Ugly Duckling

by Malcolm Allen

  Ian nodded without moving his gaze from the screen, he appreciated that sleeping with a serial killer was far worst to John than sleeping with some kind of Frankenstein monster. 'They tell me there are dozens of these videos J.D all pretty much the same all filmed in the same location, Roger's flat.'

  John quickly turned to Ian 'Can we still call her Jenni? It just makes me feel a bit better.'

  'No problem J.D' Ian was half smiling 'This room,' he said pointing at the screen, 'is that Jenni's bedroom?'

  John looked 'I suppose it must be, I didn't really take much notice of the decoration when I was there.'

  'Thing is J.D that's the same decoration as the photograph that came with the note.'

  'Meaning we have good reason to believe that Liz is being held in Jenni's apartment.' John added 'Get the team, we're going out again.'

  Ian radioed for the team to re-group at Jenni's apartment block 'Rendezvous in the car park at the back of the block and await further instructions from D.I Dickie' he told them 'Jenni Everitt A.K.A. Roger Green is to be considered armed and dangerous, Stealth approach please.' John and Ian took separate cars and sped towards Jenni's apartment to wait for the team to gather. Knowing that this time they had to be right.

  Chapter 40

  Jenni sat in her lounge with a cup of coffee listening to music 'we are beautiful no matter what they say' she was singing to herself.

  Liz and Wheeler were still bound in the bedroom and drugged sufficiently to keep them from trying anything but still awake.

  Jenni flicked through the pages of “Bride Magazine” marking the dresses that she chose as possibilities for herself with a red pen. She and John would be so happy and if he really wanted children they could always adopt. At the bride and groom of the month article she wrote the names Jenni and John on the photograph of the happy couple and circled it in a heart shape.

  'The sun will always, always shine! But tomorrow we might awake on the other side' she sang as she looked at the wedding cake suppliers.

  Ever since she was a young “girl” she had only had two wishes, one was to have the “corrective” surgery so that everybody could see what she should have been from birth and the other was to find a man that cared for her, marry and settle down with him, she knew that John was that man.

  The music finished and she got up to make another coffee, happy in her image of domestic paradise when suddenly she overheard something on the police scanner 'Jenni Everitt A.K.A. Roger Green is to be considered armed and dangerous.'

  Suddenly her dream shattered around her 'Jenni Everitt A.K.A. Roger Green.' 'NO!' she screamed 'Roger is dead! I am Jenni! Don't call me Roger! Don't call me that!' she had to move fast, this wasn't how she had planned it, John would be coming to her flat, knowing that her birth name was Roger, John would never believe that Wheeler was responsible now, she had to move, give herself time to think. She went to the bedroom and dragged Liz, still under the effects of the drugs, by the hair over to Wheelers buggy, there she taped Liz's hands to the shopping basket at the front

  'Stand Up! She was screaming at Liz, We've got to go!' she reconnected the battery on the buggy and ordered Wheeler to 'Drive to you're fucking car or this bitch's blood is going to spray all over you.' she jabbed the knife towards Liz's throat, and grabbed the police scanner.

  Wheeler drove the buggy almost dragging Liz along with him, to the lift and down to his adapted car where Jenni removed his gag and ordered him to tell her how to get his buggy inside. Once it was in the car she again disconnected the battery to the buggy and drove, slowly, calmly away from the apartment block not wanting to attract attention.

  'Has it all gone wrong my dear?' Wheeler said from his position behind Jenni 'Has D.I Dick finally done some detective work and found out who you really are?'

  'Shut up!' Jenni ordered 'Just shut the fuck up!' she was trying to figure out exactly where she was going to go.

