Proxy (The Dreams of Reality Book 1)

by Gareth Otton

  The answer was no.

  She had never loved him as he loved her. It left him numb as they moved into the memories that covered the years they were apart. Maggie watched as he tried to get over her. There were a few failed relationships until eventually he adopted Jen. Suddenly he had an excuse to stop trying for love.

  Maggie's memories played as she said they would. There were some sickeningly happy ones that were each a new stab of pain for Tad. Slowly they became darker as Tad's predictions from their last conversation played out.

  Finally they were standing over her mangled corpse. He shared her pain. It was the first time she realised what a mess she made of her life. The first time she accepted Tad's words. She hadn't thought about Tad in a long time, had forced herself not to. Now, the prospect of seeing him again was the only thing she could think about.

  Her world had turned upside down and she needed her best friend.

  Tad suddenly felt guilty. He worried so much that she would discover his secret feelings that he failed to think like the friend he should have been. She may not have loved him how he wanted, but he meant more to her than he expected. They were closer than family and he broke her heart the day she thought he turned on her.

  Tad promised himself he'd be a better friend now she was dead. He would stop pining after something that couldn't be and would help catch her killer.

  The last memory faded, and he stepped back into the round entry room of his mind. This was normally where he willed himself awake.

  For some reason tonight, he couldn't bring himself to do so.

  5

  Monday, 16th November 2015

  14:56

  Stella couldn’t believe her eyes.

  She only found the right address because of the two men talking in the open doorway. The one outside wore a heavier raincoat than when last she saw him and it was his presence that made her curse. He was the reason for her late night and foul mood.

  “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered.

  Tad looked over his shoulder and stared into space for a second before turning again and looking directly at her. It was spooky. Surely he couldn’t have heard her.

  She was reluctant, but knew she had to slip into her friendly persona. There was something important about Tad that she had to uncover. Whether he was a big part of this case or it was just that Kate found him fascinating, he had something Stella wanted. She learned long ago that to get what she wanted from men, it was best to be her friendly self.

  She was still thinking of Kate as she checked her reflection in her rain-spattered car window. To this day she had no idea how Kate had done it. Stella worked with Miriam before she was killed and back then Kate was just the uniform who dated their gay boss. Then she solves Miriam’s murder out of the blue and was promoted to CID. Since then she hadn’t put a foot wrong.

  In three years she had landed and solved more homicides than anyone else in Cardiff, enough to make Stella think she was committing them herself. She had gone from a know-nothing street constable to a detective with a higher arrest rate than Stella.

  Unheard of.

  Stella didn’t like being second best. When some nobody comes along and shows her up, you bet she’s going to take interest.

  It didn’t take much detective work to see how much time Kate spent with this Tad guy. Stella considered Kate to be an Adam’s apple short of manhood, so it couldn’t be romantic. Something fishy was going on.

  Now Thaddeus, what a stupid name, was part of her investigation and her chance for answers had fallen into her lap.

  She finished checking her reflection with clinical detachment. Even surprised, wrapped in a heavy coat and her hair tied back to protect it from the November wind, she was still better looking than anyone Tad was likely to meet. An arrogant thought, but she didn’t care. Her beauty was often more of a hinderance than a help.

  She turned from the car just in time to see the door close and Tad walking down the drive.

  Show time.

  “D.I. Martin,” Tad greeted as he stepped around the corner. She had forgotten how tall he was. He towered over her even though she had her boots on.

  “Now now, Tad. We wen’t over this last night—”

  “Stella. Of course. I’ll remember one day.”

  She was momentarily flustered. She hadn’t expected him to talk over her like that. Had he grown more confident since last night? Was there something in the way they left things?

  Taking another look, she realised it wasn’t confidence, it was exhaustion. His dark hair was a birds nest at the best of times, now it stuck out all over. He hadn’t shaved, there were rings around his eyes and he’d missed a button on his shirt.

  He was a mess and obviously too tired to worry about pretty women. She took it as a challenge.

  “Good God. Look at you. I didn’t think I kept you up that late last night. I hope you were thinking of me at least.”

  He smiled half heartedly and looked away, his eyes settling on nothing as a frown formed. It looked like he wanted to say something but decided against it, turning back to Stella.

  “Sorry, but this…” he motioned to his whole body in acknowledgement of the mess he was in. “Is the result of an unexpected guest and an ongoing battle with my daughter. Apparently I’m not as cool as the other dads.”

  Stella understood he was joking but couldn’t bring herself to smile. She had looked into his so-called daughter last night and smelled something fishy. Stella would only play the friendly card so far. If he was a danger to that little girl then she would be on him so fast he wouldn’t know what hit him.

  “Ah yes, your daughter. I looked into her last night. It was certainly… unusual, how that adoption came about.”

  All signs of Tad’s weariness vanished in an instant. Stella took a step back.

  “What's that supposed to mean?”

  Stella suddenly felt cold, and though she hated to admit it, a touch apprehensive. In a fraction of a second his whole persona changed, and she found herself re-evaluating her opinions. She thought back over her words and could see how he might have taken it as a threat.

