Ugly Duckling

by Malcolm Allen

  Back at the station John was in deep conversation with Leon, both holding files from the Brighton cases, they had been studying the files for some time now and the frustration was beginning to get to John.

  'Come on Leon, Give me something I can fucking work with. What do you think, same killer or not.'

  'I've already told you John, in my opinion yes it is the same killer, you're just not listening, you've got something in your head that doesn’t match what I'm telling you so you've shut off to what I'm saying!'

  'Don't be ridiculous. I called you in to help Leon, but you're just not telling me'

  'Telling you what? Leon interrupted 'Telling you what you want to hear is that what you were going to say? John if you want my help you should a least listen to my opinion'

  Ian came into the office, feeling the tension in the air and hearing the raised voices from 10 yards away. 'Hello Camper's, Hi-Di-Hi' he said cheerfully

  'Shut the fuck up Ian, if you've got nothing better to say!' John didn't even look up

  Ian sat at the desk 'What's the problem with you two then?'

  'John invited me here to give my opinion but he doesn't like it' protested Leon

  Ian looked at John,’ what don't you like J.D?'

  'Fucking any of it. Leon seems to think we can’t ignore the Gay connection, He says we are looking for a Gay serial killer'

  Ian smiled knowing that it wasn't what Leon had said that was the problem; it was that John would have to admit that Ian was right. 'Really? Blimey I didn't actually think we were looking for a Gay killer, I thought it was more likely to be hate crime from the anti gay brigade.'

  'Don't be stupid Ian,' John grumped 'I knew and D.I Wills told you it wasn't hate crime, look at the scenes, there's no evidence to support that theory, no forced entry and no real struggle.'

  'Well I wouldn't have guessed a Gay killer, Sorry J.D I guess that's why you're an Inspector and I'm just a sergeant.' Ian was trying to sound as humble as he could.

  John sat back in his chair took a couple of deep breaths and looked at Ian and Leon sat opposite him, eventually he spoke 'Don't think I don't know what you two are up too, fucking psychological clap trap. But, of course I realise there is a chance that our killer is gay, three gay men murdered in their own apartments, but what about our two?'

  'Is it possible they were still in the closet?' Leon Asked

  'There's no evidence of that, is there J.D?' Ian was choosing his words very carefully, very deliberately. 'But we haven't really dug that deep on that side of things, have we?'

  'Well why haven't you?' as expected John was shifting the blame to Ian while he convinced himself that he had come up with the Gay murderer idea 'Ian you really should use you're initiative from time to time. I need you to get on to it and start digging, ask around all known associates, that sort of stuff.'

  'Good Idea J.D glad you thought of it'

  John smiled, and then started laughing 'OK you pair of bastards you might be right and I could have been wrong, but I'm in charge because I listen to other people’s advice and opinions.' at that both Leon and Ian burst out laughing 'that’s it!' John said laughing himself now 'I'm going to get you both a coffee from the bloody rotten coffee machine just to show how I feel about you both'

  'NO! Please not that' Ian begged 'lets go out for one I'll pay!'

  John smiled feeling clever for getting Ian to yet again pay for coffee, not realising that all the coffee and bacon sandwiches Ian paid for came out of expenses. 'Give Liz a ring as well, see if she can join us.'

  ***

  'Thanks for inviting me, I was just about to call you' Liz had joined the other three in the coffee shop and was clutching a folder of photographs, as she sat she handed the folder to John. 'have a look at these' she took three photo's of the Brighton killings from the folder and handed them to John 'it may be nothing but in everyone of them somewhere, on a table or bedside cabinet, there is a single red rose, they all look fresh.'

  John examined the pictures 'Yes I see them. You think the killer left them?'

  'I don't know John but it’s a possibility, apart from the dead bodies it’s the only thing I can see that's the same in all of them.'

  Leon took a look at the pictures 'If we assume our killer is gay, and he gave the flowers, it would indicate that he's comfortable with his sexuality, not trying to hide it. The victims in Bournemouth may turn out to be in the closet, but our killer certainly isn't.'

  John took another look at the photos and frowned. 'I don't feel comfortable with this' he said 'are we sure we're looking for the same person? We don't know if our victims had gay tendencies or not and we didn't find any flowers here.'