  John and Ian waited at the rendezvous point until the others arrived then proceeded cautiously to Jenni's apartment block, making sure that the staircases and lifts were checked and cleared before continuing to the third floor where they found Jenni's front door wide open,

  'We're too late' John sighed 'they've gone.' he started to search the apartment for anything that would give them a clue, starting with the kitchen and lounge, Ian went to the bedroom 'John! In here!' he called, John could see that Ian was holding Liz's bag and inside was her mobile phone with the battery removed, a half used reel of duck tape was left on the bed and a glass containing what looked like orange juice was on the bedside cabinet the long pile carpet in the bedroom revealed that something, probably a wheel chair, had recently been in the room,

  'Let me through please' someone was saying as they pushed their way into the bedroom,

  'Who are you?' John asked

  'Forensics' came the reply

  'No' John replied

  'Yes I am'

  'No. I mean, I don't want you' John looked at Ian, 'Greg's the man for this, get Greg here.'

  'Oh I think you miss understood, Greg's no longer here, I'm his replacement.' he started to push his way into the room.

  John placed his right palm firmly in the centre of forensic man's chest 'No, I think you miss understood' he said 'I don't want you fucking involved in this, I want Greg. So just piss off and leave this to somebody I trust.'

  Ian escorted the unfortunate forensic expert away from the apartment and instantly called Greg, John was right, Greg knew Liz and what the situation was, if they were to trust anyone to help with this investigation it had to be Greg.

  Back in the apartment John had returned to the kitchen where he found the Tamazepam next to the pestle and mortar and a bottle of Martini 'Wheeler was here, he's the only one I know that drinks this stuff,' He looked through to the lounge where he could see the Martini glass on the table, looking around the rest of the lounge he noticed a CD cover left on top of the player, Christina Aguilera.

  Ian had returned and was stood next to John, 'Confirms what Phil told us.' he said 'Greg's on his way, he'll be here in about five minutes.'

  John stood in the middle of the lounge and stared at the closed curtains covering the windows 'She was here,' he opened one of the curtains 'She was bloody well here while we were over there at Wheelers.'

  'Look at this J.D.' Ian was holding the copy of Brides Magazine still open at the bride and groom of the month page with Jenni and John written above the heads of the happy couple.

  John suddenly shivered 'Ian, I'm worried, she's completely flipped out, who knows what she's going to do next!'

  John got an answer to that question almost immediately, 'Sir! Just had a call from the station, apparently a car's been spotted driving along the cliff top, off road, three occupants two women and as far as the witness could tell, one man who appeared to be in a wheel chair, it seems its pretty erratic driving and close to the edge.

  John looked at Ian and called back 'Tell who ever's there to try to stop them but stay well back and don't, I repeat, DON'T take any chances, Me and Ian are on our way.'

  ***

  'Where on earth are you going my dear?' Wheeler watched out of the window as Jenni left the road and started driving along the cliff path, walkers diving in all directions to avoid being hit 'You really are drawing attention to yourself.' he added as the car bumped along the path, smashing his head on the roof.

  'Good!' Jenni smiled 'that's exactly what I want to do.' she started to drive closer to the edge, 'you're forcing me to do this Wheeler, trying to kill me and Liz the same way you killed Sonia, in a car crash.' she looked around briefly at Wheeler and laughed, 'That's what my John's going to believe, He'll be here soon to rescue me.' She could see a little further down that several police cars had assembled blocking her route, looking in the rear view mirror she noticed the same had happened behind her, she stopped the car, 'How are you feeling Liz?'

  Liz had begun to come round a little more but was still gagged and bound to the front of
Wheelers buggy she could only manage a muffled groan in response.

  'Don't worry Liz, it'll soon be over now, and John will be happy again.' Jenni turned to Wheeler, 'Time to get out Wheeler.'

  'Oh, I don't think so, I'm not going anywhere my little chicken.' Wheeler thought he was still in control.

  Jenni reconnected the battery to the buggy and looked up at Wheeler; she undid her blouse by a couple of buttons, placed her hand on Wheelers crotch and said in a sickly sweet voice 'Oh, but Pleeese.'

  Wheeler shook his head 'Not this time my dear, I'm afraid you really have gone too far. It's time to face the music, but I've enjoyed our little jaunt, very entertaining.'

  Jenni undid Wheelers fly and took his penis in her left hand, her right hand swept across stopping just short of making contact, the knife blade catching the light and reflecting the sudden fear in Wheelers eyes, 'Would you like a Bobbitt Wheeler?'

