Dave jolted himself back into the room. What was he doing? He was drifting away again. He needed to find Shirley before it was too late.
‘Elephant,’ said the voice of Stephen. ‘You found him in Elephant before.’
‘Elephant is my area,’ said the voice of Richie. ‘You’ll never find me there. I’m hidden.’
Dave stopped for a moment. The voices were trying to tell him something. It was like when he got his hunches. Now, instead of a gut feeling, he had the voices instead. It could be one theory for them. They had been right before by saying that Shirley was in danger. Perhaps instead of psychic, this was his instincts coming through in a different way. That felt better than believing Richie could read his mind. He was curious about it.
He did a search on empty buildings in Elephant. A few came up. He looked at them on the map.
‘So Richie,’ he said. ‘Tell me. Which of these buildings are you in?’
‘Why would I tell you?’ said the voice of Richie.
‘Come on Richie, you want to kill me. Let me come to you and then you can perform your magic hammer trick again.’
The voice of Richie laughed. The laughter echoed round Dave’s head and he shook it. It sounded just like in real life. He saw himself tied up in the garage again.
‘Richie, you’ll be doing yourself a favour if I come to you,’ he said.
‘You’ll find me in the place where the screams won’t be heard,’ laughed Richie’s voice.
‘Of course!’ said Dave aloud.
He zoomed in on the map to see which empty buildings were detached or not residential. He narrowed it down to two. He called Geoff over to ask if they could go look. Geoff came over to Dave’s desk and he showed him on the map.
‘It’s either this one or this one, I’m sure,’ said Dave.
As Geoff was about to reply, the Chief came in.
‘Announcement everyone!’ he said. ‘The removal van was retrieved, burnt out, in Elephant and Castle. We focus the search there.’
Dave put his hand up.
‘Which street?’ he asked.
The Chief told him and Dave nodded.
‘I think I know where he is,’ he said.
The Chief came over and Dave explained that it had to be somewhere he could torture people and not be heard.
‘I narrowed it down to these two but now with the removal van, I’d put my money on this place here,’ Dave pointed.
‘OK,’ said the Chief. ‘Let’s go people.’
‘Got you!’ said Dave.
‘Not yet,’ said the voice of Richie.
The team arrived at the empty building. They walked all around the outside.
‘There’s no sign of breaking and entering,’ said an officer.
The Chief walked all the way round.
‘No!’ he said. ‘We’re wrong. There’s no way he could get through the metal without it being noticeable. Come on team. Back to the van. We’ll think again.’
‘Wait,’ said Dave.
‘We’ll try your other suggestion,’ said the Chief.
The team moved on to another building. In the van, Dave spoke to the Chief.
‘I think we should check the inside,’ he said.
‘Do you know who owns that building?’ said the Chief.
‘Yes,’ said Dave. ‘A senior politician. Surely he would be pleased if we searched and found the killer.’
‘Not without good cause he wouldn’t. No, it has got to be a squatted building. That place has no water, no electricity. Plus there was no sign at all of entry. How would he get in and out?’
Dave sighed.
The voice of Richie laughed.
At the next building they found nothing. They could see it had been entered at some point but no one had stayed. They wasted time taking fingerprints but there were only those of known crack takers in the area. They drove back to the station with Dave sitting in angry silence.
Dave went straight back to his desk and sat down.
‘You were miracle enough,’ said Geoff. ‘Now we need another one.’
‘Why take her?’ said Dave. ‘Why not kill her there and then?’
‘She’s alive,’ said the voice of Stephen.
‘I’m going to kill her soon,’ said the voice of Richie.
Dave thought about his hunch idea. It was possible the voices were right. He decided to interrogate them.
‘Where is she?’ he asked.
‘You found her,’ said Richie’s voice.
‘You just didn’t go in,’ said Stephen.
Dave fought with himself. On the one hand they were just voices. On the other hand they were part of him.
‘You alright?’ asked Geoff.
Dave blinked at him.
‘You look like one of those crack addict squatters, you’ve got the same face on as them. Not on something are you? Drugs?’
