Ugly Duckling

by Malcolm Allen

  Phil thought for a moment if he wasn't suspected of anything he was happy to talk to John as a friend where he was 'No, its OK John I'm ok here, what did you want to know?'

  John asked Ian to order 3 coffees’ then began. 'Phil when you took the call from Liz, what exactly did she say?'

  Phil thought for a moment then said 'She asked me to tell John she couldn't make it, she was feeling really ill. And she was sorry but she'd see him soon.'

  'She didn't mention Greg?' Ian asked

  'No she didn't, Just John. I'm certain of that.'

  'Could you say for certain it was Liz' John asked

  Again Phil thought long and hard, 'Actually no.' he said 'it was definitely female, but it was very croaky and almost a whisper, so I suppose it could have been someone else.'

  'What about background noise Phil, was there anything in the background?'

  'I don't think so, I took the call in the pub so there was a lot of noise around me,' he paused 'Hang on a minute, there was something; it was that song that someone keeps playing in the pub, Christina Aguilera, we are beautiful, I'm sure that was playing.'

  'And there's nothing else you can think of?' John asked

  'Nothing that springs to mind John, but if I think of anything else I'll let you know.'

  'Ok Phil, thanks, you can stay to finish you're coffee if you want but I've got to get up to my office, there's some bells ringing and I don't like it.'

  Back in Johns office Leon had made a space for himself in one corner and Greg in another near the white board, leaving the rest of the area for John and Ian, they'd been passing the note and picture between them but it had settled down with Leon examining the note one more time and Greg staring at the picture knowing he was looking at something important but completely missing what it was. John entered the room followed by Ian with yet more coffee. John walked first to Leon and looked at the note again, then he crossed to Greg and looked at the picture, he could see the problem with the picture but for now kept it to himself, 'Did Liz tell you where she was going for coffee?' he asked

  'Yes' Greg said 'She said she was going to Jenni's.' John went to his chair, sat, closed his eyes and went off into one of his trances, Ian and the others new the signal and quietly left John alone in his office.

  John sat and went deep into his own mind, this was his way of sorting things out, he knew that the important stuff would come forward, his mind was showing him all sorts of pictures, images flashing rapidly around his mind, assembling themselves into the correct order, it wasn't all about the abductions, nor was it all about the murders, his mind was telling him they were linked. The first murder scene flashed in front of him, followed by the first time he'd seen Jenni, 'Bill, please stop, let me explain' she had said, explain what? Then the second murder, then Brighton, the way Barnett watched Jenni leave the Station that day. When Barnett was murdered Jenni was with John, but then the time of death was adjusted to take into account Barnett's flu. Greg looking at the picture of Roger Green, something about the eyes he'd said, He'd now been staring at them for hours. The photo that came with the note, Liz bound and gagged, Jenni apparently the same but looking more like it was a photo shoot for bondage monthly, posed, glamorous and the eyes, the photo itself, high resolution printed on high quality glossy photographic paper, no mobile phone photo printed with a standard ink jet printer. The note almost child like when read back. 'Ian phone call for you, its America' John heard somebody call to Ian, America, are they about to confirm what John was already thinking? Back to the note, Jenni the love of his life, there was only one person that would call Jenni the love of his life, and that was the same person that had once told him that she hadn't always looked this way, she'd had a little help. A little help? A sense of dread gripped his stomach as John realised she was a man made woman. He realised that the person they were looking for, the serial killer, the one that had abducted Liz and probably Wheeler, Roger Green was in fact his lover Jenni Everitt.

  'J.D' it was Ian stood in the doorway, he looked pale, shocked and unsure 'I've Just been speaking to America,' He paused and took a deep breath 'Roger Green checked into a clinic in Florida, it wasn't Roger that came out, they've emailed before and after photos, I think you need to brace yourself J.D.' John leaned back in his chair and smiled, he already knew what they were going to show.

  Chapter 38

  Liz looked over at the figure on the other side of the room, her eyesight still blurred, realising she was unable to move her arms or legs and unable to speak. She began to reflect on the events that had led to this situation.

