The Devil Inside

by Heather Atkinson

  “I’ll pick up your new gnome for you today doll,” Brodie called to her.

  “Thanks Brodie,” she called back. “I have a big empty space in my garden.”

  Brodie grinned. One of the reasons he liked this old bird was because she got his name right.

  Mrs Beig left and Cass closed the door behind her. “How the hell did this thing get out onto the street?” She frowned at Brodie. “You didn’t.”

  “Well, I might have accidentally left the front door open, just for a few seconds and the git snuck out.”

  “I don’t think so. I bet you wish he was on his way to Carlisle by now.”

  “He?”

  “Don’t try and distract me Brodie. Well we’re not getting rid of him, so you’ll just have to get used to Robbie.”

  “Robbie?” spluttered Brodie.

  “Robbie the Robot Vacuum. That’s his name now and you’ve only yourself to blame.” She replaced the vacuum in the hallway cupboard. “Let’s go before we’re late, unless there are any more appliances you’d like to try and murder?”

  “That depends on whether you’re going to buy an android slave?”

  “I’m considering it,” she said, eyes narrowing.

  CHAPTER 6

  When Brodie reached the office he called Pete but he wasn’t picking up. So he brought all his staff up to speed on The Case of the Bats, which was what he’d decided to christen this particular assignment, to everyone’s amusement.

  He’d just finished debriefing his team when Pete turned up, his hair limp and dangling in front of his eyes.

  “Jeezo,” said Brodie. “You look scunnered.”

  “Sit down Pete,” said Cass. “I’ll fetch you a coffee and some biscuits.”

  “Thanks hen.” Pete looked to Brodie. “You’ve got an angel there.”

  “I know,” he replied with a soppy smile in Cass’s direction. “How did it go with the bats?”

  “Shite,” he sighed. “They were all released without charge.”

  “Even though they attacked two polis?”

  “Aye. Shocked the shit out of the lot of us but the call came from up on high.”

  “A high ranking executive officer?” said Brodie.

  “Yeah, one of those dodgy bastards.”

  “Malachi must have made a call to his influential pals. I spoke to him last night.”

  Pete spluttered on the mouthful of hot sweet coffee he’d swigged from the mug Cass had handed him. “What?”

  “I picked up one of the bibles the bats left behind outside The Horseshoe Bar.” He pulled the book out of his jacket pocket and handed it to Pete. “In the back is a wee compartment. Inside is a phone number. I called the number and Malachi answered.”

  “How do you know it was Malachi? Did he say his name?”

  “No but I found an interview online with him and it was the same voice.”

  Pete stamped his foot. “I want to help,” he announced. “What happened at the station was a total piss take. Usually anyone who attacks a polis is strung up by the ball sack and boiled in oil but today I had to watch those arseholes walk out of the station smirking at me. It took me everything I had not to malky the gits. But if my lot find out I’m investigating the sainted Malachi I’ll be the one being strung up and boiled in oil.”

  “Pack in the job and come and work for me,” said Brodie.

  “Not just yet. When I feel I’m no longer a useful polis then I’ll pack it in. But I want in on this.”

  “Could you track down Malachi?”

  “I could try but if my superiors found out…fuck it, I don’t care. Like you said, I have a job here if I get sacked.”

  “Course you do pal.”

  “And I refuse to allow fear of losing my job stop me from catching a dodgy bastard. Malachi is going down.”

  “Too right he is pal.”

  “So, how do we do it?”

  “No bloody idea.”

  “What?” said Pete. “But I thought you had a plan.”

  “This case is just so big. We aren’t facing a couple of loons like the Creegans or The Elf.”

  “They had followers too,” said Ross.

  “Yes but only paid ones,” said Elliott. “Malachi’s followers are zealots, willing to do anything he says for no financial reward. That makes them doubly dangerous.”

  “Good point,” said Cass. “Not only does Malachi have access to a fortune but he has control over people’s hearts and minds.”

  “And weans,” said Brodie. “I bet he uses them to ensure the parents stay compliant.”

