‘Neam built his financial empire on lies and fraud and my husband put together all the evidence. He was charged but the bastard had the money to buy and bribe his way out of the allegations. He walked free and it broke Steve’s heart. So he killed him…’
‘But Neam died in a car crash.’
Liz looked at him sadly, ‘So did my husband.’
‘The same crash?’
She nodded her head. ‘He gave his life. I promised him I would complete the work…’
‘Liz, let me go after them. I’ll get every one of them convicted and behind bars for something.’ He paused.Thinking it through, he made a decision. ‘And when I’ve got them all banged up I’ll put my hands up for the killings you’ve already done and get myself locked away.’ He meant it, every word. He was well aware what happened to police in prison, but he didn’t care. He needed to do something, anything, to save her.
‘Why would you do that?’ she asked, clearly stunned.
‘Because I love you, because I owe you, because I deserve it and because Sam needs her mother.’
They both fell silent while the implications registered. Liz lowered the gun and Matt reached out to take it. A noise from behind made him swing round quickly. He saw a flash of metal before a large frying pan crashed down hard on his skull and his knees buckled beneath him.
He could hear his name being called, from somewhere far away. He liked the sensation of floating, somewhere between being drunk and dreaming. But consciousness was winning him round. He opened his eyes and groaned at the throbbing pain in his head.
‘Shit Matt! What are you doing? Thought I had a burglar.’
Matt tried to sit up. Ivor the man who had just hit him helped him to his feet. His memory returned as the grogginess faded and he looked around him for Liz. Clearly she’d gone.
‘Matt? What’s going on?’
Matt looked at the man who was still holding the offending frying pan and wearing a cycling helmet. ‘I think you just got lucky…’
‘Lucky? Have you seen my back door?
Matt was already on his way out the damaged door, ‘You’re alive, aren’t you…’ he tossed over his shoulder as he hurried out.
He ran to his car, Sam was waiting beside it, pacing impatiently.
‘What happened? I saw Mum run out. I called her but I don’t think she heard me. I wanted to follow her, but…’ she threw an angry glare at Craig, ‘he wouldn’t let me, insisted that we had to wait for you.’
‘Which way did she go?’
Sam pointed straight ahead.
Matt mentally flicked through the pages of the book and the remaining names. He knew where she was going.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Andrew was sprawled on the sofa; he was watching a Rugby match, a bottle of Stella in one hand and several empties at his feet. Bruce was outside in the garden settled at the glass doors looking in. The door into the lounge opened just as England lost to France. Assuming it was his daughter, he hurled the bottle behind him. ‘Piss off.’ He shouted without, bothering to turn his head.
‘Soon, after we’ve had a little party.’ Liz said.
Andrew leapt to his feet. She hadn’t bothered with the balaclava. The gun was pointed straight at his forehead, steady and firmly.
His eyes narrowed as he assessed her, ‘I’ve seen you in town. Yeah, you’re a copper.’ He started to edge towards the door.
‘Stay still.’
‘Why. You’re going to kill me anyway.’ He said, with more bravado than he really felt.
‘True,’ she replied with a tense smile, ‘but it hurts more if I put several holes in you first and make you bleed to death.’
He stopped moving. His eyes darted around, seeking options.
She shot him in the shoulder.
He screamed out in pain. ‘I didn’t move.’
Liz shrugged. ‘I decided to hurt you anyway.’
Andrew was worried. The dog was at the window, barking and growling but a large pane of glass meant it couldn’t help him. His bravado was slipping away, reality was hitting home. He was in the shit. ‘I know who you are,’ he said staring at her intently as the memories began to form.
‘I mean I know why. I remember.’
‘Good.’
He decided to try a bit of charm. ‘You were such a pretty wench. It was just a bit of fun.’
‘Fun!’
‘Yeah, just got a bit out of hand that’s all.’ He forced himself to smile, even though the pain in his shoulder was sending him insane. What he really wanted to do was launch himself at the bitch and turn her gun on her. God that would be something, teach her she couldn’t mess with him. He’d be a hero. The man who rid the world of a serial killer...
