by M A Comley
“If you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep that mouth of yours shut. We don’t talk to the likes of you.” The man leaned forward and sneered, within inches of Yao’s face.
He flinched at the smell of garlic on the man’s breath. “The likes of me? Ah, I get it, the likes of me being a black man, is that it?”
The man jabbed Yao in the stomach with the bar. “What did I just say? Are you fucking stupid or what?”
“No, nothing could be further from the truth, in fact, I have a degree in psychology from university. What have you got? Shit for brains, I’m guessing.” What the fuck did I say that for? Why don’t I ever listen to Akissi and keep my mouth shut?
“Why you piece of…”
Yao grunted each time a blow hit him, his strength and willpower waning with every strike.
“Stop it! Don’t do this!”
What was that? A woman’s voice? He turned his head in the direction the voice came from. Footsteps sounded; two of the men ran in that direction. A slap. The woman screamed out, and then a baby started crying. My God, what is going on here? Who is she? A woman with a baby? Are they holding her hostage, too? Torturing her as well? Who are these animals, these bastards, to keep a baby here?
His attention was drawn back to his own plight when a searing pain struck his thigh. He stared down at the knife inserted in his leg. He yelled out, the pain excruciating. “Why? What do you want from me? Do I know you?”
“I warned you not to talk.” The blond peered over his shoulder and said, “Casey, get the special equipment out.”
The man grinned and left the area. The blond blocked Yao’s line of vision. He tried to crane his neck around him, but it was hopeless. A clanking noise, followed by something being wheeled perhaps. He wasn’t sure, at least that’s what it sounded like to his ears. Suddenly all became clear. The blond moved aside, and a form of winch came into view. At the end of the winch was an unmistakable object: a car engine. What the fuck?
The machine moved closer, until the engine swayed above him. “What are you doing?”
The blond appeared at his side. “You’ll find out soon enough. Something is about to have a crush on you.” He laughed at his own twisted joke.
In that moment, Yao feared his life was about to end. These men are deranged. They’re never going to listen to anything I say. Ignorant fuckers, the lot of them. Their intent is clear and dangerous, and there’s nothing I can do about it.
“Why?” he asked for the umpteenth time.
The blond laughed again and raised his hand, giving the other man in charge of the winch the order to proceed.
Yao watched on in disbelief. The car engine swung towards him and then it dropped at high speed, crushing his chest.
Joe and the rest of the gang took in what had happened to the black man. After a few seconds, they turned to high-five each other and Joe congratulated them, “Good job. Great idea using the engine, Otis.”
“Yeah, I saw it in a film once, had it stored up in here for a while,” he replied, jabbing himself in the temple.
“Right, all we need to do now is work out where we’re going to dump the body, oh, and we also need to get rid of the engine and the machinery, all before eight. Are you up for it, boys?”
“I’m going to have to sit this one out, lads,” Toby replied.
“Yeah, I’ll let you, this time. Serves you right for letting him get one over on you, mate. Might teach you to be on your guard in the future.”
“All right, you don’t need to point out the obvious, Joe. I’ll be more cautious next time. I’m gonna go home, clean myself up a bit before I head in to work, if that’s all right with you?”
“Go for it. We’ll meet up later, okay? I’ve got a thirst for this now.”
“Yeah, I’ll be around later. Same time?”
“Yep, nine as usual.”
Toby gave a thumbs-up and hobbled out of the building.
It was now down to the rest of them to dispose of the body, but Joe had something else on his mind first. He crossed to the other side of the warehouse and stood in front of the sobbing woman. “What didn’t you understand when I told you not to make a noise?”
“I’m sorry. Why are you killing these men? What have they ever done to you?”
“They exist. They walk among us. We don’t like that, not that it’s any concern of yours. Have I told you what a wimp your hubby was when we took his life?”
She gasped, and fresh tears bulged in her eyes.
“No, one day I’ll fill you in on all the gruesome details, but not today. Now we’re going to have some fun and then we’re going to get rid of the body.”
“No, please, not again…”
7
Katy received the call from Patti not long after she’d set off for work from home that morning. It was barely seven-fifty; her days appeared to be starting earlier each and every day. She shuddered at the prospect that awaited her. Patti had warned her it was gruesome. Katy dialled her partner’s mobile.
“Are you on your way into work?”
“Yes, I thought we were supposed to be starting early. Is there a problem at your end?”
“Leave my backside out of this,” Katy chuckled.
Charlie groaned. “Someone is on the ball this morning, it’s too early for me after last night’s grilling.”
“Oh bugger, sorry, you can fill me in later. I need you to go to the woods at the end of Turnpike Road, do you know it?”
“Hmm… I suppose I’d better ask why, what am I going to find there?”
“I’m sure your imagination will come up with an answer along the right lines.”
“Damn, not another body?”
“Sadly, yes. Patti rang me five minutes ago, requesting our attendance to the crime scene.”
“Bollocks. Sorry. Okay, I’ll turn around and head out that way. How far away are you?”
Katy glanced at the satnav. “Fifteen minutes, although the traffic is getting heavy up ahead. I’ll be breezing through it in a second or two, once I hit the siren.”
