The Dark Place E-Book

Sam Millar

• Herausgeber: Brandon
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Seitenzahl: 341

Beschreibung

Young homeless women and drug addicts are being abducted before being brutally mutilated and murdered, and a city is held in a grip of unspeakable terror. The cops are unable - or unwilling - to apprehend the elusive serial killer, and corrupt politicians turn a seemingly blind and almost approving eye to the catalogue of murders. The perpetrator is cunning, wealthy and influential. More importantly, he has never once made a mistake in his grisly calling - until now. By abducting Katie, the young daughter of legendary private investigator, Karl Kane, the killer has just made his first mistake, which could well turn out to be his last. Blaming himself for his daughter's abduction, Karl Kane must now reach down to the darkest recesses of his troubled soul and mind, to become as cunning and merciless as the killer - but even that may not be enough to penetrate the fortress-like lair where Karl suspects the killer keeps his victims. There is only one man capable of helping Kane attack the 'dark place', a man despised and hated by Detective Inspector Mark Wilson, but even that help becomes as elusive as any Karl will get from the cops. From the nail-biting beginning to the explosive ending, Karl Kane's nightmarish journey forces upon him a decision that changes his life forever, and forces him to look into the abyss of no return.

Leseprobe

I dedicate this book to my great friend from the University of LK, Gerry (Blute) McDonnell and his wife, Christine, for their kind thoughts and deeds over the dark years of my life.

May your gods watch over you everlastingly.

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Prologue

PART ONE THE COMING OF EVIL

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTEr THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

CHAPTER NINETEEN

CHAPTER TWENTY

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

CHAPTER THIRTY

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

PART TWO THE DARK PLACE

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHAPTER FORTY

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

EPILOGUE

About the Author

Also by Sam Millar

Copyright

Prologue

“He was a ferocious man. He had been ill-made in the making. He had not been born right, and he had not been helped any by the moulding he had received at the hands of society. The hands of society are harsh, and this man was a striking sample of its handiwork.”

Jack London, White Fang

“You smell so beautiful when you’ve washed,” said the woman, watching him towelling the watered beads from his body.

He smiled shyly, loving the way she studied him, her eyes moving slowly over the map of his naked body, making it tingle.

Moving beside him, she began sprinkling talcum powder generously over his skin, kneading it into the pores.

“You like this, don’t you?” she whispered.

“Yes …” he managed to say, his voice a croak of anticipation.

He didn’t just like it; he loved it. Loved the empowering magic her probing fingers brought to his body; loved the smell and texture of talc on his skin, the way it made him feel brand new. Sometimes, when he had been very obedient and good, she used baby oil on his penis, making it glisten like a Greek warrior’s weapon preparing for battle.

Finished with the talc, she made him turn his back to her, his face directed towards the slightly opened window with his ghostly reflection staring back at him.

Leaves were moving eerily on one of the many large oak trees stationed outside the house. A bird nestling between the branches was strangely silent, its voyeuristic eyes watching his every movement, seemingly fascinated. It was a raven, and it kept moving its beak in and out, as if secretly communicating.

Somewhere directly behind, he could hear the fabric of her dress rustling, his mind’s eye seeing her slip seductively out of it, panties and bra following obediently.

Gently she pressed against him, the roughness of her thick pubic hair feeling like a Brillo pad on his smooth buttocks, and began gyrating her body inwards, her hands clasped on his hips as if he were some flesh and bone bicycle to be ridden. He could feel the coolness of her pale breasts sponging into his back.

A small breeze suddenly entered the room and touched his nakedness. Like a dark whisper, tickling the pubic hairs rooted there. He could feel his penis slowly rising as the smell of freshly cut grass filled the room, mixing with the loving smell of the talc and her perfume, the one she used for special occasions. He could smell her other smell, also; the salty iron smell of menstruation.

“You’re beautiful. So exquisitely beautiful,” she whispered, the words on his neck making his skin tingle.

He continued watching his ghostly reflection in the open window; watched her distorted face stationed near his right shoulder. Slowly, her hands began sliding from his hips, down to his penis.

They both let out a sigh simultaneously – a dark percussion so soft it was barely audible.

“Nice?” she asked, pulling gently but firmly on the swelling penis.

“I … I can’t hold it in,” he said, his voice lost somewhere in the large bedroom.

