Dark of Mind

by Robin Roughley

  'But what if she decides to go and see her father?'

  'Listen, I know you want to help as much as you can, but Faith is nineteen and if she decides to go and see her father then there's not much we can do about it.'

  'But all he did on the phone was threaten her, she was scared and…'

  'Look, Kelly, your father has said he will find out where Faith lives and go and see her father.'

  'Is he going now?' Kelly asked, her voice full of urgency.

  'I'm not sure, he's at work, sweetheart, so perhaps he'll call later on his way home.'

  'What if he's too late and Faith's on her way over there now?'

  'Just make your way back and try not to worry, like I said your father will sort it all out.'

  'OK, we're setting off now,' Belle said as she tapped at the screen.

  Kelly sighed heavily as she put her seat belt on. 'I don't like leaving it like this, it doesn't feel right.' she said as she drove across the forecourt and out onto the road.

  Belle nodded in agreement as she slipped the phone into her pocket trying to quell the sudden feeling of dread that seemed to fill the inside of the car.

  89

  Robbins tried to think but the truth was he felt agitated as thoughts of that bastard Lasser glaring at him with those dark eyes burning with animosity took root in his mind.

  Pushing himself up from the sofa, he headed into the kitchen and put the kettle on, his teeth nibbling at his bottom lip. Of course, at some point he had expected the police to come calling but not so soon, and the fact was that both Noble and Lasser had made it clear that they didn't trust him, as if they saw through the lies to the heart of him.

  The kettle boiled and yet he turned away and left the kitchen, suddenly the feeling of unease turned to fear as he stood in the lounge and looked around seeing nothing as he tried to think of his next move.

  In the next few hours Zero would be in place and awaiting instruction and yet the truth was he had not planned an alibi. He had no doubt that the police would be watching him and when his ex-wife was dead then they would come calling and this time he would be taken down to the station to be questioned about her death. Glancing at his watch he felt the time running out and yet the greater fear was that Lasser or perhaps Noble would have reached the conclusion that his bitch of an ex-wife was in the firing line. If that happened, then they could quite easily spirit her away to somewhere safe and all his plans would have been for nothing. The thought turned his stomach to ice, and he shook his head violently from side to side.

  'Not acceptable,' he spat as he stood rigid in the doorway.

  Wiping a hand across his eyes he tried to think up an alibi, he needed a place to go where he would be seen by others, somewhere that would give him a cast-iron defence.

  Pursing his lips, he felt the tension rise as nothing sprang to mind, the longer he stood there clueless the more the cracks began to form.

  He had concentrated on finding, first, Foster and then Zero, bending them to his will until they were nothing but puppets, and yet he had failed to make sure that he had planned an alibi for himself.

  Closing his eyes, he cringed as he immediately conjured Lasser and Noble, their faces smeared with mistrust as they stood there with the accusation lancing from their eyes. The feeling of invincibility started to fade, when he had persuaded Pamela Fitzsimmons to kill his bastard brother and ex-wife he had felt euphoric, though now he was starting to realise that the feeling had come from the fact that he had been locked up in the unit, providing the perfect alibi, one that could not be broken down. Yet now he was on the outside and would have to account for his movements, once the bitch was dead every second of his movements would be scrutinised as the police grilled him.

  That was the problem, the thing that was making him sweat with fear. How could he produce a defence and talk to Zero at the same time?

  Then his eyes widened, and he gasped as the thought stampeded through his mind, the smile sliding onto his face and he rubbed his hands together in glee.

  In reality he didn't need to talk to Zero tonight, he could ring him earlier and give him his orders and then head out to sort his alibi. Suddenly, the feeling of superiority was back, and Robbins sighed in satisfaction. He turned and headed back into the kitchen and grabbed a coffee cup and added a spoon of coffee before lifting the kettle and tilting it, when a splash of water hit the back of his hand he gasped and placed the kettle back on the stand before quickly turning on the cold water tap thrusting his hand under the cool stream.

