CONTENTS
Chapter One - Pain in Paradise
Chapter Two - Teacher of the Year
Chapter Three - Like a Virgin
Chapter Four - Just another Days Pay
Chapter Five - I’m Sorry, I’m so, so Sorry
Chapter Six - Now your Fucked Bitch, now your really Fucked
Chapter Seven - Oh Fuck
Chapter Eight - Office Gossip
Chapter Nine - The Scented Pink Room
Chapter Ten - The Date
Chapter Eleven - The Arrest
Chapter Twelve - Mostly Murder Books
Chapter Thirteen - Good News is Bad
Chapter Fourteen - Neglect
Chapter Fifteen - Your fucked now mate
Chapter Sixteen - Dead Man Walking
Chapter Seventeen - Who’s A Clever Boy
Chapter Eighteen - Paint The Town Red
Chapter Nineteen - You Fucked Me Up The Arse
Chapter Twenty - I'll Teach You
Chapter Twenty-One - Three’s a Family (almost)
Chapter Twenty-Two - Cheeky Grin
Chapter Twenty-Three - The Bad Date
Chapter Twenty-Four - Still Like a Statue
Chapter Twenty-Five - Billy
Chapter Twenty-Six - Out With The Old
Chapter Twenty-Seven - The Room at The End on The Right!
Chapter Twenty-Eight - The Burning
Chapter Twenty-Nine - Bringing Back The Zombie
Chapter Thirty - No Flies or Bodies
Chapter Thirty-One - Heads It Is
Chapter Thirty-Two - It’s Human Skin
Chapter Thirty-Three - Billy Comes Home
Chapter Thirty-Four - It’s All About Money
Chapter Thirty-Five - The Bed is Cold
Chapter Thirty-Six - Breed, Spread and Destroy, Nothing More
Chapter Thirty-Seven - Everyone is Smiling
Chapter Thirty-Eight - Check Mate
Chapter Thirty-Nine - Nothing Left
Chapter Forty - Cravens Haven
Chapter Forty-One - The Pupil
CHAPTER ONE
Pain in Paradise
Chapter 1: Pain in Paradise
Adam has a plan for tonight, a plan he has dreamed about for many years, too many. Now it is time to make that dream a reality, however his dream will be someone else’s nightmare.
He has no friends, not that he doesn’t attract people, he just doesn’t like them. In fact, he doesn’t like the entire human race. He feels superior to everyone else, almost Godlike. He feels like he has all the answers, and everyone else is just here for the ride. Humans are just hoards of sheep that fill every house, on every street, in every city. Nothing more than a bacteria that plagues every inch of land on every inch of this planet. The human race, a disease, a plague that does nothing more than breed, spread and destroy, breed, spread and destroy. Only he is different.
Adam slows to a crawl, pulls in to the left and turns off the headlights. He sits in the dark pondering for a moment then steps quietly from the vehicle. Lonely houses are dotted all along this long country road. One in particular will soon be much, much lonelier than all the rest.
This large Victorian country house has been a safe and welcoming home for the family that live within its walls for so many years. In just a few short hours this will all change forever. They will forever live in fear, when the safety that they have always taken for granted, is taken away from them.
The full moon casts a shadow of the wavering oak tree through the large bay window of the sleeping Childs bedroom. Only one shadow not usually there stands out of place, that of a stranger hovering next to the Childs bed.
Rain silently drips from the ends of his leather coat soaking the thick piled carpet. The family lay peacefully sleeping in their beds. After tonight they will never sleep this peaceful again. They will never forget what the man standing in the shadows has done to their family, to their child, to their little girl.
It wasn’t the first time Adam had been in this position, many times before he had stood alone uninvited in a Childs bedroom, only to sneak back out leaving no trace. In the dead of night whilst all around him slept, he would stand and just watch them breath, holding the thrill of what he could do, what he wanted to do, but fortunately for the potential victim he never did.
The time had never been right for him before, the time was here, and the time was now. He stands completely silent in this small girls room, a girl who he believes does not deserve to live.
Tonight he has a purpose for this visit, a reason more sinister than any other visit he has made before, more daring, more exciting. This time he is going to take things to the next level. He plans to feel the excitement that he has craved for so many years and tonight is the first of many, the night that he will start to become himself, the night his legend will begin.
As he stands looking down at the small 9 year old girl sleeping in her bed, he watches her chest rise and fall with each breath. The long blonde locks of her hair trailing over her shoulder shine like gold under the moonlight. He grins to himself, he feels like God, an immortal, a man who can now take life or give it as he pleases.
Adam looks across to the half eaten Easter egg that sits on the little girl’s dressing table at the far end of the room. Next to it stands a teddy bear holding a love heart, an unopened card and a small box of chocolates. Will the card ever be opened? The egg finished, or the chocolates eaten? He thinks not.
The large skeletal fingers of his right hand reach slowly into the inside pocket of the now drying leather jacket, and bring out the rusty scalpel that he is going to need tonight.