“Lucky you. I should be there in around eighteen to twenty minutes.”
“See you when I see you. Drive carefully, otherwise I’m bound to get it in the neck from your mother for not taking care of you.”
Charlie sniggered. “Sounds about right.”
Katy ended the call and immediately switched on the siren and the lights. This paved the way for her, and she arrived, without incident, at the crime scene eleven minutes later. Feeling pleased with herself, she hopped out of the car and fetched a suit and shoe covers from her boot. Leaning against Patti’s van, she slipped into her protective clothing and looked up to see Charlie pull up behind her car.
“Morning. Have you got a spare suit for me? I’m running a little low.”
“Yes, in the boot. Remind me to get more supplies from Patti before we leave.”
Charlie retrieved a suit, and once she was dressed, they rustled their way over to where Patti was examining the body of yet another black man.
“For fuck’s sake. Not another one. This is getting beyond a joke now.”
“You’re telling me,” Patti grumbled. “And here’s another thing, the injuries are getting worse with each corpse we stumble across.”
“That’s disappointing,” Katy mumbled. “What have we got?”
“Male in his late twenties, I’m guessing. He’s married, according to the band on his finger. Beaten, stabbed in the leg, and then finished off possibly by using a heavy weight of sorts and placing it on his chest.”
“He was crushed to death? What the actual…? Why? Don’t bother answering, I know you can’t tell me that yet. Any form of ID on him?”
“Yes. In the evidence bag over there.”
“Charlie, can you see to that for me?”
Her partner took a few paces and picked up the evidence bag. She jotted down the information and returned to stand alongside Katy once more. “Yao Soro. Twenty-nine Miller Street.”
“At least we have that to hand. The question is, why wouldn’t the killers dump his ID? Why leave it where we can easily find it?”
“Cocky shits?”
“Yep, I think you might be right,” Katy replied after giving the answer some thought. “Was he killed here or transported to this spot after his death?”
Patti stared down at the corpse. “I’m taking a punt that he was killed elsewhere, just because of the amount of blood I’ve seen in the area. From that leg wound alone, there should be far more blood spray or spatter around.”
“Okay. Well, that could be something in our favour, at least,” Katy suggested.
“CCTV?” Charlie asked, quickly cottoning on to what she was getting at.
“Correct. We travelled by some main roads to get here. Anyway, that’s all we have right now until we speak to the next of kin.”
Patti crouched and appraised the victim. “He was beaten continuously I would say, just like the others. The knife wound to the leg may have been carried out during torture, but who’s to say on that one?” She pointed at the man’s caved-in chest and shook her head. “This is the injury that concerns me the most.”
“The one that more than likely caused his death?”
“Yes, I can’t say I’ve ever seen anything like it personally. It must have been an extraordinary weight to have achieved that sort of damage. I’ve been standing here considering what equipment might have been used, and so far, I’ve come up blank.”
“What about barbells with excessive weights on either end, could that be a possibility?” Katy asked, peering closer into the man’s chest then taking a step back, wishing she hadn’t bothered.
Patti shook her head. “No, I don’t believe so. I’m inclined to believe this was carried out by something mechanical, like some form of press, maybe. There again, I’ve been known to be wrong in the past with my outlandish assumptions. Anyway, I’ll know more once he’s on the table and I open up the rest of him. A quick assessment tells me that his heart was healthy, if that’s any consolation.”
Katy faced her and raised an eyebrow. “I’ll be sure to tell his wife, shall I?”
Patti pulled a face. “I wouldn’t, she might end up slapping you. So, as you can see, this is all we have. I don’t intend tinkering too much here, I’m going to get him shifted to the mortuary ASAP.”
“In other words, you want us out of your hair, quick smart,” Katy interpreted correctly.
Patti grinned. “It’s in all our interests, I assure you. I know the trees are covering us here, but the forecast says that a huge downpour is imminent.”
“You’d better get on with it then. We’ll head off. Ring me if anything comes to light.”
“You’ll be at the top of the list. Good luck relaying the news to his wife or next of kin.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Katy and Charlie trudged their way back through the fallen autumn leaves and broken branches of the wooded area to their respective cars. They discarded their paper suits and deposited them in the black bag at the entrance to the forest. “What’s the postcode, Charlie?” Her partner gave her the information which she entered into the satnav. “I’ll see you there.”
Charlie hastily got in her car. They both completed a three-point turn and set off. En route Katy kept one eye on the road and another on the lookout for any possible CCTV or ANPR cameras. She smiled when she spotted a CCTV camera halfway down Jackson Road. She glanced at the clock on her dash; it was too early for any of the team to have arrived at the station, the task would need to wait until the incident room was manned.
Around twenty minutes later, Katy drew up outside a small terraced house which had a walled front garden but was lacking a gate. Charlie drew to a halt behind her not long after and, together, they approached the house.
They waited for the door to open, Katy’s anxiety notching up a level. “What if the wife can’t speak English? Damn, I should have thought about that on the way and organised a translator to meet us here.”
“Too late now,” Charlie whispered as the door opened.
A young pregnant black woman answered the door. “Hello. Who are you?”
