by David Woods
He returned the next morning and parked in a different position before hiding again to watch lots of people coming and going and Sylvia going out shopping twice. He was certain she only had one child and was obviously very happy. It started to rain around noon, so he gave up and drove into town for lunch, returning briefly to the farm on his way home. During the afternoon he planned his next move.
He rang Heidi in the evening, saying he could not make lunch the next day, but could they meet the following lunchtime. She was a bit surprised by this change of plans but agreed. “Are you sure you are feeling well, Rolf?”
“I’m fine. But I just want to finish the flat before our next meeting.”
“Does this mean I’ll be able to see it?”
“Yes of course.”
“Good. I’ll look forward to the day after tomorrow then.”
He rang off and hurried home to get an early night. In the morning items were purchased from the local hardware and clothes shops, and he had an early lunch before arriving at the farm, where he parked closer to the farmyard and hid in the usual place. The tractor was outside the house, and he watched as the farmer hitched it on to a plough and drove out of the gate, disappearing from view. It was a fine but windy day and Venk dressed in a coat with a hood when he walked through the old machinery, staying hidden until he was only ten yards from the farmhouse door. He stopped and pulled a mask over his head before running across and bursting into the empty kitchen, but a voice said. “Is that you, dear?”
He recognised it, walked quickly through to the living room and found Sylvia standing in the middle of the room with a duster in her hand. Her face drained of colour at the sight of this hooded man wearing a black mask, slits revealing his eyes and small mouth. She was about to scream, but was too late because he grabbed her by the throat and forced her to the floor, where she lay on her back, stunned, as he gagged her with sticky tape. He rose and beckoned her to get up. She pulled herself up shakily, and stood shivering with fright as he pulled her arms behind her back and pushed her through the door, pointing towards the stairs.
She climbed slowly and walked into a large bedroom. By this time the shock had receded, she suddenly turned around and broke loose from his grip, kicked him hard in the leg and at the same time slammed her small fist into his masked face. He lurched forward and dived on top of her, pinning her down. They lay still for a moment both stunned, but her hands were free and she punched him in the side. Unfortunately there was no power in her blows and he pulled himself up, sitting on top of her with his knees on her shoulder so that she could not move. She could only watch as he slapped her hard across the face and then hit her again, which caused blood to trickle from her nose. He could see she was dazed so he got up, grabbed her blouse and skirt and threw her on the bed where she lay with her eyes closed. Then he removed his coat, took out a long knife with a length of rope and stared at her for a while. He saw her suddenly recover and she tried to kick him but missed, he punched her on the jaw and she collapsed, knocked out. Her face was a mess with blood from her nose splashed on her cheeks and hair, he dropped the rope and attacked her clothes with the knife, cutting down through her blouse and bra and slicing through a leather belt and skirt. He tore off her clothes whilst uttering a strange squealing sound, his mask wet with saliva and his hands shaking with excitement. When she started to recover again he tied her hands to the headboard and her ankles to the bottom bed legs. He shoved a pillow under her neck so she could look down on her spread eagled body, and he stood back and stared at her, as though taking in every detail of her total humiliation.
He tried to remember how she looked before but she seemed like a strange woman he had never seen, and it did not matter as long as she was humiliated. That was all he cared about and he squealed again as he grabbed his knife. The terrified Sylvia watched, the tears running from her eyes, as he approached waving it in front of her. She tried to struggle but could not move and he sat beside her, waving the cold steel close to her breasts. She opened her eyes and stared into the horrible eyes that made her suddenly remember her violent experiences. He noticed a flicker of recognition in her face. Suddenly she forced the sticky tape off with her tongue and said in a high pitched voice. “Venk it’s you, isn’t it?”
He looked away and she shouted. “Venk, you bastard. Let me go.” He panicked, putting the knife away and punching her under the chin. Then there was a dull crack as her head went backwards and then her body started to quiver and shake. He stood and watched for a moment and then felt her neck. He could find no pulse and was sure she was dead, so he put on his coat, removed his mask, undid the ropes and left the house.
He felt relief that it was all over, and the last nightmare had been removed from his mind. He felt light headed and hopeful he could now live a normal life without constant torment. Stuffing the rope and knife in his pockets, and finding the farmyard deserted, he ran through the old machinery with his hood pulled over his face and reached his car breathless.
He pulled out of the lay-by and drove away glancing quickly towards the farmhouse. When his eyes returned to the road ahead, he saw a tractor heading down the centre of the road and straight at him.
Chapter Eighteen
Venk swerved in order to miss the tractor, as the driver seemed to be staring straight ahead with a blank expression on his face. He carried on back to Antwerp, his mind re-living his ex-wife’s humiliation and final demise over and over again, and each time he pictured her quivering in death, he let out a high pitched screeching laugh. All his plans for revenge had succeeded, and he felt elated and bursting with energy. He stopped on the way home, parked by a park and carefully stowed away the mask and rope in the boot of his car. Then he went for a brisk walk, breaking into a run after a while, before stopping to lay in the late afternoon sunshine. By this time his thoughts had returned to his work at the decorators, he wondered why he put up with it for so long, and laughed out loud when he thought of the mugs who still worked at the filthy job. He walked further on, still feeling light headed and thinking nothing could destroy his life by entering his mind again. He half ran half skipped his way back to the car, throwing his knife into a pond before setting off towards the flat.
