The Escape (Detective Jane Sparrow Book 2) (8 page)

Jane headed out the door and down the stairs that led to the underground parking lot where Eric should be waiting. Scarily when Jane made it down the whole parking garage was eerily quiet and empty. Because all the residents had been cleared out earlier and had not returned yet it caused goosebumps to spike on the back of Jane’s neck, as it was an unusual sight. She turned to check that her escorting officers were there. Even more nerve wracking than it being so quiet was the fact that Eric was nowhere to be seen. As Jane was about to head further into the car park her escorting officers both placed their hands on her shoulders.

              “Just one moment mam. Were radio through to him instead.”

The two officers tried several times to radio through to Eric when they were almost ready to give up, and they were just suggesting about driving Jane back to the station themselves for safety aspects, when he finally responded with an I’m over here. Where he meant by over here Jane had no idea. There was something in Eric’s voice, as well that Jane didn’t like. It was causing her to be nervous and cautious. They all ventured further forward into the parking lot to have a better look round when they spotted Eric over in the corner. Crouching but almost collapsed on the floor next to what looked like a body. Jane started to run towards Eric filled with panic as to who it was and how it could of happened. As she was running Eric started to shout out.

              “Jane, stop wait you don’t want to see this.”

“Eric, who is it, what has happened? What’s going on what don’t I want to see?”

But it was too late Jane had not stopped in time she saw. There was Jack splayed out on the floor. Jane couldn’t believe what she was seeing how had this happened. But either way it had. Jack was gone. He was dead.

Chapter 7

Jane collapsed on the ground next to Eric she couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t understand how it could of happened. There was a five street perimeter. How did Thaddeus get inside the area to kill Jack? Unless, no that was an even scarier thought, what if, what if he had never left Jane’s apartment block after he delivered the body. What if he was still here watching, waiting, getting off on all the fear and panic caused by his bombs and now the murder of a fellow colleague? Eric who had been working closely with Jack in the last few months looked bereft with grief. He was more than distraught. He had really taken a shine to the young Jack and had taken him under his wing. Jack who was the youngest member of their team still had so much enthusiasm for life and his work. He really felt the police force could make a difference. Jane knew she needed to focus her brain more dwelling on the loss of Jack was not going to honour his memory or do him justice. But it was so hard to get her brain to focus when the cloud of grief had engulfed every ounce of Jane. But with Jacks belief that the police force could change the world for the better she had to make sure that he hadn’t died in vain. Jane reached into her pocket and pulled out her mobile phone. She called back to the station to tell the rest of the team that they needed to drop everything they were doing and get back here. They asked questions but Jane did not want to tell them the circumstances over the phone. She just told them there had been an emergency with a member of their team and they needed to hurry. Jane’s escorting police officers radioed through for backup from the perimeter line that no longer needed to be held. Two units were the first to respond and were there within minutes. There was a lot more of a police presence at the perimeter line that was no longer needed and they were all doing the job of slowly letting the people back safely in the area. Jack who was still laying in the same position as when Eric found him had now since long passed. But Jane could not bring herself to take a closer look at any injuries he may have had. Dave the coroner was still upstairs collecting the body of the victim that they had been called here for first. They needed to know the cause of death and any answers that they could get from Jack so that they could lay his body to rest like he deserved.

“Can someone go get the coroner please?”

One of the extra police units that had arrived obliged and went up to notify the coroner and to collect him to come downstairs to have a look. Eric was still sitting there with blood on his hands from when he had first found Jack and tried to revive him. And with no shame tears ran down his face. They both continued to sit there in silence both too shocked to say or do anything else. The police officers that were there to escort Jane were getting more and more apprehensive at the situation and had almost got every other unit available to come stand guard around Jane. They each had their hands on their sidearm weapons poised at the ready just in case. They all looked just as shell shocked and distraught at the sight of the death of a fellow police officer. Even though most of them had never worked with Jack or knew him well at all. The coroner had arrived down from upstairs. His two assistants were carrying the body of Helen Moore over to his vehicle. Dave had came over to them with a slight look of confusion he began to speak about what do we mean by a second body when he took one look at Jane and Eric on the floor and then looked round them to see who they were both shielding and crying over.

