“You found it.”
His voice was no more than a whisper, a gasp of breath. Abby nodded her head. She couldn’t move, her spine felt like an iron bar keeping her upright. She forced the next words out.
“You knew I would.”
Joe took a couple of steps towards her and stopped. “No, Abby. It was at the back of the closet, I was going to get rid of it but I was afraid, I didn’t know what to do. You were never meant to find out.”
His face, pale a few moments ago now seemed flooded with colour. He’s ashamed, thought Abby dully. Now he’s been found out he can barely look at me. Should I be frightened of him? She looked at his familiar kind face now twisted in anguish. No, he wouldn’t hurt her. Whatever had driven him to do those terrible things had nothing to do with her.
Abby’s eyes caught a movement and she saw that Vera was standing up. Leave it, old lady, she thought, this is between me and your son. You’ve done your worst now go back to Hell where you belong.
“Abby?” Joe’s voice was choked with emotion. “I’m so sorry you had to find out like this.”
Vera was standing next to him. She looked like she wanted to reach out her hand and touch him then her arm dropped to her side. With a shock Abby saw that she was still smiling, she’d only come closer so she wouldn’t miss anything. Why couldn’t Joe see her, smell her? It seemed impossible.
Ignoring her, Abby said, “Why, Joe?”
“I don’t know but I think it was something to do with hating my mother.”
He stood before her like a naughty little boy twisting his hands together, caught out in a misdemeanour.
“Please,” Abby choked on the words, “You have to help me understand.”
“Have you...” Joe hesitated, his eyes shifting from side to side, “Have you told anyone else?”
Was that all he cared about, that his secret was safe with her? What if she told him she was calling the police, would he kill her in the same way he murdered those other women?
Vera was staring at her now and Abby felt suddenly as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. There was only one way this could end.
“No, this is between you and me.” She told Joe, “I can’t protect you from this, you know I have to go to the police, tell them what you’ve done, don’t you Joe?”
Joe’s face blanched. “You don’t understand, my poor sweet Abby.”
“Yes, I do. I understand that you killed those defenceless women because you hated your mother. You need help, Joe.”
Joe shook his head slowly. “No, I don’t. I never hated my mother, you did.” He stopped, his eyes suddenly filling with tears. When he spoke again the words were so terrible that Abby’s mind tilted sideways. Joe’s words seemed to come from a long way away.
“My poor darling,” he spoke softly, “it wasn’t me who murdered those women.... it was you.”
She thought she was running towards safety but every time she reached her front door she was dragged by an invisible force that hurtled her back into the dark place. Beth couldn’t escape from the room. Each time one of the walls faded and she stepped outside Shandra’s mocking voice would call to her in that awful crackly old voice.
“You can’t run away from your destiny, Bethany, my dear. There is so little time left why are you wasting it sleeping?”
Beth stood in the middle of the black room holding her hands out in despair. “I don’t want to be here,” She whispered. “Please, let me out.”
And again she would be running up to her front door only to be pulled back once again.
The hateful voice seemed to be coming from all around her. “There is no escape for you, we had a deal. You entered into a pact; I gave you your wish now you must complete your side of the bargain.” And then Shandra’s voice began to fade. “Not much longer, my dear and it will all be over.”
“This isn’t real,” Beth said. She began walking forwards her arms stretched out in front of her. It’s time for me to wake up, she thought. I don’t belong here, Jason needs me. She concentrated her efforts on her son, imagining him walking down the stairs. He would see her shadow through the frosted glass of the front door and he would walk along the hallway and open it and let her in.
Beth realised she was walking up the path again. Any moment now, a few more steps and she would be outside her door. The pressure began to build around her and she thought she could feel hands on her shoulders. The door, Jason, Beth said in her mind. And then she was there, casting her shadow across the window and the door was opening.
Beth’s eyes flew open and she gasped. The last image from her dream had been a strange tall man standing in her hallway blocking Jason from letting her inside.
