Beyond Death (22 page)

The tray was placed on the mattress at the bottom of the bed and Mel saw the woman leave from the corner of her eye. She waited for the door to close and remained facing the wall for a few minutes before turning to sit down and face the tray. It contained sandwiches, a can of coke, a bag of crisps and an apple. Abduct me but make sure I have one of my five a day thought Mel as she debated whether to eat the food, wondering if it might be drugged. Her hunger won and she devoured it as if she hadn’t eaten for a week, not a single day. The food made her feel better initially, then the hours passed and all she could do was think. There was no doubt in her mind as to who had arranged the abduction and she remembered how distressed Drew and Alice had been after their encounter. She tried being brave and hoping for the best but lost the battle. The fear crept into every fibre of her being and she lay down and curled into the foetal position, crying and calling for her mother. Nobody heard her.

*****

DI Sparks left the school reassuring the parents that the police would do everything they could to find their daughter as soon as possible. The mother was beside herself and had reluctantly accepted comfort from the father but the DI didn’t need to be told that they were no longer together. Years in the job had made him an expert on body language and subtle nuances of human behaviour, and he could see that the mother was resentful of the father. Mind you, he thought, anyone with an IQ of one or more would be able to tell that the ex-couple still had many issues.

He’d left his best Liaison Officer at the school and she’d be able to tease out any information from the parents and teachers without causing them further distress. He didn’t yet have proof but his gut instinct told him that Big Ed was behind this although he’d been a relatively small time criminal previously. If he could get the teenagers to talk about the party earlier in the year, he’d be able to prove the connection and knew his boss would be one hundred per cent behind him. Back at the station he quickly briefed the DCI who authorized an All Points Bulletin for Edward Cathcart, AKA Big Ed. DI Sparks also arranged interviews with the parents of Drew and Alice. Alice’s parents were sympathetic but unhelpful and he was informed that they would get back to him after speaking to their daughter, and that on no account was he to attempt to speak to her before then. Even informing them about the danger Mel Sylvester was in elicited the same response, and DI Sparks left feeling frustrated and deflated. He’d called ahead to Drew’s mother who’d told him to come round straight away. He felt slightly more positive as he knocked on the door accompanied by his detective sergeant.

She smiled a weary smile and stepped aside to let them into the house. A quick glance told him that this was an affluent family and she led him into the lounge. DI Sparks noticed the computer on in the study and a few files askew on the desk.

‘I’m working from home for a while until Drew’s well enough to go back to school.’ She said and he raised his eyebrows.

‘Come and sit down and I’ll explain.’

They accepted her offer of coffee and once she brought in the drinks, she explained.

‘Drew’s not well and is currently undergoing therapy.’ They were the only people she’d told outside of her immediate family and she let out a deep sigh at the revelation. ‘Her therapist believes that her self-harming is due to a traumatic event that she’s not yet ready to talk about, but I’m beginning to think that Drew’s friend was telling the truth. And now you say she’s missing it doesn’t take a genius to put two and two together.’

Bingo! They were getting somewhere. The mother agreed that they could interview Drew as long as her therapist could be present and events moved swiftly from that point. DS James rang the therapist and he cancelled his appointments for the remainder of the day and arrived at the house within thirty minutes.

Drew was still frightened but upset when she heard that Mel was missing, knowing that if their suspicions were correct she could have prevented it. It was hard after keeping it in for so long but she told the police all that she could remember from the night of the party and her mother held her as she recalled what she could. Drew looked down and cried, feeling a mixture of shame and relief.

‘Why, oh why didn’t you tell me?’ She held her daughter and stroked her hair, wishing she could make her pain go away.

‘I’m sorry, Mum. I’m so sorry.’ The police and therapist remained silent while mother and daughter shut out the rest of the world for a few moments, Drew taking comfort from her confession at long last and from the love and warmth of her mother. The police reassured them that she would be safe. Now that the truth was out the therapist knew that the healing process could start and the police left shortly after, telling Drew’s mother that a family Liaison Officer would be allocated, and leaving DI Sparks’ contact details should she need them.