Katy let out a relieved sigh after detecting the woman spoke perfect English with the faintest of accents. She produced her ID and introduced herself and Charlie.
The woman’s brow knitted, and she shook her head. “Police? Is something wrong?”
“Is it Mrs Soro?”
“Yes. Please, tell me why you are here. Oh no, it’s not my husband, is it? Has he had an accident on the way to work?”
“It would be better if we spoke inside, Mrs Soro, if that’s possible?”
“Oh my, of course. Come in. My name is Akissi.” She shuffled back to allow them entry to the small but richly decorated hallway. The dark blue looked striking against the white paintwork of the stairs, the skirting boards, the doorframes and doors leading off the hallway. Akissi pointed at the first room on the right. “In there, it’s the lounge. We’ll be more comfortable.”
Katy led the way into a square room which had a featured maroon-coloured wall at one end. The rest were painted white. There were pictures of the couple on every surface; most of them were wedding photos. A sudden lump formed in Katy’s throat. She was about to destroy this woman’s happiness with just a few heartrending words. “Why don’t we all take a seat?” she suggested.
Akissi sat in a small armchair close to the fireplace, leaving the sofa for Katy and Charlie to drop onto. “Please tell me why you are here.”
“I’m sorry, the news isn’t pleasant, I’m afraid. Earlier this morning, your husband’s body was discovered in woodland just off Jackson Road.”
Akissi’s eyes widened and then glistened with tears. “His body. Are you telling me my husband is dead? Was it an accident? Did he die on his way into work?” Her voice was teetering on the brink for a few seconds; she held it together long enough to ask her questions before she burst into tears.
“I’m sorry, yes. We believe he died in suspicious circumstances. Perhaps you can tell us where he worked? Did he work nights somewhere?”
Akissi wiped away her tears, blew her nose on a tissue and held a hand on her stomach. “No, he was a postman. He started at five every morning. You mean I will never see him again?” Her gaze wandered to the large wedding photo of the happy couple, hanging on the wall above the fireplace.
“I’m so sorry for your loss. Is there someone we can call to be with you?”
“Yes, oh yes, I need my sister here. I’ll call her. Now, where did I put my phone?” She shot out of her chair and winced. Her hand automatically fell upon the bump of her stomach. “Oh God, the pain. Please, please, hang in there, baby, don’t come now. I’ve been having contractions on and off for a few hours.”
Katy left her chair to assist the woman. She lowered her back into her seat. “You should have told us when we arrived. Where is your phone?”
“Think, woman, think. I have baby brain. Ah yes, I believe it might be upstairs, beside my bed.”
Katy glanced at Charlie. “Can you get it for me?”
Charlie tore out of the room and thundered up the stairs. Her footsteps sounded overhead and came thundering down the stairs again moments later. She entered the lounge and handed the mobile to Akissi who reached for it with her shaking hand.
“I can’t do it. Can someone else talk to her if I ring the number?” She cried out again.
“Of course. Leave it to me,” Katy replied with a smile.
Akissi made two attempts to punch in the correct number and then passed her mobile to Katy. “Her name is Sukiska.”
Katy nodded and listened to the dial tone four times before a woman answered. “Akissi, I was just thinking about you. Can I call you back? I’m getting the kids ready for school.”
“Hello, Sukiska. I’m here with your sister now, I’m DI Katy Foster. She’s had some bad news and wanted me to give you a call.”
“What? What bad news? Oh G
od, it’s not Yao, is it? Is he okay?” the woman shouted.
“I’m sorry, no, he’s not. Akissi wondered if you could come and sit with her.”
“No! I mean, yes, of course I will. Oh no, I have three children to get ready for school. It will take me twenty minutes to feed them and send them on their way. Give me half an hour.”
“Please, take your time. We’ll stay with her until you get here.”
“Thank you. Tell my sister I love her.”
“I will. Take care. We’ll see you soon.” Katy jabbed the End Call button and placed the mobile on the arm of the chair. “She’ll be here soon, after she’s got the children ready for school.”
“I understand. I shouldn’t have rung her.” She doubled over as the pain struck again. “Oh God, I don’t think the baby is going to wait.”
The panic rose in Katy. She turned to look at Charlie who had her phone in her hand, ready to make the call if necessary. “Akissi, when is your baby due?”
“Any day now, but I don’t think he’s going to wait.” Akissi screamed out and grabbed hold of Katy’s hand. She squeezed so tightly Katy thought the blood supply was about to get cut off.
“Do you want us to call an ambulance?”
“Yes, do it!” Akissi yelled as another cramp took hold and her waters broke. “He’s coming, I just know he is. Please, you have to help me. I don’t want to lose him as well as Yao. Oh God, my poor husband will never see his son.”
“I’m so sorry. The ambulance will be here soon, I promise. Charlie, place the call.”
Charlie went out into the hallway to ring nine-nine-nine and make the operator aware of what was going on.
Meanwhile, Katy tried to do her best to keep Akissi nice and calm. “Come on, breathe with me. In and out, you can do it. Don’t think about anything else, Akissi, you need to concentrate on the baby now, he’s your future.”
“But my husband. I want him with me, and that’s never going to happen, is it?”
