by Mark Tilbury
Bella laughed. She stepped over the prone figure and turned around. ‘I’ll move him. We don’t want you laid up for weeks. Especially now we’re almost home and dry.’
‘Thank you, Bella. You’re a gift from the gods.’
Tommy didn’t have the strength to keep his head up any longer. He flopped back on the bed and closed his eyes.
With a series of grunts and curses, Bella finally managed to haul Clancy free of the stairs. A small pool of blood stained the steps from a cut on the politician’s head.
Duggan joined her. ‘Good work, Bella. You have the strength of a man.’
‘Thank you, Master. Not something I particularly aspire to, though.’
‘Indeed, Bella. Indeed.’
They walked to the bed and stood by Tommy.
Bella poked Tommy’s stomach. ‘You look a bit chilly, Number Nine. Did Mummy never tell you to wrap up warm in the winter?’
‘Technically, it’s autumn, dear,’ Duggan reminded her. ‘But it might as well be winter in this god-awful country.’
Bella poked Tommy again. Harder. ‘I can’t wait to be lying on the beach and putting all this nonsense behind us.’
Tommy’s heart threatened to give out at any moment. He tried to remain still, feign unconsciousness, but it was impossible to do so with the cold burrowing deep into his bones.
‘It’s your lucky day, Number Nine,’ Bella said. ‘We’re gonna have to kill you a lot quicker than planned thanks to dear old Sir Bernard over there.’
‘Such a shame,’ Duggan said. ‘I was hoping we could take our time with you.’ He sighed. ‘Such is life. You wait right there while we feed the fish with a nice piece of fresh meat from Number Seven’s leg.’
Tommy opened his eyes. ‘Leave… h-h-him… alone.’
Bella leaned close. ‘And what are you gonna do if we don’t?’
‘P-p-p please.’
Bella laughed. ‘You seem to have developed a stammer, Number Nine. Perhaps the cold weather has addled your brain. Never mind, The Master has a nice drop of hydrochloric acid to warm the cockles of your heart. No extra charge.’
A loud thump upstairs interrupted them.
Duggan whipped round and stared at the door. ‘What the heck was that?’
Another thud, this time followed by a loud crash.
‘Shall I go and see what it is?’ Bella asked.
Duggan turned back to face her. ‘No. Go and lock the basement door.’
‘What do you think it is?’
‘Well, it’s not a bloody cat, is it?’
Bella was about to go up the steps when the basement door flew open and smashed against the wall.
DS Baker entered with two armed police officers behind him. ‘Stay right where you are. Don’t move.’
Duggan faced them, a large carving knife held out in front of him. ‘What the fuck?’
‘Put the knife down. Drop it on the floor and stand against the wall with your hands on your head.’
Bella’s mouth hung open. She gawped at Duggan.
Baker walked down the steps. The armed men stayed in position at the top, guns trained on Duggan.
Baker stopped at the foot of the steps. ‘Drop the knife, Mr Duggan. Now!’
Duggan shook his head and ordered Bella to walk to the fish tank.
‘Why, Master?’
‘Just do it, Bella. Go to the tank and stand around the other side.’
Bella did as she was told, glancing back at Duggan several times as she went.
‘Who gave you permission to enter my home?’ Duggan asked. ‘Have you got a warrant?’
‘I don’t need a warrant, Mr Duggan. Not when I suspect a crime has either been committed or is about to be. Now, put down the knife and do as you’re told.’
Duggan looked at the armed men. ‘And if I don’t?’
‘Please don’t make this any worse than it already is, Mr Duggan.’
Duggan walked slowly backwards and joined Bella behind the fish tank. ‘How the hell did they find us?’
Bella shook her head. ‘I’ve no idea, Master.’
‘But no one knows about us. You must have let something slip.’
Bella plucked at her wig as if searching for answers among the curls. ‘I didn’t, Master. I swear to God.’
‘You think they just guessed, do you? Out of all the houses in Oxford, they thought: Let’s give Thorndike House a try? You must’ve said something to that sister of his.’
Baker and his team were now halfway across the basement.
‘I thought I could trust you, Bella,’ Duggan said. ‘Clearly, I misjudged you.’
‘It’s not my fault, Master. I did everything exactly as you told me to.’
Duggan suddenly stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her neck. He held the knife to her throat. ‘You come one step closer, and I swear to God I’ll slice the bitch from ear to ear.’
Baker stopped. Held up a hand. ‘Let the lady go, Mr Duggan.’
‘No.’
‘Please, Master, you’re scaring me,’ Bella said. ‘I don’t wanna die.’