  As the burn eased, his brow creased and slowly the smile curled his lips as the perfect plan began to form in his suddenly joyful mind.

  90

  Bannister listened as Odette explained their concerns that Beth Robbins could be in danger via her ex-husband.

  Rubbing a hand across the back of his neck, the DCI sighed before nodding. 'OK, so what are we doing about trying to locate her?'

  They were in his office, the light had almost faded on another sun-filled day, Lasser was leaning back against the window ledge, his arms folded, Odette sat facing the DCI across his desk.

  'Roger is trying to track her down for us,' she explained.

  'And you two are convinced that Robbins is involved in all this?' he looked from one to the other, his face grave.

  Pushing himself away from the window, Lasser nodded as he crossed the room to stand by Odette's side.

  'He's the only suspect we have, and yes, we know we can't prove anything at the moment, but Robbins used the same tactics on Pamela Fitzsimmons, and no matter how tenuous there is a link between him and the attack on Frank,' Odette said.

  Bannister nodded slowly. 'I agree.'

  Lasser felt the look of surprise flicker on his face and then he cleared his throat and folded his hands in front of him.

  'You do?' Odette asked.

  'Definitely,' Bannister said as he rose to his feet. 'Like you say, we have no proof but that doesn't mean we're on a wild goose chase, Robbins got away with it once before and experience tells us that once someone avoids being caught then chances are they'll do it again.'

  'Yeah well, he already considers himself smarter than anyone else and when he got away with brainwashing Pamela Fitzsimmons it will have stoked his ego, but also the fact that we saved his ex–wife from burning to death will have pissed him off big time,' Lasser said.

  'And we know Robbins plays the long game,' Odette added.

  The DCI glanced at the window, the light had vanished to such an extent that he could see the room reflected back at him in the glass, three sepia images looking ghost-like.

  Shifting his gaze back to Odette and Lasser, he sighed. 'If his aim is to have his ex-wife killed then we have to find her before he does and get her somewhere safe.'

  'But that won't stop him from recruiting other damaged people, Foster was used to kill Banks and attack Marshall and we now know he already has someone else following his orders,' Lasser said, his dark eyes full of impotent rage.

  Bannister pulled a face and for a few seconds the anguish was there in his eyes, a look of desperation that bordered on defeat.

  Then there was a knock at the door and Roger popped his head around.

  'Sorry to disturb you, boss, but I have an address for John Hinton.'

  Grabbing the pen and pad from the desk Bannister nodded. 'OK, Rog, let's have it.'

  'Number one Blackthorn Lane, Shevington.'

  The DCI scribbled the address down with a flourish. 'And what about Beth Robbins?'

  'Still looking but found nothing so far,' Roger admitted.

  'Well, keep at it, we need to track her down quickly,' Bannister said grimly.

  Roger nodded before vanishing back through the door.

  'So, you're going to see the Faith's father?' Lasser asked.

  Bannister nodded. 'I want to have another word with the man, get him to see sense,' he paused, 'and warn him that if he turns up at my house then I'll kick his arse big time.'

 
'Do you want us to come with you?' Odette asked.

  Bannister shook his head. 'I don't need my hand holding, Odette, I'm quite capable of diplomacy.'

  'Kicking his arse doesn't sound diplomatic to me,' she responded.

  'Well, hopefully it won't come to that, but Hinton needs to see sense whether he likes it or not,' Bannister said as he stood up. 'Right, I assume you two will be heading home, but if Roger finds out where Robbins's ex is staying then it will need sorting.'

  'She could have moved away after what happened the first time,' Odette suggested.

  'Might not be a bad thing,' Bannister replied as he grabbed his jacket and slipped it on.

  Lasser and Odette headed across the room and Bannister paused at the door and looked around his office before turning out the light and following.

  91

  David Stone blinked into the darkened bedroom, the images on the walls now blurred by shadows.