The evening rush was over, and he managed to park in his favourite spot before climbing the stairs to his flat. As he entered and looked around, he thought how light, well decorated and clean it was, making him feel proud of the effort he had put in over the last week. All the excitement of the day suddenly made him feel very hungry, so during the next hour he cooked a large meal which he ate with relish. Then he lay back in an armchair thinking once again of his moment of triumph, but after a while dozed off dreaming of making passionate love with Heidi. He pictured her lovely body beckoning him towards a large bed. His dream was interrupted when he awoke, stiff from sitting awkwardly with one arm jammed against the arm rest.
He did the washing up and proceeded to clean the complete flat, polishing the furniture until he was satisfied the place was as smart as possible before having a long soak in the bath. After this he slept well without interruption until eight in the morning, when he ate a large breakfast, did the usual chores and sat down to ponder his situation. The previous day’s euphoric thoughts were replaced with more rational considerations, concerning what the police would do. He imagined they would talk to Sylvia’s husband for some time before speaking to neighbours and friends, and then of course would talk to her sister and parents, who would say he was asking after her. Her sister would accuse him of the crime, so it would only be a matter of time before the police would catch up with him, but the question was whether to face them and insist he was in his flat all afternoon, or move out quickly. He thought about his dilemma for some time, deciding he should be prepared to do either and went out to the shops. He bought several different items and stowed them in the boot of his car, before driving to a different car park.
He walked back to the flat a
nd packed clothes and essential items in a suitcase, calling at his bank for some money on his way back to the car. He locked the case in the boot and went to buy a newspaper, finding the murder story on the front page with a photograph of the farmhouse. He sat on a bench in the park, reading the article over and over until he knew it off by heart. They described Sylvia as a happily married woman with a six year old boy, who was at school at the time of the crime. The motive was assumed to be sexual because she was discovered naked by her husband, who was being treated for shock. The police were starting a murder investigation with a special incident room set up at the Gent police station, but they had nothing to report yet. Venk screwed the paper up and threw it in a litter bin, thinking about the way that woman had treated him and how she deserved the punishment he had exacted.
He strolled back towards the shops, waiting for Heidi to arrive on a bus. She looked lovely, dressed in a smart suit with matching shoes, and greeted him warmly. “Hello Rolf. My goodness, you do look well.” Then she grabbed his hand, pulling him towards a large department store. “Come in and I’ll buy you a present.” They spent half an hour looking at clothes in the menswear section, eventually buying him a warm pullover for the winter, for which he was very grateful and thanked her giving her a quick kiss when no one was watching.
As this was all the shopping Heidi wanted to do, they had an early lunch in the shop’s top floor restaurant for which Venk insisted on paying. “It’s an honour to eat lunch with the most beautiful woman in Antwerp.”
“Oh Rolf, you’re so nice to me.”
“Not nice enough.”
“Yes you are. And it’s so nice to see you looking so well.”
“Yes, I do feel well to-day.”
“And why is that?”
“I’ve just finished cleaning up the flat after decorating and it looks so nice.”
“Oh good, can I see it?”
He thought for a moment. “Another day, but to-day it still smells of paint. I find that very depressing.”
She seemed to understand and whispered. “Would you like to come home with me later on?”
“Yes please, I would very much.”
They left the large shop, walking around window shopping for some time, and then Venk suggested a drive to the country for a change, to which Heidi agreed enthusiastically. He drove out of town, with Heidi chattering about the garden and what she intended to do next spring. They stopped by a lake with boats rowing across the calm water. Heidi started to talk about the murder which she had read about in the morning paper. “What a dreadful shock it must have been for her husband to find her like that.”
Venk nodded with a grim expression. “Yes, it must have been terrible.”
“Whoever did it must be very sick. Don’t you think Rolf?”
He was staring at the boats with a blank expression on his face. “I can’t imagine what sort of person would do such a thing.”
She looked at him. “A gentle person like you wouldn’t understand.”
“You’re too nice to me. Now, let’s go for a walk.”
He was pleased when she agreed, taking her hand and guiding her along a path that went around the lake whilst they talked about the work he had done on the flat. They walked for an hour and a half, not noticing the passage of time until she looked at her watch. “Good heavens, is that the time?”
They turned around and started walking back. After a while when he looked around Venk found he could see for miles with not a single person in sight, so he suggested they sit down and rest for a while. Heidi agreed, and when they were seated on a mound of grass he put his arm around her, kissed her tenderly on the lips and she responded, cuddling up close. They remained for half an hour, and then hurried back to the car before driving to a café for tea.
They chatted and Heidi said. “It’s been a lovely afternoon, we should do this more often.”
“Yes we must. It’s been so nice on that path, so completely on our own.”
“Yes you’re right. We could have made love and no one would have seen us.”
He laughed. What a nice idea.”
