The Darkness Within

by Deorre, Iris

  ‘That sounds vile,’ said Freya.

  Ferguson laughed. He was seeing a side to her that he’d never seen. It was a side to her that she hadn’t seen in a while either. She felt happier and relaxed and being with him made it more so.

  The tour took about thirty minutes. They stepped out into the beautiful sunshine and took time to sit on the grass.

  ‘We’re like a normal couple,’ she laughed.

  ‘We are a normal couple.’ He winked.

  ‘Erm. I would have to disagree.’

  ‘We’re as close to normal as can be.’ He drew her into him and gave her a kiss.

  ‘I could sit here all day,’ she said.

  ‘Then lets.’

  ‘We can’t, we’ve got lunch with my dad, remember.’

  ‘Of course. I’d forgotten about that.’

  ‘That’s bad. Very bad.’ She teased.

  He tickled her a moment. Freya let out a loud laugh without a care in the world about who heard or saw her. She was in a world of her own. She felt good and it was nice just being in his presence.

  ‘Looking at all these people, you just never know what secrets they carry. We all live in our own little bubble. We forget that others have suffered too.’ She was just thinking out aloud.

  ‘Yes that is true. But we have to live for ourselves. Spending too much time wondering about other people will only keep you from living your own life.’ He kissed he neck.

  ‘Yes that’s true. But I still can’t help, but wonder.’

  ‘Wonder away my love.’

  She smiled. They sat there for a few more minutes before deciding to move on. It took them another twenty minutes to walk around the gardens. They headed for the car and headed to the restaurant to meet Nicholas.

  They met at a pub that wasn’t too far away from the parkland they’d just been to. To her disappointment, she noticed that Amanda had decided to invite herself to the lunch. She wasn’t in the mood for judgments, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it.

  ‘Dad.’

  Nicholas stood up and embraced her. ‘You look lovely honey. You really look well,’ he said.

  ‘Thanks dad. I feel well.’

  ‘Ferguson.’ He proffered his hand. ‘Good to see you again.’

  ‘It good to see you too sir.’ He shook his hand.

  Amanda greeted them without standing up. She wanted to see what Ferguson was up to. She’d done her research and didn’t understand why this hot billionaire was with her sister.

  ‘So what would you like to drink?’ asked Nicholas.

  ‘I’ll have a coke. Keeping it simple,’ said Ferguson.

  ‘Love?’ he directed that at Freya.

  ‘The usual. A double vodka,’ said Amanda sarcastically.

  That was the very reason Freya hadn’t wanted Amanda there. She’d wanted a relaxed afternoon with her dad.

  ‘I’ll have a coke too.’ She said to their surprise.

  ‘Oh well, well, has the rehab started?’ asked Amanda.

  ‘It has and I’ve lessened my intake. It’s not an overnight thing, but I know I’ll get there.’

  ‘Well done honey. I’m so proud of you. Ever since you met Ferguson you’ve become better and better.’

  ‘Yes I have.’ She put her hand on Fergusons. ‘He’s turned me into a better person.’

  ‘How?’ asked Amanda not buying that. ‘How has the turned you into a better person.’

  ‘By believing in me and being non-judgmental. It works you know.’

  ‘I see.’ she looked over at Ferguson.

  ‘Are you married, Amanda?’ he asked.

  The question caught her off guard.

  ‘No. No I’m not married.’

  ‘Ever been in love, or are you seeing someone?’

  ‘Why are you asking?’

  ‘Because you’d understand it when you experience it. I was just curious.’

  ‘I’m not seeing anyone. Not that it’s any of your business.’

  ‘Perhaps you should open your heart up a little more instead of resenting your sister.’

  ‘How dare you. You don’t know anything about me!’

  ‘Amanda,’ her father warned.

  ‘No dad, he has no right.’

  ‘As you have no right to keep persecuting your sister.’

  The drinks arrived at the table before she was able to answer. She waited for the waiter to move along before she spoke.

