by Jay Nadal
“All redheads?” Helen asked.
Scott confirmed with a nod. “The fact that they were all redheads, and our cases are all redheads gives us a new focus. SCAS are looking at known offenders that may have had a thing for redheads.”
“That still doesn’t give us much more to go on though, does it, Guv?”
“Well, yes and no, Mike. We know that someone’s into redheads. We can cross-reference that against the sex offenders register, which SCAS is doing for us. We can look at any offenders who have served time more than ten years ago that carried the same MO. It also suggests that the offender has moved about it. There is also one other potential victim that SCAS identified. There was a psychiatrist in Essex who went missing, presumed dead.”
“Presumed?” Abby asked as she raised a brow.
“The body was never found, but she was presumed to have died from her injuries. A cleaner at the practice discovered what she described as a bloodbath. There were signs of a violent struggle, but the victim was never found. Details of the report are coming over to us. As soon as they do we need to look into it at once.”
33
She glanced at the small scrap of paper that had her scribbled shopping list. Rice pops, milk, a bag of apples, a small bunch of bananas and some loo roll. With money being tight, she would always hunt out the cheapest bargains, preferring instead to save her money for when she headed over to the union bar. A basket would be all she needed as she hovered around the fruit aisle. A pack of six Royal Gala apples for one pound and ten pence would do nicely. She picked up a few packs and randomly turned them over, keen to find a pack which had the least amount of bruising.
It wasn’t until she was walking around the fridge aisles, that the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end, and sent a cold shiver racing down the centre of her spine. She glanced over her shoulder. She wasn’t sure why, but something made her check. Nothing stood out of the ordinary. A mother wheeled a trolley with an infant who happily chewed on a soggy biscuit. An older couple discussed the merits of whether it was easier to carry two individual one-pint cartons or a single two-pint carton of milk. The only others she saw were two student types.
She shook her head and carried on. It wasn’t until she stood near the toiletry products that she had that same feeling again. Earlier she had put that sensation down to being by the cold fridges, and a draft of cold air that caused her to prickle. Once again she found herself feeling the same sensation. She stopped mid-aisle and glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes scanned the empty space. Nothing appeared odd. The usual sounds and hustle and bustle of a supermarket bounced off the aisles around her but nothing caught her attention. Yet something created an unease deep inside her, as if…, no I’m just being stupid. It’s just my imagination playing games with me.
As she went through the self-service checkouts, her mind raced. Her breath caught in her throat and she struggled to inhale, and yet couldn’t explain the cold sweat or the heart palpitations. Stop it, you’re being fucking stupid, she admonished herself as she took one last glance over her shoulder.
Oh, how he enjoyed making her squirm. His oversized navy tracksuit, scruffy trainers and baseball cap helped him to blend in and appear like just another local going about his weekly shop. He mused as he saw her glance over her shoulder several times, and yet she never caught his gaze. His presence had set the wheels in motion.
She would no doubt be on her guard now, her sixth sense begging her to pay attention, but her rational mind dispelling it as a bit of nonsense. And yet, it made the challenge even more exciting. It felt like he was playing a game of cat and mouse, the hunter and hunted. Just like the cat would grab a mouse and throw it around as a game, he found the whole chasing, capturing and playing with them, amusing.
He trailed her, taking the opportunity to walk behind those who could offer a degree of invisibility. Her pace increased. She must be worried, he thought. It’s time to turn up the heat. His heart raced and his temples throbbed in anticipation at the prospect of capturing a new project and abducting her in broad daylight.
His car was already positioned ahead in Moulsecoomb. He knew the exact route she’d be taking and the best spot where he could pounce. Adrenaline coursed through his veins the closer he got, he could almost smell her fear. Not long now my dear, Sally and Rebecca are going to love you. His lips were dry and his mouth parched as he inhaled deeply. Within moments he would be within touching distance, and with the cold steel blade pressed into her back, she’d be foolish to scream or attract attention, he thought.