“You can and you will,” she hissed, the tone of her voice suddenly changing while wedging fingers and thumb on the now fully erect penis, blocking its inevitable release. “Control is everything … it always brings its rewards … control is god. Repeat that.”

“Control … control is god.”

“Good. Now, listen very carefully,” she instructed, her voice slightly hesitant. “I need to tell you something. Something very important. We can no longer … do these things … the things we love. It has become … too dangerous. Do you understand?”

Her words stole his breath.

“But … you … you promised. Promised that you would always love me … always.”

“And I will. Always. But not like this. Not any more. Do you understand?” she asked, squeezing tighter on his penis. The pain was excruciating. It was beautiful, filling his eyes with dark red shadows.

“No … I don’t understand. You … you promised …”

“You will understand, eventually. It’s the way of things. For now, you will control all feelings concerning me. Do. You. Understand?” The last three words sounded threatening.

He could feel tears beginning to form in his eyes and immediately despised their weakness.

“Please,” he pleaded.

“Please please please! Always the please,” she admonished, shaking her head with disgust.

“I’m sorry.”

“Shhhhhhh. It’s okay. It’s okay,” she whispered, kissing his neck, his back, guiding her lips down his spine. He could feel the lips mingling with the talc, her voice resting between his buttocks. “Just enjoy the moment … then we’ll get ready before the Thompsons and other guests arrive. I’m going to make this special …”

She reached for the oil …

 

The afternoon was beautiful, hardly a blemish in the normally moody Belfast sky. Perfect shooting weather. The gathering hunting party – chiefly though not exclusively male – was flawlessly kitted-out like a miniature army preparing for battle. Some of the participants were commenting excursively and confusedly, the good wine slowly erasing all common sense in their heads. For such a potentially dangerous situation, it was almost comically vaudeville. Bird dogs – pebbled leather noses crayoned black – began barking, excited by the potential to have blood and flesh clamped between their eager mouths.

“Good hunting!” shouted the master of the hunt, and immediately the group cheered, spreading out, following the pattern of the zigzagging dogs that were awaiting their opportunity for first blood to come flying from hidden niches in the ground.

Wild heather was everywhere, mixing with the swamp of leaves and ferns. With little contrast, it was easy to get lost or disorientated.

Less than fifteen minutes later, the dogs began growling softly, almost secretively. The ground-breeding birds were near.

“Robert? Are you okay?” asked Frankie Gilmore, the gamekeeper’s son. “You look a bit dazed.”

“What? … Oh … yes. I’m always okay, Gilmore. Now mind your own business!”

But he wasn’t okay. She was ignoring him, refusing to glance in his direction, her bawdy laugh contagiously making the men – and even some of the women in the hunting party – laugh along with her. She was good at that. Manipulating. Was she talking about him? Telling them how pathetic he was, crying like a child in the bedroom? Was that the big laugh?

Suddenly, his head began throbbing. Her laughter was drilling into his skull, her grinning mouth producing a donkey’s guttural bray. Haw haw. Haw haw. Haw fucking haw …

He studied her face, one more time, before gently squeezing down on the shotgun’s trigger. The single blast abruptly cracked the sky open, its sound absorbed by the vastness. He watched the ejected orange shell parachute to the ground in slow motion, a split second after spreading tiny pomegranate seeds of black metal outwards like a swarm of flies.

The sound from the shotgun was immediate and demanding. She stopped laughing. They all did. It was over in a split second; a split second that was the culmination of a decision made in cold, calculating blood.

She turned to look at him, her face puzzled. Her mouth opened, but nothing came. Her hand went to the back of her head, probing. She stared at her fingers covered in thick blood, before suddenly collapsing into a tiny stream of murky water and warm dog shit.

Everyone began rushing towards her. Everyone except him.

A disturbing exhilaration of fear and wonder in equal measures suddenly flowed over him while watching her body twitching elliptically in the filthy muck. Almost immediately, her eyes began dimming. Eye sockets shadowed. The verdict was in. The penalty in his hands had spoken. Retribution demanded and received. The swift, fierce satisfaction he felt was almost sexual in its intensity.

She was gone.

It was truly beautiful.

PART ONE

THE COMING OF EVIL

CHAPTER ONE

“Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing …”

Edgar Allan Poe, The Raven

Inside the tomb-like structure, dead light stabbed on to the red concrete floor from high, barred windows, bouncing off chipped tiles around the toilet and sink. Shadows formed on the heavy doors’ thick locks and peeling paint.