  Swinging his legs to the floor, he rubbed his eyes and tentatively searched his mind before sighing in relief when he failed to hear the familiar internal sobbing.

  Rising, he walked from the room, closing the door quietly before flicking on the landing light and heading into the bathroom. Stripping off, he stepped into the shower letting the hot water wash away the feeling of fatigue, his mind slowly waking up as he tilted his head to the spray.

  Twenty minutes later, as he drove down the country lane he thought of the voice on the phone and felt the hatred rise inside, raging through his mind in a blast that obliterated all other thought.

  Reaching the main road, he turned left and flicked on the headlights, when his phone rang, he glanced at it in surprise seeing the now-familiar number flashing on the screen.

  Tapping the answer button, he checked the mirrors, his lips pressed together. 'I'm here, Master,' he said in a voice devoid of emotion.

  'I have instructions, and I warn you now they must be followed to the letter.'

  'Understood.'

  'I want you at number one…'

  'Blackthorn Lane,' Stone interjected and then waited for the angry retort.

  'What have I told you about interrupting me?' the voice hissed.

  'Sorry, Master.'

  'I will tell you the same thing I told that fool Foster. It is your job to obey me without question, you don't need to think, you don't need to try and fathom my demands or my reasoning, all you need concern yourself with is doing exactly what I say when I say it.'

  'Understood,' Stone replied as he checked the mirrors again before indicating and turning right onto a narrow winding lane.

  'If you fail to do that then I will simply vanish and that is the last you will ever hear from me, you can go back to your pitiful life and wallow in regret before cutting your wrists – and just to make sure you die quickly then here is a little tip, when you make the final cut it's quicker to go down the road rather than across the street.'

  Stone almost gasped aloud at the words, the fury slamming through his mind closely followed by an all-consuming hatred that momentarily blinded him to the road ahead. Hitting the brakes, he came to a stop, his chest rising and falling, his eyes glaring at nothing as the familiar words

  ''it's quicker to go down the road rather than across the street'' filled his brain.

  'Believe me, there are plenty more where you came from. If you succeed, then wonderful things await you but fail me and you are damned.'

  'Damned,' Stone replied in a voice thick with quivering emotion as his hands slipped from the wheel, forming fists as he jammed them together.

  'It's almost dark so head over to the house, park close and then gain entry to the property, the woman who lives there is the target but if you see anyone else in the house then I want them dead as well.'

  Stone opened his mouth to reply but the fury wouldn't allow him to form any words.

  'Are you listening to me?' the voice demanded.

  'How do you want her to die?' he managed to ask as his fists continued to grind together.

  'Badly.'

  Taking a deep breath, Stone took hold of the wheel and started to drive forward. 'If I get there and the target isn't alone then I won't be able to dispose of the bodies like I did with Foster,' he said before going through the gears.

  'Do you think I don't know that?' once again the voice was harsh and full of self-importance.

  'I'm sorry, Master,' Stone mumbled the apology as he drove around a left-hand bend, his mind filled with hatred.

  'The woman has to die slowly, if there is anyone else there then finish them quickly but take your time with her.'

  'Can I ask you something, Master?'

  'No, you cannot, just follow my orders and kill whoever is there and then leave, I will contact you later tonight to make sure you have done as I've instructed.'

  Stone kept his lips pressed firmly together as the car continued out into the open fields, the headlights illuminating the way.

  'Are you still there, you worm?'

  'Yes, I'm still here.'

  'Well, do you fully understand your task?'

  'I think so.'

  '''Think so'', bloody ''think so''!' the voice exploded.

  Stone slowed down for a tight right-hand corner, his eyes mere slits of fury. 'I want to obey you completely but there could be a problem,' he almost whispered, adding the tremble to his voice as he accelerated along the straight section of road.

