Bad Things Happen: when a child goes missing

by K Leitch

  ‘I want to make love to you my gorgeous girl,’ he growled huskily and turned her over so that she was under him. Sometimes sex can be the most glorious thing, when all the elements are there to make it perfect and this was one of those times, and it left them both gasping for breath with its intensity, their hearts full of love and emotion.

  Carla wiped the tears from her eyes, ‘Happy anniversary darling,’ she whispered, ‘you totally over efficient, thoughtful present buying, incredible lovemaking, smug bastard.’

  James giggled sleepily, ‘Now, now darling don’t get mad…just because I remembered and you didn’t. Obviously these things are bound to happen as you get older; they do say it’s the memory that goes first in older women don’t they? And of course you are so much older than me (Carla was three years older), I suppose I will just have to accept these little lapses from time to…ow that hurt…no no no not the balls…noooo alright… alright I’m sorry, of course you are not old yet sweetheart…yes anything you say Detective Inspector.’

  The next morning Carla felt bleary eyed and tired as she headed into the station. There was an unnatural quiet in the office, people were talking in hushed tones to each other and it felt a bit like the calm before the storm. There had been a couple of apparent sightings of Craig O’Bruin in and around the Redbank area, as Carla had suspected, he was still here.

  ‘Ok listen up everybody,’ said Carla, trying to get everyone’s attention a bit later when they had all gathered in the briefing room.

  ‘We have two possible sightings of O’Bruin in Redbank; once outside the MacDonalds on the high street. And once, and this is more interesting, in the car park behind Sainsbury’s where he was seen talking to a woman. They seemed to be having a bit of an argument; unfortunately we can’t identify the woman and they move out of the range of the cameras pretty quickly so we only get a glimpse of her back, but we have got forensics working their little butts off trying to get something out of the picture that might be of use to us. The main thing is that as of yesterday O’Bruin is still here on our patch and he is here for a reason; what that reason is we still don’t know, but knowing what we do about him it’s not going to be anything good. Please remember how dangerous this man is; and if you do happen to catch sight of him, call for backup before you approach him, do not try and tackle him on your own. Now Ted has some news on the shotgun…Ted?’

  Ted made his way to the front of the room to a stream of wolf whistles and somebody started up a chorus of ‘when you’re smiling’. He glowered round the room looking particularly at Carla, who, whilst trying not to laugh, shook her head at him. It was not her that had spread the rumours about him and a certain lady coroner, but obviously the story was out.

  ‘Yes ok…ok very funny,’ said Ted clearing his throat. ‘Right, the shotgun recovered in the woods was definitely the gun that killed Mr Dobson. It was covered in prints, mostly Terry Dobson’s; but there were some belonging to Mary O’Bruin as well. And with that and the firearms residue found on her hands, we are pretty certain that she is our killer. We still don’t know why she killed him; but it seems like she took a nasty punch in the mouth from him, knocked a tooth out, so maybe that was the reason, she’d had enough and blew his head off…who knows. But as it stands Craig O’Bruin is out of the frame for Terry Dobson’s murder, but we are pretty certain he killed Mary O’Bruin so we need to find this guy ASAP. So we start again, house to house, circulating his picture,’ a great groan went up in the room. ‘I know, I know, but this is basic police work and it’s what catches criminals so stop complaining and let’s get this bastard.’

  There was the usual kafuffle as everybody made their way back to their own desks. Carla went to talk to Ted.

  ‘I can understand their frustration,’ she said, ‘this case has been so convoluted. First we are looking for an abducted child, then one murderer, who seems to have been killed herself by another murderer. Bloody hell Ted when bad things happen they really do it in style round here don’t they? Right what’s our next move; I think I will go back up to the caravan site, maybe the O’Bruin’s have family or friends round here. Mary might have mentioned something to someone while she was in the camp, who knows we need every bit of luck we can get right now if we are going to get this guy.’