The Ford Focus raced past him, as its horn tooted away. He glanced around quickly, unsure if someone was trying to get his attention. The car pulled alongside the girl and put on its hazard lights. Taken by surprise, the girl jumped, and let out a small scream as she took a few steps back. Her initial fear turned to laughter as she bent down to say something through the open passenger window.
He hadn’t figured on the boyfriend picking her up.
34
He threw the knife with such force that it raced across the floor and bounced off the wall. The shrill, metallic sound echoed off the bare brick walls. The shiny blade multiplied as its reflection caught the glare of the roof lights.
He walked around his desk, desperate to control his rapid breathing, and the rage that boiled in his belly. He turned and slammed both fists down hard on the table, the laptop and table lamp became airborne, as a deep-throated scream tore through the silence.
“Fucking bitch!” he yelled, as he stared at the reflection of the man in the mirror. His eyes bulged, wide in anger as he snarled through gritted teeth. “Fucking bitch!” he yelled again, as he pounded the desk repeatedly.
He had come back empty-handed. Failure wasn’t in the plan, he thought, as he paced around in circles. His mind spun like a vortex, his eyes darting from left to right as they searched for an explanation as to why his plan hadn’t worked.
“Sally, I told you it was risky. I told you, I told you, I told you. These things need to be done on our terms. Look where it’s got us?”
He pounded his left fist repeatedly as he sought answers from his own mind.
“Tell me, tell me, what do I do?”
His emotions flicked like a light switch between flashes of calmness and anger.
“Think fast. I need to stay one step ahead of the police. Go back and get her…No, don’t be stupid. That would be madness. It’s too risky.”
He paused mid-step and spun on his heel before racing over to the metal box. He unlocked the padlock and flipped open the lid. Rebecca lay there, pale and semi-conscious. Her eyes flickered momentarily, a rasp escaping from deep within her. Shallow breaths vibrated in her chest, her mind and body shutting down.
“Rebecca, Rebecca. After everything I’ve done for you, you still prefer to sleep than engage with me in a civil conversation.” He shook his head in disappointment. “I was hoping to bring you a gift. A playmate, for you and me. But it didn’t turn out the way I had hoped. Are you listening to me?”
He gripped her arm and shook it a few times trying to rouse her. Cold clamminess greeted his fingers so he grimaced. “You’re not turning out to be the best project after all. I had high hopes for you. You were the best I’d ever come across,” he said, glancing down at her naked form. “However, you’ve proved to be far too much trouble, and I’m not entirely sure how long you’ll want to stay with us. I think it’s time we parted company, don’t you?”
With some effort, he dragged her body out of the box and placed her gently on the floor. He undressed and lay beside her, stroking Rebecca’s soft, damp skin. After running his fingers around the edges of one breast, he pinched the nipple between his thumb and forefinger before gently gripping the dark mound between his teeth. Despite her worthlessness, he adored her body. She had curves in all the right places, just the way he liked it.
He pushed her hair to one side, and leant in and whispered in her ear, “It’s a pity you weren’t more cooperative
. We could have had lots of fun. Don’t tell her, but I think Sally had a bit of a soft spot for you. I think she fancied you more than I did. You have to understand that there’s only so much chasing I’m prepared to do. You kept sleeping and didn’t really give us a chance to get to know you better.”
She wouldn’t be with them for much longer. He sighed before pulling a few sheets of bleach wipes, wanting her to look her best for her grand exit.
This time he drove further. He had been tempted to drive back to the place where he had taken Hailey, but Sally had said it would probably attract too much attention.
Further away from Shoreham was better, he thought, since he’d found the perfect location on Google Maps. A place void of disruptions at this time of night.
