The Girl Must Die: A Suspense Thriller With a Supernatural Twist

by Peter Repton

  ‘Here David take my sunglasses and make sure you don’t take them off inside. It is better to look like a knob-head than to get recognised. We don’t want any trouble if we are going to have a chance to find Sammy.’ David nodded his agreement. The pub was named the Bradley Inn and was very pleasant inside. David took a table at the back as Paul went to the bar and got two beers. While the barman pulled them, Paul texted Staples their location and then took the beers back and sat down. As he put David’s pint in front of him, he grinned with his turquoise eyes twinkling and cheerfully said.

  ‘I expect you are bloody ready for one of these after the last couple of weeks that you have had.’

  David allowed himself a smile in return and Robert’s continued amiably.

  ‘I cannot believe it is only twelve days since I fell into your fishpond and yet here we are having a drink together.’ Then a shadow crossed David’s green eyes, and he spoke with the pain evident in his voice.

  ‘That was also the same time that I last saw my lovely Sarah alive. Oh dear so much has happened in such a short space of time. Right now I only have revenge on my mind.’ Roberts nodded sympathetically and passed David a menu.

  ‘What we have to do will be done better with some good food in our bellies, you need to eat.’

  They ordered and as they ate a good hearty meal they watched the widescreen TV on the wall. It showed footage taken by a helicopter of huge plumes of ash rising above Yellowstone and then more footage of large areas being evacuated. Paul got another text from Staples indicating that they were less than five minutes away and he started speaking again with his mouth full of chips.

  ‘They will have to do more than that. I watch a lot of documentaries and Yellowstone seems to be quite a favourite topic but what you see at the moment is nothing. I remember one geologist likened a proper volcanic explosion to a full can of fizzy cola. The earthquakes happen as the magma chamber starts expanding and cracking the rock above it, this is like repeatedly throwing the can onto the floor. When you open the lid, the entire contents spew out. I think what they are filming is a small tributary fumarole and they don’t yet know that the real main event will be utterly catastrophic. But of course, you already know that because you predicted it is going to happen,’ he glanced across at David and then shouted.

  ‘Those lousy bastards have sold us out!’ he was pointing at a police car through the pub window swinging off the main road and into the car park. Both of them jumped from their seats and were about to head for the back door when Danny Quill got out of the driver’s seat of the police car and moments later Bob Staples emerged from the passenger side.

  They continued to watch as a middle-aged trendy looking guy, who had been sitting directly behind Bob, climbed out of the back. Finally, the remaining door opened, and a very long length of tanned thigh emerged from the door followed by the most beautiful woman Paul had ever seen in his life. He felt tight in his chest and at the same time felt strangely lightheaded.

  ‘Fuck me… that’s Ariana Grande!’ Paul said in awe. Danny Quill led the Americans into the pub as all eyes turned towards Lisa. Danny spotted his pal Paul and gave him a wave as they all came over, David was grabbing some extra chairs and placing them next to his table. Danny spoke first as Robert’s still looked like he had seen a ghost.

  ‘Let me introduce our American guests to you. This is Bob Staples who you already know David, his friend Nick West and Nick’s student Lisa Cutan,’ he turned back to the Americans and said.

  ‘David Kempston we all know and this is my friend Detective Constable Paul Robert’s.’ Bob Staples reached for Paul’s hand and shook it.

  ‘You are the young man that sent me the custody footage I am so grateful to you for that, and I understand that you took it upon yourself to free David from prison. That will certainly get you into a lot of trouble, won’t it?’ Paul found his tongue although he was aware that his faced had flushed for some reason as soon as Lisa appraised him.

  ‘Yes it will, but I felt compelled to do what I thought was right, whatever the consequences.’

  ‘He even nicked my bloody car,” chipped in Danny. Lisa looked directly at Paul and spoke.

  ‘I think you did an excellent thing. It takes a lot of courage to stand up for what you believe in, but to actually act upon that belief in the face of all who doubt you means you deserve the highest merit,’ she smiled a radiant smile and sat down right beside him.

