The Harlequin

by Sinclair Macleod

  Alex had asked Roger Green if there was any way that the I.T. team could at least prevent the site from being seen but despite their efforts, the address was re-routed before they could block it and as a result remained available.

  Russell was standing at the back of the room, watching the digits on the computer clock move ever closer to 10:00, and he could feel every nerve and muscle in his body become tenser with every passing second. At the precise moment the clock flipped over to ten o’clock the looping message disappeared and a live video feed replaced it. The camera was focused on a dimly lit board, it was blue with gold stars and looked like something a magician or a circus performer might use.

  Suddenly from off-camera a head appeared, the mask of the Harlequin with its insane, fixed grin filled the screen.

  “Welcome everyone to the Harlequin’s April Fool’s Day Carnival. It is the reality game show to end reality game shows. Today we have three contestants who are playing for the ultimate prize, to see who lives and who dies. Let me introduce them to you. First of all our only gentleman contestant, Joseph O’Donnell.” The Harlequin’s voice was distorted but there was no mistaking his undisguised glee at what he was doing.

  The camera cut to a petrified young man and Russell realised who it was immediately. Christine O’Donnell’s son was so like her as to be unmistakeable and it was obvious that Dent’s revenge-inspired spree was not over yet. The scene was accompanied by the sound effect of an audience cheering and clapping enthusiastically.

  The clown face reappeared and he said, “Allow me to introduce you to our second contestant, Hayley McLelland.”

  Russell stared in disbelief as the fearful daughter of his former boss appeared on the screen. Make-up-laden tears streaked her face and her eyes were wide in terrified anticipation of what was to come.

  “And finally,” the Harlequin continued, “last by no means least, I give you Karen Russell.”

  As one, the detectives in the room spun round and looked at their detective superintendent. Russell’s weight seemed too much for his legs to bear and he felt his knees buckle. His phone was ringing in his pocket but he ignored it; he couldn’t deal with other people’s troubles at that moment, the Harlequin had made his latest game a personal attack on those who had pursued him.

  “Sir, are you alright?” Alex stood to offer him help.

  “I’ll… I’ll be fine,” he managed to reply.

  The ‘game show’ was continuing and the host was back on screen. “Our first game is All Stars.” He paused to allow more fake whooping and applause to be heard.

  “The rules are simple, each of our contestants will propel three Ninja Throwing Stars at one of their opponents. They must hit the area of the board or be punished with a little pain of their own. The winner is the one who hits the board most often.”

  Joe O’Donnell was ordered to walk the length of the narrow lane and stand against the board. He was obviously unwilling, but the crack of a riding crop across his chest soon changed his mind. When he reached the board, which appeared to be about ten metres from the camera, he turned and stood shaking uncontrollably.

  Hayley McLelland was first to throw. The Harlequin demonstrated the technique required and launched one of the sharp weapons towards the young man. The star embedded itself into the board about twenty centimetres from O’Donnel’s right ear. The audience of detectives gasped and one exclaimed, “Bastard.”

  Hayley McLelland looked into the face of her tormentor but the blank mask offered her nothing. He handed her one of the weapons, her hand trembled as she took it from him.

  “Miss McLelland please throw your first star.” There was no clue in the voice of the Harlequin that he thought this was anything but a family television programme; it was filled with sincere joy.

  “I… I… can’t,” the woman said.

  Suddenly the show’s ‘host’ switched from joyful to raging. “You can and you will.” There was another crack and the crop scored her back.

  Her scream was filled with shock, suffering and despair.

  Russell’s phone rang once again, but once more he ignored it.

  The Harlequin snapped back into character. “Nerves getting the better of Miss McLelland there but I’m sure she’s ready to go now.”

  Hayley managed to lift the star and throw it in the direction of the board. It missed the target and as soon as it did the whip cracked on her back again. Her costume was torn and blood began to seep from the wound and stain the cloth.

  “Oh dear, a miss. Better luck next time.”

  She was now sobbing forcefully but she was compelled to take a second star. She let it fly from her hand and this time it embedded itself in the board close to Joe’s left knee.

  “Congratulations, Hayley, you’ve scored a point. Last try.”

  He handed her another weapon.

  This time it hurtled through the air and landed on O’Donnell’s left hip. He screamed in agony, the blade having penetrated close to the bone. The watching detectives winced and cursed at the sight of blood leaking from the young man, forming a red score on the diamond pattern of his suit. Russell could sense the anger growing but somehow no one could look away, the gory spectacle held each of them in a trance.

  “Oh bad luck there Hayley, but you have scored one point.”

  Joe O’Donnell pulled the star from the top of his leg and the flow of blood increased. He hobbled away from the board, trying to maintain some dignity but there was a fire in his eyes. The Harlequin pushed Hayley towards the board and Karen Russell took her place at the other end. Russell was surprised to see his ex-wife seemed to be very still and unruffled. When she was handed the star, she walked into the throwing area and propelled it towards Hayley McLelland. She had aimed high and wide making sure that there was no way it would hit the younger woman. It hammered into the board about five centimetres from the top and ten from the left side.