  “That’s another reason the dirty bastard needs bringing down,” glowered Pete. “I’ll do some digging, talk to my grasses, see what I can find out.”

  “Nice one pal.”

  “And while I’m running my arse ragged all over the city, what will you lot be doing?”

  “This all started because we were hired to find Steven Silvers,” said Brodie. “So that’s what we’re gonnae do. His maw said he can often be found preaching in the middle of Glasgow Fort, so me and Cass will head over there.”

  “And the rest of us?” said Elliott.

  “Do more digging. While Pete talks to his grasses you talk to ours. Someone somewhere must know where we can find Steven. And see what you can find out about Malachi. I want a word with that bastard.”

  “And when you do have that wee word,” said Pete. “What will you do?”

  “That depends on whether he’ll give Steven back nicely.”

  “What if Steven doesn’t want to leave?”

  “Then he can stay but I want to find out where Mary Strachan is.”

  “Who?”

  “Someone who went into the cult and vanished.”

  “So that’s two people you’re looking for then.”

  “Aye and it’s possible one of them isn’t in the city anymore but has been shifted to Edinburgh.”

  “Great. This is getting more and more complicated.”

  “But what we need to do most of all is get into the compound behind the church here in Glasgow.”

  “And how the hell are you going to do that? Apparently it’s got more security than Fort Knox.”

  “There’s two options - one of us could ingratiate ourselves with the church and get invited into the inner sanctum. But I’m no’ willing to risk that person’s sanity and it’ll take too long. Plus you have to gie’ up a load of cash to get that far in and they’re no’ getting a penny from us.”

  “So what’s the second option?”

  “We break in.”

  “Oh no Brodie, that’s not wise. We’ve no idea what we’d be walking into.”

  “Someone in the know sent me a map of the place.”

  “Is your wee map going to protect you against all that security?”

  “They’re holding weans in there and a reliable witness tells me people have been murdered in the compound and buried in the woods behind it. Someone has to do something.”

  “So the rumours say. If we can get real evidence of that then we can raid the place and no one will be able to stop us, not even the Chief Constable himself.”

  “Then I’ll get the bloody proof,” said Brodie determinedly. “Come into my office, I’ve got something to show you. The rest of you, get to it.”

  While the others got to work, Brodie and Pete entered the bullpen, the latter closing the door behind them.

  “So what have you got to show me?” said Pete.

  Brodie took a small black box out of his pocket and opened it to reveal a diamond ring.

  “Brodie,” gasped Pete, pressing a hand to his chest. “I don’t know what to say. This is all so sudden.”

  “Aye, very funny pal. It’s no’ for you, it’s for Cass.”

  “Yeah, I got that,” he said flatly. “So you’re gonnae ask her to marry you then?”

  “You don’t sound surprised.”

  “I’m amazed you haven’t done it already, I know how nuts you are about her.”

&nb
sp; “I cannae work up the bottle. I’m frightened she’ll say no.”

  “Well she’s managed to live with you for this long. If that hasn’t scared her off then nothing will.”

  “So you think I should go for it?”

  “Course I do, she’s a cracker. Get that ring on her finger before someone else does.”

  “The problem is I don’t know how to do it. I’ve never proposed to anyone before. I want it to be perfect, so when I pop the question she falls into my arms.”

  “When I popped the question to the dragon queen I did it in the middle of an Italian restaurant - red roses, violins. It was romantic as fuck.”

  “I don’t want to do it in front of a bunch of gawping fannies. I want it to be just the two of us.”

  “You could hire somewhere special. I’m sure you’ve got plenty of contacts willing to do you a favour.”

  “Aye, you might be onto something there pal.”

  “It’s weird. All those years I thought Cass wasn’t interested in you. Then it turns out she is and you get together. Now it’s like you’ve been together for ages. You’re a fucking superb couple.”

  Brodie beamed. “Cheers pal.”

  A group of disciples were on a mission to convert new followers in the middle of Glasgow Fort Shopping Centre but none of them appeared to be Steven Silvers. Brodie and Cass got themselves a coffee each and a bag of doughnuts and sat on a bench to watch them accost passers-by.

