Authors: Ony Bond
Rose trapped him, made him talk of the missing girls, particularly the last one. Where had he been that night? He had been to Free’s place. Could he by any chance have seen the girl as he drove? Before replying James looked long at her. He asked if she thought he had anything to do with that girl’s disappearance. She touched his shoulder, said it puzzled her the police couldn’t catch this person. Was it possible James saw something the night Tracy disappeared? It would help the police.
James shocked her, said the police were wasting their time if they thought they would catch the killer. That girl was already dead like the others. Someone killed them. He stressed the killer had a reason, was settling past grudges. What scores? Wasn’t he letting his imagination run away with him? He replied with a cunning smile, insisted the murderer was just too clever and slippery for the police. They would never catch him. He also added something that scared her.
That Rose had something in common with that last victim. The long ash-blonde hair. He was sure she was the next victim and had just weeks to live.
Rose was spooked, laughed it off, told her he was trying to frighten her.
James never laughed. “I know. You’re next, Rose.”
Rose had been convinced right there it was him.
“He’s a killer and dangerous, Free.”
“He knows I suspect him. That places us in danger. We must see Detective Chief Superintendent Martin now. There’s no time to waste.”
They drove to Stones police station, arrived in minutes.
“You say you want to see Chief Detective Superintendent Martin but have no appointment?”
“It’s very urgent. We need to talk to him. It concerns the missing girl. We have information.”
“He’s a very busy man.”
“He must hear this.”
“I’ll call his secretary, find out if he’s busy.” The woman phoned. “He has just left for home, is on his way to the car park.”
Rose grabbed Godfree’s arm and rushed at the door and outside. A tall black man in tweeds had already opened a car door.
“Chief Martin?” Rose called.
He stopped. “Yes.”
They reached him.
“May we see you, please? We believe we have information on Tracy, the missing girl. It’s important."
“I hope it is.” He glanced at both.
“I’m Rose. This is my boyfriend Godfree.” She spoke quickly, added they were both engineers at the Moss Precision Components. There was this person they both with and had reason to suspect him for the missing girl.
“Let’s got to my office. Please follow me. We’ll use another entrance.”
“Thank you.”
They got into an elevator, moved up to the third floor. His office was large with a huge desk with several phones and armchairs. A framed family photo sat on the desk. He pointed them to the armchairs.
“Please take seats.”
“Thank you.”
They sat. Godfree started, laid out his suspicions about James. The policeman took out a notebook, shot questions and wrote things. Rose collaborated the story, made her own contributions. The policeman looked pensive, asked questions.
“There’s been many misleading calls from people who want attention all claiming to have seen this abductor. I would go to the police too was I in your shoes.”
He was not going to push this under the carpet. His team had questioned people but come up with blanks. What Rose and Godfree had done was commendable, to get more about their mate’s life. There were things he felt must be checked. That car, Wednesday events, this person's lack of denial. He pressed a button and spoke.
“Inspector Linda, could you come up please? Yes, this minute. Thank you.” He nodded at Rose and Godfree. “I need you to meet one of my lead investigators.”
A minute later a knock sounded on the door. It opened and a tall brown-skinned black woman with long braids entered and stopped. The women stared at the other and smiled.
“Rose, what’re you doing here?”
“Linda! You work here now?”
“You two know each other?" Detective Chief Superintendent Martin asked.
“Yes,” Linda gushed. “We met when I investigated the case of a missing girl at her uni three years ago.”
Rose introduced Godfree as her boyfriend.
“Take a seat, Inspector,” Detective Chief Martin spoke. “I’d like you to hear this. It concerns our missing girls.”
“Sure, Chief.”
He explained. His details were accurate. Linda frowned, questioned Rose and Godfree. She looked at Detective Martin, her eyes keen.
“Got to check this guy out. Address, car registration number. Anything.”
“Think it’s our perp?”
“Could be, Chief. Hope so.”
Rose and Godfree had his car registration. Linda was all business-like, logged details into a computer, her fingers flying over the keyboard keys.