  Danny said, ‘Obviously I would not usually drink on duty, but as my bosses seemed to have no problem doing it this morning, I am getting the drinks in. What are you all having?’ Bob ordered a sparkling water and Nick and Lisa both asked for a Jack Daniels.

  Paul was in awe of the way Lisa had spoken to him, and as he looked beyond her, they were showing on TV some football highlights in the build-up to this weekend’s FA Cup final, and they featured a replay of the last minute goal that West Ham scored to deprive Liverpool of the title. It surprised him that he no longer really gave a shit. Bob was chatting animatedly to David and Nick was listening in as Danny brought a tray of drinks and set it down on the table. Lisa picked hers up and turned to face Paul and said.

  ‘I feel so sorry for that poor man David. His wife was murdered so cruelly. To be accused of such a crime when you are innocent is so awful. I am so pleased that you freed him.’ Paul picked up his pint and took a sip as he thought about his reply.

  ‘I will be honest with you. I was not sure of David’s innocence until I saw that maniac Sammy gloating on the video holding Lucy captive. I was shocked too at the murder of his wife Sarah as I had met her personally and she even let me watch football in her house. That very Sunday morning that she was killed in the early hours, I went to mass to pray for her and also to pray that the killer faces justice whoever he may be. It was ages since my last attendance at mass, but I have always kept my faith,’ Paul was surprised how at ease he felt in the company of this woman. He could not recall his last serious conversation with a member of the opposite sex.

  ‘Well, that is a coincidence I went to mass last Sunday as well mainly because it was Pentecost. I regularly go as my Father always made me do a lot of Bible study. Did you know it was Pentecost Paul?’ she asked sipping her whisky through beautiful full lips.

  ‘Of course I did, it always comes fifty days after Easter and ten days after the Ascension of our Lord and Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles,’ Paul said confidently. Lisa smiled and nodded before saying.

  ‘We say in the United States that it’s the birthday of the Church. Tell me what made you decide to become a policeman?’ Paul considered her question and replied.

  ‘I just hoped I could make a difference. I had a harsh upbringing as an Irish Catholic on a council estate that had a lot of really terrible people on it. I could easily have turned to crime myself, but I thought I could help people see the error of their ways instead, and enforcing the law seemed to be the logical choice. I could earn much more doing something else, but I don’t miss having money that much you know.’

  He had never been so honest with anyone else before, except for his partner Andrew Wilson. Thinking of him now, Paul felt he had let Andrew down. Lisa smiled again and leant forward to Paul and said.

  ‘My daddy would like you. You choose that path of law and order to protect and serve even though the money is poor and yet when the chips are down you go with your heart and risk that very livelihood because you feel that there has been a miscarriage of justice. I hope it all works out OK for you.’ Paul had only half heard what she had said as when she leant forward to speak to him he had marvelled at her impressive cleavage. He quickly gathered his thoughts and thanked her for her comments.

  Nick West looked fed up with all the attention and the apparent hero worship Roberts had been getting from Lisa and he sought the group’s attention by standing up and announcing.

  ‘It’s my shout guys, same again?’

  David was unsure, drinking nearly three pi
nt’s already. It was only four in the afternoon and he was not used to it. David looked at Nick to say count me out when through the pub window he glimpsed a large three-wheeled motorcycle and watched it slowly approach towards the nearby roundabout, turning and accelerating past the pub right along the adjacent dual carriageway. David noticed the blood red petrol tank. Riding it was the sidekick of Sammy the one he had called Chisel Face in the boatyard, the night that he murdered Sarah. David jumped up and pointed out the window and said urgently.

  ‘That’s one of Sammy’s guys right there, he may be able lead us to him,’ his outburst startled everyone, and they were all slow to react as the alcohol had relaxed them. First off the mark was young Danny Quill who jumped up and yelled.

  ‘Quick let’s follow him. We will go in two cars as he may decide to go either way at the end of the bypass before we catch him up,’ he sped towards the door. Surprisingly Nick was up and running too, shouting into Quills back.