‘Geoff I’m fine,’ said Dave. ‘I just think, I’m just convinced, that we need to look at that first office building again.’
‘OK then. I’ll drive. We’ll go now. It’s got to be better than standing round here all day thinking the worst.’
They drove to the building. Along the way, Dave pointed out where the removal van was found.
‘You see? He would have needed to walk back. This is easily walking distance.’
‘I think we might need to look again. Maybe he boarded the window back up.’
They got out of the car at the building. They walked around it together.
‘What about this window?’ said Dave.
‘It looks different from the other ones,’ said Geoff.
‘Yes,’ said Dave. ‘Where the metal is bent slightly and screwed back in.’
Geoff grimaced. He wasn’t too pleased.
‘The Chief should have got us to go in,’ he said. ‘What is wrong with him?’
‘He’s incompetent.’
‘Well, there’s a number to ring,’ said Dave. ‘Police Commission. Shirley was the only person brave enough to inform on him. I wish I had done too.’
‘Let’s get Shirley out first. I’ll call back up.’
‘No time for back up,’ said Dave.
He started to pull at the metal.
‘I’m not going in just us two,’ he said. ‘I’ve got kids. I’ll call for back up.’
‘We might not have time to wait,’ said Dave. ‘Let’s go in.’
I’m on a roll here. I’ve tied up Ms Policewoman. I’ve tied up her Mummy. No one will hear them scream. I get out of the window and put the metal in place. Down to the van and hop in. There! I drive the van a few streets away. I’ve liked driving the van. It’s cushdy. I park the van and get out my petrol. I open the hood and look inside. Ah, I pretend, the oil is low. I pour petrol over the engine. Stand back, light a match and we’re going. I’m going pretty fast. No one shouts at me. I love quiet streets. I leg it down the road and then slow up on the busy bit, like I’ve got all the time in the world. I have as well. The police are nowhere near finding me. Plus I’m going to torture all the secrets out of this little lady.
The streets are busy but the cafes aren’t. I need a busy one where no one will notice me. I walk along a bit. A man looks at me as if I’m Godzilla or something. I cross the road to get away from him. I wonder if he recognised me or if I just look funny. Best get my sandwich and get away. I stop at the nearest cafe.
‘Chicken tikka sandwich with no salad,’ I say.
The woman nods and shovels it together. There’s a TV on the news channel. I’d better see what they’ve got on me. I pay for my sandwich and sit down to watch.
‘The killer was last seen in a removal lorry in the Dulwich area. An e-fit of his disguise has been released.’
There’s a picture of me someone’s drawn. It looks a lot like me if I’m honest. I look pissing distinctive too. I leave the shop and go into the crowds by the bus stops. Good job the news says call the police and don’t approach me. I duck my head down and walk back to the hideout. I need to change my disguise. I need to get rid of the glue. I might need a mask. Everyone looks at you then but no one sees who you are. I’ll get one in the morning, rob one from the shopping centre.
I go back to the hideout. No one follows me. That’s something at least. I take off the metal and climb in. I’m in for the night now so I screw the metal in place. That way if anyone comes by, they won’t come in. Don’t want a house full of smackheads at three in the morning.
I go into the main room to see my prizes. They are still as I left them. They’ve got a table each. There they lie, Mummy flat on her back praying and Ms Policewoman looking at me with a steely eye. Yeah, wasn’t my fault I couldn’t unlock the handcuffs! Ha, now she’s on her back with her arms underneath her.
‘Is it painful, lovey?’ I say. ‘You can have a more comfortable position if you want – death.’
She frowns at me. Poor piggy.
But I need to get down to business. I have a mission here to avenge my Mum. I take out my knife. I show it to shitting Piggy.
‘Tell me who is the authority behind the murders?’
‘You are,’ she says.
‘Not my murders. Your murders. The murder of my mother and other young promising people who were sent mad and suicidal by somebody. Who orchestrated it?’
