Touching the Dead

by Wendy Cartmell

  ‘I will return and you will ALL DIE!’ Anubis shouted and deep inside her Jo felt the vibrations from the deep throated scream.

  Then he turned and fled.

  58

  They all heard it. The scream. And then the roar. Never had Byrd heard such awful sounds. Jo was being tortured. He had to get to her!

  Only movement would chase away the terror of what he imagined was happening to Jo. She could be being cut open while they were waiting on the opposite side of this bloody stupid door. Spurred into action, Byrd slammed his shoulder into the wall which started to disintegrate. A few more well-placed blows and there was an opening big enough to clamber through.

  He wanted to rush through the opening, but his training kicked in. Forcing himself to be cautious, he clicked on his mobile phone to light up what was beyond the door. He was immediately glad he’d showed restraint, for on the other side was a set of steps. They’d found the basement.

  Not knowing what they would find at the bottom, Byrd gestured for the others to keep quiet and one by one the little group made their way down the stairs, hugging the wall. Each slow step was torture but was nothing compared with what Jo might be going through. They had no idea if Anubis was still there, or if he’d fled. But if so, where had he gone? How would he get away? Byrd’s mind whirred round and round, his breath coming in short bursts and his shirt was damp with sweat, chilling him and causing him to shiver.

  What they saw at the bottom made Byrd stagger backwards and bump into Bill.

  ‘Jesus,’ whispered Bill peering over Eddie’s shoulder. ‘Is that the Boss?’

  Byrd could only nod and stare transfixed. He didn’t trust himself to speak. Strapped to a metal table, with legs and part of the torso wrapped in bandages, was what looked as though it could be a woman with short dark hair. But was she alive, or dead?

  ‘Jo? Is that you?’ he croaked.

  ‘Byrd,’ came the whisper. ‘You came.’

  The relief at finding the DI alive brought tears to his eyes that he dashed away before rushing to the table. ‘You okay, Boss?’

  He touched her hand and tried hard not to look at Jo’s exposed breasts. A memory flittered through his addled brain of their one and only night together, which was an entirely inappropriate thought.

  ‘He’s gone, Byrd,’ she said. ‘We heard you coming, and he ran off.’

  ‘Where, Jo? Where did he go?’

  ‘That way, deeper into the basement, there must be a tunnel as he’s not come back!’

  ‘Ok, rest now. Bill’s got some water for you.’

  She nodded her head. ‘Go, Byrd. Find him,’ she pleaded and with a final touch of her face, Byrd turned and ran off into the gloom.

  59

  The way through the tunnel was lit by dim bulbs strung along the ceiling, Byrd had nearly tripped over the source of the electricity used to power them – three car batteries. He just hoped they’d last before he reached the end, wherever that might be. As the sounds of Bill, Jill and Jo in the basement faded away, somewhere in the distance he could hear the steady drip, drip of water, reminding him he was near to the water, on the edge of Bosham.

  Byrd’s mind kept flicking back to the image of Jo. Hurt, vulnerable, shocked. He’d do all he could to catch the bastard who did this to her. Of course, he would do that for any victim. But Jo? Well he had to admit how special she was. All this time he was hurrying towards the end of the tunnel, going as fast as he could in the dim light and on the stony ground that his feet constantly tripped against.

  Suddenly losing his footing, he sprawled along the floor, grazing his hands and knees. Swearing roundly and loudly he forced himself up onto his knees, groaning as the gravel pitting them dug into his skin. He scrambled to his feet, pushing himself forward, he wasn’t going to lose the bastard. He suddenly realised that he didn’t know the identity of the man he was chasing. He’d forgotten to ask Jo if she knew who Anubis was.

  Jo groaned as Jill and Bill helped her to swing her legs off the metal table and sit up on the edge of it. She was still swathed in bandages from the waist downwards, but Bill had cut the restraints around her ankles and wrists. He was in the process of tying plastic bags over her hands and feet and had already collected the bindings for forensic examination.

  ‘You can lie back down now, Jo,’ he said, but she struggled against him.