‘You should’ve thought about that before you betrayed me.’
‘I didn’t,’ Bella squawked. ‘I swear.’
‘Careless tongues cost lives, Bella. You of all people should understand that.’
‘I’ll tell you what I’ll do,’ Baker said. ‘If you let the lady go and allow me to call an ambulance, I’ll make sure the record shows you were cooperative.’
‘Is that right, Detective?’
‘Yes.’
‘Will the judge let me off with a slap on the wrist?’
Baker pointed to Clancy’s motionless body. ‘Who’s he, Mr Duggan?’
‘That’s the one and only Sir Bernard Clancy MP.’
‘Is he still alive?’
‘Ask him.’
Baker turned and whispered something to his colleagues, then looked back at Duggan. ‘Would you at least let me check the two boys over to make sure they’re all right?’
‘Sorry. No can do.’
‘But—’
‘But nothing, Detective. I want you to take order wannabe SAS crew out of my house and away from the premises. If you allow me and Bella safe passage, you can do whatever you want with Clancy and the boys after I’m gone.’
Tommy listened to the conversation ping back and forth. It was impossible to comprehend he was actually stuck in the middle of this nightmare. He pleaded with God to make Baker do what Duggan wanted. Anything to get that maniac as far away from him as possible.
Baker nodded. He addressed his colleagues. ‘Okay, boys, do as he says’
‘Are you sure?’ one of them asked.
‘Yeah.’
The two officers left their positions.
Duggan waited for them to leave. ‘You, too, Detective.’
‘Tell you what, Mr Duggan. You and Bella can leave, and I’ll stay here with the boys. Then I can get them some medical assistance after you’ve gone.’
Duggan seemed to consider the offer for a moment. ‘I don’t think you—’
Bella suddenly back-heeled him in the shin mid-sentence, momentarily weakening his grip. She reached behind her and thrust a thumb into his eye.
He cried out and let go of her neck. Clamped a hand over his injured eye.
Bella tried to break free, but Duggan plunged the knife into her back.
‘You traitorous little bitch,’ he yelled, yanking out the knife and stabbing her again. This time the blade sliced through the side of her neck.
Bella collapsed, blood pumping from a severed artery. It spurted onto the fish tank, sending the piranhas into a frenzy of activity.
Baker took a few steps towards him. ‘Put the knife down. Put it down, now!’
Duggan swivelled to face him. ‘Why are you still here?’ he screeched. ‘I told you to get the fuck out of my house.’
‘You need to calm down.’
Duggan waved the knife at the detective. ‘I’ll do as I
please within my own four walls. You have no right to be here.’
Bella fell forward and lay face down on the floor. Her wig sat in a pool of blood beside her.
‘I gave her everything,’ Duggan said, pointing the knife at his dying charge. ‘Took her in when she had nothing. Treated her like a queen, and this is how she repays me.’
‘It’s over,’ Baker said. ‘Don’t make this any worse than it already is.’
Duggan laughed. ‘Over? I can’t hear any fat ladies singing.’
Baker took another step towards him. ‘Just give me the knife.’
‘You know what, Detective? Everyone betrays you in the end. Even those you thought were your closest friends. I didn’t expect anything better from Hemmings. He always was a fat lazy sod. But Bella? How could she turn on me like this? I’m her master.’
Bella groaned and gurgled blood. Raised her head slightly, then collapsed again.
‘She promised to serve me.’
‘If you don’t let me call an ambulance, she’s gonna die. Is that what you want?’
Duggan glanced at the body. ‘That ship’s already sailed, Detective.’
Baker took another step closer. ‘Give it up. It’s over.’
Duggan raised the knife and held it to his throat. ‘If you want evidence, as I’m sure you do, there’s a vault built into the wall over there. Among other things, it contains films of all my clients indulging their warped fantasies.’
Baker nodded. ‘Okay. Thank you. But—’
Duggan drew the blade across his throat and severed his jugular vein. With blood pumping from the wound, he fell forward and submerged his head and upper body in the fish tank.
The piranhas, unfed for several days due to more pressing matters at Thorndike House, were sparked into a feeding frenzy.
Duggan’s arms flailed briefly as the fish devoured the flesh on his face. Then he ceased moving.
Baker wasted no time. He phoned an ambulance. By the time he’d finished the call, most of the flesh from Duggan’s face and neck had been devoured. The water was stained pink with his blood.
Baker hurried across the room to Tommy and put a hand on his shoulder. Shook him. Checked he was still breathing. ‘Tommy? Can you hear me, lad?’