  “Congratulations, Karen. One point,” the host said but it was obvious how annoyed he was at her, she had not even tried to throw close to the human target.

  Her second star was equally well thrown, missing Hayley and landing securely in the board.

  When she was passed the third, she made to throw once more but instead spun and threw it in the direction of her captor. There was a supportive cheer from the detectives but there was no sound to indicate that it had found its target. The Harlequin stepped forward into the frame and brought down the riding crop repeatedly on Karen as she cowered at his feet. After ten lashes he stopped.

  Tom Russell could take no more and he rushed out of the briefing room.

  Alex thought about going after him but she didn’t know what she could say. She had to watch and hope to pick up some kind of clue as to where the grisly charade was being performed. Any little piece of information might be vital in putting an end to the horror.

  On screen the Harlequin was saying through gritted teeth, “I’m sorry Karen that means you’ve lost all your points. Now it’s Mr O’Donnell’s turn.”

  The host dragged Karen to the board while Joe O’Donnell became the focus of the camera.

  The pain in his hip was obviously causing him difficulty as he struggled to take a throwing stance but with considerable effort he finally steadied himself. Karen was equally shaky on her feet and for a time it looked like she would be unable to take her place. When the Harlequin indicated that he was going to use the crop again, she pulled herself into an upright position. Leaning back against the board, she closed her eyes.

  Joe O’Donnell had played at being a ninja on a games console but this was not what he had imagined. All that ran through his mind was the thought that he may kill this stranger. Despite his efforts to avoid her, his first star grazed Karen’s left forearm and buried itself in the board. The pain from the star made little impression on her, as the throbbing in her back was all she could feel. Joe kept apolog
ising as he threw the second, which missed the board and brought another swipe with the riding crop from the sadistic host. When he let the third go, he was horrified to see it bury itself in Karen’s right thigh, bringing a further scream and a stream of apologies from the young man.

  “This round is a draw between Joe and Hayley with one point each. Well done, Mr O’Donnell and Ms McLelland you may survive our show, as for you Ms Russell you have some work to do to save yourself. Join us at four o’clock this afternoon for our second challenge on The Harlequin’s April Fool’s Day Carnival.”

  Every detective in the room seemed to breathe out simultaneously and then there was a rush of expletives, curses and vows that they had to find the Harlequin before he could broadcast his second sick show.

  Alex shouted, “Quiet.” The buzzing anger subsided.

  “Right, we need to work this like any other case. Go and have a coffee, we’ll brief back here at eleven,” she ordered. Despite many of them being of the same rank as her, everyone seemed to be happy that someone had taken control and the meeting broke up.

  Alex set off to speak to Russell. She found him in his office, his head buried in his hands. When he looked up she was shocked to see that he was crying. He turned away from her.

  “Sir?”

  There was no reply. She walked over to his chair and gently laid a hand on him. He brushed it away, disgusted that she had caught him at such a vulnerable moment.

  “Sir, we need to start working the case and find where he’s holding them before he can kill them. You need to take control.” She was firm, realising that he needed to be shaken out of his current mood.

  “This is my fault. I had that bastard and I let him go.”

  “It’s not your fault,” she replied angrily.

  “I can’t do this Alex, this is too much.”

  Alex never thought for a minute that her boss would be self-pitying. She wasn’t going to let him wallow in his own guilt, while three lives were at stake. Her anger boiled over into the type of language she used rarely. “For fuck’s sake, get a grip of yourself. No one knows this prick better than you and that means you’re the best hope those three people have. Aye, maybe it is your fault that they’re in danger, but that means you’ve got a moral obligation to help them get out of it. You can do whatever you want after we’ve caught the bastard but until then you need to pull yourself together, get off your arse and lead this team.”

  Russell turned and looked at her angrily. “You’re sailing close to the wind there Detective Inspector. Show some respect.”

  “Get off your arse, sir,” she replied with a sarcastic emphasis.

  She broke the spell he was under and she could see that something had struck home.

  He pulled a hanky from his pocket and wiped away the tears. “I did love her you know, even if it did end badly,” he said calmly.

  “I know, I’ve been there. If it was Andrew in that situation I would feel exactly the same, but you can’t let it get in the way of doing all that you can to save her and the other two people.”

  He looked directly into her eyes as if taking a measure of her. “You’re right. I just feel so guilty to have her in that position because of me.”

  “I understand but it’s a destructive emotion. Be thankful you’ve still got a chance to help her. You’re the best cop I’ve ever met and as I said earlier, no one knows this creep better than you. I’ve told the team to be back at eleven for a briefing, I’d rather you were the one giving it.”

  “I will be. I just need to call some people first.”

  “OK, I’ll see you at eleven.”

  As she exited the office, she noticed that the door had been damaged, probably by Russell’s fist.

