by Stuart James
Finding nothing obvious, he started packing up some of their essentials.
‘Kate! June! We are OFF! We’re getting out of here; I don’t care where we go, Kate, look online for a holiday home somewhere we can get to tonight. June, can you get Sean ready please?’
As they started to make a move, Jake called Reynolds and told her what he had seen at the other house. She assured him that they would get an officer out to investigate, remembering about the house and the body Jake had been so certain he had seen.
Meeting Kate, June, and Sean in the hallway, Jake called Hugo, and they loaded the car up.
Speeding out of the driveway, Kate typed the postcode of the holiday lodge she had found into the satnav. June was settling an excited Sean and nervous dog in the back. All of them too busy to notice that there was a Jeep following them.
∞∞∞∞ Reynolds, Marsden, and the other officers pulled up where Jake had found the locket. Reynolds briefed them on what had been found. She also mentioned that Jake had possibly seen a body in the garden. Either something horrendous was going on here, or Jake suffered from severe paranoia. Two armed officers ran to the door and found it was already open. They called out, ‘Police,’ and entered the house.
Reynolds stood outside supervising her team and could hear the shouts, ‘Police, if anyone’s here, make yourself known. Living room – clear!’ After a few minutes, one of the officers came out the front.
‘It’s empty, ma’am.’
‘Shit. The house is most definitely occupied,’ she replied. Once confirmed that the house was clear, they all moved to the garden. She had her notes out and recalled the name the guy living here had given them. Roger White. She called the name into the controller again. After a short wait, the name came back as unlisted. Same as the last time.
‘What’s that suppose to mean?’ Asked Reynolds.
‘Well. Either he’s never been in trouble, or the guy doesn’t exist. Maybe Jake did see something in that pit.’
∞∞∞∞
They’d been driving for ten minutes, and Jake was watching the rear-view mirror more than he normally would. He turned off the slip road. The Jeep did too. He took the second left and then a right at the next junction, the Jeep followed. ‘Guys. I need you to hold on. Don’t look behind you. We have company.’
‘Jake. You’re scaring me.’ June’s voice was wobbling as she spoke. The Jeep was gaining on them. Jake was certain it was the same one from the other night. He was now doing seventy-five miles per hour and was sending silent thanks that the roads were quiet.
Checking the rear-view mirror, the Jeep was right behind them again. Without indicating, Jake swung into the next side road and mounted the curb, they all jolted, each nearly hitting the windows of their doors. As they reached the bottom of the hill, Jake indicated right but at the last minute swinging a left hoping to shake the Jeep off. It was still on their tail but now about twentyfive yards behind. Jake sped up, they were back on the main road, and he hoped he’d been lucky enough to lose them completely.
He could see flashing red lights ahead, but the gates hadn’t started closing yet. The railroad crossing had signalled for cars to stop and a lorry had already obeyed the order.
As Jake approached the gate, he saw the Jeep gaining ground. The gates started to lower. Jake sped up.
As he did, the Jeep was almost alongside him.
The two cars racing towards the crossing like in a drag race. At the last second, Jake slammed the brakes as they jolted forward. The Jeep had nowhere else to go apart from straight across the track. As it did, the gates dropped. Jake on one side, the Jeep on the other. The alarm rang, and a slow freight train passed sounding its horn. Jake had maybe fifty seconds to get out of there. ‘What now, Jake?’ Shouted Kate. He slammed the car into reverse, swaying as he raced backwards up the road. He swung into a side street on the left and parked twenty yards from the end and killed the lights.
They sat waiting – too frightened to move. After a minute; the Jeep passed them on the main road, the driver hadn’t seen where they were parked.
They sat in silence for what felt like forever. Kate broke the ice. ‘What’s the plan, Jake?’
‘We move.’
He slowly pulled out of the street, watching both ways. They were all on alert. Watching. Scanning the streets. Every so often, June called out when she thought she saw it. Jake drove slowly. He had to be vigilant.
They were two miles from the lodge. The satnav took them down a pitch-black country lane. Narrow roads with no markings. They had a sense of déjà vu. Once they were at the bottom of the hill, Jake stopped.
