Robert extended his hand to the policeman, wanting to pull it back and stick out his tongue just as the man took it. He resisted the urge and shook the man’s hand, wincing at the strength of his grip.
“Jenny’s in the house. Come inside, officers.” Robert turned and led the way. Walking past the rose, he so wanted to reach out and feel its velvety petals, and to sink his face into the bush and breathe in its delicious fragrance. A grin spread across his face as he turned his back to the policemen. He would have to forgo that pleasure for a while longer. “Do you like gardening?” he asked, approaching the door.
The officers looked at each other again, before Ryan replied, “I’m more a football fan myself.” Both officers followed him up to the door, Ryan leading the way.
Robert reached the door, keys in his right hand and was surprised to find it unlocked. Hadn’t he locked it earlier? He must have forgotten. Jenny would still be asleep. He stepped into the house, which was quiet as he expected and cast his doubts aside.
The officers followed Robert, wiping their feet before entering. They glanced around. Robert noticed they were unnerved. Had they discovered the murders up at Raseby Manor?
Robert extended his hand to wave them in and watched as they relaxed with the normal appearance of the house. He whispered a little spell, “Relaxat preceptum obserua,” and was pleased as they relaxed and followed him, compliant under the spell.
He led them through the kitchen and into a small reception room. The room was a pale yellow, bright and sunny, and contained a three-seat sofa and a couple of chairs.
“Come on through and take a seat.” Robert pointed at the sofa in the lounge. “Jenny’s in bed. I’ll get her for you.”
Ryan seemed calm and at ease. He accepted the seat, and put his hat on his knee, his hands beside it. Harrison followed his lead and sat on the other end of the couch. He put his own hat on the floor. The two men looked slightly ridiculous perched on the delicate couch, backs straight, heads held high.
“I won’t be a minute, would you like a coffee?” Robert asked.
“Er, no thank you sir, we’re fine.” Ryan replied
Robert stepped behind them, feigning a move towards the hallway door, and then muttered, “Tenere.”
The two policemen froze in their positions, like a pair of mannequins propped on the sofa.
“Now time to have some fun.” Robert walked back to them and rubbed his hands. “I always wanted a toy policeman as a youngster.”
He stood in front of the immobile officers. Their eyes moved in their frozen face, their anguish unable to be expressed. He hopped left to right in front of them, giggling as their eyes followed his movement. Standing back, he clasped his hands in front, and laughed out loud. “Now what should we do with you two?” He laughed again and then said, “Claudere.”
The two officers slipped towards each other across the leather sofa, stopping when their legs were touching. The cushions pulled by the movement, made a large trumping noise as they slid across it, settling back as they stopped.
Robert roared with laughter, hands to his face. “Oops, pardon me.”
He took Ryan’s hat and put it on the floor, then picked up the officers left leg, and placed it over his knee. Leaving him sitting cross-legged, only the wild movement of his eyeballs showed his distress.
He put the officer’s hands above his head, giggling as he did. Sweat ran down Ryan’s face, hinting at the effort he was using, to try and get free. Robert pulled the man’s face into a smile, his fingers slipping on the damp, smooth skin. He replaced the hat on the officer’s head, back to front and laughed again, bending over as the laughter caused pains in his sides. He could see Harrison’s eyes as they watched him and turned to the junior man. “Your turn next. Now don’t get jealous.”
He repeated the procedure with the other man, laughing as he performed each move. “Now, for the grand finale.”
Robert moved over and took Ryan’s left arm, placing it over Harrison’s shoulder. He put his hands on the cops face, turning his head towards the PC. His face was clammy, and sweat ran down the officer’s strained cheeks. Wiping his hands on his trousers, Robert turned to Harrison, and repeated the movement. Harrison’s neck cracked violently with the forced turn. “Oops.” Robert laughed.
