Mob Justice (Sinister Minds Quick Reads Book 3)

by D. A. Longman

  “I only had a couple. As soon as this meeting is over, Jen and I are going looking at a few houses. Including that one opposite Gemma’s house.” He said.

  “I still don’t understand why it was so important that we’ve all been called in on a Saturday morning.” Hannah said.

  Troy looked around the room. Instead of the larger conference table, the room had been set up with rows and rows of chairs. There must have been about fifty people in the room, some he recognised from the secure prison area and the medical facility, some he didn’t recognise. He was about to share his thoughts with Hannah that he thought that there must be massive changes planned, when in walked Mark Fence.

  Hannah shuddered as she saw him, she still couldn’t get used to seeing her boss wearing the body of the vicious serial killer, Simon. They had used the technology to extend Mark’s own life after his own body had succumbed to cancer, by placing him into the body of Simon. It was a final act of payback for Simon, who’s consciousness was placed into his last victim, a man called Freddie, who had originally survived his horrific and brutal attack, only to later take his own life. Leaving his damaged corpse to be inhabited by Simon.

  Mark stood at the front of the room and looked around, smiling at the crowd whose weekends he had ruined.

  He began to speak with authority.

  “Good morning all, and thank you for coming in today.” He started. “You are probably wondering what is so important that I have called you in on a weekend.”

  There were nods around the room.

  “Yes, I can only apologise for that, but I needed to gather you all before the media leak the announcement.” He paused.

  Hannah looked at Troy and rolled her eyes. If there was one thing that Mark Fence could be relied on for, in whatever skin he was wearing, was a bit of drama.

  “You may or may not be aware that Wales does not have a women’s prison. Female prisoners from Wales need to be sent over the border to England, separating them from their families and from a chance to be supported in their rehabilitation. However, following consultation with the prison service, the ministry of justice and Cardiff council, I can confirm that will change. We will be expanding our prison block that has been housing the Project Payback prisoners, and will be creating the first all-female prison in Wales.”

  Mark looked around the room, his face unable to hide the dejection that this bold announcement didn’t receive a round of applause. A hand went up, it surprised Troy to see that the hand belonged to Hannah.

  “What about our scientific work? Our studies on the mind? Our ability to plant memories into people? What will happen to that?” she asked, annoyance clear in her voice.

  Mark smiled “I’m glad you’ve asked that Miss Parsons,” he replied, “We are looking at developing that work into a more commercial area. Whilst the Project Payback work has been fascinating, it hasn’t been earning the company any money. That will change as we enhance our offering to a commercial side.”

  He was being vague, Hannah despite her growing nausea, was not going to give up that easily.

  “What do you mean ‘commercial side’” she asked “What exactly does that entail?”

  “To answer that question, I am going to call up our newest employee to outline our plans.”

  He called up a woman who was sat in the front row.

  She stood up, she was an imposing sight, at over six foot tall, with long flowing blonde hair and slight figure, she was strikingly beautiful.

  “May I introduce Matron Bradley. Mark continued. “Matron has recently retired from the NHS and has chosen to work with us here. She will be leading the work with the female prisoners.”

  Hannah looked at Troy, a quizzical look on her face. This woman didn’t look a day over thirty-five, yet must be at least two decades older to take retirement.

  The matron began to speak.

  “Thank you, Mark, for the introduction, and thank you all in advance for your kind and warm welcome.” She spoke with a calming tone; a tone she had probably honed over the many years she had cared for patients.

  “As a Matron who has worked in A&E, I am no stranger to prisoners. However, for many women I have seen, their sentences often come after years of abuse. In my mind, these women are often more the victim than the criminals. We will choose some of the prisoners we receive that fit this profile and will allow them to serve their sentences in a way that will give them the opportunity to have a real future when they get to the outside. Instead of cleaning work, or kitchen work, which would normally allow them to earn money whilst inside, we will allow them other ways to earn money, ways in which we can combine our technology.”

  Hannah turned to Troy and whispered.

  “I still don’t get it.”

  Troy shrugged.

  The Matron continued talking.

  “Our first commercial enterprise will be in weight loss. We already have several women who have expressed an interest. These obese women will come into the clinic, and will stay for a number of months. They will inhabit the prisoner’s bodies, whilst the prisoners will be tasked at whipping the obese bodies into shape with low calorie diets and exercise regimes. We will pay them handsomely, yet the obese women will pay even more.”

  Mark interrupted “Thank you Matron. That is enough of our plans, you may sit back down.”

  Matron Bradley nodded, and returned to her seat.

  “So, as you can see.” Mark continued. “There will be major changes happening. The building work for the prison extension will be starting on Monday. Our commercial plans will take a significant amount of time to come to fruition. However, Matron Bradley will be choosing a few test prisoners within the coming months. This means that we will be reducing our other work streams, such as Project Payback.”

  Troy turned to Hannah.

  “Fucking hell.” He said, not caring if his voice was louder than a whisper. “I am not liking this one bit.”

  “Me neither, mate” Hannah replied, “Me neither.”

  7

  Three months later - May

  “Stop, you’re hurting me.” Kylie cried out as Daniel grabbed her arm tighter.

