by Ony Bond
When the blade made the first cut Moto shook as his body rose off the bed. But the chains held him down. Muffled sounds came through his gag. When Moto passed out he revived him and started again. Hours later he was ready to finish him off. He removed the gag from Moto and plunged the knife into his heart. Moto screamed as he twitched and grew silent. The killer took photos with the mobile phone he kept at home. Zipped the dead man in a black bag, placed it into the car boot and drove to his lake. Lifted the bag and dumped it in the water where it joined the other bodies. Back home he put his clothes in the washing machine. Now for a real hot bath surrounded by bubbles. Five dead people was not a bad number. How long before Moto’s wife reported her missing husband to the police?
Before getting into bed the killer switched on the TV.
And then he froze.
Breaking news showed a picture of Tracy, the latest blonde victim. The announcer reported police had received a phone call of a taxi driver who remembered her after seeing her picture. He met Tracy as he drove to Stones. She was walking in the opposite direction. It had made him wonder at the lone girl with long blonde hair on the road. After dropping the client in Stones he headed for Middle to pick another customer. Who was she? Possibly a hooker out to find a customer. Or someone who had run away from home or a boyfriend. He was married and had a teenage daughter, only wanted to help. There she was over a hundred yards ahead. A car stopped for her. He was still too far to notice the model. The vehicle had turned at the turnoff to Middle. All he could remember was a large black sedan. It was too far to tell the model. The driver seemed in a hurry. He was sure then that blonde girl was a prostitute. The taxi driver had been away in Scotland visiting his brother. Only recalled her when he saw the news when he returned today. Police said the man was cooperating with police and asked for anyone who saw a large black sedan stop for a girl two weeks ago before or around midnight.
The killer shivered and sweated.
Had someone else seen him that night or even today? Police were looking for a driver, possibly male who had picked Tracy. They had no more leads but needed all the help they could and suspected a possible link in these disappearances as all happened close to Stones. Somewhere someone knew what was going on. The public needed to help the police. Those missing girls could be somebody’s sister, aunt, grand-daughter or niece. A substantial reward leading to arrest was being offered by the victims’ families.
The killer was deep in thought. Had that taxi driver taken his registration number, that would be his end. Killing Moto and dumping him in that lake should be the last murder for a while. He had been reckless. Taken a chance. Dared the police. Moto had not been part of the deal. He should be concentrating on Rose. Police would be searching this area and out in those trees. Best to stay away from the lake in future. He must not give any hint to anyone about Tracy. He smiled, touched the money. Guilt for his past crimes had made Moto careless. The killer was sure no one else had seen him pick the girl that night. What about his car? There were many large black sedans. The taxi driver hadn’t recognized the model. If they had he might be called, asked where he was on that particular night. That is why he must have an alibi. He had one. His friend would vouch for him. He just hoped nobody else saw him that night, or even when he took Moto to the lake. Best to lie low for weeks.
Nevertheless, he had horrible nightmares. His mother had come back and was screaming he was a murderer.
“The police will catch you soon! You don’t even know your real father. I hate you, never wanted children.”
He woke up screaming.
CHAPTER 9
Godfree parked his car on the grass beside the others. Rose’s own was in the next row. A number of people were out today. He passed a few tables, headed for another. Where was she? And then he saw her. So she owned a skirt? The blue jeans skirt reached her knees, leaving smooth legs in blue trainers and brought out her thin waist. He grinned. She glanced sideways, smiled, waved, started towards him. At that moment a large man in a white T-shirt, creased slacks, boots, and a ring dangling on his right ear shouldered him aside, stopped beside Rose.
“Good to see you, Rose. Been a while. I’ll get you a drink at the pub.”
Her voice was firm. “I have my boyfriend here, Joel.”
“Boyfriend? I don’t see him anywhere.”
“There he is. Hi, Godfree.”
The man frowned as she reached Godfree, hooked her arm in his.
“Hey, what took you so long?” she said.
“So you own a skirt? You beat me. Been here long?”
“Got here a few minutes ago. Let’s check out bargains.”
As they headed to a table the man followed and grabbed her arm.
“Just wait a moment. Is this darkie the boyfriend you meant?”
She pushed his hand. “Don’t touch me! Suppose he is? What’s that to you?”
“So you think you’re too good for me, huh?” he snarled. “You love these darkies.”
“Don’t call him that!”
Godfree spoke. “Leave her alone.”
The man looked amazed, piped louder. “So this creature speaks? Go back to the jungle. I’m taking her. Get lost, jungle man. Gorillas aren’t welcome here. Rose, when did you turn into a black prostitute?”
“I’m not a prostitute! Let’s go, Godfree.” She tugged at his arm.
Godfree faced the man. “I'm waiting for you to apologize to her.”
The man rolled his eyes. “What did you say! You’re the one leaving, or I shall slug you so hard until you beg for your life. I’m going to run you out of Stones. Who told you to touch our girls?”
