Devil's Demise

by Lee Cockburn

  Findlay put his head out of the office, “Nicks, come into my office, we need to sort this shit out!”

  She got up from her seat and went straight to his den. She did not look around the office as she went but her rising up from her chair had caused at least two sets of attractive feminine eyes to look at her walk confidently into his office. Taylor was well aware of the unpleasant rants she was about to receive, the unrealistic demands on the team and the push for results to save his fat lazy ass. The blame was always directed as far away from him as possible, usually lumped onto Taylor and her team, even though they regularly got good results. In this case, however, they always appeared to have been one step behind and the suspect most definitely had the upper hand.

  “We need to have a travelling squad, we’ll need to liaise with the other forces and create a small task force. This serial killing mother fucker could be in any of their areas. We’ll need someone that has seen him and at least another five cops and detectives, over and above you and Marcus. Pull out all of the stops, use everybody and anybody. We have the clearance to do this and there is a no holds barred budget. He’s obviously still focused on Susan and I personally don’t think he’s going to stop!”

  For once Taylor was in full agreement with her boss and she too wanted to get this beast. She was surprised that a full squad would be funded to travel the country in search of John Brennan.

  “You pick the team and make sure you don’t take any lazy bastards with you. This isn’t a fucking holiday!”

  Taylor had several officers that sprang to mind, the two from the hospital the night he assaulted the nurses, Lomond and his partner, Fran and the other senior troops in the team. As always there would be those that would be disappointed and question why they were not coming, answers that were always hard to give and receive.

  ¤¤¤

  John cursed as loud as he could, his teeth grinding heavily against each other. He had the directions and this was the fifth time he’d got lost. He was in the middle of nowhere. He just put his head down on the steering wheel and calmed down as his thoughts wandered off to what he would do when he finally found them. There was no rush. She didn’t know he was coming to surprise her and take the ultimate prize from her once and for all. His hand fell onto his crotch, his stiff penis welcomed his hand; he reached with his other hand for the beer that lay in the foot well of the car and cracked open a can. He was in the middle of nowhere and reckoned the police would not come here so he settled down for the night and put the seat back. He thought to himself with a smile, beer in one hand, cock in the other, this should be quite a good night. Anyone else in this place would be spooked out with the noise of the trees and whistling of the wind but not him, he just lay his head to the side once he had finished and slept like a baby, untroubled and looking forward to the time ahead.

  Chapter 25: The Squad

  The van was full of kit, the eight-strong squad and Taylor sitting up front. Marcus was driving and PC Lomond, PC Miller, DC Andrews, DC Brown, DC Noble and DC Blake were all in the back. There was a good humour within the van and a sense of expectation. All were committed individuals that believed that they would get John Brennan and deal with him accordingly. All of them had spent hours and hours of their time on this case, missed out on family life, friends and having very little down time, they weren’t able to go out and see people, no time to relax or have the odd drink in or out. During a case like this, normality didn’t come into it; you were lucky to have six hours in your house and that included eating, sleeping and washing, so there was constant fatigue. Four of the officers on the squad were firearms trained and had special authorisation to carry a sidearm and all could self-authorise if the situation required it as the assailant was such a violent man, capable of lethal harm. This type of unofficial posse had never been authorised before, but they hoped that it would prove effective for the unusual situation. Serial killers in Edinburgh were not the norm and this had not happened since Burke and Hare. The force was prepared to try out untested means to get this man stopped at any cost.

  “Where are we going?” asked someone. “This is like a wild goose chase.”

  “Up north,” replied Marcus. “There are lots of people on the case. They’ll bottom out numerous lead so there is bound to be some sort of trace of their booking somewhere on someone’s system and they’ll give us the heads up on where to head.”

  “Let’s go then,” Taylor said.

  Taylor never had a chance to meet up with Kay prior to their departure; there was no time for anything other than a quick bag pack and a shower. There was the usual crude banter en route, the men and women giving as good as they got. The humour was always filled with innuendo, smut and filth and none of them would have it any other way. There was always a line and it was very rarely crossed. Humour created its own boundaries as taking it too far was unfunny. Taylor pulled her sun visor down, opened the mirror and checked that her face was okay due to the rush to get ready. She looked into the rear of the van, scanning the troops, her eyes glancing at DC Andrews. She was reading something, so Taylor looked at her a little longer, checking her, not intending to be seen. Fran looked up at that moment as if she knew she was being watched and caught Taylor looking. She instantly fixed her gaze straight back at Taylor’s eyes. Both were aware that this was more than just a casual glance; there was obviously some mutual attraction there, whether there was intent was yet to be tested.

