Within the Shadows

by J. D MCG

  'Did Lily do that for you?' she asked, pointing at it. 'We know she's a good tattoo artist.'

  Cain leaned on the table as he edged closer to them. 'No, she didn't. And I'm not Nathan Lawrence,' he finally answered in a gritty, deep voice.

  'So who are you then? Because you have no last name and you go by just the name Cain,' Sarah questioned him.

  'I'm Cain, but you might know me by another name,' he smirked again.

  'Oh yeah. And what might that be?' Sarah continued.

  'Conquer. Maybe even War.'

  Ally and Sarah started to giggle at his answer, thinking he was delusional. Cain continued smirking at them and their ignorance, sitting back in his seat and folding his arms.

  'Let me get this straight,' Sarah started to mock him, 'You’re one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse?'

  'That's what I said.'

  'I think you're as crazy as Lily is,' Sarah laughed.

  Ally turned her head towards Sarah, nudging her to stop laughing. Cain didn't change his facial expression. If anything, it had gotten creepier.

  'Do you really want to know why I am here?' he asked the pair.

  Ally took charge of the interview. 'I thought that's what we had been asking? We want to know why you helped Lily in DCI Joseph Barnes' kidnapping?''

  'She released us.'

  'Us?' she replied.

  'Yes. There are four of us, remember. Nathan Lawrence was kind enough to give me his body.'

  Sarah was confused as to why Ally was encouraging him. Barnes had his eyes fixated on Cain's tattoo, trying to search the internet to see if there was any truth to his story.

  'What do you want with Mr Lawrence's body?'

  'I needed a vessel.'

  'You said Lily released you? Released you from where?' Sarah questioned him.

  'We were trapped inside the diamonds Lily left at the last crime scene, and that ritual she finished, freed us from our prison,' he explained.

  Ally ended the interview and she and Sarah left the room and caught up with Barnes.

  'Do you think he's telling the truth?' Ally asked Barnes.

  'Do you?'

  'I certainly don't,' Sarah piped up. 'It's a load of nonsense just so he can plead insanity and get a lighter sentence. We've seen it a thousand times,' she explained her theory.

  'I can't help but think there is some truth to his story,' Ally expressed her concern.

  'Me too, no matter how crazy it sounds. He said there were three others out there, but we have no idea who these people are and where they live,' said Barnes. 'They might not even live in the UK. I want to speak to him, off the record.'

  'Boss, I don't think we should let you do that. You were part of this case, plus it’s against protocol,' Ally expressed her views on the matter.

  'I'll be fine. I'll be a few minutes.'

  'You've got five minutes,' she informed him.

  Barnes entered the room and shut the door behind him. Cain smiled as Barnes turned around and he recognised the man standing in front of him.

  'You know who I am and you know why I'm here?' Barnes said.

  'You want me to tell you more about myself and my siblings,' Cain guessed. 'Straight to business, DCI Barnes?'

  'I haven't got time for idle chit chat. I need you to tell me who these people are,' Barnes raised his voice.

  'I don't know. Once we were released, we were split up. Don't forget they are taking the bodies of people, like myself and Nathan here,' he joked.

  'Is that why Lily wanted the diamonds? To put you all back inside?'

  'Do you think I’d have helped her if that was the reason?' He laughed. 'No. She needed them to help her get her mother back.'

  'You both keep saying this but never tell me where her mother actually is.'

  'That's because you wouldn't believe us if we told you,' Cain lent forward.

  'Try me.' Barnes lowered his voice and smirked, 'I know where the diamonds are.'

  'Then why didn't you tell her? You'd have saved yourself a lot of pain.'

  'She'd have killed me either way. I'd rather the world be a safer place with me dead.'

  The door opened and Ally stood in the doorway, eyes glancing between Barnes and Cain.

  'Time's up,' she told him.

  Barnes left the room, but before they shut the door, Cain had something to say.

  'I hope your wife's okay?'

