by Marcus Brown
She struggled, but he could see her life was coming to an end.
A few minutes passed and she lay silent and still.
He looked down, enjoying the scene of her crucifixion, knowing anytime now, she would be burning in hell.
He stood over her, wishing he felt some form of remorse for what he’d done, but there was none.
Miriam was evil, he told himself, and she deserved everything she got.
Chapter Twenty
Tabitha blinked into the ladies’ disabled toilets, relieved it was unoccupied. She popped into her office and sat down to quickly check her emails. Forty-five minutes later, her phone buzzed, telling her she had a text.
Where are you?
Tabitha fired off a reply to Trey, telling him she’d been delayed, but was now on her way. She rushed out of her office and made her way to the underground car park, jumped in her car and drove to Trey’s office.
She hadn’t even thought to change and couldn’t be bothered to blink home and do something about it now.
*
She pulled up outside the large glass building just after nine pm and grabbed the fob from out of her pocket.
Trey had given her the access fob as she seemed to be spending increasing amounts of time in his stylish office discussing the Dark Magic Murder cases.
“Knock, knock,” she said as she approached. His office door was open.
He looked up from his desk, but couldn’t hide the expression on his face.
“Wow, you look sensational,” he said, his mouth agape.
“Oh, thanks. Just something I threw together.”
“Shit.” he said, looking mortified. “So, it was a date. I’m so dumb sometimes,” he said apologetically.
“Probably wasn’t the best idea anyway. No harm done, though,” she lied.
“Tabitha. I’m such a prick. I’m really sorry and I’ll make it up to you, I swear.”
“Well, we’ll worry about that another time. Now, what’s so urgent it couldn’t wait until tomorrow?”
He hadn’t taken his eyes off her.
“Sorry, erm, the case I told you about that came in this morning. There’s something I want to discuss with you.”
“It’s nothing to do with the murders, is it?”
“I’m not totally sure what to think right now. That’s why I wanted to run it by you.”
“Sounds ominous. What have you got for me?” Tabitha asked.
“Nineteen-year-old Melissa Walker. Admitted to Arrowebrook last night. Her mother, Emily Walker states her daughter hadn’t been feeling well for a couple of days, and late last night, she became semi-conscious so the mother bundled her into the car and drove to the hospital. From their report, she was basically dead on arrival, but the doctors worked on her for a while anyway, before deciding it was too late.”
“Yeah, what’s the significance here, or am I missing something?”
“I’m coming to that. I completed the autopsy earlier and there’s something worrying about my initial findings.”
“Go on,” Tabitha urged.
“Okay. First off, the girl was asthmatic and managed her condition well enough. She only went to her GP as and when she needed to. She also suffered from acid reflux which can be common in asthmatics, but I was still stumped as to what caused her death. When I opened her up, it made a bit more sense.”
Tabitha huffed. “If they ever bring back Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, you know, you’d be the perfect host. Talk about drag it out for effect.”
“Here, look for yourself,” he said, handing her a file.
Tabitha opened the folder and read through the findings. “I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to be seeing, Trey.”
“There was a build-up of pus around the stomach area,” he replied. “Upon further investigation, I spotted signs of a ruptured ulcer. I believe she was taking NSAIDs to manage the reflux and this can cause ulcers, and left untreated, if they burst, a person inevitably dies. I believe this is what’s happened here, but it’ll be a while before I get official confirmation and the toxicology results back.”
“I’m sorry, Trey, but I’m not seeing the significance. What are you trying to tell me?”
“Keep reading,” he encouraged.
“Melissa was a student at the local university,” she muttered, as she continued to read. “Worked part time at the Ye Olde English Kitchen eatery near to Chester City Centre…” she paused and looked up. “…woah, hang on a minute.”
Chapter Twenty-one
“Ring a bell, does it?” Trey asked.
“Isn’t that the same place Lucinda Deveraux worked?” Tabitha replied.
“You got it. Two young girls studying at the local university and working at the same place, one brutally murdered, the other dead in suspicious circumstances.”
“What’s so suspicious about the Walker girl’s death? A ruptured ulcer is cut and dry I’d assume.”
“You’re right, it is, but the girl's stomach was full. She’d eaten a tiny amount earlier that day, but luckily for us, it hadn’t entirely broken down the contents. I can only assume at this point, her organs had begun to shut down, meaning her body kept hold of the food.”
“Yes, the girl ate the day she died. So, what?” Tabitha said impatiently.
“When I removed the stomach contents for analysis, I spotted something. I’m still not a hundred per cent on it, but I want you to see anyway.”
“Just tell me, you know I don’t like seeing any of this.”
Trey took the file and found the picture he wanted, passing it to Tabitha.
Tabitha turned the picture every which way. “What is it? I can’t make it out.”
“I believe what you’re looking at is a partially digested human eyeball.”
Tabitha dropped the picture and retched. “Tell me, this is a wind up.”