  ‘Where’s Byrd?’ Jo croaked, her throat feeling like it had been coated with sandpaper.

  ‘He’s gone after Anubis,’ said Jill. ‘Don’t worry, he’ll be fine. He’ll catch the bastard, you’ll see.’

  ‘Professor,’ Jo muttered.

  ‘Sorry, Guv, come again?’

  ‘Anubis, is the professor.’ She swayed with the effort of speaking. But she had to know the answer to her next question. ‘Lindsay?’

  ‘She’s safe in hospital, Guv. She did a great job of helping us find out where you were.’

  Jo nodded, wondering what was wrong with her head. She kept getting flashes of light in her eyes, she could hear crackling and smelled a faint odour of burning.

  Bill put a blue forensic hair covering on her head. Jo wanted to rip it off, untie the bags on her hand and feet and run after Byrd. But knew that would be reckless. She was in no physical shape to do any such thing. Plus, they needed the forensic evidence off her body. She had to be sensible and so she lay back down on the unyielding, cold table.

  ‘That’s the way, Boss,’ Jill said. ‘The ambulance will be here soon.’

  Jo didn’t want to go to hospital but nodded her acceptance. It was time to help the investigation with as much evidence as she could give them and then rest and recuperate. She closed her eyes and the basement faded as she slipped into sleep, finally accepting that she was safe.

  Byrd knew he was near the end of the tunnel as he could hear the lapping of water and the distant mournful cry of seagulls, but it still took him by surprise as he rounded a corner and was thrust out of the tunnel and into a cove. He looked around and shivered in the cold night air. Where the hell was the bastard? He was unsure of where exactly he was, but Bosham was lit by a full moon shining in a cloudless sky. Out on the water he caught the glimpse of a light, which came and went as Byrd watched it. He became mesmerised, then realised what it was. He grabbed his mobile. He needed to scramble the coastguard. They had to stop that boat. They just had to. It must be Anubis’ boat. He couldn’t be allowed to get away. Otherwise, in the future, more girls could be a victim of his and Byrd couldn’t bear that. Anubis had to be caught.

  Once his orders had been relayed to the Coastguard there was nothing more he could do there and so he returned to the basement via the tunnel, this time managing to stay upright.

  He burst into the open basement area, looking around for Jo. ‘Bill, where’s Jo? Is she OK?’ Even Byrd could hear the desperation in his voice, revealing his emotion. That someone else might recognise it for what it meant, was of no interest anymore. If it revealed how he felt about Jo, then so be it.

  Bill gave him a sideways look, then said, ‘She’s fine, Byrd. She’s been taken to Chichester General.’

  ‘Oh, right good. Thanks.’ Byrd looked around, feeling a little lost.

  ‘So I guess there was a tunnel there after all?’

  ‘What? Fucking hell, sorry Bill. Yes, it’s not very long and you come out into a small cove. It seems Anubis had a boat there. I could just about make it out on the water. I’ve contacted the coastguard and now I guess I need to bring the operational commander up to date.’

  ‘Look there’s nothing you can do here, why don’t you go upstairs, make your phone calls and then check on the Boss.’

  ‘Right, you’re right, I think I will,’ and he turned to go after Jo.

  60

  Byrd was glad that it was about 2 o’clock in the morning and therefore there was no one around to see his appalling driving. He couldn’t seem to keep his mind on the road. All he could see was the pitiful sight of Jo strapped to that awful metal table. A
cold, unfeeling, unforgiving slab of metal. He wanted so much to protect her. To make sure something like that would never happen to her again. But even he had to admit that he wasn’t superman. And there would always be killers and maniacs to find and stop. It was their job. Pure and simple. And neither one of them would want to give it up.

  He parked his car in the car park and put a sign on the dashboard saying, ‘Police on active investigation’ in the windscreen. He’d no idea if it would stop him getting a parking ticket, but as he had no money or cards on him, there wasn’t much he could do about buying a ticket.

  Running from the carpark to the A&E reception he met a burley security man with his arms out, stopping him in his tracks. ‘Whoa there. Where are you going in such a hurry?’

