He stopped and smiled at them expectantly, as though expecting praise.
“How long did you keep her in the hatch?” said Stewart stonily.
“A week. I’d never done anything like it before, usually they went straight into the wall but the hatch was something new, you could call it an experiment. I enjoyed looking down at her bound, gagged and helpless, those lovely green eyes looking back up at me, begging me to let her out. When she started to get agitated, to struggle against her bonds, I’d jump down into the hatch with her and inject her to knock her out. Enjoyable as her struggles were, I couldn’t risk anyone overhearing, especially not with Mike intruding whenever he felt like it.” He chuckled to himself. “The moron was standing right on top of her and he didn’t have a clue. I have to say, that was one of the highlights, as well as the fear in her eyes when I produced the knife to take her ponytail. She started struggling against me then. I told her to stop or I’d take one of her fingers off instead. That did the trick. Women can be so bothersome sometimes.”
“So why did you take Hannah if you already had Isla?” said Wheeler.
“Because gentlemen, I was enjoying the game. I’d got away with it, no one suspected me and I thought it would just add to the fun to take another one. Not like me at all, before I’d always confined myself to one woman a year. Any more and the police might have started to get suspicious but one woman could easily be explained as getting lost in the wilds or having an accident. But I just couldn’t help myself, Hannah was such an easy target with her moonlit walks, although there was always the chance that cabbage Alex Shaw would turn up. I thought if he did turn up I could say I was out for a stroll, they would have no cause to disbelieve me. When I saw her I decided to take the chance. I ran across the road, whacked her across the head and carried her into the house. It was a massive risk I know, it went against all my years of training but by God the rush it gave me was incredible. And still no one suspected me.” He blatantly laughed at Stewart. “And you, you fool, thought it was Mike, that lumbering retard.”
“If you recall Victor,” said Stewart coldly. “That lumbering retard saw right through you and beat the living shi…I mean daylights out of you. Your fancy training wasn’t any use against him.”
“Sheer dumb luck, that’s all,” he hissed.
“You found both women attractive, was that the lure?”
“Let’s face it, who wouldn’t? I couldn’t have taken some ugly, gossiping old shrew like Joyce or that stuck-up harpy Phillipa. I do have standards.”
“Did you sexually assault any of your victims?”
“Certainly not,” he retorted. “How dare you insinuate such a thing?”
Stewart decided it would be best not to answer that question, obviously the man had pretty much detached from reality. “Didn’t you once feel guilty about what you’d done?”
“No. I’m the most important person not just in the entire village but the whole area. I’m the one everyone turns to when they have a problem, just as Mike and Alex did when they wanted help, failing to realise I was the one who’d taken their women. I had a difficult time keeping my face straight when I was supposedly helping them, I can tell you.”
“Why did you tie those cords around the women’s necks?” said Wheeler. “Was it to prevent movement?”
“What a ridiculous question, of course it was to prevent movement. I couldn’t very well have them banging on the walls, attracting attention. Plus it was very enjoyable knowing how uncomfortable they were, that any violent movement would have constricted their breathing. I would sit in my house of an evening in the dark with the television off and just listen to the sounds of them struggling behind the walls. Once Billy popped by to return a drill he’d borrowed and he heard Sarah’s struggles. I told him I had mice and he believed it without question. It was just too easy,” he chuckled. “Sadly the sounds didn’t last long, just a few days. Then they’d stop. That would satisfy me for a while then the urge would rise again to add to my collection.”
“They were women,” retorted Wheeler. “Living people with lives and families, not stamps.”
“That is your opinion,” he sniffed.
Stewart patted his colleague’s arm when he huffed out an angry breath and shook his head, eyes full of fury.
“Something wrong DS Wheeler?” said the Colonel with a knowing smile.
“I’m fine,” he said tightly.
“The tension in your jaw and your closed fists indicate otherwise.”
Wheeler just glowered back at him.
“Were you dressed up as the scene examiner at Isla’s home?” said Stewart. “Or was that your accomplice?”
“That was myself. I’m an expert in camouflage and those white paper suits are perfect for blending in. No one asked me for ID, everyone just assumed I should be there because of the suit. It was easy enough to sneak down into the cellar, no one noticed. Not even yourselves,” he chuckled. “Any other questions gentlemen?” He was surprised to find he was enjoying himself. He’d been so incredibly clever, got away with it for years and he was revelling in dispensing his wisdom. He wondered if other men with similar urges would write to him for advice, he would enjoy playing the sage teacher.
“Who left Isla’s clothes at the cottage?” said Stewart. “It couldn’t have been you, the footprints were too small.”
“Ah, yes. Now it wouldn’t be very sporting of me to reveal that, not sporting at all. I am a fair man gentlemen.”
Wheeler’s eyebrows shot up but he managed to contain himself.
“You had an accomplice,” said Stewart.
“As I said, I am a gentleman.”
“Gentlemen don’t go around walling women up alive,” said Wheeler.