              “Oh no Jack”

Dave knelt down and first went about checking the vital signs of Jack. But Jane knew it was too late. Dave began his initial examination and started muttering to himself about injuries, trauma and suggested cause of death but it was too much to bear witness to for herself and Eric. They both got up to move further away. Jane pulled Eric into a hug any form, just some form of comfort. They stood like that for several moments neither of them wanting to let go of the other for fear of complete collapse when the rest of the team arrived. Perry, the Superintendent and the chief warden had also arrived on scene. They saw the grief as clear as day on Jane and Eric’s faces and the realisation of the situation hit them. They all quickly started out scanning the area looking for Jack the one member of their team that was missing. Amy was the first to spot the scene of the coroner Dave Berry leaning over the body of their fallen colleague and she could not control or hold back the sob. Ian was next to follow who without delay pulled Amy into a tight loving embrace filled with comfort and tenderness. Perry came over and Eric released Jane. He pulled her tight into his body wanting to keep her safe. But as he kept one arm firmly tight around Jane’s waist letting her rest her head into his shoulder. She continued to let out the deep wracks of grief that were building inside. Perry placed one hand on Eric’s shoulder out of respect and to still offer the man some form of comfort at the loss of his co-worker. The chief warden from the prison stood in shock at the scene as the realisation of the mess he had created settled in.

              “I’m so sorry. I can’t believe this is happening. I cant believe one man has done all of this is no more than a day.”

The Superintendent gave him a look of such disgust that the warden backed up and almost tried to disappear into the wall that he was standing in front of. The Superintendent who had not shed a tear at this point and probably never would in public was absolutely apoplectic with anger. He started demanding answers from anyone and everyone. Jane knew that it was his way of coping. The Superintendent needed to feel like he was doing something. So he began to bark orders and questions at people. That was one thing Jane prided her Superintendent on. He carried all his colleagues and staff with high regard and wanted them safe at all times when in the field. Jane knew he was absolutely outraged when she had been kidnapped and now this. Jane knew that the Superintendent was feeling it more now than before because he had been working so closely with her team over the last few months and had a great working relationship with all of the members. And had even found a new kind of respect for Perry. Dave had finished his initial on site examination of Jack and he came over.

              “I’ll get crime scene down here they are going to need access to the scene as it is before I can move him. I’m very sorry for all of your loss if it helps I think he went quickly.”

All Jane could muster for a response was a nod. The rest of the team were also all still wrapped up in their own grief to give Dave much more of a response and the Superintendent was still off shouting at people. So Perry was the one to respond.

              “Thank you Dave.”

              “Yeah sure thing a real shame he was a great kid and an even better police officer. He will be missed.”

The Superintendent Andrew Walden had pulled enough street cops over to shout at and started barking orders about Jane needing a police escort even more. He instructed them that they needed to search the whole apartment block. The cordoned off area was not allowed to be opened until that had been done and that they had a better clue as to how Thaddeus had got in and out. Jane’s apartment building has CCTV on the parking garage level so the Superintendent was dictating to some frightened looking beat cop to access the tapes and get them to forensics so they could search for him.

              “Perry I want you to take Jane now somewhere safe. Ian, Amy and Eric you may also go home.”

              “Sir who is going to do the family notification for Jack?”

              “Oh yes I ummm I suppose that will fall to me to do not a problem I will take care of it Eric.”

              “Well I was wondering sir if I may come with you I have met Jack’s girlfriend Annie and both his parents Kath and Roy. I would umm like to be there to offer my regards.”

              “Yes Eric that may actually be best if you come. Your presence will be welcome on such a grim visit. Being a friend of the family may help make their grief less unbearable in front of us. The rest of you go home get some rest. Grieve for Jack he was a valid member of this team. And tomorrow we will come back and catch the son of a bitch that did this. I’ll see you all tomorrow.”