CHAPTER TWO
Teacher of the Year
Chapter 2 Teacher of the Year
Early as always Mr Capel sits happily in his classroom waiting for his 26 students to arrive for their first day back at school after the Easter holidays. Today he is wearing his favourite blue shirt and his quaff is combed neatly over his balding head resembling a cheap blonde wig. He has twice been voted primary school teacher of the year, and three times the parent’s choice for teacher of the year. Plaques confirming this hang boastfully on his wall in their solid oak frames. He is so proud of his achievements as a teacher.
Mr Capel has donated his life to the progression of our youth and only now ten years on is he starting to reap the benefits that he so deeply craved in his earlier career.
Ben was the first child to arrive in school, a small plump child not very bright, but he works hard and wants to achieve. For a child of nine he has a very positive attitude and for a chubby little lad like him he is very confident and always wears a smile from ear to ear. After Ben comes Michael, then Kate and very rapidly the classroom begins to fill up. 9am the school bell rings, its time to do the register.
“Tristan”
“Sir”
“Alex”
“Sir”
“Emma”, Silence.
“Rebecca”
“Sir”
24 out of the 26 children are in on time for their first day back to school, result! Emma and Teddy are missing, no surprise there, Teddy has a very poor attendance record at school. His parents are what Mr Capel refers to as lazy lay about good for nothings who never work, smoke too many drugs and probably drink six nights straight on dole week. Teddy always looks shoddily dressed, his clothes are never ironed, and the other kids tease him for being scruffy.
Mrs Redgrave knocks on the classroom door at about 11:30am.
“Can I have a word Mr Capel.”
She looks stressed and sounds nervous, unusual for her a woman who is normally in control. Her long flowing blue summer dress and short cropped blonde bob look quite elegant, almost seductive. He
r face does not seem fit with the rest of her today.
“Yes of course Mrs Redgrave.”
Capel turns back to his class.
“Nobody leave their desks I’ll only be outside so any messing around and you’ll be doing lines at dinner time.”
He Steps into the sickly green corridor of the school. He can hear the echoes of people talking in the reception area and smell the greasy burgers cooking in the kitchen as they sizzle away on the hot plates, just waiting to fill the children’s veins with life shortening cholesterol.
Mr Capel looks into Mrs Redgrave’s face, she doesn’t look herself today and he can see she has been crying. Today she looks her age, in fact she looks many years older. Capel guesses she is about 45 but today she looks at least 60.
He’s worked with Mrs Redgrave for going on ten years and has never seen her in such a tense state, it’s obvious that something is very wrong. His stomach turns as he follows her into her office, panic amidst his thoughts ‘what if she’s found out about me? What if she knows about my personal pass time? What if this is me finished?
She has done much better than he has, school principal at such a young age. She has two daughters both of whom attend St Patrick’s Private School and is married to a barrister who is a bit of a local celebrity. He hasn’t lost a case in over 7 years, even though the odds have been stacked against him on more than one occasion.
“Its Emma Richards Mr Capel, somebody broke into her house last night, entered her bedroom and hurt her. Apparently it’s quite serious.”
“What happened?”
“The police haven’t yet confirmed any details; however, they will be coming into school to talk to all the teachers at 4:00pm today. As you’re her form teacher I have no doubt you’ll be top of their list.”
“Me? Well yes of course, I knew Emma very well, and if there’s anything I can do?”
Mrs Redraves eyes narrow and her forehead wrinkles.
“Knew? Knew? Mr Capel I said it was reported that it was quite serious, nobody mentioned a death, good heavens Mr Capel you shouldn’t be so presumptuous.”
“Yes of course Mrs Redgrave I’m sorry, it’s the shock.”
CHAPTER THREE
Like a Virgin
Chapter 3 Like a Virgin.
Adam arrives home to his small two up two down end terrace, in this overpopulated council area of Manchester that he loves so much. He throws his leather coat over the hall chair ignoring the coat hangers directly above and quickly descends down the narrow, damp staircase leading to his cellar. This is his area of the house, the area nobody else ever gets to see, the part of the house saved for him, for his toys, for his pleasures.
As He enters the room below the house, he stoops to avoid the low ceiling. Along all walls are shelves, shelves filled with jars, jars containing animal body parts, eyes, noses, legs, tails, a whole collection of memorabilia that he has collected over the years. Every time he looks at his toys, he remembers each kill in detail as though he had only just committed it. The look of fear, the smell, the taste, but most exciting of all is remembering the screams. There is nothing like the thrill of hearing the howls coming from a victim being tortured.
Tonight is a special night, a night where he has the first human souvenir. The first jar to go onto the shelf directly in front of his dissecting desk, the shelf which up until now has remained clear, kept vacant for just this. For the first time he’s now taken something that will really have an effect on people. Something all the newspapers will write about, something people will fear.
Adam removes the Childs index finger, eyeball and tongue from his trouser pocket, each separately packaged in their own plastic bags. The eyeball slips from the bag dropping to the floor and rolls. He crawls under the desk searching for it and sees it staring back at him from a dusty cobwebbed area. As he picks it up he mockingly says.
“Here’s looking at you kid.”
Then he erupts into manic laughter that makes him want to pee. He walks over to the sink and urinates all over it.
“There, bet you never had a wash like that before have you? You stuck up little bitch.”