  'I can see you're another useless bastard, another waste of space, you cretin. There is no ''problem'' and that question has just ended your life, I…'

  Reaching forward, Stone stabbed at the screen ending the call as he planted his foot on the gas, the car roaring forward, the speed rapidly increasing as he gritted his teeth, the headlights blasting out as the road unfolded before him. When he screamed, the sound of anguish and fury filled the car and then another bend suddenly appeared and he slammed the brakes on, the sound of tortured rubber vying for supremacy with his howl of anger. The car bucked and skidded as he fought with the wheel, bringing it under control and missing the dry-stone wall by less than six inches.

  Pushing himself back in the seat he set off again, his brow furrowed as he swiped the sweat away with the back of his left hand.

  When the phone started to ring again, he almost ignored it but then he tapped at the screen and waited for yet more abuse.

  'YOU HUNG UP ON ME!'

  'The signal went,' Stone replied quickly. 'I'm out in the countryside and the reception just vanished.'

  'What are you doing driving around, I never gave you permission to leave the house?'

  'I've still got Foster's head in the boot of the car and I thought I'd dispose of it tonight,' Stone responded.

  'His fucking head!?'

  'Yes, Master, I've placed the rest of his body in various locations, his head is the last piece to dispose of.'

  The silence seemed to stretch out as the white lines flashed in the headlights' glare.

  'You said you see a problem with killing the whore tonight?' the voice sounded different, weaker somehow as if his confidence was suddenly a fragile entity.

  'I do.'

  'Well, spit it out, you bastard.'

  Stone felt another scream of hatred building inside and he grabbed the bottle of water from the holder and squirted some into his mouth.

  'I am ordering you to tell me.' the voice snapped.

  'What if there is more than one woman at the property?'

  'What are you talking about, I have already told you to kill anyone who is in the house?'

  'But how will I know which one to kill slowly?' Stone paused, 'I want to do exactly as you say but if there are two – or even more – women present then how can I be sure the right one suffers the most?'

  When the call suddenly ended, a bitter smile slipped onto David Stone's face. 'Let's see what you have to say about that, you fucking bastard,' he snarled as he drove away into the darkness.

  92

  'I'm on my way over there now,' Bannist
er said as he pulled out of the station gates and turned left, the headlights blazing.

  'Thank God you found out where he lives.'

  'Has Faith turned up yet?' he asked.

  'No, the girls went to the petrol station to try and find her, they spoke to the cashier and he told them that Faith had tried to pay for the fuel with her credit card, but it was refused.'

  'Meaning her old man has cut off her funds,' Bannister said, shaking his head in angry disbelief.

  'I'm worried about her, Alan, she's not answering her phone and the girls think she could have made her way back home.'

  Bannister increased his speed but resisted the urge to flick on the siren. 'Well, if she is there then I'll make sure she's safe, don't worry about that.'

  'Just be careful OK? I've never met the man but everything I've heard about him makes me feel uneasy.'

  'I'll be tactful, Sue, but this guy needs to do the right thing and putting a block on her credit card is just so bloody low. I mean, he must have known she'd have used it at some point, so it would have left her feeling mortified.'

  'Not the act of a man who loves his daughter that's for sure,' she agreed.

  'Being upset is one thing but this guy is taking everything to the extreme.'

  'If she is there and he refuses to listen then make sure you bring her back here, I don't want her left at the house,' she said.

  'I'll do my best,' he replied, feeling the tension mount inside. 'But I can't drag her from the house, Sue, if she decides to stay then that will be her decision, otherwise I'll be as bad as her father demanding things of her.'

  When she sighed, Bannister pursed his lips as he waited for her to respond.

  'You're right of course, but just let her know she can always come here if she needs to.'

  'I'll tell her, but hopefully Hinton will see sense and listen to what she has to say for a change.'

  'Will you let me know how it goes?'

  'I'll ring you after I've had a word with the bugger.'

  'Because I have the girls here and they're frantic with worry about her.'