The young girl, naked and terrified, walked stealthily on blistering feet and toes wet with blood. Running her hands gingerly along the leprous wall, she began feeling her way in the darkness.

Immediately, the structure began crumbled at her touch.

Shit! Flaky metal paint speared her fingertips, wounding and stinging. Blood began flowing freely. Quickly, she smeared the walls with the blood, sponging her fingertips with dust and cobwebs. It hurt like hell, but she uttered not a sound.

Beyond each section of wall, an alcove disrupted the steady flow. Metal doors of some sort. If only she had better vision. The darkness was thick with stench and dread. It tasted alive.

S-s-so c-c-cold, she thought, through chattering teeth. Shivering uncontrollably now, the combination of fear and cold began attacking. She bit down hard on her teeth, hoping to prevent their terrible castanet noise exposing her presence to him.

Plodding slowly onwards, she felt horribly distended. Thighs too big. An unfamiliar weight of body preventing any sort of speed. She hardly recognised this alien structure of fat on her body. All the aberrant heaviness was crushing her ankles, making her breathing laboured.

They can’t take much more of this pressure. Soon they’ll collapse, taking me with them. This fat, this terrible disgusting fat, is suffocating me. She suddenly felt ugly, as if her organs were disfigured and disproportioned, lacking any symmetry.

Stopping only for a second, she listened for noise. Her heart was beating furiously inside her skull, blocking out all sounds. She wanted to suffocate it. She needed to listen. Where is he? Is he watching me, right at this moment, his night-vision goggles tight against his ugly, smirking face?

Above the beating of her heart, she could hear water dripping on to the semi-flooded concrete ground. Where is it coming from? Is it the same incessant drip that has tormented me for weeks? Shouldn’t I be walking away from it, not towards it?

The guiding wall was becoming more difficult, like a maze confusing every step.

Without warning, she slipped, landing on jagged bricks. The searing pain forced a wince and a silent moan. Her skin was shredded, stinging like hell. Blood began spilling out, but somehow the leakage made her feel alive.

Taking a deep breath, she slowly exhaled, repeating the process three more times. Felt slightly dizzy but moved cautiously on, the soles of her feet thwacking off the watery ground, echoing in pulses off the wall.

Oh my God! In the distance, a light, a small rectangle of opaque glass.

A window of some sort? Oh God, please …

She began following the light, its rectangle shape growing steadily larger.

Don’t take your eye off it. The light began stinging her eyes. Don’t you dare blink! Don’t you dare …

There! In there!

Swiftly, she entered a room of some sort with permanent light squeezing in from the outside. A rusted bedspring and frame housed in the room’s bare corner. Creepy shit, she thought, shivering uncontrollably. Old discarded newspapers carpeting the floor. Bits of magazines attached to the walls. Nude and semi-nude girls, posing provocatively. They seemed to be sneering at her.

Her stomach began tightening.

Above her, a large, wire-glassed window grilled with bars. Neck-breakingly high. Slightly open. She could hear the sound of distant traffic coming from it. Voices. Laughter. Welcoming night sounds of which she once was a part in the happy days of freedom. When? Weeks? Months? Time had become one elastic dark band, stretching beyond her understanding.

She wanted to scream for help, but terror and street-smart instinct stilled her voice. Help may not be what comes along …

Think! Stress and panic began building, burning her chest. The bed frame!

Stealthily, she began easing it over towards the window, trying desperately to prevent its soft screeching on the bare floor.

Standing on top, the bed brought her tantalisingly close to the iron bars. Another few inches … you can do it …

Struggling to stand on tiptoes, her fingers finally touched, stretching before intertwining with the bars. Desperately, she tried pulling herself up. Too weak. Too much weight.

Fuck that! You’re strong. Not weak. Pull! Pull that fat arse up; don’t allow it to win, weighing you down. Pulllllllllllllllllllllllll!

With sheer determination, she managed to pull her face up to the bars at a section of damaged wired glass. Peering out, she could see thickets of greenery. Overgrown weeds? Grass? Other than that, there was little sign of life.

“Martina?”

The man’s voice startled her. He was on his stomach, gazing in at her through the window, only the filthy wired glass separating them. The night vision goggles on his grinning face made him look like a giant grasshopper hidden between the overgrowths.

“You’re a very naughty girl, Martina. I told you not to try and escape from my kingdom.”

