Authors: Lee Cockburn
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Taylor shone her torch on the lodge; the whole front window was in a thousand pieces. Her heart raced at what she might see within these walls. She had spotted toys outside the chalet
and hoped that everybody had escaped with their lives. Marcus searched the bedrooms, his guts churning at the thought of a dead child within, his thoughts with his own beautiful little boy having to endure this beast that they all hunted. His heart skipped into happiness as the rooms revealed no horror, just empty beds and the signs of a hasty retreat, all belongings abandoned where they lay - toys, clothes, full glasses of wine, nibbles and signs of the normal enjoyment of their holiday, up until the unexpected visit from Brennan. Marcus returned to Taylor with a smile, the first of the night. “There’s nobody here boss. Something changed his mind. It’s not like him not to maim and torture people.”
“He’s seen her from here - Susan! We saw her and so did he. Fuck! We’ve got to get over there now. We have to get to her and help her.”
“There must be other boats around here, Marcus. You could hot wire the best one, none of these shitty little fishing boats.”
“I’ll see what I can do but we need to move on this one. He’s got nothing to lose.”
Taylor relayed on the radio the possible movement of Susan and John and her team’s next objective. The control room also confirmed that Fran and Andrew had been successfully airlifted from the area and that they were heading for the nearest hospital.
Fran broke down as the paramedics knelt in front of her, her face swollen beyond recognition, her body aching all over and her pride shattered beyond recognition. Her weakness she perceived had been opened up in front of everyone - her colleagues, Taylor and worst of all, him!
Andrew’s warm face gazed at her, his eyes offering her a knowing comfort, his face the double of hers. Their eyes met full on and there at that moment they understood exactly what the other felt and what they had been forced to endure. He moved over to her side, the noise of the helicopter deafening them. They sat in silence and Andrew put his arm round her shoulder, not a bit intrusively, just that of someone who genuinely cared and understood, offering purely comfort. They shared a moment together, both of them worried for those they cared for. Fran had watched one of the strongest cops she’d ever known being brutally slain with relative ease. How safe was Taylor, and poor Susan? Both Fran and Andrew hurt in every way as they
flew over the woods and only then did they realise how remote this place was. The irony of Susan and Andrew’s choice for their remote escape now very clear. It was the worst place on earth they could have ever gone. Andrew put his head in his hands. He hoped with all his heart that Susan would make it and that the police would deal with this vile creature, permanently.
Susan made her way through the trees as fast as she could, her head throbbing with exhaustion, her legs aching with the effort of running for so long. Her already damaged body was cut all over, blood oozing from the wounds and her heart hadn’t stopped pounding for hours. She was starting to think it was going to just stop altogether some time soon.
Officers arriving were sent to the opposite side of the loch in an attempt to intercept Susan. They were armed and
well-trained
. All had specialist knowledge and equipment. The chopper floated above them but would be unable to set down anywhere close by due to the extensive tree coverage. The heat seeking equipment was lighting up all over the place on both sides of the loch. GPS alerts for all the cops lit the screen like
fireflies
, with only one obvious extra but who was it?
John’s boat thundered into the shore, cutting deep into the pebbles. He stood up and stared at Susan’s much less powerful boat, smiling at the realisation he would have gained some time on her.
Poor choice, stupid cow! Do you want me to fucking gut you like a pig, because you’re going the right way about it? You’ve just left all of your friends behind you
. He was totally unaware of the new
arrivals on his side of the loch and that time was running out for him too. Officers in decent numbers were heading to where the boats had landed on the shore.
Taylor and Marcus took another boat from the jetty and it rumbled into life, heading straight towards where they thought Susan should have landed. She had at least 20 minutes on them. They had just left the lodge as it was, no cordon, as everyone was needed for the hunt to save Susan; the evidence there could wait and the family that were in the lodge were now in safe hands.
John yelled out like a wild animal, almost goading them to find him, but he also wanted to frighten Susan into giving her position away. He hoped the terror within her would finally give way and he would have her once more.
Susan listened to him bellow out through the night, the cold silence causing his voice to reverberate off every tree; it clung to the air like hideous rotting flesh and echoed through the night. She ran faster and faster, unaware of every branch that ripped her already torn skin. Every new cut on her feet failed to burn anymore, she wanted to live, to survive, to get away from him. His cold voice gave her the motivation to try even harder to escape, even more than before. She never wanted to set eyes on him ever again.
