Run!: He's coming for you

by K Leitch

  ‘Ow the bloody ‘ell should I know?’ Hannah said with a short laugh, ‘it’s not like ‘e told me anyfing.’ She thought for a minute, ‘The ‘umps maybe, sometimes ‘e and ‘is friends would go there.’

  ‘The humps?’ Obie repeated questioningly.

  ‘Yeh,’ Hannah said, ‘in the park, there’s a sort of track set up for the kids to ride their bikes, lots of humps and bumps you know.’

  ‘Oh right,’ Obie said, ‘and do you think that’s where he went?’

  Hannah shook her head, ‘Nah…’cus he took ‘is bag wiv ‘im, he wouldn’t have done that if he was going to the ‘umps… in case it got stolen like,’ she explained.

  ‘Anywhere else you can think of Hannah?’ Frank asked.

  ‘Well sometimes ‘e used to go up the old airfield, you know just to hang out and stuff, I s’pose ‘e might ‘ave gone there.’

  ‘I didn’t realise there was an old airfield near here,’ Obie said looking at Frank.

  Frank smiled, ‘Yes, there’s not much left of it though. It’s more like a strip of old scrubland now, it runs along the back of Fernley Crescent,’ he finished with a look full of meaning.

  CHAPTER 53

  Trevor watched his wife as she loaded up the bright red Range Rover with kids. She seemed happy and untroubled chatting away with a little boy who was pulling things out of his school bag to show her while she was trying to strap him into his seat. He could see Katy…his Katy, sitting in her seat already, she had her thumb in her mouth and was looking out of the car window. It took all of his self-control not to dash over and drag the bitch away from there by her hair.

  How dare she look so happy when he had been going out of his mind!

  How dare she be living in a bigger, better house than the one he’d provided for them in Devon.

  How dare she be caring for and looking after some other bloke’s child, at the expense of her own daughter.

  Oh she’d thought she’d been so clever. That stupid little bitch had thought that she could outsmart him, well she was going to get what was coming to her, he’d make sure he taught her a lesson she’d never forget.

  Just then someone called Lucy by name, she turned and looked her face breaking into a smile as a tall dark haired man came out of the house. He was carrying a kid’s lunch box and he said something which made Lucy laugh before he handed it over to the little boy in the back seat. Lucy went over to him and they chatted for a couple of minutes, before he went over and got into a black Audi TT which was also parked in the drive and with a friendly wave he sped off down the road heading towards the village. Still smiling to herself Lucinda got into the Range Rover and pulled out of the drive. Trevor shrugged down in the seat keeping his head low as the big car drove past him and up the road.

  Trevor had seen all he needed to. That fucking bitch had got herself a fancy man, that’s why she’d left him. It all made sense now, she’d been really quiet for a long time especially after that last stint in hospital. She’d said she’d forgiven him for losing his temper, she’d said she understood that it wasn’t his fault, that he couldn’t help himself. But obviously she’d met someone else and had her head turned…fucking unfaithful cow. He’d never even looked at another woman since he met Lucinda, she was everything to him. How much more did he need to do to prove it to her?

  Trevor looked down at his hands and realised that he’d worked himself up into such a frenzy of rage that he had pushed his car key into his hand and made it bleed. Swearing to himself he found a tissue to stem the flow of blood and tried to calm down.

  She wouldn’t get away with this. He knew where she was now and he would get her and Katy back home where they belonged…not before he’d taught her a fucking good lesson though he thought with satisfaction, and not before he’d taken care of that cunt she was living with either.

  CHAPTER 54 - CARLA

  ‘Oh come on Frank, you can bring me up to speed at least. You never know I might be able to help,’ Carla said leaning back in what used to be her chair, in what used to be her office.

  Frank rolled his eyes, ‘You’re meant to be on sick leave, you’re not even meant to be in here,’ he said grabbing a file from her hands before she had time to open it.

  ‘What’s he like then…my replacement?’ Carla asked changing tactics.

  ‘Oh he’s okay,’ Frank said in a non-committing sort of way, ‘Late thirties, medium height, light brown hair…’

  ‘Yeh, yeh,’ Carla said throwing a paperclip at him, ‘but what’s he like, is he any good, is he after my job?’