He stood back and admired his handy work, glee lighting up his face. “Who wants a little kissy?” he asked and leaned in close to Harrison’s face. He ran his nail over the officer’s stubble, and then squeezed his cheeks, forming the man’s face into a pucker. Laughing almost past control, he repeated the action with Ryan. At last he stood back to admire his handy work.
He walked away from the posed officers, leaving the room to check on Jenny. Walking down the hall to her room, he struggled to control the mirth that bubbled inside him from showing on his face. He managed to replace it with a look of gentle sympathy, just as he knocked on the door. He still expected her to be sleeping. The drugs he gave her should keep her out for a few more hours yet. Jenny was getting on his nerves, whining about her dead parents, and that damn stupid dog. He was so glad to get rid of that animal, giving him evil looks and continually growling. And the mess, hairs in his clean house, hairs on the furniture mud on the floor, it was a useless, ugly dog. The only problem, of course, was keeping Jenny quiet until Saturday morning. He could drug her or cast a spell if he needed to, but part of his pleasure had been letting her choose. The thrill that she might be smart enough to catch on was part of his game.
He knocked on the door again and listened. When there was no answer, he opened it cautiously and peered round into the room. “Damn.” Slamming the door back, he rushed into the room. She was not there. The empty, unmade bed mocked him. He ran from the room, shouting, “Jenny? Jenny, are you there?”
Panic seized him. Had she seen his little pantomime with the boys in blue? Surely he would have felt her presence, but maybe not. He had been having such fun.
He searched the house, but there was no sign of her, and the Mercedes was still outside, parked as he had left it. She had not left. Her Volvo was around the back and he had her keys. He calmed himself. She probably went looking for that stupid dog. “Well, girl, you won’t find her.”
Returning to the kitchen, he made himself a coffee, sitting and savoring the dark steamy liquid. Should he wait for her? The aroma of the coffee filled the kitchen, the smell soothing. He drank the brew, deciding to do a location spell if she hadn’t returned by the time he finished his drink. Slowly, luxuriously, he sipped the dark roast. It was a Columbian blend he had imported, and it always centered him. He loved the fact that it was produced by poor workers, with no future, who got a pittance for the coffee that cost him a fortune, the profits all going to the middle man. The last of the liquid slid down his throat and left a satisfying taste. He placed the cup in the dishwasher and returned to his seat.
“Well, Jenny, let’s see where you are.” He brought his hands together in front of him as if to pray. He rested his chin on them, eyes closed, and then, throwing his arms out to the sides, palms facing outwards, he shouted,” Invinere Jenny.”
The kitchen appeared in his head, an image of it earlier. A groggy, stumbling Jenny opened the door and walked out. He followed her, the image changing as he saw her cross to the conifers. “Damn.”
His cursing interrupted the vision, and he had to concentrate hard to get it back. He saw her retrieve the bar from the garage, cross the garden and force open the door. By this time, he was running out of the kitchen and across the lawn. He dipped behind the conifers and squeezed into the narrow gap, the trees scratching his neck. He arrived in front of the door, the vision gone now and panic rising within him. The door was open and he prepared to run down into the cellar, but he could feel Jenny was still down there. A thought occurred to him, and, smiling to himself, he pointed at the house and shouted, “Venire.”
Chapter twenty-Seven
A shadow appeared on the stairwell above them. Jenny continued up filled wit
h hope; the police had found her. “Thank you, Simon. I owe you,” she muttered.
The cellar was claustrophobic, and she needed to be out. To be standing in the early morning light, breathing the fresh, clean air. A shadow was waiting in the entrance, and fear crossed her mind that it could be Robert returning. She breathed deep, wondering what she could do on the stairs. She had no choice. Either Simon’s call to the police had ensured her rescue, or Robert had found them. Now they needed to get out of this cellar and far away from here. She glanced behind her. Doris and Mary were just shapes at the bottom of the stairs. Turning towards the shadow, her heart was pounding so hard she almost stopped, but she continued up. “Hello, who’s there?”
