Spiritwalker

by Siobhan Corcoran

  Pulling up into her drive, she finally shook off the last feelings of melancholy and inserted the key into the front door and unlocked it. In the living room, Jamsie had lit a fire, she had told him that she would be arriving home today. There was no sign of Boozy her dog, she guessed that he was out somewhere with Jamsie, the two of them were inseparable whenever she was away. She decided to call to Jamsie’s house and let him know that she had arrived safely. Putting more coal on the fire so it wouldn’t go out, and locking the door behind her, she once again hopped into her car and drove the short distance to Jamsie’s home. He shared it with his mother an elderly lady in her nineties, but with a memory still as sharp as a blade. She knocked on the front door and was greeted by Mrs O Keeffe’s familiar voice telling her to come in. Mrs O Keeffe was sitting by the open fire knitting something large and white, the needles were criss-crossing faster than a Samurai’s sword. Without a pause in her knitting she looked up to see who her visitor was.

  “Anna a stor, is it yourself?” the old lady asked pausing her knitting, as she looked at her unexpected visitor with delight.

  “Hi Mrs O Keeffe, I was just looking for Jamsie. How are you?” Anna said, walking into the cosy living-room.

  “I’m grand, just a touch of the auld rheumatism, but tis only bad when it rains. Jamsie’s out with the dog someplace, might have gone to the pub on the bike. He’s afraid to drive now after he’s had a few…the guards you know. Sit down and have a cuppa tea.”

  “It’s alright I’ll make it.” Anna said quickly before the woman could stir from her seat. She headed into the small kitchen and boiled the kettle and returned with the two cups of tea and sat down opposite her.

  “There’s cake in the bread-bin, if you’d like a slice. It’s cherry, Jamsie’s favourite.”

  “I’m fine thanks. Would you like some?” Anna asked about to stand and fetch some for her.

  “No thanks, the doctor says I’ve to watch my weight. You’d think that at ninety two he’d leave me in peace” She smiled

  Anna stayed talking to the old lady for nearly half an hour, reminiscing about old times. Mrs O Keeffe and Anna’s grandmother had grown up together and Anna loved to hear the old stories of when the two of them had been girls. If Mrs O Keeffe was to be believed they had more adventures than the Famous Five and Nancy Drew put together. Anna reluctantly got up from her seat by the fire and bade her goodbyes to Mrs O Keeffe.

  “Just tell Jamsie I’m home. I better go I’ve loads to do.”