  Ted nodded, ‘I know what you mean, it feels like it’s slipping away from us doesn’t it? I think I’ll go and hurry along the guy’s with the CCTV footage, if we can find out who this woman is that he is arguing with, we might just be able to track him down. Bloody hell Carla he has to be somewhere, he can’t just have disappeared, and he must have a base, he would have been covered in blood after killing Mary, there was blood everywhere, so he would have to have somewhere to go and get a change of clothes… someone must have seen him and someone must know who he is and where he is hiding.’

  ‘Yes, well my guess is that this woman, whoever she is, knows exactly who he is. But for some reason she’s not coming forward, which might mean that she is wrapped up in whatever it is that he is over here for…I know that doesn’t make any sense but you know what I mean Ted.’ Ted smiled at her and nodded as he went off.

  Carla once again found herself walking up towards the gypsy camp. She hadn’t been here since the morning of Terry Dobson’s murder and so was surprised to see signs that the camp was being packed up ready to move on.

  She banged on Duncan McKinny’s door and waited, but there was no one home it seemed. So she went to the next van along, where Martha and Joe McKinny lived, once again all was quiet. In fact the whole camp seemed unusually quiet; there were the usual dogs wandering around and smoke was coming out of Poppy Dobson’s van, but considering it was a lovely sunny day she would have expected to see more people about.

  Gabe Finny had obviously been watching her progress from his van; he popped his head round the door.

  ‘They ain’t ‘ere,’ he shouted. ‘Gone to the ‘ospital…old Joe’s ‘ad a turn, Duncan’s taken ‘em to A&E.’

  ‘Oh I’m sorry to hear that; has everyone gone? It seems very quiet.’ Carla asked coming over to his van.

  ‘Na Poppy’s ‘ere, in ‘er van; she don’t go anywhere these days…not since…Terry you know.’ He finished rolling up a stick thin cigarette and put it in his mouth; fishing around in his pockets for a light.

  ‘Looks like you are all getting ready to leave,’ said Carla, ‘I noticed the cars all packed up, where are you headed?’

  Gabe shook his head, ‘Na it’s just Johnjo and Paddy that’s going; Poppy’s two boys’. They’ve ‘ad enough of it round ‘ere; going back down Devon way I reckon, Johnjo ‘ad some girl down there so…’ he left the sentence hanging.

  Carla nodded, ‘I was just wondering if Mary had mentioned any family in the area while she was here, or friends that she was close to.’ Gabe was already shaking his head again.

  ‘Na she never said anyfing about no family, not that I spoke to ‘er much anyway. You should ask Martha and Joe, they knew ‘er…I didn’t know ‘er you see.’ Having finished his cigarette Gabe threw the butt on the ground; he had obviously said all he was going to say and he turned to go back inside.

  ‘Oh by the way Gabe, that stranger hasn’t shown his face around here again has he?’ Carla asked as he turned to go. ‘Na…not that I know of,’ was all he said, as he closed the door.

  With a sigh Carla walked over to Poppy’s van which looked very different to what it had a couple of weeks earlier. There was no washing hanging out to dry, no delicious cooking smells wafting out through the windows and the door was firmly shut. Carla knocked on the door; she knew Poppy was in there and she could feel her watching her through the thick lace curtains, but the door stayed shut.

  ‘Poppy it’s me,’ she called through the door, ‘Detective Inspector Carla Right…could I have a word, it won’t take long I promise.’ There was a movement inside near the window, but still the door didn’t open.

  ‘Ok Poppy, but could you give me a call if you get a moment, I just
need some information about Mary…Mary O’Bruin, I thought you might be able to help. I’ll slip my card through the door…so you can give me a ring…ok?’ Still nothing, so Carla pushed her card through the door and started to walk away from the site.