The shape started to move, descending towards her. Her heart missed a beat and then continued knocking her ribs at a faster pace. She hesitated for a second, unsure.
The shape continued to come down. A few steps more and she could make out some details. It was a policeman. His blue uniform was an incredible sight and behind him another shape. She released her breath as relief flooded her body. She even started to giggle as exuberance bubbled through her. “Wait, I will come out, we need to get out of this cellar as soon as possible,” she called up the stairs.
Filled with the elation that this was finally over, and that they were safe, she increased her pace upwards to safety, rushing towards the descending officers.
The men continued to walk towards her, blocking out the light. She paused, knowing that she would have to back down as there was no room to pass on the narrow stairs. “Please, let me come out. If you could just go back up...”
The policeman walked up to her, ignoring her request, and just as he got to her, she noticed the expression on his face.
His face was puckered into an exaggerated kiss. Unsure, she glanced back down. He moved closer, pushing his chest against her body. She felt his weight shoving against her and tried to push back to hold her balance. “Please, you’ll make me fall.”
He kept coming, and a sliver of fear crawled across her skull, its silky fingers standing her hair on end. He kept walking. “No, stop,” she shouted as he forced her to retreat back down the steps. She raised her arms to push him, but ended up scrambling for something to hold onto to prevent herself going over backwards. Her hand grabbed at the wall, her knuckles scraping on the hard concrete. A prickle of blood appeared on her scratched fingers, as she tried to grip the wall in a desperate attempt to regain her balance.
She was forced backwards as the policeman continued to walk forwards, as if she was not there. Gathering her wits, she retreated into the cellar; stumbling and scrabbling backwards she found a step but was almost overbalanced. Still he kept coming pushing her backwards down the steep steps. Her terror increased as she retreated back into that terrible place.
She reached the bottom where Doris and Mary had moved to one side, expressions of fear and confusion on both of their faces. The policeman walked past the three girls and turned around to face them, stopping whilst his companion came down the stairs. His movements were robotic, and he did not acknowledge them, but simply turned and stood looking back at the steps.
The girls saw the second officer, his lips also puckered, and his neck stretched forward at a strange, uncomfortable angle. They saw his eyes, two globes, trapped inside his body. Showing his distress they flicked side to side like a caged lion. He walked past them, his eyes following them as he passed. Turning like his colleague, he stood facing towards the stairs. The girls watched as a bead of sweat slid down his face and dripped from his extended chin to land on the bare floor.
Jenny turned to the officers. “Hello, can you help us?” They did not respond but just stood almost to attention with their puckered lips.
The three ladies stared at each other, confused, and then looked back at the stairs, ready to run up them to escape.
Another shadow appeared in the doorway above. Turning, the figure pulled the door closed behind it. Slowly, it started its descent, down towards the waiting women.
Robert sauntered down the stairs, humming and swinging his arms. He stepped off the bottom step to stand in front of the trio. His two pet policemen watched impotently from behind.
“Naughty, naughty ladies, where do you think you’re going?” He wagged his finger at the girls.
“Robert, what is going on? How could you do this?” Jenny rushed forward, fists raised. She struck him hard in the face, knocking him backwards and removing his smile. She raised her hand again, ready to pound him to the ground, to do anything to escape.
Robert staggered backwards, a globule of blood appearing on his bottom lip. He licked the lip and faced the enraged girl. Just before she struck again he waved his hand and said, “Siste.”
Jenny froze mid punch, one foot off the ground, her clenched right fist held before her. It felt as if she was looking out through a window, her body shrunk to the size of her head. She appeared to be moving, thrashing at him, but her body stayed still. The scream of rage never got past her lips. She saw his smirk, and watched as he walked around her, pushing her so she wobbled on one leg. His grin was mischievous and cruel. How could this man she trusted be so evil?