“Please …” A croak. Her voice? Was that her voice? “Let me go. I’ll … I’ll do whatever you ask.”

“You’ve already done what I asked, Martina. Remember? I’ll be with you in a jiff. Don’t lose that pose. Here I co-ome. Ready or no-ot …” sang the man, pushing himself up from the ground before disappearing.

CHAPTER TWO

“Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean … a common man and yet an unusual man. He talks as the man of his age talks, that is, with rude wit, a lively sense of the grotesque …”

Raymond Chandler, The Simple Art of Murder

Karl Kane sometimes goes on a hunch – a feeling in his piss – and today, sitting in his favourite chair in his office/apartment in Belfast’s Hill Street, was no exception. Private Dickey running in the three o’clock race. The horse favoured firm ground. Last time it ran, it came fifth. An improvement from a previous race, staggering in eighth like a drunk on a Saturday night.

Not to be deterred by cold statistics, Karl pencilled the eight-to-one long shot in with the rest of his certainties, all with the ease of casualness that Saturday afternoons bring.

“I’ve a good feeling about you,” said Karl, wiping his forehead for the umpteenth time in a desperate attempt to shift the lazy sweat camping on his face and semi-naked torso. Despite two cold showers in less than an hour, the insufferable heat was saturating his body with uncomfortable sticky dampness, wilting a nicotine patch on his upper arm.

Standing, he walked to an open window, trying to widen it further. The air travelling through felt gummy on his skin. A chugging ceiling fan directly above his head did little to moderate the stifling air. “Bastarding heat,” he mumbled, scratching vigorously on the legend of his underwear: Caution: Contains Nuts.

Checking the newspaper again, his thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a voice screaming his name.

“Karl!” exclaimed a young woman, popping her head in through the doorway, applying lipstick to her mouth while talking – a feat that always amazed Karl, no matter how many times he witnessed it. Extremely attractive and lissom, Naomi Kirkpatrick was dark-skinned with large hazel eyes, and wild black hair cascading in every direction. Despite the northern cadence in her voice, there remained a slight trace of the south.

Twelve years Karl’s junior, Naomi had met Karl three years earlier during a fist-fight between Karl and a writer at the John Hewitt pub in Belfast. On the verge of being arrested, the spirit-filled Karl was quickly spirited into the night by an amused Naomi. Two days later – offered a job as secretary to the debt-ridden Karl – Naomi reluctantly accepted, with the strict understanding that there was to be no hanky-panky. Recently over a messy, financially draining divorce, Karl fully agreed. The last thing he wanted at that particular moment in his battered life was another relationship with a woman. Within one week of the agreement, they had become lovers.

“Huh?” mumbled Karl.

“What are you doing staring out the window, newspaper in your hand? You haven’t even dressed!” There was accusation in Naomi’s tone.

“Can’t we just have lunch here, save all the hassle, Naomi? We can head out later for a drink at Nick’s Warehouse. Don’t forget, we’ve still got unfinished bottles of Hennessy and Bacardi in the fridge, screaming to be emptied.”

“No, we can’t stay here,” answered Naomi, quickly snatching the newspaper out of Karl’s hands. “Five days a week in this place is enough punishment for anyone to endure. Now, get your clothes on. I’ll be finished in a minute. And make sure that you bring your wallet with you this time. I’m not ending up paying the bill again. And remember: this is pure vegetarian. No meat, under any circumstances.”

“No meat?” Karl made a face. “You’ve become very militant since becoming a vegetarian, all of six weeks ago.”

“Stop being sarcastic. You know that I don’t like the taste of meat any more.”

“I could answer that with a witty riposte …”

“I was always a vegetarian; didn’t realise it until I saw that horrible documentary about the abattoir in the city. It isn’t right, eating living creatures.”

“In case you haven’t noticed, Naomi, they’re usually dead by the time they reach the cold plate.”

“Don’t start, Karl.”

“Answer me this: if God didn’t want people to eat animals, then why the hell did He make them out of meat, and to taste so damn good roasted?”

Naomi’s face was reddening by the second. “I’m really not in the mood for this. Just hurry and get ready before we miss our place in –”

The doorbell to the office, down below, sounded.

“I don’t believe I just heard what I just heard,” said Karl. “Can’t people read nowadays? Big sign on the door saying closed all day Saturday and Sunday, and if that –” The bell rang again, irritatingly longer. “Finger must be stuck. I’ve a good mind to go down there, and –”

“You’re going nowhere in your underwear, except to get dressed,” stated Naomi. “If you go down, you’ll end up falling for a sob story. Could be the postman with a delivery.”