  Frank smiled and let out a derisive laugh, ‘Oh my God don’t tell me you’re feeling threatened by a nerdy little D.I. who’s been in the job five minutes.’ He went and stood in the doorway leaning on the doorframe and smiling down at Carla, ‘He’s good Carla, he’s quite insightful actually…but he’s got all the people skills of a bowl of custard and to be Frank (no pun intended) we all think he’s a bit of a weirdo,’ Frank noticed that Carla had gone unusually quiet and was giving him a funny look, ‘and he’s standing right behind me isn’t he?’ he finished with a groan, moving to one side to let Obie into his office.

  Carla suppressed a laugh and got up to meet Obie, who greeted her with a smile. ‘Detective Inspector Right, it’s a real pleasure to meet you,’ he said holding out a hand.

  ‘I knew you were there sir, that’s why I said what I did,’ Frank stuttered, ‘obviously none of us think you’re a weirdo.’

  Carla rolled her eyes at Frank’s attempts to justify his gaff and shook Obie’s hand warmly. ‘I apologise for my twat of a sergeant DI Jones and I’m sorry I’m taking over your office. I was near the station and I thought I would pop in and catch up with a few people but I won’t take up any more of your time.’ She started gathering her bag and coat.

  Obie held up his hands, ‘Oh don’t let me scare you away Detective…can I call you Carla, I’m Obie…’

  ‘Of course…what an unusual name Obie, is it short for something?’ Carla asked ignoring Frank shaking his head behind Obie.

  Obie blushed, ‘Yes…sort of, oh I’ll let Frank explain I’m sure he’ll tell you anyway.’ He walked over and sat down in the chair next to Carla. ‘Um…while you’re here Carla I wonder if you could shed some light on a line of investigation that we are following at the moment, it’s in connection with the missing Twee children and the assault on Ruben Davies…’

  ‘Ruben Davies has been assaulted?’ Carla asked looking at Frank accusingly as she put her bag and coat back down again. ‘You didn’t say Frank, when did this happen?’

  ‘Two days ago,’ Frank said with a sigh, ‘he was found unconscious in the Glory Woods. Badly beaten and half strangled. Theory is that his attacker had left him for dead, luckily for Ruben he survived with nothing more than severe bruising and a nasty head wound.’

  ‘Does he know his attacker?’ Carla asked.

  ‘Well if he does he hasn’t told us, because he’s yet to regain consciousness,’ Obie said

  ‘So how can I help?’ Carla asked raising her eyebrows.

  ‘DC White tells me that you interviewed a lady a few weeks back, an elderly lady who was complaining about some kids who were terrorising her in her home…Flora Metcalf.’

  Carla thought for a moment. ‘I do remember her, though after all that’s happened over the last few weeks my memory of the actual interview is rather hazy I’m afraid.’

  Obie nodded and smiled, ‘Can you remember what she was like, what your impression of her was? I know it’s a lot to ask but…’

  ‘Oh I remember that alright,’ Carla said with a short laugh, ‘she was a right old battle axe. She looked like such a harmless frail little old lady but her eyes were hard, and she didn’t seem to have any softness about her. I may be being harsh though, after all she did have some young thugs scaring the shit out of her didn’t she? So I suppose she had a right to be angry.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Obie said, ‘how long have you lived in Kenley Carla?’ he ask
ed after a moment.

  ‘Oh years,’ Carla replied flicking, through the file that Frank had taken from her a few minutes earlier. ‘We moved here just before Harry was born… so fifteen years.’

  ‘Can you remember the airfield in Redbank?’

  Carla looked blank and shook her head, ‘No I don’t…oh hang on yes there was one, but they built some sort of retirement flats on it didn’t they? I remember there was such a protest, some of the residents wouldn’t sell up to the property developers…I think they won in the end, the residents I mean. The developers had to back down and change their plans. Of course they still built the flats in the end…what’s that got to do with anything though?’ she asked pulling a face.

  ‘Oh probably nothing,’ Obie said, ‘I’m probably clutching at straws, but it seems that we keep being led back to one street, Fernley Crescent. It’s where Lewis Twee was spotted twice on the night he and his sister went missing, all of the victims of the self-styled vigilante were in and around Fernley Crescent just before they were attacked and now it seems that Ruben Davies liked to go up to the old airfield and he could have been there when he was attacked, a small bit of scrubland is all that remains of the airfield, it runs along behind Fernley Crescent…you see what I mean?’