  “Nothing. Just conversation. I was surprised you had a daughter. It’s good of you to take in a little girl like that when you were only twenty-four.”

  He continued to stare, weighing her with eyes that looked darker than she remembered. It was bizarre, and she wondered if she imagined it a moment later when she looked again and they were back to normal. He had reverted to the familiar, weary geek.

  What the hell?

  “Sorry. I’m jumping to conclusions. Like I said, it was a late night.”

  “Speaking of jumping to conclusions, what should I think of meeting you here? I was just on my way to that house to interview the man who lives there.”

  “Marcus? I thought so.” He fidgeted, rubbing at the back of his neck and looking away. “He’s a friend of Tommy’s. I wanted to check in with him.”

  Damn. She believed him. No matter how much he might be her only lead, she didn’t like him for this. She wasn’t stupid enough to let her hunch override the evidence, but she didn’t have any evidence.

  “Tad. I know we spoke about this last night, but I need you tell me what you know. If you’re not careful, next week I might be interviewing people looking for you.”

  He opened his mouth to answer, but then shook his head. “I told you last night. I don’t know anything. Now, do you mind if I go? I’ve got to pick Jen up from school?”

  She sighed, unable to even summon the strength to tease him a little more. “Go. Just be careful. And remember, call me if you need anything.”

  “I will. See you around, Stella.”

  He wasted no time stepping past her and walking to his black BMW. It was a nice car. Cardiff uni must be paying good money to keep him.

  She was about to turn away but stopped. Tad was pulling the car out, and it was hard to make out for sure but… yes. He was talking to someone. A headset? Hands-free?
She didn't think so. It looked like he was looking at something too.

  Before she could confirm her suspicion, he turned at the end of the street. She shook her head. Maybe it was her who had been up too late last night.

  Ah well. Stella was on her way home, anyway. She wasn’t even supposed to be here. If her boss knew she was here, and alone, he wouldn’t be pleased. Just working the investigation he had been clear should be dropped could get her suspended.

  She didn’t care. She had to solve a big case. She couldn’t have Kate continue to sit on her pedestal of solved cases, nice and high where everyone could kiss her arse. That was Stella’s seat, and she wanted it back.

  She walked up the gravelled driveway toward the house and knocked on the door. She was still thinking about Tad talking to himself and how much this case meant to her so was unprepared for the response that awaited.

  The man who opened the door was overweight and three inches shorter than her. His round head was bald on top with thinning brown hair in a band around the sides and back. His beady little eyes widened when he saw her. That look of sudden terror was enough to break her from her thoughts, but not quick enough to stop him pushing past her and running.

  “Shit.”

  For a little fat man, he sure could shift. Stella sighed once, told herself she shouldn’t be doing this and then started the chase.

  “Stop! Police. I just want to ask a few questions,” she shouted as she came to the end of the drive. He wasn’t listening. He was running for all he was worth.

  Stella swore again. She wasn’t wearing the right shoes for running. The heels weren’t too large, but they were heels so they would always be in the way. It turned out not to matter. He had the drop on her, but he was overweight where Stella had been a runner since secondary school. Eventually her conditioning payed off.

  “Stop,” she called again.

  He looked over his shoulder which was when his foot caught an uplifted paving stone and he went rolling. Stella didn't have chance to wince in sympathy before she was upon him and had to act.

  He ended up face down in a puddle of freezing water, Stella knelt with her knee in the small of his back and her hand on the back of his head. The moment she had the cuffs in place, he stopped fighting and surprised her again.

  He started crying.

  “Oh God. Please don’t hurt me. I don’t want to die. Please don’t kill me.”

  It was an effort, but she rolled him over so she could look him in the eye. Marcus wasn’t having any of that. He stared anywhere but at her, tears streaming down his cheeks. There was a nasty cut over his eye from his fall.

  Stella groaned. Things were just getting better and better.

  “I won't hurt you, idiot. I just wanted to talk. Didn’t you hear me shouting police?”

  The blubbering finally stopped, and he faced her nervously. “You mean, you’re actually the police?”

  She fished her warrant card out of her coat. “Yes I am. Who the hell did you think I was?”

  He shook his head nervously. “I thought you were her.”

  “Her who?”

  “The woman Tommy told me about. That’s why you’re here, right? About Tommy.”

  Suddenly she was excited. “Yes. About Tommy. What woman?”

  He groaned again and tried to sit up. It was difficult with his hands behind his back. “A little help?” he asked.

  “You won't run?”

  “Not now I know who you are. Besides, you already got me once.”

  She fished her key out of her pocket. “The pavement did most the work.”

  The man laughed. When his hands were free, he scrambled back to his feet.

  “This is embarrassing. If I knew you were a cop then—”

  “Don’t worry about it. All I’m interested in is whatever you know about this woman and what you told Tad.”

  “Tad? You mean that guy who was here a few moments ago?” He chuckled again. “I didn’t tell him anything. Didn’t know if I could trust him. He seemed odd, not on the level. Maybe he’s working for them?”

  She was starting to think that this guy wasn’t on the level. “Them who?”

