The area was deserted, for it was now well past midnight, but it did not feel eerie with the warm glow from the street lamps and the occasional light still on in some of the hotel bedrooms running along the length of the seafront. In the hours it had taken to reach there, Brandt had wondered how he would feel returning to the place where he had found true happiness for the first time in decades. He had wondered whether it would heighten his sense of loss; of what might have been.
But instead it made him smile. This place reminded him that everything he had been through, and every sacrifice he had made along the way, had been worth it. He would hold on to those memories, fleeting though they might be, as he continued on to his final destination.
He waited until he was almost at the pier, where he and Kath had laughed their way around the amusement arcade, before he pulled out his mobile phone.
Punching in the relatively short message, he knew that within minutes it would be traced to the nearest phone mast. That it would result in the police descending upon the area, awakening the few visitors who chose to holiday here at this time of year, did not concern him. The audience his text would find may be large but only one person would be able to determine its true meaning. For any notion that he had found his soul mate in Kath was a lie almost as big as the one on which he had based their relationship. With Susan now dead, there was only one person in the world who truly knew him, and it was to this person he was reaching out now. What she chose to do with it was up to her. He had learned to his recent cost not to try and predict her reaction, but that didn’t stop him hoping that she would do the right thing.
Chapter Fifty-five
‘Ma’am, we’re going to need to stop for fuel soon.’
‘Fine,’ Johnson replied curtly. She knew the subtext to Hardy’s observation was less about the need to find a petrol station and more that he believed their continual driving around was increasingly pointless.
Nevertheless, to stop, other than briefly at the Shell indicated up ahead on the car’s sat nav, would be to admit defeat. If she were in Hardy’s shoes, she would probably feel the same, but Johnson couldn’t help holding onto the idea that if she thought hard enough, she would be able to figure out Brandt’s next move. The rest of the police force out that night would be following the typical assumptions based on how the situation presented itself. However, she knew that Brandt was equally aware of these things and would neutralise their effectiveness. The fact that he had taken off in Kath’s car and yet hadn’t pinged a single ANPR illustrated that.
But rather than accept that it meant he could be anywhere, it spurred her on. Much as Johnson hated it, the fact was that the person she knew best in the world was Brandt. He was the man, not McNeil, who she woke up thinking about each day and was her last thought before she went to sleep. Speaking to Kath may have seemed fruitless but it had allowed her an insight into his current state of mind. And she would not give up until she combined that with her unique knowledge of Brandt to work out his trail. All she needed now was to find a clue to put her on the right path.
With the only sound the steady thrum of the petrol pump dispensing its contents as Hardy dutifully filled up the car, and with her eyes finally adjusting to the harsh contrast of the forecourt’s sodium lights, she got it.
– You’ve won. You’ll know where I’ll be if you want to collect your prize.
No name and from a number that her phone did not recognise, and yet this could only be from one person. Casting an anxious glance over her shoulder to make sure Hardy hadn’t somehow heard the ping of the incoming message, she read its brief contents again.
Johnson let out an ironic laugh. To hear from Brandt again directly was more than she could have hoped for as she and Hardy had driven around aimlessly. But it was so typical of the man for his contact to be ambiguous to the point of irrelevant. The only place she could think of was her house, or what remained of it, back in Nottingham. Technically he could have made it there if he had managed to steal a car, its loss yet to be discovered and reported, but it wouldn’t make sense for him to have managed to entirely flee the area only to then concede defeat.
Naturally, this could just be one of his games: his loss of Kath causing him to seek revenge on the person he believed responsible; and this time he would look to finish the job. It all seemed rather fitting, except for one small detail. He had abandoned the new life he had built for himself because he must have believed that his partner, his lover, had accidentally compromised its safety. Of course, he may have been trying to intercept Johnson before she could do anything with the information, but too much time would have elapsed between Kath having sent the email and his message now. No, if he had expected Johnson to act on it, as surely he must have, then he would know either she or the police were coming to get him. Either way, it wouldn’t make sense for him to try and rendezvous with Johnson back in Nottingham. If she had come alone then it would be illogical to meet her anywhere other than somewhere around here, especially as he would also have the advantage of being on more familiar soil than her. Whereas, if he had expected that she would pass on the location from which Kath had sent her email, then surely he would expect her to also have the police track this message and intercept him.
With her head now aching from all the different permutations thrown up by Brandt’s text, and with the sound of the petrol pump substituted by the tank’s filler cap being replaced, Johnson knew she had a more immediate decision to make. What, if anything, to tell Hardy? She wanted more time to think things through before revealing the message to him, especially as she knew what his reaction would be. Hardy would be insistent that the number be radioed in so that it could be traced and, even if she could convince him otherwise, she knew she would be putting him in a compromising situation.
And yet without tracing it she didn’t think she would be able to unravel the clue contained within. If it was really designed to be a trap, then what would be the point if Johnson was unable to fall into it? What an unfortunate time for him to over-estimate her capabilities. Unless, of course, he had somehow known that she had gone by the book on this one and had sent in the police ahead of her and, as a consequence, would have them run a trace on this too.