Four police cars were parked in a small clearing in the trees, their spot inconspicuous, all of the officers who had just arrived now making their way through the woods towards the position recently given by Taylor, whose boat was only just landing near to the other two. One officer was left to watch over the police vehicles. He was armed and well warned of the danger presented by John Brennan. He was alert and twitchy at the possibility of coming face to face with him. The cop didn’t even consider he might come off second best, he was just running through how he would kill Brennan if he came anywhere near him. He wasn’t frightened, just itching to get a bit of action.
John knew how the heat seeking equipment worked. The trees were perfect for him. Every time the bird went over, he had already sought the most crooked, large trunked and well branched tree to cling to in the hope that all of him would be covered by it,
‘cause once they get a glimpse of you, old son, they’ll cling to you like shit on your shoe and lead the others right to you.
Blood spattered the windshield like water spraying up from
a puddle with force. A shot rang out in the night and the uniformed muscled body slumped to the floor, a bullet hole clean through his head, brain matter scattering all over the bonnet of the cop car. His skip cap flipped through the air with the force of the bullet. He had only looked down at his perfectly polished boot for a second. His eyes had been focused on his surroundings all of the time before that. A moment off the ball and his life had ended with heartless ferocity.
Susan scampered through the trees and clambered up a hill covered in fern and thistle. A clearing revealed a small single track road, the first she’d seen since she’d escaped from their tranquil, luxury lodge. Tears flooded her eyes, sadness for poor Andrew filling her heart.
Did he die saving me? Did he die because I wanted to get so far away from everyone? I played right into his hands; stupid, stupid, stupid
. Her mind allowed her to feel that she might just have made it. She heard a crack in the trees 40 to 50 metres back. She panicked and scurried silently up the road. Southwards, as she thought that would lead towards where she believed there was a slightly bigger road and a heightened chance of escape. There might be someone there to help her, more police. T
here have to be more police
, she thought. She knew there were cops everywhere, but he was also out there.
Why can they not just find me, now?
Her eyes raised up as she heard the vehicle coming towards her. Eyes blurred with tears she felt total exasperation. Focusing hard, she saw the light box on top of the car, the driver had a marked cap on his head and a radio on his lapel was lit up in receipt of a call. A slight smile curled at the side of her mouth and she felt her body weaken with the anticipation of being rescued.
Susan raised her arms over head and stepped out into the road, waving for attention, and the car slowed down. The passenger door swung open and a soft voice said, “Quick! Get in - he’s close by.” Susan did what was asked of her without hesitation and a large muscular arm reached across her and closed the door. The feeling of relief welling within her was short lived though, when the voice in the car changed to a very familiar one, one that sent terror straight through her heart.
She barely dared to look up, her stupidity at falling so easily into his hands after what she had just been through burnt her
deeply; she should have noticed there was only one officer there. Why would that be? Because he wasn’t an officer, that’s why.
Her eyes clouded over as his hand gripped her mouth and nose so tightly that she felt her head was going to explode. “Welcome back Susan. We’ve got some unfinished business to attend to.”
She slumped onto the seat unconscious and he viciously shoved her further down towards the floor and out of sight for those who may have looked in on them. The car moved slowly off, lights on and driving carefully round the winding road. He thought the chopper would have followed but they obviously hadn’t found the body of the cop yet so he moved away in plain sight, totally unchallenged. Several miles passed and he came to a junction and turned slowly right onto a two way carriageway. He moved off and saw his first car, then another and another. He flicked on the blues and pulled over the next car, smiling when he realised it was a woman at the wheel. She looked up and asked, how can I help you, officer?”
Her face whipped round as his fist slammed against her cheek. She fell out cold straight away, jaw clearly broken and blood pouring from her mouth. He dragged her to the police car and threw her into the back seat before dragging Susan’s limp body over to his new wheels - a nice four by four with plenty of space for both of them. He lifted Susan up like a bag of potatoes and shoved her on the floor of the passenger side. He turned the ignition and started to drive, happy that he had survived and that he had got what he came for, a great twist of fate after he’d thought it was all over for him. He turned onto the nearest field, cutting across as many drivable fields as he could without the lights on, this enabling him to miss the arterial and minor route road blocks that the police had set up.
Where now?