  He looked at her as though she were slow. “Whoever took Tommy and the others. It’s got to be something to do with the ghosts, you know. I always told Tommy that stuff wasn’t natural.”

  Damn. There it was again. Ghosts. Why did people keep talking like that? She couldn’t believe she had to take it seriously. Word had come down from on high, but could she really write that in her reports?

  “Slow down. Go back to the beginning. What do you know?”

  He took a deep breath and nodded. “I knew Tommy from way back. He’s always been weird, talking to himself and all that. He used to say he could see ghosts. We thought he was nuts.”

  He leaned in closer and looked around as though he were about to divulge a massive secret.

  “But then I saw one last year. Started as cold spots in the house, you know, the usual stuff you see in movies. Then I saw it. It was a scary fucking thing. All shadows and the like. It came right at me like it wanted to eat me, but all it did was touch me and I went cold.”

  “Cold?”

  “Yeah. Cold and numb. It was strange. But then my mind started working and I got the hell out of there. I mean, come on. Big scary ghost, right? I wasn’t sticking around. That was when I remembered Tommy. I gave him a ring, and he told me he’d take a look. I never went in with him so I don’t know what he did, but the ghost never came back.”

  He chuckled again. “I know this sounds crazy, but it’s the truth. It’s just like all them news stories. Ghosts are real, I promise—”

  “I believe you. Please. Keep going.”

  “Right. Well, I was grateful to Tommy and I felt kinda bad. I’d given him stick in the past. I started hanging out with him to make up for it. Then about two weeks ago he acts all strange. Keeps telling me he’s being followed. I asked him how he knows and he says his ghosts told him.”

  “His ghosts?”

  “Yeah. He used to have a few of them. Nice ones. They followed him around.” He started snapping his fingers over and over as he tried to remember something. “What was it he called himself? Ah yeah, that’s right. He said he was a Roxy.”

  “Roxy?”

  He laughed. “Yeah. That’s what I thought. A girls name, right? You know, I saw the ghost, but I still think he was a little touched. Anyway, he says his ghosts saw a woman following him. Gave a description that pretty much matches you. They didn’t mention how pretty she was, so they probably weren’t talking about you. They would have said something otherwise, right? I mean, you’re really hot.”

  She smiled indulgently but it was all she could do not to look away in disgust. Honestly. Some guys.

  “I thought he was just being paranoid. Then he disappears and people start looking for him, weirdos like Tad.”

  “You get names and contact info for these people?”

  “Yeah, I’ve got something back at the house.”

  “That’s good. Really good. So what happened next?”

  “That’s it. Tommy went missing, weird people come looking and you turn up looking like her. I figured you were here to kill me.”

  “That’s it. Nothing else about this woman?”

  He shook his head but then clicked his fingers again.

  “Wait, there was one thing. Tommy said she was foreign. He wasn’t sure where from, but definitely not the UK. That’s all I know though.”

  Not much. But it was more than she had before.

  “That’s great. What do you say we head back to your house and get those numbers?”

  “You going to leave yours in return?” he asked. It was a testament to Stella’s professionalism that she didn’t lose character for a second.

  “Of course.” She reached into her pocket for a business card. He looked crestfallen when she didn’t give him something more personal, but took it anyway and stepped away from the wall. He took
one wobbly step and would have fallen had Stella not been there to catch him.

  “Whoa. You feel that? I didn’t think we got earthquakes like that in Wales.”

  “We don’t.” She glanced at the cut over his eye and winced. She should have done something about it sooner. “Let's hurry and get those details. Then we’ll take a trip to the emergency room.”

  By the time Stella left the hospital the sun was long gone, it was pouring down again, and she was ready for bed. She wouldn’t sleep though. She was too wired. Finally she had something to work from.

  The woman. The constant references to ghosts. This Tommy guy being a Roxy, whatever the hell that was.

  And then there was Thaddeus Holcroft.

  Even though she had something that led her in a direction away from him, she was sure he knew more than he was letting on. The more she thought about it, the more certain she was that he was talking to himself earlier.

  A weird bloke. She’d find out what he was hiding before this was over.

  For now she needed pyjamas, a glass of wine and some trashy TV.

  As good as her intentions were however, she was back at the station by nine. She was sure that there must be mention of a woman that matched her own description somewhere in the statements she collected. She just needed to find it.

  6

  Monday, 16th November 2015

  18:00

  Kate lived in the valleys, more than an hour from Cardiff. Whenever Tad drove there he questioned how she managed the commute. She was waiting at the door when they arrived, making him think she had his car tracked. It was more likely that she was eager to see Miriam. Not for the first time his heart broke for her.

  Her ex-council house, built in the forties, had been extended recently. Sadly, as nice as it looked, it remained in the valleys so it was up a massive hill. It was even higher than the road with a steep grassy incline separating the front of the house from the street.

  The moment Tad parked, Jen, who still hadn’t forgiven him for last night, opened her door, letting the freezing cold into the toasty BMW interior.

  “Jen wait,” Tad said. “Give Miriam and Kate some time alone.”