Within the Shadows

by J. D MCG

  'Are you alright, boss?' Brian asked with concern for his friend.

  'Yeah, it's just been a long couple of days. Do we know how long this guy's had Jacob?'

  'I spoke to him last night. He was trying to get me to come with him, but I told him we'd do it this morning. He agreed and that was that. I didn't think he’d come here alone,' Ethan informed the team.

  'It's okay,' Sarah comforted him, placing her hand on his shoulder after seeing the tear in his eye. 'He's gonna be fine.'

  Ethan nodded in response. Then the team noticed the armed police unit sneaking towards the house, ready to burst through the front door. They broke the front door down with one push of the metal ram and entered while yelling out their presence inside the house.

  Barnes and the others could hear each officer shout clear as they entered each room, and within minutes Jacob was being carried out by two officers under each of his arms.

  Ally ran straight up to him, placed both her arms around his neck and squeezed tight. His embrace comforted her as much as it did him. They held each other tight, forgetting about the crowd which surrounded them. Ally had shown her true feelings to more than just Jacob, but she didn't care. She had fallen for him in such a short amount of time.

  'I'm glad you're okay,' she whispered in his ear.

  Sarah and Ethan joined them, each giving him a hug once Ally removed herself off him. Brian then followed before Jacob laid his eyes on Barnes, who smiled at him from down the path before he approached.

  'Oh my god, Barnes,' he greeted him, surprised to see Barnes stood in front of him. 'How'd you get away? You look like shit,' he joked.

  'You don't look too good yourself, son,' Barnes replied the compliment and laughed back at him.

  The pair of them laughed before they gave one another a hug. It had been a difficult few days for the pair of them, but it was all over.

  Paramedics rushed over to Jacob and checked him over inside the ambulance. He smiled, staring at his team and thinking how happy he was to see them all together. He could finally take a sigh of relief after all the panic and trauma they'd experienced after the last month.

  Ally strutted over to the ambulance and lent against the frame, while Jacob remained seated on the steps.

  'So, how are you feeling?' she asked him.

  'Better now I've seen you,' he smiled.

  'Such the charmer, aren't you?' She replied with a smile. 'Look, Jacob. I know you're not looking for a relationship right now, but I want to get it off my chest. I have feelings for you and I can't just ignore them. What I'm trying to say is, when you're ready, I'll be waiting.'

  'Look, Ally...'

  'It's fine, Jacob. You don't have to say anything.' She smiled at him again before walking away from the ambulance and back to the rest of the team.

  Barnes noticed Jacob sat on his own and went to speak to him, knowing they had loads of catching up to do.

  'So, are you going to tell me what happened here?' Barnes questioned him, arms folded with a stern look upon his face.

  'Are you going to tell me what happened at the cemetery?' he threw a question back at him.

  The both of them smiled before Barnes came up with an idea.

  'You buy me a drink and I'll tell you all about it.'

  'Tonight?' said Jacob.

  'Okay, I'll let the guys know. We could all do with a distraction.'

  * * *

  Jacob arrived home early that evening, thinking he’d beat both Belle and Kate home. He threw his keys on the kitchen side, grabbed a glass from the cupboard and poured himself a glass of water. Once the water touched his lips, he could feel the liquid making its way down his throat. He chugged the entire glass before pouring another one.

  'Hey, slow down,' he heard a voice say from across the apartment. 'Must have been a good night, you dirty stop out,' Belle laughed.

  'You don't know the half of it,' he smiled at her as he turned around from the kitchen sink.

  Belle gasped as she caught sight of his bruised face, from hitting the floor.

  'My god. What happened to you?'

  'You know, the usual kidnapping and being tied to a chair scenario.'

  Belle didn't know whether to laugh, thinking he was telling a joke or to worry as if something serious had happened to him.

  'Looks like you went ten rounds with Mike Tyson.'

  'It looks worse than it is.'

  'Are you going to tell me what happened?' she continued to ask.

