I blame myself for the shoddy bonds I put on her; it was enough to make it difficult for her to get out but she shouldn’t have had the chance. The binding on her now is tighter than I would have liked but she deserves it, especially since I didn’t want her moving too much during the flogging. I read somewhere that if you strike them enough you can see their lungs once all the flesh and muscle has been torn away. I doubt I could do it without a proper whip though and it would be such a waste of such a pretty body. I bet she regrets not just coming with me civilly; not that it would have mattered at all. Now she’s in pain and I get to enjoy it.
One of the best feelings I had was downloading that video of her mother pleading for her daughter’s life, then forcing Kirsty to watch it. I knew that there would be coverage of all I have wrought, I was praying for it to give me that thrill an it was glorious. I just wish that I had videoed her watching her mother cry for her so I could relive it time and time again. My memory is brilliant but to watch it like that would be even better; although it would only be evidence against me. Down here though no one cares, these caverns hold a thousand secrets, what’s a couple more.
Now I have a full night to play though and I don’t want to waste it. I never got to enjoy savouring Fleming’s death so I feel I should draw this out as much as possible, just to get my money’s worth. I mean there’s no chance of rescue for her and Fritzl managed to keep his daughter locked up for all those years, I suppose I could keep KIrsty here for awhile. It’s so hard to choose though, I kind of want to just choke her to death right now but it would be such a waste.
No, no I couldn’t keep her down here for years these caverns are prone to flooding this deep into the network and moving her to one of the safer ones would be too dangerous. I suppose I could leave her here to drown then technically I never killed her but where would the fun be in doing that? It’s a good idea though drowning her; I might experiment a little with waterboarding. Make her think she is dying and then rescue her, I wonder how long it would take for Stockholm syndrome to set in? See I have so many things to try and I have a lifetime to do it. Well her lifetime at least.
Chapter Fifty One
Right well I’m kind of regretting not going back to the cottage and putting on something more cave explorer friendly. At least that constable gave me his jacket. John thought as clambered through the tight stone passageway, in his suit trousers and work shoes. The damp stone left white marks on his clothing as he navigated his way. He had a high powered torch in his right hand, given to him by one of the search party members that he had ordered to stay at the entrance. In his other hand a radio but with the thickness of the walls as he got deeper the less likely he thought that it would work.
Still he radioed in, “This is Harper, I’m going down into a larger cavern, not exactly how far in at the moment. I’m placing glowsticks behind me, so you know where I have been. Harper over.”
“Copy Detective. DI Spencer has just arrived on scene and says that a team will be on their way in momentarily. Our tunnel expert says that the best place for someone to hide would be in an area known as the ‘Cathedral’, due to the stalactite and stalagmite formations, however getting there is treacherous. DI Spencer recommends you wait for the team to find you and then you proceed with them and the map we have. Ground Team over.”
John stopped as he listened to the radio, “Roger Ground Team but I’m not stopping. If the suspect hears a team come down here he could kill the girl. If you can just give me a list of directions I’ll try and find my way there. If I get lost or the team catch up with me all the better but at the moment it’s best if I continue. Harper over.”
He leaned against the wall resting his head on the cold stone. John did not want to argue anymore but he knew that without some directions he would be lost down there in the dark recesses, “John are you there it’s Hannah? Are you ok?”
“Copy Ground Team I’m fine are you allowed to use the radio. Harper over.”
“Oh right Hannah I mean Ground Team roger whatever, stop laughing at me John I can hear you I think you left your finger on the button or something. I’m supposed to give you some directions for the caves but I think it would be better if you waited. It’s very easy to get lost down there. Ground Team over.”
“Copy Ground Team but time is limited. If you could just give me those directions I’ll be on my way. Harper over.”
Hannah went quickly through the features he would see and the possible routes to the cathedral location, “Oh and John be careful some of the tunnels are in a bad way, I’ve not been down there in years so some of them could have collapsed or may be unstable. Ground Team over.”
“Copy Hannah I’ll be as safe as I can be. Harper out,” John said attaching the radio to his belt and set off using the set of directions he had written down in his pad as a guide.
The tunnels varied in size and shape. Sometimes he could walk upright with no worry of hitting his head and then he would be on his stomach, crawling though narrow gaps that made him gasp for air. His body was soaked in sweat and he had to stop twice due to the bruising and injuries he had received in the past fortnight.
John rested up in one of the smaller holes, his legs pressed against the wall. Placing the small torch on his keychain in his mouth, he read from the now sodden piece of paper of his notebook, the ink running slightly. According to the directions he was close to the ‘Cathedral’ or so he hoped considering he had had to avoid certain places due to collapsed stone.
Switching off the light, he let the darkness surround him. It was if he could breathe it in, the inky blackness was so absolute. What he smelt was not darkness just ages old damp. The only sounds his breathing and the gentle drips of water falling. The longer he waited the more he thought he heard scratching, “Brilliant that’s what I need rats.”