  ‘You know what’s funny about all this?’ she sounded agitated. ‘I’m the good one. I’m the one who does the right things and yet Freya is always the centre of attention. Freya this, Freya that. What about me?’

  ‘Is this what it’s about?’ asked her dad softly. ‘The only reason I’ve been giving her attention is because she needed me, us the most.’

  ‘I need you too.’

  ‘I know love.’ He was the softest man not wanting to cause trouble.

  Freya was silent. She didn’t know what to say and even if she said something, it wouldn’t be what Amanda wanted to hear.

  ‘I don’t think I’m hungry anymore,’ said Amanda.

  ‘Oh c’mon on. You’re just upset because there’s nothing to shout at me about. You can’t stand the fact that I’m getting better.’

  ‘No it’s not that, it’s him!’ She pointed at Ferguson. ‘I don’t know what it is about him, but I don’t trust him. I don’t know what your deal is, but I don’t trust that you have my sister’s best interest.’

  ‘Amanda,’ Nicholas tried to control the daughter who was never afraid to speak up when she needed to. She was always bold enough to do that.

  ‘It’s fine. She has the right to be suspicious. I came into Freya’s life and she got better. There must be something I’m doing. But I can promise you, all I’ve done is love her. Haven’t I darling? he said it in the calmest of voices. It was eeire to think that he could snap a person’s neck without batting an eyelid and without feeling bad about it.

  Amanda sat back defeated. He was too hard to fight. It would’ve been a lot easier fighting with someone defensive, but he always came back cool and collected and that made it hard.

  ‘I don’t know what it is about you, but I will find out.’

  ‘Drop it Amanda,’ Nicholas warned again. ‘We just want to eat in peace. Speaking of eating, shall we order.’

  That seemed to sort out the tension at the table for a bit, but every now and then, Amanda would look up at Ferguson and give him a warning look. She just didn’t believe that he was as innocent as he made out to be. At the same time, she would look over at her sister. Perhaps Freya was so blinded by his good looks that she didn’t really see him as anything but good. Freya would make it her mission to expose him.

  ****

  The car was found at the parking lot. The detectives watched the footage a couple of times. Blake was seen getting out of the lift and then there was a split second when he stepped out and then the cameras went dead.

  ‘This makes no sense,’ said Murphy. ‘I mean this guy has a clean record. Who would want him dead?’

  ‘Someone. Someone who knows something we don’t,’ said Roy.

  ‘Okay so let’s go through the list.’

  ‘There’s Ronald who disappeared at the ball. Then there’s Lewis who went missing the night he went to see a client, we found his car, but not him, then Blake who seems to be minding his own business, but is suddenly attacked.’

  Murphy studied the three men awhile and gave it some thought. He knew that these men were connected to one person, but the question was who.

  ‘The one thing they have in common is that they all went to the same university. That’s our starting point. They didn’t do the same degrees and yet they were friends. We’ll have to go through the people that went the same years they did.’

  ‘That’s a lot of people.’

  ‘We can narrow it down by friends in common at first. A friend might have a vendetta against them. They could’ve done something to that person
.’

  ‘What if the person isn’t a friend?’ said Roy. ‘What if they did something to someone who wasn’t connected to them in any way.’

  ‘Like who?’

  ‘I’m grasping at straws here, but what if the person we’re looking for is a woman.’

  ‘A woman committing all these murders? I don’t think so.’

  ‘She could have help. A lover, a hired hitman.’

  ‘Hmm… I don’t know. You could be onto something though. We won’t rule it out, it could be the way we least expect.’

  ‘True.’

  The detective studied the board of everything they’d collected so far. His eyes landed on Ferguson. The first picture was of him at the ball, and the second was of him entering the car dealer show room.

  ‘What about him? Let’s get a complete profile on him. Isn’t it odd that he’s in two of photos on separate occasions?’

  ‘Coincidence?’

  ‘Maybe, but we’ve got to rule everyone out. We’re also going to go through the list of people at the charity ball and interview them. They might give us a clue.’

  ‘I wonder what the hell happened to these men.’