  'Got hit, then tied up overnight. Nothing more than that.'

  'Crap night then,' she chuckled. 'At least you can say your life is never boring.'

  'Indeed,' he agreed with a smile. 'Enough about me, how's your day been?'

  'Actually, there's something I've been meaning to tell you,' she said with concern.

  'Oh yeah, what's that?'

  'A man followed me to work earlier. I'm fine, but there's something you should know. He thought I was Kate,' she informed him.

  'What did he want with Kate?' he asked, knowing already who this man was and what he wanted.

  'He didn't say. To be honest I didn't give him time to explain. I was too frightened and rushed off to work as quick as I could.'

  'You did the right thing, Belle. You let me know if you see this man again.'

  'Who is he?'

  'I don't know,' he lied. 'But I'll find out.'

  'Thanks, Jacob. I had to tell you.'

  'And I'm glad you did.' Belle started to walk into her bedroom, before Jacob continued, 'Not a word to Kate. I don't want her worried about this.'

  Belle nodded, agreeing with him and entered her bedroom. Jacob let out a long and hard sigh before picking up his phone and dialling Adam's number.

  'Hi, brother,' he greeted. 'He's found Kate. I don't know what to do.'

  Kate entered the apartment as Adam began to speak on the other end, but Jacob didn't want to discuss it with their sister in the room.

  'Adam, she's just walked in,' he whispered. 'I'll talk to you soon.'

  He hung up the phone as Kate approached the kitchen, glaring at the bruise on her brother’s face.

  'Wow, what happened to you?' She questioned him too.

  'Nothing to worry about,' he replied, wanting to take the attention off of him. 'How was school?'

  'Same old. People are still tip-toeing around me,' she confided in him.

  'I know. I still get it at work,' he confessed. 'It will take a while before things go back to normal.'

  'I guess,' she said with a saddened voice.

  'Well, I've got to get ready. I'm off out with the team. Me and Barnes are going to have a catch-up.'

  'You've found Barnes?'

  'Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. They found Barnes late last night and Lily is in custody,' he explained.

  'Damn. I was hoping you'd say she was six feet under,' Kate announced her thoughts about Lily.

  'I know what she did was vicious, but...'

  'But nothing, Jacob. That bitch killed my mother and our father. I know she was your fiancee but you can't feel sympathetic for her.'

  'I don't,' he replied.

  'Well, it seems like you are. I get you have memories and had a life together but she's a cold-blooded killer and always will be,' she shouted before storming off to her room.

  Jacob remained in the kitchen with his head in his hands again. He and Barnes were out of danger but the list of problems kept on growing. He did love Lily but knew Kate was right. He needed to stop being sympathetic. She was a killer.

  Jacob scurried off to his bedroom to get ready. He showered quickly, then got dressed after deciding which shirt would be more suitable for a night out after kidnappings. He sneaked out of the apartment and made his way to the bar they all agreed to meet at.

  * * *

  Barnes found himself a table and sat alone while waiting for the others, clu
tching a beer in his hand. He stared around the bar, people laughing, joking and enjoying themselves. This is what life is about, he thought. Barnes' perspective on life had changed since his ordeal. Knowing how much he still cared for his ex-wife, he wanted to try to work things out. He now realised what life was about.

  Barnes checked up on his daughters, before phoning Vanessa to see how she was doing. He still had feelings for her and was ecstatic that she was going to recover.

  'I'm glad you're going to be fine. If you need anything, just let me know,' he said before hanging up the phone.

  Ally entered the bar next and her eyes immediately locked onto Barnes.

  'Hey. How long have you been here?'

  'Not long,' he replied, slipping his phone back into his pocket. 'You look lovely. Definitely gonna turn a few heads.'

  Ally just smiled. 'How are you?'

  'I'm getting there. Just a strange week.'

  'How’re the girls doing? It must have been hard for them after what they witnessed.'