  “How can anyone take time out of their busy day to talk to those loons?” demanded Brodie. Truth be told, his mind was only half on the job as he was busy considering how he could propose to Cass.

  “They’re trained to spot people’s weaknesses,” replied Cass. “So they’ll know who to home in on. Look, they’re letting some people walk by, they’re not even bothering with them.”

  One bat attempted to approach an harassed-looking young mother with a bawling kid in tow, the boy’s face beetroot as he wailed his head off.

  “Piss off,” the woman barked at the bat, causing him to retreat.

  Brodie chuckled as his friends chastised him. “Looks like a newbie.”

  “I wouldn’t have thought he’d stop to listen to their patter,” said Cass when a large, muscular man with a shaved head and tattoos up his arms stopped to chat to the disciples. “Brodie?” she said when he failed to respond.

  “Sorry hen?”

  “You okay? You seem distracted.” Her eyes filled with mischief. “I hope you’re not planning a second murder attempt on the vacuum.”

  “No, I just…oh I don’t know. Normally with a case like this we’d storm in there, beat the shite out of everyone, grab Steven and do one. But I feel so restricted with this case, we have to tread so carefully. And I’m sick of rich, connected tossers getting away with murder. This Malachi creep is Lucas Thorne all over again.”

  “I know it’s frustrating but we brought down Lucas and we’ll bring down this arsehole too.”

  “By Christ you’re a goddess,” he smiled.

  He crushed his lips against hers. Cass wrapped her arms around his neck, running her fingers through his hair.

  “Sinners,” cried a voice.

  Brodie raised his head. “Eh?”

  “Sinners,” exclaimed a bat, running towards them with his arm extended, frantically pointing at them, his raised voice causing everyone to look their way. “Fornicators.”

  “We were only kissing,” said Cass.

  “Jezebel,” cried the man, holding his bible out before him like a shield. “The whore of Babylon returns to tempt man into sin.”

  “You what?” she frowned, getting to her feet.

  “Give up your sinful ways now, while you can still save your soul. Our church can help you,” he said, thrusting a leaflet into their faces.

  “Oh aye?” said Brodie. “Where you separate wee weans from their family and work them fourteen hours a day?”

  “Here,” said one woman who’d been talking to another disciple. “Is that true?”

  “Lies,” exclaimed the bat who’d been talking to Brodie and Cass. “Made up by the followers of the devil to stop humankind from stepping into the light.”

  “That’s a load of bollocks pal and you know it,” said Brodie. “We have witnesses.” He looked to the gathering crowd. “They’ve got a compound behind their church here in Glasgow with armed guards who stop anyone escaping. They even have a dungeon under the building called The Breach where they torture people mentally and physically until they break down. Makes it easier to brainwash them.”

  “Lucifer himself stands before us,” cried the bat, holding his bible up in the air. “He pollutes our beautiful city with his lies and tricks.”

  “Hey you,” said Brodie. “I run this city, no’ some red guy with horns and a tail.”

  “The devil and his whore stand before us.”

  “Oy,” snarled Brodie, thrusting his face into his. “Call me what you like but leave my girlfriend alone, unless you want my fist down your throat.”

  “Is it true about brainwashing and the weans?” said the big muscular man.

  “Aye it is,” said Brodie. “Once you’re in they never let you out. They make you sell all your worldly belongings, you give them all your cash and they force you to cut yourself off from friends and family. Then they’ve got you and you can’t escape. People have gone missing in their church, never to be seen again.”

  “Jesus,” said the muscular man, dumping the leaflet he held in a bin. “They’re a bloody cult.”

  “They’re dangerous,” Cass announced to the crowd. “Just look at what they’ve done to these poor sods,” she added, pointing at the group of disciples.

  “Do not listen to the whore’s lies,” cried the bat.

  “What have I told you about calling her names?” retorted Brodie, jabbing him in the shoulder with his index finger.