Ian still hadn’t let Amy out of his bear hug grip. Amy was still sobbing her chest wracking with such grief stricken sobs. Jane by this point still had a steady flow of tears streaming down her face but she had become slightly number from shock at this point. She placed a hand firmly on Ian’s shoulder and he looked at her with such grief and understanding, he knew she needed the comfort of her best friend as well. As he let go of Amy Jane pulled her friend tightly in for a cuddle and tried to comfort and soothe her friend from her tears like Amy had done for her so many times before. Even more sweetly Perry had taken hold of Ian’s hand and almost had him in half a hug helping to hold Ian up from his own sense of loss. Jane realised he wasn’t just holding on to Amy so tightly to soothe her but to make himself feel better. They all stood round in a circle comforting each other in their sense of loss and feeling guilty that it had been left down to Eric and the Superintendent to make the family notification. As they stood as a team and watched the two walk over to their car and leave for Jack’s parents house a few moments ago the look of sorrow and apprehension on both of their faces was to much to bare to look at.

              “Jane come on we should be leaving. Dave will take care of Jack now; there is nothing else you can do here. We should all get home.”

“Ok Amy, Ian are you both going to be ok?”

              “Yeah were be fine were go home together. Don’t forget to notify your escorting police officers Jane, let them know your leaving. Have you got everything else you need for the night?”

              “Yeah I picked all that up from my flat earlier were all set to go.”

              “Ok good be safe the pair of you and were see you in the morning at the station.”

“You two be safe as well stay together.”

With that Ian thanked Perry and took Amy’s hand from the Detective and placed his other hand comfortably around her back and headed her off over to their car. Amy still had a full stream of tears going. Jane just hoped that the pair of them were going to be safe she couldn’t stand the thought of any one else in her team getting hurt when this maniac really wanted to get to her. If she could of saved Jack by going to Thaddeus she would of done it. Jane never wanted anyone to die for her or get hurt because of her. Jane and Perry headed over to their awaiting car and the escorting police officers that had been with Jane all day were quick to follow along with three other units that were hovering close by.

              “Were all to escort you to your location for the night mam. As my colleague and myself have been on duty all day we will escort you with the rest of these officers and then we are to clock off for the evening. There will still be your two units parked up out front and then the extra unit is to be posted at your door there will be random shift changes throughout the night under orders from the Superintendent.”

“Ok Thank You.”

              “Not a problem mam and were all deeply sorry for the loss of PC Jack Collins.”

With that he nodded at Jane and walked back over to his awaiting unit car ready to follow when Jane and Perry left. Jane and Perry drove in silence Jane didn’t even bother to ask where they were going to be staying for the night. Perry kept one hand resting firmly on her thigh to let her know he was still there while he was driving. Jane couldn’t help but cry still the overwhelming guilt that Jack had been murdered because Thaddeus was coming after her was overwhelming. The sense of loss as well Jack was a valid member of their team that always knew how to lift all their spirits with his witty banter and was like to Jane a personal assistant. As much as Amy was the PC that Jane worked the most closely with Jack was always the one that collected Jane’s messages and mail, put a hot cup of coffee on her desk in the morning, helped calibrate her files so they made sense. Simple things that Jane knew she was going to be lost without and make her every day feel the loss of PC Jack Collins. Jane knew she was going to need to stop crying at some point her eyes were puffy and stinging and like always her head was pounding. Jane hadn’t even realised that Perry was already pulling into the car park of a hotel she had been too lost in her misery. Jane couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed them pulling into this place. The hotel was so grand and picturesque. It was a building with ivy growing up the side. It looked like an old manor house that had been converted. Jane felt exceptionally underdressed and ashamed at the fact that she must look like a right mess. The hotel looked liked something out of a magazine and Jane was going to be walking in looking like she had been dragged through a hedge backwards.

              “Jane? Are you ready to get out? Were at the hotel.”

“Oh right yeah have we got to stop at the reception to check in or anything? I must look a mess. I don’t think I can face talking to other human beings right now.”

              “Don’t worry I will deal with us checking in you just find yourself somewhere to sit down still ok. The police unit that is going to be inside with us is probably going to need to notify the reception as well.”

“Ok I’ll let them know.”