  Taylor closed the mirror over and sunk back into her seat, her stomach still fluttering lightly at the little encounter with the flirtatious glances, eyes being windows into the soul. Taylor didn’t need more distraction and certainly not any more women with an interest in her. But she couldn’t help thinking about Fran and what could happen and what it would be like. Taylor flicked up the visor to try and avoid appearing obvious and overly willing but she could feel a warm sensation on her back and she guessed that Fran may still be looking at her.

  ¤¤¤

  He zipped up his flies, burped and got out of the car to take a piss in the trees. Getting back in his car, he started up the engine, put it in gear and moved off, more hopeful that he would find them today.

  ¤¤¤

  Susan opened her eyes. The sun shone through the gap in the curtains and for the first time in ages she smiled. She felt relaxed and happy. She rolled over to where Andrew lay, still asleep. She could feel the silk of the sheets glide over her skin as she slid over the bed. She put her arm over him and nestled her hand into his chest and gently stroked him. She fully intended to wake him up as she had something in mind. Andrew took hold of her hand and held it, his feelings transmitting through him like a beacon. She could feel his affection for her emanating from him like a warm glow.

  He said quietly in a strong male tone, “Morning! How are you today? You look like you feel better already.” He turned round to face her and he kissed her softly at first, until her desire became obvious. Her breathing told him that it wasn’t a reassuring loving kiss she wanted, it was more than that. She pushed her tongue deep into his mouth in a way that sent him instantly into a frenzy of arousal, although he knew what ladies needed. He responded, his rugged unshaven face pushed against hers, their tongues met and their kiss was needy and excited. Both of them felt the release of their fear and felt blissfully free from their stalker.

  Susan swung herself up on top of Andrew, his pleasure very obvious to see. She was careful not to please him too soon, but chose to tease him a little, rubbing herself over him, careful not to touch him where he wanted. Her pleasure glistened upon his skin, his hand came to her and caressed her, firm but sensual, her moan sending a tingling sensation to his toes. She was soaking and this turned him on even more. His experienced hand brought her to a climax very quickly as her arousal was already at fever pitch, his fingers entering her as she started going over the edge making her climax last longer. She deliberately pushed down on his fingers, strong and thick, her pussy taking them deep into her as she moved with him
. She knew he was a considerate man and was aware that he was so excited that he would lose control soon if she didn’t let him into her. She made her way down to meet the tip of his penis, rubbing over the tip of it with her slender hand and Andrew’s moan was deep and grateful.

  She paused where she was and worked herself on and around him, their kisses still desperate and lustful, until she pushed down onto him and he filled her welcoming haven to the point that she gasped, not in pain, but with the pleasure she felt; she had climaxed already and now wanted him to take her, to make love to her. Andrew’s hand was still on her pussy as he entered her, heightening her pleasure as he was inside her. They made love in a frenzied response to the need of two people that had been frightened out of feeling anything for the last few months. Their passion was unbridled and very physical, both of them wanting more from each other. Sweat glistened on both of their bodies and their breathing was now noisy and unrestrained, but the more they made love the more they wanted. Andrew was a fit man and capable of a quick repeat of what Susan needed to take. When he was resting, his mouth became the next place for Susan to land her perfectly formed body. His hands held her bottom firmly above him, his mouth on her and his tongue exploring every inch of her, his hand and fingers also giving extra pleasure when her need became obvious. She then pleasured him with her mouth and hands as they rolled around the massive bed. The silk sheets were wrapped around their legs and clung to their sweaty bodies and were starting to restrict their love making.

  They kissed each other deeply and as if they knew that they had no more to give, they flopped back onto the bed, panting and spent. They began to laugh; Susan’s laughter was almost out of control and Andrew pulled her into him. “I won’t let anything happen to you. We’re smarter than him.” He stared right at her and cupped her pretty face in his hands. “I love you so much, every little piece of you. You’re so beautiful, inside and out, and you’re also one horny lady when your thoughts are free.”

  “Is that a problem?” she teased him.

  “Breakfast?”

  “Oh yes please, I don’t think anything we’ve had so far counts for any calories.”

  Andrew just looked at her and smiled, the fondest of looks from one to the other.

  ¤¤¤

  His smile was hideous as he pulled up over the ridge. The log cabin down at the shore of the loch looked idyllic. A perfect place for no interruptions, for me that is. This place is like heaven for the task at hand. I bet they think I’m never going to find them. Wrong, so very wrong. I’m here and I’ll make sure that they both know it, over and over until they die. I’ll frighten them to death first and then torture him to within an inch of his life for temporarily taking her from me. Then I’ll make him watch as I slowly take her sorry little life away from her and no mistakes this time.