His voice echoed gently down the acoustic walls. John opened his eyes looking into the black and began moving forward on his hands and knees feeling his way, trying to be as quiet as possible. He could not tell how long had passed when he heard something and stopped again. Moving even slower he listened again for a noise, as he could not see anything pitch dark.
John suddenly heard laughter as if it was right next to his ear, to the point he was startled enough to move. The laughing stopped and then he heard a man’s voice say, “Kirsty, Kirsty, Kirsty, I’ve told you to stop moving or this will just get wor...”
The voice just disappeared leaving John sat there once again in silence. What the hell was that some sort of freak echo. Doesn’t matter I heard her name, which means she must be around her somewhere as is her captor.
John picked up his radio, which was badly scratched from his journey and tried clicking for attention. Nothing came back so he switched it off and placed it on the floor next to a stack of glowsticks that pointed in an arrow towards the way he was going.
Within minutes John began to see light so he yet again stopped, allowing his eyes to adjust before moving again. Closer he crawled till he made his way to the opening. John did not move any further, looking at the cavernous ceiling from his vantage point and the storm lamps that had been placed in naturally made alcoves to give the place light. He could not see the floor from his angle and was reluctant to move any further or risk giving away his position till a voice rang out, bouncing of the walls.
“No need to hide Detective Harper, I know you’re there. Please come on down.”
John let out a sigh, closed his eyes briefly and then swung his legs over the lip of the tunnel. Falling a short distance to the floor, he saw Kirsty Mayer tied to a large stalagmite, her back bare and bloodied and next to her holding a pistol Lewis Hart, “Welcome to my home away from home.”
Chapter Fifty Two
“Do you like what I’ve done with the place, Detective? It’s not been this well used since the catholic purges,” Lewis said waving the gun around, indicating the vast cavern they were in.
Even from the distance before them a good hundred yards, John
could tell the boy was drunk on power, the way he spoke and the theatrical way he moved, “Lewis I don’t know why you’re doing this but you’re a clever boy, you must realise this is insane? Just put down the gun and we can get you some help. You don’t want to do anything stupid.”
“Ha ha ha stupid, no Detective what I’ve done is very clever, much more impressive than even you realise. You see I planned so much of this; I have so many contingencies it’s obscene to even imagine what I have done as stupid. This gun is a contingency for example, a relic my father kept handed down from his father but don’t worry it is perfectly capable of killing you.”
“And let me guess this is the point where you get to explain how clever you are to me, how you’ve got my life in your hands. Just a little thing Lewis, that sort of thing doesn’t happen in real life. You know the evil monologueing,” John said as he moved further into the cavern, “but if you are going to can I at least put this jacket on the girl, so she doesn’t catch her death?”
Lewis smiled with a grin that was extremely creepy in the shadow light, “Of course, the gentleman that you are. I wouldn’t want her to die of a cold like you suggest Detective. Please be so kind. But Detective don’t think about untying her bonds, I wouldn’t want to shoot you before I get to explain my plan.”
Walking over to the girl John took off the borrowed fluorescent jacket and placed it around Kirsty Mayer’s back, “Don’t worry help is on the way,” he whispered.
“Now that you’ve finished over there, Detective Harper, I’d like you to come back into the middle of the cavern,” ordered Lewis.
John turned slowly and replied, “What’s the point if you’re going to just shoot me?”
“Well I’d prefer to shoot you cleanly and not risk a ricochet but don’t worry I don’t intend to do that just yet.”
“Guess that’s a relief then.”
“See this is the side of you I wanted to see. I got to read about you Detective, how you handle pressure with glib jibes and a sardonic sense of humour.”
The comment brought a laugh from John, “You’ve not been reading anything good, I don’t know anyone who talks like that.”
“I think it was rather inferred. You’ve had quite a career though but you’ve had your problems and this is your final one. Detective I am sorry to say I’m disappointed in you.”
“To be honest so am I. I’m also a bit depressed I didn’t suss you out sooner. It was you who set that fire when you were a kid wasn’t it? And the more I think about it, the more it dawns on me you like flames.”
Lewis smiled at him again, he walked closer towards John and further out of the shadows, “You’re right but like you said just a little too late. What finally gave me away Detective? Was it telling you about the tunnels or was it getting involved in the investigation? Was that the step too far? I mean I thought you might notice I just disappeared when you needed me most but to be honest I’m surprised you came down here.”
“Does it matter how I found out it was you? I found you and right now there is a squad of guys coming through the caves to arrest you.”
“Ahh you see I just don’t know if you’re telling the truth, Detective. I think and it’s sort of proven in your history that you’re reckless enough to have come down here without backup. It doesn’t matter though if you have because I doubt you’ve told anyone your suspicions.”
John’s face remained impassive. That boy has read me like a book but two can play at that game, “You’re enjoying this aren’t you Lewis; having the control for once?”
“Quick deflection suggests I’m right. But you are correct, I am enjoying this and love the power. Like I said it’s all planned. If there is back up then I’ll just frame you, say that I came through another tunnel found you here trying to make it look like you rescued the girl so as to continue your failing career and after a struggle you shot yourself; accidentally of course. I’m good at stories.”
