“I think we both know the answer to that,” she said with a cold smile.
“How did you find me?”
“I did an internet search on private investigation agencies in the country. I didn’t want anyone local or from down south who might know the family’s history. It was your slogan that drew me to you. Our business is unfinished business. Perfect.”
“You wanted someone you could spin your own story to?”
“Exactly.” She leaned forward in her seat, eyes narrowing. “What gave us away?”
“It was when we saw you in the hospital after the siege. The man I thought was Mark came rushing in and took your hand. He used his left hand. At first I couldn’t work out what was bugging me so much then it hit me when I looked in the rear-view mirror. I was actually in the car, heading out of Manchester.”
“So close,” said Sarah with a grim smile.
“We both know Seth and Mark swapped places a lot when they were younger and I figured the ambidextrous explanation was just a ploy to cover their tracks should they slip up. It’s a hard pretence to keep up, some movements are automatic, you don’t think about them, especially which hand you’re using. Seth didn’t know me and Cass were in your cubicle when he walked in so he was just being himself. He quickly put the front back on when he saw us there.”
“I take it back Brodie. You are smart.”
“I know,” he said unable to resist a smile. “Everything just came together after that. Hillyard took some convincing but after he asked your neighbour if she’d stayed with you the night Seth was supposedly creeping around your bushes and she said no he was much more willing to listen to my theory. A visit to Seth’s doctor and then the antiques shop blew your charade wide open.”
Sarah mulled this over before smiling. “And we thought we had all bases covered. If only you hadn’t visited me in hospital we would have got away with it.”
“Probably, for a while at least. Someone would have eventually clocked onto your drug empire.”
“That doesn’t mean they would have realised Mark was really Seth.”
“We’ll never know.”
“I could be at home now with Seth and my kids if it wasn’t for you,” she said, countenance darkening, blue eyes sharpening into knives. “You got one thing wrong though you fucking smart arse.”
“I doubt it but go on.”
A muscle in her cheek jumped at his breezy tone and she leaned even further across the table. “You said we started killing the women because we wanted to set up Mark. That was a load of bollocks.”
“Back off Creegan,” said one of the prisoner officers in a deep voice that was spookily similar to Maggie’s.
Sarah turned in her seat to hiss at the woman like a vampire. The officer cocked an eyebrow but otherwise appeared undisturbed by this strange behaviour. Instinctively Brodie leaned back in his seat away from Sarah when she turned back to face him. She was just as creepy as the rest of the Creegans.
“We killed them because we wanted to,” she said with an eerie smile. “We liked it. That was it. Mark was going to be the fall guy if and when the police got too close or when we were ready to get him out of the way, whichever came first. Of course they had their suspicions about Seth and Mark, it was only natural after their dad was suspected of being The Camden Carver but we left nothing behind for them to find. Seth made sure that security camera picked him up with one of the girls. We only allowed the police to find something when we were ready.”
“When you were ready to have Mark shot dead?”
“Yes,” she said, overflowing with pride at her own cleverness. “Seth led you to that storage unit because we wanted you to find it. Go on, admit it, you think it was smart?”
“I think it was cold, cruel and one of the most evil, vicious things I’ve ever heard of in my life.”
“Why thank you,” she smiled.
“What kicked it all off?” he said. “You and Seth had been having an affair for years.”
“Because I couldn’t stand Mark pawing at me and slobbering over me for one second longer, it was horrible and I’d put up with it for years. Plus Haines and Johnson were getting greedy, wanting more and more and he was letting them take it. They had to go.”
“But you didn’t dare kill them, not with the people they had behind them, so you wound me up and sent me out there to get them out of the way for you.”
He was unable to disguise his fury at being used and Sarah revelled in it. “Hurt your pride that, didn’t it?”
He ignored the question. “Let’s get to the real reason why I’m here and that’s not to spar with you,” he scowled. “Where’s Emily Spencer? She’s not been displayed like the other victims and traces of her hair and blood were found in the storage unit.”
“Is that the only reason you came here?”
“Why else?”
“I’m disappointed, I thought we were friends.”
“Then you really are demented.”
“If you want me to answer your question then you need to be my friend.”
“Listen, Emily’s family are in hell. All they want is to know what happened to their daughter, she was their only child. If you tell me where she is then you might start to enjoy a few little perks in here.”
“Why should I give a shit about perks? Seth and my girls have been taken from me. I don’t care about anything anymore.”
“Give it a couple of years in here and you’ll want every perk you can get. Just tell me where she is so her family can bring her home.”
“Why do they want her home? She’s dead.”
“Just imagine if it was one of your daughters,” he said, knowing it was futile. Sarah had absolutely no empathy, other people’s feelings didn’t exist for her.
She shrugged. “My girls are safe and well with my parents, so, to be quite honest Brodie, I don’t give a shit what Emily’s family feel. She’s our last little secret and we’re not letting go of her. She’ll be ours forever.”
“Doesn’t Seth want to display his artwork?”
She smiled predatorily. “He’d rather keep our secret.”