‘Argh!’ she screamed into the confines of the car’s interior. The more she thought about it, the more she seemed to be tying herself up in knots.
The passenger door was flung open. ‘Are you okay, ma’am?’ Hardy asked hurriedly. ‘I heard a shout.’
No more thinking; just do it. ‘Quick, get in,’ Johnson said, the car screeching off the forecourt in a flurry of wheelspin with him yet to fully close his door. ‘Take my phone,’ she ordered, thrusting it towards him whilst she tried to concentrate on successfully navigating the junction ahead. ‘Call through a trace on the number associated with the last text message.’
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Hardy’s face illuminated by the screen as he swiped into her inbox. However, he didn’t then immediately reach for the radio. ‘Is this from… but how did he...?’
‘Not now, Hardy!’ she roared. ‘Just call it through, I’ll explain later!’
* * *
‘The mast from which it was sent has coordinates 53.32 degrees north, 3.83 degrees west,’ responded the anonymous and dispassionate voice a few minutes later. ‘Llandudno centre.’
‘Repeat that last, over,’ instructed Hardy.
‘Coordinates are for Llandudno, Conwy, North Wales. Over.’
‘Thank you. Out,’ he responded, replacing the handset. ‘What now, ma’am?’
‘Call it through,’ she said, whilst trying to convince herself that this was the right thing to do. ‘Then programme the sat nav for those exact coordinates,’ she added. The local police were going to get there before them but she hardly expected Brandt to be sat beneath the phone mast with his wrists held out, ready for cuffing.
She could also use the journey to figure out how it related to his claim that she would know where he was. The
first time she had heard of Llandudno was when Kath spoke about it at the station, but he wasn’t to know that. There had to be something else to his message…
Chapter Fifty-six
Brandt hadn’t needed a response from Johnson to know that she had received his text. From his vantage point, he could see the flashing blue lights as multiple police vehicles descended on the town centre. If anything, it added to the moonlit visage before him.
He knew it was only a matter of time before they finished sweeping the immediate area and would start exploring further afield, but whilst the darkness of night remained, they would not be able to see him on the cliffs above. Naturally dawn, still an hour away, would change that but by then it would be too late. He just hoped that he had given Johnson enough time to arrive.
Brandt buried his hands in his pockets and stamped his feet in an effort to keep out the cold. He was fortunate that the only coat he possessed was a warm one but it was proving insufficient, exposed as he was to the elements. Nevertheless, he didn’t have to worry about the potential onset of hypothermia and distracted himself by continuing to watch the pretty patterns of the police as they continued their search.
The sight was mesmerising almost to the point of appearing to be the contents of a dream, but Brandt was brought back to reality by the sight of a pair of headlamps sweeping past the pier and onto the steep drive up to the entrance of the cable cars. Not that it ultimately mattered but he peered through the gloom to try and determine whether it was a squad car with its emergency lights switched off.
Then finally the bass tone of its high-performance engine drifted up to him and Brandt began to smile. He waited until it came to a halt and watched its two occupants get out. ‘Up here!’ Brandt shouted, the steady breeze carrying his salutation down the hill and causing them both to snap their heads in his direction, the swish of the ponytail suggesting the driver to be Johnson. The identity of her companion, he didn’t know, but nor was he concerned.
The way she marched up the steep incline was impressive, but he reassured himself that he would have found it easier had he not already walked countless miles before arriving here. He spent the time it took them to approach pondering how she must be feeling. She was bound to be wary given their previous encounters but clearly not enough to bring the rest of the police force with her.
‘Aren’t you going to introduce us?’ Brandt asked, as soon as she stopped, no doubt deciding that being 20 feet away was plenty close enough.
‘Why have you brought us here?’ Johnson demanded, ignoring his request.
‘I think you know that,’ he replied in an even tone.
Johnson didn’t respond but simply stood there, hands on hips.
‘I’ve had enough of this,’ Hardy piped up after a few seconds of watching them posturing. ‘Jeffrey Brandt, I am arresting you…’
‘Stop!’ Johnson roared, reaching out to pull her partner back.
‘You see, she does know why we’re here,’ Brandt said with a smile. ‘If you’re not going to tell me, I think you should at least bring your friend up to speed.’ He waited for a few moments and then shrugged theatrically. ‘Play it your way. Time is tight, so I’ll just assume it was because you had the phone’s signal traced to Llandudno and then worked out that I would be pretty much in this exact spot. So, I guess the question really is how you knew…’
Johnson still would not allow herself to be baited even though Hardy’s expression had changed from shock to one of curiosity.
‘Fine, looks like you’ve had a wasted journey then,’ Brandt said, turning around and walking towards the cliff edge.
‘He’s bluffing,’ Hardy stated, without any real degree of confidence. ‘At least let me call this in.’
‘No, he isn’t,’ replied Johnson flatly.
‘Go on…’ Brandt called over his shoulder, dangling a foot out over drop below.