  Byrd pull out his warrant card. ‘DS Byrd, Chichester Police. I’m looking for DI Wolfe, brought in earlier by ambulance.’

  Before the man could reply, or throw him out, Byrd saw Gill and called out to grab his attention. Acknowledging him Gill said, ‘It’s okay, Fred. He can come through.’

  ‘Very well, Doctor,’ said Fred with as much gravitas as he could muster and fixed Eddie with a stare that said, I’ve got your number so no funny business. The unspoken threat made Byrd smile but he turned away before Fred could see it.

  ‘Thanks, Gill, I’m looking for Jo. Sorry, DI Wolfe.’

  Walking back into A&E Gill said, ‘Jo is okay but she’s suffering from shock and dehydration.’

  ‘Can I see her?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Where is she?’ Byrd looked around but all the cubicles appeared to be empty.

  ‘Oh, sorry, she’s been taken up to the ward, General Ward 2. Tell them I said you could see Jo and you can stay with her for a bit if you want to.’

  All Byrd could do was nod at the kindness of his friend. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out and his eyes filled with tears of relief. He had been so worried about her.

  ‘I know, Byrd,’ said Gill, gripping Byrd’s shoulder. ‘I know. Go on. Off you go. If you fancy a coffee later on, come down to A&E, we’ve got a pretty fancy machine here. None of that vending machine rubbish.’

  61

  The shock hit Jo, not in the ambulance, but when she was wheeled up to a ward. The nurses were just getting her settled in bed when she started shaking. And couldn’t stop. She felt hot and cold at the same time. She was incapable of speech, just able to fix a nurse with a silent stare and hope she got the message that she needed help.

  ‘Now, now, Jo, it’s alright,’ she said stroking Jo’s hair and making Jo turn her head to look at her. ‘It’s all over now. Your safe.’

  Jo managed to briefly nod her head as she felt a nurse take her other hand and then something cold flooded into her vein. She looked questioningly at the nurse talking to her.

  ‘Don’t worry, just a bit of Valium to relax you. Doctor’s orders.’

  Jo nodded and managed a whispered, ‘Thank you,’ as the tremors subsided as if by magic, to be replaced by fluffy clouds that she rode on. Away from the memories. Away from the injuries. And away from the pain.

  Until she felt another touch on her hand. She yelped. Who was it? A nurse? Anubis? She was too scared to open her eyes. So the relief was immense when she heard a voice say, ‘It’s alright, Jo, it’s only me.’

  ‘Byrd?’ she whispered.

  ‘Yes. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay, and to let you know we’ve got Anubis. The coastguard picked him up.’ He grasped her hand. She heard a chair being pulled towards the bed and then he sat down on it. All without letting go of her hand. ‘So, are you okay?’

  She nodded. ‘I am now. Seeing you. And hearing that news.’

  ‘Me too.’ He placed her hand in between his two. ‘Now rest. I’ll be here. I’ll watch over you.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Jo mouthed as tears tracked their way down her face. ‘Thank you.’

  Finally, she was able to sleep. She’d face whatever tomorrow brought with Byrd. Together they’d be a force to be reckoned with.

  62

  By late afternoon the following day, Jo was deemed well enough to go home, but was under strict instructions that she wasn’t to go back to work. She needed time for both her body and mind to heal. She still found herself trembling with fear when she thought back to her ordeal. That was no way for a police officer to feel. She knew she’d be a liability if she returned to work too soon.

  She was waiting, sat on her hospital bed, when Byrd arrived to take her home. The last time she’d seen him, earlier that morning, he was creased and crumpled from sleeping in the chair next to her bed all night. He looked a lot better now, clearly having had a shower and changed his clothes. Some of the worry lines etched on his face last night had dissipated. Her dad had offered to come and get her, but Jo said not to worry, Byrd had it sorted.

  ‘Okay, Boss? Ready?’

  Jo smiled, ‘Yep I’m just dandy. I’ve got my paperwork, a collection of tablets and strict instructions to take it easy and to go and see my GP for any follow up I might decide I need.’