  Barnes took one angry look back at Cain before shutting the door on him.

  * * *

  Jacob lay in his bed, glaring at the ceiling, wondering what was happening at work without him. The winter sun made an appearance, peeping through his bedroom blinds. He didn't want to move from his bed. Between the blinding light in his eyes and his pounding hangover headache, Jacob couldn't focus on removing himself.

  Clanging noises rang throughout the apartment as if somebody was banging pots and pans. Rolling over, he felt his stomach turn, sick rising to his throat. The room was spinning with every movement, more than it did before. Jacob drunkenly stumbled to the bedroom door and twisted the handle. A burst of light shone through the open gap of the door as he covered his eyes with his hand.

  A smell of pancakes drifted up his nose as he extended the door wider. His eyes caught Belle flipping the pancakes on the frying pan. A bright happy smile glowed on her face while she sang.

  'Somebody's happy this morning,' he observed as he entered the room.

  Belle smiled at him. 'You want some pancakes?'

  'Maybe just one,' he answered, knowing if he ate too much he'd risk being sick.

  'You look like shit. You must've had a good night,' she continued flipping pancakes.

  'Yeah, I think it was a good night, from what I can remember,' he rubbed his head. 'When did you learn to make pancakes, anyway?'

  'Work. Don't forget I work in a cafe.'

  Belle plated a pancake and slid it in front of him. It looked so appealing but Jacob's stomach was still rotating, but he was hungry. He took a mouthful before he decided to surrender and admit defeat.

  'You don't like it?' she asked him with a sad appearance.

  'It's amazing. I'm just so hungover.'

  'It's okay. Are you going to work today?'

  'I think I'll give it a miss for today,' he laughed while trying to keep the vomit down.

  Jacob moved his body away from the breakfast bar and jumped in the shower. His head still pounding, he sat on the tiled shower floor, trying to not make any sudden movements. Trying to keep his mind off his hangover, recent events flooded his thoughts again. From the happy years he spent with Lily, to the events that led up to his father’s death.

  Jacob couldn't sit and reminisce on the good and bad memories of his past anymore. Knowing he needed to pull himself together, he lifted himself off the floor. Once out of the shower, he grabbed some clean, smart clothes and grabbed his police badge. Wanting to go to work, he stopped and realised he wouldn't be able to drive. So he grabbed his phone and called the only person he could trust to pick him up and have complete confidentiality of his situation.

  'Hi, Ally. It's Jacob. I'm just wondering if you'd be able to come and get me?' he asked.

  'Jacob, I don't think you should even think about coming to work at the moment. You should take a few days off.'

  'With all due respect, Ally. I can't sit here anymore. I just keep thinking of everything that's happened lately. I need a distraction,' he confessed.

  'Are you still drinking?' Ally interrogated.

  'What do you mean by that?' he turned defensive and sharp.

  'I know you've been drinking while on the job, Jacob. I've been trying to hide it from everybody, but someone is bound to notice soon. I can get you some help...'

  Jacob cut her off. 'I don't need any help!' he shouted. 'Forget about it. I'll make my own way in.'

  Jacob hung up the call and grabbe
d his coat and keys. As he left the apartment, he ordered an Uber to come and collect him. He was furious with Ally, but deep down, knew she was right. He had been drinking, more than usual, all because of Lily and her actions. He started to sob as he made his way to the bottom floor of his apartment building, thinking of Lily, her double life and his father.

  * * *

  Barnes sat inside his office, searching for any information he could on Nathan Lawrence's background. He was clean, not one single shred of criminal activity to his name. He couldn't help but think that Cain might be another persona. A split personality. It was the only other explanation for what he had been describing to them.

  Barnes spent half an hour researching Dissociative Identity Disorder. Something was eating away at him, but a phone call from Vanessa distracted him from his thought. She phoned to make sure the twins were alright and to thank Joe for saving her life.

  'I'm glad you're okay,' he replied. 'Have they gave you an estimate of when you'll be able to go home?'

