The Book of Revenge

by Linda Dunscombe

  He stood up from his desk and stretched. While Jen was tracking Avril down he decided to do a bit of digging of his own.

  Andrew was sober and worried, Kevin was dead. The pub was on the edge of town and not a place he usually visited. Certainly not a place you’d take a girl on a date. It was a dump, a dangerous dump.

  Two men looked up when he entered. One of the men made a small movement with his head, enough to let Andrew know that he was in the right place. Both men were smoking. Above them, on a wall, was a no smoking sign. Someone had written ‘fuck you’ across it.

  Andrew sat down opposite the men and pulled an envelope from his pocket. He glanced around nervously, but no one was paying any attention to them or their transaction. He passed the envelope to one of the men.

  The man peeled it open and glanced inside. His fingers ran across the top of the wad of notes, seemingly to check the amount. Although it was far too fast an assessment for him to have counted it. Apparently satisfied, he handed a package to Andrew. It was small but bulky and wrapped in a thick paper bag. The type that shops used now instead of plastic ones; a save the earth type bag. Andrew took it and thought it might just be a save the Andrew bag. He smiled at his own joke and with a brief nod to the men, the silent transaction was complete.

  Andrew drove himself home. The package was on the seat beside him. He knew he should keep it hidden and out of view but he liked to know it was in easy reach. He liked the fact that he had it, and wondered why he’d never thought to get one before. Trust Kevin to have contacts like that. He didn’t want to think about Kevin. Couldn’t believe he was really dead. He turned the radio up and blanked it from his mind.

  He knew he’d have to find a hiding place at home. The local paper had reported that Edward had been shot in his bedroom, so maybe that was the place to stash it.

  Kylie heard the car pull onto the drive. That was unusual. It was early evening. He never came home till late, and rarely by car. He was normally too pissed to drive. She got up from her desk where she’d been on her laptop and went to the window. She saw him climb out of the car and lock it. He had something in his hand, he was hugging it tight against him as if to shield or hide it.

  She heard the front door open and then steps on the stairs. He didn’t go to the kitchen first to see the mutt, that wasn’t normal. She hadn’t pushed the drawers in front of her door; she hadn’t expected him home for hours. No time to do it now. Not that it would save her anyway. Not from him or his bastard friend.

  She heard him on the stairs, he hadn’t checked on Bruce first. The dog was barking loudly but her father carried on up to the landing. The footsteps hurried straight past her room, he didn’t even pause. Something was wrong. She didn’t want to leave her room, although it was hardly a sanctuary. She was just as vulnerable there as anywhere else. But it just felt safer.

  But she knew she had to know what was going on. Kylie pulled her door open slowly, carefully, hoping it wouldn’t creak. If it did then she would just hurry straight to the bathroom. Even he couldn’t punish her for having a pee.

  It didn’t make a noise. Barely daring to breath she crept along the landing. His door was open, Just a crack, but enough for her to see him on his knees in his room. Whatever it was he had brought from the car was now being shoved under the mattress.

  Maybe it was money. If he had a cash stash then it might be enough for her to run away. She’d have to act fast though because he never kept money for long. That’s why mum had left. He’d drank or gambled his way through every penny he earned.

  For the first time in months, possibly even years, Kylie felt the unfamiliar stirrings of hope and optimism. She could be free of him. And soon.

  Matt was annoyed. He had tracked down Avril’s Grandmother. He had met the lady once, just before they got married. He remembered her as old and frail even then, amazingly she was still alive. The care worker at the nursing home told him that Mabel had just celebrated her ninetieth birthday.

  ‘She does get a little bit confused…’ the care worker said.

  That was an understatement. Mabel had skin as thin as parchment that was as brown and wrinkly as a walnut. But her eyes were bright and alert and she seemed lively and happy.

  ‘Hello Mabel,’ he said gently, ‘Do you remember me? I’m Avril’s husband?’

  ‘Of course I remember you,’ she said, beaming from ear to ear showing off remarkably good teeth for someone so old.

