In Plain Sight: a hero series novel
Page 10
“Whatever,” the girl mumbled as she rung the items into the till and handed him his change.
He snatched the food off the counter and stormed out of the shop. There was a slight nip in the air during his brisk walk back to the house. He unlocked the door and secured the bolt behind him. Dale tried to sit up, but his bindings prevented him from moving too far.
Myers put the food on the table and walked up to the boy. “Keep still. Any funny business, and you’ll go without your dinner, right?”
“I promise I won’t try anything.”
Dale was true to his word throughout the meal, and in spite of his grief, his appetite was extremely healthy. Myers put that down to him still being a growing lad.
“How’s the leg?”
Dale screwed up the paper and placed it on the table. “It still hurts. Not as much, though.”
Myers pointed at him. “Bear that in mind. Any crap from you, and I’ll make sure you never walk on it again. Am I making myself clear? You saw what happened to your mother… although that was down to you in the end. I had no reason to kill her.”
Tears welled up in the youth’s eyes, and his head dropped to his chest the second his mother was mentioned. “Why? Why are you doing this? You have the money from the post office. Surely that’s enough for you?”
Myers raised an eyebrow. “Why do you want to know what my motives are?”
“Just trying to make conversation with you.”
“Ah, I see. You think by doing that, I’ll get to like you, and it’ll make me reconsider any plans I have for you.”
“No, yes… oh, I don’t know. All I want to do is go home. I can’t see why you’re holding me here.”
“Questions, questions—stop with the damn questions.” He leapt out of his chair and punched the boy in the mouth. Blood poured from his split lip instantly.
Dale covered his mouth and stared up at him. “I’m sorry, please forgive me. I’ll keep quiet from now on.”
“Make sure you do. Speak only when you’re spoken to. You need to learn who’s in charge around here, boy. Keep that in mind at all times. Then, you might—just might—get out of this alive. You hear me?” He picked up the rope, waited for the boy to swing his legs back on the bed, then tied his hands to the metal headboard once more.
“I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I want to go home. When can I go home?”
“Stop! No more questions; you’ve been warned. Heed that warning, or I’ll…” He held his fingers in the shape of a gun and pointed it at the boy’s head. “Get my drift?”
“Yes, sorry.”
“Ugh… and stop bloody apologising. You sound like a snivelling git.”
Dale watched silently as Myers moved back to his seat. He pulled a pad and pen from the drawer in the coffee table and started to make notes, laughing like a maniac now and again, with the intention of scaring the boy, just to keep him alert. Once he’d filled several sheets of paper with a dozen schemes he had for the boy, he set the pad and pen down. Starting tomorrow, he would truly have the coppers chasing their tails, but he needed another acquisition to add to his team first.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Leaving the youth tied up at the house, Myers drove around the streets, on the prowl for his next victim. When he spotted something that piqued his interest, he pulled over into a parking space and switched off the engine. A pretty young woman was handing shopping bags to an older woman, who was loading them into the boot of her sleek Mercedes sports car. He watched as they laughed together. Scrutinising them further, he spotted the faint mother-daughter resemblance.
“Hmm… very interesting. I could definitely show those two a good time.” He shook the image he’d conjured up from his mind and concentrated.
The younger woman hopped in the passenger seat while the older woman wrapped her luxury fur coat tightly around her before she slipped behind the steering wheel.
He started his engine, let the Mercedes pass him, and pulled out. Then he waited patiently for the opportunity to present itself before making his move. The Mercedes drove through the crowded streets and out towards the countryside. They’re probably minted. They came out of that swish boutique loaded down with carrier bags looking pretty chuffed with themselves. I’ll soon wipe the smiles off their smug faces.
He flashed his lights and sped up behind the vehicle. The Mercedes slowed down then sped up before it finally pulled over as if the driver and the passenger had offered differing opinions on what they should do next.
He left the engine running and straightened his jacket as he approached the car. The woman opened her window. “Sorry to trouble you. I noticed something hanging out of your boot. You might want to take a look for yourself.”
The older woman smiled broadly. “That’s so kind of you. We’re nearly home now. It won’t matter for another mile or two.”
He nodded. “Whatever you say, ma’am. I’d hate for you to get pulled over by the police. There’s every chance that your boot could fly open. If you have nothing valuable in there, I would suggest you continue on your journey. I’ve done my duty by telling you. Enjoy the rest of your day.” He walked away and heard the car door open behind him, followed by the second door and two sets of heels on the road.
He swivelled and walked back to the car.
“Thank you so much for taking the trouble to flag us down. That’s very kind of you.” The two women approached the rear of the car, and seeing the boot firmly shut, turned his way. He punched the mother in the mouth first, and she dropped to the ground, out cold. Her daughter tried to run, but he jumped on her back then gave her a quick left and a right hook to the jaw before she tumbled to the ground. He had a fresh dilemma: did he take their car and ditch the Avensis, or would it be wiser for him to stick with the Avensis, which had fake plates attached? After a few seconds of deliberation, he picked up the mother and placed her in the boot of the Mercedes and slammed the door shut again. Then he scooped up the girl and dumped her in the backseat of the Avensis.