“Only due to lack of courage and conviction, something I have in bucketloads,” he said proudly.
When Wheeler grunted and shifted in his seat, Stewart threw his colleague a warning look.
“We don’t need you to tell us Victor,” said Stewart. “We’ll find out anyway.”
“No you won’t. It was Mike Miller who discovered what was going on, not you. If it hadn’t been for him you would have still suspected a dead man was responsible. I admit, I enjoyed that revenge. It was a pleasure holding Malcolm’s head under the water. He was so stunned he didn’t fight back. Killing is just so terribly easy. At first it frightened me just how simple it was. I don’t mean in the army, that was different, I was fighting to protect my country but with the women and Malcolm it was pure pleasure. I fought the urge for a while but the struggle became too much and I just gave in. After the first one, I never thought twice about it again.”
“Was it your intention Mike Miller be arrested for Isla’s disappearance?”
“Of course. He was the most likely suspect. He was Isla’s partner, the newcomer. Everyone in the village liked him but when she disappeared they all began to regard him with new eyes - could he be guilty? Have we welcomed a monster into our midst? After all, how well did anyone really know him? People are very stupid and so easy to manipulate it makes me sick. I could see leaving her clothing for him to find, the eerie voice on the wind, the knocks on the doors and windows were only pushing him to breaking point. Everyone started to think he was mad. I thought if I took another woman I could put that on him too. The whole village was convinced he was guilty and they just automatically assumed he’d taken Hannah too. With a simple sleight of hand it’s very easy to get people to believe what you want them to believe. The media do it all the time.”
“The voice on the wind, obviously that wasn’t you personally. Was that a recording or did your accomplice do that?”
The cunning returned to his eyes. “I’ll leave that for you to work out.”
“Did you leave Hannah’s coat in her back garden or was that your accomplice?”
“I refer you to my previous answer.”
“Were you in a personal relationship with your accomplice?”
“Certainly not,” he sniffed. “Wha
t do you think I am?”
“Probably best if we don’t answer that question,” growled Wheeler.
The Colonel rested his cuffed hands on the table, grey eyes twinkling with amusement. “If you can’t stand the heat little boy, get out of the kitchen.”
“How many more bodies will we find in your house Victor?” said Stewart.
His moustache twitched as his lips curled into a creepy smile. “I don’t want to spoil the surprise.” The smile dropped. “But I was not responsible for the body of that woman at Glenbranter. I do not strangle people,” he said with distaste. “It’s so revoltingly messy with the eyeballs popping out.”
“We know that wasn’t you. The victim’s boyfriend has confessed.”
“Really? What was his motive?”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that.”
“No doubt they got into an argument, heat of the moment, crime of passion. A standard, dull crime.”
“One thing I’ll say for you Victor, your crimes certainly haven’t been standard.”
“There’s going to be a lot of interest in me, I know,” he said cockily. “Truth be told gentlemen, I’m looking forward to it.”
“Yes, you’ll be a regular rock star,” muttered Stewart. “Did you kill Robert Campbell?”
The Colonel blinked at him, a little thrown by the sudden change in topic. “Well of course not. What on earth makes you think I did?”
“Because you’re a serial killer.”
“No, no, no,” he chuckled, shaking his head. “I am not a serial killer you silly boy. I’m a collector. It’s very different.”
“A collector?” said Wheeler with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes. It’s much higher class than those common or garden lunatics.”
Stewart and Wheeler glanced at each other. “So you’re saying you didn’t kill him?” said the latter.
“No I did not. I don’t kill men, apart from when I was in the army. That holds no interest for me whatsoever. Robert was a brute, although he never dared play the heavy with me and he undoubtedly got what he deserved but I wasn’t responsible.”
“Any idea who is?” said Stewart, deciding to play on the man’s vanity. “You know all the villagers so well and were privy to their secrets.”
“I think it was Rhona. The poor woman just snapped. There was something quietly dignified about her, she was old school. Stiff upper lip, keep soldiering on. Not like the painted hussies you get these days,” he said, gaze darkening, hands twisting into gnarled talons. “With their skimpy clothes, make-up and loud, uncouth mouths. They deserve it,” he growled.
“Right,” said Stewart, snapping him out of it when he retreated into his own world. “We need everything from the beginning Victor. From your first victim.”
The Colonel grinned and clapped his hands together, eager to talk. “Capital.”
When there was a knock at the front door Mike rushed to answer it before the sound disturbed Isla.
“Hello Mike,” said Stewart, Wheeler by his side. Both men were tired and wrung out after listening to the Colonel bask and revel in his crimes for the last three hours. “Can we come in?”
“You can but you’ll have to be quiet. Isla’s asleep on the couch. She’s been out of it all afternoon.”
“I’m not surprised. She must be exhausted.”
“We’ll talk in the kitchen.”
“Who is it?” said Ross, jogging down the stairs. “Oh, it’s you two.”