The unit that had been with Jane all day let her know that they were going to do a lap round the hotel car park and grounds and then check out for the night. Jane thanked them and went off to speak to the other three awaiting police units. The two officers that were going to be placed outside Jane’s hotel room for the night’s guard duty followed herself and Perry through to the hotel lobby. Jane went and took a seat on the armchair that Perry pointed out while himself and the officers went to deal with the receptionist. The ever so helpful receptionist only took a few moments to organise everything. She checked them in and decided it would be better to move them room from the one that had been assigned to them earlier. She gave them a room at the end of the hall closest to an emergency escape exit just in case and moved them to a quieter floor. There were only two other rooms occupied on the floor of the hotel that they had been placed on. Perry came over and collected their belongings and helped Jane from the armchair that she was comfortably waiting in. He managed to collect all their bags in one hand and wrapped the other arm around Jane’s back to be able to steer her in her half stupor to their room. As they made their way into the room the two police officers that were on guard duty settled in for the night, the hotel had been kind enough to provide them with chairs to sit on. They took their places on either side of the door. Jane on the other hand couldn’t believe their hotel room for the night, or rather hotel suite. The room that she had walked into looked like something out of a magazine for famous people, it was absolutely gorgeous, it was nicer than her apartment. Which on that thought made Jane realise that she wanted to sell her home, it no longer had the same appeal after it had had a dead body delivered to her doorstep. The other thought that Jane couldn’t shake is how did Thaddeus know where she lived. Jane didn’t believe that Thaddeus had ever been privy to that information. Even when he had posed as a case consultant psychologist and linguistic expert he still hadn’t been told it. As Jane stood in the safety confines of the hotel room looking around at the bewildering sight of the room she was in she could feel the heat pouring of Perry standing behind her watching her.

              “Come baby let me run you a bath. It will help you relax.”

Jane followed Perry through into the bathroom, which was expansive in size and had the most glorious bathtub that Jane had ever seen. In the centre of the room stood a gorgeous roll top bath sat with brass fixings and expensive ornate looking bottles of bubble bath and smellies that sat on the side. Perry placed the stopper in the bottom and turned the hot tap on full blast and added an exquisite smelling fragranced bubble bath and started to pull of his clothing. All Jane could do was stand there and stare.

              “Come baby bathe with me.”

Jane complied and removed her clothing and stepped into the warm bathtub with Perry. As she laid back and let the water cascade over her body and rested her head against Perry’s chest the emotions of the day were still running high and she couldn’t help but let the tears start flowing again.

              “Sshh baby let it out it’s ok, it’s all ok your safe everything is going to be ok. Your safe your ok and I know you none of this is your fault so no blaming yourself. You’re not the one that killed Jack. Thaddeus did and we will make him pay. Just remember that. Sshh baby.”

Jane lay there without saying a word letting the comfort of Perry and the heat of the bath soothe her. Letting her mind drift off and relax into a bliss that Jane didn’t think was possible after a day like the one that she had had. Before Jane had even realised Perry had to wake her to get her out the bathtub.

              “Come sweetie let’s get out the bath and go to bed you’re exhausted.”

Jane and Perry stepped out of the bath and dried. Perry wrapped Jane in the most cashmere soft dressing gown as her skin had began to prickle in the coldness of the room after soaking in the warm bath. He guided her over to the edge of the bed and they slipped in. Perry was nestled in behind Jane and Jane cozied herself down into the safe embrace and enclosure of his arms. And Jane drifted of to sleep.

Chapter 8

Jane awoke in a cold sweat and looked over to her bedside stand where the digital clock the hotel had provided was standing. On it said that it was only three in the morning. The cold sweat that Jane had broken out in had been caused by another nightmare; different from any she had had before. Instead of being about memories from when Thaddeus had kidnapped and tortured her
, it was now him standing over the dead body of Jack laughing at her because all she could do was stand there and cry. And the lady that Thaddeus had hung from a tree was swinging in the background shouting abuse at Jane for being an incompetent police officer. And a horrible human being for letting other people die for her. The whole nightmare was taunting Jane and getting into her head to throw her off her game, which was exactly what Thaddeus liked to do. It was only as Jane began to wake more and calm from her nightmare that she was able to take in the details of her hotel room and realise the fact that she was now alone in the bed. Where had Perry gone?

