by Kay Leitch
CHAPTER 55 - CARLA
With blue lights flashing, Carla made it to Godstone village in record time, she had an inkling where this farm Maggie was talking about was, so she sped straight through the village with two more cars following behind. About a mile along the A22 she spotted a weathered old sign for Stoats Nest Farm directing her off the main road and onto the bumpy unmade path that Maggie had described earlier. It was pitch black and the road was extremely narrow and winding, so Carla had slowed down to little more than a crawl, suddenly large buildings began to come into sight rearing up like dark monsters by the side of the track…Carla pulled right over to the verge and stopped the car, better to go on foot from here.
All was quiet; there were no sounds of life, apart from the almost constant hum of distant traffic on the A22.
'Right Ted you come with me, Frank and Mandy you take those smaller buildings on the edge of the field over there and George and Sam carry on up the track a bit further, there may be more out buildings that we haven't seen yet…remember to keep together and be careful, if Poole is hiding out here, he is a desperate man who has already killed once…keep in contact with us at all times ok?'
The little group separated and almost silently made their way to the large dark buildings. Carla and Ted were headed towards the old farm house. Years of neglect had taken its toll on the once impressive house, windows were smashed and the local wildlife had obviously been using it as a hotel. Once inside the smell hit them…it was a smell that they both recognised…the sickly sweet smell of rotting flesh, Carla and Ted looked at each other, steeling themselves for what they might find. Carla's hands were sweating and her heart was pounding, she could barely see where she was walking, she tried to keep to the edge of each room, because some of the old floor boards were obviously rotten, shining her torch round waiting for its light to reveal some awful horror suddenly something flew passed her head. Carla let out a shriek and flapped madly at her hair, which brought Ted running back into the room, 'My god Carla are you ok?' he said breathlessly.
'Yes, yes I'm fine,' Carla answered embarrassed, 'must have been a bat or something, sorry Ted, scared the shit out of me.'
Ted nodded at her and started edging around the room again but Carla noticed that he didn't leave her on her own again. The downstairs was empty, unfortunately the awful smell got a lot stronger as they headed upstairs and Carla fully expected to find a rotting corpse in one of the bedrooms, but the only horror they found was a mummified fox in the upstairs bathroom. There was nothing to indicate that anyone had been living in the old house and certainly no sign of anyone being held captive so after searching every nook and cranny as best they could, they made their way outside into the fresh air, both feeling relief that they had found nothing, but frustration also, there was no way Styles had been here.
Carla started to head towards the smaller buildings to see how Frank and Mandy were getting on when her radio suddenly came crackling into life.
'Ma’am we've found something…' it was Sam.
Carla could hear the sound of retching in the back ground; her blood froze in her veins, 'What sort of something, where exactly are you?'
'We've got a body here ma’am, or what's left of one…um we're up the track about a mile…there's a small hut, on the far side of a field on your left…near the woods.'
'Right we're on our way…TED! Get the others and follow me…about a mile up the track!' Carla raced back across the field and flung herself into her car…the track got even narrower the further she went and it seemed to be getting even darker if that was possible…she only just spotted George and Sam. Sam was waving frantically for her, she could see George bent over to the side of the field, trying to pull himself together…she screeched to a halt inches away from Sam.
'Is it Giles?' she shouted as soon as she was out of the car.
'Um…no I don't think so, it's hard to tell…but I would say this was someone older…um…it's not a pretty sight ma’am, we just had to get out of there George got a bit sick,' George by this time had recovered and came over looking shame faced.
'Sorry about that Ma’am…just wasn't expecting anything like it…' he started looking distinctly green again so Carla said, 'Don't worry hun we all get like that from time to time, it's what makes us human…why don't you get hold of the coroner's office, sounds like we're going to need him and then wait here for Ted and the others to arrive…Sam you'd better show me what you've found.'