  ‘Me too.’

  ‘Right. I’ll get onto the profile and start collecting names for interviews.’

  ‘Also…’ An idea sprung up. ‘See if any of the attendees also went to Leeds university. Let’s match them up. Get a group of ex Leeds students together. That might be our clue.’

  ‘Will do. It sounds promising.’

  ‘It does, doesn’t it?’

  A call came through and the detective had to take it. Roy watched him as Murphey made some notes. Perhaps they were closer than they thought. Things were looking positive. He had a good feeling about it.

  ‘I know this might be a random question, but did your son attend Leeds university by any chance?’

  ‘Yes, yes he did,’ said Trevor’s mother who hadn’t heard from him. He always visited her to make sure she was okay. ‘Is something the matter?’

  ‘No not at all. We just need as much information as possible.’ He spent a few more minutes trying to assure the woman there wasn’t anything to worry about just yet. Even though he knew it was quite possible that her son would never be found again.

  ‘Another man has gone missing?’

  ‘Let me guess, he’s also an ex-university student.’

  ‘Bingo.’

  ‘Christ.’

  ‘We’re off to see his mother and see what she has to say about his sudden silence. We need as much information as possible. I think we’re getting closer.’

  ‘I think so too.’

  The detectives headed out.

  Chapter Fourteen

  ‘I’m sorry the way my sister behaved at lunch today.’

  ‘Oh don’t worry about it. She’s just looking out for you. She loves you.’

  ‘Well she has a funny way of showing love.’

  ‘Oh darling. She means well.’ He took her into his arms. They’d gone back to her place where they’d relaxed for the rest of the afternoon.

  ‘It doesn’t feel like it. I feel like I’m under her constant scrutiny. I can’t stand it. She drives me to drink more.’

  He laughed. ‘Sometimes I wished I had a brother or sister nagging me. Perhaps they would’ve saved me from my father.’

  ‘I’m so sorry you went through that. It must be lonely.’

  ‘It is, but we all have our own crosses to bear. Your life hasn’t been a breeze either.’

  ‘But I have a loving family. If only I trusted that and not turned to alcohol and drugs.’

  ‘We all have our coping mechanisms. Don’t blame yourself about the steps you took to try and overcome your ordeal. You didn’t do it to yourself. They did it to you.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true. I love you.’ She felt all fuzzy inside. She never thought in a million years she’d ever find someone to love and for them to love her back. It was as if he could see into her soul.

  ‘I love you too darling.’ He hugged her tight into him.

  ‘What do you fancy eating.’ She looked up at him lovingly.

  ‘Not sure love. Are you hungry?’

  ‘A little. Even after a full lunch.’

  ‘I tell you what.’ He kissed her forehead. ‘How about I eat you.’ He kissed her nose. ‘And once that’s done.’ He moved to her lips and she weakened into him. Any sort of touch from him made her weak at the knees.

  ‘Yes,’ she mouthed against him expectedly.

  ‘And then…’ He pulled on her lower lip teasingly, pulled back and then smiled. ‘Then we can get all dressed up and go out. Make a night of it.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’

  ‘I thought it might.’ He lifted her chins so he could devour her lips better.

  ‘Yes…’ She whispered against him.

  Slowly he began to undress her. Once she was naked, he stood up, held out his arms and drew her up and then onto the soft carpet.

  ‘Hello you,’ he smiled down at her.

  ‘Hello.’ She smiled from ear to ear. ‘I love you so much.’ She wrapped her arms around his neck and drew him closer.

  Their lips met and soon he was caressing her smooth skin. He ran his lips down her body, over her stomach, down her thighs and down to her feet. He took her big toe into his mouth.

  ‘oooh.’ It was a weird but arousing feeling. ‘I like it.’

  He smiled and teased her toe a moment longer and then began to explore her body again. He felt himself become rock hard.

  ‘How about I take those clothes off,’ she offered. ‘I love you so much better when you’re naked.’

  He smiled. ‘That sounds good.’