  He watched her as she left. Her fierce intelligence made her a great detective but as he got to know her better, he realised that she was also a strong leader. He hoped that the job didn’t drag her down before she reached her full potential.

  Lifting his mobile from his desk, he tapped on the missed calls icon. Mark McLelland’s number was the first on the list and he initiated the dialling process.

  “Tom.” Russell could tell that his former boss had also succumbed to the same emotional torment as he had himself.

  “I’m so sorry, Mark.”

  “What have you got?”

  “Nothing as yet, we’re about to start a briefing. We’ll need to piece together how he got the three of them there. Any ideas about Hayley?”

  “No, she was supposed to come round today, we were going to go for a pub lunch.”

  Russell’s professionalism pushed aside his personal worries. “Did she say if she had anything planned for yesterday or maybe early this morning?”

  “No, I don’t think so. Are you puzzled as to how he managed to take them?”

  “Definitely. To snatch three people and hold them captive isn’t easy.”

  “Maybe he’s got an accomplice.

  “It’s possible I suppose, but even if he has it won’t help if we don’t know who that might be.”

  “Is there anything I can do?”

  “No, Mark. I don’t think that would be a good idea. You’re out of the loop now.”

  “I know this case, Tom.”

  “I understand and I know that you feel you need to do something, but please just trust me. In this situation Hayley and Joe are just as important to me as Karen, I promise.”

  There was silence and Russell wondered if asking McLelland to trust him with regard to the Harlequin was asking too much after what had happened ten years ago.

  McLelland relented and realised that he would be better not getting involved. “Keep me informed, please.”

  “I will, I promise. I need to go, I have to speak to Christine O’Donnell.”

  “Cheers, Tom. Please, bring her back to me,” McLelland’s voice cracked.

  “I’ll do my best. Bye.” Russell was relieved to end the call but the next one wasn’t going to be any easier.

  He tapped on the number of the other missed call.

  When she answered, Christine O’Donnell was close to hysteria. “Oh God, Mr Russell he’s got him. Did you see what he did to him?” Her words rattled rapidly down the line.

  “I know, I know. We’re doing all we can to find him.”

  “He’s going to kill him, isn’t he? It’s all because of me being involved in that stupid prank. It’s all my fault, oh my poor baby.” She broke down and all that Russell could hear was her sobbing.

  “Christine, it’s not your fault. This is down to one man and only him. We’re going to stop him but we need some help from you.”

  “What… what can I… do?” she said between gulps of air.

  “Do you know where Joe was last night?”

  “He was here yesterday for his lunch and then he was going back to his digs to get changed for a party.”

  “Where was the party?”

  “In the West End I think. I’m not sure.”

  “OK, that’s good we can ask his friends. I’ll get a detective over to you and we’ll take it from there. Try not to worry.” He knew that the last sentence would be impossible for her, just as it was for him.

  She realised that she might not be the only one who had a personal reason to be anxious about what the Harlequin had planned. “Do you know the older woman?”

  “Karen’s my ex-wife and Hayley McLelland is the daughter of a former colleague who worked the case with me previously.”

  “Oh God.” She started crying once again. Russell told her that he would be in touch and was relieved when he ended the call.

  Before he could do anything else the phone on his desk rang.

  After Russell had confirmed his identity, the A.C.C. said, “I’m coming over. I’ll be leaving in ten minutes.”

  “Yes, sir. We’ve organised a brie
fing for eleven.”

  “Wait until I’ve arrived before you begin.” Once again the call was completed without any warning.

  Russell had a feeling that life under their new A.C.C. was not going to be easy.

  Chapter 23

  The three captives were escorted back to the cages; this time they were placed all together in the same tiny cell. A plastic bag was thrown in beside them filled with bandages and plasters.

  “Dress the wounds,” the clown-masked man ordered before leaving them in the dingy light.

  Karen’s injuries were worse than the other two but when she asked Hayley to help there was no response from the younger woman. She was in a state of numb shock and instead it was Joe who stepped forward.

  “I’ll do it.”

  “Thank you,” Karen said faintly. She pulled apart the Velcro of her costume and eased it off her shoulders. She made no attempt to preserve her modesty. She stood in her underwear in front of the teenager; his help was all that mattered. He still looked a little embarrassed but he bathed the wounds with an alcohol wipe that he found in the bag before using the padded dressings to cover the injuries. When he was done, he helped Karen to dress, adjusting the costume carefully to minimise her discomfort.

  Then it was his turn and Karen treated the cut at the top of his leg. He winced as the alcohol stung on the two-inch wound and was glad when the procedure was over. Karen turned her attention to Hayley who had a welt with broken skin where the crop had come down on her back but it was relatively minor compared to what the others had suffered.

  When the first aid was finished, they sat down at three sides of their cell, their feet almost touching in the centre. Karen struggled to get comfortable, the Harlequin hadn’t supplied any painkillers in the impromptu first-aid kit and she could feel acutely the marks on her back.