“Perry, Perry where are you?”

Jane lay there expecting him to walk out the bathroom and tease her for panicking when he had only gone to the toilet but to Jane’s surprise he walked back in from the hallway.

“Is everything ok? Why were you outside the room?”

              “It’s ok I hope I didn’t wake you. I’ve dealt with it all now everything is fine. Your guard officers outside were having a bit of a disagreement with a man trying to get access to our floor. But your more than safe it wasn’t Thaddeus. The hotel security and staff came and dealt with it everything is fine.”

“Oh ok. I woke up anyway from a dream and then found you gone. So I panicked my fault for being silly.”

              “No, not your fault, nothing is your fault. I saw you were still asleep and I didn’t want to wake you for no reason. It’s fine let’s go back to bed if you’re ready? Or you can tell me about your dream if you need to.”

“No it was nothing let’s just go back to sleep.”

Jane and Perry both drifted off to sleep and remained that way for an uneventful four hours. They both awoke to the sound of the alarm clock. Jane felt unwell and would have rather rolled over and gone back to sleep but Jane knew she couldn’t do that today. Her eyes felt like she had grains of sand in them and her head felt like she had an elephant sitting on it. Compliments of crying too much, having a bad dream and not enough sleep. Jane wasn’t looking forward to going to work today. Jane wanted to see the rest of her team and check that they were safe. But she knew it was only going to make her sadder to see the fact that Jack was missing. And Jane knew she needed to focus. That was more important, now more than ever. Thaddeus was loose and like a mad canon with no aim to shoot his crazy at. Jane knew the first port of call for the day was going to be to collect the initial post mortem results from the coroner Dave Berry. He should have the initial examination report for both Helen Moore and PC Jack Collins. She also knew that someone was going to have to go talk to Helen Moore’s family and she couldn’t expect her Superintendent to do it after having to talk to Jack’s family yesterday. They must have been distraught Jane knew they were a close-knit family. Jane pulled herself from her thoughts and from the position she was in bed and started to ready herself for work. Perry was flapping around her whilst she was getting ready constantly checking if she was ok. But what was there to say. Thaddeus had escaped and was coming after her; she had one dead woman and had lost Jack. But all of it as scared as she was it was all just making her more determined to catch Thaddeus. Thaddeus was underestimating how angry and fired up this was going to make Jane. He was just hoping to get in her mind and didn’t think it would cause any consequences to himself.

Perry had ra
ng down to the front desk and asked for some toast and coffee to be brought up. Jane couldn’t much stomach the thought of toast but the coffee was much appreciated. When Perry had finished coaxing a slice of toast into Jane to go with the pot of coffee that she had drank they were both ready to leave. Perry went over to check where the guard police officers were to be able to notify them for their ready for departure. Perry had already informed the reception that they would be checking out but that he would come back to deal with all of that once Jane had been escorted to work safely. Which meant that Jane again didn’t have to worry about any of her belongings. When the guarding police officers were ready they escorted Jane and Perry out of the hotel and were making their way back to the car park. There were several people in the lobby at this point who were eyeing Jane as an unusual suspect with escorting officers. There was a look of bemusement and curiosity that was spread across the mixture of faces. Each person wanting to know whether the escorting officers were arresting Jane or whether she really was an important enough person to need bodyguards. Jane could feel the heat of embarrassment pricking at her cheeks as the people in the lobby continued to stare. Thank the gods the situation didn’t last long as they were moving through the lobby at an expediential rate. When they made it outside to the safety of their car their two extra escorting police units were waiting outside ready to take Jane to the station. The escorting officers made note to Perry that they weren’t allowed to take the most direct route to the station so their journey might be longer than necessary. They were to go in a more round about way to the station to make sure that no one was following them. They set off and for a few minutes the car was filled with nothing but an awkward silence. Both of them filled with tension and apprehension for the day ahead.