  She sat up and began to undo the buttons to the shirt. Freya was slow and precise. Each time a button was undone, she looked into his eyes and felt his love just the way he looked at her. The shirt was fully undone and she slipped it off his shoulders and onto the floor. She ran her hands over his delicious body. It felt like a dream looking at this god of a man. It was also strange that this god of a man could kill and make love with the same hands. Instead of finding it a turn off, Freya found it a turn on.

  Her hands headed for his jeans and without much effort she managed to pulled them off. The boxers slipped off easy enough revealing his solid member. She took her time to explore the solid flesh. Her mouth and tongue did things she never had done to anyone else. Freya felt safe to take this adventure. He wasn’t going to hurt her. All he wanted to do was to keep her safe and she felt it in every part of her bones.

  ‘Oh honey, that feels amazing,’ he let out.

  She grinned her mouth fully occupied. It felt nice giving because she wanted to, not because it was forced upon her. She loved making him moan and groan. It turned her on.

  ‘Oh darling you’re going to make me cum if you keep doing that.’

  She grinned again.

  ‘Come here.’ He moved her so that she was on her back. ‘Let me admire you for a moment.’ He gazed directly into her eyes. ‘Hi,’ he said.

  ‘Hi,’ she said back shyly.

  ‘You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. I’m so glad I met you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’

  Before she could even respond his lips pressed against hers taking her away from the world that she’d know and into a dream world where there was no worry or fear, just pleasure and freedom. She shut her eyes and allowed herself to be taken away. Their bodies accepted each other and they were taken to a place only lovers would go. Freya had found the man of her dreams, and the way she clung onto him, she knew she was never letting go!

  ****

  ‘How do I look?’ She did a twirl for him in the red flared evening dress. ‘I purchased this ages ago, but never got around to wearing it.’

  ‘You look lovely. You could wear a bin bag and you’d still look amazing to me.’

  ‘Ahh. Thank you darling.’ She felt goose bumps pattern her body.

  ‘You k
now I only speak the truth.’

  She giggled. ‘You look lovely too honey. I love you.’

  ‘Love you too baby.’

  A few minutes later she was in the bathroom snorting cocaine up her nose. The habit hadn’t magically left her, and Ferguson continued to provide monitored amounts, and made sure they were not dodgy and cause her harm, like it had done with her old supplier.

  She looked at herself in the mirror as she wiped away the white powder from her nose.

  ‘Why can’t you stop this terrible habit? She asked herself as if it would somehow make her better. ‘You’re a killer, a drunk and a druggie.’ She began to laugh at how ridiculous it sounded.

  ‘Honey, is everything okay in there?’ He knocked gently on the door.

  ‘Everything is fine! Very fine.’ She flung the door opened. ‘I was just thinking how fucked up my life is, and yet I know that it could be worse.’

  ‘It could be. I have something that might cheer you up.’

  ‘Yeah. You found Thomas, Marvin?’

  He smiled sneakily. ‘Yes, sort of.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘It means I know where Thomas is. And we have Marvin.’

  ‘Excellent.’ She clasped her hands together.

  ‘And if you’re up for it, after dinner we can get rid of Marvin. I have eyes on him. He’s out for the night, but before he leaves he can be caught and ready for us. All you have to do is say the word.’

  ‘Yes. Of course yes!’ She clapped excited.

  ‘Great! Let me make some plans and then we’re off.’

  She giggled high on cocaine and the fact that they’d found another one.

  ‘And after this, be prepared to travel to Italy.’

  ‘Italy?’

  ‘Yep. Thomas migrated there.’

  ‘I see.’

  ‘I think we have a good plan for him, but first let’s deal with Marvin.

  ‘Okay!’ she was clapping excitedly like a little girl. ‘I can’t wait.’

  ‘I can’t either.’ He moved to the end of the room and made some calls and made sure they’d have their victim ready and waiting for them once they’d finished dinner.

  ‘Okay all sorted. Shall we go my love?’ He held out his arm.

  ‘Yes my love.’ She threaded her arm through his and they set off out.