“Everyone jumps for joy when we appear, haven’t you noticed Wheeler?” Stewart sarcastically told his colleague.
“Yes Sir. We really spread the joy.”
“Come through for a coffee,” said Mike, leading them into the kitchen.
The two detectives and Ross sat at the table while Mike made the coffee. Unease writhed inside Stewart as he tried not to think about the fact that a man had been murdered in this house. His mind started to play tricks on him, imagining the large, bulky shadow of Robert Campbell’s vengeful spectre was hovering in the doorway leading into the utility room, hellish eyes glaring at him from beneath his thick eyebrows, demanding he catch his murderer. It was why Stewart hated an unsolved murder, he was afraid of being haunted by the victim, who was unable to rest until justice had been done.
Stewart shoved away these thoughts, locking them in that part of himself that had been traumatised when he was seven and he’d woken up to see the unearthly figure of a nun standing at the end of his bed, her hands clasped in prayer before she’d vanished into thin air. It had never happened again and he had no idea who she was or what she’d wanted but the experience had left him with a terror of anything even vaguely supernatural. The only person he’d told was his wife, not even his parents knew about his greatest torment and he wanted it to stay that way. “Victor’s finally opened up,” he said, glad his voice came out strong and certain, despite how he was feeling inside.
“Who?” said Ross.
“The Colonel. Victor’s his first name.” Stewart gained confidence as he spoke. Discussing purely earthly matters helped banish his personal demons. He knew his colleagues joked about his superstitious fears behind his back but he was proud that he’d refused to allow them to hold him back in his career because he sometimes had to go into unpleasant places. Fortunately in this neck of the woods murder victims were few and far between.
“I’ve known him my entire life and I didn’t know his name was Victor,” replied Ross.
“Yes, well, he’s talking. The bastard’s enjoying himself too. It took us a while to get him to open up but now he has he won’t bloody stop. He’s been doing this for eleven years.”
“Jesus,” breathed Ross. “I can’t believe it. And no one in the village had a clue?”
“It’s amazing the power a respectable public image has. It puts you beyond reproach. I want you to know before an official statement is made to the press tomorrow morning that so far we’ve found four bodies in his house and we anticipate there’ll be more. They’d all been walled up alive.”
Mike and Ross gaped at him.
“So he really did intend to kill Isla and Hannah?” said Ross while Mike buried his face in his hands. “He wasn’t just hiding them in the wall?”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
Mike took a deep breath and raised his head, eyes shiny with tears. “You’re saying he walled those women up alive and just left them to die?”
Stewart hated how his words were causing another family pain. He cleared his throat before speaking. “Yes. You stopped a very dangerous man Mike.”
“Has he said what he did to Isla?”
“He has. I want to confirm with her that what he told us is true.”
“I don’t know if she’s ready to discuss it yet, she’s really traumatised. I mentioned getting her a counsellor.”
“That would be a good idea. I can give you the number of good one.”
“Thanks.”
“How did he abduct her?”
“She’s not mentioned anything to you?”
“No. She says she’s not ready to talk about it.”
“I don’t want to say until I’ve confirmed the facts with her.”
Mike sighed and gripped onto the sink.
“I know it’s burning you up to know,” said Stewart. “But I need you to be patient, just a little longer.”
Mike nodded before turning his attention to the kettle, which had boiled.
“The good news is Victor’s going to prison for life. He’s confessed to his crimes and the evidence is overwhelming.”
“That is a relief,” said Ross. “But you lot had better make sure he doesn’t escape.”
“I can assure you we are not in the habit of letting dangerous prisoners escape,” retorted an indignant Stewart.
“It happens though.”
“Extremely rarely. Such events are for the confines of crime books and films. Believe me, he is never getting out. But he denied killing Robert Campbell.”
“Then he’s lying,” said Ross. “He’s the only serial killer in the village for God’s sake. Or are you saying we have two killers?”
“He says he’s not interested in killing men. I spoke to our clinical psychologist who says it doesn’t fit with his profile. Plus Robert was killed by being hit in the face, probably when he was sleeping. That doesn’t fit in with Victor’s MO. His motive is pure sadism. Robert’s murder was an act borne of desperation…”
“Meaning we’re back to Rhona,” said Mike.
“Yes. That’s looking more and more likely but I’m determined to get to the bottom of it. I don’t like an unsolved murder.”
“Well you can’t interview Gran,” said Ross. “Not unless you hold a séance.”
“And any evidence is long gone,” commented Mike.
“I’m well aware of that but I’m not giving up yet,” said Stewart.
“Did the Colonel give you the name of his accomplice?”
“No on the grounds that he’s a gentleman.”
“Gentleman?” spluttered Mike and Ross in unison.
“That’s what he said. The irony of his statement was completely lost on him.”
“It’s got to be a woman and someone local,” said Mike. “They knew the woods too well.”
“Agreed. I don’t want you to worry about that, leave it to us. We’ll find them.”
The Loch Page 27