Sam looked as if going back into that hut was the last thing he wanted to do, but he took a deep breath and led Carla back over the field, his torch lighting the path in front of him. It was obvious that a car had been driven across the field, there were deep tyre marks in the muddy earth, and as Carla got near to the entrance of the hut itself, there were plenty of footprints…there had been a lot of activity here over the last few days. The smell of human waste mixed in with the unmistakable smell of death was almost overpowering and Carla had to stop herself from gagging as she entered the tiny hut. No matter how much you prepare yourself, the sight of death shocks you to the core especially when the death has not been an easy one thought Carla. She took her first look at the remains in the hut, this man had suffered incredible pain before he had died, the sight of him almost made her want to recoil and run out of the hut, throw up in a bush as George had had to, but she steeled herself to look properly at was almost certainly the remains of Derek Styles.
Someone had vented their rage on this man in the most terrible way, his wizened naked body had been burned and sliced, he had obviously taken a severe beating as well, and his face had been severely mutilated, but the most horrific and obvious injury he had suffered was that his genitals had been removed and stuffed into his mouth. Carla tore her gaze away from the glassy staring eyes that seemed, even after death, to be pleading for mercy and tried to take stock of the tiny shed. There was evidence that he had been here a while, water bottles and old food littered the floor and there was a rank smelling bucket in one corner, the mattress he was lying on was almost completely saturated with blood. There was a pile of porn magazines on the floor near the bed, it looked like someone had kept him here for a while before finishing him off in the most sadistic way…and Carla was convinced she knew who that someone was, and he was still out there. Ted and the others had arrived by this time, Ted looked pale and drawn when he joined Carla outside.
'Derek Styles do you think?' was all he said though, and Carla nodded.
'Bloody hell…bloody hell…' for once they were both speechless.
'Right,' said Carla after a moment. 'It is now even more urgent that we find Giles Poole, my gut tells me that he is still in the area, as long as we have Vanessa in custody I think he will stay close by. George and Sam you wait here for forensics, Mandy and Frank I think you will be most use joining in the search Chief Inspector Drew is co-ordinating, so report to her, I'll be letting her know what we've found here when I get back. Ted I think you and I need to speak to Vanessa again…maybe she'll be a bit more forth coming once she knows Giles has killed again.'
Back at the station Carla went straight to her office to speak to Chief Inspector Drew, whilst talking to her she noticed an envelope that had been put on her desk for her attention, she opened it idly as she was talking and drew out a photograph of the Glory Woods, more particularly the scene of Louise's murder, she hung up the phone and looked more carefully at the photograph. After looking in the envelope she discovered a note.
HI CARLA, I MEANT TO GIVE THIS TO YOU AGES AGO. THIS IS THE PHOTO I TOOK FOR MY CANVAS AND IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS LOOKING AT IT LATER THAT I REALISED THAT THERE IS SOMEONE STANDING IN THE WOODS. I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S OF ANY USE TO YOU BUT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD HAVE IT ANYWAY,
ALL MY LOVE
HELEN
Carla looked even more closely at the photo, at first she could see nothing but then she saw it, just behind a tree in the distance there was definitely a figure standing. It was far too blurred to make out any features w
ith the naked eye but it would be worth giving it to forensics to see if they could enhance the image. She made a note that she needed to speak to Helen, find out exactly which day she was in the woods and at what time…but for now she needed to speak to Vanessa.
Ted had already started to talk to her by the time Carla got down to the interview room, he raised his eyebrows at her when she walked in, obviously Vanessa wasn't playing ball. Carla had asked Ted to keep quiet about her dad…she wanted to see her reaction when she heard that piece of news.
Vanessa was in a belligerent mood this morning nothing like the pathetic weeping woman that she had been the night before. 'I'm not saying anything more without my solicitor, so you are wasting your time,' was the first thing she said when she saw Carla.
'Vanessa don't you think you're in enough trouble without impeding this investigation further, you're not helping Giles by clamming up like this you know,' Ted was saying, Carla held up her hand.
'I just thought you might like to know that we think we've found out where your dad's been for the last couple of weeks.' Vanessa narrowed her eyes and looked at her suspiciously. 'Where was he, did you speak to him, does he know where Giles is?'
