The Wallet

by Roger Rapel

  Detective Martin then looked at the photograph of the Mayor in bed with Camilla. The story was eventually compiled into a statement which made a good story, but there would be no one to convict as both suspects were dead and no way to confirm the information given. The only evidence if it was evidence was the photograph and body in the garden, placing all that together to make a murderer out of the Mayor or the Police Chief was conjecture. Although Detective Martin knew that Roseanne would use the Bugle to run the story and the allegation of a previous cover up, so he had to do the best he could to show the investigation was transparent this time.

  Once the interview was over Roseanne drove back to meet Tom Jnr where she told him of the progress and the finding of the body. Tom Jnr stood up and shook my hand as he expressed his gratitude to me for bringing this story to life for him and Roseanne.

  The paper ran the story in sequels to allow the police to run their investigation. But the nationals had got wind of a story and were camped out near 64, The Avenue, with reporters running around knocking on doors trying to get more dirt to feed the national papers. The whole thing was like a circus. Roseanne looked at the bloodhounds and decided that was not the way she wanted to work.

  We spent as much time as we could in her house, making love together, this was the best time of my life, so good, so happy it couldn’t have been better. But somewhere I had in the back of mind that Camilla was still out there, still at large still waiting to pounce and eat her next victim, perhaps she was nearby now that the news hounds had broadcasted the story.

  I was aware that every woman I saw could be her; also was Christopher still alive? Could he also be nearby waiting to strike? I shook my head as I tried to put both thoughts out of my head.

  Detective Martin kept Roseanne informed of the investigation; then he confirmed that the remains had been positively identified by DNA as Marsha her mother; the search for the missing person Marsha had been concluded. But as to who the murderer was, would remain a mystery and conjecture, although inwardly he knew that it was probably the Mayor who had killed her and buried her with the help of Camilla and perhaps the Police Chiefs help too.

  I sat back in the Mustang as Rosanne drove at quite a sedate pace for her, only occasionally blipping the throttle as she smiled absorbing the throaty exhaust note. I closed my eyes with a kind of satisfaction; then it went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  How long I was out for I had no idea, I began to come out of the blackness, but nothing was real, my eyes wouldn’t focus, I could make out voices, but couldn’t hear them clearly, they seemed so distant. Then something made me shiver as I heard what I thought was a metallic sound, I could feel someone’s hand on my forehead, it was cold, I began to sweat as the thought of Camilla’s hand on me ready to start carving me up and feeding me to someone. Then I thought oh my god Camilla must have knocked me out then captured Roseanne, oh no I was going to be fed the one I love.

  My heart started racing as I tried to get up, but I couldn’t move I was held down by something, some weight was holding me fast. Then I felt something go over my mouth as I tried to stay awake, but I couldn’t resist it, I then briefly thought of the chloroform as described by Christopher, then total blackness.

  How long I was knocked out for I have no idea, I began to stir as I tried to wiggle my fingers, thank heavens they responded. I clenched my fist it also felt good, I could feel power in them. I did the same to my toes then tried to lift my feet, but couldn’t they were like lead weights being held down.

  My eyelids were heavy as I tried to open them, they just wouldn’t fully open, although I could make out shapes moving around and could also hear someone talking, the voices were so muffled I couldn’t make out what was being said.

  Then I heard a metallic object hit the floor; then my thoughts raced back to Camilla as I tried to fidget to get into some defensive position, although I tried nothing would move, only my hands and feet. I was strapped down just like Christopher had described, I was completely defenceless.

  My eyelids just wouldn’t open they were so heavy; then I felt a cold hand on my head stroking my brow it was a cold clammy feeling. I thought I heard a woman’s voice say something which sent my heart racing again, as I tried to move then I felt an injection in my arm then total blackness.