‘Jake. What are you doing?’
‘I have to be sure, Kate.’ They could see the lodge in the distance. The outside light flickering. Jake waited for fifteen minutes, just to make sure they hadn’t been followed. When he was confident, he drove to the cabin and parked up. He removed the keys, got out and helped June out with Hugo. Kate jumped out and grabbed Sean.
‘Where’s the key?’ Jake asked as they all rooted around the decked patio, perfect to sit out on. Maybe to keep watch? He checked under the mat. Nothing. ‘Where the bloody hell had they left the key? Kate, did they say on the phone where it would be?’
Before she had a chance to answer, they heard twigs snapping behind the cabin. ‘Sssshhhhhh …’ said Jake pointing around the back. ‘There’s someone there. You guys get back in the car. Now. Go!’ He said, throwing the car keys to Kate.
They ran to the car, Kate still holding Sean. Jake didn’t know whether to call out or not. He decided not to as he edged slowly towards the side, staying as close to the cabin as possible. The footsteps were getting closer. As Jake reached the corner, a figure appeared, and Jake let loose. He whacked the guy on the side of his jaw, knocking him to the floor. Jake jumped on top of him. ‘Who are you?’
‘You arsehole! Get off! I’m the landlord!’
Jake jumped up and helped the man up. He wanted the ground to open up and swallow him whole. Disappear and never return. The others got out of the car.
‘What the hell is going on?’ The landlord asked.
Kate walked forward. She introduced them all. ‘We’re really sorry. If I explained why we’re so jittery, you probably wouldn’t believe us.’
He had a bruise starting to form on his cheek. Jake held his hand out. ‘I apologise. We’re just a little jumpy. Please, come in and let’s fix your face up?’
‘No need. It’s late, and I have a bit of a drive ahead of me, so I’ll let you in, and the place is yours.’
‘Can I at least offer you a beer?’
‘No. Really. I’m all right.’ He opened the door and showed them around.
‘The kitchen. Plates. Cutlery. Microwave. Bedrooms, all with TVs. The WiFi code is on the
router. Out back, the hot tub. You won’t be bothered either. If anything, it’s probably too quiet. No one ever comes down. Make yourselves at home. I understand you may be staying a while?’ Jake looked over at Kate. ‘It depends,’ he said.
‘Right. Well, there’s a minimum charge of a week so … I’ll leave you to it, and you can let me know. Enjoy yourselves and call me when you’ve had enough.’
He went out the front and disappeared around the back of the cabin.
Jake and Kate tucked Sean in while June started getting settled in the kitchen. They all needed a nice, strong cup of tea, she thought.
∞∞∞∞ The driver of the Jeep had to call his boss. Shit was going to hit the fan. There was no way around it. The boss had to know what happened.
He’d lost the family. He’d mucked up big time.
He had to find them and never let them escape again. Otherwise, his life was not going to be worth living. He’d heard about the others. The employees who had let the boss down. The stories of how they had been wasted. It wasn’t worth thinking about. The stuff of nightmares. He had to make it up to him and fast.
Once he’d made the call, listened to the abuse, what
would happen to him if he didn’t find them, he had another instruction. It was time to go to work again. The family would have to wait for the moment. But it wouldn’t be long. He was certain of it.
∞∞∞∞ Reynolds and Marsden were still over at the house on Rectory Lane. They struggled to hold back reporters who had gathered outside the gates. Cameras flashing, and questions shouted over the gate. The forensic team were taking the place apart. A few were in the garden combing the area. One of the CSIs approached Reynolds. ‘It looks like your informant was right. We’ve found marks on the grass which would indicate something being dragged over to that pit.’ The officer walked to where he was pointing and swivelled the floodlight towards the drag marks.
Reynolds was annoyed her and Marsden had missed this when they first checked it. As Reynolds was about to request the whole team come outside, another CSI came over. ‘Ma’am. You need to see this – inside.’ Following the officer, she and Marsden saw the flap of the basement was open. Two officers were down there shining the ultraviolet light on the walls.
‘What is it?’ She asked.