  'In about a week hopefully.'

  'Let me know when and I'll pick you up.'

  'Thank you, Joe. Not just for that, but for being there and saving my life. I... I just want to say...'

  Barnes interrupted, 'Just get some rest. I'll talk to you soon.'

  He knew what she was about to say next, but didn't want her to say something just because of what she'd been through. Barnes carried on researching before there was a knock at his door. It was Jacob. He waved at him through the glass window, telling him to enter.

  'Hi, boss. How’re you doing?'

  'I'm alright. Just a little banged up still, but I'll heal,' Barnes answered.

  'Have we discovered the whereabouts of Jack Roberts yet?' Jacob enquired.

  'Not yet, but we've got officers on the lookout for him.'

  'Okay. I'm going to do some work since I'm here,' Jacob announced, knowing Barnes wouldn't allow it, but his head was stuck in his computer.

  Jacob walked to his desk and plumped himself down. His desk was full of paperwork he should have completed a while ago, so he got stuck in. Ally stomped over to his desk, with anger written all over her face.

  'What do you think you're doing here?' she asked quietly, looking around, making sure people weren't listening.

  'Nice to see you too,' he joked, not removing his eyes off the paperwork.

  'I mean it, Jacob. I told you not to come in.'

  'I can't just sit at home when Jack Roberts is on the loose.'

  'Have you had a drink today?'

  'No, I haven't,' he replied with anger starting to show.

  Ally pulled open his desk drawer and saw the bottles of spirits inside. Her head turned to look at him.

  'Before you go home, these need to be gone,' she whispered.

  'Sure,' Jacob replied, still keeping his focus on the paperwork in front of him.

  He was furious with her but understood she was only looking out for him. Ally cared a lot for him and tried her best to stop him from losing his job. Knowing Lily was only a few metres away from him and his team, was the main reason for his anger. But he couldn't face her, no matter how much he wanted to.

  * * *

  Barnes sat inside the interview room with Ally and Lily. Just like her co-conspirators, Lily didn't want a solicitor as she knew the game was over.

  'What's your connection with Nathan Lawrence?' Barnes started questioning her.

  'With who?' She looked confused.

  'The man who helped you.'

  'Oh, you mean Cain,' she smiled. 'Where's Jacob?' She tried changing the subject.

  'He doesn't want to see you,' Ally interrupted.

  Lily turned her attention to Ally and smiled before turning back to Barnes.

  'I think someone else has the hots for him.'

  Ally's face clenched. She really wanted to jump across the table and plough her fist in Lily's face, but she realised it wasn't worth her job. Instead, she folded her arms and sat quietly, leaving Barnes to ask the questions.

  'Lily, we don't need much else from you as we've already got enough evidence to convict you for the murders of John and Maria Wright as well as my kidnapping and the attempted murder of my ex-wife. You're going away for a long time, so you might as well tell us what we want to know,' Barnes continued with the interview.

  'I will only speak to Jacob,' she answered. 'If you want your answers, let me speak to him.'

  'No deal,' Barnes replied to her demand. 'He doesn't want to speak to you.'

  'Well I guess you don't want your answers then,' she smiled, sitting back in her chair with her arms folded.

  Ally stopped the interview tape and both she and Barnes removed themselves from the room, leaving her alone. They both strolled back to the CID discussing their options.

  'What do you think we should do?' Barnes asked Ally.

  'I'm not sure. She'll be going away anyway for what she's done.'

  'But we won't get the answers on Cain that we want.'

  Barnes thought about it. They had the people involved and the case would be officially closed, but he couldn't help but think about what if Cain was telling the truth or maybe he did have another personality. His mind couldn't rest on the matter.

  * * *

  Jacob lifted a file and his eyes noticed an envelope underneath, one which resembled the others he'd received. As he picked it up, Ally and Barnes returned. He approached them with the envelope tight within his grasp.

  'Look what I've just found,' he announced quietly with a whisper.