“Probably my latest manuscript rejected by the publishers,” said Karl, a wry smile appearing on his face. “More than likely it’s Jehovah’s Witnesses, though. Tell them we’re Scientologists and that Tom and Katie are dropping by for tea and plenty of crumpet, later on. Do bailiffs work on a Saturday? Bet the bastards do.”

While Naomi journeyed downstairs, Karl began dressing, finally shoehorning into a pair of nice Samuel Windsor leather loafers, all the while scanning the discarded newspaper, trying to pick more potential winners. Just as he eyed one, an irritating ache echoed from his arse.

“For fuck sake … don’t you start.” Quickly opening a drawer, he removed a cap from a tube of haemorrhoid cream labelled Roid Rage. Dropping his pants, he quickly applied the cream to the offending area, sighing with relief as the cream’s coldness calmed the heat between his buttocks.

“Karl!” Naomi’s voice sounded from downstairs.

“For fuck sake …” he hissed, almost dropping the tube.

“Karl! I need you down here.”

“Give me a bloody minute!” shouted Karl, quickly pulling up his pants before dumping the tube back in the drawer.

“Karl? Can you come down, right now?”

Slipping into his jacket, mumbling, Karl quickly descended the stairs, tripping in his haste.

“Almost broke my bloody neck, Naomi. I told you I was…”

“Karl,” said Naomi, rather sheepishly, “this is Geraldine Ferris. She’s come all the way up from Dublin.”

Geraldine Ferris, to Karl, looked about thirteen years of age. Pretty but unhealthily concentration-camp thin, with a face full of festering freckles and hair the colour of scrapyard rust. Large doe-like eyes complimented the rest of her face.

“Yes,” said Karl, slightly puzzled. “What can we do for you … Geraldine?”

“I’m searching for my younger sister, Mister Kane. The ones in charge of the hostel, where she normally stays, claim she ran away, almost a month ago. She didn’t run away. I get vibes from her. She’d have told me first. I know they’re all lying. You’ve got to believe –”

“Easy. Easy. Come up for air, Geraldine,” smiled Karl. “Try and calm down a wee bit.”

“I’m sorry.”

“To be honest, we don’t usually operate on a Saturday, Geraldine, and normally we don’t cover alleged runaways. You’ve spoken to the police?”

“Yes,” replied Geraldine, nodding half-heartedly.

“What did they say?”

Geraldine’s mouth suddenly tightened. The bones of her face looked like they would rip through the skin. “Lies.”

“Whatever they told Geraldine, Karl, it obviously hasn’t alleviated her anxiety,” cut in Naomi. “Isn’t that right, Geraldine?”

Geraldine nodded.

“Why don’t we let Geraldine answer, Naomi?” said Karl, barely containing his irritation. “Geraldine?”

Geraldine swallowed hard before answering.

“They … they said she has a reputation for running away, and they can’t waste valuable resources on runaways. Said she’s probably down in Dublin.”

“Has she? A reputation for running away?” asked Karl.

“Sometimes,” conceded Geraldine, glancing at Naomi for some support. “But there’s no one in Dublin any more for her to run away to, except me.”

“You know what cops are like, Karl,” interrupted Naomi. “They don’t have time for teenagers or their problems. They want newspaper-grabbers.”

“Thank you for that, Oprah. That was very enlightening,” said Karl, before turning his attention back to Geraldine. “If you don’t mind me asking, Geraldine, why aren’t your parents here enquiring about your sister instead of you? You must be no older than what? Fourteen or fifteen?”

“I’ll be seventeen next month – one year older than my sister – if you need to know,” stated Geraldine, irritably. “My da’s in Mountjoy Prison. He’s doing a stretch of twenty years.”

“Twenty years?” said Karl, feeling his arse tingle in a bad way. His haemorrhoids were beginning to act up, again. “And your mother?”

“My ma is dead, Mister Kane. She was a heroin addict – just like me.”

“I’m sorry to hear –”

“My first memory of a needle was my mother injecting herself while I watched. Often, she would break the needle off and let me play with the syringe when she was finished. I remember everyone telling her that heroin would kill her. They were wrong. A man killed her. My father.”

Naomi stood closer to Geraldine, gently touching her elbow.