“Well, that’s bound to stir up some shit. Wonder if that Inspector Nelson will be assigned the case?”
He worked quickly, and once the girl was tied and gagged in the backseat of the Avensis, he left the scene. His laughter filled the car when an image of a gang of youths, driving past the Merc and stopping to have a look inside before stealing it, filled his mind. “Let’s see how long it takes them to piece the jigsaw together on this one. You ain’t seen nothing yet, boys in blue. Nothing!”
The only other dilemma running through his mind was where he was going to keep the girl. He had numerous addresses he could use around the city, buy-to-let properties he’d recently acquired and was in the process of doing up and letting out. He’d run out of cash for the renovations, but that was no longer a concern. The sky really was the limit. He took the notebook he’d had in his glove compartment, which had all the addresses he owned noted down. He ran his finger down the list. He needed one out in the sticks, not too far from where the boy was being held. “Aha, this one will do nicely.” His eyes narrowed, and another crazed laugh filled the car when something even more devilish entered his warped mind. “I’ll just need to stop off somewhere en route first.”
The car engine roared into life, and he put his foot down, constantly looking at the girl in his rear-view mirror as he drove. Her beautiful features sparked something in his groin that he’d believed had died when his wife passed. When one of them killed her. They’ll pay for that. It’s taken me time to get around to getting my revenge, but when it comes, it will be sweeter than a towering meringue.
He stopped off at the backstreet junk shop and left the car, locking it before he walked into the shop. After he explained to the old man behind the counter that he wanted a large wardrobe, the man pointed to the rickety stairs in the corner. “You’ll find what you want up there, son. Call me if you need a hand.”
Myers walked up the stairs, ignoring the creaks and groans in the wood, and proceeded to look around
the Aladdin’s cave until he stumbled across the ideal tool for the job he had in mind. He heard the old man whistling as he came up the stairs to find him.
“Any luck?”
“I think I’ll take this one. Any chance I can get it delivered? I have no means of transporting it myself.”
“A very good choice indeed. Of course. If you come downstairs again, I’ll sort out the paperwork and arrange the delivery. I might even be able to drop it by tonight on my way home, providing you don’t live too far.”
“That would be fantastic. It’ll be a wonderful surprise for my wife. We’re doing up an old place out in Pendlebury, just up the road.”
“No bother at all then.”
He paid for the wardrobe and left the directions to the house for the old man, then he left the shop with a satisfied grin etched on his face. Well, this should be fun. Only I have a totally different use for the item in mind. Myers fiddled around between the stations on the radio as the girl began to stir in the backseat. Her head didn’t move. Only her eyes took in her surroundings. Her gaze met his a number of times in the mirror, and she swiftly looked away from him, but the temptation grew too strong to resist. Her eyes always drifted back to lock with his.
“Curious, are you?”
She ignored him.
“All will be revealed soon enough. A word of advice—if you’re compliant to my wishes, we’re going to get on really well. If you start kicking off, then you’ll end up dead like your mother.”
Her eyes widened before huge tears welled up and tumbled onto her cheeks. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed.
He loved seeing them suffer; it added a little more zest to the proceedings. “Aww… there’s no need to cry, little one. Providing you do as I say, you’ll live a long and happy life.”
The tears and the sobs increased, making him all warm and fuzzy inside. He turned up the volume on the CD and tapped his fingers when Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive” filled the car.
Not long after, he pulled the car into the driveway of his own house. “I’ll be two ticks. Now don’t you go anywhere.” He rushed into the house and was immediately greeted by his treasured cat. He lifted the animal up into his arms, and Tiger wriggled happily, purring like a pneumatic drill. “Have you missed me, boy? I’ll just clean your tray and top up your dishes. I shouldn’t be long now. I’ll get the kids working and then be back home with you as soon as I can, I promise.”
He cared for his beloved feline then scooped the cat up into his arms again, burying his forehead in Tiger’s fur. “Don’t miss me too much.”
Myers left the house. He peered in the back window of the car and saw two terrified eyes staring back at him. His groin sprang to life when he recognised the fear the girl was feeling. In his grasp, he had two teenagers, one whose mother was dead, the other who thought her mother was. He would use that to manipulate them. He would use them to get what he wanted.
Twenty minutes later, he settled the girl in the spare bedroom of the house. She was still tied up and gagged, so she wouldn’t bother him. All he had to do was wait another hour for the delivery to show up.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“Morning, Ray. Quiet night, was it?” Hero greeted the desk sergeant with a smile.
“Anything but, sir. I sent one of my lads up with a note for you that might be of interest.”
Hero frowned. “And? Don’t leave me dangling, man.”
“Strange thing happened to a member of the public, sir. I wouldn’t normally pass this sort of thing off to you—know how busy you are in MIT, however, the woman said the car involved was a white Avensis.”
Hero’s heart fluttered. “When you’ve finished talking in riddles, would you mind giving me the facts, before I spontaneously combust and make a mess in your nice clean reception area?”
“Sorry, sir. One of our patrol cars stumbled across a Merc sports last night. They thought it had been stolen and dumped at the side of the road, was about to call for the tow truck when they heard a noise coming from inside the boot. When the boys opened it, they found a woman in her forties curled up inside. She was a bit confused, managed to mention the Avensis, and that piqued my interest.”
