Double Exposure

by Sarah Ruth Scott

  A hand reached forward to touch Samantha’s head it was covered with blood grasping at her hair then got disturbed. Samantha and Elliot were alerted by the sound of a gun shot which at first sounded like one of Macgregor’s elaborate sound effects then another shot was fired sounding different. They all followed the direction where they thought the sound was coming from Gillian seemed eager to get there first.

  They arrived at the main control area in the cellar and were astonished to find six monitors displaying various views of the castle. Suddenly they noticed Janet and a few others walking along a secret passage and behind them a well-built man shaped like Macgregor. He managed to catch up with them and attack one of them without the others noticing.

  “My god he’s picking them off one at a time” Elliot said anxiously

  “They must be close to here by now” Gillian said looking around

  “Look at all this stuff” Samantha said pointing to the board game

  “But this is not the control room Macgregor used that was near the study not here in the cellar” Elliot said confused “why have two rooms to do this?”

  “Obviously he wanted us to know about the one but not this one” Samantha explained.

  Gillian picked something up from under the table and stepped back watching both of them. At that moment Janet appeared with two men and stand beside them each one looking at Elliot.

  “So it was you” Janet said “Using Sammy as your accomplish very smart or are you”

  At that moment a man appeared “Well what do we have here?”

  Janet looked at him and frowned “Gordon I have your killer” she said confidently.

  “Is that so” He said coldly “Well have I got news for you”

  “I have been following them and they have been at the scene of each one” Janet said

  Gordon raised his arm revealing a revolver “Well guess what?”

  “You’re the killer but how?” Samantha asked

  “I used this remote control to operate all the doors and entrances I also followed you all at all times, those catches don’t work and never have done. I have been in control of this game all the time and sadly all of you have come to your end” Macgregor smirked evilly.

  “But how did you do this all alone?” Elliot asked

  “He didn’t” came a voice from behind each turned to see Gillian with a gun

  Elliot turned to see a spanner flying in the air towards Macgregor’s head, he swerved to avoid it coming hitting his head. Despite his efforts caught him on the temple and he fell to the ground groaning and holding his head. As this happened Gillian responded by shooting at everyone wildly, after a few seconds she realised that she was out of ammunition. She then pulled a knife from a sheath and proceeded to lash out at anyone close catching one of the men at the same time Macgregor charged at them too. There was a confusion of arms and legs everywhere, people were bleeding and eventually both Macgregor and Gillian were lying on the floor in handcuffs. During the scuffle on the floor Gillian had attempted to grab Macgregor’s gun but couldn’t quite reach it. It was thought that Samantha may have hit her at this point preventing Janet from getting shot. At one point Gillian had tried to stab Samantha in the chest but fell forward narrowly missing her throat.

  Two of the men who were police officers had been shot but not seriously wounded while Elliot managed to cut his hand. Samantha had thumped Gillian at one stage but may have been trying to attack Elliot as she was still annoyed with men due to breaking up with her boyfriend. Janet looked at the killers then at Samantha not knowing what to say.

  “Thank you Sammy, sorry I accused you of all this” Janet said shamefully

  “You’re welcome and its ok” Samantha said smiling

  Janet smiled back and then told the police officers to take the prisoners away.

  She then took other policemen and searched the cellar for bodies, during her search she discovered Gordon Macgregor bound and gagged in a corner. He explained about his brother John who had gone missing years ago, during Gordon Macgregor’s absence when he was in Greece John must have installed all his elaborate equipment including a separate generator to power everything. The idea of operating monitors to watch everyone was clever although using a remote control mechanism to operate panel doors to the secret passages suggests a planned operation and the murder game could only be the work of someone evil and a dangerous psychopath, a person with no continence but an intelligent man.

  By the time the forensics arrived and everyone was questioned it was morning. Macgregor had switched off the generator and disconnected the other systems so that only the lights and boiler system and any other necessary electrical equipment operated in the castle. The door panels on each of the walls were taken off while the police searched all over the castle for other bodies. Skeletons were found in various places including a vault and it was thought that John had been killing people for years mostly with the aid of Gillian. The one puzzling thing was that she was tied up at times Elliot saw her on the monitor tied to a bed. It was never explained why unless it was to lead Samantha and Elliot into the room as a diversion while John carried on killing. The other puzzling thing was that John never had a motive for murder; he just enjoyed murder mysteries and games.

  The following morning turned out to be sunny with clear skies with a no rain forecast for at least three days. This was a welcome sight after all the storms and additional artificial storms over the last few days. Samantha vowed and declared that she would never enter a castle again except for Edinburgh of course. Elliot actually enjoyed the experience and being shouted and sworn at by Samantha.

  Gordon stood outside looking at his castle when his surviving guests came out, He spoke to each one in turn feeling guilty about his Brother John’s behaviour. But no one blamed Gordon and knew the full story of how John had gone missing and that John tied Gordon up then replaced him in order to get about the castle and middling with the guests.

  “I am grateful to you Stuart, you have a Scottish name to be proud of” Macgregor said shaking him by the hand.