“You’ve come to the right place for help, Geraldine. If anyone can help find your sister, Karl can. That’s why he’s Belfast’s greatest private investigator. Isn’t that right, Karl?”

Karl’s eyebrows almost fell from his face. “Let’s not be too hasty, Naomi – or condescending.” He gave her a what-the-hell-are-you-playing- at look.

“You sit down, over there, Geraldine,” encouraged Naomi, indicating a group of chairs. “Karl was about to order some food for us. Weren’t you, Karl?”

“What? Oh … of course,” responded Karl, slipping off his jacket while easing out of his Samuel Windsors.

“How did you hear about Karl, Geraldine?” asked Naomi.

“This,” replied Geraldine, handing Naomi one of Karl’s business cards. “There were loads of them stuck in all the phone boxes in Royal Avenue. When I first saw them, I thought they were those other type of cards. You know, the ones with the phone lines to naked women?”

Naomi glared at Karl. “Don’t tell me you’re sticking your business cards any old where?”

“A brass neck sometimes leads to a silver lining,” replied Karl, looking slightly uncomfortable. “Besides, if I hadn’t placed them there, Geraldine wouldn’t be standing here now, seeking my help. Well? Would she?”

“You always have an answer.”

“Do you have any recent photos of your sister, Geraldine?” asked Karl, ignoring Naomi’s sarcasm.

“I’ve one,” replied Geraldine, searching her tiny handbag before producing a photo. “This was taken last year. It’s a bit creased, but it was the best I could find of her.”

A skeletal girl with a denim jacket too big stared out at Karl. Pointed hipbones jutted out over the waistline of her jeans. Her face was serious, as if all the fun in her life had been sucked out, her fingers seemingly playing nervously with the tines of a comb. But it was the left eye that Karl found himself focusing on.

“She was stabbed in the eye with a pen, when she was ten,” said Geraldine, as if reading Karl’s mind. “She lost the eye, and they replaced it with a glass … with an artificial one. She hates it and has a terrible complex about it, thinking everyone’s staring at her. She doesn’t believe she is beautiful. But she is. That’s why people stare at her.”

“I hate to have to ask this, Geraldine, but does your sister take drugs?” asked Karl.

“She …” Geraldine seemed to be pondering the question. “Yes, but she’s been clean for almost six months – both of us have. Why? Does this mean you won’t search for her?”

“At the minute, we’re up to our necks in work, Geraldine. I don’t honestly know if I could take more caseloads. It wouldn’t be fair to either you or your sister. And even if –”

“None of our ongoing cases involve a missing person, Karl,” cut in Naomi.

“Really? I didn’t know that,” replied Karl, sarcastically, giving Naomi a withering look.

“I’ve got some money saved up. You won’t be working for free, Mister Kane. Tell me how much you charge and I’ll get it – one way or another.”

Before Karl could reply, Naomi began smiling, saying, “I’d be willing to work on it, Karl, for free. I do have a few weeks’ holidays coming up, if I remember correctly.”

“Holidays?” replied Karl, gritting his teeth. “Every day is a holiday for you here, Naomi. There’s a law against blackmail. You know that?”

“Everything I know about the law, I’ve learned from you, you lovely man. Should I pack my holiday suitcase, or not?”

“Okay, blackmailer. You win. But don’t start moaning about being paid.”

“I’ve already told you, Mister Kane,” said Geraldine. “Somehow, I’ll get the fee you charge.”

“We can discuss fees later, Geraldine. For now, I need you to relax a wee bit. Worrying solves nothing; only exaggerates the problem. Okay?”

Geraldine slowly nodded.

“Chinese or pizza, Geraldine?” asked Naomi.

“I’m really not that hungry …”

“Yes, I can see you’re a picture of health,” interjected Karl, searching the top drawer of his desk before finding a menu. “Here. Find something in this. Either you tell Naomi what you want or I’ll have to guess it. You really don’t want me to guess.”

For the first time since entering the office, Geraldine smiled slightly, taking the menu before scanning its table of contents.

Naomi smiled all luvvy-duvvy at Karl. He quickly returned the smile with a wait-until-I-get-you-alone withering look, mouthing, “And you have the cheek of accusing me of falling for a sob story?”

Studying the photo more closely, Karl asked: “Your sister’s name, Geraldine? I don’t think you told us it.”