He looks down at the body parts he has collected, and feels aroused almost reaching climax. He’s never felt this good before. Animals gave him pleasure, but this was different, pure elation. Adrenalin is pulsing through every part of his being. He feels like a virgin about to have sex for the first time.
His arousal becomes more intense with every thought of the pain that he has put the child through and now her suffering family. Eventually he explodes in his pants without even a single stroke.
Following climax Adam begins to feel remorse, the pain he has caused hits home. He feels the same sorrow the family will feel the same sorrow he had for his sister all those years ago. This soon fades and the urge to do it again is this time much stronger than the last. Adam finds it almost impossible not to go straight back out and do it all over again.
Early the next day Adam wakes with mixed emotions, the kill is over so fast, the grief lost so quickly, the family will eventually move on and live their lives. His reign will not continue unless he continues it. The longing for blood, pain and revenge is already gnawing away at him. The urgency to find a new victim, a new method, another innocent helpless target is already upon him. It wont take him long to find one, already a plan is forming in his mind.
CHAPTER FOUR
Just another Days Pay
Chapter 4 Just another Days Pay
DCI Small’s hand clasps the heavy metal knocker on the rich mahogany door of this beautiful country cottage, the echo sounds loudly through the whole house, as though he is purposely banging on the door. Several moments later, a small blonde woman answers the door no bigger than 5 foot in height and probably less than 7 stone wet through.
Her eyes are puffy and red as though she has not stopped crying in days. She looks unwashed and her hair looks knotted and dry. He can see that she is a very attractive woman, but not today.
“Hello Mrs Richards I’m DCI Small and this is my Colleague DI Falls, can we please ask you a few questions?”
Denise Richards turns silently and walks into the living room leaving the door open for the officers to enter.
The echo from the marble floors can be heard over and over as the officers well polished loafers rap on the floor with every step. They walk into the living area through large cowboy style swinging doors and are met with a large unlit fireplace. Two large stone statues stand at either side of the fireplace. The whole back of the house is made from glass leading onto what looks like 10 acres of beautiful garden.
Mr Richards looks up from where he is slumped in a chair.
“Have you got him?”
“No Sir, we are still following up leads and must ask the immediate family some questions to help with our enquiries. It’s procedure sir.”
“Procedure, fucking procedure.”
Mr Richards is a large well built man. He resembles a rugby player or even a body builder. He rises from where he is seated and walks directly over to the officers towering over them with an intimidating stare. The pain mixed with anger is prominent in the grieving mans eyes.
“What fucking difference will it make, my daughter is dead? Why haven’t you caught this fucking monster?”
“I assure you Sir we are doing everything we can. We have got everyone on the force looking for this person. It’s only a matter of time.”
“Time, fucking time, and what time has my daughter got? None now, some sick bastard has made sure of that.”
“Please calm down Mr Richards we are on your side.”
“No you’re fucking not your getting fucking paid. You don’t care about my little girl. This is just another day for you, another pain in the arse reason for you to get out of bed.”
“Would it be better for you if we came back some other time Mr Richards?”
“Find him, fucking find him that’s all I want you to do, get out of my fucking house, do your job
s and fucking well find him!”
“Please come into the kitchen officers.”
Says Mrs Richards in a high pitched voice that doesn’t seem her own. She motions toward a large oak door across the room.
Both officers follow closely behind her.
“We need to ask you some questions Mrs Richards, crimes like this are nearly always committed by somebody who knows the victim. Who knows the victims family or has a connection in some way.”
As the words fall out he knows in his heart this isn’t an everyday murder, if there is such a thing. Instincts tell him that this is different and if he doesn’t act fast he is sure these vermin will strike again. The real questions he wants the answers to are where? when? and who? but these cannot yet be answered so for now he has no choice but to follow procedure.
“We have no enemies, we have hurt no one, my poor baby never hurt anyone for Christ sake she’s a nine year old girl. Why would anyone want to do that to a child? To anyone? But a child! why? Why?”
Both officers avoid the pleading look in the woman’s eyes, neither wanting to feel the raw pain that is gnawing away at her.
“What does your husband do for a living Mrs Richards?”
“He buys firms and sells them off in pieces.”
Small writes in his little notebook.
“And you Mrs Richards?”
“I’m a mother.”
She starts to cry uncontrollably and falls to her knees on the hard cold tiled kitchen floor. Curled up in a ball, the wailing coming from this small woman is more likened to an animal than a human.
“Get the fuck out of my house and stop wasting time here” comes from the kitchen doorway.
Derek Richards stands there breathing heavily, red faced and eyes bulging, it is obvious he is lost in his own pain and grief.
“GET FUCKING OUT, GO AND FIND THAT CUNT NOW” he breaks down in his own uncontrollable sobs.
CHAPTER FIVE
I’m Sorry, I’m so, so Sorry
Chapter 5 I’m Sorry, I’m so, so Sorry
Each minute feels like an hour, the day moves so slowly as Mr Capel sits waiting, wondering, what will the police say? What do they know? Will he be a suspect? Will his colleagues be suspected?
And Then They Were Dead Page 1