  “I thought you loved me.” Daniel said. “If you loved me, you’d help me teach that fucking twat a lesson.”

  “But Dan, I can’t.” Kylie sobbed “It’s not right.”

  “I tell you what’s not right.” Daniel was in a rage. “It’s not right that the bastard can judge me. He thinks he’s so much better than me. I’ll show him.”

  “He’s alright, Dan. He’s not that bad.” Kylie replied, as she tried to focus through the pain.

  “He’s a fucking disgusting perve, I know it. Spying on us as we are camping. I’m sure he stood outside the tent and listened to us fucking too. Sick twat.”

  “Dan, he’s alright. I don’t know why you want me to do this.”

  “You listen to me very carefully, Kyl. I am giving him what he deserves and you are going to help me.”

  “I won’t do it, Dan.” Kylie answered, defiantly.

  Daniel’s face erupted into a grin, his eyes still portraying hate. It gave his face an evil and sinister look that in that moment terrified Kylie.

  “Oh, you will.” Daniel continued. “Either you say that Mr Locke raped you, or I will rape Alice. You choose.”

  “You wouldn’t hurt my sister, she’s only ten.”

  “It’s your choice princess, support me, or I’ll hurt Alice.”

  Kylie, broke free of Daniel’s grip.

  “You are sick, Daniel, do you hear me, sick!”

  Kylie pushed her way out of the tent, tears streaming down her cheeks and she ran. How could someone who said they loved her, say such a hurtful thing. How could he make such evil threats? Alice was her baby sister, he couldn’t really rape her, could he?

  8

  Three months earlier - February

  “He wants to use my research, my technology, to make money.” Troy ranted to Jen.

  “I’ve de
veloped this to do good, not to make a reincarnated billionaire even richer.”

  Troy threw his head into his hands.

  “Sorry Jen, this isn’t what you need. This is meant to be a happy day.”

  “It’s OK, Troy.” Jen replied, soothingly.

  “All this talk of ‘our’ technology. It’s mine, Jen, it’s mine. I have spent my whole adult life researching and perfecting this technology, and now he wants to use it for some wealthy fat women to get thin? It’s an insult to my science, Jen. I wish I had sold it to the US Military now, but I wanted it to do good, to be a positive force in the world. To help put the bad guys in prison, and free the innocent.”

  Jen could see the distress in Troy, she sympathised. Having met Troy through the Project Payback programme, when her abusive ex-husband had nearly killed her, she knew how passionate Troy was about giving justice to abusers. It was why she had fallen in love with him.

  “I’m not sure I can work with him anymore, Jen.” Troy sounded defeated.

  Jen gave Troy a big hug.

  “Let’s not worry about that right now.” She replied “We have houses to see.”

  The couple drove in near silence, until they turned into the familiar road. They headed to the top of the cul de sac and out of habit, Jen parked outside Gemma’s house.

  Troy laughed “Aren’t we meant to be on the other side of the road today?”

  The estate agent was already outside. Despite being February, it was a crisp day, with the hopes of spring around the corner adding a touch of warmth in the air. She waved across the road at Jen and Troy.

  “Troy, lovely to see you again. And this must be your wife?” she said, holding her hand out to Jen.

  “I’m Jen.” Jen said, shaking her hand, choosing not to correct the estate agent’s assumption.

  “Cathy.” The estate agent replied, heading straight to business. “This property has already received some interest. The owners have recently relocated for work, and are keen for a quick sale. Troy informs me that you are cash buyers, with no chain?”

  Jen looked at Troy, then back to the estate agent and nodded.

  “Yes, we have the funds available. I’m selling another property, but our purchase isn’t dependant on the sale.” She answered.

  “Excellent.” Cathy said, barely pausing as she walked up the drive, key in hand, and opened the front door.

  She held the door open for Troy and Jen.

  “You take a good look around.” She said “I’ll just wait here in the lounge.”

  Jen walked through the lounge and into the dining room, opening the little door to the kitchen.

  “This is really weird.” Jen said to Troy. “It feels a little like Gemma’s house, just the other way around. Although, I prefer what Gemma has done, by knocking down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room to make a larger room.”

  Troy laughed “We’ve been in here two minutes and you are already planning to knock walls down to make it look more like your friend’s house across the road.”

  “You have to admit, Troy, the kitchen is a little on the small side. Although, I do like this utility room extension that they have built.”

  Jen disappeared through another door, into the utility room, the room also had a door that led into the garden. Jen turned the key that was left in the lock and walked outside. Troy followed.

  Jen walked down the stepping stone path to the bottom of the garden, she leant against the chest height wall and looked out at the woodlands behind. She turned to Troy.

  “I’m buying it.” She said triumphantly. “This is my home.”

  “You haven’t even been upstairs yet.” He said.

  “I don’t need to. Having these woods at our backdoor, well it’s just perfect.”

  “Let’s at least look around the rest of the house.” Troy laughed.

  Jen nodded, and turned back towards the house, but she had already decided. This house was perfect, she didn’t need to look at another house, she was putting an offer in.

  9

  Three months later – May

  Jason walked out of the police station. He’d been released under investigation, whatever that meant. He felt dazed and confused.