“Got details here,” she said. “Here’s the street. I know where that is. Right up the hill. Those houses surrounded by woods. What more do we have on this guy?” She tensed. “More hits here. Hey, Chief, look at this. This guy was born in a small steel village up north. Nothing much about the family here. Only that this guy got adopted by a family called Whisker. Name rings a bell. Bingo! The fellow was killed years later but killer was never found. Cold case. Let me check something else. Here, we got hits. Our guy was adopted by Whisker who was murdered by someone unknown. Bingo! Got a creepy feeling about this, Chief. Want to take a ride with me? You look exhausted, should get enough sleep.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Martin spoke as he stood. “I’m in, Inspector, won’t sleep until we nail the bastard that’s captured these girls. Godfree, Rose, thanks for coming. We’ll let you know if he’s our guy. Don’t talk to anyone about this. Keep it strictly under wraps. He mustn’t even know you’ve been here. Act normal, like you don't suspect a thing. If he’s our guy and believes you suspect him your lives will be in danger. Inspector, lets’ take a drive. We need to question this guy. Hope we find him home.”
Godfree nodded. “Are you going to mention our names?”
The female detective shook her head. “No. He won’t know that. We’ll say it’s just a routine check because of his black car. Don’t worry.” She smiled. “Take care of Rose. You hurt her and I’ll break every bone in your handsome body.”
Rose put her arm around Godfree. “He’s ok. You still single, Inspector?”
“Yeah, you got someone for me?”
“The Chief doesn’t have a ring. I assume he’s single.”
Linda looked shy. “Go home Rose. We got work to do here, will talk another time. Girls are being captured. Thanks for trying though. But the Chief’s too busy a man, only thinks of work, and fraternising at work isn’t allowed. If it was I’d jump him. Heard of unrequited love? That’s mine. See you later. Chief, you ready to question this man?”
Godfree and Rose looked at Chief Detective Superintendent Martin. He glanced thoughtfully at the female detective.
“Inspector Linda. Get a search warrant and let’s move it now!”
“Yes, Chief. We got to run. Hope this guy hasn’t got wind we’re coming and done a runner.”
There was an urgency about these detectives and an excitement too.
***
On the drive home Rose nodded at Godfree, reached out and squeezed his hand.
“We did the right thing. Can only rest after he’s questioned. You look worried, Free.”
“Hope they’ll find Tracy alive. He didn’t want you at his house. What’s he hiding there?”
“I never intended to be alone in his house with him. He’s scared of something being discovered. Hope it’s not dead bodies.”
“Or evidence they were there.”
“Sorry, had promised you a meal at a restaurant. Can’t tonight with this cloud hanging about James. Can it wait? I’ll cook a meal at home.”
“That’s ok. Even if the police find him clean, our relationship can never be the same. So you and that female detective know each other?”
Rose met Linda at uni while studying for her doctorate. The later had investigated a student’s disappearance. The girl had multiple sex partners and loved to party. One night she went to meet a guy she had met online and never came back. As Linda made investigations she questioned campus stuff and students. That’s how they met and clicked, got to be friends. Linda was single, wanted marriage. But it never seemed to work out. The first boyfriend died in a car accident after proposing the previous week. The second was shot by a burglar in his home. She had given up on matrimony, sunk herself in her work. They were kindred spirits - Rose had just broken up with her ex. After Linda solved the case she left. Each had a busy work life. They lost touch until a moment ago.
“What was that about? You setting them up?”
“Yes.”
“But you don’t know him and Linda never said she needed help.”
“I could tell from the way she looked at him. She’s interested, giving him the signs from the way she sat, looked at him and the subtle touching. The man didn’t notice. All he saw was a uniform. So I took a gamble. Wanted to see how both would react. You observed how she behaved? Him? Think he didn’t know before. Now he suddenly noticed a desirable and willing woman with smooth skin under that uniform.”
“Playing matchmaker?”
“Why not? I like her, want her to get a fine guy. That man lost a wife. Linda’s single. I wonder what they will find at James’ place. Why did you never visit him?”
“I told him I wanted to once. He said he wouldn’t be home. Got the feeling he never wanted me to see his place, so I never pushed.”
“You used to be pals so why wouldn’t he want you to visit him? You think maybe there’s something he didn’t want you to see? He never wanted us in his house.”
“If police discover he killed those girls I’d feel bad for not picking this sooner.”
“That wouldn’t be your fault. How would you have known? When you had enough evidence you went to the police. We’re home. I’ll start preparing supper.”
