Run!: He's coming for you

by K Leitch

  ‘We didn’t think to look at the camera until yesterday, Inspector,’ she said taking up the story, ‘in fact the only reason we did look at it was because Jim, um that’s Colin’s dad, had recorded some footage of our son Max, playing football for his school team and we wanted to see what he’d got…’

  ‘We never imagined we’d see anything like…like that…awful, awful, thing,’ Colin interrupted his wife.

  Obie picked up the camera, ‘Well I think I’d better see what’s on here hadn’t I?’ he said standing up. ‘If you’ll just wait here for me, I’ll take this upstairs so that I can watch it with my colleagues. I’ll get Shelia to organise some tea for you. Hopefully I won’t keep you too long.’

  Obie could hardly contain his excitement as he took the camera back upstairs in into Mandy’s office. He connected the camera up to one of the screens and then along with Frank, watched in horrified silence at the scenes that played out in front of them.

  One by one the other members of the team came into the tiny room and watched with him. Gasping and turning their eyes away at some of the footage.

  They saw Lola throwing stones and muck at Flora’s back windows. They saw Lewis struggling with the squirming Mimski, they saw him beat the little cat before tying its back leg together and stringing it up in a tree. Mandy cried out in horror as she watched Lewis splashing something that looked like petrol over the cat and along the grass.

  ‘That sick little fucker,’ she growled, ‘I hope he did rot in some dark dungeon…little bastard.’

  But what came next was even more shocking.

  The team stood in horrified silence as they saw a huge figure rise up from out of the darkness behind the two children and beat Lola to the ground. They watched as Lewis tried to make a run for it. Then they watched in horror as a moment later Lewis turned into a thrashing, writhing human torch. They saw his terror as he begged for his life and they heard his high pitched, animal like screams as the petrol caught light and he was obliterated in white hot flames.

  ‘Sheeeiiit!’ Frank said his face as white as a sheet.

  Mandy had to go out she couldn’t watch anymore, ‘Oh God I didn’t mean…I wouldn’t wish that on anybody,’ she said tearfully.

  It was what came next though, that interested Obie the most.

  Flora Metcalf could clearly be seen coming out into the garden. She seemed to be comforting the huge man, who was obviously Billy Hobbs, as he cried over the little dead cat. Then she quite calmly picked up a large rock from the edge of the garden and smashed the still smouldering Lewis over the head with it, effectively crushing his skull. After casually throwing the rock away, she then went over and had a look at the unconscious Lola, before saying something to Billy, who hefted Lola up over his shoulders and took her off somewhere, Obie was guessing the shelter. Once Lola had been dispatched, Flora walked round her garden before pointing over to the vegetable patch past the trees. This was where Billy buried Lewis Twees body.

  Once Lewis had been buried, Flora and Billy headed back indoors tenderly carrying the little cat with them.

  The footage suddenly changed into a group of little boys in football kits chasing a ball round a pitch, several parents cheering them on. Obie switched off the camera.

  ‘My God,’ Midge said shakily, ‘so the old woman was in on it all the time…in fact she killed Lewis…didn’t she?’

  Obie nodded. ‘It would certainly seem so. But until we get that body to forensics we won’t know for sure. Frank, can you get in touch with Dorothy and arrange for her to meet us at Flora Metcalf’s house within the next hour. Sam you and Midge get over there, try and make sure that she is home and if so, that she doesn’t go out anywhere. I’m going to have another word with Colin Pickles and his wife, Mandy can you come with me and get statements from them once I’ve finished.’

  The team broke up and Obie and Mandy headed back downstairs. It had been horrific watching the carnage on the camera footage and they walked down to the front office in shocked silence.

  Obie interviewed the Pickles again, this time with a tape recording what they said. Confirming times and addresses and then he left Mandy to type up their statements and get their signatures.

  He met Frank and the others an hour or so later. Dorothy and her team were waiting in a van parked outside the house.

  Frank wound down his car window when Obie approached. ‘She’s in their guv,’ he said jerking his head towards the house. Sam saw her take in her milk about half an hour ago.’