  Encouraged, he sat down opposite her. ‘I need to ask you about Avril, about her parents.’

  ‘Who dear?’

  ‘About your granddaughter Avril.’

  Mabel looked at him blankly for a minute then she started to hum a tune, something catchy and vaguely familiar. He had a feeling he was losing this one. He tried again.

  ‘Mabel…’

  She stopped humming and smiled at him, that bright white toothy grin again. Either she had the country’s best dentist or they were false.

  ‘Hello.’ She said, looking at him with a questioning gaze as though he had just arrived.

  ‘Mabel, I need your help, Avril needs your help.’

  ‘I have a granddaughter called Avril.’

  ‘Yes you do. Are her parents still alive?’

  ‘Of course they are.’ She said, looking annoyed and lucid.

  ‘So why doesn’t Avril speak to them?’

  ‘Because of Ted.’

  ‘Who’s Ted?’

  Mabel’s gaze slid away from him and she started to hum again.

  Matt walked down the High Street. He entered the gym but he hadn’t really gone for a workout. He’d hoped to see Liz. But she wasn’t there and he didn’t think another impromptu visit would be welcomed by her. So he was heading home to an empty bed and an empty life.

  He managed to avoid the pub. But he found himself standing at the checkout of the twenty four hour convenience store with a bottle of whisky in his hand.

  He glanced out of the window and was surprised to see Jen. She was dressed to impress. Her hair was loose and her face was made up. The trousers were gone and she had legs, she was wearing a short skirt and high heels, she scrubbed up well. He put the bottle down and moved closer to the window. She wasn’t alone, she was with a man. A tall young man, they were walking arm in arm and the man bent down to kiss her. Matt was transfixed. Was she really that stupid? Or maybe she didn’t know? She hadn’t been in town for long; it was possible that she really didn’t know who he was? Either way, it gave Matt a certain satisfaction; it seemed she wasn’t so perfect after all. He pulled out his mobile phone and took a quick picture; it might have some tease value to it if she got too pushy or too cocky.

  Liz was restless, drifting in and out of sleep as she fought the dreams that wanted to drag her back to the past.

  A young Liz and her sister Melissa were close to the DJ. The pub was crowded and smoky; a small area had been cleared of tables and chairs and was being used as a dance floor. The DJ put another record on and then turned his attention to Melissa. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Liz was grinning happily. She had a glass in her hand and was leaning against the wall.

  The DJ, Steve, glanced over at Liz. He looked down at Melissa, ‘she alright?’

  Melissa turned her head just in time to see her sister slide down the wall. Melissa and Steve rushed over. Liz was sat on the floor, a silly grin on her face.

  ‘She’s pissed.’ Steve said, amused.

  Melissa took the glass from Liz, which was miraculously still upright and clasped in her hand. She sniffed it, and then tasted it. She looked at Steve. ‘She was supposed to be drinking Cinzano, this is gin...’

  Steve helped Liz to her feet.

  ‘You should marry my sister. She’s in love with you.’ Liz said in a slow, slurred voice.

  Steve glanced across at a blushing Melissa. ‘Is she now?’

  ‘Yep, she told me so.’

  ‘Liz!’

  Melissa took her sister from Steve, who was looking very
pleased with himself. The record was reaching its end and he had to change it.

  ‘Better get her outside.’ He said, ‘fresh air will help to sober her up. There’s a seat at the bus shelter just around the corner. I finish in half an hour. I’ll take you both home then.’

  Melissa nodded her head and started to walk away supporting her sister.

  Steve called after her. ‘Mel...’

  She turned her head. ‘Yes?’

  He grinned. ‘I love you too.’

  Liz opened her eyes and waited for the dream to fade. She climbed out of bed and headed for the shower.

  Dried and dressed Liz made herself a coffee. The toast popped up and she smothered it with butter. Sam was at the kitchen table, still in her pyjamas, tucking into a bowl of cereal.

  Both women looked up as the kitchen door opened and Craig entered the room. He was fully dressed in his biking leathers and looked ready to hit the road. ‘Thanks for having me Lizzie.’