  'They're a little shaken, but I think they will be fine. They've seen Vanessa and know their mum is getting better. How's Jacob been since the funeral?' he asked, knowing Ally would discuss her true opinion.

  'I don't think he's taken any of this well. He came to work in a drunken state. I took him home before anyone realised.'

  'We need to monitor him and keep it between ourselves for now. Hopefully, it was a one-off but I expected as much with all he's been through, to be honest.'

  'I need to talk to you about something in confidence before the others get here,' Ally was nervous about what he'd say.

  'Go ahead, the floor is yours.'

  'I have feelings for him. Strong feelings. I've told him how I feel but we haven't taken it any further. If you want me off the team, I wouldn't blame you,' she admitted.

  'So neither of you have acted on your feelings?'

  'No.'

  'Then why would I need to take you off the team? You are one of us now, Ally, and you're a damn good DI. I appreciate you telling me, but you're not going anywhere,' he smiled.

  Ally felt relieved knowing she wouldn't have to leave, but she knew sometime soon her feelings for Jacob would have a reaction. She'd have to make the decision to either be with Jacob or leave the team she also grew to love.

  Sarah and Brian arrived at the table, just as Barnes and Ally had finished discussing private matters.

  'Hey, hope we're not too late,' Sarah greeted them.

  'No, just in time. Sit down,' Barnes invited.

  The four of them discussed recent events, told jokes and even told old stories from their pasts before Jacob entered half an hour later.

  'Have I missed anything?' he asked as he approached the laughter.

  'Just a few funny stories,' Brian replied, still laughing from the story Sarah had just told.

  'Come, sit down, Jacob,' Ally patted the seat next to her.

  As he joined the group, Ally flirtatiously smiled at him, even though she realised it would be him or her job. But she couldn't hold back on the feelings she had for him. He was worth the risk.

  * * *

  Hours had passed before everyone decided to disperse. Ally, Sarah and Jacob caught a cab together, mainly because Jacob was too intoxicated to make his own way home and also because he could barely stand on his feet. Barnes left the bar and headed straight home to his empty house, filled with piles of dirty dishes.

  Jacob passed out inside the taxi while they stopped outside of Sarah's place. She jumped out, paid her share and headed inside. Once the taxi pulled up outside Jacob's apartment building, Ally tried lifting him to his feet, not wanting to drag his heavy carcass inside alone. He was extremely heavy.

  'Come on, Jacob. I need you to help me get you inside,' she huffed while trying to carry him.

  As she dragged him through the building with his arm wrapped around her neck, he mumbled some words drunkenly. Ally had made it to his apartment door. She rummaged through his coat pockets, trying to find his keys, when his apartment door opened with Belle stood chuckling at him.

  Ally smiled at her. 'He's drank a tad too much,' she giggled.

  'Doesn't look like he's the only one,' Belle smirked at Ally, before moving aside to invite the pair of them inside.

  Ally continued to tow him until she reached the sofa and hurled him on top. Jacob's eyes were sealed and his lips began to release a wail of a snore.

  'That'll be him for the night,' Belle enlightened Ally. 'Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?'

  'Coffee, if you don't mind.'

  Ally glanced down at Jacob, taking in the sight of his drunken mess, thinking about how much she didn't care how bad he looked at this moment, he looked perfect to her. She took a seat on the armchair across from the sofa, while Belle made the coffee.

  'Do you take sugar?' she shouted across to Ally.

  'No, thank you,' she replied. 'I've never really asked this, but how did you and Jacob meet?' Ally inquired, curious as she was never really told the full story.

  'Do you really want to hear the full story?' she asked while carrying their drinks into the lounge area.

  'Yeah. I've heard dribs and drabs but never heard the full story. Jacob has been distracted since I've worked with him, so I've never really heard it.'

  'Well, I ran away from home. My parents weren't the best and it was safer for me to leave. I lived on the streets a while before I heard about an apartment that had been raided by the police,' she started.