  The woodland path was very quiet today; so she slowed her pace and took some time to appreciate the beauty of her surroundings. Thick carpets of bluebells covered the spaces between the trees; and Carla took in a deep breath of their heady scent. She turned her face to the sun as she walked revelling in the peace and tranquillity that surrounded her. It was not often that she was completely alone, what with the kids and work; her life seemed to jump from one type of chaos to another. So she slowed her pace and made the most of the moment.

  It wasn’t long however before she was joined by someone, a man on the path in front of her, walking towards her. Carla tutted to herself; she should have known it would be too good to last. She watched the man as he ambled along, he was probably enjoying the solitude like she had been, and was probably just as pissed off to see her on the path. As she watched him though, it began to dawn on her that he looked vaguely familiar; it was the way he moved, a tall man with dark hair, where had she seen him before. He was almost upon her now; walking with his head down as if he didn’t want to make eye contact. But as he passed her he lifted his head just for a second, green eyes met hers and Carla recognised him with a sharp intake of breath…it was Craig O’Bruin.

  He must have realised that she had recognised him, because before she even had time to call out to him he had taken off. Carla gave chase; but he was much faster than she was, and had already got a good lead on her when she saw him turn off suddenly and head into the woods. Carla didn’t think twice, she ran in after him; he was crashing through branches and bracken so it was pretty easy to see where he had been, despite the fact that she had now completely lost sight of him. After running for a while though Carla began to feel nervous; she had no idea where he was and it felt like she was being led deeper and deeper into the woods; she slowed down and took her mobile out of her pocket and pressed Ted’s number.

  She didn’t give Ted a chance to speak when he answered a moment later; just saying breathlessly into the phone: ‘Ted it’s me, I have spotted O’Bruin but he legged it before I could tackle him. I’ve chased him into the woods, not far from the Gypsy site I think…although I could have been running round in circles for all I know. I need some help I’m not going to be able to br…’

  That was as far as she got before she felt a crashing blow to the back of her head; her mobile flew out of her hand, and she fell to the ground in a daze. A big booted foot slammed into her side knocking the wind out of her and making her double up in pain; she heard a deep growling voice muttering, ‘fucking interfering bitch’, before something hard and heavy smashed against the side of her head, and everything went black.

  When she woke it was dark and she was shivering with cold. The beautiful woods of earlier had turned into a fearsomely scary place; pitch black and full of strange shuffling noises and animal calls. The lovely sunshine of the day had given way to a steady drizzling rain. Carla tried to move; lifting her head slowly, searing pain jabbed at her temples making her dizzy, so she lay back down getting her breath back before she tried again. She cautiously examined the wound on her head; her hand came away sticky with blood, she could taste blood in her mouth as well and her jaw hurt when she moved it.

  ‘Must get out of here…must move,’ she said to herself firmly as she lay there. ‘It’s just a bit of pain…come on now we have to get out of here…aaaahh,’ she finished on a cry as she raised herself up on her side, it felt like she could have a couple of broken ribs. ‘Come on Carla…come on girl,’ she admonished herself again. Finally after a couple of painful attempts, she was in a sitting position and she felt around in the dark for her mobile…nothing. She felt the tears pricking the back of her eyes what did she do now? And where was Ted? Surely he was looking for her…of course he was; but then why then couldn’t she hear shouts for her? She must have run deeper into the woods than she had realised. The temptation to lie back down and just give up was overwhelming; it hurt her so much, and just breathing was agony. But she knew she had to at least try and move from this spot. All of this was no more than she deserved; how could she have been so stupid, following a murderer into a secluded wood…my god she must need her head testing. Suddenly she heard a noise; something or someone was moving about quite close to her. A new fear suddenly reared its ugly head, what if he was still here…what if she wasn’t alone. She could barely see her hand in front of her it was so dark; she kept very still and listened…not a sound apart from her heart beating… she had to get out of here now!