Doris, waited, watching while he walked around, hoping he’d turn his back to her, and then she would strike. Her head was bowed, she looked tired and defeated, but she wasn’t. She would hit his head with all her strength, would beat him to the floor and claw out his eyes. She waited, as he walked around Jenny, his delight in his ability evident on his childish face. Her breath was held, her body tense. Just a little more. With one more step, he was directly in front of her, and she sprang forward.
“Robert, whirled around as Doris struck, waving his hand at her before she could complete the strike. “Siste.”
She froze, before him, rage on her face, one hand clinging to the red velvet altar cloth, the other raised towards him. She was unable to complete the blow. Her eyes moved wildly in her frozen face, her hatred for him evident.
Mary watched, her lips trembling as tears coursed down her face. Robert pointed to her and said, “Somnus.” The portly woman’s eyes closed in her roly-poly face. She swayed for a second and then fell backwards to land on the concrete with a sickening thud. Her head cracked loudly as it hit the hard floor. She laid still, her eyes closed as a pool of blood spread out from around her head.
“Oops.” Robert crossed to her and pushed the fallen woman with his foot. She rolled slightly but did not stir.
He turned back to Jenny and Doris, who stood like comedy characters, their police guard nearby. He giggled and pointed towards them. “Venire.”
He walked across the cellar, the girls and the two officers followed him. They looked like an automated army as they stiffly trundled along behind. He left them near the altar. A small bead of perspiration showing at his brow was the only indication of the concentration needed to control four people.
Humming, he returned to the altar, but Aldona was not there. The hell bat still snoozed, hanging from its perch. Its rodentian nose twitched as if some dream haunted its sleep. He watched it for a second, the nose twitching faster before the animal took a breath and relaxed. The rest of its repellent body hung as still as a statue. He wondered about waking it to guard the entourage he had acquired, but decided against it. The creature could be excitable. All he needed was for it to kill Jenny by mistake.
Aldona must have returned to her own dimension, which was not a problem. He knew she would be back when he needed her. In some ways, he hoped she stayed away. He had not expected her to be such a bitch.
He wandered back to Mary’s body and stooped down beside her. Grabbing her arms, he heaved the woman over to the wall. Her heavy body was hard for him to move, and as her stocking feet slid across the abrasive concrete floor, they bounced, pulling on his shoulders with her weight. Both of her feet were bleeding, the stockings had ripped and slid up her chubby ankles. They were no longer alluring, just tatty. Sitting her up was a considerable effort, but
he managed to prop her mammoth body against the cold wall. Feeling for a pulse, he searched in amongst the rolls of fat, but could not find one, could not feel her breathing. He tutted and reached for her right wrist. The skin was clammy and warm in his cold hand. He pressed on the vein, but still could not find a pulse. “Oh bugger,” he exclaimed, hoping he would not have to replace the woman before the sacrifice.
He sat down with his back against the wall, Mary on his left, her hand on his lap. Robert pulled her dead body to him. Her still warm cheek touched his and he snuggled against it. He slipped his arm around her shoulders. Pulling her head back, he sank his teeth into her jugular. Her skin was salty with sweat. He bit deep to penetrate through her corpulent skin and pierced the precious vein. He entered through its thin walls and blood ran into his mouth. The blood was not flowing, the woman was definitely dead, well waste not want not, he thought. He sucked deeply, and he drained the blood from her body, his jaw ached with the effort of pulling the life fluid from the dead prostitute’s veins. He sucked noisily, absorbing as much of her sticky, sweet blood as he could. Finally, sitting up and burping, he wiped a hand across his mouth, “Excusez-moi.” He licked the remnants of blood from his hand and sat back, pulling Mary’s head into his lap. “I bet that’s extra.” He patted her head, giggling as the power hit him. It caused him to throw his own head back as ecstasy lit his face.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Simon stared at Alex. His friend looked well, too well. “What have you done?” he asked, his face creased with concern.
Alex leaned back in the grey leather seat, enjoying the warmth of the car. The ill-fitting suit made him look smaller than he was, and he appeared to sink further into the leather. “Drive the car,” he said.
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