Within the Shadows

by J. D MCG

  She unlocked her phone, opened up the phone book and scrolled to Jacob's name. She hesitated not knowing to phone him or not. Barnes interrupted her as he approached.

  'Good news. We've got an I.D on our perp. Her name is Felicity James, clean record, nothing out of the ordinary, other than this.'

  'How did you find out her name? I can't imagine she just gave it to you,' she laughed.

  Barnes smiled, 'Found her purse when we searched her.'

  'So what makes someone with no criminal record want to keep women prisoners?' Ally wondered.

  'No idea. I'm sure we'll get the answers we need. We've still got officers searching the area. I think our work here is done.'

  'I think you're right,' she agreed, as the pair of them walked back to the car, leaving the forensics and other officers in charge of the crime scene.

  Chapter 17

  As they strolled into the station they could see officers struggling to place Felicity James into a cell as she frantically screamed at them, crying her eyes out. Two officer's each holding an arm, trying to push her into the cell but her feet resisting against the floor.

  'What's going on?' Barnes asked one of the officers.

  'She's hysterical, saying she's done nothing wrong and it wasn't her,' the officer replied before giving them a hand getting Felicity in her cell.

  'Do you think she's trying to tell them that the other person was the one holding them there?' Ally asked Barnes.

  'Maybe, but these are questions we need to ask in the interview,' he told her.

  They still had to interview Jack Roberts about his criminal activity. The interviews kept racking up. Where's the connection between Jack and Felicity? Barnes thought. He'd already given Ethan Felicity's name for her history, so he was hoping he'd come up with a connection between her and Jack.

  Walking into the CID, Barnes and Ally appeared at Ethan's desk, making him look up from his screen.

  'Managed to find a connection yet?' Barnes asked him.

  'There's nothing, Boss.'

  'Nothing?' he repeated, staring at him with an angry appearance.

  'I'll keep looking,' he said, placing his head back into his screen to avoid Barnes' glare.

  'Ethan, I need anything that can tie Felicity to Jack. There's no way Jack Roberts just stumbled upon Hannah Jones after she’d escaped that farm shack. I just don't believe in it being bad luck or coincidence,' Barnes discussed his thoughts.

  'Leave it with me, boss,' he replied, still not giving Barnes eye contact.

  Barnes went to his office, tired and exhausted, sat down at his desk and sighed. It had been another tiring day for him. He was still recovering from his ordeal with Lily and Cain. A knock at the door frightened Barnes, making him jump with fright as Ally entered.

  'Are you feeling okay?'

  'Just fine, DI Miller,' he lied. 'Why do you ask?'

  'Well, it's just the way you were with Ethan,' she began to express her concern. 'I think you may need some rest. You've been here all the time since you've been back. You need some rest.'

  Barnes knew she was right. Ally always was, but he needed to close this case before he could take the time to rest. There was so much left to do, and the team needed everyone on board.

  'I will, once we've solved this case,' he said.

  'Now you're starting to sound like Jacob,' she smiled.

  'Let's just get the answers we need, then we can all have a day off.'

  * * *

  Belle had pulled it off. Jacob had forgotten all of his worries and they enjoyed mini-golf together. To begin with, Jacob was in the lead until Belle pulled it back around and won with the last few holes. It had been a great day and they'd enjoyed themselves for the first time in a long time.

  Once they’d finished, they decided to get some food. They both decided on Pizza Hut after spending five minutes discussing what they fancied. While tucking into their pizzas, Jacob decided to express his appreciation.

  'Thank you so much for today, Belle. It's just what I needed.'

  'It's nothing, Jacob. I owe you so much for what you've done for me,' she started to express her gratitude.

  Belle could see tears forming in his eyes, knowing his thoughts had gone back to the past.

  'I'm sorry,' Jacob apologised for crying.

  'It's okay. You've had a shit couple of months. I don't know how you've coped with it all. Just don't bottle it up, talk to us. You have family all around you, and we're here for you, day or night,' she consoled him.