  'I can tell you that from my point of view it’s almost certainly the same person, the height, the type of wounds, the amount of pressure exerted. They all match, with the exception of Jeremy Green, but even on that one I'm 85% sure its the same person' Liz took another sip of her coffee, allowing her comments to sink in.

  'From a profiler’s point of view' Leon started 'it all fits with what I told you before, the build up from the stabbing to disembowelling etc. I can only add that having perused the Brighton cases and discussed it with you John, I now believe our killer to be gay, openly and completely in touch with their feminine side, so not a butch gay. The flowers, they way the bodies have all been laid out, the closing of the eyes even the way the guts have been placed, not thrown, next to the bodies. I'm convinced they are all by the same person.'

  'What about you Ian?'

  Ian had been sat quietly listening to everything the others had been saying, processing all the information, trying to get inside the killers mind. 'I think I need to go and speak to Mrs Broom again, perhaps there's something she's not telling us about her husband.'

  'OK Ian, but go carefully, we've already bought her in once and were wrong'

  'You did you mean!' Ian retorted. As he was leaving the coffee shop John picked up a half eaten scone and threw it towards Ian's head, missing him by a fraction but hitting the back of an electric wheelchair that was parked in the corner. Horrified Liz leapt to her feet to retrieve the scone and apologise to the wheelchair owner.

  'That's OK my dear, don't mention it' came the reply.

  Chapter 23

  As Ian approached the Broom household he noticed a large For Sale sign that had been erected in the garden of Mr & Mrs Lovitt next door. He continued to Mrs Broom’s door and rang the bell. After a second or two the door opened and Mrs Broom stood in a dressing gown looking downtrodden and depressed.

  'What do you want?'

  'I'm sorry to disturb you Mrs Broom, just a couple of more questions, may I come in?' reluctantly Mrs Broom opened the door and allowed Ian to pass. 'Is everything alright?' he asked as he sat on an armchair opposite the sofa where Mrs Broom had settled.

  'What do you think?' came the reply

  'Is there anything I can do?'

  'I think you and your inspector have done enough, don't you? You accused me of plotting to kill my husband with Peter, and now I can’t get it out of my head that Peter might have done it, even though you let him go and he has an alibi the thought is still in my head!'

  'I'm sorry Gill, but we have to follow up on all possible leads, one of them will find the person that killed your husband.'

  'Well. Me and Peter have split up. You probably saw the for sale sign. They're moving away, going to make a fresh start, they say. What about me. I'm just left with the kids and a dead husband. Are you going to help with that?'

  Ian watched as Gill wiped a tear from her eye, he wondered if the tear was for her dead husband or for herself. 'Gill, is there anything else you can tell me about Bill? Anything you may have remembered, did he have many male friends?'

  'Men friends? Not really, there are one or two that we both know that we see down the pub, but no, not really why?'

  'Would any of these joint friends be a part of the gay community?'

  'Gay! Oh come on, what are you trying to
say? That Bill was mixed up with the gay scene? That he was Gay! Are you serious? We've got two kids and he had more affairs than hot dinners!'

  'Might he have just been trying to cover up a secret life?'

  'Cripp. Listen to me! He didn't have bloody time for a secret life; he was too busy shagging any woman that was unfortunate enough to look at him!'

  'I'm sorry Gill; it’s just a line of investigation that we have to follow. So are you saying that Bill was definitely not involved in the gay scene?'

  'No he was not you fucking moron!'

  Ian sat calmly and looked around the room ignoring what he had just been called; he worked with John Dickie so was quite used to being called names. His eyes fell onto the front window ledge 'That's a nice rose, where did you get that? My wife would love one.'

  Gill Brooms eyes filled with tears 'Bill gave it to me the day before,' she paused 'you know.' a tear rolled down her cheek 'Actually I spoilt the surprise, I went into his briefcase to take out his sandwich box and there it was. He was a complete bastard most of the time but every now and then he'd do something really loving for me.' she went over and picked up the rose, 'its past its best now, but I'll keep it a bit longer, maybe I'll press it'

  'That was nice of him.' he paused then continued 'You had a bit of a strange relationship didn't you?'