  ‘I am with you, Danny,’ Nick was surprised that it was him that had said it and was on the move so quick, but if the plump ginger cop could be a hero, then so could he and Lisa just had to be impressed. Danny and Nick were in their police car and speeding away before the other three even got out of the pub, as they were hampered by Bob who was a bit slow on his feet. Both cars headed at high speed down the dual carriageway, and as Danny spotted the biker in the distance, he turned to Nick and said.

  ‘I am not going to use the siren because he won’t stop anyway and I do not want to spook him. I will keep way back because he is probably our only chance of saving Lucy.’ Nick nodded his understanding and he glanced back and saw the second police car a few hundred yards behind them. Danny passed his phone to Nick and said.

  ‘Call Paul and tell him what we are doing. He has Kempston in his car, and he may influence him to do something rash because he will have no control of his emotions. Then tell him to call the Chief and let him know we have a lead. If we can get the full team in on this, we might get ourselves back into their good books. I am not using the police radio because Sammy may be monitoring it,’ he noted the biker was indicating to turn left ahead at the roundabout just past the Mercedes dealership on the A18 towards Louth.

  51

  It was Jack Ford that took the call in the prison cell, waking up unsure of his whereabouts and his head was still sore from the half bottle of Bell’s. He saw it was Robert’s who was calling him, and feeling a surge of anger as he clicked answer.

  ‘Right you ginger toe rag…’ he started but Robert’s cut in shouting.

  ‘Just shut the fuck up and listen for a change, will you! We have a lead on one of Sammy’s biker friends, and we are in pursuit with two cars. Mine and Danny Quill’s, we also have the Americans with us. We are on the A18 heading south towards Louth having spotted him near Laceby crossroads. We are both behaving like the top police officers we are and doing our jobs. May I suggest you quit whining and bloody start doing yours? Do you understand, Sir?’ Paul added the sir as he knew he had overstepped the mark, but he didn’t care as he felt so relaxed. Perhaps due to the three pints of beer, but maybe it was more to do with the beautiful girl who sat beside him in the passenger seat. She had jumped right in there beside him giving Kempston and Staples no choice but to sit in the back. Ford did not reply for a full six seconds then he said.

  ‘Understood Robert’s I will get the show on the road. Keep in touch, we will get there as soon as we can,’ another five seconds passed before Ford spoke again.

  ‘Well done young man.’ They all heard a click as he hung up. Ford roused Wilson from a deep sleep in the next cell by shaking him saying.

  ‘Wake up cowboy it’s time to get back in the saddle; we have a lead on that bastard Sammy. I have tried to get us a chopper from Humberside Airport, but it will take an hour before it is in the air, you can drive quicker.’ Andrew looked disorientated, but he nodded and said.

  ‘Well no one is going to breathalyse me when I have a Chief Inspector in the car are they?’ Both the officers left the prison, commandeering a pool car and quickly accelerated away. Jack was deep in thought, feeling embarrassed by his behaviour. He must try and get a grip on the situation. Jack was in a downward spiral, starting to lose his control due to all the bouts of whisky drinking. He made a silent vow to focus more on the case.

  To the north-east of them on the A18 Danny was keeping pace with the motorcycle, but kept dropping back, so as not to attract the rider’s attention. With broken woodland on their right and open country on their left, Danny negotiated a series of curves. When they emerged again out onto a long straight, the motorcycle was nowhere in sight.

  Danny braked to a halt as Paul drove around the same bend moments later. Paul pulled alongside, and Lisa lowered the passenger window. Danny shouted across to Paul.

  ‘He must have turned off at that small crossroads just back there. He could be heading east to Waltham or west towards Beesby. We have to split up so I will take the Beesby road and you go towards Waltham OK?’ Roberts nodded, moving forward as Danny spun the car around. He approached the junction, turned left into the tree lined road and accelerated away.

  ‘You know this is the best fun I have had for years,’ Nick chuckled and continued, ‘What with the world just about on the eve of destruction we are still trying to nail bad guys. It makes a real change for me from always just trying to nail women.’ Danny grinned at him, asking.

  ‘Have you been banging that cute student of yours then?’ Nick smiled and replied.

