to catch up. ‘Stay down,’ he said.

  Ben had his hands by his face, as if to expect a violent outburst. ‘I did nothing wrong.’

  ‘Then why did you run?’

  He was shaking, crying, begging like a coward. ‘I just… She promises things. I didn’t mean for anybody to get hurt.’

  ‘Who got hurt, Ben?’ People were looking at them now, and the police would soon be notified. ‘Tell me, right now!’

  ‘No, I–’ Ben stopped, his eyes following Mason’s down to his side.

  ‘What is that?’

  ‘What?’

  Mason stooped and picked up the cell phone. It must have fallen from Ben’s pocket as the bike collided with him. ‘Don’t move,’ he said, turning his attention to the screen.

  That was when he felt his heart skip a beat. Suddenly, it was as if he had been hit by the bike, knocking the wind right out of him. A message had been sent from the phone, and it was addressed to somebody named Alison. It read: Mason is here.

  ‘I… please,’ Ben begged.

  Mason dropped the phone and stared angrily. ‘What have you done?’

  64

  Lady Luck opened the cell and stormed inside.

  ‘Stay away,’ Evie said, but by then her hair had been grabbed.

  ‘You can thank that brother of yours,’ Lady said as she dragged her into the table area. ‘If he would only have stayed away, there was a chance that you might come out of this alive. But noooooo, he had to push his luck, didn’t he?’

  Evie tried desperately to gain some balance, but she was being pulled too fast. Her heels only scooped dirt out from under her, resisting the entitlement of any grip. ‘I don’t know what my brother does. I have no idea what he did, but he’s just trying to help me.’

  ‘No.’ Lady pushed her onto the table.

  She felt nurturing hands on her – the other prisoners, making sure she was all right.

  ‘He was already in the red,’ Lady continued, pulling a gun and targeting her. ‘What I’m doing here is serving justice. Mason has no right to cause me any more grief. Now it’s two points for him and none for me. How do you think that feels, Evelyn? How do you think that makes me feel?’

  Evie sat up slowly, her body tensed. ‘What are you talking about?’

  ‘Drop the act, girl. You know exactly what I’m talking about.’

  ‘I really don’t. Look,’ she inched slowly off the table, her hands in front of her, ‘if Mason has done something to hurt you, maybe you should just tell him. He’s a reasonable guy. We can all work together to make things right.’

  A tear seeped from Lady’s eye, rolling down her cheek. She stepped back, pulled the hammer on the gun. ‘You say it like it’s that easy. As if any of you can bring people back from the dead.’

  Did Mason hurt a friend of hers? Evie lowered her arms – again, slowly. Any sudden movements would suggest aggression, and that was always a bad idea when the other person had a gun. ‘What do you mean?’

  Lady Luck stared, her mouth hanging open. ‘You really don’t know?’

  ‘No.’

  She sniffled. ‘Your brother is a murderer.’

  ‘What? There’s no way that’s true. That’s insane!’ Evie knew everything there was to know about Mason, and he was no killer… was he?

  ‘No – he’s insane. My brother died because Mason thought it was the right thing to do. He was a sweet man, my brother. He was the victim. Why can’t people understand that?’

  ‘I don’t–’

  ‘Was it Mason who gave my brother his name?’ Lady rushed forward, pressing the barrel to Evie’s forehead. ‘Was it Mason who named him the Lullaby Killer, like some disgusting creature who kills for sport?’

  Evie was stunned. A wave of heat flushed over her as the pieces of the puzzle slid together. The moment she realised that this woman was Marvin Wendell’s sister, Evie thought back to the night he had gotten away. How easily Mason had backed off after losing his adversary in the woods. ‘But… Marvin is alive. He got away.’

  ‘Is that what he told you?’

  Evie felt sick. To think that Mason was a murderer was like admitting she’d been related to a total stranger. That her brother – her best friend – had not only killed a human being, but had lied to her face about it. ‘I didn’t even know.’

  ‘Well, you know now. And that bast
ard has my son.’

  Murder and kidnapping! Evie felt lost. ‘It’s true that I knew none of this, but what I do know is that if you kill me, you’ll never see your son again. Mason is a man of very strict morals, and he doesn’t like to be wronged.’

  Lady grunted, flicking her tongue into the back of her teeth.

  ‘Now, if you keep me alive, at least you have something to negotiate with, right?’