  'Thank you, Belle. It means a lot. I'm so grateful you came into my life.'

  They finished their meal and discussed having dessert when Belle's phone began to ring again. It was Ben, but she didn't want to spoil hers and Jacob's evening, so placed it back in her pocket.

  'Answer it,' Jacob insisted. 'He's so desperate to talk to you.'

  'Are you sure? You'll be alright?'

  'Yes, I'll be fine. Now go and phone him back,' he demanded politely with a smile.

  Belle walked outside of the restaurant to make the call, leaving Jacob sat alone at the table. He removed his phone from his pocket and scrolled through it. His home screen featured photos of him and his family, making tears form again in his eyes. Wondering what was happening at work, he scrolled through his contacts, seeing Ally's name at the top.

  He stared at it for a minute, not moving an inch. Has she taken the job? he pondered. I hope not. But how do I express my feelings for her? I've just come out of a really bad relationship. Jacob wanted her to stay. What if she's already made her mind up and doesn't want to stay? He called her, putting the fear of rejection at the back of his mind for a change.

  'Hi, Ally,' he greeted as she answered. 'How's the case going?'

  'We've discovered where Hannah was being held and have one person in custody,' she explained.

  'That's great news. Is there any connection to Jack yet?'

  'Not yet, but Ethan's checking that out. Did you just call for a check-up or was there something else you wanted, Jacob?' she asked with humour in her tone.

  'I wondered if you fancied going for a drink sometime?' he went straight for it, leaving the thought of rejection behind.

  'Not even a meal first?' she joked.

  'Well... we could go for food first... that is if you wanted to?' he started to stutter.

  'I would love to,' she said.

  'How about tomorrow night?' he gleamed with excitement.

  'Let me just check my calendar.' She paused for a moment leaving the line quiet. 'Yeah, tomorrow seems fine with my busy schedule,' she laughed.

  'Good, so it's a date.'

  'Well, I wouldn't call it that,' she teased, joking once again.

  'I'll see you tomorrow.'

  'Take care of yourself, Jacob. Get plenty of rest.'

  Jacob had not long hung up the phone before the waitress approached and took his dessert order. Belle walked back in from phoning Ben, to find Jacob munching on his warm cookie with ice cream.

  'Started without me?' she said.

  'I couldn't wait,' he laughed. 'I've taken your advice on staying positive and phoned Ally to ask her on a date.'

  'And what did she say?' she asked before scooping ice cream into her mouth.

  'We're going out for dinner tomorrow night,' he smiled.

  Jacob felt incredible for a chance, focusing on the good rather than the bad. Kate would come around eventually and they'd be as close as they had been before.

  'Wow, check you out. Who’s this guy, and what have you done with Jacob?' she laughed.

  'So, what did Ben want so badly?'

  'We're going out on a date tomorrow too,' she announced.

  'I'm really happy for you, Belle. You've done really well. You've escaped your past and made a future for yourself. I'm proud of you,' Jacob said while trying not to cry again.

  'Thank you. I'm glad
I've got you looking out for me.'

  After dinner, Belle and Jacob returned to the apartment. It was pitch black, making it incredibly hard for them to see. Belle flicked the light switch on, brightening up the place. Jacob headed for his bedroom, but before he walked through the door, he turned to face Belle.

  'Thanks for a great day.'

  'You're welcome. Glad you had fun,' she replied.

  He walked into his dark, depressing bedroom and flopped onto his bed. Jacob just kept thinking about Ally, thinking she must feel the same way about him, making him feel ecstatic. Happiness was all he felt, focusing on the happy things in life, just like everyone had told him. Nothing was going to stand in his way between him and happiness.

  His tired eyes began to close as he blinked repeatedly, trying his best to keep himself awake, but failing. His vision became blurry with every blink until he eventually fell asleep.