Beth rubbed her eyes. Someone was ringing her doorbell, they sounded impatient as if they wasn’t prepared to take their finger off the bell until she answered to door. She must have fallen asleep on the settee after Jason had gone upstairs. It seemed an odd thing for her to do though, she never slept during the day. Had Shandra made her do it, was this another of her tricks to frighten her? Beth shuddered.
The clock on the wall was ticking relentlessly forward, it was now ten past six, fifty short minutes to go, and then what? Beth wondered. Would she drop dead, would her house explode or would nothing happen because all this had been about her letting her imagination get the better of her.
The bell was still shrilling as Beth opened the door.
“Fiona?” Beth didn’t want to invite her in, she needed to be alone. Fiona wasn’t a friend, just a neighbour and she didn’t have time for her now. As sorry as she was for Fiona’s problems she had enough of her own troubles to deal with. She still hadn’t found Gemini.
Jason had said to leave it to him but what could he do on his computer in his bedroom, get someone to send him twenty pounds through PayPal? She wanted to tell him it wouldn’t work; nobody would be that stupid. Or maybe he was contacting a paranormal investigator for an answer. Too late, Beth thought, time’s almost run out. He’d been really quiet in his bedroom. The last thing she wanted was to involve her son in the mess she’d got herself into, and however much he said he wanted to help her she shouldn’t have agreed to it. She could be putting him in danger. She needed to get rid of Fiona and speak to Jason.
There was so little time left it seemed an impossible task to find Gemini.
“I want to talk to you,” Fiona stepped into the hall without asking and went into the living room. “Do you know what you’ve done, Beth?” she spoke breathlessly, without preamble, her eyes glassy. “You’ve ruined my life. Rod’s dead because of you and I’m about to become homeless.”
Beth shook her head. “It’s not down to me, Fiona, I didn’t know you wanted to get rid of your husband. Why didn’t you just get a divorce?”
Fiona stared at Beth as if she was crazy. “A divorce? You don’t divorce men like Rod. He would have beaten me up and left me with nothing.”
“But you’ve got nothing now, have you?” Beth said and immediately wished she hadn’t. Fiona’s mouth dropped open.
“You bloody bitch,” she hissed. “Why couldn’t you make jewellery or stand on a car boot to earn some honest money instead of conning it off innocent people?”
Beth suddenly felt afraid. Fiona was shaking with rage, her eyes red watery slits as she glared at Beth.
Keeping her voice low and reasonable, Beth said, “The money’s not for me, I have to send it to Shandra.”
“Shandra!” Fiona actually spat on the carpet. “Who is she, Beth, your partner in crime?” Suddenly Fiona’s screwed her face up. “Oh my God,” She gasped. “I’ve just remembered what Shandra told me. She said that Rod had a new girlfriend.” She stared at Beth, her mouth dropping open. “It was you, wasn’t it?”
Beth blinked.“Now you’re being ridiculous, Fiona. Of course it wasn’t me, I’ve got more taste.”
Why had she said that, wasn’t the woman incensed enough? Beth could have kicked herself.
“Yes,” Fiona sai
d slowly, “You’re right, no woman in her right mind would put up with a bully and a cheat, would she?” Tears filled her eyes, “Unless she was stupid and a coward.” She swiped at the tears running down her cheeks. “But you wouldn’t know that, would you Beth? You only saw the best of him, the charmer. Did he buy you jewellery, is that why I couldn’t find any money left in his bank account?”
“You’ve got this so wrong, Fiona.”
“Have I?” All at once her shoulders slumped. “All I know is my life is in ruins and it’s your fault. I can’t compete with someone like you, strong and attractive, I’m pathetic and weak.” She gave a small self pitying sob.
“You’re not either of those things,” Beth assured her. She glanced at the clock. Six twenty six. Thirty four minutes left.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Fiona’s voice cut in, laced with sarcasm. “Am I keeping you?”