  When Liz arrived at Jenni's that afternoon she was feeling full of beans, invited for coffee, seeing Greg and John that night and John was taking her out for a meal. At first she felt a little apprehensive about going for coffee with Jenni, thinking that she might get a bit nasty over John, but she decided they were both grown women and why shouldn't they have coffee together? If the topic of John came up they could simply agree to be friendly rivals. She rang the door bell and Jenni answered dressed in just a track suit.

  'Liz! You came, lovely to see you, come in' she kissed Liz on each cheek and showed her through to the lounge 'Have a seat I'll get the coffee on the go.'

  Liz sat and looked around the apartment, it wasn't her taste but it was clean and tidy, Liz was admiring the CD collection when Jenni returned.

  'I love music' Jenni said 'I've got all sorts there but I really like Lady Gaga at the moment, shall I put some on?' not waiting for an answer she pushed a button and 'Born this way' came over the speakers.

  'It’s a nice place you've got here' Liz lifted her mug of coffee and took a sip.

  'It’s ok. Not what I really want but it'll do for now, Why don't you tell me all about yourself Liz, I feel I should get to know you better, you could start from when you were at University if you like.'

  here we go, thought Liz, she's just trying to find information about me and John, but she thought she would oblige, the past couldn't be changed after all, so she started to tell Jenni all about when the four of them were at University, about how she used to help John with his course work, her, Ian and Sonia.

  'So when John started seeing Sonia you just stood back and watched?' Jenni was really probing now.

  'Well it wasn't quite like that, Sonia was my best friend and John seemed more interested in her than me, so I did what any best friend would have done' Liz explained

  Jenni scoffed 'not me! I would have scratched her eyes out!'

  Liz laughed 'but I didn't want to spoil the manicure' she joked.

  Jenni wasn't laughing 'so that left you and Ian'

  'Yes, we had a couple of dates, but there was really nothing there, so we decided to remain just good friends.'

  'What about now?' Jenni asked 'Would you fight for John now?'

  Liz looked Jenni straight in the eyes 'Oh Yes, Now I would, but I don't think it would come to that, John's a busy man but he knows where to come if he needs to talk.'

  'Talk!' Jenni laughed 'I can think of other things he'd rather do!'

  'We'll see' Liz smiled 'I'm meeting him later, he's taking me out for a proper birthday meal. Anyway, what about you? What's you're story?'

  'I've had a life' Jenni smiled 'made some killings along the way, made mistakes too, but I didn't always look like this.' Jenni gestured with her hands drawing attention to her figure 'I've had a little help.'

  'Really' Liz was genuinely interested to hear about this, she always thought she might get a boob job at some point.

  'Oh yes, Liz it’s the 21st century. I've had my boobs done and a bum reshape almost complete facial reconstruction dental implants and a trachea shave, it was rather large before, people kept thinking I was a man.'

  'Wow, that's amazing Jenni.' Liz said whilst wondering if there was anything about Jenni that wasn't plastic 'and the results are fantastic!'

  'I've yet to meet a man that doesn’t approve, some women too actually,' she grinned sweetly at Liz 'I'll get us some
more coffee.' Jenni stood and went to the kitchen, Liz couldn't help but stare at Jenni as she passed, it was true, even in a track suit she looked stunning, 'some of it was a bit painful at the time' she called 'but I think it was all worth it in the end.' Jenni was returning from the kitchen.

  'What was the most painful do you think?'

  'Oh, I don't know, probably when I had my penis removed.' Jenni flashed a wine bottle across Liz's temple knocking her out in a single blow. 'But it was all worth it, John will never know.'

  When Liz woke she was laying on the bed, her hands bound behind her back with duck tape and gagged with the same, laying next to her was Jenni, hands behind her back and gagged the same way, but hair brushed and full eye make-up. Suddenly there was a flash, then another and another. Jenni stood up and removed the tape from her mouth while she crossed to her camera which she had set up on a tripod at the foot of the bed.