‘We’ve set up a portable UV light and found skin and bone fragments. Blood on the walls. They’ve done their best to wash it off, they probably left in a hurry, but we picked it up. There’s urine and faeces stains on the floor.’
Reynolds turned to Marsden, ‘It’s a fucking torture chamber.’
Chapter Twenty-two Joanna and Sofia had been drinking wine all evening. Catching up, discussing their lives, partners, and everything in between. They’d met at uni on the same history course and had instantly hit it off. Both were inseparable and had become best friends. They lived close to each other and met every few weeks. Sofia and Joanna were very different looking. At uni, Sofia had a queue of guys fishing for her number. It often annoyed Joanna, not that she was jealous, she just wanted to be like her a little more. Sofia could walk into a bar, and heads turned. Effortless. Tall. Slim. Her long blonde hair fell just right, and she always knew exactly what to wear for any occasion.
Joanna had relationship problems. Her last boyfriend had been abusive, she’d had to call the police. They split up after he gave her a beating one night, which he’d blamed on the coke he’d been doing. Not good enough an excuse in her opinion.
As they chatted at the bar, a guy tried to muscle in. ‘Can I buy you two lovely ladies a drink?’
He smelled like he hadn’t washed for days. Body odour seeped from his loose shirt, stained under the arms. His beard looked like it homed every bug imaginable. As he smiled, a gold tooth at the front of his mouth sparkled. ‘We’re fine. Thank you,’ said Sofia. He grabbed a barstool from a nearby table and placed it beside them.
‘What are two beautiful ladies doing in this place?’
They detected a foreign accent, possibly Spanish? He placed an arm around each of them. ‘Look. Please, can you just piss off somewhere else? We’re not interested you dick.’ He grabbed Joanna’s face, squeezing her chin.
‘You heard them, pal. Piss off.’ A random bloke, just behind them, grabbed the trampy degenerate by the shoulder and dragged him back, making him stumble.
‘Fine. Fine. Your bloody loss.’ The guy left.
‘Thank you so much,’ said Sofia. ‘What an arsehole.’
‘No problem. Really.’
Sofia and Joanna looked at each other with wide eyes. They were both thinking the same thing. He was hot. Damn hot. Tall, dark, handsome, and he oozed sex appeal. He had recently shaved and nicked himself on the chin in the guise of a scar which made him even more attractive. Rugged looking.
‘Have a good evening.’
‘Hey, come and join us? Let us buy you a drink?’ Demanded Sofia as he started to walk away.
‘There really is no need.’
‘We insist. It’s not often we’re rescued by a knight in shining armour.’ The three of them laughed.
‘If you’re sure? I don’t mean to intrude.’ Sofia introduced them both and asked what he would like to drink. Getting the barman’s attention with the wad of cash in her purse, she ordered another bottle of red wine and a gin and tonic as requested by their new friend. ‘Thank you,’ he said, ‘I’m Mick.’
‘So. What brings you to Ramsbury?’ Asked Joanna.
‘Well. You know. A bit of this. A bit of that.’
‘Oh. A man of mystery huh?’
‘No. Unlikely. I work for my father. We live about five miles out of town. He started up a business back in the 70’s selling antiques and the likes.’
‘I love antiquity. It fascinates me, anything to do with history does, actually. Just being able to go to a boot sale and know more about the item than the seller does.’
‘It’s not always that easy. We’ve been stung many times.’
As the night went on, the girls got tipsier. Sofia more flirtatious. ‘How come you’re out without your boyfriends then?’
Sofia had been on and off with a lad from town. ‘I kinda have someone. We’re on a break. He’s a total loser.’ She made the L sign at the brow of her forehead.
‘Sofia. He’s not that bad.’
‘Oh, but he is.’ She was counting on her hand. ‘Lazy. Drinks too much. Disrespects me. Selfish. How many’s that?’ She was slurring her words.
‘Sorry I brought it up,’ said Mick.
Joanna also had drunk too much. They had hit the bar early, and she needed to go.
‘Sofia, I’m gonna shoot. Are you ready?’