  ‘Good…let’s go and do this then,’ Obie said, they walked over to Dorothy’s van and spoke to her briefly before heading to Flora’s house.

  Flora was furious at their intrusion into her house, she once again vehemently denied all knowledge of the whereabouts of Lewis Twee. When Obie proceeded to tell her about the contents of the video however, she dramatically changed her story, once again blaming Billy for the whole thing. She had been a victim of his violence as well she said, wringing her hands, her lips trembling. He had been intimidating and threatening her for months, she had been too scared of what he might do to her if she told anyone.

  Obie didn’t believe a word of it, that was not what he and his team had seen on that film footage. They’d seen Flora ordering Billy around like a servant, and Billy doing exactly as he was told. They’d also seen Flora smashing in the skull of a school boy with a rock.

  Obie interrupted her performance as a frail little old lady, and charged her with kidnap and murder.

  A short while later Forensics uncovered the charred remains of Lewis Twee under Flora’s potato patch, buried with him was a large Adidas holdall and a petrol can.

  ‘So what was it with Billy?’ Frank mused as they were driving back to the station, ‘was he just going around punishing anyone that upset Flora?’

  ‘That’s what it looks like,’ Obie said, ‘we’ll have a hard time proving that she put him up to it though unless he can be persuaded to say anything against her…’

  ‘Ha! Fat chance,’ Frank said rolling his eyes, ‘she’s got one hell of a hold over him.’

  Obie thought about this for a while, ‘Maybe she started off with good intentions trying to be a friend to Billy but then realised that he was very persuadable and she could use him. From all that I’ve heard about Ms Flora Metcalf she was the sort that wasn’t happy unless she was arguing with someone. Apparently she was asked to leave her last school because she’d hit some girl round the head with a ruler, and she was well known for advocating corporal punishment. Her neighbours disliked her, in fact I haven’t been able to find anyone with a good word to say about her, so I suppose it was probably only a matter of time before she started moaning to Billy about what this person said or did to her, knowing that Billy naturally wanted to protect his friend.’

  ‘What an evil old bitch,’ Frank said in disgust, ‘so because of her Billy will probably spend the rest of his life in jail…who’d want a friend like that?’

  CHAPTER 68 - CAULDRON MEETING

  Three months later, Jessops Ward, Redbank General Hospital

  ‘So he said, how come women can’t remember where they left the car keys this morning and yet they can remember exactly what you said to them during an argument five months ago at 5.40pm.’ Tracy giggled, ‘Bloody cheek, and after all that, he found them in the back pocket of his jeans. Ha! I’m not going to let him forget that one in a hurry believe me,’ she grinned with satisfaction.

  ‘Oh men are rubbish at finding things,’ Maggie said, ‘my boys used to drive me so mad. They’d complain that they’d looked everywhere and then imply that somehow it was my fault that whatever it was had gone missing, only for it to turn up under an old sock or something similar. I’m sure they’d just stand in the doorway and scan the room, never thinking to actually look underneath anything!’

  ‘Oh I forgot to tell you,’ Tracy said chuckling, ‘Gloria Spicer, the old gorgon that runs the slimming club has been sacked!’

  ‘Whatever for?’ Magg
ie exclaimed laughing, ‘Oh no don’t tell me, too many cheesy clichés in her inspirational pre-weigh in talks, or… I know, I know… causing a nuisance by deliberately exposing the public to a vast bottom covered in Lycra?’

  Helen joined in, ‘Horrendous singing in Tescos while trying to resist a Twix? she said amid giggles. ‘Oh God she hasn’t been caught moonlighting as a sumo wrestling instructor again has she?’

  ‘More like slapping a shop assistant for suggesting that she might need a size 22,’ Tracy said wiping her eyes, ‘no nothing like that,’ she said at last trying to be serious, ‘she’s been sacked because she’s actually put back on all the weight that she so famously lost before she decided to become a slimming club leader. I feel a bit sorry for her actually. Oh I know she’s a nasty patronising old cow, but it’s so gutting when you put the weight back on…I should know,’ she looked down ruefully at her splendid bosom.