  “Thank you Gordon” Elliot said smiling

  “And my beautiful guest Sammy, god bless you” Macgregor said kissing and hugging her,

  “Thank you” Samantha said rolling her eyes and fighting her way out of his ginger beard. She also noticed the ruby ring that she admired on his finger.

  They started to walk towards the minibus when Samantha turned and walked back towards him “Just one thing Gordon who was the ghost image in my room last night?”

  Macgregor looked puzzled and so she continued to describe what she saw

  “It was a woman wearing a ballroom gown with a diamond clustered tiara”

  “Heavens my dear I don’t know all the sound and visual systems were turned off last night so there wouldn’t be any we ghosties from me”.

  “You’re sure?” Samantha asked

  “Absolutely” Macgregor said seriously

  With that Samantha looked up at her window and a woman waved down to her.

  After the castle experience Samantha and Elliot decided to return to Edinburgh for the tattoo. The experience was worth it and just happened to be the one of the most spectacular experiences of their lives.

  JOBSON’S SUNSET

  Samantha and Fiona were sat in their office discussing their recent assignments, both of them were drinking coffee out of stylish mugs.

  “So how was Scotland Sammy?” Fiona asked

  “It was ok very adventurous not sure about Stuart though” Samantha said laughing.

  “Oh Sammy he’s a bag of wind but nice” Fiona laughed with her

  “Fi he’s a fucking idiot believe me” Samantha nearly fell off the seat she was laughing that much.

  “Well guess what Sammy?” Fiona asked

  “Don’t tell me that I am working with him again” Samantha said
with surprise

  “Yes sorry but this time your going to Jamaica” Fiona was still laughing

  “Jamaica, why Jamaica?” Samantha stopped laughing

  “We had a call from a gang leader Rick Jobson who wanted a top reporter to cover this story” Fiona explained

  “So you chose me?” Samantha asked

  “Why not I have to cover a story in New York” Fiona said

  “Are you sure you want to go there Fi?” Samantha asked concerned

  “Yes I have to deal with things and move on Sammy”. Fiona admitted

  “Are you sure you’re going to be alright” Samantha looked worried

  “I am going over with Daniel and search for a missing girl called Claire”. Fiona said “I can use my contacts there some knew Paul” Fiona continued.

  “Well I had better pack for Jamaica and take some idiot pills for Stuart”. Samantha said laughing.

  Bill had briefed Samantha and Elliot in his office about the gangster who was using a false name called Rick Jobson and a contact would take them over to Ocho Rios. They headed to the international airport in London and flew to Jamaica. Samantha was silent throughout most of the journey but did discuss plans of their stay between themselves, unfortunately also onboard and sat behind them was another reporter from a competitive magazine called Sophie Johnson.

  Samantha and Elliot arrived at Ian Fleming international airport near Ocho Rios; they looked out for a board saying welcome to criminal world. Samantha smiled when she finally saw a woman holding up the sign. It was Jobson’s daughter Simone who had initially greeted them and introduced herself, She led them to a jeep outside she was quite young and attractive dressed in a yellow colourful dress. The driver was a thin black man with a red, yellow and green hat; he was fairly quiet and seemed to concentrate on his driving. They were heading on a road that lead uphill through trees, Ocho Rios was on the northern side of Jamaica not that far from Montego Bay.

  When they arrived they noticed a few houses close together, they could see the town in the distance by the coastline. But even the scenery around them was breathtaking and worth visiting, from every angle it was like looking at a holiday postcard. It’s hard to believe that this area harboured gangsters who fought to survive and lived hand to mouth, using the motto steel or starve.

  On route they encountered a rival gang who shot at then the jeep was sprayed with bullets coming from various directions.

  “Get down” shouted the driver

  “Ok Douglas” Simone said to the driver

  Simone ducked first followed by Samantha while Elliot began taking photographs

  “Are you fucking mad?” Samantha shouted then went quiet

  “Is everyone?” ok Douglas asked

  “Am I fuck” Samantha said pulling her bloody hand away from her shoulder.

  “You’re bleeding” Elliot said noticing her bloody shoulder

  “No fucking shit Stuart ten points for observation” Samantha said sarcastically

  “We are safe now people” Douglas said then looked and noticed that Samantha was bleeding “Man your bleeding”

  “Oh fucking shit aren’t men observant” Samantha said going pale

  “Stop the jeep Douglas and get me the first aid box” Simone said concerned

  “Hey don’t bleed over my upholstery I have just had this washed” Douglas said joking

  “Fuck your upholstery what about my shoulder anyway who has a car valeted and enters a war zone”.

  Simone got the first aid box and sat in the back seat while Elliot sat in the front with Douglas they then continued on their journey to the gangsters hide out.

  Simone was tending to Samantha’s wound “It’s not bad just a flesh wound the bullet must have gone into the seat behind you” Simone said reassuringly.

  “It still fucking hurts” Samantha said winging.

  “At least we don’t have to dig the bullet out honey” Simone said smiling

  “Ok sorry I am being a bitch again aren’t I?” Samantha admitted

  “You are beautiful” Simone said admiring her

  “Thank you Simone” Samantha said

  “Ok we are here folks” Douglas said stopping the jeep

  They were suddenly surrounded by a lot of people some with guns and other weapons. Each of them gazing at Samantha and Elliot a soldier searched Elliot and took his camera from him a woman began to search Samantha.