‘Fun?’ Liz screamed at him, her own calm slipping away. ‘You killed my sister.’
Andrew was surprised, then disbelieving. ‘No way.’
‘She never recovered. She killed herself; she jumped from a bridge a few months after.’
‘Depression. It happens. You can’t blame me for that. We were just a few lads partying.‘
Liz sent a second bullet into same shoulder. The impact and the pain sent him to his knees. Liz moved closer. She pulled a lipstick from her pocket and chucked it at him. ‘Write sorry on the floor.’
He looked at her with barely concealed hatred. ‘You’re insane...’
She lifted the gun and looked like she was about to fire again.
He grabbed the lipstick, grimacing against the pain. ‘Alright, alright...’
A noise from behind her sent Liz spinning round. Kylie was hovering in the doorway. A shocked Liz stared at her. Kylie quickly retreated.
Andrew took his chance. He lunged for Liz. He was fit and fast and caught her in a rugby tackle. She was thrown backwards. The gun flew from her hand. She was flat on her back with Andrew on top of her. The blood from his gun wounds was oozing through his shirt and dripping onto Liz. ‘Well here we are again sweetie.’ He hissed, his breathing laboured from the exertion of his attack. He knew his loss of blood was weakening him. He needed her gun, but it was out of reach.
They both looked up surprised as Matt crashed through the door. Close behind him were Sam and Craig. Matt hauled Andrew off Liz.
‘Shall I call the police?’ Craig asked.
Sam dropped down beside her mother, looking horrified and terrified by the blood smeared across Liz’s shirt.
‘No.’ Matt replied to Craig.
‘She’s hurt.’ Sam cried.
Liz shook her head and hugged her daughter. ‘No, it’s not my blood.’
Matt dropped to his knees beside her, their eyes met in silent understanding.
Andrew edged backwards. The attention was focused on Liz. Sam and Matt helped Liz to her feet. Andrew knew that this was his only chance. He had the uncomfortable feeling that Matt was not there to save him.
Liz was on her feet. Matt touched the bloody patch. ‘Are you OK? Did he hurt you?
Andrew’s fears were confirmed. ‘Me hurt her? Are you insane? She fucking shot me!’
His dog was head butting the glass, but it was too far away for Andrew to reach the door to let him in.
Matt turned around to face him. Sam held onto her mother. Andrew managed to get himself across to where the gun fell. He reached down and grabbed it. He lifted it up and took aim, a sick smile spread across his face.
Liz saw what was happening, so did Matt.
Matt was closer to Andrew than he was to Liz so he launched himself at Andrew, and lunged for the gun.
Liz threw her daughter out of the way.
Andrew fired a shot, the sound of another gun fired followed immediately. Andrew was thrown backward by the impact as a bullet hit him in the chest. He was stunned, what the hell happened? He stared across in disbelief. Everyone turned to look at the doorway. His daughter Kylie was standing in her dressing gown and slippers holding the gun that he had hidden under his bed. The world was spinning and he felt himself falling. He coul
dn’t believe that it was all over, that he was dying, shot by his own fucking girl.
Matt was as shocked as Andrew had been. He went to the girl and gently took the gun from her hand. ‘Kylie, right?’ he said, glad for once that living so long in the same place gave him access to information and gossip. He remembered picking her up once for shoplifting. When he knew who she was and saw how scared she was of her father finding out, Matt persuaded the shopkeeper not to prosecute and he let her off with a warning. The girl nodded her head; she was shivering violently as the shock set in.
Craig ran to Andrew and dropped down to his knees. ‘I think he’s dead.’
Matt nodded, he wasn’t sorry, but he knew he had one hell of a mess to clear up now. His mind was racing through and rejecting options and possibilities.
Sam suddenly shouted as Liz slid down the wall, a trail of blood streaking the emulsion.
‘He shot her,’ Craig cried.
Oh dear God, no, Matt cried in his head. He ran to Liz and gently laid her down onto the floor, he cradled her head in his arms. ‘Get an ambulance,’ he shouted at Craig. Craig was stationary and stunned. ‘Ambulance. Now!’ Matt demanded, shaking the young man into action.