“Joel, we don’t want no trouble with you,” Rose said pulling him. “Godfree. Come on.”
“Shut up! I’m going to beat the crap from you, boy. You are going to beg me for your life and learn never to touch a white girl. Do you hear me? You shall apologize for lacking respect. They call me the enforcer.” He flexed his muscles. “I administer the law, make my subjects obey. You must submit and leave town without blondie here. Your lack of respect can’t go unpunished. You invaded my territory. I’m going to whip you, boy.”
He barred dirty teeth and growled. Godfree shoved Rose behind him.
“Leave him, Godfree,” she whispered. “Please.”
“Your boyfriend’s a coward,” the man jeered. “You’re coming with me.”
“Can’t we reach a compromise here?” Godfree said. “How about I give you cash for beers and you leave her alone. Fifty bucks.”
“Rose, where did you get this spineless coward? You can do better than this. Look at him. He’s scared, just sold you for a few beers. Give me that cash now. But I’m still taking blondie with me. You’re pathetic. Where’s the money?”
Rose glared at Godfree, shock and humiliation on her face. She looked about to cry as she shook her head.
“Is this real? You’re giving him money? Did you just sell me for cash? I never want to see you again. And you, Joel, just get lost! If you were the last man on earth I wouldn’t go out with you. Learn to change your clothes, polish your shoes and brush your teeth.”
Joel burst, “What did you just say, you-”
He never finished. Godfree struck. His movements were blurry as he chopped, punched and kicked. The man staggered backwards and lay prone on the grass a dazed look on his face. As he tried to rise his arm was grabbed from behind and twisted. He knelt, coughed, shook his head, surprise and pain on his face.
“Are you going to apologize to my lady now or should I break your arm?” Godfree whispered in his ear. “She’s not a prostitute. I’m waiting. Maybe I should smash both. After that I’ll go for your knees. I’ll start the count. Best do so before I get to three.”
“Don’t break my arm. Oh! No!”
“Say it! One, two-”
“Ah!” the man gasped as a wet spot started on the front of his slacks and spread. He glanced at Rose, face white and wet. “Sorry. I apologize.”
“Louder.
She didn’t hear you.”
“I’m sorry for what I called you, Rose. Won’t happen again. Ah, don’t break my arm.”
“She’s not a prostitute.”
“Sorry.”
Godfree nodded. "Now you listen, loudmouth. Don’t miss this. I don’t want you to bother her again or I’ll find you and break your legs and arms. Never call me names again. Do you get that?”
He pressed the arm further. Joel’s eyes opened wider.
“Yes.”
“You have a car?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t come back. Next time we meet you won’t be so lucky. You disgust me. If you ever bother my woman again, I’ll be merciless, send my gang after you to finish the job. They’re worse than me.”
Godfree released him, hit him on the back. The man fell on his stomach, stumbled to his feet and rubbed his arm. Still holding a stunned look, he ambled to a rusty white car parked close by, got inside and left. Godfree took the registration number.
A little crowd had gathered.
The white haired woman standing close spoke. “Thanks, son. That trash’s a brawler. Why didn’t you break his legs?”
Rose stared at Godfree.
“Was that karate of kung fu?” someone spoke.
A table owner added. “You took care of the problem, mate.”
Godfree took Rose’s arm, led her behind a row of tables. “You ok?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Want to sit somewhere for a while?”
“My car.”
He led her away. When they stopped at her car, she removed her keys from her bag, pressed the remote, unlocked the car, got into the vehicle and arranged her skirt. He moved to the passenger side, sat and closed the door. Checked the inside of the car. It was spotless. She observed him.
“That guy wet himself. You saw that?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you say to him?”
“Nothing proper for a lady’s ears.”
“He believed you.” She laughed. “That loser’s preparing to leave town. Guess he’ll take the ferry at Dover, cross to Europe and hide for a while. I can’t deny he had got me worried. Good you were around.”
“Glad to be of service.”
“He thought you would break his arms. Want to say thanks. I’m sorry for what I said to you. For a moment I believed you were a coward who sold me for fifty bucks. That was one of the worst moments in my life.” She gave him a quick hug. “You sure had me fooled.”
“I would be mad too if a guy sold me for fifty bucks.”
“You could have mentioned a higher figure. So I’m only worth fifty?”
He grinned. “Next time I’ll mention a hundred. He called you horrible names. Couldn’t just stand by for that. So you do own a skirt?”
She laughed. “Borrowed one. Does it fit? You haven’t told me yet.”
“It does. You look best in skirts.”
“Don’t mind being insulted like that daily. So you know karate?”
“A little.”
“Ever the modest guy. You’re a black belt?”
“Yes.”
“You never told me that part of your life. What else are you hiding?”
“You know all about me now, even the scars on my back.”
“What are you buying?”
He told her of the tools he needed for the shed at his allotment. How long had he owned it? Just two months. Did she own one too? No. Her mother did. She grew vegetables and was good at it too. Her, she liked eating the crops.