  'Love Hate you mean? Yes it was. We both had affairs, and I would have left him for Peter, but every now and then he reminded me of why we fell in love in the first place. Anyway look what's happened with Peter, is any man the perfect husband?'

  Ian shrugged his shoulders and stood to leave 'Thanks for your time Gill, if there's anything I can help with, or you think of anything else please give me a call at the station, Thanks again for your time, Bye.'

  As Ian walked back down the driveway he was thinking about the rose, maybe Gill didn't know it, but that rose must have been given to Bill by his killer, The Bournemouth Butcher. And the implications of that were enormous.

  Ian reported what he had discovered to John who sat and listened patiently

  'So there was a rose, which we assume came from the killer, so this killer gives his victims or lovers a rose just before slitting their throats. Why Ian, what's it all about? What's the motive behind it?' Ian could almost see the cog's turning in Johns head 'and that still leaves Jeremy, where does he fit in to all this?'

  'I don't have the answers J.D I can only report the evidence but it's all fitting together and sooner or later we will get a breakthrough. In the meantime I'm told your cars ready if you want to go and collect it'

  'Great! Lets go' John walked with Ian down to the Garage where the pool cars were kept, Ian had a key in his hand 'Which one is it' John could hardly contain his excitement as he looked down the row of cars, there were BMW's, Audi's, and at the end even a Jaguar. Ian led John past the row of cars towards the Jag, 'No not the Jag! I can’t believe it' Ian kept walking past the Audi A8 and they approached the Jag.

  'Here we are then, your new car awaits' Ian had a very slight smile on his face. John rushed up to the Jaguar stroking it and peering through the windows like a child with a new toy.

  'Give me the key then, let me in!'

  'No John, not the Jag. This one'

  John looked around, parked next to the Jaguar going completely unnoticed was another car. John looked, his expression changed from joy to horror, open mouthed he looked at Ian 'it's a Ka, a fucking ford Ka! A noddy mobile! Are you serious?'

  Ian could barely stop himself from falling to the floor with laughter 'I knew you'd like it J.D. Very economical.' John didn't look amused 'It’s all they have available John, so it’s this or nothing I'm afraid till you get your old one fixed. Never mind could be worst; they wanted to give you a push bike. Do you fancy a pint?'

  John snatched the keys from Ian and looked at his watch, 7pm, he could happily go for a pint with Ian but he had to be at Jenni's at 8 o’clock. ‘I’ll Just give Jenni a quick ring tell her I'll be half an hour late. You’re paying!'

  Jenni arrived back at her flat tossed her gym bag into the wardrobe, stripped off her tracksuit and went straight into the shower; it had been a busy afternoon for her so she was quite glad when John phoned to say he'd be arriving at about 8:30 that gave her 45 minutes to shower and change. She'd cleaned the flat and changed the bedding earlier, bought some flowers and arranged for dinner to be delivered at about 7:50. Everything was going smoothly till she'd got a phone call from a friend asking to meet her, she said she didn't really have time but eventually she agreed to go for a chat but now everything was such a rush. She stood in the shower feeling the warm water flowing over her body, it felt as if all the stress was being washed away, re-energising her for the night ahead. After her shower she moisturised every inch of her body, she wanted everything to be perfect for later. She dressed in a long flowing dress that was cut down to the waist at both the front and back. At least she didn't have to worry about what underwear she was going to put on. The doorbell rang, it was the food delivery, twenty five minutes late, but that was a good thing as it turned out, two Tournedos Rossini with all the trimmings. 'Just pop them in a low oven, they'll be fine for a while' she was told. She'd prepared the starter herself, fruit juice, and the desert was going to be, well she had some squirty cream in the fridge. The doorbell rang once more, this time it was John.

  'WOW! You look fantastic! You should be on the red carpet at a premier or something' John was grinning from ear to ear as he scanned Jenni and the dress that she was, as if by magic, keeping on her body.