  Standing in a dark alley, Jacob was confused about how he ended up here. His vision was blurry, just like before he fell asleep. A woman came from around the corner of the building. She resembled Hannah Jones. Hannah? Jacob said to himself. How is she alive? His eyes caught sight of a silhouette behind her as she stumbled closer to him. His vision became clearer and could see it was Jack Roberts.

  'Excuse me,' Jack said in a deep voice, getting the attention of Hannah.

  She turned around just as he edged closer to her.

  'No, Hannah. Don't!' Jacob shouted, unable to move, he held out his hand.

  But Hannah couldn't hear him, leaving Jacob to hear her choked screams while Jack had his hands around her throat, squeezing the life out of her. Jacob covered his mouth in shock as he watched the life drain from her eyes, as she got lower to the floor. Once her breathing terminated, Jack propped Hannah up against the wall and walked away. Jacob stared at Hannah's corpse in horror, before opening his eyes to a blinding light.

  Jacob glanced around, sighing with relief as he realised he was inside his bedroom. Are the visions back? he asked himself, not sure what had just happened. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and checked his phone. Nothing, not from Ally and not from Barnes, no missed call or text message. The night had passed and the day had begun, as the sun seeped through his blinds like it usually did.

  Lifting himself off the bed, Jacob left his room and the smell of a cooked breakfast hit his nostrils like a smack in the face.

  'I made breakfast,' Belle said from the kitchen.

  'It smells amazing.'

  'It tastes even better,' she laughed. 'Take a seat.'

  Jacob sat on the stool by the kitchen counter as Belle plated the food and slid it in front of him. The plate was piled high with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast, and she watched as Jacob tucked into a huge bite.

  'You're right, it's amazing!' he mumbled with a mouth full of food.

  'Are you going to work today?' she asked, knowing he couldn't keep away from the station for too long.

  'I was thinking about it,' he replied, still cramming food in his mouth like he'd never been fed.

  'Me and Kate have both got work this morning so you'd be on your own otherwise.'

  'How is she?' he asked with concern.

  'She feels betrayed, but she'll come around. She just needs time, Jacob. She knows you're there for her, but she'll talk to you when she's ready. You have to remember, her whole life has been a lie. She thought your dad was hers too.'

  'Do you think I did the right thing by not telling her?'

  'I honestly don't know. I can see why you did it, but she also has a right to know, and she probably wouldn't have taken it out on you if you told her,' she replied.

  Jacob rose from his seat and stepped into his bedroom to get changed before leaving for work, as Belle did the same. She and Kate left moments before him. Grabbing his phone, coat and keys, Jacob left the apartment and headed for the station.

  * * *

  Barnes and Ally sat inside the interview room with Jack Roberts and his solicitor, discussing the evidence they'd found against him. His attitude and behaviour had changed since their last encounter, as he sat with his arms folded with a dark and terrifying grin on his face.

  'Mr Roberts, you know why we're all here. We found bloodstained clothes in the bins outside of the Premier Inn where you were arrested. We've had the clothes processed and we've found traces of your DNA,' Barnes informed him.

  Jack said nothing. He just stared at the detectives, smiling with his creepy grin. His solicitor seemed as worried to them as they were.

  'We also discovered the body of Hannah Jones nearby, not long after arresting you. Did you know Hannah?' Ally said, but Jack remained silent. 'Was she just at the wrong place at the wrong time?' Still, he said nothing. 'Did you know Hannah was being held prisoner at a farm shack before you strangled her to death?'

  Ally placed photos of both Hannah Jones' body and the farm shack in front of him in evidence bags. Jack glanced down at the table, scanning his eyes over the photos. Ally could see the enjoyment on his face as he stared at the photo of Hannah.

  'Do you like looking at that one?' Ally asked, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought he was getting off on seeing her lifeless body. She snatched the photos off the table, away from his prying eyes. 'We arrested someone at the farmhouse earlier today. Does the name Felicity James ring any bells?'

  Jack lent forward, leaning his elbows on the table, looking Ally straight in the eyes. 'What if it does? You can't tie her to me. Jack and Felicity have no connection.'