“You got to be good at something.”
“Sure. What do you grow in your own allotment? Marijuana?”
He lowered his voice, sneaked glances outside. “Not so loud now. Did you know there was such a huge market for the weed? I can’t even meet local demand. It’s a lucrative business. I’m taking millions here. Should be driving that Lamborghini soon.”
“Mm. May I join, make extra bucks on the side too?”
“I’ll give it consideration. We’re a really tight-knit group. Got to make sure you aren’t a police spy.”
She reached for her door. “Let’s look for stuff before it’s finished. I’m not worried. If that thug comes back, I got you. You’ll break his arms for me.”
“Just say the word.”
“Come on then, bodyguard.”
She alighted from the car, came over to his side as he closed the door, locked the car with the remote and glanced at the sky.
“It’s a fine day.”
“Yeah.”
They headed to the tables, checked out drilling machines and batteries. She picked several, asked the prices. She settled on one, haggled on the price with the seller before she they settled on a figure and then nodded at Godfree.
“Get this one.”
The seller pointed out she was a hard one at bargains.
Rose nodded. “That’s why my boyfriend wants me with him.”
She asked Godfree what else he wanted. He left her to the bargains. She bought stuff for her dad. Later she pointed out she had got everything. He had finished too, got more than he came for and she had saved him money. Where had she learnt to bargain? She said it was from her mum. That old lady struck a hard bargain. Why did they not dump this stuff in their cars and grab burgers? They headed for their cars, dumped the goods in the boots.
“Let’s get burgers.”
They joined a queue at the caravan. Rose asked what he was buying himself. As he replied she took cash from her bag.
“No, I’ll pay.”
She shook her head. “I’m paying.”
“We agreed I’d pay yesterday.”
“You bought that Nandos takeaway, remember.”
“No you’re not.”
A couple next to them smiled as they glanced at them. The woman spoke. “Let the man buy, girl. What’s wrong with that? Let him drain his pocket on you.”
Colour flooded Rose’s face. She put her money back. “I’ll let him buy.”
“She’s headstrong. Reminds me of you.”
The woman giggled. “Ouch, you pinched me.”
“You did that first.”
They laughed. The woman asked Rose where she had met her handsome boyfriend.
“At work. How long have you and your husband been married?”
“Ten years - five children, three girls and two boys ranging from eight to five.” She touched her bump. “The sixth is on the way.”
“You’re pregnant? Congratulations.”
“Thanks. How many are you and your boyfriend planning on having?”
“I want a full house too. Four will be okay with me. Problem with this guy’s he hadn’t placed a ring on my finger yet. I dream of a wedding gown.”
“What’s the matter, handsome?” The woman faced Godfree with a frown. “You got a lovely girlfriend who’s just proposed, and you won’t buy a ring? Got a problem? Hey, girl, don’t tell me you don’t get proposed by fellas wanting to marry you all the time. Why not ditch him, move on to someone serious? Give him an ultimatum.”
“He hasn’t asked me yet.”
“You can’t wait forever.”
“I like him.”
The husband faced Godfree. “Get that ring soon, mate. You’re breaking her heart. This girl wants that ring like yesterday. You heard her. Can’t you see from how she looks at you she doesn’t want anybody else?”
The wife nodded. “She’s crazy about you. Make that move, mate.”
Rose blushed.
CHAPTER 10
After minutes they collected the food, and went back to the car. Once seated she handed him his roll and drink. The smell of food wafted in the air. They started on the burgers.
“Mm, this is good.”
She nodded, mouth full. “Tastes good.”
He said he loved hot food after buying stuff. She agreed, outside getting bargains she enjoyed the food on sunny and warm days. He grabbed a serviette and wiped a splash of sauce from the corner of her mouth.
“Thanks. Finished your roll?”
“Yes.”
“No supper last night?”
“Had a takeaway, ribs, fish and chips.”
“You didn’t cook?”
“Only got home this morning. An accident on the M25 caused a congestion that lasted hours.”
“It was terrible. Saw it on the news. Several dead and others taken to hospital. I left work at four. When did you leave?”
He couldn’t depart at six. The night shift electrician called, said he was running late. Godfree waited, only for the guy to arrive at two hours later. As soon as he joined the motorway the congestion started. That got him home this morning close to one.
“One lousy day, huh?”
“Yeah.”
She sipped her drink. “What have you planned for the rest of the day?”
“Working on my shed at the allotment. Then it’s home to trim my lawn and hedge. You?”
“A walk. It’s an excellent day for the outdoors.”
“Don’t be on your own. Remember the missing girls. Either stay home, or be with someone.”
“I agree, don’t go out a lot. Love reading when I’m not working on a design on my laptop.”
“Sounds like me. Can’t stay away from computers or books.”
“What books do you read? Romance stuff? Mills and Boon?”
They laughed. African, fast paced suspense thriller and mystery books, historical and westerns were his best genres. He mentioned authors. She knew them too and liked them.