He made various calls on the way back to the station and it wasn’t long before he was able to have a chat with one of his snouts.

Chapter 14

Claire, Ron and Ken were waiting patiently for Gabriella. Ken was pacing back and forth and was extremely nervous in anticipation of his future. Gabriella had informed him that the Committee had decided to give him one final chance. He was to return to Earth for a rebirth. Although relieved that he’d escaped a future of hell, for now at least, he had mixed feelings about not being able to remember his latest life and his next one would be the only one he’d remember until his soul was sent to its final resting place. Ken was literally soul searching and hoped that he did really have a good side and that it would prevail, whatever his future life held in store. The sudden whoosh interrupted his thoughts and he closed his eyes for a few seconds to calm and prepare himself for what was to come.

Claire was the first to notice that all was not well. Instead of the usual serenity that accompanied Gabriella, she felt a sense of urgency and spoke before the others fully realized that something was up.

‘What is it?’

‘Very perceptive, Claire, you are progressing quite nicely,’ she allowed herself a small smile before turning serious. ‘But I have bad news.’

They waited and she looked at each in turn. ‘Kenneth, your rebirth has been postponed, but don’t worry, it will still go ahead.’

‘What is it?’ Claire asked again and Gabriella carried on as if she hadn’t heard.

‘The bad news concerns your new sibling, Claire. I’m afraid she’s been abducted,’ she waited for the information to sink in. ‘And they’re going to need help to rescue her.’

Claire put her hand to her mouth. She’d seen her sister on a visit with Ron, but didn’t know her. Why then did she feel a sudden surge of love for the missing girl and an overwhelming need to find and protect her?

‘I know, Claire. You do love her, but can’t understand why. It happens and it’s a perfectly normal reaction.’

Ron felt for his friend and gave her a comforting squeeze before asking how it happened.

‘She was told that her mother was taking her out of school a day before they broke up, to take her on holiday. It was a ruse of course, and she was taken shortly after she left the bus.’

Gabriella explained how the woman pretending to be Carol had arranged for Mel to go into town.

‘But why would the school allow that? What about security? And where have they taken her?’

‘Questions, questions, questions, Claire. I don’t know all the answers, yet. One of my staff was dealing with a soul and only saw the event in passing. He returned later to find out what had happened and reported back to me as soon as he could.’

‘I bet it’s Big Ed.’ Ken had remained silent until then and Gabriella nodded in agreement.

‘From the description I was given it appears so, and he has a female accomplice. Ron and Claire, I want you to go and help.’

‘But what about me?’

‘You will stay here, Kenneth until I can reorganize my schedule and send you to your new life.’

‘But what if Ron and Claire are still away when that happens? Will I see them again?’

The others tried to hide their surprise at his comments. It wasn’t as if they were besties.

‘Probably not. Well not for a good number of years hopefully, and only then if you prove acceptable to the Committee.’

Ron smiled, picking up the inference that they would only see him if he was good which meant that Claire’s final place was heaven. It was totally lost on his friend who was deep in thought, considering her sister’s circumstances he assumed.

‘We don’t know where the girl is and I want you two to find out and alert the authorities.’

‘But how...’

‘Use your initiative and your brothers of course, Claire. Now any further questions?’

They said nothing as she hadn’t answered the questions they’d already asked.

‘Good. Start at Big Ed’s location and see where that takes you. Goodbye and good luck.’ She disappeared and they quickly said their goodbyes to Ken and disappeared themselves. He was left as he was before she’d arrived, contemplating his future life, but also regretting ever meeting Big Ed.

*****

Roger missed the parties but all thoughts of the good times disappeared as he listened to the news headlines. He broke out into a cold sweat. With hand shaking he removed a red spotted handkerchief from the breast pocket of his suit and wiped his forehead. He picked up his phone to make a call but slammed it down as his secretary walked into his office.

‘What is it?’