  Ally didn't understand why he'd referred to himself in the third person and it freaked her out. His eyes didn't once remove themselves from hers, making her feel slightly vulnerable, even with two other people in the room.

  'We know you killed Hannah, but we don't know why. Another burning question we'd like to ask you, Jack, is whose blood is on your clothes?' Barnes interrupted his staring.

  'Now that would be telling,' he answered as he leant back in his chair, smiling profoundly.

  'Are they dead?' Barnes asked.

  Jack remained quiet once again, not wanting to give them any information.

  'Where are they, Jack?' Ally demanded, but he still kept his silence.

  'Interview terminated at 9.34 am,' Barnes spoke before stopping the tape recorder and leaving the room with Ally.

  'What kind of game do you think he's playing in there?' she asked him.

  'I don't know. He doesn't quite seem like the grieving husband I'd have pictured.'

  'He's totally changed since that night me and Jacob arrived at his home.'

  'I hope Ethan's found a connection between these two,' Barnes hoped.

  'And me. Do you think Jack knows we haven't found one yet and that's why he said it in there?' she said.

  'Maybe.'

  They walked back into the office and saw Ethan still sat at his desk when they made their way over.

  'Found anything?' Barnes didn't hesitate to get to the point.

  'I might have, but it's probably clutching at straws,' he answered as Ally and Barnes looked more intrigued. 'So the guy you call Cain...'

  'Nathan Lawrence,' Barnes interrupted.

  'Well, he was admitted to the hospital when he was younger with psychosis. I looked into Felicity's background after that and found out she was admitted a few times due to substance abuse, which would sum up how she knows where to find certain drugs to help capture her victims.'

  'I don't see where you're going with this Ethan,' Barnes couldn't work out his logic with his research.

  'I'm getting there, just hold on. Have you ever heard of Dissociative Identity Disorder?'

  'Isn't that like multiple personalities?' Ally jumped in and answered.

  'Correct, DI Miller,' Ethan congratulated her. 'Do you know what could cause someone to exhibit this disorder?'

  'Stress from trauma?' Ally answered again, while Barnes stayed confused.

/>   'Correct but there are many different reasons including substance abuse and psychosis.'

  'You think both Nathan Lawrence and Felicity James could be experiencing this multiple personality disorder?' Barnes piped up.

  'I did tell you I was clutching at straws,' Ethan joked.

  'But why would that make them killers?' Ally asked.

  'I don't know, I'm a police officer, not a psychiatric doctor,' he laughed.

  'Thanks, Ethan,' Ally said as she walked away with Barnes in tow. 'Do you think Ethan could be right about this?'

  'I'm not sure, but it does explain an awful lot,' he replied. 'Can you look into Jack Roberts past and see if he fits any of the symptoms of Dissociative Identity Disorder?'

  'Sure thing, boss,' she said before leaving Barnes to enter his office alone.

  He sat at his desk, his head pounding from an ungodly headache. The doctors told him to rest after his ordeal but thinking he knew better, he ignored their advice and continued with work. It was the only way he'd be able to take his mind off the trauma he experienced, but the quiet moments were when his mind took him back to those moments. Being inside that warehouse and canal boat, the blood pouring out of him, the shock from the electrocution and the pain from the knife wounds. It was all he could think about in those quiet moments. He lost sleep every night because of them.

  As he woke from his thoughts, he noticed Jacob entering the CID and walking over to his office. Barnes wiped his face with his hands before the door knocked.

  'Come in,' Barnes spoke before the door opened.

  'Morning, boss,' Jacob greeted him. 'What's been happening in my absence?'

  'Where do I begin?' Barnes said, making Jacob laugh, not meaning for it to be funny. 'Ethan seems to think Felicity James and Nathan Lawrence are suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder,' he explained to Jacob.

  'What is that?'

  'It's when someone suffers from multiple personalities.'

  'So where's the connection?' Jacob asked.