“I don’t know why I’m surprised. I never expected an inadequate, narcissistic arsehole like you to do the right thing. I don’t know why you’re pining over Seth, he’s probably getting regularly shagged up the arse and enjoying it. He’s forgotten all about you.”
“You’re trying to get me angry again Brodie,” she said with a sweet smile. “It worked at the restaurant but I won’t allow my temper to betray me again. My lawyer told me you had nothing on me for The Carver crimes until I snapped and stabbed that copper. If I’d kept my cool I would have got away with it, Seth never would have betrayed me.”
“We had a witness come forward after your arrest saying they saw you leading the third victim to a car that sounded suspiciously like your Mazda.”
“That wouldn’t have been enough to convict me, my lawyer said he could have torn that witness apart.”
Brodie seethed inside, he hated fucking defence lawyers. He shook himself out of it and took a deep breath, surprised by how easily Sarah had got under his skin.
“Pushed a button there, didn’t I?” she said.
“No,” he retorted. With that he got to his feet. He wanted out before she got into his head.
“Where do you think you’re going?” she demanded.
“Home. You’re not going to tell me what I want to know and I’m sick of this place.”
“Brodie, get back here,” she yelled when he made for the door.
He stopped and turned. “What?”
“If you go I’ll tell Cass you’re in love with her, that you want to fuck her.”
“Go ahead. She won’t listen to you. Nobody listens to the crazy lady who’s been locked away for life.”
“I know all about you Brodie. I know your dad killed your mum in front of you and your brother and sister.”
Brodie went rigid and glared at her.
“Then he tr
ied to kill you too,” she went on, licking her lips with glee. “He stabbed you and your sister but your older brother was too strong and he got the knife off him. Then he cut his throat but he was so angry that he didn’t stop. He went the whole way and cut his fucking head off, right in front of you and your little sister.”
Sarah lifted her chin triumphantly while the two prison officers stared at him in astonishment.
“Shut it,” he growled.
“You were only eleven,” she went on, relentless. “Your sister was nine but you two were alright, you recovered. Big brother didn’t though, did he? His mind couldn’t handle what he’d done and he lost it. He was locked up when he was fifteen and he’s never getting out because if he was released he’d probably kill someone else. You’ve got a nerve calling my family mad.”
“I said shut the fuck up,” he yelled, voice bouncing off the hard grey walls.
“Your dad was a copper, just like you were. Are you like him Brodie? A brutal bully who beat his kids every day of their lives and raped their mother in front of them? Or are you afraid that one day you will be like him, that’s why you’re so relentless in your pursuit of justice, to fend off that horrible, consuming rage? I know you have it in you, I’ve seen it. One day you’ll lose control completely and do something truly terrible, just like Ricky.”
Brodie put one hand against the cold wall as the room spun. The memory returned, knocking him sick. He heard the disturbing hacking noise as Ricky sawed away at their dad’s neck, the bulging of his horrified eyes as he realised his eldest son wasn’t going to stop and that at some point his head was going to fall off.
Instead Brodie focused his attention on the tacky room, the ugly brick walls, Sarah’s furious blue eyes shining like sapphires, the only beautiful thing in the room. The pleasure he saw in those eyes returned him to the present. “There’s a big difference Sarah. I’m about to walk out of here and you’re stuck inside for the rest of your natural life.” He managed to summon up a carefree grin. “Enjoy.”
She shot to her feet, tipping back her chair and the two prison officers rushed to flank her. “I’m going to kill you Brodie. One day me and Seth will be released and we’ll come straight for you and your precious Cass.”
“See, that proves how tapped you are Sarah. You’re never getting out. You’re never going to see Seth again and you’ll both die in prison. We’ll find Emily without your help. Goodbye.”
As he walked away he could hear her screaming his name. Just as he turned the corner there was a loud clatter then silence. He smiled. The mad bitch had been subdued.
Cass was waiting for him outside in the car park, leaning against the waiting taxi, sunglasses on, enjoying the autumnal sunshine.
“Well?” she said.
“No joy,” he sighed. He felt like he’d failed.
“It was a long shot Boss. Psychos like that rarely give up their secrets.”
“Any luck in getting a visit with Seth?”
“Sorry.”
“Dammit. I thought he might have a soft spot for a pretty face.”
“According to the Governor of Manchester Prison the only soft spot he’s got is for Sarah. He keeps banging on about her. He also called me a variety of names the Governor refused to repeat over the phone to a lady.”
“You’re no lady,” he said playfully.
“Damn right, I’m a woman.”
“I had hoped we’d be able to give the Spencer family a bit of good news.”
“The police are still searching for Emily. Clarke has promised he won’t stop until she’s found.”
“So he’s managed to keep hold of his job after the restaurant massacre?”
“Only by his fingernails. Hillyard carried the can for that one. He’ll be quietly put out to pasture when all this has calmed down. I heard he’s lost his bottle anyway and it’s going to take the poor sod a long time to recover from being stabbed in the neck.” She studied him carefully. “What did she say to you? You look really rattled.”
“Sarah knew all about Ricky, what he did.”
Cass’s large eyes turned soft. “And she used it as a stick to beat you with.”