“I wish it were,” Trey replied, “I’ve sent the contents retrieved from her stomach to the lab for analysis, but I’m almost certain we’ll find it contains traces of human DNA.”
“Oh, no,” Tabitha replied, mentally slotting the pieces of the puzzle together. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Yes, I think so.”
Tabitha picked up the telephone and dialled her office.
“Yes, Tabitha Worthy speaking. I need you to find out the registered owner of Ye Olde English Kitchen on Rutherton Street.” She paused to listen to the voice on the other end. “Wilson, this is an emergency. I want that information as soon as possible with no excuses. And have a team on standby in case we need them. I need the owner's name and home address.”
She slammed the phone down.
“I hope I’m wrong, Tabitha. Innocent people being fed human organs unknowingly is abhorrent. I dread to think how many people we’re talking about.”
“Let’s just hope you’re wrong.” She put her hand to her mouth, trying not to vomit. She could taste the bile at the back of her throat. “I’ll never eat meat again.”
Chapter Twenty-two
Five minutes later her mobile phone rang. She answered and immediately started to scribble words on the blank piece of paper Trey had handed to her.
“Okay, got it,” she said. “Have a team dispatched to the restaurant now. Get the place cordoned off front and back. Nobody goes in there until forensics arrive.”
Trey waved his hands. “I’ll go,” he said.
“Trey Dembélé will be there to meet you. Make sure he gets all the assistance he needs,” she ordered. “And call Nathan. I want him with Trey. Then organise a team to meet me at Miriam Donaldson’s home address. Nobody goes in until I get there, you hear? I’m at Dembélé’s office. Have somebody swing round and pick me up, will you?”
“Shit, this is bad,” Trey said, jumping up out of his chair. “It’ll make headline news around the world. We’ll have to contact the World Health Organisation and the CDC in case of possible widespread contamination. If I’m right and human organs have made their way into t
he food chain, the problems caused could be immeasurable.”
“How so?” Tabitha asked.
“This is worst case scenario, but what if we haven’t found all of the victims yet.” He rubbed his temples. “Prion disease can be passed by consuming infected brain tissue.”
“What’s Prion disease?”
“Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, otherwise known as mad cow disease. It can be contracted by the consumption of infected brain tissue. Highly unlikely I know given the bodies we’ve found had their brains intact, but worse things have happened and I have to think worst case. We just can’t know how many people have eaten there, or what they’ve eaten.”
Tabitha didn’t know what to think. This was the first time in her career she felt out of her depth. “If you’re right, we’ll deal with it as best we can, but we have to focus on the here and now.”
“You’re right. I should get going, and just for the record…” He touched her cheek. “…you look amazing and one day soon, once this mess is over with, I’ll take you on a proper date.”
He kissed her tenderly on the cheek, then rushed out of the office, leaving Tabitha feeling giddy, but wanting more.
Her mobile rang, telling her to make her way to the front of the building.
Chapter Twenty-three
Tabitha jumped into the car. “Go,” she shouted.
“Yes, Ma’am,” Jack Davies replied.
The tires screeched as the car sped off toward Miriam Donaldson’s residence.
“How far away is it, Jack?”
“About five minutes now at this speed,” he replied.
“Are the blues and two’s entirely necessary?” She hated the wailing sound of the siren.
“Afraid so, Ma’am.”
*
They turned onto Martens Lane.
The team were already on site, awaiting further instruction.
There were only two houses still standing on the street, one was derelict and the other was in complete darkness so it didn’t take a genius to work out which house they needed to focus on.
Tabitha got out of the car and walked toward a uniformed officer.
“Anything to tell me?” she asked brusquely.
“We’ve got the front and rear of the house surrounded and both ends of the road cordoned off. Nobody’s getting in, or out, Ma’am.”
“Well done,” she replied. “Jack, you’re with me.”
“Ma’am,” he said, catching up with her.
“Enough with the ma’am crap, Jack. It makes me sound bloody ancient. Boss, or dragon lady is more than fine with me.”
He looked at her sheepishly. “You got it, Boss. Now what’s the plan?”
“We get inside and find out if she’s there. I’ve not heard anything from Rigby yet.”
“Me either. I guess Trey is still doing his stuff.”
“Well, I’m sure we’ll hear in good time,” Tabitha replied. “Get that door open. I wanna see what’s inside.”
She heard an almighty crash as the team used the weighted battering ram to enter the property from the front and rear.
A few minutes later, she got the all clear from the team.
Jack had already gone into the property and popped his head out of the front door. “You’re gonna want to see this, Boss.”
She didn’t like his tone at all, but her sixth sense told her what was coming.
“You’ve found Miriam?”
“Oh, yes, we’ve found her alright.”
Tabitha rushed inside and followed Jack down into the basement.
Staggering back, not expecting to be greeted by such a ghastly sight, she whispered to herself. By the Goddess.
“Are you okay?” Jack said, reaching out to steady her.
“Get Trey on the phone. I need his expertise here, now.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the upside-down cross that had been fastened to the wall. The naked woman cruelly crucified would be an image she would struggle to forget.