  'I think that should do.' she removed the camera to the living room, 'I'm really sorry about this Liz, you're quite nice really, but I can’t have you steeling John from me,'

  Liz muttered something from behind the tape

  'I know Liz, isn't it odd?' Jenni continued 'that John should fall in love with a girl who was born with a penis?' Jenni returned to the bedroom 'I needed the photo's to send to John so that he will come and rescue me.' again Liz muttered something 'because, you see, Wheeler is going to get the blame for this, John hates him for what he did to Sonia, I hate him for telling all my ex boyfriends that I was born a man, when they heard that news they all turned on me, calling me a freak and Roger, I hate that name. So I had to kill them. There was no other way, you see? They were threatening my life, you understand don't you? I wasn't born a man, I was born a woman with a penis, I just had surgery to remove it, the same as you would've done, wouldn't you? So I'm going to frame Wheeler and John will come to my rescue and probably shoot him.'

  She looked at Liz with some sympathy in her eyes, 'Unfortunately you're likely to get caught in the cross fire and die, because I'm going to tape you both together to his stupid buggy. He's due here a little later so you don't have long to wait for some company. At least you have the satisfaction of knowing that John will have a really happy and fulfilled life once this is all over, I'm sure you'd do anything to give John that wouldn't you, even die.' She smiled at Liz and wiped the tear from her eye, 'Tears of Joy! I knew you'd understand and approve; now if I can just borrow you're phone I need to make a call.' She took Liz's phone from her bag and dialled

  'Hello Phil?' she put on a fake croaky voice and spoke in a whisper 'It's Liz, would you tell John I can’t make it tonight I'm really feeling ill, tell him I'll see him soon.' Jenni removed the battery from the phone and placed it back into Liz's bag, she then went through to the kitchen, once there she took two tamazepam tablets and crushed then in a pestle and mortar tipped them into a tall glass and filled it with orange juice, returning to Liz she placed a drinking straw through a slit that had been pre cut into Liz's gag and held the glass at the other end, 'Here you are Liz, you've more than likely got a bit of a head ache, drink this.' Liz drank and eventually fell into a deep sleep.

  Now she had Liz she had to deal with Wheeler, it was only about half an hour till he was due to arrive, so Jenni decided to take a quick shower and change into something that he would drool over, the micro skirt and red panties should do the trick, she thought. Leaving her long hair wet so that it dampened the front of her blouse making it translucent and cling to her breasts she answered the door. 'Hello Wheeler, I've been looking forward to you coming, please come in.' Wheeler pushed the joystick on his buggy forward and entered the lounge.

  'You're looking lovely tonight my dear' He said 'I do so like that skirt, it shows off your long legs wonderfully and when you sit I sometimes get just the slightest glimpse of your knickers, and the wet blouse! Really nice touch.'

  'I wore them just for you, so I'm glad you like the look' Jenni could already feel herself becoming aroused, it happened whenever someone paid her even the slightest attention, but she knew she had to control it, she had quite a different agenda tonight. 'Can I get you a drink? I bought some Martini especially for you.'

  'If you have ice and lemon I'd love a Martini and lemonade, but if you don't then I won’t bother.'

  'Wait there then' Jenni went to the drinks cupboard and took the bottle of Martini to the kitchen where she poured his drink, complete with ice and lemon, when she returned Wheeler was sat with his trousers around his ankles.

  'I'm sorry my chicken but I have a little trouble getting them over my ankles, would you be a love and help?'

  Jenni helped to remove wheelers trousers but then place a tea towel over him, 'I thought we could just be a little civilised and have a drink and a chat first.' she said 'there's so much I want to know about you.'

  'Well ok. I suppose a drink will loosen me up a bit, but I don't want to spend all night talking, I can do that on the phone.' Wheeler was being his usual irritable self.

  'I finished with John, just as you asked, now why don't you tell me why you hate him so much.'

  'That's simple my dear, because it was his bitch wife that caused me to be in this chair!' Anger revealed itself in Wheelers voice every time he mentioned John or Sonia. 'Now, shall we get down to business?'

  Jenni stood and walked towards Wheeler, she gently places her hand in his lap, Wheeler grinned and closed his eyes.