  I had been given another knockout drug, I had no idea again how long I had been out of it, where had Camilla taken me? Was I in Roseanne’s house or had we been taken somewhere else, oh no I thought, we were back at 64, The Avenue; The place I felt that evil presence; oh god I was going to be cut up or Roseanne was, or perhaps both of us were. This was the repayment for resurrecting Marsha and smearing Camilla’s mother’s name. The thoughts were racing through my head, but I still couldn’t move. It was then that I heard a voice a voice that I recognised, it was Roseanne’s. I heard her say ‘no please leave me alone oh my god no please no.’ Oh god my poor Roseanne, I tried to shout, but nothing came out I had been somehow muted. No matter how hard I tried nothing came out of my mouth.

  I could feel hands on me all over me; this was as described by Christopher I was going to be used the same as he had been, used by women that Camilla had brought for their pleasure. The intensity of the situation had my hairs standing on end, I was cold, freezing cold I couldn’t get warm, the fear of what was going to happen to me and Rosanne. My god the thought of Roseanne being cut up alive was sending shivers down my spine, going deep into my soul adding to the coldness I was already feeling. Then I felt a hand running down my chest to my groin. I tried to push the hand away, but I was unable to move then I passed out again everything went black.

  I awoke again to another shout, it was another woman’s voice it was a shrilled voice it was a demanding sound it had to be Camilla. I shuddered as the voice came nearer. I was near to passing out with what was about to happen to me, I then heard another metallic sound, a knife, it was a knife, oh my god a knife. I’m sure I heard the knife being sharpened; I was struggling like mad to free myself, I still couldn’t see, my eyes were shut no matter what I did I couldn’t see. My arms and legs were like lead weights they just wouldn’t move no matter how much I tried I couldn’t move. There must have been gallons of adrenalin coursing around my body, the fight or flight system was ready, it was ready to act, I was on the starting blocks ready to go, but I couldn’t move.

  The frustration inside of me was turning to anger, I wanted to shout curse and swear and shout ‘Camilla fuck off leave me and Roseanne alone,’ but nothing came out of my mouth. It was then I heard a clatter of metallic objects that were placed next to me which really sent my heart rate racing. Then I heard what sounded like a knife being picked up; I was so tense, I could feel the blade entering my flesh; as soon as the blade went in I passed out again. I don’t know if it was the pain of the knife entering my flesh or the intensity of my fear, but I went out like a light.

  I can’t remember if I dreamt or not, but when I woke up I tried to feel with my hands, I tried to find and feel the wound where I had been cut; the wound as described by Christopher. I was trying to find the running blood seeping from my wounds where chunks of flesh had been cut from me.

  I don’t know how long I had been out; nothing had any time attached to it. I couldn’t see; if I could only open my eyes I could tell if there was any sign of daylight which would give me an indication of time. But whatever drugs I was being fed kept my eyes, mouth and limbs rendered inoperable.

  I then heard a voice, it was a voice that I knew, I was trying to gather my thoughts, who was it who did the voice belong too? Then realised it was Christopher’s. I managed to finally speak and said ‘mate come on get me out of here, Camilla will be back any minute, quick come on mate undo my straps quick let’s go.’ I wanted to ask him how he had escaped from the hospital and how had he found me, but that could wait all I wanted was for him to get me out of here before that bitch came back. But it was too late I heard her voice ‘what’s going on?’ Oh my god it was Camilla �
�please Christopher let’s go quick let’s get going.’ But too late, I was told not to move.

  My head was so fuzzy although my eyes were just beginning to focus and adjusting to the bright lights, but my hands and legs were still strapped down. I could still hear Camilla shouting, ‘get him strapped down tighter don’t let him move.’ Then I heard the voice, the one I loved the one that was my true love, it was my Roseanne. She shouted at Camilla ‘let him go set him free you fucking bitch.’ Then there was a commotion as voices were raised as things were being knocked over.

  I needed to get out of here; then all of a sudden I was able to speak more fluently as I shouted out as loud as I could, but my mouth was so dry hardly anything came out other than a grunt.

  Then I saw Roseanne she had her arm in a sling and cuts over her face, oh my god then I heard Camilla she was shouting and swearing at me; oh my god my heart rate went off the scale. Roseanne tried to protect me from the onslaught as Camilla came for me. I was trying to scream and shout at the fucking bitch who was about to cut me to pieces, but I was still strapped down. I shouted ‘help, please help me.’ I tried as hard as I could to escape, but the restraints kept me in place. I could make out Roseanne battling with Camilla as best she could then it went black again I was out of it, gone into the blackness, I must have been injected again.