“Quite the little psychopath.”
“Why thank you, there are a lot of very clever and successful psychopaths you know. A disproportionate number of them are in business. I read somewhere that maybe one in twenty five business leaders have that trait.”
John rolled his eyes, “Yeah I know, Babiak and Hare blah blah blah, you’re not the only one who reads.”
“So clever that’s why I’ve enjoyed this battle of the minds with you; getting so close as to watch you spin your wheels. You followed the clues so well to Wills but you never stopped, I like that Detective I really do but you’re just too slow.”
“You’re beating around the bush here Lewis, normally people like you like to tell thick people like me why you did what you did and how clever you are compared to me.”
The student stood still and let out an exasperated sigh before continuing to circle towards the entrance where John had come into the cavern, “I thought you said people dont go off on monologues?”
“They get to speak when they’re caught.”
“But I’m not caught Detective. However I do really want tell someone how clever I’ve been; it’s rather lonely being a killer. Should I start then?”
“It’s your story,” John said moving his body so that he faced Lewis and was in between the gun and Kirsty Mayer.
“Thank you Detective. Well let’s see, if we go all the way back it probably starts with a fascination with the Bennett case. My mother left my father because of it, so it became a secret passion so I didn’t hurt her. I studied it and realised that my father had planted evidence to ensure a conviction. I also figured out the connection between Bailey and Wills, they were close growing up and Harry didn’t have many friends, he was a bit weird. So he let his ‘friend’ hide the body in the tunnels under the farm, after he accidentally killed her. I found the body years ago sitting there, the skull caved in.”
John untucked his shirt and scratched the sole of his shoes on the stone floor, taking a couple of steps forward, “Why not just report it? You’d get to be a hero just like your old man.”
“You know nothing of my father!” Lewis shouted, the voice echoing around the cavern to almost deafening levels. John just clenched his jaw tight and stared at the young man. He watched as Lewis composed himself and then continued through gritted teeth, “I didn’t want to be known as the boy who found Bennett. No I enjoyed being part of the little secret. When I found out Harry’s farm was being sold I decided to put some wheels in motion. I wanted to get Wills in jail for life and then find the body, complete what my father could never do.”
The boy’s wound tight, that makes this even more dangerous but it also means he could get sloppy. I just need to bide my time. John thought as he stretched his arms behind his back, “Sorry about this, I’m just a stiff from the walk in. You didn’t stop with that killing though. Was Fleming getting too close to your secret; to all of this?”
“Spot on but you’re ruining the fun for me by not letting me explain, Detective.”
“Again I apologise, please go on.”
“Thank you. Fleming’s death was a much more impressive, Detective; I had to drug him first. I’d found out he was on medication for blood pressure, as is my father, which is a much stronger dose. I gave it to him in a cup of tea, waited till he was struggling to stand upright and then helped him to his car, since he was always the last to leave. I really enjoyed the show, watching you climb the fence and try and rescue him. I was so close to you I was sure you would see me; that was one of the most reckless things I have ever done in my life.”
John shook his head as he took another step forward, “I saw you at the pub that night. You only drank after he was dead didn’t you and the overuse of the aftershave, to cover any fume smell?”
“See I told you this would be fun. Is it all falling into place now, Detective? I wonder if that is what it was like for me when I figured out where the Bennett girl was dumped. I may never know, or maybe I’ll become a homicide cop like you,” Lewis raised his eyebrows.
“Is there
anything more before you kill me? Like how wonderful you are for abducting her. The girl is an innocent you’ve done your part in framing Wills.”
“She’s not that innocent Detective and all of this has been remarkably fun. There’s a lot more skill in abduction. I brought here for the acoustics, the way the ceiling rises it creates a sort of natural velaria such as you would find in a theatre.”
“You like proving your intelligence don’t you Lewis? You read those books thinking it gives you an advantage but at the end of the day you have to speak to people to be a real man. You have to form relationships to be a member of society. Even your father managed that, hell he managed at least two. You said you didn’t want to hurt your mother but psychopaths like you don’t have feelings, you just mimic them.”
Lewis pointed the pistol at him raising it up and down as if it were his finger, “I see what you’re doing, trying to get rise out of me, to make me make a mistake. You’re running out of time and you’re running out of ideas Detective. I made it a point to learn about you, to learn what you know. I might just read books but I read the right ones. Do you know how I knew you were in the tunnel? I heard you, that little scratch of clothing. That was from a book were I learnt about acoustics and whispering galleries. You could hear me and I could hear you. It’s the perfect spot to act as an early warning system. I am technically a genius; I know everything you do and more.”
John shook his head, “Not everything can be learnt from a textbook Lewis. I’ve travelled the world and I hardly know a thing.”
“You prove my point, you could learn all of that from a book without ever having to leave the country,” Lewis dropped his hands to his side and took out his phone from his pocket, after tucking the gun into his belt. He tapped on the screen and then passed it over to his left hand raising it, his right hand going back to rest on the gun, “Detective Harper with this I can find out anything I want.”
A Village Not So Green (John Harper Series Book 1) Page 27