Sam was sobbing as she held her Mother’s hand.
Matt leant down to Liz, and whispered, softly and urgently. ‘Don’t leave me. Please don’t leave me…’
‘I have to.’ She whispered back, struggling to speak.
It was bad; the policeman in him had seen it before and knew that she was dying. But as the man who had only just found the love of his life, he was blind to the reality and held her tight willing her to defy death. ‘No. It’s over now. I can cover this. Keep you out of it. I can save you. I’ll find a way.’
Liz managed to lift her hand; she placed a finger across his lips. ‘Then do it for Sam,’ she managed to say. She looked sadly at him then turned her head to her daughter. ‘I love you,’ she said, before slipping away.
Sam sobbed loudly. Matt wiped away his own tears knowing that the grieving would have to wait. The sounds of sirens would soon be heard approaching. He had to think and act fast.
Matt put Liz gently down onto the floor and looked around the room. Kylie was sat on the floor staring at her dead father. Matt stood up and hurried to her side. He touched her shoulder gently. She flinched. Surprised, he let his hand drop. ‘Your dad is dead.’ He said gently.
‘I know.’
‘I’m sorry...’
Kylie dragged her eyes away from the corpse and looked up at him. ‘I’m not.’
It was exactly what Matt wanted to hear. He looked across at Craig who was trying to comfort an inconsolable Sam. ‘Craig...’ he got no response. He shouted, loud and with as much authority as he could find. ‘Craig...!’
Craig and Sam looked at him. He saw everything in the young girl’s eyes that threatened to overwhelm him. But he knew he had to keep control.
‘Craig, go to my car and get me the book, the big scrapbook. Hurry…’
Matt looked around him assessing the situation as a plan began to form. Craig returned with the book. Matt took it from him and looked at the pair of them.
‘We need to be quick.’ He said, ‘Craig you’ve gotta get Sam out of here. Now! Take her home and when someone comes to tell you what’s happened you must be surprised.’
‘No,’ Sam cried holding onto her mother’s hand. ‘I can’t leave her.’
Matt looked at her and spoke more gently. ‘Sam, we have to do this, it’s for your mum. You have to trust me and do exactly what I say.’
Matt stood up, pulled a glove from his pocket and started to clean Kylie’s gun. Then he put Liz’s fingers around it and squeezed.
‘Now go!’ he shouted at them.
He helped Kylie to her feet as Sam and Craig headed for the door. ‘I’m going to tell you exactly what to say. OK?’
Kylie nodded her head; Matt started pulling pages from the book, anything that was personal to Liz.
Kylie looked at her dead father and then at Matt. ‘Will I go to prison?’
‘Not if I can help it.’
Chapter Thirty
Matt walked into his office. A newspaper was on his desk. The heading read – SERIAL KILLER DEAD - He looked down and allowed himself a satisfied smile. A large photo of Andrew dominated the page.
Jen approached. ‘So it was a paedophile ring all along. You did well to work it all out and get to the right house in time. How did you know it was him?’
‘Oh, Andrew always was the bad apple in the crop.’ As he said it, Liz’s face entered his mind, he smiled.
‘What?’
‘Clichés.’ He said, ‘sometimes it’s all about the clichés.’
‘Still so many unanswered questions though. I’m not sure it all adds up. I mean how did that PC know what was going on? I know Andrew Martins daughter said that she had confided in her, but the woman was only in town for a few weeks and what about the hair we found at Kevin’s? Pretty sure forensics will match it with her DNA.’
Matt kept calm. He had always known that Jen would be the stumbling block. They all just had to stick to the story he had constructed and it would be alright. Whatever doubts Jen had couldn’t be proved. Whereas his case, even though it had holes couldn’t be disputed, since Kevin and Andrew were both dead and everyone else said what he had instructed them to. ‘I don’t suppose we’ll ever know the full story. Clearly it was all to do with the child porno ring that they ran. From what his daughter said Andrew had a big fight with Kevin, she hid on the stairs and heard them arguing and it was to do with Liz, apparently she had been to see Kevin earlier that day to question him…’
‘But why didn’t she report it? Get CID involved?’ Jen said, interrupting.