  ‘Well I for one am glad that you’re not on a diet anymore love,’ said Maggie giving her a squeeze, ‘you are such a moody old bat when you can’t eat.’

  Tracy laughed and stuck two fingers up at Maggie before diving into her second bag of cheesy Wotsits.

  ‘Any news from Dom, Maggie?’ Helen asked changing the subject.

  Maggie pulled a face and nodded, ‘He called me last night, sounds like they’re having a wonderful time. They went to the hippy market yesterday, took a boat trip round from Cala Llonga and tonight there off to a little restaurant that they’ve discovered near their hotel. It all sounds idyllic,’ she added with a slight edge to her voice.

  Thankfully Dom had recovered from his wounds, the bullet had hit him in the shoulder and gone right through. Luckily it had missed all his vital organs and caused no lasting damage apart from a slight weakness in his right arm, but he was having physio sessions twice a week which had helped with that. Lucinda on the other hand had taken longer to heal, her jaw had been broken, so too a couple of ribs. One of her kidneys had been irreparably damaged and she’d undergone surgery to remove it. She’d also lost a couple of her teeth which had taken longer to replace, as her gums had to heal before she could have any dental work done.

  But at long last they’d both recovered. Dom had been an almost permanent fixture at Lucy’s bedside throughout all of this and once she was recovered, he had suggested that they go away somewhere and just lie in the sun. So he’d booked a two week get away to Ibiza much to Maggie’s consternation.

  ‘That’s good though isn’t it Maggs?’ Tracy said picking up on Maggie less than happy tone. ‘You must be pleased to see Dom so happy again?’

  Maggie rolled her eyes, ‘Oh don’t take any notice of me,’ she said with a wave of her hand. ‘Of course I’m happy for Dom, and if he is prepared to overlook the fact that Lucy lied to him, to us both, for months then that’s his business.’

  ‘Oh come on Maggie,’ Tracy interrupted, ‘you must be able to see why the poor girl lied, she was bloody terrified her lunatic of a husband would find her. She had to hide her identity you must see that.’

  ‘Yes of course I do Tracy,’ Maggie said shaking her head irritably, ‘but I’m just so scared of Dom being hurt again. I mean if she’s lied once she could do it again couldn’t she?’

  ‘Yes but she’s nothing like Maylee, Maggie,’ Helen put in gently, ‘and she does seem to really love Dom…and Jukie for that matter.’

  Maggie put her hands up, ‘Oh I know you’re right, and I’m sure I’ll get over it. I suppose I feel a bit hurt that she couldn’t tell us…tell me I mean. I thought we were getting close you know?’

  ‘Well maybe if she’d had more time she would have told you Maggs,’ Tracy said. ‘Anyone can see how much she loves you all and how desperately responsible she feels about everything that happened.’

  ‘Well I bumped into Frank on my way here this evening,’ Helen said turning to Carla, ‘He’d been up to see you he said,’ she continued stoking Carla’s hand. ‘It seems like Trevor Hibbard has been remanded in custody until his trial later this year. He’s still pleading self-defence would you believe, but Frank didn’t seem too worried, he said they’ve got so much on him he’s likely to get a very long sentence. Including it seems the murder of one of Lucinda’s friend’s from Devon, he was so sure that no one would ever find her body that he was really careless, his DNA was all over it.’

  ‘The man’s a fucking animal,’ Maggie said fiercely, ‘Lucinda hasn’t told us much about what she went through, but you should hear some of the tales her mum, Marsha, tells. She reckons he probably killed that girl, the nursery teacher, when he was trying to find Lucy. He threatened Marsha with violence apparently…broke into her house even though she’d got a restraining order out against him. He is just so deranged and so arrogant he thinks he’s above the law.’

  ‘Well hopefully he won’t see the outside of a jail until he’s old and grey,’ Helen said stroking Carla’s hand again reassuringly.