  Sheer terror gave her the strength to stand; and once she was standing she was able to walk after a fashion. Clinging onto passing trees to keep her balance, the biggest problem was that she couldn’t see, so she wasn’t sure if she was getting any nearer to the path. But she kept going, moving quicker and quicker in her panic; stumbling every now and then over tree roots and being terrified out of her wits by a badger that she disturbed, it grunted its disgust as it lumbered on its way. Her light canvas shoes, that had seemed such a good idea on a warm spring morning, were completely useless for running through the woods, and her feet felt like they were being cut to ribbons. But it was her terror that kept her moving; she felt as if she was running for her life. Tears were streaming down her face now and her injuries were beginning to catch up with her…she couldn’t go on much longer…she needed to stop…maybe just lie down just for a moment. Carla forced those thoughts out of her head; suddenly she heard something…something moving in the trees behind her… branches snapping under foot…’oh god…oh god he’s found me…’ Carla desperately lunged forwards again into the trees, only to slam hard into a large human chest. She screamed at the top of her voice and began punching and kicking as hard as she could.

  ‘Carla…ow! Carla shhh it’s ok…you’re ok now sweetheart it’s me, it’s Duncan…Carla…ooof shit that hurt…Carla, you’re ok you’re ok...OVER HERE…SHE’S HERE!’

  Carla looked all the way up and could just make out Duncan McKinny’s face, smiling kindly down at her. She collapsed against his chest sobbing with relief…when another figure came rushing forwards and pulled her away from him.

  ‘Oh my god Carla…oh my god I thought you were dead…oh my darling girl, you’re safe now darling you’re safe.’ James’s tears were flowing as hard as Carla’s as they both made their way out onto the path, where it seemed like the whole police force was gathered, along with a few of the locals that Carla recognised. Ted came rushing over.

  ‘Oh thank the lord, we were so worried Carla, oh my god you look terrible let’s get you to the ambulance and get you checked out…thank goodness Carla, I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared in my life,’ said Ted visibly shaken, Carla grasped his hand.

  ‘Me neither…thank you Ted, my good friend… thank you,’ gasped Carla before collapsing in James’s arms.

  CHAPTER 45

  Susan looked at him aghast, ‘What do you mean it’s the only option, of course it’s not, we just have to get the money from your parents…that’s the solution. Only you’re too much of a fucking coward to ask them. I can’t believe that you would even suggest that; just so that you don’t have to confront mummy dearest. You are even more pathetic than I realised.’

  Sheer desperation and frustration gave Gordon the strength he had always craved, and he pushed her hard against the kitchen work surface and held her face in his hands forcing her to look at him.

  ‘I have had enough you evil bitch,’ he spat at her, ‘no more, do you hear me…no more. You got us into this mess; you brought that psychopath into our lives, and we have tried it your way for the last few weeks and look where that has got us. Well now we will do it my way; and that doesn’t involve my parents…do you understand?’ Susan nodded mutely, she had never seen Gordon in this state before, he looked desperat
e, unhinged even…who knew what he was capable of, but she needed to calm him down, make him see sense. You didn’t talk lightly about killing someone like Declan O’Shay, or Craig O’Bruin, as she supposed she should call him now. His picture had been circulated all over the village, which explained why he was getting so desperate. He had always been intimidating, but these last few times she had seen him he had been positively terrifying.

  He had come to the house the night before in a terrible state; covered in mud and leaves, his eyes wild and angry. And had threatened her and the children if she didn’t come up with the money by tomorrow; Susan had got hold of Gordon immediately, and had dragged him away from a council meeting. She had been pleading with him to speak to his parents ever since; but Gordon wasn’t budging, if they gave into him now he would be blackmailing them forever, he said there was only one solution…they would have to get rid of him.

  ‘We will plan it down to the last detail, it will be fine. You will lure him here, say you’ve got the money for him…get him into the shed somehow, say the money’s in there…or something, I don’t know I can’t think of everything and once he’s in there I will be waiting…with this,’ he pulled something from a bag that he had brought home with him; it was a gun.