  Anna got back into her car and drove back up to the house and let herself in. It was a strange feeling being back after everything that had happened, all she wanted to do was have a hot bath and a glass of wine. She went upstairs and ran the bath. She was just about to get undressed when she heard a noise from downstairs. Thinking it was Jamsie returning with Boozy she headed down to greet them. Strange she thought, Boozy usually bounded up to her in his excitement to greet his mistress. She listened again…there it was a faint scratching and whining, she followed the sound it was coming from the utility room. She opened the door, thinking that Jamsie had locked the dog in by mistake. The sight before her made her catch her breath in shock. Jamsie was lying on the floor unconscious and he was bleeding profusely from a wound on his head. Rushing in she bent over him to check if he was still breathing, thankfully he was. She heaved a sigh of relief. She then became aware of Boozy scratching on the cupboard door, a chair had been jammed up against it to stop him getting out. What on earth is going on? Anna wondered, her mind in a whirl. Was it a burglar who had done this? She knew that Jamsie was alive, but she didn’t know how badly he was injured. She needed to call for help, he looked to be in a bad way. She didn’t hear him as he crept up behind her, she had been too overcome with the shock of finding Jamsie like that. He smashed her over the head with her own wok. How fitting he thought as he watched her collapse to the ground like a lead balloon, he was thinking of how Jane had done the same to him. He intended to make her suffer every humiliation he could think of and then some. He dragged her limp body out the back door and hoisted it into a wheelbarrow he had left outside. Whistling merrily he pushed it to the waiting jeep, he opened the back door and loaded the unconscious woman in. Better handcuff her, he thought as he pulled the cuffs from his pocket. He placed a dirty coal bag over her head and cuffed her hands behind her back. Then he remembered Jamsie. ”Can’t have him spoiling my plans if he wakes up” he went back to retrieve him, besides she might be more co-operative if I have a hostage, he smiled savagely. Jamsie was unceremoniously dumped into the jeep alongside Anna, and Kingston still whistling merrily to himself hopped in and drove away. He was feeling good now, everything was finally going according to plan. His plans had almost been spoiled by Jamsie coming in to light the fire. Kingston watched and waited, it slowly began to dawn on him that this was just a neighbour and not as he had first thought…a lover or husband. The dog had smelt him and began barking and scratching at the door, but Jamsie thinking that he just wanted feeding, told him he’d “Sort him out in a minute.” When Jamsie opened the door to the kitchen, Boozy rushed through. Kingston was waiting for him and he too had received a blow to the head by the trusty wok. He let out a pitiful howl and fell to the floor dazed. Jamsie had almost got the better of Kingston, he had reacted quickly and rushed at the intruder, but wok still steady in his hand, poor Jamsie got a full whack of it to his face. Not satisfied, Kingston hit him again and again as he fell. Kingston laughed as he examined his handy work. He promised himself in future that a wok would be his weapon of choice. All he had to do then was shove the dog into the cupboard and shut the door. Not long after he heard Anna enter, he readied himself, waiting patiently for her to come to him, but instead she headed out of the house again. He was beginning to lose patience, when finally he heard her return. He listened to the sounds of the water filling the bath, he was getting excited now. Thoughts of her naked and helpless in the bath as he overpowered her, were almost too much for him to bear. He could feel himself getting harder by the second. He almost bounded up the stairs in frenzied excitement. He forced himself to wait and was glad he had, the dog had begun to whine and scratch at the door of its prison. It made so much noise that Anna came rushing in to see what was wrong, he waited until she was leaning over Jamsie before he pounced. He could still hear the hollow sound the wok made as it made contact with her skull. He had been careful not to hit her too hard, he didn’t want to kill her just yet. Not when there was so much revenge yet to be administered.

  Chapter forty three

  Neil was waiting at the airport when Morley landed, with him was DS O Malley. Neil had chosen him for his solemn, silent steadiness. He was a big man and could be relied on not to raise an eyebrow even at the more unusual events. He had also been chosen because he was aware of Anna’s talents and Neil knew that if things became a bit weird that he wouldn’t question anything. The two men embraced and Neil led his brother-in-law out to the waiting car.

  “Any news of Anna?” Morley quizzed

  “Afraid not, two of the local guards went out to the house but no sign, her car is there, but no sign of her.” He sounded worried. “We’re going to go there first.”

  “Has anyone seen her since? I still can’t reach her on the mobile.” Morley had a feeling of dread at the pit of his stomach and it was getting stronger.

  “Mrs O Keeffe said she called to her earlier, Jamsie her son minds the dog and keeps an eye on the place when Anna is away. He wasn’t at home so we don’t know it he’s spoken to her or not.”

  “Jesus Neil, what if he has got her?”

  “Look mate, this is Anna we’re talking about, I’m sure she’s fine. Probably just went for a walk.” He was trying to sound unconcerned but he knew something was up. It didn’t take a genius to work out why Kingston had risked coming to Ireland, when he could have been well hidden anywhere else in Europe.

  “Let’s hope so.” Morley prayed. “How far is it?”

  “Anothe
r half an hour or so.” Neil said as he tore down the country roads as fast as he dared. O Malley was sitting in the back seat silently, his knuckles white as he held on tightly.

  After what seemed like an age, the car shuddered to a stop in front of Anna’s house. All three of them jumped out. Morley began banging on the front door, no response.