He thought as he headed back to Edinburgh. He had stripped the woman of all of her personal belongings to slow down the police in finding out, who she was and what car she may have owned, that’s if she didn’t come round too soon. He’d dump this car soon too and steal the next one he came across as that wouldn’t be discovered till morning and he’d be long gone by then.
“Officer down,” rang out on the radio. “A police vehicle is unaccounted for, I think Brennan has fled the scene. Get the
helicopter to trace 79’s GPS. Track that fucking car. NOW!!” The cop’s voice was shaky and quite obviously angry; he had found his friend lying there with his head blown out. The sight had quite clearly got to him and his words revealed an emotion that he rarely showed at work. He also requested an ambulance even though he knew that there was no chance to save his partner, but how he wished the opposite.
Taylor could not believe what she was hearing on the radio. “How the fuck did that happen? How did he get a set of wheels? I bet he’s not just escaping. He’s probably got Susan as well. Marcus! He’s got her, he’s fucking got her.”
“Calm down! How do you know that for sure?”
“I know that bastard wouldn’t leave here alone just to save himself. He’s fucking got her and wants time and privacy to do it right this time. He’s going to make a show of it.”
“Really? Do you think he’s that bright and thought this through?”
“I do, Marcus, and we’ve got to save her. We can’t let her down, not after what he’s put her through and for Fran, Steve and the other armed response officer”
“We’ll have to confirm it though, boss. We can’t just leave on a hunch!”
Taylor called over the radio. “To all sets, rendezvous point the following coordinates. Then could the chopper do a sweep of this portion of the woods with the heat seeker and confirm or not whether there is anyone else here with us? Susan wouldn’t hide. She should be clearly visible.”
Everyone gathered together. The time delay frustrated Taylor as she just wanted to go. All of them had to make their way back to the vehicles first, and that would be no easy feat. A crackled message came over the radio, “Negative for the first sweep. There appear to be no extra bodies other than those that have been plotted.”
That was enough for Taylor. She rounded up her group, two less than she’d come with, and left those from the local area to deal with the evidence gathering at all of the multiple crime scenes throughout the once peaceful woods.
The car rumbled away, his newly stolen vehicle perfect for the task at hand. This time it was a Land Rover, one big enough to hide his victim with ease. John thought hard about where he could go, what would be the best ending for his prized possession and tonight’s events. He’d read about a lot of successful and powerful women in his time but was now a bit lost as to where he could go. The last thing he wanted was to be captured without having his party first. He grinned as he thought up a suitable and sinister ending for those that had cost him so much, all of them.
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Inspector Findlay came over the radio with his brash and intrusive manner, “Phone me, Sergeant Nicks, at your earliest opportunity.”
“Fuck! How did that prick get hold of this so soon? I thought he’d be in his bed.”
“Good news travels fast,” Marcus sighed.
Taylor dialled the inspector’s number and Marcus could tell instantly that she was getting a roasting at the end of the phone,
being blamed for others that she did not have control over back there at the scene. They had been a totally separate unit that had only just joined them and probably hadn’t grasped just how cunning Brennan was and how ruthless he could be when trapped.
Her face got redder and redder, anger etched across it as she was ordered to return to Edinburgh and stand down from the enquiry. Others would be taking over the lead from now on as the bosses were on his case and he couldn’t allow for any more failures. “How the fuck did you let that bastard get away, and where the fuck has he gone? He couldn’t just have disa-
fucking-peared
,” Findlay yelled down the line. Everyone in the van heard it and felt for Taylor; it wasn’t through her lack of trying or the commitment of everyone present that they’d failed.
Findlay didn’t seem to care a damn about those who wouldn’t be coming back tonight. There was silence after the phone clicked off, mouths agape with his decision to stand their boss down.
Taylor threw her radio on the dash board. “Fucking fat bastard,” the silence now broken as she shouted, “We’re off the fucking case as from now. What the fuck does he know? Nothing! Stupid twat! He knows fuck all about how it works out in the field, the useless fat desk jockey.”
Marcus kept quiet along with the rest of the team.
“Oh, and all operational statements regarding your involvement in the whole case have to be completed and forwarded to the replacement team by the end of your duty tonight. Arsehole! That will take bloody hours. Who needs sleep!”