  I awoke as I smelled the perfume of Roseanne; it was so good, it reached to my very heart and soul. My eyes were now fully open I was able to see the lights, they were bright and I was able to focus at last. I turned my head as I saw Roseanne asleep on a chair. I coughed and tried to speak, but my throat was so dry. Roseanne hearing my cough woke up from her sleep; she picked up a cup with a bendy straw then put it to my lips. I saw her smile as she said ‘do you feel better now.’ I looked at her as I nodded as she stroked my head. I then said ‘where am I, have they got Camilla, are you ok?’ ‘Shhhhh, now, we were involved in an accident; you have been in the operating theatre; you had to be sedated you were having nightmares tossing and turning, you had a fever we had to strap you down.’

  Then the door opened as I saw Camilla, she smiled as she said ‘welcome back you look better now.’ I tried to speak, but I was now so confused this can’t have been a dream, what about Christopher, Angela and the woman Christopher told me about the one he was being fed, this was some conspiracy I was under some drug or other which was keeping me from the real world. I started to try and get up but all of a sudden I felt a severe pain in my side. Camilla said ‘now, now just lay back and relax, it may take a couple of days for you to get yourself up an about, you had a severe infection which gave you hallucinations.’

  I lay back with Rosanne holding my hand as I said ‘how did the story finish in the Bugle?’ Roseanne looked at me as if I was stupid then said ‘you better lay back and relax you are still confused, let me fix your pillows’ she fluffed up my pillows then I said ‘kiss me darling let me feel your warm lips next to mine.’ We had a lingering kiss which warmed me as I smiled and fell back to sleep. I remember the blackness coming over me again; I was thinking is this all a dream, was any of this real was Camilla or Roseanne real, it can’t have been a dream?

  I later awoke and realised that I was in hospital, but where was Rosanne? Had she been here? Then I had the same thoughts again, was she real? Or was she just a figment of my imagination? I was so confused, did I even have a girlfriend and was her name Roseanne? It had seemed so real, my life had seemed so real.

  The nurse came in to the side ward, she was wearing a pristine white uniform; she smiled at me saying ‘now that’s good you look so much better now.’ I said ‘please tell me your name?’ ‘Camilla.’ ‘Thank you; can you tell me where Roseanne is?’ ‘Now you rest as it’s too soon to be moving.’

  I was in my bed when I felt the straps applied as I was wheeled somewhere, my eyes were getting heavy again; the nurse must have fed me some sleeping drug.

  I could see bright lights and heard voices, but the lights were so bright the faces were blotted out by the glare.

  I could hear the voices then I felt a cold blade or what I thought was a cold blade being laid on my chest. Then I’m sure I could feel someone drawing on my chest, I had the vision of me being cut up and cooked.

  I could hear the muffled voices, but what they were saying I had no idea; then I saw a bright flash I could see standing in front of me a woman who I recognised as Roseanne then another woman who was Marsha. Then it went black.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  My memory began to come back to me; I had been a passenger in Rosanne’s Mustang when we had been side-swiped by a semi on my side. I had lost consciousness from the impact and had to have emergency surgery. I had to be cut out of Rosanne’s prize Mustang; the dirt and grime from the fireman’s cutting tools had gotten into my wounds and caused a major infection, this had sent my temperature sky high as the body tried to fight the infection.

  Roseanne had suffered a broken arm and superficial cuts, she had been lucky. I found out that she had stayed by my side all through the procedure and had been the one who had tried to keep me cool by placing wet towels on my forehead.

  The surgeon came on his rounds he smiled at me as he said ‘you were lucky, that was some impact also the infection took some fighting.’ I smiled as I thanked him. ‘You are also a lucky guy to have woman like Roseanne by your side, she is a credit.’ ‘When can I go home doc?’ ‘I would say give it two more days.’ I smiled and shook his hand then he left my room.