Tabitha turned away and noticed a single baked pie sat on the makeshift table. She wondered why it was there – it definitely seemed odd.
Chapter Twenty-four
Tabitha texted her sisters at midnight to tell them she was working a case and would be home as soon as possible.
Not wanting to appear bossy, she sent another text straight after:
Lock the doors and be careful. Love you x
It was six am before she finally stepped outside into the fresh air. She stood still, breathing deeply, relishing her escape from the basement torture chamber.
Miriam’s body was carried out shortly afterwards in a black body bag.
Trey followed the body and oversaw as it was placed into an unmarked black van.
“I’ll get her back to the morgue and start the autopsy, although I’m positive she died of asphyxiation due to her restricted airways.
“Okay, call me when you know more,” she answered as he jumped into his flash car and led the way out of the quiet road.
Tabitha looked at her phone. Noticing multiple missed calls from the home phone, she pressed redial.
It rang out.
Somebody always answered the phone when home, and she knew neither of her sisters would be away from the house at this time of the morning.
Her sixth sense told her something was amiss. She dialled Talia’s mobile phone again, followed by Tamara’s. There was no answer from either one.
Something was definitely wrong, she knew it now. She wanted to blink there and then, but couldn’t take the risk of being seen.
“Jack,” she cried nervously. “I need to go home, now. Will you drive me?”
“Of course, get in,” he replied.
She jumped in the car and turned on the blues and two’s.
“Something wrong?” Jack asked.
“I’ve got a bad feeling my sisters are in danger. Can you go a bit faster please?”
Jack pressed his foot to the floor, going as fast as the car would allow him to without him losing control.
She could see the imposing black and gold metal gates as they drove down the country lane towards the manor and pressed the fob in her hand. The gates swung open and the car screeched as it took a sharp right into the grounds of Moonlight Manor.
The driveway to the grand property felt like a Grand Prix racetrack, the bends and turns seemed to take an eternity to navigate around.
Tabitha jumped out of the car as it slowed to a stop and rushed toward the front door. She’d forgotten to pick up her keys before leaving last night and shouldered the door, forcing it open.
Jack followed close behind, seemingly impressed with the dragon lady’s strength.
“Tally, Tammy,” she shouted as she ran into the entrance hall, desperate for them to answer. She rushed into the sitting room. It was just as they’d left it the day before. “Are you here?”
There was no response. The house was eerily silent.
“Jack, check all of the upstairs and I’ll check the kitchen and out back.”
Jack charged up the stairs, and once he was out of view, Tabitha blinked and found herself in the secret basement room.
They weren’t there, but thankfully the book was still on its plinth.
She didn’t have time to dally and blinked out of the secret room and straight into the kitchen as Jack came rushing down the stairs.
Tabitha glanced around the kitchen and shivered. There was nothing out of place and no signs of forced entry. Her nerves began to settle, but then she spotted them in the corner of her eye and her heart dropped to her stomach.
“No sign of them upstairs,” he said, panting and wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
“They’re gone,” Tabitha said, sinking to her knees. “It’s too late.”
Jack rushed over and knelt beside her. “Are you all right, Boss? Do you need me to call the paramedics?”
“Get the team over here, and call Trey. Tell him my sisters have been taken against
their will.”
“Forgive me, but on what basis?” Jack asked, looking confused.
“The table,” Tabitha replied, exhausted and heavy with grief. “Look on the table.”
Jack stood up. “What am I supposed to be looking at?” he asked.
“The pies,” she answered, as she dissolved into sobs.
To be continued…
The Crockworthy Sisters
~ Part Two ~
The Secrets of
Moonlight Manor
Prologue
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN LOCAL EATERY’S FOOD
Police today confirmed reports that human remains were found in uneaten food at a popular restaurant in Chester.
Miriam Donaldson, proprietor of Ye Olde English Kitchen was found brutally murdered in her home last night by a team of detectives, led by Chief Inspector Tabitha Worthy.
Further details will be available in due course.
Whilst no further statement has been made regarding the human remains discovered, we can exclusively reveal the death of nineteen-year old Melissa Walker, an employee of Ms Donaldson.
She was admitted to Arrowebrook Hospital two nights ago and it was the preliminary findings of her autopsy that led to the discovery of Ms. Donaldson’s body.
We can also reveal that Miss Walker was a close friend and colleague of Lucinda Deveraux, the French student whose mutilated body was discovered alongside a male companion’s weeks before.
Calls to Chief Inspector Worthy have been met with silence and my source tell me she has taken temporary leave from her duties.
When will The Dark Magic Murderer strike again, and who is out there, keeping us safe?
*
Tony Marshall, CEO of News Group UK carried a copy of this morning’s paper and focused on the by-line. He enjoyed seeing his name boldly displayed, the world knowing he was the writer of the article they’d just finished reading.
That morning, he’d splashed the gory details about Miriam Donaldson across the front pages of his salacious national daily newspaper, The Daily Truth.