  “Will you get the fuck off me!” She shouted

  Simone pushed her away and led us to Jobson who was sat in the house smoking cannabis; it was recognisable by its distinctive smell of urine.

  “Come in my friends” said a happy voice “You are welcome” Jobson said sitting on a cosy chair pulling at his dreadlocks and smiling.

  They all sat down on seats near Jobson and watched him as he waved his hand dismissing his men.

  “Welcome to Jamaica my friends” Jobson continued.

  After a short while the men returned with food for the guests, Samantha and Elliot felt uneasy with so many weapons around them.

  “So how was your journey?” He asked

  “We had trouble father” Simone said “Ambushed by gangsters”

  “My word did anyone get hurt?” Jobson asked noticing blood on Samantha’s blouse

  “Sammy got a flesh wound” Simone said pointing to her shoulder “But I have dealt with that”.

  “That’s my girl Simone” Jobson said proudly.

  “Now let me tell you why you’re here” Jobson began “I am the biggest gang leader in these parts, I am seriously ill dying of cancer”

  Simone looked at her father with sad eyes as he continued to tell his story. “I haven’t got long to live and I want to speak to you about my life in order to help others get out of this life of poverty” Jobson winced with pain.

  “Our country is quite poor and we struggle to survive fighting for food and water, we formed gangs to survive robbing others carrying weapons”.

  “Won’t the government help?” Samantha asked

  “No they care for themselves and protect the gay community as they seem to be the main target of hatred here”. Robson was fidgeting very uncomfortable and in severe pain.

  “I must take my pain relief and rest now enjoy my hospitality” Jobson struggled to stand up and left the room.

  Samantha and Elliot finished their food and were taken to their rooms; Elliot was still annoyed by not having his camera while Samantha was uncomfortable due to her wounded shoulder. Neither slept well and both were thinking about the gangsters who were pacing about outside at night. The next day they all had breakfast with Jobson and he began discussing his upbringing in Jamaica and turning to crime.

  “I was a small skinny boy who often went hungry scratching for bit and pieces and looking as if I hadn’t got the strength to stand up. But being like that made me fight because otherwise I would starve and so would my family. Most of us were on drugs it was taken for granted some took cannabis others had harder stuff or it lead to harder stuff”. Jobson continued, “We had gangs to survive and we had street fights, we also partied and had fun”. Jobson spoke for hours about his life.

  Meanwhile Simone wanted to go into Town for a few supplies, escorted by Douglas and a few others. She insisted on going for a cool drink alone and met an English reporter called Sophie who was posing as a holiday rep. Sophie was about twenty-seven with blonde hair and a pale complexion. Sophie appeared to be charming and very polite, Simone was instantly attracted to her and they were soon in full conversation. At first Sophie was asking random questions and edging closer to Simone giving her eye contact, but then the questions were more probing and she was actually touching Simone as if she had known her for a long time. Soon Simone became very trusting of Sophie and she spoke freely of her life and involvement in the gang with her father. Sophie seeme
d pleased by the amount of information that she was receiving and probed further.

  Sophie stood up and shaking her by the hand she left the café and returned to her hotel. During Samantha and Elliot’s stay Simone made many trips to the town to meet Sophie eventually she told Samantha about her new friend, but at this time Samantha didn’t know who Sophie was and she was convinced that Sophie was a holiday rep or business woman. In fact Simone had become intimately involved with Sophie but kept this a secret, as she knew this could cause problems with the local people and her father. Being Sophie’s friend was one thing but having a lesbian relationship with her was something else. People still used voodoo here as a form of ancient witchcraft so their was an element of fear in this area. It was also thought that the use of voodoo dolls used to curse Jobson due to his killing spree one day.

  A lady sat chanting and holding a doll sticking large pins in it and cursing Jobson for the death of her son, she felt that Jobson had got away with murder but couldn’t prove it. Each pin eased her own pain and increased his pain as he held the areas where she forced the pins in. She was an old lady with all her top front teeth missing and her hair was thin on the top of her head. Her clothes were ragged and worn she had washed the entire colour out and holes appeared here and there.

  Sophie lay beside Simone talking to her in a soft voice

  “I love you and want you to come to England” Sophie said smiling

  “Would you want me with you?” Simone asked

  “Of course but I don’t think your dad would like it” Sophie said changing her expression to a sad look

  “We could even go to France, maybe Paris” Sophie continued “Make love in a French bath or bed”.

  “I have never been treated so kind before, not like this” Simone said smiling sweetly

  Sophie was stroking Simone’s hair and kissing her cheeks telling her she loved her and wanted to run away with her taking Simone away from her poverty. Simone was excited by this finding happiness at last and planning her future with Sophie in England or France. They made love and their bodies lay entwined naked on the bed appearing to be happy together. Suddenly the door burst open and Simone let out a scream Sophie never reacted just lay holding the sheets over her body. Simone called out to her but Sophie just hid her face as she was dragged out covered in a sheet at this point Sophie smiled as one of the men handed Sophie some money and left the room.