  “Let’s try around the back.” Neil suggested. They headed around the back of the house, he tried the handle of the door and it turned opening in to the utility room.

  “Shush, a minute.” Morley commanded. They could hear whining coming from inside a cupboard. Neil walked over and taking the chair from in front of it opened it carefully. Boozy jumped out and recognising him as a friend slobbered Saliva all over him. Then seeing Morley the heckles on the back of his neck rose up, he was wry of strangers after his encounter with the other man. Morley backed up, away from the dog, then he saw it…blood, a big pool of congealed blood.

  “Shit! Look Neil.”

  Neil focused on the area Morley was pointing to, his heart sank. That has to be Anna’s he thought. He let the dog out of the house, opened the front door for O Malley and they began a systematic search of the house. They scoured every press, every hidey- hole; but found no trace of Anna. They went outside, Boozy had calmed down and was now accepting of the two strangers, they didn’t have the same bad smell that the other man had. He thought he could even smell a trace of his mistress from one of them. The shed was searched and the bushes were pulled apart, anywhere that might conceal a body was examined.

  “He’s got her, hasn’t he?” Morley spat out. “Where the fuck’s he done to her?” He kicked at the bushes in frustration.

  “Right let’s think sensibly. O Malley you go to the station in the village and let them know what’s happening. I want road blocks everywhere. Boozy who had laid down on the doorstep with his head in his paws suddenly became animated. He ran up to Neil and Morley and began barking at them.

  “Boozy stop it.” Neil ordered but the dog continued to bark and whine at them.

  “Do you know what’s happened to Anna?” Morley asked the dog as he reached down to scratch it behind its ears. Boozy licked his face and almost knocked him over with his enthusiasm.

  **************

  Anna woke, she had a pounding headache. It had a familiar feel to it, she wondered how much more of a battering her brain could take. Where the hell am I? She wondered as she tried to bring her hand to her face to rub her eyes. Then the awful realisation dawned on her, her hands were tied behind her back. It was dark, slowly her eyes adjusted to her gloomy surroundings. Slivers of light were penetrating through the gaps in the wood of an old door. It looked like she was in some kind of out-house or barn. She tried to remember what had happened, but couldn’t. She heard a sound a bit away from her and to her right. She peered closely in its direction, fearing that it might be an enormous rat. The dark shape was much bigger than a rat and it was moaning softly. Then she remembered, recollection came flooding back as she recognised the shape on the floor… Shit…Jamsie. She remembered how she had heard a noise and gone to investigate then she had found him lying unconscious on her floor… then nothing, everything had gone black. She knelt up and shuffled over to Jamsie.

  “Jamsie, Jamsie are you alright?” She whispered, fearing that whoever had done this might be close by. Jamsie hearing his name groaned loudly and croaked. “Anna is that you, what happened?”

  “I don’t know Jamsie, I found you on the floor in my house, then nothing… Where are we?”

  “Burglars!” Jamsie blurted out. He was in your house, Boozy knew it but I was too slow. He hit the poor mite and then when I tried to stop him, he hit me over the head with the frying-pan.”

  “What did he look like?” Anna asked. The man that Jamsie described to her, sent icy shivers through her.

  “Kingston?” she moaned aloud. What was he doing here? He was supposed to be in Europe somewhere. “Listen to me carefully Jamsie, if it’s the man I think it is we’re in big trouble. He’s not a burglar… he tried to kill me in England. He’s already murdered a least three people.”

  “Jasus Anna, is he mad?” Jamsie couldn’t get his head around what she was telling him.

  “I want you to do exactly as I say Jamsie. I want you to pretend that you’re still unconscious. I’ll distract him and hopefully you can escape and go for help.”

  “Jasus girl, I can’t leave you alone with him, he might kill you.”

  “He will definitely kill us both if you don’t. Promise me Jamsie.” They heard the rattle of a chain outside and Anna quickly moved away from Jamsie and back to where she had been left by Kingston. Jamsie curled back up against the wall and did as Anna had asked.