The drive back was silent and very uncomfortable. It was tinged with sadness for the two dead cops and for poor Fran - for her ordeal and the humiliation and degradation she had endured for all to see - and for Andrew and poor Susan. To even contemplate a repeat of anything she had suffered before was incomprehensible.
John pulled into an unfamiliar road but he knew the number of the house where he intended going. The road had cars parked on both sides and was lit by orange lamps, leaving a sinister glow on the silent street; there was no movement anywhere and no lights on as John parked the stolen car.
He left Susan inside and went to the door of the house, a modest dwelling in a decent part of Edinburgh. The house looked pretty secure as he made his way round the back. One
hopper window on the second floor was open. He knew he would be able to get in.
“Thank you once again for your help,” he muttered.
As everyone arrived back at Fettes HQ, there was a little more chat but, not the usual banter, just general chat about families and partners who had not been seen for days. Everyone was oppressively tired from the events of the night and the journey home. They were all dirty and stank of stale sweat. Many headed for the showers before they sat down at their desks to begin their marathon typing sessions to complete their operational statements.
Taylor leant back on her seat, tired and despondent at the way that she and her team had been treated after what they’ d been through.
We have worked our asses off for this enquiry and risked our bloody lives and just because there was a little heat from the top, instead of standing up for us, that weak minded fool felt he had to take some sort of action. The wrong action, of course,
she thought to herself.
Some civilian staff were still working late in the building. She looked over anxiously, guiltily, at Kay’s seat, which was empty.
Why’s she not here today? God if I’d only phoned her, been civil and respectful and given her her place, I would know what’s going on with her now. Fool! What a fool I’ve been
. Taylor put her face in her hands and shut her eyes. She could feel the sadness welling up inside her again, everything overwhelming her tired senses.
Taylor jumped as two hands gently clasped round her eyes, a scent of pure beauty surrounding her. The familiarity and the instant affection she felt left her in no doubt who this was. The touch of the hands was tender and caring, not that of someone who no longer cared; Taylor could feel a familiar stir within. She swung round on her seat and her flushed face melted into a smile. She stood up and gave Kay a warm and loving hug, one that would be given to any friend but that had a hidden portion of affection only they were aware of. Marcus looked up at them. It was different for him; he knew the score and he smiled a knowing smile at the genuine warmth in their shared embrace.
Kay just stood and looked at Taylor before saying in a seductively loving voice, “You stink, lady.” She flicked her hair back over her shoulders and laughed aloud. “You all stink.” Her tone was jovial and kind. The rest of the team smiled and acknowledged her. She wasn’t wrong; they did stink.
Everyone went back to typing their statements and Kay continued
to gaze at Taylor. “I was really worried about … about us, about everything.”
Her eyes were a little hurt and fragile, although she still held eye contact in a loving way.
“You could’ve called me, though. I do realise it’s difficult being in a squad but all I needed was a one liner to let me know you were still okay and we were still okay.”
Taylor’s eyes dropped only a little as she replied, “Why wouldn’t we be alright?” Her response was calm and said as innocently as she could, trying not to arouse any suspicion.
Kay put her hand up to Taylor’s cheek and stroked it downwards in a warm and loving manner, not caring who was watching, before going to her desk. Taylor questioned herself. Why had she had done what she did with Fran? Had Kay noticed the guilt in her eyes because Taylor certainly felt it!
Kay sat back at her desk. She knew that Taylor was hiding something, her forced response obvious to another woman. She didn’t know quite what it was but there was something amiss.
She picked up her phone and messaged: “Yours or mine? We need to catch up on everything, and I need what you have to offer me - all of it!”
Taylor lifted her phone, and read the text. Guilty or not, she still loved Kay and wanted her more than ever. She smiled and raised her eyebrow and then her eyes and looked over at Kay, lust now filling her body and her heart still full of love for Kay. Just the thought of going home for a shower would be classed as a tempting invite.
She texted back, “Mine! I want you so much, x”
Kay smiled over and replied, “Not without a week in that bath first, stinky, x”
Taylor lowered her head and began to type furiously. Her mind was all over the place. Her anger had now gone and being off the case until someone saw sense wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened. Everyone was totally worn out and showing the strain of two murders and a serious assault on a colleague. Taylor squirmed as she remembered her illicit rendezvous in the hotel lift with Fran.
Poor Fran, I hope she’s okay. I hope someone is there for her. Does she have a partner? Hmmm, I don’t really know her that well.