As he gripped Rebecca around the waist and hauled her out of the boot, he noticed her lighter weight. Lighter than Hailey. She whimpered in her semi-conscious state as her feet crashed to the floor. He dragged her through the hedges. Bramble and thorns snagged on his jeans, much to his annoyance. He held her firmly beneath her armpits as he pulled her backwards through the dense shrub. The spot had been chosen carefully. It was nestled between the caravan campsite and the Scout campsite. He knew that the road might be slightly busier than the last location, but he had satisfied himself that he wouldn’t be disturbed for the short period of time that he would be there.
He laid Rebecca on her side, whilst he pulled out the rope from his rucksack and found convenient spots from which to anchor them. Having secured each arm to a length of rope, he strung her up between two trees. Her limp body collapsed to its knees. The force of the impact jolted Rebecca awake, her eyes rolling in their sockets for a brief moment before closing once again. She was too weak to fight, or be fully aware of her dire situation. As shock caused her to pass out, he grimaced that her brief moment of pain had already extinguished. She drifted ever deeper into an unconscious state.
With a small torch on the floor that illuminated this macabre scene, he stood back. His hands rested on his hips as he admired his handiwork. He expressed no emotion as he nodded once with satisfaction.
“Sometimes, these women make it far too easy for me. All I want to do is love them, and then they make me go and do this. Sally didn’t want to come with me today to watch. She’s waiting at home for me. I suspect she is getting the dinner on, her speciality, beef bourguignon, with a nice glass of red to wash it down.”
He circled Rebecca, as her lifeless, limp body hung like a heavy, wet towel on a washing line. Gravity pulled her body down, and stretched the ropes taut.
“I was expecting you to put up more of a fight, but you’ve disappointed me. You’ve made it far too easy for me, too simple, a bit like you really.”
With a knife in one hand, he used the other to grab a fistful of Rebecca’s hair to pull her head back. Her eyes barely opened as he held his face just inches away from hers. He placed his lips on hers and kissed her tenderly. Her lips were cracked and dry which annoyed him. “Look at me when I’m talking to you,” he demanded. When no response was forthcoming, he changed tack. “Rebecca, sweetie, open your eyes. Show me that you love me.”
A wicked smile erupted on his face as her eye muscles twitched for a fleeting moment. She’d just confirmed what he’d known all along. Rebecca loved him.
With the tip of his blade, he drew it across the nape of her neck. Her body flinched before a trail of dark liquid erupted onto the skin’s surface. Her life nectar was too precious to waste, so he leant in and gathered the warm, sticky fluid on the tip of his tongue. He was briefly transported into a heavenly, giddy world as his head spun. She tasted sweet, dark and mystical. The flesh wound opened up releasing more of her lifeline which drew him in even deeper. He could feel the sharp edges of flesh on his tongue.
Now in its final stages, he stepped back to admire his project. In the darkness of the night, the faint glow of the torch cast a ghostly hue on the scene. Rebecca, her hair sweaty, dirty and matted, with her limp, lifeless body, looked like an extra from a horror movie, or a rubber mannequin from the London Dungeons.
He had no need for her now. He’d proved once again that he could have any woman he wanted. Sally would be proud of him.
As he knelt down in front of her, he ran his finger one final time across her navel, before following the same path with his steel blade. Rebecca’s skin tore with little resistance as the knife burrowed deep from one side to another. Her body spewed blood and fluid. With no barrier holding them back, her intestines plopped out of her abdominal cavity.
He looked down in delight as the tangled mess of her innards pooled between her knees. The soft, slippery organ felt wet and greasy between his fingers like a thin balloon filled with water. It weighed more than he thought it would. He let it fall to the ground again before he drove his wet hand back into her abdomen. The wet, warm innards calmed him. No other man would have gone so deep inside her, he thought. His hand twisted and flipped as he felt other organs still firmly held in place. Part of his mind taunted him to rip the rest of her innards out just to see how easy it would be. But he knew his work was done, and he needed to leave. For every minute he stayed, the greater his risk of being discovered.