“I’m sorry. It’s Martina, Mister Kane. Martina …”

CHAPTEr THREE

“I think the greatest rogues are they who talk most of their honesty.”

Anthony Trollope, The Three Clerks

Karl parked his car – a Ford Cortina GT – inside the hostel’s car park, before walking to the front door of the Victorian building on Victoria Street.

A CCTV camera began swivelling its metal neck as he pressed the buzzer cemented against the hostel’s crumbling wall. Seconds slipped away, but no answer from inside the building. He buzzed again, longer this time.

“I heard you the first time, sir. You really only need to press the button once,” said a bored voice from the intercom. “I’m security. How can I be of help?”

“I have an appointment with a Mrs Beverly Thompson, programme leader. Spoke to her on the phone about an hour ago.”

“It’s Miss Thompson,” corrected the guard. “Your name, sir?”

“Kane. Karl Kane,” replied Karl, detecting immediately the resentment in the sir.

“One moment, sir …”

Seconds turned to minutes. Karl was about to buzz again, when a loud click sounded, followed immediately by the front door sliding open.

Smell of over-cooked food immediately attacked Karl’s nostrils as he entered the small foyer of the hostel. White noise was everywhere, reminding him of schools and hospitals.

“The car park is for staff only, sir,” said the guard, housed securely inside an office shielded by wire-reinforced glass. “You really shouldn’t be parking that car there, at the front of the building – especially on a Monday morning.”

“Car? That’s not just any car. Do you know where that came from?”

No response from the guard.

“Okay, I’ll tell you, then. The Sweeney. Remember that classic TV show? That’s the actual car they used in the show.”

“I need to see some sort of identification, sir,” requested the unimpressed guard.

“Certainly,” replied Karl, pushing a business card through a slot no bigger than a Mars Bar. “They don’t make shows like The Sweeney any more. Nothing but so-called talent shows to show people with no talent.”

“I don’t watch TV, sir.”

This is more like a prison than a bloody hostel, thought Karl, weighing the security guard up. The man was all glut and cheap cologne, and resembled Peter Lorre with a mouthful of teeth caramelised by too much nicotine and coffee.

Seemingly unimpressed at Karl’s business card, Peter Lorre asked for a photo ID.

Producing his driving licence, Karl slipped it through the Mars Bar, a wry smile appearing on his face. “If I were paranoid, I’d say you were trying to prevent me coming in.”

“Simply doing my job, sir. Keeping the residents safe,” said Peter Lorre, glancing at the licence and then at Karl’s face. “Okay, sir. Take the lift over there. Get off at the fourth floor. Miss Thompson’s office is directly to your right, the moment you step out of the lift. She’s expecting you.”

“Thanks,” said Karl, quickly pocketing the driving licence while heading for the lift.

The door to Beverly Thompson’s office was opening as Karl stepped from the lift. A large, rotund woman with a face that could stop a raging grizzly bear in its tracks indicated with a wave of her meaty hand for Karl to enter.

“A private investigator? My,” smiled Beverly Thompson, indicating for Karl to sit in the chair opposite, “how exciting is that?”

“Not very,” replied Karl, making himself comfortable. “It’s not like you see in the movies, if that’s what you mean. More bills than thrills.”

“A bit like Rockford, then?”

“Well, Rockford was always in debt and trouble, so I guess you could say there is a similarity.”

“I loved James Gardner. Ruggedly handsome. You’re not unlike him, Mister Kane.”

“Yes, I get that a lot,” smiled Karl, quickly warming to Beverly’s bullshitting. “Though I’m more of a Columbo fan, myself.”

“I could never warm to him. Always annoyed me with that one more thing thing that he always did. Would you like tea or coffee?”

“Coffee, please, if it’s no bother.”

“Why would it be a bother?” asked Beverly, smiling, picking up the phone. “Alison? A pot of coffee, please, and some shortbread. Thank you, dear.”

The heady smell of flowers was overripe in Beverly Thompson’s office. Everything seemed covered in scent. Karl could feel a sneeze coming on.

“Now, Mister Kane,” said Beverly, returning the phone to the cradle, “you were asking on the phone about one of our ex-residents, Miss Martina Ferris.”

Karl nodded. “Her sister got in contact with me two days ago, saying that she’s worried about her. She hasn’t seen her in almost a month.”

“To be honest with you, Karl – I may call you Karl?”

“By all means … Beverly.”

“To be honest, Karl, we’re not permitted to disclose information about any of our clients – even ex-clients. Comes under confidentiality.”