  'Alex Baker's?' Ally questioned.

  'Yes,' she confirmed. 'Well when Alex was released from prison, he arrived back to find me squatting in his apartment. He took me out for dinner and told me all about what happened. Then we arrived back at the apartment and he was murdered. I saw the lady who killed him and she heard me. She came looking for me, so I hid and that's when I called Jacob's number. He spoke to me the entire time, keeping me calm until they arrived. He saved my life.'

  Ally took her eyes off Belle and placed them on Jacob, who had dribble sliding out of his mouth. Not the most attractive look. A moment had passed before Ally wanted to change the subject to something happier.

  'So, I hear you've got yourself a job down at the local cafe?'

  'It's about time, hey?' Belle said, before lifting her mug to her lips.

  * * *

  Barnes phoned his mother-in-law to check on the girls. Barnes and Vanessa's mother never really got on, but they had no choice but to speak to one another as she was taking care of his girls. Once he got off the phone, Barnes started to pick up the dirty plates and rubbish that surrounded him. It was time for a clean.

  On entering the kitchen, he noticed half a bottle of whiskey on his table. Maybe just a sip, he convinced himself. Once the bottleneck touched his lips and the whiskey poured down his throat, he craved more. With each swig, the traumatic few days flooded his thoughts, making him take bigger sips. The focus then changed from the trauma to his and Vanessa's wedding day, then to when the twins were born. Placing the whiskey bottle back on the table and wiping his lips with his sleeve, he realised drinking wouldn't make him any happier nor solve the situation.

  Once he cleaned around the house, he glanced at the clock, noticing it was the early hours of the morning. Barnes took himself to bed. Laying there, he thought about his ex-wife and how happy they once were. He would still put himself in danger to save her life, knowing deep down despite their arguments and disagreements, he still cared deeply for her.

  They were once a happy family, but it came to an end when Vanessa realised she would always be second best and Joe's job would always come first. He wanted to change, for them to give their relationship a second chance but he didn't think Vanessa would feel the same way. Contemplating his failures, he lay awake, staring at his ceiling, wondering what else life would throw his way.

  Chapter 13

  Barnes arrived at the st
ation the next day to applause from colleagues, welcoming him back, happy to see him alive and well. Each member of the CID approached him, shaking his hand or giving him a hug before Ally walked towards him from inside his office.

  'Good to have you back, boss,' she greeted with open arms.

  'Glad to be back,' he replied, engaging in her hug.

  As Ally ushered him into the office she'd commandeered, she updated him on their current case, but he wasn't listening. He was too busy glancing around at what she'd done to his office while he hadn't been there.

  'Oh yeah,' she said, noticing his eyes taking a good look around. 'I'm sorry. I needed a quiet place to work since taking control of the team.'

  'It's fine,' he accepted her apology. 'This is the least of my problems. Where are we with interviewing Cain and Lily?'

  'Still got it on my list of things to do,' Ally replied.

  'Well, let's get to it.'

  Half an hour passed before Ally was ready to commence the interviews. Cain was first on the line-up. Barnes relaxed in a room behind the glass mirror, witnessing the interview. Ally wanted Sarah to join her again, and this time there'd be no interruptions.

  'So, Cain,' Ally started. 'What ties you to Lily Black?' He remained silent. 'We know your real name isn't Cain, but Nathan Lawrence, born in London.' Once again he remained silent. 'What brought you to Birmingham, Nathan? Was it Lily? Were you both involved with one another?' Still, nothing but silence as she continued asking questions. 'You know, this would be much faster if you started talking.'

  Ally began to lose patience with him and it was showing. Sarah noticed too and started to intervene.

  'Nathan, or whatever you wanna be called. All we know is Lily was calling the shots and you listened like a good lap dog. Hell, she even did it with Mia and Ava, but you already know about them, right?'

  Cain started to smirk as he folded his arms. Ally caught sight of his tattoo.