  'This old rag' Jenni joked 'Its a little bit tight, I can’t wear anything underneath it, but I'm glad you like it, I bought it specially for you.' she kissed John and showed him through to the lounge, 'what do you want to drink, we have beer, wine and I got you some Scotch'

  'You shouldn't have gone to all that trouble Jenni' he secretly felt ecstatic that she had 'I'll just have a beer for now please'

  Jenni went to the kitchen and poured two beers returning she sat as close as she could to John on the sofa placing the beers on the floor beside them, again she kissed John, wherever he put his hands he could fell Jenni's warm bare flesh 'I can’t get over that dress' he was almost panting with joy 'how do you keep it on?'

  'You'll find out later, or rather you'll find out how easy it is to get off' Jenni replied 'but I suppose we'd better eat first, I've rustled up Tournedos Rossi for us tonight, you like steak don't you?'

  John Grinned from ear to ear 'you know I do, you really have gone to a lot of trouble'

  'It was nothing really, come and sit at the table' she led John by the hand to the dining table which was laid out with cutlery and wine glasses ready for dinner. A vase of flowers were to one edge of the table so it didn't interfere with them seeing each other and a candle was placed in the middle, which Jenni now lit. A glass of fruit juice was at each of their places. 'Just a fruit juice starter, I didn't think anything too heavy before the steak.'

  'Perfect' John gushed as he sat at the table opposite Jenni.'Cheers' he raised his glass of fruit juice and clicked glasses with Jenni before take a swig of Pineapple Juice. John hated pineapple juice but drank it down as quickly as possible trying not to taste it; he didn't want to offend Jenni who had gone to so much trouble.

  'Shall I get the main course while you open the wine?' Jenni passed a bottle of Rioja to John together with the cork screw and disappeared into the kitchen where she unpacked the foil tins and presented everything on the dinner plates.

  John watched as Jenni returned with the plates, he was actually more fascinated by the dress, and what was in it, than he was by the dinner, but when Jenni lowered the plate in front of him, he couldn't believe his eyes, 'This looks perfect' he took a deep breath breathing in the aroma of the feast that was in front of him 'this is restaurant standard, were you ever a chef?'

  'No I just enjoy cooking at home; this is one of my favourites' Jenni lied

  'Your choice of wine is very good too, one of my favour
ites' he took a sip from his wine glass, so much better than pineapple juice he thought.

  'Would you like some music? I've got lady Gaga or Kylie just say what you want, I've got loads here'

  'I quite like Kylie but any thing’s fine with me' John replied waiting in anticipation to get started with his dinner.

  Jenni put the music on and returned to the table giving John another kiss on the way past, her dress gaped open as she leant over showing her perfectly shaped and firm breasts 'Get stuck in' she said. John raised an eyebrow 'to your food' Jenni Smiled

  John took his first mouthful of steak and was in heaven 'Jenni if you cook like this all the time we should get married' he joked. Jenni took a sip of her wine smiling but without replying, 'What have you been doing to day? Anything interesting?' John enquired

  'No Not really, I had to go and do the shopping and prepare dinner but not much else, it takes a long while to put on a dinner like this you know, and I had to make myself beautiful for you'

  'You certainly did that, and this dinner is superb' John took another mouthful, savouring the flavours contained within his perfectly cooked steak.

  They finished their main course while chatting happily with the usual dinner party chat and went back to the sofa to finish the wine and coffee. John stretched out and let out a sigh of contentment, 'That was absolutely delicious' he placed one arm around Jenni and eased her towards him for a kiss 'How could I ever thank you?' He kissed her slowly and gently on the lips, still a little unsure where to put his hands, it was a problem that didn't last long as Jenni took his hand and placed it inside her dress on her breast, he gently squeezed and could feel her nipples were already erect, as was John, the kiss became more passionate as they stroked each other until John was almost at orgasm. Jenni suddenly got up and disappeared to the kitchen, leaving John to calm down slightly, moments later she returned, she was holding a can of spray cream. She sprayed a little onto her finger and then licked and sucked the finger while continuing to hold Johns gaze. Slowly she eased the straps of her dress first from one shoulder revealing one breast, then the other, allowing the dress to fall to the ground. Still holding Johns gaze but now completely naked she spoke in a soft, seductive tone. 'I think its time for dessert.'