  The girls continued to chat for another hour or so until the ward sister popped her head round the door and politely but firmly told them that visiting time was over.

  Maggie and Tracy kissed Carla goodbye promising to see her again soon.

  Helen lingered a bit longer, wiping Carla’s lips with a wet sponge and straightening her covers. ‘Come back to us soon love,’ she whispered, ‘we all miss you so much.’

  Carla heard them all leave, and the room became silent again apart from the bleeping of the monitor next to her bed and the rhythmic noises coming from machine that was helping her to breathe.

  It was so lovely to hear their voices. They never failed, once a week her fellow witches would gather round her bedside and gossip and joke and, despite not being able to join in, Carla felt part of it.

  There had been a time, not so long ago when they’d first attached her to these machines, that she’d craved oblivion. She was tired…just so tired of fighting and struggling, she’d let herself slide slowly towards the wonderful light that she could see in the distance…somewhere at the end of the long black tunnel. She’d welcomed it, she could feel the overwhelming love that was emanating from that light and she desperately wanted to give in to it.

  Ted, her reliable dependable old sergeant had talked some sense into her. ‘You still have more to give Carla, you can’t give up now,’ he’d said with his gentle smile that she’d missed so much. Her dad had come to her, he’d told her how proud he was of her and at that moment she had longed to run into his strong warm embrace and give herself up to the comfort of being in his arms again. But something else was holding her back.

  She’d heard Rosie’s voice telling her about her day at school and Harry, gruff, silent Harry, had held her hand and told her how much he was missing her, she’d felt his tears on her hand.

  James had been by her side day and night for the first couple of days. She had heard him bullying the doctors, demanding that they do something…he couldn’t lose her, he just couldn’t. She’d felt his desperate sobs, felt how much he needed her.

  Carla didn’t know if she was ready to face the world again. She had been such a fool, her priorities had been so wrong, she knew that now. Nothing would ever be more important than time spent with her family, and life was far too precious to risk for some stupid job. All the regrets that she’d felt when she’d thought her life was over, were to do with the days that she’d missed with her children, time spent apart from James.

  What a mess she’d made of her life so far…what a fool she’d been. She couldn’t leave now, she needed to make it right…she needed a second chance. The wonderful light was fading… getting further and further away.

  Enough Carla…you’ve rested long enough.

  Carla opened her eyes.

  The End

  A NOTE FROM KAY

  Thank you for reading my book, I hope you enjoyed it!

  If you did please could you post a short review on Amazon. As a self-published author I rely solely on reviews and recommendations.

  It would be
great if you could share your experience with someone else, either by recommending it to your friends or to any book groups to which you may belong.

  ‘Run!’ is my 6th novel in the ‘Witches of Glory Woods’ series, the previous books being ‘Mummy’s Little Girl’, ‘Bad Things Happen’, ‘Nasty Bitch’, ‘The Girl in the Rug’ and ‘Lost Girls’. All books can be found on Kindle. You can find the descriptions on the following pages.

  Thank you once again.

  You can contact me and find details about my books on my website http://www.kay-leitch.com. I always love to hear from my readers.

  If you register on my website I will send you a free short story ‘Love Letters’. Go to the Contact page and put Love Letters in the comments box.

  Kay

  Thanks

  Once again I need to thank the people around me for all their encouragement and support. Thanks to Emma and Nat for always being willing to listen to me drone on about story lines and writers block. Thank you to Marcus for giving me confidence and for spreading the word. Thank you to Tina for finally reading ‘Mummy’s Little Girl’, I know it was difficult sweetheart. Thank you to Ben and Abby for recommending me to their friends and to Colin for still looking gorgeous (although worryingly evil) on the front cover of ‘Bad Things Happen’. And thanks to Jess for her brilliant art work on the front cover of ‘Lost Girls’.

  As always my biggest thank you goes to my wonderful husband Steve, without your love and support darling, my books would have been nothing more than words on a computer screen, you brought them to life and made them real.

  PREVIOUSLY...

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