  Wheeler shook his head, for the first time unable to speak,

  'Then reverse this fucking contraption out of the car!' Jenni ordered. Once the lift of the specially adapted car had been lowered Wheeler reversed the buggy still with Liz attached, to the edge of the cliff, Jenni kept her hands close to the buggy giving the impression, from a distance at least, that she was also tethered to it, at the edge she told Wheeler to stop and with him in his buggy at the centre, Liz on one side and Jenni on the other they sat and waited for John to arrive.

  Chapter 41

  John raced Ian to the cliff edge, the Ka weaving in and out of traffic easily hastening the arrival of John at the scene where he parked next to the gathering of patrol cars at one end of the cliff walk blocking Jenni's route, Ian parked next to him, they could see another group of patrol cars at the other end of the walk and in the middle a solitary car with three people sat next to it, one of them in a wheelchair.

  'Have we had any contact?' John asked

  'None so far sir, when they stopped they got out of the car, since then they've just sat there'

  John nodded to Ian and they began to walk together towards the figures

  'What do you think she wants J.D?' Ian asked as they continued their journey towards Jenni and the others 'If she wanted to kill Wheeler or Liz she would have done it by now surely.'

  'I don't think she wants to kill them' John answered 'Not yet anyway, I think she wants me.' Just then John’s mobile phone rang, it was Jenni, she had been watching the two men approaching and as soon as she was sure who it was she dialled the number.

  'John, Wheeler says he'll kill us if you come any closer.' John heard the tears in Jenni's voice but felt no compassion towards her.

  'What does he want?' John asked, playing along with her game

  'He says you're trying to take me away from him so he'll kill both Liz and me the same as he killed Sonia.'

  John had his phone on speaker so that Ian could hear what was being said, the two men looked at each other, they knew Jenni's true identity but wondered if it was the appropriate time to reveal that fact to her. 'Tell him we're coming a bit closer, we want to be able to talk to him directly.'

  There was a pause then Jenni's voice came back 'He says ok but don't try anything otherwise Liz will be first.'

  John and Ian walked closer observing all the time any movement that Jenni or the others might make, at 10 yards away Jenni's voice called out ‘He says stop there!' John and Ian did as asked, they could get a much better view now and could see Liz clearly bound to the wheelchair and gagged, Wheeler was sat in his chair his baseball cap covering his face and barely moving, but Jenni seemed to have much more freedom of movement. Ian looked at John 'Wheeler's taped to that chair as well J.D.'

  'I know Ian' John said 'She's just putting on a show, its all fantasy to her.' then he called out 'Jenni! Are you ok?'

  'John!' Jenni called back 'Yes I'm fine, I knew you cared.' and with that she unwittingly started to walk towards John and Ian. As soon as she realised what she was doing, she turned and dashed back to Wheeler and Liz producing a knife from her pocket she sliced through the tape that was binding Liz to the chair, Grabbing her by the hair she raised her to her feet 'I suppose you think that was clever do you? She shouted at John as she held the blade to Liz's throat 'you think you tricked me, you think I'm stupid.'

  'No Jenni! I don't think any of those things' John called back 'I don't understand. What's happening here, I thought Wheeler was holding you.'

  Jenni paused for a moment then lowering the knife she said 'It is Wheeler John, he's making me do all this, now he's telling me that Liz is going to take you away from me and I should kill her.'

  'Don't listen to him Jenni, I came here for you, Me and Liz just work together, She's going up to Scotland soon so we won’t even be doing that, She's no threat to us.' he paused for a moment allowing the words to sink in, 'I like the picture In the Bride magazine, don't you think we make a lovely couple?'

  Jenni could hardly believe her ears 'Yes John we do make a lovely couple, we’ll be so happy!'

  'But Jenni, if you hurt Liz or Wheeler we won’t be able to be together, Ian would have to arrest you.'

  'It’s not up to me! It’s Wheeler!' Jenni protested

  'Then why doesn't Wheeler talk to me directly instead of sheltering behind you?'