  Liz was surprised. ‘You’re off? Now?’

  Craig glanced at Sam, but she concentrated on her cereal.

  ‘Yeah, got to, lessons, you know...’

  He leant down to kiss and hug Sam, who stopped munching long enough to return his affections.

  Liz waited until Craig had left then she stared hard at her daughter, who eventually had to give in and look at her mother.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Are you going to tell me? Or do I have to run after Craig and beat the truth from him?’

  Sam smiled at the idea of her mother taking on her six foot plus boyfriend. ‘I’ve been told to take some time off.’

  ‘You’re sick?’

  ‘Kinda. Bad dreams and panic attacks.’

  Liz sank down into the chair beside Sam and took her hand. ‘Oh love, for how long? I don’t understand. You seemed fine when you went off to Uni. Are you eating properly? Sugars stable?’

  Sam nodded her head and pointed to her little black pouch on the table. It held all her testing strips and blood sugar reader along with her insulin pen.

  Sam looked healthy enough. She was a good colour and had been bright and cheerful the last few days. Liz was upset. She’d really thought her daughter had gone off to University strong and confident and ready to take on the challenge.

  ‘Of course I am. It was fine.’ Sam said, ‘at least to start with. The doc said it’s very common when you leave home for the first time.’

  ‘I suppose so. A bit scary, new environment and new friends...’

  Sam looked at her mother in surprise. ‘It’s not about me mum. I really am fine.’

  Liz was confused. ‘Then what?’ suddenly she realised. ‘Not me? Oh love, please tell me you haven’t made yourself ill worrying about me.’

  Sam began to cry. Liz pulled her daughter into her arms and fought back her own tears.

  ‘Oh mum, I just have this feeling that something terrible is going to happen.’

  ‘Oh, love…’ all she could do was hold her daughter tight.

  Matt knew that he could leave Jen to do the briefing. That no one would really expect him to do it. The incident room had been dismantled and then reassembled in a much larger room. More staff had been drafted in and another board had been added with Kevin’s details.

  Matt stepped into the front of the room, ‘it seems we have a serial killer on our patch.’ Good one mate, he thought to himself, start by stating the bleeding obvious! He took a deep breath and carried on. ‘Good news is we might have a bit more luck evidence wise with this one.’

  Jen stepped forward. ‘We’re waiting on results but he had a hair in his hand, several actually, although as yet we don’t know if there was a follicle to get enough DNA from. They were long and dark...’ she paused to glance at Matt. ‘It’s possible they belong to a woman. We need to know where he was and what he was doing early that evening. We need to trace and eliminate everyone who he had any contact with.’

  ‘Do we have any suspects?’ everyone turned and looked at the young DC who had been drafted in from a nearby station.

  Jen cleared her throat. There were a few sniggers and the lad looked around him in confusion. Matt wondered if one of his team had told him to ask the question.

  Matt looked directly at the detective constable. ‘We have a woman helping us with our enquiries.’ He said.

  Jen nodded her head.

  ‘You should also be aware that he was into child pornography.’ Matt said, fighting the surge of anger that struck him whenever he thought about what he’d seen at Kevin’s house. ‘His computer is being analyzed and searched. We need to follow every lead that this throws up. Is it possible that they were all part of a paedophile group? This might be a vigilante killing...’

  Was it possible? Could it be all about porn? Could he really be let off the hook that easily?

  ‘We also need to establish how it is that the killer just walks into every house. We know that two of the victims had new front doors in the last five years. We need to check on the installation companies.’ Jen said.

  Matt looked around the room and then at Jen, ‘one more thing. The press is clamouring for details. Even the nationals have picked it up now. I’m sure I don’t need to remind any of you that talking to them about this case is not permissible.’

  Jen nodded her head in agreement and Matt smiled to himself. So she really doesn’t know then.

  Everyone left the room apart from Matt and Jen.

  ‘Did you find her?’ he asked, lowering his voice.