  The next time he opened his eyes he was in the bedroom fully dressed, Taped to his chair with duck tape and gagged. He tried pushing the joystick of his chair forward, nothing happened, the battery had been disconnected.

  Seeing he was awake Jenni crossed the room to him and held a knife to the side of his neck and ripped off the gag, 'I was seriously tempted to finish you this way and if all else fails I will, you fucking gutless pervert. Its was you that set the others against me, it’s your fault they're dead. And you caused Johns crash, But John deserves his revenge for what you did to Sonia and for kidnapping me and Liz, so it'll be him that finishes you off. I'm just going to conduct the orchestra.'

  'You seem to have lost the plot my little chicken, would you like me to call the doctor?'

  'Carry on Wheeler, it'll make the end so much sweeter.' Jenni looked across to Liz who was beginning to waken. 'Why did you have to tell such lies about me Wheeler?'

  'I told the truth, you were an ugly Duckling, well drake actually, but you grew into such a beautiful Swan, with a little help, they just couldn't accept it, that's all, but I can. How long have I known for? And yet you still turn me on, I can feel an erection coming on even now.' Liz groaned 'No offence to you my dear, but you should see the things this one can do.'

  'They were all gutless.' Jenni snarled.

  'Well, they were by the time you finished with them, but that was nothing to do with me.'

  'If you hadn't interfered I wouldn't have needed too.'

  'But I wanted you all to myself, how many times have I told you that?' Wheeler paused and looked at Jenni 'What did you tell D.I Dick? You didn't tell him the truth did you?'

  'I told him you were my pimp, and that you wouldn't leave me alone, trying to force me to go back into prostitution. He really wants to speak to you.' Jenni was smiling

  Wheeler laughed 'Very clever my dear, but he won’t believe you.'

  The sound of sirens suddenly pierced the calm outside as police cars and vans seemed to appear from all directions, Jenni peered through a gap in the curtains out of the window and saw John along with an entire team rush into the building across the road, a few minutes later she could see them in the apartment window directly opposite hers.

  'So that's where you live Wheeler, that's nice, at least I know John has received the note and photo from you and is trying to rescue me.' she replaced the gag on Wheelers mouth and waited, after 5 minutes there was a knock on the door 'Hello, Miss Everitt are you home? This is the police!' Jenni placed a gag loosely on her own mouth and lay on the bed next to Liz waiting for
the door to burst open and John to come in and rescue her, it didn't happen. After 10 minutes Jenni got up and removed her gag, she could see Wheeler laughing behind his gag so slapped him hard across the face, 'He will come' she hissed into Wheelers face, 'and when he does you're a dead man. All three of us will be gagged, but I ask you Wheeler, Who's he going to believe, You Wheeler? Liz? Or the love of his life and future wife?' she crossed again to the curtains and peered through she could see the search going on in wheelers apartment as John and Ian left. She turned on her police scanner radio to listen to John’s voice.

  Roger watched all the comings and goings and smiled.

  Chapter 39

  John and Ian were down in the I.T department of the police station, they had seized Wheelers computer from his apartment and were still examining it for any indication as to where Liz may be held, even though they now believed Wheeler wasn't the abductor they also knew he had close connections to Jenni, who the American's had confirmed as Roger Green, they stood in front of the monitor and one of the computer buffs pressed the enter button opening up a video file, Jenni's image appeared on the screen, initially talking to Wheeler then stripping and performing sexual acts for him, presumably unaware that she was being recorded.

  Ian looked to John 'Are you ok with this J.D? You don't have to be here if you don't want to.'

  John Smiled 'Its fine Ian, look at all this lot trying to get a look' a group of computer techs had gathered around, all leering at Jenni's performance 'At least nobody can fault me for sleeping with her, anyone of this lot would have done the same given half a chance.'

  'I've got to admit J.D she is pretty tasty.' Jenni was removing her panties on screen 'Fuck me! Was that really man made?'

  'I guess the surgeon who created her had good taste.' John looked at Ian 'I wouldn't do it again, knowing that she's a man made woman, but at the same time I don't regret it either, and I certainly don't feel that I slept with a man. What's really pissing me off is that I slept with a serial killer that now has Liz.'