  ‘… Yes. But I don’t just want my little boy back.’ Lady grabbed Evie by the throat, spitting through clenched teeth. ‘I want him to suffer – to feel every little bit of pain that he can before he dies. I’m not going to kill you, Evelyn. Not yet. But when Mason comes begging for his life, I’m going to show you what his actions cost him… and that starts with you.’

  65

  Mason’s knuckles cracked around the man’s jaw, bringing him to full alertness.

  ‘Please,’ Ben whimpered. He was tied to the chair in a small room with a concrete floor. It was Bill’s parking garage, but they hadn’t told Ben that. ‘I don’t know anything.’

  ‘You already said that.’ Mason crouched to meet his eyes. ‘But that was before you sent her a text message. So, I’m going to ask you one last time; where is she?’

  Ben looked around nervously between Bill, who was sitting with his arms folded against the sheet-covered washing machine, and Mason, who was stretching his fingers out in preparation for another right hook. ‘I don’t know where she is, but–’

  ‘No more excuses.’ Mason lunged forward.

  ‘But I can contact her!’

  It was enough to make Mason pause. His fist held Ben’s vest in a clump, but loosened as he thought, Good. Maybe we can use him. ‘And what exactly might that achieve?’

  Ben was sweating buckets. Every time he shook his head – which was often – tiny droplets sprayed off him and into every direction. Some of it was mixed with the blood, which was trickling from his nose and mouth like a red stream. ‘You can strike a deal.’

  Bill shot Mason a look and came to Ben’s side. ‘What kind of deal?’

  ‘I-I don’t know! Something like giving yourself up in exchange for her son.’

  Mason gave him a backhand. There was a heavy slapping sound – skin against wet skin. ‘How did you know we had her son, huh? We sure as hell didn’t tell you.’

  ‘She did! She called me just before I ran from you. And… she has your sister. Alive! But I didn’t have anything to do with that. I swear!’

  Mason’s breath caught in his throat. Until now, he’d been too scared to ask if she had been harmed yet. To hear of her safety was a massive shift in weight from his heavy heart. ‘You think she would trade?’

  Ben lowered his eyes and shook his head. ‘It’s hard to say. I mean, she probably would, but it wouldn’t be the end of it. She has a real problem with you. A big, big problem.’

  Tell me about it, Mason thought. ‘Bill, can I speak with you for a moment?’

  They went to the far end of the garage and whispered quietly.

  ‘I know what you’re thinking,’ Bill said. ‘But can we trust her?’

  ‘Not for a second. She’s a killer. Killer’s don’t change.’

  ‘So, do you want to make an offer to exchange?’

  The decision was far from easy. Having Evie back would be the best thing to happen in a long time. But in doing so, he would be letting a killer loose. Besides, who was to say that Wendell wouldn’t get her son to safety and then start all over again? ‘Do you have anywhere else to be tonight?’

  Bill shook his head. ‘No.’

  ‘Good.’ Mason scuffed back over to Ben, who looked as though he were awaiting a jury’s decision. ‘All right. Let’s get her on the phone.’

  66

  The phone rang in sync with his heartbeat. The last time he had felt like this was back with Marvin Wendell. It was happening all over again, and he only had himself to blame.

  ‘Ben,’ Alison said, taking the call.

  ‘Guess again, sweetheart.’ Mason kept his eyes on Bill’s.

  Silence. And then, ‘What did you do to Ben?’

  ‘Ben’s fine. A little beat up, but he’s fine. What did you do to Evie?’

  ‘Your sister is fine… for now.’

  It was awkward, to say the least. Every word that came from Mason’s mouth could make or break the entire plan. ‘Good. Then we can still come to some arrangement.’

  ‘Let me guess – you want to trade Luke for Evelyn?’ Alison sighed, and there was a metallic clanging on the other end of the line. ‘He had better not be hurt, you son of a bitch. If he has so much as a scratch on him, I will fucking end you. Do you underst–’

  Mason ended the call right there. Bill looked at him as if he wanted to protest, and Ben sat quietly. The truth of it was that he had no more control of the situation than Alison did, but if he could make it look as if he were in charge, then he could maybe get what he wanted.

  The phone rang in his hand. Mason smiled and answered.

  ‘Don’t you dare hang up on me!’

  ‘I’m not here to take threats. Do you want to make a transaction or not?’

  Alison breathed heavily, thinking it over. ‘Why should I trust you?’

  ‘I have your son.’