Rebecca could rest now. Her innards would prove a hearty meal for the nocturnal creatures, he mused.
35
A rare evening off gave Scott the chance to spend quality time with Cara. Guilt never seemed that far from Scott’s mind when a job consumed him mentally and physically.
But Cara understood in spite of her disappointment over Scott’s recent absence, which made their evening out just that more special.
They’d driven over to the marina and spent the evening relaxing over a few glasses of wine, as the sun made its journey down. The golden sunset offered the perfect setting as they’d sat hand in hand, saying very little. They took the opportunity to soak up the ambience and buzz of a warm summer’s evening.
Scott felt the stress just drain from his body as his tight shoulders began to loosen and drop. “You okay, babes?”
Cara squeezed his hand as she said, “I couldn’t be happier at this precise moment.” She glanced at him from behind her brown shades. “You do know that I miss you all the time, don’t you? I know we’re both really busy with work, and unfortunately, that can make our lives a little unpredictable. That doesn’t stop you from occupying my thoughts.”
Scott nodded and squeezed her hand in return. Cara had a lovely way with her words and always made him feel so wanted and needed. He only hoped that he made her feel the same in return. No matter how shitty his week had been, just knowing that he’d be seeing Cara, made the hours fly by.
They walked slowly around the marina, their bodies firmly connected side by side as Scott threw a protective arm around Cara and pulled her close. They paused by the menu boards of several restaurants whilst they decided where to have a meal. They finally settled on Bella Italia and grabbed a seat by the window and ordered ribs for Scott and grilled chicken for Cara.
Cara couldn’t help but notice the lengthy episodes of silence as Scott glanced off into the distance. “Scottie, are you okay? You just seem a little distant.”
Scott’s face softened as he leant over the table to give Cara a soft kiss. “I’m so sorry, babes. It’s been a crazy time at work, and I guess I’m just finding it hard to switch off.”
“Promise?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Am I boring you with my crap?”
Scott laughed and said, “I admit I could easily fall asleep trying to keep up with your mouth, but I promise you, there’s nothing wrong.”
Cara gave him a teasingly stern look. “Okay, but you look stressed. Is work getting to you? Your new DCI on your case?”
“You could say that. Meadows thinks the sun shines out of her arse. The saviour who’s going to restore credibility to CID.”
“Is she that good?”
Scott paused. She was that good, but perhaps not in the way Cara sugges
ted. “She’s another political player like Meadows. She needs to be seen taking charge.”
“Is she ruffling feathers in your team? You worried about it?”
“A bit, but nothing I can’t handle,” he replied, keen to gloss over DCI Berry’s involvement in the case. “Besides, tonight isn’t about work. It’s about us. I don’t want anything spoiling this evening, and to be honest, I could really do with…” A mischievous glint radiated from his eyes.
Cara smirked and teased, “All good things come to those who wait, and I promise you, I’m worth the wait.”
“So is my luck in then?”
“You know you’re luck is in Scott Baker.”
Scott leant across the bed and snuggled into the comforting, naked warmth. He smiled sleepily as his knees ‘docked’ perfectly with Cara’s.
“Morning sleepyhead,” he whispered.
Cara reciprocated, as her hand moved around and pulled his outer thigh closer to her. She made the slightest of “mmmms” in agreement.
The summer sun broke through the curtains, breaking up the darkness and heralding a new day.
Scott groaned and slipped out of bed. He stood for a moment and stretched his arms out to shake off the sleepiness. “Coffee and your yucky Special K?”
“Mmmmm, yes please. Lots of it, because I’m starving,” she said, her voice muffled from beneath the duvet.
“I’m not surprised after last night.”
“Are you complaining?” Cara said as her head emerged from under the covers. She rolled over into the warm space vacated by Scott, and pulled his pillow deep into her face, enjoying his smell.
Scott laughed and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Within a few minutes he had returned, a tray in both hands. “Your breakfast is served, madam.”