He was tense. What would police discover at James’ house?
For him the day’s first shock was Frank telling her Rose had moved in with Godfree. That hurt and angered him. What followed were images of her and Godfree sleeping together. The man he thought his workmate and best friend. She turned Godfree down for him, seen he was a good guy. He touched her smiling picture on the desktop. Frank wanted him as a son. He Would finally have a father. A person who loved him, not a spineless one who let his mother bully him. And not the one that got his mother pregnant. Marrying Rose was his ticket to being accepted in society. He would never be a reject again. She would dump Godfree for him.
But what should he do with Godfree who had called him a coward and chicken at the factory today? Just one thing. He would slit his throat for that. Godfree suspected him. No, it was more like that. He winked when he told him he nearly got caught when he picked Tracy. He never admitted to that. Godfree must have put things together. He knew the truth. He could not trust him. What would stop him going to the police?
He paced. It was his fault for trusting Godfree. How must ensure he did not talk. He must stop him going to the police at all costs. Godfree would have reason to want him arrested. Because he had lost Rose. Would not accept she liked him better. What did he have to lose? After all the company had given him Mark’s post which went with better perks and prospects in life. There was only one way. They had good times playing chess in the house and having Nandos food. But he made a mistake. He knew too much. And for that he should be killed. There was no alternative. How would he do that without Rose ever knowing? That girl was sharp. He should find a way to invite Godfree here without Rose knowing. Get him down to the basement. Join those others at the bottom of the lake.
He flexed his hands, imagined them on his neck strangling the life out of him. Let him know he got rid of Moto for him but he must kill him. He expected her to go back home tonight. Why not pay them a visit now to see if Rose needed help to move home?
Someone knocked on the door.
He jumped, stifled a scream.
Godfree had never visited him and the postman already delivered letters in the morning. He flung the door open. A tall black man and woman stood outside.
“Mr James Antony,” the woman spoke.
“Yes, may I help you?”
“Can we come in a bit? I’m Inspector Linda and this is Chief Detective Superintendent Martin from Stones Police Department. We’re asking people in the area about the missing girl.”
“Oh.” His face turned white. He hoped they did not hear the errant beating of his heart. “You got any identities on you?”
The man showed his identity card. His title was Chief of Police. James recognized him. The guy on the telly on the press conference. The woman also showed her identity.
“Please come in and sit.”
“Thank you.”
Inspector Linda was pleasant and smiled a lot. The man was silent. She said the talk was just routine, they had asked other people in the area. He must be aware of the three girls that had disappeared over a period of weeks and the recent one.
“Yes, I read it in the papers and watched it on telly.”
They were particularly interested in the night Tracy disappeared. Did he remember that evening?
James frowned. “Wednesday? Oh yes I remember.”
The man’s eyes were on the desktop screen. The woman kept asking questions. James narrated how he had been at his friend Godfree’s house. They had played chess and had Nandos takeaway. She took out a notebook and wrote the name and address. Now about the time he had left? He gave close to eleven. He had driven home and slept. Which road had he used? Straight home through town. Was he sure he had not taken another route? It was possible he could have forgotten. No, he hadn’t. He didn’t see a blonde girl walking on the road? No. He could not remember a thing?
Did she suspect his lie? Now the man took over. James stressed he had just gone straight home and to bed.
“That’s a real pretty screen-paper on your desktop.” The chief of police man tapped the woman on the shoulder and pointed. He stepped close to the computer. “Who’s she? Your girlfriend?”
James smiled. “Yes.”
“What’s her name?”
“Rose.”
“Just Rose? She has a surname?”
“Clarke. Rose Clarke.”
The two detectives exchanged glances.
“She stays here with you? Is she here now?”
James answered, “No, eh...she’s moved in with Godfree. I mean, she’s with him.”
“Who’s Godfree?”
“A friend of mine. We work together at the factory.”
“Your girlfriend’s living with your friend?” The man raised an eyebrow. “You mean she goes out with your friend too?”
“Eh, no. I mean me and Godfree are pals and Rose just needed a place to stay.”
“I see. You didn’t break up and then she moved in with him?”
He felt trapped. Why was this man pursuing this thing about Rose? He thought this only concerned missing girls. The man paced.