“Yes, actually you are. I’m sorry for your loss, Fiona but blaming me isn’t going to bring Rod back or reverse the mortgage company’s decision to take the house off you.” Beth felt that she had to be firm.
“The least you could do is hand me my twenty pounds back.” Fiona’s lips twitched as if she’d said something funny but her eyes were cold and penetrating and Beth realised that even that paltry amount of money meant something to her.
What would happen if she did give Fiona the money back, Beth wondered.
Immediately her mobile phone rang out.
“Excuse me,” She said to Fiona and walked into the kitchen.
“Hello?”
“Did you enjoy your stay in the dark room, my dear?”
Beth’s breath caught in her throat. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” She answered.
“Yes you do. Get rid of that squalling mess in your living room, you’ve no more time to waste on her. I’ve given you a warning. If I don’t hear from Gemini in the next thirty minutes then you’ll be spending eternity in that dark room, all by yourself, so near yet so far away from your loved ones. Does that sound like Heaven or Hell to you, my dear?”
“It sounds like you’re getting desperate.”
“You’re trying my patience.”
“So where is this dark hellish room, Shandra, in your wildest dream?”
“Oh, no, my dear, it’s in your worst nightmare.” Her voice turned brisk. “Don’t even think of giving the money back.”
“I haven’t decided.” Beth wasn’t sure why she was goading the woman, maybe it gave her a modicum of control over a situation that was fast spiralling out of control.
“Ophiuchus is watching you.” Shandra spoke the words almost reverently.
“Stuff Ophiuchus and stuff you.” Beth clicked off her phone and stood trembling.
She heard Fiona cough and went into the living room. Her neighbour was still standing where she’d left her, her eyes shifting vacantly around the room.
“Fiona, I really am busy. I can’t give you your money back, I’m sorry, I’ve already sent it to Shandra,” she lied.
“What am I going to do?” Tears spilled down Fiona’s cheeks.
Beth moved to her sideboard and picked up a pair of highly decorated Victorian candlesticks left to her from an old aunt who’d died the year before.
“Take these,” She said, handing them to Fiona. “They’re probably worth three times the cost of your wish. Now, please go home and sort your business out.” Beth could feel her heart hammering, her hands were closed in fists so Fiona wouldn’t see them trembling.
Fiona moved to the door. “Thank you, Beth, I’m really grateful and I’m sorry for what I said, you understand though, don’t you? I know none of what’s happened is your fault.”
Beth watched her neighbour stumble down the path, clutching the candlesticks, muttering to herself.
You’re wrong, Fiona, Beth thought, all of what’s happened is my fault but I swear to you and the others that it’s going to end very soon.
Twenty five minutes to go.
Chapter 20
Watching Abby walking away from the coffee shop bought back a few pleasant memories for Arthur. She had nice tits he remembered; small and pert just the way he liked them. He thought she hadn’t aged too well though, he could see grey coming through her hair and lines on her face. Her small shoulders were stooped but she still had a nice trim figure. Arthur whistled through his teeth. He wouldn’t say no.
He used to spy on her in the stockroom, stand just behind the door peering through the two inch gap, loving it when she bent down. She’d caught him once and reported him to Geoffrey, the bitch. It hadn’t stopped him though, just made him a bit more careful. He was old school; if a bird was flashing her bits then he had every right to look.
He hadn’t returned to the coffee shop since being told not so politely by Geoffrey to leave. Now, letting himself in with his purloined key he sniffed appreciatively, remembering. It still smelled the same, coffee and disinfectant. The tiled floor was still drying from its last mop so Arthur moved carefully; the last thing he wanted to do was slip and break his leg. If he was caught in here he’d go to prison for sure.