  The Detective Sergeant had told him that he couldn’t have any contact with the alleged victim or her family. When he’d asked what that meant as he was a teacher in her school, he’d been advised that he couldn’t return to the school. How was that right? He was innocent.

  They’d also kept his laptop. Jason felt angry, he felt bitter. Here he was, an innocent man, being told he was unable to work and unable to have his belongings back. They had made him feel like a criminal.

  He stood at the end of the road for a moment or two, he tried to process what had happened to him. He had been questioned, he’d been kept in a cell overnight, he’d been questioned again. And now, they were sending him home, he hadn’t been formally charged but they were still investigating him.

  He thought about Penny, he’d have to confess that he had pornography now. How was she going to take that? She wasn’t exactly the broad-minded sort. He loved her, he adored her, but at best she could be described as ‘mumsy’. Ever since they had Andrew, twenty years before, it was like a switch had been flipped in her. The carefree spirit, the sensuousness that had initially attracted Jason to his wife had been replaced entirely with a woman obsessed with being a mother, she had even changed her nursing speciality, moving into paediatric nursing from her role as a nurse in the operating theatres.

  Jason couldn’t face heading home quite yet. He didn’t know where he wanted to go, but he needed time alone.

  10

  The day before

  Elaine Williams hugged her young daughter. Kylie had just stopped sobbing. Elaine couldn’t quite understand what was happening.

  She had arrived home from work a little after five, she had been greeted by Alice, who was hysterical saying that something was wrong with Kylie. She’d asked where Kylie was, where Brian was. Brian had gone out once Kylie was home to look after her sister. Elaine had found Kylie, lying on the floor of her bedroom, curled up in a foetal position, silent.

  A few short hours later, and Elaine found herself here, with her fourteen-year-old daughter, at the comfort suite in the police station, undergoing forensic tests, and completing a rape kit.

  The detective sergeant had been a lovely woman, very calm and reassuring as she had placed Kylie at ease. However, seeing her daughter, in her underwear, as a photographer took pictures of the bruises on her wrists and thighs, Elaine had thought she would die. She knew she had to be strong for her daughter. The rape kit had been the most traumatic, Elaine had held Kylie’s hand whilst they had taken swabs in her vagina and examined her for evidence of rape. Kylie had been so brave. It was only once she had been allowed to get dressed that she allowed the tears to come. She had just stopped sobbing.

  Detective Sergeant Lisa Whitney returned with a younger officer.

  “Kylie, can you stay here with Donna a moment. I need to have a chat with your Mum.”

  Kylie sat up and nodded, Elaine could see a real fear in her eyes. A mix of love, compassion and anger threatened to overwhelm her, as she followed Lisa into a room.

  “Mrs Williams, I am sorry to say that the evidence says that your daughter has definitely been raped. Our forensic officer has found tears in her vagina, and the bruising in her inner thighs and wrists is consistent with what we would expect to see in rape victims.”

  Elaine sat there, she began to feel empty, like all feelings were leaving her. She couldn’t allow herself to absorb what the police officer was saying. Her little girl, her baby, had been raped. If she didn’t let the numb feelings take her, then she would be overwhelmed with the rage.

  Lisa continued “We are sending the swabs for testing for semen, although if the attacker wore a condom, we may not find anything. We will be compiling our evidence, and will be looking to make our arrest tomorrow. That is, if you and Kylie wi
ll want to press charges?”

  Elaine paused for a moment, “Of course we want to press charges. I want that bastard to rot in hell for what he did to my little girl.”

  “OK.” Lisa continued. “I suggest that you take Kylie home, she has been through a terrible ordeal, and I appreciate that the time she has had with us has also been incredibly stressful. Let her rest, speak to your husband, and I will ring you in the morning.”

  Elaine nodded “Thank you Sergeant.”

  ...

  Earlier that day

  As Kylie arrived home from school, she found her Dad already dressed in running kit.

  “Great, you’re home.” He said. “Your friend Dan hasn’t long arrived; he’s gone up to your room. I’m just going for a quick run now you are home.”

  He began to head for the door.

  “And behave yourself.” He added.

  Kylie rushed up the stairs, she could hear giggles coming from her sister’s bedroom. She walked in to find Dan sitting on Alice’s bed, as Alice was showing him her new game on her Nintendo.

  A cold sweat passed over Kylie.

  “What the fuck are you doing in my sister’s bedroom.” She demanded.

  Her sister looked at her quizzically.

  “Alice was just showing me her game.” He replied, “I’ve told her I have a few games of my own.”

  He winked at the naïve ten-year-old who giggled back at him.

  Kylie spoke sternly.

  “Get out of my sister’s bedroom now!”

  Dan stood up, ruffled his hand through Alice’s hair.

  “Laters kiddo” he said, and he walked past Kylie, heading for her bedroom.

  “You stay in here and play on your game sweetheart.” Kylie said, sweetly.

  She walked out of Alice’s room and followed Dan into her bedroom, closing the door.

  She had barely shut it when she yelled.

  “What the fuck was that all about?”

  Dan sat on Kylie’s bed.