'Well as to that I said we may have found him, what we have found is the body of an elderly man in an abandoned shed on farmland, he had been there some time and it looks like he had been tortured before he died…we believe that Giles killed this person Vanessa…and we also believe that it's your father…did you know anything about your father's kidnap and murder Vanessa?'
Vanessa put her head in her hands and seemed to slump down on the desk.
'Oh god I knew it…I told you didn't I…as soon as I heard he'd gone missing I thought…oh Giles…Giles what are you doing…it's all to avenge me Carla can't you see he's trying to wipe out all the people he thinks have done me harm…he needs help!' she pleaded with Carla, but Carla had had enough of Vanessa's manipulations.
'Well that's why we need to find him,' she said firmly. 'Can you think of anywhere that he could have gone, any bit of information may help Vanessa, please try, does he have any friends nearby, or relatives that he could go and stay with?'
Vanessa thought for a moment, 'No all his family are dead, he has friends still in Ashford, Steve, who's been working in the bar, his dad and Giles go way back, it might be worth trying him, but other than that we don't have any friends around here…always been too busy working I suppose to make friends.'
'Ok Vanessa we'll try them, in the meantime if you think of anyone or anywhere that he might be, just let the duty sergeant know ok?'
'Er hang on a minute when do I get out of here…you can't keep me here much longer without charging me, I know my rights…' began Vanessa but she stopped when she Carla turned on her angrily.
'I know exactly how long I can keep you here and I would be very careful if I were you Vanessa you are skating on very thin ice…you are already up for charges of failing to report a murder and withholding evidence, so don't push it,' with that she left the room.
Other than her first outburst, Vanessa seemed to be taking the news of her dad's death extremely calmly, in fact she had barely acknowledged it, Carla was beginning to get one of her uneasy feelings again.
CHAPTER 56 - TRACY
Tracy had tried watching telly, she'd made herself a bowl of instant semolina (which when eaten slowly with jam was one of the best ways she knew to unwind). She had even had a sneaky cigarette, which she had promised herself she would try not to do, but she couldn't get the thought of Giles out of her head. He was one of the nicest people she had met, always there with a kind word or a sympathetic ear and Tracy had long thought that Vanessa treated him like hell, now, knowing what she did about Vanessa…the fact that she had so obviously brutally murdered that young girl in the woods, Tracy felt desperately sorry for him. Despite Vanessa's nastiness Giles truly adored the woman and Tracy could only guess how devastated he must be right now.
She looked at her watch, 11.30 the pub would be closed now, maybe he was sitting there all alone crying his eyes out, Tracy couldn't stand by anymore, she decided to go and see him, right now.
Of course he may not be there, Carla had said that they couldn't find him, but surely he had to come home sometime…anyway if he wasn't there she would just come home, but she had to try.
She rushed upstairs and pulled out her warmest jumper, it would be freezing out there at this time of night and just as she was coming downstairs her mobile rang making her jump out of her skin…it was Simon, 'Hi babe,' she said. 'How ya doing?'
'All the better for hearing your voice gorgeous,' said Simon reducing Tracy to a smugly smiling heap, 'What are you doing, you sound out of breath, have you been reading those racy novels again, you naughty girl?' he teased.
'Simon!' said Tracy laughing. 'Get your head out of the gutter, of course I don't read anything like that…I'm a lady,' she heard Simon’s shout of laughter at the other end of the phone. 'Well I am! Anyway I'm out of breath because I just had to run upstairs to get my thickest jumper, I'm going to go and see how poor Giles is doing.' Tracy had filled Simon in on all the goings on in the village and particularly the pub, she knew he had a lot of time for Giles, but he was obviously not keen on the idea of her venturing over there on her own.
'What at this time of night, he'll be asleep love, anyway maybe that's not such a good idea, if the police were out looking for him…I mean there must be a reason they were so keen to speak to him, why not leave it till morning, go over then?' But Tracy wouldn't be talked out of it.
'No I just have this feeling that he needs a friend now! You know how he feels about Vanessa, he must be so desperate Si, I can't sleep knowing that a friend of mine is in such pain…he may not want to see me, but I have to try don't I?' Simon relented.