Apart from his eyelids fluttering slightly, the boy didn’t respond. Baker took off his coat and covered Tommy’s naked body. Checked his pulse. ‘It’s all right, lad. You’re gonna be all right.’
Olly stirred. Cried out. Rolled onto his back.
‘Thank fuck,’ Baker whispered. ‘Oh, sweet Jesus, thank fuck for that.’
Epilogue
Six months later.
Tommy didn’t remember being carried out of Thorndike House on a stretcher and taken to hospital. Thankfully, by the time Duggan had killed Bella and taken his own life, he’d lapsed into unconsciousness again. But, unlike his first ordeal at the hands of a group of sadistic psychopaths, he could recall with clarity everything else that had happened to him this time.
Olly had also survived. After spending three weeks in hospital, he was now staying with an uncle in Bicester while he recovered. Physically, at least. The mental scars of his experience at Thorndike House would probably never heal. Tommy had spoken to him on the phone once since returning home, and they’d promised to stay in touch, but Tommy thought it was probably best not to. They’d only talk about their ordeal, and that would likely pour acid onto their festering wounds.
Sir Bernard Clancy, as with most cowards, had taken his own life awaiting trial. Blown his head off with a shotgun in the bedroom at home where he’d inflicted so much pain and suffering on teenage boys.
Tommy didn’t think Duggan, Bella, and Clancy got what they truly deserved, but hopefully God would make the final judgement on them and send them to Hell for their vile crimes. For that reason alone, Tommy had been visiting the church regularly with his mother and praying for justice every night.
Two other boys had made it out of Thorndike House alive. They were all recovering well physically, but again, as with Tommy and Olly, it was the mental anguish that would probably never heal.
Hemmings’ body had been exhumed from the garden, but the cause of death had not been conclusive. Tommy didn’t care. The wanker was dead, and that was all that really mattered to him. Hopefully, he’d have to answer to God, too. Explain why he thought it was right to ferry young boys to paedophile’s homes knowing full well what was waiting in store for them.
The police were still investigating the tapes and macabre mementos found in Duggan’s safe. Dr Charles Geary was the only one who’d so far been arrested and charged with sexual assault and the unlawful imprisonment of a minor.
There would probably be a trial sometime in the future, but Tommy didn’t want to dwell on that. He was determined to look to the future and do something positive with his life. Something that would make a difference. Perhaps social work. Or helping troubled teens. Anything that might save other kids from suffering at the hands of these monsters hiding in society masquerading as pillars of the community.
He glanced at his watch: the one that had literally saved his life. The police had found it in Bella’s room beneath a blonde wig. Nearly midday. He might go for a walk this afternoon. Not too far. Just to Saxon’s Green and back. Get a bit of exercise after being cooped up for the last few days.
Danielle walked into the conservatory where Tommy was sitting enjoying a rare glimpse of spring sunshine. She smiled. ‘You’ve got a visitor.’
‘Who?’
‘Jordan.’
‘Cool. Tell him to come through.’
Although Tommy’s memory hadn’t returned completely, he now recalled large chunks of his life prior to throwing himself out of Dave Hemmings’ car. School. Friends. Playing for the school football team. Fishing.
He no longer had to pretend Jordan was his best mate; he knew he was. And he’d never forget how Jordan had saved his life by giving him the smart watch.
Jordan walked into the conservatory. Grinned. ‘How you doin’, mate?’
‘Not too bad.’
He sat in a wicker chair next to Tommy. ‘Nice day.’
‘Makes a change. It was bloody freezing last night.’ He didn’t add he’d spent much of it sitting in the conservatory mulling over things best forgotten.
‘Had any thoughts about going back to school after Easter?’
Tommy nodded. ‘Yeah. I’m gonna go. Gotta start catching up on my schoolwork sometime.’
‘Good choice. You ever need any help with anything, give us a shout.’
‘I will. Thanks.’
‘Maybe you can start playing for the school team again next year.’
‘We’ll see. Depends what the doctor says about heading balls and stuff. Plus, the medication makes me pretty groggy.’
‘Yeah, course. You just concentrate on getting better.’
Tommy turned to his friend. ‘I’ll never be able to repay you, but I’m so grateful for what you did.’
Jordan held out a hand. ‘Best mates?’
Tommy took it. Gripped it tightly. ‘Best mates forever.’
Acknowledgements
Special thanks to:
Emmy Ellis for editing the book and her amazing work on the cover
Jacqueline Beard for proofreading the book
Donna Morfett, Suze Clarke-Morris and Alyson Read for their valued opinion
All in The Twisted Annie’s Group for their incredible support
To all the book bloggers who give their time to read and review my books. #ILoveBookBloggers!
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