  ‘Yes.’ She replied. ‘I spoke to her yesterday. Her alibi is a bit iffy; she stayed in and went to bed early. Her friend confirmed it but she could easily have slipped out later that night. She has agreed to give a DNA sample; she’s coming in this morning.’

  Matt looked for Liz but she didn’t seem to be in the station. He wanted to check the roster and see when she was working, but that felt a bit stalkerish. So instead he went to his desk and carried on trying to contact the people on his list to warn them to change their locks. Given the new twist in the case with the paedophile angle he didn’t feel the same worry or urgency now. But it gave him something to do and took his mind off how much he wanted to see Liz.

  He saw Avril arrive, he had been looking out for her. He walked into the corridor and they greeted each other awkwardly. Aware of the spying eyes of his colleagues, he steered her round the corner, beyond the view of his office. He would have liked to take her into one of the interview rooms but he didn’t feel that was appropriate, it might raise eyebrows and questions, since she was still a suspect.

  ‘Who is Ted?’ he asked her, deciding that the direct approach was the only one to take.

  Her face flushed an angry red. ‘Who told you about him?’ she snapped with more fury than he’d ever seen in her.

  Jen walked around the corner and stared at them uncertainly.

  Avril stabbed Matt in the chest with her perfectly manicured finger nail. ‘Stay out of my life.’ Then she turned her back on him and hurried towards Jen.

  All Matt could do was stare after her shocked and more than a little bit worried.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Matt looked around the gym and was immediately disappointed that Liz wasn’t there. He had no idea how she had got under his skin so quickly or easily. There was something about her that had grabbed him from the moment he first saw her, and since then thoughts of her had dominated far too much of his time.

  His marriage was in tatters so maybe that made him more susceptible to the charms of a beautiful lady, although he couldn’t ever remember feeling like this when he first met Avril. They hung around in the same group and as couples paired off they somehow became an item, it was almost by default rather than choice. They got on OK; they had a laugh and seemed to be on a similar wavelength. They did what all their friends were doing, they got engaged, twelve months later they were married, they bought a house and then they were supposed to have kids. That’s when it all started to really go wrong. Until then the
y had both been on the relationship treadmill, jogging along fulfilling everyone else’s expectations. It was when the required baby failed to materialise that they both began to question why they were together.

  Matt climbed onto the exercise bike and started at a slow warm up pace. He gradually built up some speed and increased the gradient, he was soon sweating and struggling, and making his usual mental promise to quit smoking and get fitter. In the mirror he saw Liz’s daughter Sam, enter the gym. Her eyes rested on him and she weaved her way through the machines towards him.

  ‘I’m looking for mum,’ she said, with a big smile. She was tall and slim like her mum but the similarity ended there. While Liz had dark hair and blue eyes, her daughter's was what he thought would be described as dark blonde with hazel eyes.

  He started to slow down, ‘I haven’t seen her this evening.’

  ‘I was hoping she’d grab a bite with me. She’s not at home, or answering her phone.’

  Matt wiped his brow and climbed off the bike. ‘Everything alright?’ he asked, looking closely at her. She’d gone a bit pale and her hands were trembling slightly.

  ‘I skipped lunch, I’m starving.’ She did a small smile, but it wasn’t very convincing, ‘I need to eat…’ she grabbed hold of the bike saddle and with the other hand she pulled her handbag towards her, but before she could open the zip she keeled over and dropped to the floor.

  Matt went down on his knees beside her. He checked her pulse, and placed her into the recovery position, a small crowd was gathering.

  ‘She’s out cold,’ he said to the young staff member who had rushed to his side. ‘Call an ambulance.’

  ‘What happened?’ Someone behind him asked.

  He looked down at her and ran through the few seconds before she collapsed. He remembered her going for her handbag. He reached across and picked it up from beside her. He opened it up and tipped it upside down, the contents spilled across the floor. He riffled through the usual selection, tissues, make up bag, tampax, small hair brush, purse, a couple of packets of mints, a small can of full sugar coke a cola and a small honey pot.