‘You said to come in for a diary check at 2pm and it’s ten past now.’ She smiled patiently as if talking to a child.

‘Can’t you see I’m busy. We’ll do it later.’

‘Okay. Would you like a coffee?’

‘Just get out and leave me alone.’

‘Certainly.’ That was rude even by his standards and she noticed that he did look more stressed than usual. She smiled again and left the office, wondering if his wife had at long last found out that he was up to something. She didn’t know exactly what, but she did know that he had something to hide and suspected that it was both immoral and illegal.

Roger locked the door before picking up the phone and calling his three friends. They had the same reaction as him when they heard that a girl had gone missing and that the police were looking for someone fitting Edward Cathcart’s description. As Roger hung up there was a knock at the door.

‘Piss off!’ Stupid cow, how many times did he have to tell her he didn’t want to be disturbed?

‘It’s the police, Mr Lancaster. Open the door now or we’ll open it for you.’

Roger looked around, desperately. Jump out of the tenth floor window or open up to the police. It was a no brainer. He opened the door and glared at his secretary as if she were the cause of all his problems.

‘We need to talk to you as a matter of urgency,’ said DI Sparks after showing his ID. ‘Get your coat, we’re going to the Station.’ And Roger cursed the day he’d met Big Ed.

*****

Mel was struggling to breathe and it was this that woke her. It was pitch dark and she felt pressure on her throat. Still groggy from sleep, she shook her head trying to move then lifted her free hand realizing that someone was squeezing her throat. She attempted to remove the hand that was causing her pain. It was a vice-like grip and it didn’t budge. It didn’t occur to her that this might be the end and she thrashed about as much as she was able trying to break free. Suddenly, the hand moved of its own volition and a light was turned on, almost blinding her. Her eyes adjusted to the light some seconds later and she took in a sharp intake of breath when she at last recognized the face in front of her.

He leaned toward her, his face inches from hers and Mel turned her head to face away from him. He squeezed her cheeks, forcing her to face him. He smelled of stale tobacco and what she thought was whisky, combined with a sickly sweet mixture of sweat and too much aftershave lotion. She coughed and tried not to gag.

‘I’m arranging a little party for you. And you’ll be sorry. I’m saving you for them but I might have a go after they’ve finished.’ He gave her face a little slap and smiled. That was all he said before getting up from the bed and walking to the door. He winked and left the room.

Mel hugged herself with her free hand, trying to control her trembling body.

‘Mum, oh Mum. Help me, Mum.’ She cried. But nobody heard her and eventually she was cried out. Despite the fact that it was starting to get light, her exhausted body needed to rest and she fell into a fitful sleep. She dreamt of the Bogey Man that her mother had warned her about when she was young, a man she’d thought was fictional, but now she knew that he really did exist.

*****

Big Ed was nowhere to be found. The closed sign hung from the front door and a number of punters had banged on it surprised to be confronted by police who either sent them away or brought them in for questioning. The word was out that something was amiss and the more shady characters kept away from his shop. Claire and Ron had only spent a little time at his base before concluding that they wouldn’t get any information from there.

‘Where do we go next?’ Said Claire, asking herself as well as Ron.

‘We need to find out about his associates and hope that one of them can lead us to him.’

‘I know that, but how?’

Ron had no idea and was pondering their predicament.

‘The party location. We need to go there. He might have taken her there.’ Said Claire.

‘I don’t think so. Would he be that stupid?’

‘Do you have a better idea?’ It was a fair point.

Ken was surprised to see them again and greeted them as if they were long lost relatives. This is all very well, thought Claire. They were in a rush but she tried not to show him, not wanting to hurt his feelings for some reason she couldn’t fathom.

‘Yes, nice to see you too, Ken.’ She said.

Ron coughed.

‘We need the address where you used to take the girls. It may help us to locate my sister.’

He explained that there had been two separate venues and he gave them both addresses. Ron knew the areas well from his taxi driving. They said their goodbyes once again and left in a hurry.