  “Wide awake I see.” Kingston said as he entered, making Anna squint with the sudden brightness. “Good I have plans for you, but I wanted you to be wide awake to appreciate them properly.” A steely blade glinted as the light hit it, he was holding it down by his side. Anna looked at it in terror, trying her best not to show her fear.

  “What do you want Kingston?” her voice trembled slightly. He pulled her roughly to her feet and pushed her up against the stone wall. Knife raised he slid it gently down her cheek, then seeing the fear in her eyes he felt powerful. He pulled the material of her jumper and sliced the knife through it roughly. Anna felt the cold blade slice into her stomach and she screamed.

  Jamsie could contain himself no longer, he didn’t care what he had promised Anna, he wasn’t about to watch her be killed in front of his very eyes and do nothing. He thought of his mother and how ashamed she would be if she thought her son had watched while someone attacked Anna. I’d be more ashamed of myself, he thought. The sound of Anna’s scream went through him like an electric shock. He jumped to his feet, adrenalin pumping and ran at Kingston. His hands were still tied behind his back so he was only able to ram him with his head, it was enough to startle Kingston and unbalance him. He fell awkwardly to the floor, knife still in his hand, the sharp metal slipping and slicing through his hand as he landed. He let out a howl of pain, but he quickly jumped to his feet ignoring the pain in his hand. Jamsie ran at him again, but this time Kingston was prepared, he side-stepped his attacker and grabbing him by the coat flung him against the wall. Jamsie hit the wall head first and slumped in a heap as it made contact with the hard surface. Kingston kicked out viciously at the man now slumped at his feet.

  “Leave him alone you bastard.” Anna shouted running at him. He caught her by the hair with his good hand and forced her to her knees. She cried tears of fury as she realised that there was nothing she could do.

  “I’ll deal with you later.” He roared as the pain in his other hand resurfaced. He stalked out, dragging the heavy door in his wake, Anna could hear the chain being treaded through the handles and she knew that once again she was locked in. She shuffled over to Jamsie and tried to wake him, but he was out cold. Thankfully she could still hear him breathing, but the sharp rasps coming from him didn’t sound good, and she knew she had to do something and soon. The pain from where she had been cut had eased a little and the bleeding seemed to have stopped, she hoped that it wasn’t too deep, she didn’t want to dwell on it too much.

  Anna sat down beside Jamsie and wondered what to do. No one was going to miss her for at least a day or two, Jamsie’s mother would begin to worry when he didn’t come home, but that might not be until morning, and that might be too late for them both. She knew she had to find out where they were being held. She leaned against the wall and drifted out of her body and out into the bright open countryside. She wished it was as easy to set her body free. She floated high trying to get a picture of where she was. An old ruined house was off to the right and she headed towards it. It had at one time been an impressive building, but now it was dilapidated and crumbling. She moved off again out over the fields and over a road, this she followed until she came to a crossroads, she spied a signpost almost covered in bushes. She lowered herself to rea
d it. Her heart leapt, she knew where she was, she had passed this way many times over the years when she had been younger and her mother and aunt had taken them to a nearby popular wood and picnic area. It was only about an hour from her house. She floated home hoping that someone might have noticed something was wrong and maybe they were looking for her. She couldn’t believe her luck, Neil her cousin and Gary Morley were at her house along with another man who looked familiar. They were searching the garden and the sheds. They know, she sighed relieved, but how was she going to tell them that she was here and more importantly how was she going to let them know where she was?

  Then she had a thought….Boozy.

  ***********************

  “The dog!” Morley exclaimed. Boozy was jumping around them excited and barking loudly.

  “Be quiet Boozy” Neil shouted at the dog, misunderstanding what Gary was saying.

  “No Neil it’s her.” Morley said sounding excited

  “What’s her, what are you talking about?” Neil hadn’t got a clue what Gary was trying to tell him.

  “It’s Anna.”