  ‘No, I haven’t Lisa seems unique now. I have never met anyone quite like her. Most of my life I have just moved from girl to girl. It has always been me ending all of the relationships. I just seem to get tired of them after a couple of months. My friends call me a ladies man because I prefer female company. I have never been one of the boys like you,’ Nick said as they passed a model plane flying field on the left. A mile further on as they turned a bend they spotted the biker two hundred yards ahead.

  The bike then turned left off the main road becoming obscured from view by a high hedge. Nick picked up the phone to tell Roberts as they swung around into the leafy lane. Danny braked hard. The Trike was stationery twenty yards in front on them. Nick's phone flew out of his hand and under the seat as they rolled up behind the machine. The rider turned towards them. The police car with Robert’s driving was just approaching Waltham when Paul’s phone rang. Lisa who was beside him answered it.

  ‘Hi there this is Paul’s phone, who is calling please,’ she said.

  ‘Who the bloody hell are you?’ Ford harsh voice barked. Lisa winced at his tone.

  ‘I am Lisa Cutan I believe we met at the Prison earlier. Paul is right here with me I will put you on speaker,’ she looked angry as she hit the speaker button. Ford’s gravel voice filled the car.

  ‘Robert’s, we are on route. I have mobilised the local plods to converge in your vicinity. The chopper will be up in thirty minutes. Tell me where your current location is?’ he asked in a neutral tone. Robert’s looked around outside the car it was all open countryside, but the bike was gone. He shouted so that Ford could hear.

  ‘I am just outside Waltham, but the biker is nowhere in sight. He must have gone the other way towards Beesby. I am turning around now. I don’t know why Danny has not called as he must have him in sight. Something has gone wrong,’ Paul said.

  ‘Keep me fully updated every five minutes Robert’s.’

  Chisel Face stared at the young officer in the police vehicle behind him. Smiling, showing rotten and missing teeth, he swung his leg over the motor trike turning to face the car. Danny got out of the car after motioning to Nick to stay put. Danny walked towards the biker with the long, pointy thin face and goatee beard. When he got closer, Danny noticed the piercings in his eyebrows, lip and nose. Danny puffed himself up saying in the sternest voice he could muster.

  ‘I am arresting you for the abduction of Lucy Higgins. I must caution you that….’

  ‘Y
ou are arresting no one pig!’ a nasty voice just off to Danny’s left said as a fat biker emerged through a gap in the tall hedge. The first things Danny noticed were the snake tattoos crawling around his neck. The second was the sawn-off shotgun pointing right at Danny’s face. Chisel Face grinned and when he spoke his voice was just a rasp.

  ‘You really are a stupid twat, aren’t you? Do you think I didn’t know that you were following me? Why do you think it was me on my trike that passed the pub you used? Because I am the only one who does not have to wear a helmet,’ he sneered.

  ‘I wanted Kempston to see me as we knew he was in there. I was just the bait to draw you out. I am disappointed that you don’t have Kempston with you. But his time will come soon.’ Danny was in shock, unsure what to do next, so he just said.

  ‘I am arresting you both; I must caution you that…’

  ‘Let him have it Snake,’ Chisel Face said, Snake lifted up the shotgun and Danny’s eyes widened with fear when he looked down the barrels pointing at him. Snake said ‘Nighty night copper,’ then he shot Danny in the face.

  52

  Nick watched in disbelief as the young police officers head disappeared in a cloud of red mist, and he fell to the ground. Snake turned to Nick shouting.

  “Hey you, get out of the fucking car and onto the back of his Trike. Don’t try anything stupid or you will be next.” Nick got out of the car, holding his hands up and rushed to the Trike. Then he spotted the gunman's motorbike hidden behind the hedge next to where the car had pulled up. Chisel Face turned the Trike around back onto the main road heading for Beesby village. Snake pointed the gun at a terrified Nick sitting upon the back seat.

  The other police car hurtled down the country lane past a model plane flying field. A mile further on Robert’s slowed as they approach a thirty mile an hour speed limit sign. As they passed a lane off to the left hidden by a tall hedge, David shouted out aloud.