  ‘Come on, then,’ he said and helped her off the bed, walking to a wheelchair parked within touching distance.

  ‘Byrd! You can’t be serious?’

  ‘Afraid so, Boss. No wheelchair, no discharge. Hospital rules, so don’t shoot the messenger. Now get in it!’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Jo grumbled, but did as he said, she wasn’t about to jeopardise her discharge.

  It was a very strange experience to be pushed around the hospital corridors that normally she would be charging down to see victims and take statements. She felt vulnerable in the chair, something she hated as it took her back to the injuries she’d sustained in the riding accident. She knew how disabled people must feel who were permanently in a chair. It was very unsettling.

  At the main doors, Jo wanted to get out of the chair and walk to the car, but Byrd insisted on her waiting while he brought the car around. Settled in the passenger seat, she watched the world go by, not speaking. Everything looked so ordinary and innocent. The people of Chichester going about their business, unaware of the things she had seen. The evil that men do. But she was glad that most people didn’t know about gifts like Jo’s. That only a handful of people did.

  So, was it a gift or a curse? As awful as it was, as horrible as the visions were, Jo was coming to terms with them.

  At home she climbed out of the car before Byrd could rush around and help her. That independent streak again. But she was very unsteady on the gravel drive, stumbling and causing Byrd to catch her in his arms. He didn’t let go for the rest of the day. He helped her up the stairs. He helped her undress. He helped her into bed. He kissed away the pain of the burns on her body and then lay down next to her, enfolding her in his arms.

  As Jo drifted off to sleep, she wondered why she hadn’t done this before. It was the best she’d felt in a long time. Safe. With hope for the future. But she was troubled that it was with Byrd that she’d found happiness. Perhaps it was because they were already close. She trusted him with her life – let’s face it he’d just saved it. Could this be misplaced emotion? A case of gratitude?

  But then she thought of him again and went all quivery. She felt his arms around her, strong and dependable. She turned around to face him and they started to kiss, tentatively at first, but then with growing passion.

  Jo put a finger on his lips and drew back. ‘Isn’t this a bad idea, Byrd?’

  He nodded. ‘It’s not the most sensible thing we’ve ever done, but I can’t stop. Can you?’

  ‘Yes. No. Maybe. Oh fuck it,’ said Jo and took her finger from his face and began kissing him with a fervour to match his own.

  Then she pulled away again. ‘This could be really awkward at work.’

  ‘On the other hand it could be really wonderful working so closely together.’

  Jo nodded and guessed only time would tell, as she slipped into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  63

  A cou
ple of weeks after the close of the Anubis case, the team decided to go out and have a celebratory meal. The chosen venue was a great little Italian in the town centre.

  The Professor had been charged with three counts of murder, five counts of kidnap and two counts of GBH from the torture he had subjected Jo and Lindsay to. No longer the great Anubis, the Professor looked small and weak at his brief appearance before the Magistrates court, when his case was referred to the Crown Court for trial.

  All he’d said during interviews was, ‘He’s gone. I can’t feel him anymore. He’s gone.’

  Russell had refused to say any more and psychological reports had been requested and so he was detained in a secure hospital. The official thinking was schizophrenia, as he’d clearly heard voices and then acted on them.

  Jo wasn’t so sure. The professor was now the broken, shell of a man, and Jo wondered if he was beyond repair. She’d had the full-on Anubis experience, and the thought that this might be the professor on steroids, just didn’t sit well with her.

  ‘I’m inclined to believe that Professor Russell was a victim of demonic possession, you know,’ she confided in her father.

  ‘I guessed as much.’

  ‘The wolf head was so real. The jaws worked. There was stinging, burning saliva. A disgusting smell. And his voice… it was the voice of something not from this world.’

  Mick nodded his head. ‘Whatever it was it’s gone now though, hasn’t it?’

  ‘Oh yes, at interview Professor Russell is practically catatonic. The being, if that’s what it was, has done great damage to Russell’s mind and body.’

  ‘And you? How are you?’

  ‘Oh, I’m feeling a lot stronger,’ she told him as they dismantled her case wall.