“Where is the woman now, Ray?”
“She’s at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, sir.”
“Thanks, give them a ring and see what ward she’s on. I’ll shoot over there now.” Hero ran up the stairs two at a time and pushed open the door to the incident room. He grunted a good morning to Sally and Julie, who were already at their desks, and continued into his office to retrieve the note from his desk.
He went straight to Julie’s desk. “Get your coat on, Julie. We’re off to the hospital. I’ll fill you in on the way. We’ll be back soon, Sally. Until then, you’re in charge. Make sure everyone knows what they’re doing regarding the case. I’ll call a meeting when we get back. Need to chase up this lead ASAP.”
He turned and rushed out of the room.
Julie’s heels clicked on the tiled floor as she tried to keep up with him. “What’s the rush, sir? Where are we going?” she asked breathlessly when they stepped outside the building.
“In the car, Julie. We’re going to the hospital—that’s all you need to know right now.”
He heard her grumble her dissatisfaction with being kept in the dark and chuckled to himself.
Once the vehicle was pointing in the right direction and he’d eased into the morning traffic, Hero relayed the information to his partner.
“And you reckon the guy we’re after is involved in this?”
Hero turned to look at her and frowned. “Don’t you, Shaw?” He only tended to use her surname when she annoyed him. It was his way of ticking her off.
“Do you have any idea how many Avensises are in circulation nowadays, sir?”
“No. Do you?” Hero’s foot pressed down harder on the accelerator as the traffic cleared a little.
“All I’m saying is, why would he put a woman in the boot of her car and leave her there? What would he hope to gain from doing that, sir?” She turned to look out the window and mumbled under her breath.
“Maybe this is his way of playing with us. He’s trying to keep us on our toes. Maybe it’s amusing him. He’s got to be a twisted bastard for what he’s carried out on our patch already.”
“Hmm… I just think it’s more than that,” she said, her face still turned away from him.
“We’ll see when we arrive at the hospital and question the woman. Until then, let’s keep any speculation we may have under wraps, deal?”
“Whatever.”
Hero showed his ID to the girl on reception at the accident and emergency department. “Apparently, you have a Mrs. Michelle Baldwin here.”
“Ah, yes. If you wait over there, I’ll get a member of the nursing staff to see you.”
“Any chance they can make it snappy? Time is wasting for us on this case.”
The receptionist smiled and nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.” She rushed down the corridor to the ward at the end and emerged with a male nurse a few minutes later.
“Sorry to rush you, but it’s important that we get out there and find the man responsible. No need to tell you that, I’m sure. How is she?”
“I completely understand. We kept her in for observation purposes last night as we had a quiet night, for a change. She’s sitting up in bed now, less traumatised than she was but still pretty shaken up.”
“Was she physically injured?”
The nurse shook his head. “Apart from a few bruises, she was fine. You’ll see how shaken up she is when I take you through. There’s no need for me to tell you to go easy on her, is there?”
“You have my word on that.” Hero and Julie walked side by side with the nurse and entered the ward.
The nurse pulled back a curtain and stepped through the gap. Hero and Julie followed him. The woman had tear-stained cheeks where her mascara had run. She looked up at them and hoisted the sheet under her chin.
“Please, have you found Vicki… my daughter? I need to know she’s all right.”
“I’m sorry. I know nothing about your daughter.”
Fear widened her eyes. “What? You should be out there looking for her. He has her. God knows what he intends doing with her. Please, you have to find her.”
“Did you tell the officers who found you that your daughter had been abducted?”
Her brow knitted together. “Yes, at least I think I did.” Her hand covered her face, and tears sprang to her eyes.
Hero shook his head. “How old is your daughter?”
“She’s just turned twenty-one. Please, you need to find her. She’s not like other girls her age; she’s led a very sheltered life.”
“Do you have a photo of her? That would help to track her down quicker.”
Michelle searched in the locker beside her to locate her handbag and pulled out a photo of her and her daughter at a funfair, smiling happily.
“Thanks, I’ll get this circulated right away. Umm… are you well enough to make a statement? I know this must be hard for you, but the quicker we assess the facts, the more likely we are to apprehend the suspect.”
Michelle reached for the glass of water sitting beside her, took a few sips, licked her lips, then looked down at her clenched hands in her lap. “We’d been out to the boutique, bought lots of outfits for our upcoming holiday on a Caribbean cruise. We were in the process of driving home when the car behind us started flashing its lights. I pulled over… why the hell I did that, I’ll never know. Anyway, this man approached my side of the car. He seemed genuine enough, had a handsome face and laughing eyes. He told me that something was poking out the boot of my car. Vicki and I both got out to check; that’s when he hit me. I was out cold before I had the chance to scream. I have no idea what went on after I passed out. When I woke up, I was inside the boot of my car. If his intention was to rob us, wouldn’t he have stolen my car? It’s worth forty-five thousand pounds, for God’s sake. Why take my daughter? If that’s what he’s done. Why?” Her hands covered her face, and she began to sob.