  'In the office, now,' Ally ushered the two of them.

  Once the door was shut, Ally released the blinds from prying eyes, before Barnes insisted Jacob opened the envelope. More pictures appeared as Jacob slid his hand out from inside the envelope. It was filled with photos taken from the distance of another crime scene. It was from when they found Freya, murdered in the car park. Someone had been watching them during the entire case. They knew where and when to take the photos.

  'It's got to be Lily,' he shouted hysterically.

  'Jacob, we need to talk,' Barnes said, looking at Ally's face for her reaction.

  Ally glanced back at Barnes with a serious stare as she didn't want him to tell Jacob about what Lily asked. But that didn't stop Barnes.

  'Okay,' Jacob replied. 'But what is this about?'

  'We've just been trying to interview Lily, but she won’t talk to us. She wants to talk to you.'

  Jacob's head lowered as he stared at the floor. His elbows rested on his legs, while his hands came together and interlocked his fingers.

  'Why does she want to see me?' he asked.

  'We don't know. Our best guess is she just wants to see you, maybe to explain why she did what she did,' Barnes explained his theory.

  'You don't have to see her, Jacob. Not if you don't want to,' Ally tried to reassure him that he does have options available.

  Jacob lifted his head and rose from his seat. 'I don’t want anything more to do with that woman. I'm sorry,' he said before leaving the room.

  It was too emotional for him and it would open old wounds he'd tried so hard to seal. He'd tried his best to shut that vile person out of his life and feared that seeing her would be too painful and undo everything he'd done to forget about her.

  Chapter 14

  Jack Roberts had been on the run for over a week, ever since he'd knocked Jacob out and tied him to a chair in his living room. His pounding headache was becoming more and more intermittent. Not to mention, the pain was becoming increasingly worse with each passing day. Jack hadn't seen the mysterious man since being on the run, but the whispers still surrounded him, no matter where he was. Am I going insane?

  'What do you want?' he yelled out, hoping the whispers would answer back, but they spoke quietly, enough for him to be unable to hear. 'Stop. Just stop whispering. You're driving me insane. I can't cope anymore,'
he continued, before breaking down with his head in his hands, sobbing as many tears as he could let out.

  'Stop resisting, Jack,' a voice spoke.

  The voice was sinister, scratchy, and freaked Jack out, making him panic, not knowing who or where the voice was coming from.

  'Who are you?' Jack asked.

  'Look deep down and you'll find the answer you seek,' the voice replied.

  He thought about what the voice had just said and took a moment to clear his mind. Jack spun around to take a look at his surroundings. How did I get here? He was in a rundown hotel room, with ripped wallpaper and damp seeping through the ceiling. The bed had seen better days, as well as the en-suite bathroom. As he rushed in there, he glanced at himself in the mirror. His eyes were black and bloodshot from the tiredness, but he couldn't recall where he'd been or what day it was.

  Jack cupped his hands under the tap and collected a handful of water, pushing his face into it. The cold water on his face was refreshing and it cooled him down. For a moment he'd forgot about everything, but the voice spoke again.

  'That's better, isn't it?'

  Jack started to panic again, turning his head from side to side to see nothing. He was alone in the bathroom. He closed his eyes.

  'It's all in my head. It's all in my head,' he kept repeating.

  'You're half right,' said the scratchy voice.

  Jack opened his eyes and saw the reflection in the mirror talking back to him. The image was of him but his face was disfigured. He jumped with fright and closed his eyes.

  'It's not real. None of this is real.'

  'You know it is, Jack. You know I've been looking out for you. You've just chosen not to believe it.'

  'What do you want?' Jack asked the voice in his head.

  'For you to stop resisting. I need you, but not in the driver’s seat.'

  'This is my body and my mind, I'm not going to just give it so you can continue wreaking havoc,' Jack explained.

  'Your wife was having it off with that man across the road. Not to mention, she was poisoning you. Now they've paid for what they did to you, all thanks to me,' the voice confessed.