  ¤¤¤

  Taylor laughed loudly as DC Brown went into her usual rapport of humour, her tales filled with comical mirth, making those around her sore with laughter. Fran’s laugh was by far the loudest, the females within the group far more vocal than the males, other than PC Lomond, who was also a bit of a joker. Everyone had their own single room, which secretly Taylor was happy with. She didn’t know what she would do if she had had to share with DC Andrews; there was looking and then there was doing; the two were very different and she did not want to be put in that situation, not yet anyway.

  Taylor spoke out once the laughter had subsided. “Work! Remember why we came,” she said in a comical way.

  “We’ve got two or three hopefuls, with names like Smith and Brown registering at various places in Aberdeenshire. They’ve obviously not used their real names and this really is a wild goose chase. Let’s hope old Johnny boy doesn’t know more than us.”

  “Meet at the van in an hour. That’s enough time for everyone to get their stuff together, isn’t it?”

  Fran looked straight at her, her eyes bright and lively, full of mischief and Taylor enjoyed the feeling she got when their eyes met and she spent time in her company.

  They smiled at each other and the intensity eased a little with the mutual appreciation of one another and an open acknowledgement that there was a warmth there.

  John walked through the trees; they were thick evergreens and gave almost complete coverage as he moved slowly towards the cabin. The terrain was harsh under foot with a few hidden pot holes and foliage of the most hostile kind dressing the ground. John’s footsteps were heavy and he was aware of the noise he was making as he walked towards the cabin. He wasn’t close enough to worry yet but he would have to rethink his approach when the time came. He had left his car off road and out of sight, taking time to cover any tyre tracks he’d left as he drove off the main road, which itself was little more than a dirt track. He was about a hundred metres away when he stopped and just stared towards the cabin, his heart starting to beat faster as his mind floated back to the night he had spent with Susan. Let the fun begin!

  Chapter 26: Invisible Terror

  The van arrived at one of the sites. Everyone jumped out quickly and made for individual chalets, checking all of them just in case Susan had been more inventive with her choice of name for the booking. It was quite an exclusive site with only eight cabins, well spread out and dotted round a very picturesque area with a forest and loch; an idyllic spot to escape from the world.

  ¤¤¤

  Susan came out of the shower for the second time that day and stretched out on the sofa; Andrew brought a glass of red, in a glass that resembled a fish bowl, and a bottle of beer for himself. Night had fallen and it was almost pitch dark outside apart from the dim lights leading down to the jetty. There was a slight breeze which created an eerie sound that whispered its way through the tall trees. There were also the whines of foxes, the scurry of small animals and the haunting hoots of owls hidden within high branches. None of which was bothering the love birds tucked up in their warm, comfortable, safe and secluded cabin. The doors were bolted front and rear and everything appeared secure. Perfect, they thought. They settled down to watch one of the DVDs provided: Inception, a thriller starring Leonardo Dicaprio. Susan enjoyed the comfort and security Andrew gave her, and even though he could not eradicate the monster that persistently pursued her in every waking moment of every day she lived, he could at least make some of her time a whole lot better. With Andrew by her side, she wouldn’t have to ever face John Brennan on her own, or so she thought.

  “Negative on every cabin, Serg. They’re not here.”

  “Shit! I knew it would be too good to be true if we found them on the first try. Next one, then,” Taylor signed expectantly.

  They packed up and headed further north to the next venue. They tried four more sites, with nothing, and this one would be the last that night. It was right beside a travel lodge and the troops were knackered; time to kick back a little and plan for the next day.

  ¤¤¤

  CRAAACK! The branch seemed to scream out a warning from beneath his foot. “Fuck,” he rasped under his breath.

  His fists tightened within his black leather gloves. He was wearing a balaclava and a camouflaged type of army jacket. To his delight someone could be standing 15 feet away from him in the pitch dark and he would be practically invisible; the moonlight was totally hidden by the cloud cover.

  ¤¤¤

  Susan’s head flew off of the pillow with a start. “What was that, did you hear that? Andrew, Andrew, wake up! There was a noise outside, I heard a branch or something being stood on.”

  “You sure? I never heard anything?”

  “That’s because you could sleep through anything and you’re totally worn out,” Susan said with a semi smile, still unnerved by the noise she had heard outside. John stood still, didn’t move a muscle; he knew it had been loud and very possibly heard within the cabin which was barely 20 metres away.

  Andrew got up and said to Susan with reassuring eyes, “It was probably a fox or the wind, or something like that. I’ll go and have a look. I won
’t be long.”

  “You don’t need to. It was probably nothing.”

  “I’ll just give it a look to put both our minds at ease. I’ll take the baseball bat though, just in case, eh.”

  Andrew walked to the front door, smiling back at Susan. “It’ll be alright, I’ll make sure of that, or at least I’ll die trying.”