They finished drinking tea, and drove towards Antwerp. Heidi’s house was on the other side of the city and Venk thought he would avoid the centre, so he drove around the outskirts. “Why are we going this way?” Heidi asked.
Oh, there’ll be less traffic.”
She seemed satisfied with his reply. Darkness was falling as they arrived and parked in a side street half a mile from her house. She frowned. “Why must we park here?”
“The neighbours might start talking. I don’t want it to cause you any embarrassment.”
“You’re such a considerate man, Rolf.”
They were both tired and hungry by the time they sat down in the kitchen, Venk making a drink whilst Heidi prepared a meal. The coffee restored their energy and they both worked on the preparations for a satisfying meal, washed down with red wine. Venk insisted on washing up while Heidi put things away. More coffee was consumed until Venk looked at his watch. “It’s getting late and I ought to go.”
“You don’t really want to leave, do you?” She cuddled up close.
“No, I don’t.”
“Then let’s go upstairs to bed.”
“Are you sure your husband won’t come home?”
“He’ll be away for another week.”
He put his arm around her as they climbed the stairs to the large bedroom and sat on the bed. They kissed first and then slowly removed each other’s clothes. He felt confident as he removed her bra, fondling her breasts before tenderly kissing her nipples. He stopped himself going too fast, as he was determined to be successful this time. She sensed his feelings and took his shirt off slowly, then massaged his back until his skin was pink and very warm. She rested her breasts against him and reached around to undo his trousers, slowly pulling them down and then kissing his body all over before removing the remainder of her own clothes. He looked at her lovely naked body and became very aroused, reaching out to her before kneeling on the floor to kiss her legs and work up her body. By the time he had reached her lips he was desperate and lifted her up, laying her on the bed. She responded by opening her legs wide for him to gaze at her, and then he kissed her again working up to her breasts. He could contain himself no longer and thrust his rock hard erection inside her. She gasped and grabbed his bottom, kissing his mouth deep with her tongue inside. After two minutes of frenzied thrusting he exploded with a deep groan, followed by a gurgling sound in his throat. Heidi lay still as she caressed his back whispering. “You are a superb lover, Rolf.” She had never felt any man as hard and as desperate inside her before.
After a while he recovered, rolled off and they talked. “That was fantastic. At last I’m able to make love properly.” She played with his body and they fondled each other before falling into a deep sleep until nine the next morning.
Heidi prepared some coffee and they relaxed in bed for a while before showering together and making love with water pouring over them. Venk was in paradise and wished it would last for ever, as he loved every inch of Heidi. They eventually dressed, had a large breakfast which Venk said would do for lunch as well, and Heidi was due to visit a hospital that morning. They parted with a lingering kiss, promising to be in touch that evening.
He walked to his car, looking around to see if anyone was watching before getting in and driving off. He stopped a mile away to gather his thoughts and plan the rest of the day, but could only think about that superb lovemaking session and Heidi’s lovely naked body, wondering when he would have a chance to see her again. He soon gave up any thoughts of a clever plan and drove towards the centre of town.
Having parked some distance from his flat, he walked through back streets until he reached a position with a good view of the flats and the front entrance. He looked up and down the street, walked through more side stre
ets until the rear entrance came into view, and as no policemen or suspicious persons waiting in cars were in evidence. He entered the rear door and climbed the stairs to his flat. He sat down and began to think again when there was a loud knock on the door. He jumped up, desperately wondering what to do, but decided there could be no escape and opened the door. Two plain clothes detectives stood there with identification cards thrust towards him. “Come in he said pleasantly.
“Mr, Venk?”
“Yes, that’s me.”
“Have you seen this morning’s newspapers?”
“No. Why?”
“If you had, you would know the woman recently killed was your ex-wife.”
He sat down heavily in one of his chairs, and acted shocked.
The policemen fell for it. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, sir. But would you mind coming with us to answer some questions?”
Venk appeared to recover. “Of course, I’ll be pleased to help in any way I can.” They walked out to a car with a uniformed driver waiting outside.
They drove in silence to Gent police station. Venk just sat in the car staring at the passing scenery, and wondering if his story would be believed. He was interviewed by an older officer, who asked about his movements on the day of the murder. Venk looked him straight in the eye. “I was shopping in the morning, and cleaning the flat in the afternoon. I’ve been decorating you see.”
The two younger policemen had noticed the smell of paint and the questioning continued. “I understand you recently visited your ex-wife’s sister and her parents?”
“I just wanted to see her again.”
“Why?”
“I haven’t seen her for a long time. And I wanted to say how sorry I am about the way I treated her.”
“And how did you treat her?”
“Badly, she wanted children and I didn’t. Of course I regret it now.”
Venk showed much remorse for the way he had treated Sylvia in the past, and in spite of the detectives trying to break him down, he stayed cool. They became angry with him, then directly accused him of the crime, but he just looked straight at the older man “I didn’t even know where she lived. Her sister didn’t tell me.” The policeman knew this was true, having been told several times by both his sister and parents. After three hours of intense questioning they took him back to his flat, and warned him to be available for further interrogation. Venk just shrugged his shoulders. “Of course. Any time.”