He sighed with sudden pleasure as the memory of one particular rainy day came into his mind. A young couple sitting at the far table, so engrossed in each other they had no idea Arthur was watching as they groped each other under the table. When the girl came to the counter to pay for the coffee Arthur had handed her change over and tweaked her left breast under her t-shirt. He could still see her eyes widening in shock. She’d opened her mouth to complain and Arthur had hissed, “I’ve got photographs on my phones of you and your randy boyfriend.” The girl had blushed, closed her mouth and hurried out of the shop. Remembering the incident had kept Arthur happy for several days.
Geoffrey had taken all that away from him, it was only right and fitting that he paid for it.
The matches jiggled in his pocket and he patted them reassuringly. Burn baby burn, he thought and tittered. Other old men spent their time sleeping and sitting around feeling sorry for themselves but Arthur was made of sterner stuff, he was having an adventure. He wasn’t sure why he’d paid out twenty pounds for the pleasure though, Shandra wasn’t here helping him burn the place down, the idea had been all his own. He should have done it sooner, not wait until some old biddy put the idea in his head. But he had to remember the wish hadn’t cost him anything so he should be thanking Shandra for showing him the way.
He was dithering now though, he needed to get on with it but first he had to have a pee. Like a lot of old men his bladder was weak and he didn’t want to piss his pants, it was sticky and uncomfortable.
He made his way to the back of the shop. God, this bought back some memories. There was the same piles of boxes filled with junk lining the passageway. Sometimes Arthur had gone through the boxes when he’d been alone, sifting through the rubbish in the hope of finding something valuable thrown out by mistake. He was tempted to take a quick look now but decided against it. What if that perky little waitress came back, forgot her phone or something, and caught him? Maybe she’d fancy a quickie in the stockroom. He was up for that.
Arthur slid through the door leading to the kitchen and small toilet cubicle. The door to the stockroom was shut but as he walked past it he thought he heard a noise. He paused and put his ear to the door. Yes, there it was again, a shuffling sound.
Jesus Christ, he thought, someone was in there. His old battered heart did a double take. Maybe it was a burglar, who’d sneaked in and was holed up in the back, waiting for Abby to leave so he could rob the place. He was probably crouched inside hiding behind one of the large containers, a hood over his head. He could come flying out the door any moment armed with a knife, or God forbid, a gun and Arthur would be standing there, an easy target begging to get his brains blown out.
But it would only take a couple of seconds to light a match and set fire to the place, who cared if a robber was hiding in the stockroom, he would only be getting what he deserved. Arthur was about to move aw
ay from the door when the rustling sound came again, a little louder this time and then someone giggled.
Arthur pressed his lips together. He knew that laugh, he’d heard it often enough. It was Mandy from the wool shop two doors down. Big juicy Mandy with the huge floppy tits and enormous bum. She’d always been a regular customer at the coffee shop. Arthur had tried unsuccessfully to get into her knickers but she’d always pushed him away, wrinkling her fat nose up like she was sniffing something nasty. Seemed she was wrinkling something else up now though and it wasn’t her fat nose.
And suddenly Arthur knew. She was in the stockroom having it off with Geoffrey! It was priceless.
That stinking dickhead was at it with her.
God, he hated the man, he had money, owned several coffee shops and a fine house and now he had big Mandy. Arthur gritted his teeth in frustration. It just wasn’t fair.
He rocked back and his foot kicked something behind him. He froze, praying Geoffrey hadn’t heard the sound. Mandy giggled again and Arthur relaxed.
He couldn’t resist putting his ear to the door. He resented Geoffrey, the only difference between him and his former employer was money. Geoffrey was loaded and he was poor, so Geoffrey got to have all the sex he wanted while Arthur had to use his imagination. He felt like ramming the door down and confronting them with their pants down but of course he wouldn’t, their punishment was going to be much better than that. If they thought things were hotting up in the stockroom they hadn’t a clue what lay in store for them.
And then Arthur heard another woman’s voice, this time louder and he frowned. The bastard was having a threesome! He realised Geoffrey was making strange noises that had nothing to do with the usual sounds Arthur associated when a man was in the throes of passion. He seemed to be gagging and then Arthur heard his voice thick with pain.
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