‘I guess she wanted proof. Kylie was very scared about what Andrew might do if he knew she had spoken to the police.’
‘But we could have got social services involved…’
‘Exactly. That’s what she was afraid of. She didn’t want to go into care. She was just a young, scared kid and PC Bryant was doing her best to help.’
‘Well, she screwed it up.’ Jen said crossly.
Matt kept calm and carried on, ‘in the argument Kylie heard Kevin say he wanted to pack up and go abroad for a while but Andrew said they had to front it out. Kevin left and shortly after so did Andrew. I reckon Andrew was spooked by PC Bryant snooping around threatening to expose them so he covered his tracks by taking them all out one by one. Shut down the operation so nobody was left to talk.’
Jen sat down on his desk; she looked at the paper and shook her head. ‘It doesn’t add up. What type of PC blunders around on their own like this? And where did she get the gun from?’
Jen was like a sniffer dog that had picked up the scent. ‘I still don’t believe his daughter didn’t see or hear anything during the shooting. You’d think a couple of gun shots might have roused her.’
‘Weren’t you ever a teenager Jen? Earphones and McFly? Let it go. Case closed. We’ve broken up a porno ring, young Kylie is no longer afraid of daily abuse and we’ve stopped a serial killer. You saw all the files with the info he had collected about the victims, he even had all the door keys.’
‘But...’
Matt held his hand up, he’d had enough. ‘No more buts Jen. The case is closed.’
He looked at her closely. She wasn’t happy and he couldn’t take the risk that she would shake it all up and not let it die. He had done his best to construct the story and make it fit the evidence but he knew it wouldn’t stand up to very close scrutiny. He hadn’t wanted to pull out his trump card but she left him no choice. ‘Strange how quickly the press got hold of the story.’ He said, walking to his computer and keying in some details. ‘My guess is we’ve got a leak.’
‘Really? But who would do that.’
Matt glanced down at his screen. ‘Saw you in town the other day. Got a new boyfriend?’ He felt like a git, but he would do anything to protect Liz and Sam.
/>
Jen looked uncertain; she didn’t know what way it was going. ‘Just a friend.’
‘Yep, looked pretty friendly.’
‘Gov?’
Matt tapped his screen. ‘Trouble with being new in town, you don’t always know who the players are.’
He walked away knowing that she would be around the desk and staring at the screen. A big picture and biography of the young hotshot reporter Dan would stare back at her. He paused at the door and turned. He was right she was looking at the screen in horror. ‘Or when you’re being played,’ he added.
He was pretty sure she would let it drop now; if he needed it he had the photo of her kissing the reporter. She was far too ambitious to risk being associated with a leaked story. Especially one that was big enough to hit the nationals. The Chief Inspector, although obviously concerned that a policewoman had died in the line of duty had turned PC Liz Bryant into a hero. He wouldn’t be at all impressed to learn that a young DS was not only threatening to tarnish his story, but she was also in bed with the press.
Matt drove to Milltown and parked his car. He walked to the dance studio entrance and went in looking around him uncertainly. A woman was waiting for him. ‘Dawn?’ he asked, as she approached him, he had seen her at the funeral but not been introduced. He hadn’t hung around, afraid that he would lose control.
She nodded her head. She was like a porcelain doll. Pale, impossibly dainty and fragile looking. Despite perfect make up, she had shadows under her eyes. He knew pain when he saw it, the same haunted longing that lingered at the back of his eyes and stared at him every day when he looked in the mirror.
‘I got your message. You wanted to see me?’
Dawn handed him an envelope. Matt was puzzled.
‘Liz gave it to me. She came to see me, that morning...’ she paused unable to say the words.
Matt took the envelope. She didn’t need to say anymore. Matt knew that Liz hadn’t expected to walk away from her actions. She knew she’d go to prison. She might even have thought she might die. He was close to tears himself to think that she had taken the time to leave him a message. Dawn suddenly leaned forward and hugged him tight. Surprised, he hugged her back.
The Book of Revenge Page 12