'Well I can see that you do…you are so lovely, do you know that, but promise me you'll phone Carla first, just to see what she thinks…I mean for all we know she may have found him and he may be at the station with Vanessa… please love promise me that.'
Tracy felt all warm and tingly, it was lovely to be loved, 'Ok I promise…thank you for caring.'
'Oh no don't start getting all soppy on me, if it's one thing I hate it’s soppiness.'
'Oh really I thought it was Big Brother…the one thing you hated.'
'Well ok two things, but soppiness is a close second.'
'Speak soon lovely boyfriend,' said Tracy with a smile.
'Speak soon gorgeous girl,' came the reply. Tracy sighed a contented sigh, oh dear she was really up to her eyes in it this time, she dialled Carla's number as instructed, it went straight to voice mail…well leaving a message was as good as telling her wasn't it?
HI CARLA, I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I AM GOING OVER TO THE PUB TO SEE IF GILES NEEDS A SHOULDER TO CRY ON. SIMON INSISTED THAT I LET YOU KNOW BEFORE I WENT, I KNOW, I KNOW HE'S JUST A BIT OF A WORRYWART, ANYWAY I'VE LET YOU KNOW SO…UM I'LL SEE YOU SOON…BYE, LOVE YA
Job done she set off across the common to the pub.
The old building was completely shrouded in darkness, the doors locked. Tracy went round to the side entrance but that was shut tight as well, there were no signs of life anywhere. Tracy felt a sense of anti-climax, she had been so geared up to comfort Giles that she had not taken into account that he might not be there, crying into his cocoa, needing a friend. She sighed and had started to walk away when something caught her attention…a flickering light coming from the flat above the pub…Giles was in there, in the dark… well he was probably too upset to be bothered with lights, desperately needing the sympathetic support of a friend. Tracy turned and walked back round to the side of the pub. The door was still locked, but further round towards the back of the building were the fire escape steps that led up to the kitchen door of the flat. Without thinking Tracy started to climb the steps, the closer she got the more convinced she was that Giles was really suffering, she could hear almost animal like moans and groans coming from inside…and then
someone talking, almost shouting, oh poor Giles he was in a bad way, the kitchen door was amazingly, unlocked, so without thinking it through, she crept inside.
The moans and groans were considerably louder now she was inside and seemed to be coming from the living room, she walked quietly along the hallway that connected the two rooms…it had suddenly occurred to her that Giles might not appreciate her witnessing his humiliating desperation…he might even be really angry about her sneaking about his flat in the middle of the night, so she paused and thought for a moment how she was going to approach him…when all of a sudden the moans turned to blood curdling screams
'NO NO…please don't NOOOO!' Tracy didn't stop to think she rushed over and pushed open the living room door.
It took a couple of minutes for her brain to register what she was seeing, Giles was tied up and sitting on a chair in the middle of the room, he looked dishevelled and terrified, it occurred to Tracy that she had never seen Giles anything other than immaculate, now he looked old, his shirt front opened and a matt of grey hair on his chest. His face was covered in blood and one of his eyes was swollen shut, he looked at her aghast, and at the same time the other occupant of the room turned and stared at her in complete shock, he was a tall man about middle aged with a halo of white hair around his rather bony head, but the two things that stood out about him were the flaming blow torch which he was holding in front of Giles's face, and his eyes which were a very bright blue, and very piercing, and at the moment looking straight at her.
'Who the fuck are you?' said the man, and at the same time Giles screamed at her, 'Tracy, get out…run…go…NOW!' He was stopped by a vicious blow to the head, but Tracy didn't need telling twice, she turned and fled as fast as her legs would carry her, in her panic she turned the wrong way and ran further into the flat, she opened the first door that she came to and fled inside. She found herself in a large linen cupboard full of neatly folded table cloths and napkins, she tried to hide herself amongst the shelves and kept as quiet as she could putting her hands over her mouth to suppress her sobs…she could hear him coming slowly along the hallway, calling out to her in a eerily quiet voice as he did so.