‘No. I’m going to stay with the lovely Mick.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes. I’m a big girl. Speak during the week.’ Joanna kissed Mick on the cheek. She noticed how delicious he smelt. She hugged her friend and left.
Outside, Joanna found the taxi stand was empty. The next driver rolled up and asked her, ‘Where to?’ As she climbed onto the back seat.
∞∞∞∞ Mick and Sofia downed a couple of quick shots. It was obvious they were attracted to each other. The chemistry fizzed. They flirted. Holding each other’s gaze just that little longer. She ran a hand through her hair. He laughed at her jokes.
‘I need to make a move. Early start tomorrow,’ said Mick.
‘Yes. I should be going too.’
∞∞∞∞ Joanna was halfway home. The cabbie didn’t talk, but she noticed he watched her in the rear-view mirror and it made her uncomfortable. The one part of going out she truly disliked. For a young woman, getting into a stranger’s car is the hardest decision you can make.
∞∞∞∞ ‘Let me get the tab.’
‘No way. We asked you to join us. I can’t let you do that.’
‘Please, Sofia. I insist.’ As Mick removed the credit card from his wallet, she slipped two
twenties into the back of his pocket.
∞∞∞∞ The driver slowed down a hundred yards from her house. ‘It’s further up mate.’ He didn’t answer. She wanted to run … Grab the handle and get out. Race along the street. Knock on a neighbours house.
Joanna tried to see if anyone was still up. There was a light glowing a couple of doors down from hers. Maybe she could make it?
∞∞∞∞ They strolled arm in arm, giggling, and looking at each other. They’d enjoyed themselves more than they should have. Mick held the door open, and Sofia danced out into the night.
‘A gentleman as well?’
‘I’ll drop you on the way if you like? No pressure.’
‘That would be nice,’ she smiled.
∞∞∞∞ Joanna panicked. ‘What are you doing.’
‘I’m looking for address.’
‘I told you. It’s further up.’
‘You no tell me.’
‘I’m getting out. How much is it?’
‘No. You wait. I drive.’
She threw twenty at him and opened the door. Joanna had to run. She felt her legs go from
under her. Knees buckling. She was ten yards from the house. She could see the huge gates. The car pulled up beside her. She fished her keys
out of her handbag, pressed her fob and the gates opened. As she reached the front of her drive, she stumbled. Her bag dropped, and she pawed on the floor for it. The street was empty. The lights from the car penetrated her eyes. The driver saw fear as he pulled up towards her at an angle. Joanna backed up through the gates towards her property watching him.
∞∞∞∞
They waited a few minutes until the next taxi arrived. Mick spoke to the driver and told him where they were going. He opened the back door and let Sophia get in first.
∞∞∞∞ Joanna struggled to open the door. ‘Please, not now.’ The key was stuck. ‘Bloody keys! Come on!’ The bunch fell to the floor making a clanging noise that seemed to hang in the air like shards
of glass bouncing off the ground. She looked behind her.
∞∞∞∞ Sophia recognised the driver as they set off. She looked at Mick. ‘What’s going on?’ The driver had a beard. He stank, filling the car with his stale odour. She could smell it from
where she sat in the back. It was the guy from earlier. ‘Mick. Mick.’ He ignored her. The driver was doing a U-turn.
∞∞∞∞
Joanna grabbed her keys and managed to get the door open. She watched him drive away as she slammed the front door.
Chapter Twenty-three Jake awoke the following morning with a start when he realised his phone was ringing on the bedside table. He’d forgotten where he was for a minute. ‘Jake speaking.’
‘Hi. It’s DI Reynolds.’
‘Hi. How can I help?’ He noticed the time on his phone. Five past eight.
‘Are you at home?’
‘Erm. No. We’ve come away for a few days. We needed to get our heads sorted.’
‘OK. Listen, Jake. I need the number of the estate agent you mentioned to us. The guy who sold you the house.’
After he’d read it out, he asked, ‘What’s it about?’
‘I can’t talk at the moment, Jake. But I’ll call you when I have any further information.’ The line went dead. Jake lay back down and wrapped himself around Kate.