  Carla nodded thoughtfully, ‘What do you intend to do about it? Ask the residents again if they’ve seen anything? Search the area…’

  Just then Mandy popped her head round the door, ‘Oh my God Carla,’ she cried almost rushing in, before noticing Obie sitting in the office. ‘I mean Ma’am, it’s so good to see you…how are you?’

  Carla smiled, ‘I’m getting there Mandy, did you need the DI for something?’

  ‘Oh God yes…sorry sir, news from the hospital, Ruben Davies has woken up.’

  Obie stood up, ‘Right, thanks Mandy. Frank shall we go and find out what this young man has to say for himself?’ he turned and held his hand out to Carla, ‘it’s been lovely to meet you Carla and thank you for your help.’

  With that the two men rushed off leaving Carla sitting in a seething state of frustration, what she wouldn’t give to be in that hospital room when they questioned that boy.

  A moment later Mandy popped her head back round the door. ‘Thought you could use this,’ she said handing Carla a cup of coffee, ‘must be strange being here but not being part of it,’ she said a moment later.

  Carla nodded and sipped her coffee. ‘Little steps Mandy, that’s what everybody keeps telling me I must take…when all I really want to do is jump right back in!’ she smiled ruefully.

  ‘It’ll happen Ma’am…you’ve had so much to deal with…allow yourself some time.’

  She smiled and left Carla to her coffee.

  CHAPTER 55

  ‘Lola,’ Frank exclaimed, ‘Lola Twee, are you sure Ruben?’

  Ruben rolled his eyes, ‘Look I’m not fucking stupid, it were Lola, I saw her with my own eyes, I tried to grab her… that’s when that fucking twat Billy ‘obbs smashed me round the back of me ‘ead. Next thing I know it’s the middle of the night and I’m in some fucking woods somewhere.’

  ‘Okay Ruben, you need to tell me exactly where this place is, you were on the old airfield you said?’ Obie asked taking out his mobile phone.

  ‘Yeh…it was in one of the old shelters like I said!’ Ruben said getting frustrated again, ‘look someone just needs to go and get her man…she did not look good, you know what I mean. She was talking rubbish…like she was hallucinating or somat…calling me Lewis and stuff. And she stank something awful…oh God, you need to get her out of there man!’ Ruben said falling back against his pillows, exhausted by his emotions.

  Obie spoke urgently on the phone to Sam and told him to meet him and Frank at the shelters on the old airfield.

  ‘Okay Frank we’d better get over there,’ he said ending his call, he turned back to Ruben. ‘Are you saying it was this Billy Hobbs that assaulted you Ruben?’ he asked

  Ruben tried to nod and winced at the pain. ‘Oh fuck…yeh it was him, and it’s him that’s got Lola…fucking pervert.’

  Obie and Frank shared a look and headed for the door, there wasn’t a moment to lose. ‘Right…thank you Ruben, we will need to talk to you again…’

  ‘Yeh, yeh man just fucking go will ya,’ Ruben said waving then away from him.

  It was dusk by the time they reached the airfield, DC Sam Trencher and DC Midge Jones were already poking about around the shelter entrances, and an ambulance was on standby.

  ‘Why have we not thought to search this place already?’ Obie asked Frank as they approached the shelters.

  Frank looked irritated at the question, ‘We had no reason to, no one had seen any kids hanging around here. Oh I don’t bloody know, it just wasn’t on our radar I guess,’ he said somewhat defensively.

  Sam came over to them, ‘Most of these doors have obviously not been used for years sir, the one on the end has been cleared up a bit, but the bolts are still really stiff,’ he said to Obie.

  ‘Oh I’m sure you two big strong lads can open it for us Sam,’ Obie said following Sam over to the shelter door.

  With a lot of nasty scraping noises the bolts were pulled back and, holding a torch out in front of him, Obie descended the short flight of stairs that led to the dark chamber below. The stench of human waste and urine that hit him as he went deeper was almost tangible, he covered his nose and mouth with his hands as he ventured further in. He didn’t want to imagine what he was treading on, old food and waste, the odd drinks can. He could hear the scuttling of creatures running to safety, disturbed by his presence. Suddenly his torch picked up something that looked like a pile of old rags bundled against the far wall, he picked his way carefully through the detritus on the floor until he was close enough to see what it was.