‘I can’t help you. This is part of your condition. You are paranoid and you need to realise this. This is a paranoid conspiracy theory with no truth in it.’ she says.
‘Fucking pig,’ I say.
I cut her. Not hard, just a slice across her chest. She screams. Blood trickles.
‘Tell me!’ I say.
‘You’re mad,’ she says.
She’s a tough woman. She’d rather see her mother die I see.
I walk over to her mother.
‘Please Richie,’ she says. ‘Don’t hurt her.’
I turn to face her.
‘The older people. Why are they allowed by the government to live so long? What deeds have they done? Who is involved?’
I’ve got to ask. I need to know.
‘Old people live because they eat well perhaps. I don’t know the answer but I’m pretty sure the government is not involved, except in informing them about nutrition.’
She sounds like a robot. She’s been taught to say this, brainwashed. She probably believes it herself.
I turn to Mummy. I’m going to cut her. I’m going to, but Ms Piggy can’t see me. I need her to see me.
‘Come on Piggy,’ I say. ‘We need to roll you over.’
I tip the table on the side. She bangs to the floor. Jarring! She won’t escape. I’m certain of that at least. I tip Mummy over too. Now they can see each other and say their last goodbyes.
‘Say “Goodbye Mummy”,’ I say.
Tears now. Tears from both of them.
‘I love you so much,’ says Mummy.
‘I love you too,’ says Piggy. ‘I’m so sorry, Mum. I’m so sorry.’
Yuck. I have to listen to this.
‘Silence,’ I say.
I stand behind Mummy’s table and lean over. The knife is to her throat.
‘Tell me or she dies right now in front of you,’ I say.
All I get is tears. Loud pissing tears.
‘Tell me!’ I say.
‘I wish I knew. I wish I had the answers you need. I don’t,’ she says.
I think that’s what she said. She’s hard to understand with all the crying.
‘Last chance,’ I say.
I go to cut Mummy. I’ve got the knife held tight. I jump. I drop the knife. What is that noise?
I go to the window and listen. It’s the police. They’re outside. I can hear them sniffing round the building. I need to get Piggy and her Mummy out of here.
‘You’re dead if you don’t obey me,’ I say.
I untie Piggy first. She’s handcuffed so can’t go far. Then I untie Mummy.
I hold the knife to Mummy’s throat.
‘Walk,’ I say to Piggy.
It’s dark in the hideout and I can’t use the torch and the knife.
‘Forward, then right,’ I say.
Piggy obeys.
We walk up the stairs.
‘Keep going to the top,’ I say.
Piggy is looking less worried. Probably thinks her pissy buddies are going to save her. They won’t. I’ll see to that.
At the top floor, I know there’s cupboards. I put them both in a cupboard. I shut them in. I tie it round and round with string. Piggy ain’t going far.
I set off down the stairs again. I reckon they’ll boot the door in. They usually go for the doors. I stand to the left of the main door. I hold my knife up. I’ll catch them off guard. I’ll kill a few that way.
I listen and wait.
They’re talking outside.
‘No sign of breaking and entering,’ I hear.
‘No – this isn’t the place.’ I hear.
I stay very quiet. It’s funny listening in to them. The idiots can’t see what is going on here. They don’t know about breaking and entering. None of them has ever tried.
Seems like ages I’m waiting here. Waiting to hear if they come back. I hear a car drive off. Yeah, that’s them. They’ve gone. Here I am, alone with Piggy and Mummy.
I get that strange feeling again. The feeling like the place is against me. I ask my Mum for support from the afterlife.
‘I’m avenging you Mum,’ I say.
There’s no answer. Still, I can’t help feeling I’m going to die in this place. It isn’t a good feeling. The good die young. Richie will die young. I’m not ready.
‘I’m not ready!’ I say to the building.
But it is good the pigs have gone. I’m safe for now. I set off up the stairs. I’m going to retrieve my hostages. Ms Policewoman is not telling me anything. I know that now. Even with a knife to Mummy’s throat, she still didn’t tell. The quicker I kill her the better.
I head up the stairs with my knife.