  ‘Right? I have your sister.’

  ‘And we’re back around that circle.’ Mason began to pace, one arm held across his chest with his hand tucked into his armpit. ‘Look, you seem to think that I murdered your brother in cold blood. He was a killer, Alison. He took my daughter, he hurt her. Not to mention the countless children he mutilated.’

  ‘Don’t lecture me, Mr Black. I know my brother more than you ever did. Sure, he had problems, but he didn’t deserve the ending you gave him. Prison, fine, but not a slow and painful death like he had.’

  How much does she know? Mason looked to Bill and stopped wandering the garage. ‘If you say so. Do we have a deal or not?’

  The phone went dead quiet for what felt like forever. Mason found himself pacing again. It was like a quiz show, when they leave you hanging to find out if you’ve become a rich man or not. Only this time, Evie’s life was on the line.

  ‘I’ll give it some thought. But let me make one thing clear.’ Alison’s voice was rising in a hot flush of anger. ‘If you try anything funny, I’ll carve up your sister in the most agonising detail. And I won’t stop there – the police will receive all the footage I secured of your little deed, and the location of where you buried my brother. That is the only–’

  ‘Great. You can reach me on this phone.’ Mason ended the call. He didn’t expect a call back, and liked to imagine the look on her face right now. Getting down to business, he took Bill to the corner of the room, hushing to a whisper.

  ‘What are we going to do?’ Bill asked.

  ‘Let him go. Can you follow him?’

  ‘Sure. What about you?’

  ‘I have to get back to Diane.’

  ‘All right. Good luck.’ Bill began to move, when Mason caught his arm.

  ‘Don’t lose him.’

  67

  This is an interesting turn of events, thought Mason as he took the last few steps towards Evie’s apartment. Now that he had an ounce of power with her son, Alison would have no choice but to hand over Evie. It wouldn’t be the end of their problems – not by a long shot – but it was a start.

  When he got to the door, it was pulled open by a panicked Diane.

  ‘Come in,’ she said, a bead of sweat rolling down her temple. ‘Quickly.’

  What the hell? Mason followed her in and closed the door behind him. He couldn’t help but notice the absence of the boy. ‘Where’s Luke?’

  ‘That’s the problem.’ Diane wrung her hands together and went to the window. ‘He’s out on the roof and refuses to come back in.’

  ‘What the hell is he doing out there?’ Mason rushed to the open window and poked his head through, looking left and then right. Diane hadn’t exaggerated – Luke was sit
ting upon the tiles near the edge of the roof. Only his foot on the guttering held him in place.

  ‘I tried to get him back inside but he’s frightened,’ Diane said from behind him.

  ‘Of falling?’

  ‘Of going back to his mom.’

  Mason wondered what kind of relationship those two shared. Maybe sending him back wouldn’t be the best idea. No child deserves to be brought up around psychopathic killers and prostitutes. But he couldn’t let him die, either. ‘Luke, this is stupid.’

  Luke looked up with bloodshot eyes. ‘Please don’t make me go back to her.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Mason lied. ‘Just come back inside.’

  ‘No. You’ll take me back to her.’

  Mason took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and removed his coat.

  ‘What are you doing?’ from Diane.

  ‘I’m going out there.’

  ‘You’re crazy.’

  ‘Thanks. Hold this.’ He draped his coat over her arm, brushed her cheek very lightly (he had no idea why – it just happened so naturally) and climbed through the open window.

  ‘No,’ Luke screamed, drawing attention from people on the street below. ‘Don’t drag me back in there. I said I don’t want to go. You can’t make me go!’

  ‘Easy, cowboy.’ Mason moved slowly, for both grip and comfort. ‘Nobody is making you go anywhere. We’re just going to talk, okay?’ He turned and sat on the tiles, concerned that they might not hold his weight. He looked out across the skyline, all lit up and quite stunning. He didn’t dare look down.

  ‘She’s…’ Luke settled back down. ‘She isn’t a nice lady.’

  ‘No?’

  ‘Not like Diane. She’s really kind.’

  Mason lowered his guard and looked down. Immediately feeling queasy, he looked away. ‘Yes, she is. She’s also a very good at puzzles. Do you like puzzles?’

  Luke shrugged. ‘I don’t know any.’

  ‘You don’t? What about riddles?’ This was a technique he had been taught on a course once. If you could distract from the real problem, you can then talk them into something reasonable. Mason only hoped that it would work.