  The bat’s eyes filled with slyness. “She is damaged, tainted by the devil.” His gaze narrowed as he glared at Cass. “He touched her, made her feel vulnerable, a victim and now she spends her life fighting not to be one.”

  Cass could only gape as he pulled her darkest secret straight out of her soul in front of a group of strangers. When she was a teenager her brother’s friend had attempted to rape her, leading to her studying martial arts in an effort never to be a victim again. He’d seen all that in her in just a couple of minutes.

  “Right, that’s it,” said Brodie, drawing back his fist.

  “No,” exclaimed Cass, snapping herself out of her shock. “That’s what he wants you to do.”

  Her gaze caught his and Brodie’s rage ebbed. “There’s more than one way to skin a cat. Or in this case a bat.” He nodded at the bag of doughnuts they’d left on the bench they’d been sat on.

  Cass smiled. “Pigeons.”

  “Pigeons.”

  “Go for it.”

  Brodie picked up the bag, tore it open and hurled the lot at the disciples. They ducked, crying out in terror when a swarm of pigeons as well as a few seagulls swooped down on them, frantically pecking at the tasty treats.

  Everyone burst out laughing. When the birds eventually finished their feast they flew off, leaving the disciples dazed on the ground, dishevelled and covered in droppings. The crowd dispersed now the show was over. Brodie was satisfied to see those who had been interested in what the bats had to say dump their leaflets in the bin and wander off.

  “Maybe that’s the answer,” said Brodie. “Sabotage all their little demonstrations.”

  “There’s too many of them for us to cover alone but humiliating them really seemed to work.”

  “So did telling people the truth about what happens in their cult.”

  “We have to be careful though or we’ll be done for slander, unless we get evidence.”

  “And the best way to get word out to the public about them is through the media but it hasn’t done Mason much good. Still, today was a small victory.”

  “Yes it was.” She li
nked her arm through his. “We’d better get some more doughnuts to take back to the office.”

  “Aye, I suppose.”

  “Sinners,” gasped one of the bats, dragging himself to his feet.

  “Prick,” retorted Brodie as he and Cass wandered off arm-in-arm.

  Elliott, Ross and Christian were rather disappointed by the doughnuts Cass and Brodie brought back to the office.

  “It’s Pete’s fault,” announced Brodie. “He’s spoilt you with his ultra-special gourmet ones. Well it’s tough, you’ll have to make do with ordinary jam and sugar.”

  “Peasant doughnuts,” muttered Ross as he skulked back to his desk with his low quality item.

  “Right,” said Brodie, clapping his hands together. “What did you find out?”

  “Well,” began Christian. “Everyone’s heard of the church and seen the bats preaching around the toon but no one’s any personal experience of them.”

  Brodie sighed. “We can’t keep fannying about. We know what and who we’re dealing with. Now we need action. We need to find Steven.”

  “We flashed his photo to our contacts,” said Elliott. “They’ll let us know if they see him.”

  Brodie’s phone rang. He took it out of his pocket to answer the call. “MacBride Investigations,” he said into the handset. “Nice one son. Aye, I’ll bung you your usual fee.” His brow creased. “No I won’t you greedy bastard, all you did was make a phone call.” He hung up and huffed. “Prick.”

  “What was that about?” said Cass.

  “That was wee mad mental Stuie. Malachi is on Buchanan Street with his gang of bats. Apparently quite the crowd has gathered around him. We’ll all go. We need to see with our own eyes exactly what we’re up against.”

  Buchanan Street, which was slap bang in the centre of Glasgow city centre, could get busy at the best of times but today it was heaving. Cass allowed the men to shoulder the crowd aside, following in their wake until they reached the front. Malachi stood on the steps at the foot of Buchanan Galleries, addressing the masses, the deep voice Brodie had heard on the phone the previous night ringing out loud and clear with the assistance of a microphone. A bodyguard stood either side of him while a beautiful blond stood to his left, dressed as a bat, adoration shining out of her green eyes whenever she gazed upon Malachi. When she looked at anyone else her expression turned cold and hostile, marring her looks.