  Jenni paused for a moment thinking of the options, then she crossed to Wheeler, dragging Liz with her, and stood directly between him and John, she lowered her face to his as if listening to instructions and secretly removed the gag 'I still have the knife and its still aiming at your prick.' she whispered to Wheeler ‘Tell him you can’t forgive him for taking your legs and that Liz and Jenni must die.' Wheeler looked Jenni in the eye 'Just Do it!' she hissed

  'Jenni!' John called out 'Jenni, I think it’s only fair that I tell you I already know.'

  Jenni stopped what she was doing and stood upright facing John 'Know what?' she asked

  'I know that Jenni wasn't your name when you were younger.'

  'Yes it was' Jenni Shouted angry that John could say such a thing 'My name has always been Jenni.'

  'I know' John continued 'but your parents called you Roger didn't they?'

  'No!' Jenni screamed 'Don't call me that.' she dashed around to the back of the chair and held the knife to Wheelers throat releasing Liz as she did so, Liz took her chance and ran towards John and Ian 'Go past me and hug Ian' John told her in a low barely audible voice, she did as he asked.

  'You see Jenni, Liz went past me to hug Ian, She's always fancied Ian but he's married, She's no threat to us Jenni.'

  Jenni paused for a moment to analyse what she had seen and what John had just said 'I'm so happy John,' she called back 'you can’t believe how happy I am! But you must never call me Roger again I was born a woman! My name is and always has been Jenni!'

  'I understand Jenni, really I do. I've read the reports from the clinic in Florida, I understand how hard it must have been for you.'

  'Yes it was hard, I'm glad you understand. None of the others did and when this scum bag told them,' she pushed the blade harder against Wheelers throat drawing the slightest trace of blood 'they all turned on me, they all said I was a man and needed help.'

  'I don't think that Jenni, I know you were born a woman.'

  'I just needed some minor cosmetic surgery that's all, if you had been born with two noses wouldn't you have one of them removed? I was a woman born with a penis, so it had to come off, you understand that don't you John?'

  'Yes, Yes I understand. You really are a beautiful woman Jenni.'

  'You see John if the others had been like you I wouldn't have had to kill them, but they were all gutless cowards, they wanted to end my life by telling everyone that I was a man. They only found out because I made the mistake of telling Wheeler and he told them.'

  'Yes, I knew my little chicken, and I never worried about it did I?' Wheeler struggled to say the words without moving his neck, the knife was still pressing hard.

  'But you told the others' Jenni hissed 'You onl
y wanted to watch me perform my little act for you, you didn't actually want me, but you stopped everyone else from wanting me, you're nothing more than a sleazy pervert.'

  'I've always wanted you for myself my dear, you know that's the truth.' Jenni released the pressure a little on Wheelers throat, there was something about hearing Wheeler say those words that made her melt a little.

  'Jenni' it was John 'We had such a good time together, and we could have done again.'

  'What do you mean could have?' Jenni completely released Wheeler and started to walk towards John 'Do you mean that now you know my secret you don't want me any more?' anger and hurt were showing in her voice

  'No Jenni, it’s nothing to do with that, but you've murdered people, and I can’t ignore that.'

  Jenni stopped walking and looked at John, a smile spread across her face, John still wanted her even though he knew her secret, it was just that she'd killed someone that's what he couldn't deal with at the moment. 'John, don't worry about that, I can help you forget about that, and I promise not to do it again, we can be so happy, lets just go away somewhere, just the two of us.'

  John watched as Jenni held out her hands waiting for him to go to her, when he didn't move her expression changed, her hands dropped and her smile left her, she turned and walked back towards Wheeler but passed him and stood on the cliff edge 'What then John' She said 'What do you propose?'

  'I think you should come with me Jenni, Let me do my job.'

  'You want to arrest me John?' her voice had the faintest trace of a laugh in it 'Then what, send me to prison? Where will you send me John, a man's prison? Looking like this? Can you imagine what would happen to me in there? Or maybe a woman's prison where they will all say I was born a man, what do you think would happen to me there John?'

  'I don't know where they would send you Jenni; perhaps somewhere you could get help.'