“Tried to but I wouldn’t let her.”
“Good for you.”
Brodie hardly heard her, he was too lost in the past, which was where his need for justice to be done came from. Sarah had been dead right about that. His mother had begged for help for years from the police, telling them repeatedly her life was in danger but they hadn’t listened because his dad had been a police officer himself - a detective chief superintendent no less who made out to his colleagues that she was an unhinged alcoholic, so no one listened. Alastair MacBride started to think he was indestructible to the point that one night he snapped and stabbed her to death in front of their three children. What he hadn’t planned on was the rage that had built up in Ricky after the years of abuse, which had come pouring out when he saw his mother murdered. Once the stopper was released on that anger it couldn’t be put back on. Ricky was only fifteen when he was arrested but he badly injured two police officers when they tried to take him from his home and siblings and he’d been hurting people ever since. Thankfully the courts realised Ricky wasn’t responsible for his actions - unlike his father - and was sent to a mental institute for the rest of his life. Brodie had determined to be a police officer when he was still a child in the wake of his mother’s murder because he wanted to prove he was better than all those people who’d let her down and allowed her to be killed. It had worked for a while and exorcised the memory of his father, until he’d become disillusioned by the fact that sometimes the law gave more consideration to the rights of the perpetrator than the victim. Each time some scumbag got away with it he was taken right back to that night, so he left. Now he handed out his own justice, which was far more satisfying.
“Brodie, sure you’re okay?” said Cass.
“Fine. It’s back to Glasgow then I suppose.”
“It is. Come on, the taxi driver’s getting impatient.”
They both got into the back of the taxi together that would take them to the airport, Brodie gazing out of the window as the car rolled out of the prison gate. “Not our most successful case,” he commented.
“I wouldn’t say that. It’s thanks to you that Mark got justice and no more women will end up dead with stuff carved into their skin. Sarah and Seth would have kept right on killing.”
“I want to find Emily.”
“Clarke will.”
“I wish I shared your optimism.”
“Let’s get back to Glasgow. Christian called while you were in with Sarah, apparently a water pipe burst and saturated the office.”
“Oh fucking marvellous,” he grumbled. “How the bloody hell did that happen?”
“Ross was drilling into the wall.”
“Why the fuck was he drilling into my wall?”
“Something to do with putting up a picture.”
“And he used a drill? Eejit. That wee walloper is going to get my boot up his arse when I get back.”
Cass glanced sideways at him and smiled. Brodie was certainly one of a kind.
When her phone beeped she took it out and smiled before pushing at the buttons.
“Please don’t tell me that’s Ross calling to say he’s lost the office roof,” said Brodie.
“I’m sure he hasn’t.”
“You remember the incident with the photocopier and the overloaded plug socket?”
“They said sorry for that.”
“Fannies,” he muttered, making her grin.
“Don’t panic, it’s just a little surprise I’ve got lined up for Katie Marsh. I thought she could do with some cheering up.” She hit the send button and smiled.
Before she could replace the phone in her pocket it started to ring. “It’s Clarke,” she said, oblivious to the fact that the delight in her voice irritated Brodie’s already jangled nerves. She put the phone to her ear. “Hello?”
Brodie
kept one ear open as she listened to the voice on the other end. “We’ll be right there,” she said before hanging up.
“We’re not going home yet, are we?” he sighed.
“No we’re not. Lauren Creegan’s set fire to her mum’s house. Maggie’s dead.”
“Jesus. What about Lauren?”
“Alive with third degree burns. She wants to explain why she did it but she’ll only talk to you.”
“Fucking hell.”
“I’ll call the airport and book a flight to Manchester instead,” she said.
As she talked on the phone Brodie sat back to brood over this fresh shock. Why would Lauren kill her own mother? Was it just an accident or was it purposeful? He thought about what Sarah had told him and tried to link it in with this new information but the picture was only half formed.
CHAPTER 23
“Mum, I’m home,” called Katie, wandering through the house into the kitchen.
“Just in time too, I’m getting dinner out.” Sally froze, holding a steaming casserole dish in her gloved hands. “What on earth have you done to yourself?”
Katie threw back her head, her long straight raven locks gleaming in the light. “Do you like it?”
“What happened to your glasses? Is that make-up?”
“I got contact lenses and yes, it is. I was tired of being a frump. Do you like the dress?” she said, twirling round, the dress lifting to flash long, slender thighs.
“I….I…” Sally replaced the bowl on the worktop. “My God Katie, you’re beautiful. I always said you were.”
George walked in and his jaw fell open. “Who’s this starlet who’s descended on us? Is it really our little Katie?”
“It is Dad. Do you like it?” she said uncertainly.
“Yes I do but what’s brought about this change?”
“Sarah Creegan’s in prison for life. I don’t need to be afraid of her anymore, I can be who I want to be. She always told me to dress down because she didn’t want to hang around with anyone prettier than her. Now she can’t hurt me again. I’m free.”
Sally pulled off the oven gloves and gently took her face in her hands. “At last. I’m so happy for you.”
Unfinished Business Page 31