‘When Brandt was in my house the second time, he confided in me that he used to fantasise about plunging off a cliff.’
‘And what else did I say to you?’
‘That death was a better experience shared.’
‘Exactly,’ Brandt responded turning back around, but without moving away from danger. ‘It’s nice to know you were paying attention.’
‘So, this is to be my prize, is it? To watch you jump off and onto the rocks below?’
Brandt let out a long and loud laugh. ‘No, of course not. Just like you knew me well enough to find me, so too I know you well enough to understand that you wouldn’t view it as sufficient reward for your efforts, nor indeed adequate compensation for the… problems I have caused you.’
‘No, I wouldn’t,’ Johnson whispered, clenching her fists.
‘Tell me, have you met Kath yet?’
‘Yes.’
‘A wonderful woman, isn’t she? Would it do any good to suggest that losing her makes us even?’
‘Not even close.’
‘Ah, as I thought,’ he sighed. ‘Well, then dawn is about to make its appearance, so I guess it’s time for you to claim your prize.’
Johnson remained rooted to the spot. ‘Why didn’t you just run again?’
‘For the same reason why I tried to fake my death when I burned down your house. I knew that neither of us could move on whilst you still believed me alive. By the time you discovered my subterfuge I had found another reason to live, but now she is gone. When I contacted you offering my help, you asked me if I was looking for redemption. I wasn’t, but I can’t help wondering whether you might be. I assume you got that killer in Nottingham today. Wasn’t enough, was it?’
‘No.’
‘I guess there was a part of me that hoped you would decide there might be a purpose to me remaining in this world. But your actions tonight involving the police have shown me that you won’t. You can’t.’
‘Whatever it takes,’ Johnson muttered.
‘Indeed,’ Brandt responded wistfully.
‘So, are you going to arrest him then?’ Hardy asked impatiently.
‘No, she’s not,’ Brandt answered. ‘Are you Detective Chief Inspector?’
‘No,’ she whispered.
‘What?’ Hardy cried out.
‘Do keep up, dear,’ Brandt said, before turning back to Johnson. ‘If it would help, we could always push him over first.’ He paused for a moment. ‘I’m joking of course… well, unless you’re going to allow me one more for old time’s sake…’
‘Don’t go near him, it’s a trap!’ Hardy warned.
‘Look, I’m tired of running, almost as much as I suspect you are of chasing me,’ Brandt said to Johnson. ‘If neither of us can have a life whilst the other one lives, then one of us has to go.’
With the sun now creeping over the horizon and silhouetting Brandt, Johnson was unable to see his expression. She started walking forward anyway, understanding the truth in his words. Casting a final glance over her shoulder, she was relieved to see that Hardy remained rooted to the spot; his mouth open, aghast. Young and inexperienced he may be, but she knew he would do the right thing once this was over.
Fixing her head firmly forward, all that now mattered was the man before her. Brandt’s arms were held out to the side, and the biblical pose in the dawn’s early rays caused her legs to hesitate. But then she remembered how McNeil hadn’t faltered at the last moment, and with his name on her lips, she continued on towards what awaited her at the cliff’s edge.
The instincts she had honed over her career prompted her to watch for the first signs of movement, but Brandt remained motionless until she was so close that she could almost reach out and touch him.
‘How does it feel for us to be face-to-face once more?’ Brandt asked, his face silhouetted against the rising sun.
‘There’s never been an us,’ Johnson replied bitterly.
‘And yet us is all we’ve been left with,’ he responded calmly, his voice almost soothing.
‘So you’re just going to let me push you, then?’ Johnson�
��s voice was now flat, but her heart was hammering in her chest.
‘No, detective chief inspector,’ Brandt said, allowing a small chuckle to escape him. ‘That may be what you want but this is what you need…’
Brandt had no sooner finished the word than he took a single step backwards and plunged over the edge of the cliff.
ONE STEP AHEAD – Book 1 in the trilogy
He spent his life fighting crime. Now he has a taste for it himself. His first attack is a stab in the dark. Next time, he’ll kill.
Knowing how the police work, ex-detective superintendent Jeffrey Brandt will stay one step ahead of their investigation. He will even taunt those trying to establish his identity and catch him. One woman, DCI Stella Johnson, is responsible for finding him. Has she got what it takes?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MTJK3LC/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MTJK3LC/
HIDE AND SEEK – Book 2 in the trilogy
Police are closing in on a notorious serial killer, but they are walking into a trap…
Ex-detective Brandt has turned against society. The first kill was a stab in the dark, but now he’s got a real taste for it.
But his pursuer, DCI Stella Johnson, has rankled him. She has leaked to the press the idea he is impotent, and it has taken hold.
Brandt wants to prove himself. Who better a victim than the woman who has embarrassed him?
Johnson’s strategy backfires and she is in trouble with her superiors. Yet she now has a very personal reason to hunt down Brandt.
But will going solo put her at even greater risk than before? And just what has he in mind for her?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07MTK71ZD
Smoke and Mirrors Page 23