“Tell us more about Rose? Where does she work?”
“We all work together. She’s an engineer, has a doctorate in mechanical engineering.”
“Mm. She sounds very bright.”
“She’s brilliant.”
“You don’t mind her staying at your friend’s house?”
“No, Godfree’s a good pal. My best mate.”
“James, do you recall where you on Wednesday evening? That would be the twelfth?”
He perspired, held back a gasp. But the man and the woman had smiles on their faces. Were they waiting to pounce?
“Wednesday?” He frowned.
“Yes. You mind telling us where you were again?”
“How many times should I answer this? I’ve just explained that to the lady.”
“Mind telling us again.”
They suspected him for sure. How?
“I remember. Left work at six. It was a long shift. Took me half an hour to get home. Had food. No, I recall I just had some coffee at home.”
“You were at home the whole evening?”
“No. I went to visit Godfree, bought some Nandos chicken in the High Street which I took to his place. He was in. We played chess, had food. I left after eleven.”
The detectives took notes, notebooks on their laps. “You left around eleven that evening?”
“Yes.”
“And then?”
“I drove home, went to bed.”
“What time exactly?”
“11:45.”
“You got a good memory. Would you recall the route you used to get to your place?”
“As I said before the direct route through town. It’s much shorter. I already said that to her.”
The woman took over. “You wouldn’t maybe have forgotten which route exactly you used? You might have taken a different one, like say, the back road and hit the busy road.”
“No. I have already answered that. Isn’t this getting tiresome?”
“You sure you went through town?”
“I’m sure.”
“Mm. You see James, that’s where the difficulty comes in for us. Someone saw you stop on the road, said you used the longer route.”
“What?”
“Close to midnight.”
“It’s a lie! Who told you?”
“Relax James. This person saw you stop and pick a blonde girl walking on the side of the road. Said you tore off fast. The person even described your car.”
“That’s not possible!” James jumped to his feet. “I was nowhere near that road or her. Why would I kill her? I mean why would I pick a girl in my car?”
The man spoke. “Please sit, James. We’re just looking for a missing girl here. And nobody accused you of killing her. Why would you think she’s dead? Did you kill her?”
“That’s bull? Why would I?”
“But you just spoke about killing her. So where’s she?” Now his voice was steely. “She’s not lying in one of the rooms in this house chained to the wall? Or cut up in pieces and stored in a freezer?”
“I’m not a monster or cannibal! Is that what you’re insinuating?”
“No, James. No harm in us looking around the house would it? So we’re sure because the witness was so certain of your car and time. The only problem is you say you were never on that road. We’ll take a look around, even at your car and be on our way.”
“Sure. I’ll show you my rooms. There’s no girl tussled up. Hey, wait. Aren’t you guys supposed to have a search warrant?”
“Sure,” the woman said. “Here.” She handed it to him. He read.
“Satisfied?”
“Yeah, but I didn’t do anything. Who saw me?”
“How about showing us your rooms? Please lead the way.”
He did. The police exchanged a glance, stepped into his bedroom. Detective Martin looked around while the woman stood in the doorway. James’ heartbeat accelerated. He wanted to shout, “Leave my bed alone!” It was all like a horrible dream. Did the detective sense there was something hidden in this room? Why had he let them in the house to begin with? Who had tipped them? The realization hit him hard.
Godfree and Rose of course!
They had suspected him, played him for a fool. It was like a chain was wrapping itself around his neck ready to choke the life out of him. This might be what an animal felt when a python started squeezing life from it. Even if the police did not search this room, there was still the basement, that bed, pictures of the dead girls on the wall.
He had nowhere to run.
Chief Detective Superintendent Martin reached the bed, pulled a side drawer, reached inside and lifted printed pictures.
"What do we have here?"
James leapt for the door. Linda tackled him and clamped handcuffs on his wrists. James tried to break the cuffs.
“What’re you running from?” she asked.
“This is interesting, Inspector,” Chief Martin said. He was held printouts. “It’s those missing girls and a man. Each has an X written across it. James, why do you have these pictures with you? What did you do to the girls?”
He snarled, “I killed them here and buried them in a lake in the trees. You didn’t know I was the blonde abductor, did you, and they say the police are clever.”