  Obie gasped in horror, even though he’d been expecting it, the sight that met his eyes was still enough to fill him with revulsion. There lying in her own filth, her lips blue, her skin white and mottled, her eyes vacant and staring was the body of Lola Twee… they’d found her too late.

  Obie swore under his breath, ‘Over here Frank,’ he called over his shoulder, he heard Frank stumbling and swearing as he made his way through the filth and rubbish behind him.

  Frank look down at Lola’s body, ‘Fuck!’ he said moving closer to her, ‘Fuck,’ he said again as he reached out a hand to check for a pulse….

  ‘SHEEEIT!’ he yelped a second later, scooting backwards as Lola turned her head and stared straight at him… she raised a filthy hand up towards him, strange gurgling noises were coming from her open mouth as she made a desperate attempt grab hold of him.

  ‘GET THE PARAMEDICS IN HERE…NOW!’ Obie shouted up the stairs. Seconds later the shelter was filled with paramedics, fitting oxygen masks and inserting drips, and once it was deemed safe to move her, Lola Twee was lifted out of her hellish prison and put into the waiting ambulance.

  ‘We will need to get forensics down here as soon as possible,’ Obie was saying to Sam as they left the shelter, both men taking a deep cleansing breath of fresh air as they did so. ‘I need some physical proof that Billy Hobbs has been in there, and I need to know if at some point Lewis was in here with her,’ Obie continued. Sam nodded and went off to call Dorothy Smiles who led the forensic team.

  Obie turned to Frank, ‘And now I think it’s time to speak to Billy Hobbs, do we have an address for him Frank?’

  Frank nodded, ‘Yeh…he lives in Redbank, he’s got a bedsit on Darlington Lane,’ Frank looked through his notes, ‘52 Darlington Lane, flat 4.’

  ‘Right let’s go…we need to let the Twees know that we’ve found Lola, who was their family liaison officer Frank?

  ‘WPC Kingsley sir,’ Frank said as he settled himself behind the wheel of his car.

  ‘Can you get her to go round to their house,’ Obie said fastening his seat belt. ‘Might be a good thing if we have someone there with them when I explain the whole situation to them.’

  F
rank sighed as he finished his call to dispatch. ‘She should be there within a few minute sir, she’ll let us know before you make the call. Rather you than me, when Herbert and Janey realise that Lewis is still missing all hell’s going to break loose.’

  Frank was not wrong, despite their initial relief that their daughter had been found alive, if not well, Obie had to endure ten minutes of loud abuse from Herbert. Who ranted violently about the absolute uselessness of the police and the fact that he, for one, was sure that they hadn’t been bothered about finding his kids, and what’s more he was going to the press with his story.

  ‘Phew,’ whistled Obie as he ended the call as politely as he could, ‘I’m surprised my ears aren’t on fire after that,’ he said shaking his head at Frank.

  Frank grimaced, ‘I’m surprised the whole car’s not on fire. God, it makes my blood boil, these people who live without any regard for the law or the rights of other people are the first ones that start shouting and jumping up and down when things don’t go their way,’ he fumed.

  ‘I suppose I can understand their frustration though,’ he went on moment later, calming down a bit. ‘It must be the worst thing in the world to lose a child. But bloody hell we’re not infallible are we, we can only do our best….’

  ‘Yes, but our best was not good enough this time Frank,’ Obie said his expression darkening, ‘Lola Twee would have died, if Billy had managed to kill Ruben Davies she would be dead by now. It is as simple as that, we had no idea where she or her brother had gone…she may still die for that matter,’ he added.

  Frank said nothing, and they drove in silence until they reached Darlington Lane, which was a small road consisting mainly of tall, three storey terraced houses and was situated just off Redbank high street.

  Flat number 4 was at the top of number 52, and was reached via a narrow staircase of dark wood covered in a threadbare carpet.

  The door was opened at the first knock by a huge man with a very round face, fine wispy blond hair and large round blue eyes. A combination that gave him a very childlike appearance, which was at complete variance with his large muscular arms and chest. He was wearing grey jogging bottoms and a yellow “Banana man” T-shirt that looked to be about three sizes too small for him and didn’t quite meet the waistband of his joggers.