  Roseanne looked at me and smiled ‘oh my god you were so lucky, that semi-driver was drunk; he has been arrested and charged with drunk driving. My poor Mustang is totalled, it’s no more, gone to the scrap yard.’ ‘Oh Rosanne I’m so sorry for that.’ ‘You’re my prize; I can’t wait to get you home.’ ‘How did the story run?’ ‘Fantastic the paper’s circulation went sky high; Tom was over the moon and wants you to attend a celebration when you’re well enough.’

  ‘What about….’ Roseanne cut me short, ‘rest, you need rest, all in good time.’ I closed my eyes and drifted off on a cloud, smiling with satisfaction.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Roseanne picked me up from the hospital in a brand new Chevrolet SUV; she explained it was a temporary vehicle until the insurance was sorted. We drove to her house and parked outside the front door.

  This was now my home and from what I had been told about Roseanne she was dedicated to making me better and in return I intended to make her one happy woman, but for now convalescence was the order of the day.

  We entered and as we did so I smelled the scent of fresh cut flowers; Roseanne had only gone to the florist and decked the hallway with a mixture of fauna and flora which certainly hit my nostrils as I walked in.

  I smiled at Roseanne as I leant over to try and kiss her, but my surgery stitches stopped me with a sharp painful sensation as I took in a deep intake of breath. Roseanne mothered me sitting me down in the lounge whilst she made coffee with her good hand.

  My life was changing since I met Roseanne; the finding of her mother’s remains had put me on a pedestal in her eyes, also in Tom Jnr’s as well.

  But I had niggling doubts about Christopher and where he might be, also Camilla where was she? The thought of what Christopher had told me about the fear he felt. It must have been the same fear I felt when entering both addresses, it left me cold as I shivered.

  As I was drifting away on a cloud of happiness, I was soon brought back by the sound of Roseanne entering with the coffee she had managed to bring it in with her good hand.

  We sat and talked as she told me about the way my body had reacted when the height of the infection had taken hold and how the nurses had to strap me down to prevent me injuring myself and the staff. I smiled and commented on the flowers she had bought and how I must do the same for the hospital staff.

  The day had taken it out of me as I sat slowly fading; my eyes were getting heavy as my head began to nod. Roseanne seeing my predicament guided me up the wide s
taircase to her big pink room where she helped me out of my clothes then put me to bed. No sooner had I hit the pillow I was gone sinking deeply into the blackness that overcame me as I drifted away into the dark abyss of sleep.

  I was in a dream world, all sorts of events occurred during my sleep; I was sat talking to Christopher one minute then the next being dragged through the wall of 66, into 64; then standing outside of Camilla’s house frozen to the spot, also whilst inside where my in-breath carried the vapour of the evil inside me. The evil that had been in the house had gone inside me. What was it doing? I began to sweat as the fear overtook me again, was it lying dormant, so that when the time was right, it would manifest itself again through me. Was I destined to be a killer just like Camilla had been? Was I carrying the evil spirit of Camilla inside me?

  I began to toss and turn as I felt the coldness of what was inside me begin to stir, it was evil. I saw those red eyes tinged with yellow staring at me, whatever was inside me was now out in the open. I was being pinned down, as the cold hands pushed me deeper into the bed and held me there; my strength had gone there was no fight left in me, so I just screamed out. I don’t know what I screamed, but the evil being didn’t like it as I felt hard slap to my face as the eyes came closer to me staring at me then a smirk as the vision went back inside me again.

  I felt a jolt as it went inside; I had been moving so much that the pain of my stitches woke me up. I had been awoken from a nightmare. Oh my god that evil was inside me, it had gone inside me and was there ready to strike. Was it real or a dream? Was I carrying the evil of Camilla around inside me? The pain of the surgeon’s knife and stitches hurt so badly. I tried to get up but was pinned down, oh my god I thought Camilla was back she was in Roseanne’s house she must have tied her down and was going to eat her alive. Then I felt a hard slap around my face and something cold was covering my face, it felt like some cold hand then it travelled down my chest to my stomach, it was cold and clammy. Then from deep within me I heard a voice saying, ‘that’s better just enjoy it for now, I will be back.’