“I’m fully aware of that, Beverly, and I very much appreciate you giving me your time. I need to know if she had any problems, while she was here. Hopefully to give her sister peace of mind.”

“Strictly off the record?”

“Strictly.”

“Well … Martina wasn’t an easy girl to accommodate. At times she was violent towards staff and other residents. Despite this, we did our utmost to ensure safe and habitable surroundings for her. You know she ran away from here, quite a few times?”

“No,” lied Karl. “Really?”

“Oh, yes; but of course her sister wouldn’t have told you that piece of information,” replied Beverly, rather stiffly. “Despite all that, we welcomed her back with open arms, each time she requested a return. Can’t be too bad of a place if she cried to come back. Can it, now?”

“I hear what you’re saying.”

A young woman knocked on the door, interrupting the conversation.

“Ah, Alison,” said Beverly, smiling. “Would you be a dear, and pour for us?”

Setting the tray down, Alison began pouring a stream of coffee into a large blue mug for Karl.

“Sugar and milk, sir?” asked Alison.

“Black, Alison. Thank you,” said Karl, reaching for the mug before sipping it slightly with a nod of approval. “This is great coffee. Must get the name of it before I leave.”

“Glad you like it,” said Beverly. “I’ve been drinking it for years. Imported. Slightly expensive, but really worth it.”

Karl took another sip, longer this time. “I was wondering if I could have a look in Martina’s room, to see if there are any clues to her state of mind before she left.”

“Oh, the room was vacated weeks ago. It’s been repainted,” replied Beverly. “Actually, we have a new resident in that room, now.”

“What about Martina’s possessions? What happened to them?”

“That will be all for now, Alison,” said Beverly, once her delicate-looking cup had been filled.

Alison nodded, quickly leaving the room.

“Martina didn’t have many possessions, Karl,” continued Beverly. “One black bin liner, if I recall correctly. We held it for as long as we could, but when no one came to collect it, we had to dump it. Her so-called caring sister couldn’t even be bothered to come by and collect it. We don’t have a lot of room, Karl, and can’t keep things in storage indefinitely. I’m sure you understand?”

Karl nodded, before taking another large sip of the fine coffee.

The next forty-five minutes were spent on small talk. Beverly, Karl soon realised, was as much of an expert on being evasive as he was on being intrusive.

“Well, I guess I’ll have to hit the road,” said a defeated Karl, standing, but not before finishing the coffee.

“I’m sorry it’s been a wasted journey for you,” smiled Beverly, standing also, extending her hand.

“I don’t think any journey is ever wasted – provided you finish it,” said Karl, returning the smile while shaking the outstretched hand. “Good day, Beverly. It was nice meeting you. And thanks for the lovely coffee.”

Outside the office, Karl pressed for the lift. Listened to the gears growling in the housing. A few seconds later, the lift door opened, revealing Alison.

“Thank you for the lovely coffee, Alison. It was –”

Alison thrust something into his hand before rushing onwards towards Beverly’s office, never looking back.

Karl could see Beverly Thompson staring at him from her office window, wearing a painted smile. Alison quickly entered and began collecting the tray and its contents.

Stepping into the lift, Karl waited until the door closed before glancing at the item in his hand. A note. Badly scrawled handwriting. He balled it quickly in his fist, seconds before the door opened, revealing Peter Lorre.

“Miss Thompson says you are to stay here, sir, in the lobby. She’s coming right down. Needs to see you urgently.”

Stepping out, Karl listened to the lift ascending.

Shit! Beverly must’ve spotted Alison’s clumsy sleight of hand! Karl tightened his grip on the note. Wondered how to dispense of it, unseen by Peter Lorre.

The lift began descending. Peter Lorre refused to take his eyes off Karl.

Do the old cough trick. Hurry! Swallow it!

As he was about to bring his hand up to his mouth, Beverly Thompson suddenly stepped out of the lift and handed him a small package.

“Rio,” she said, smiling.

“Pardon?”

“Rio coffee. I had a spare package of it in one of my cupboards. Enjoy.”

Before he could thank her, she was gone, back into the lift, humming like a busy bee.

Outside, Karl allowed a breeze to cool his hot face. The package of coffee felt heavy in his right hand. The note in his left hand felt a lot heavier.

CHAPTER FOUR

“… there was about him a suggestion of lurking ferocity, as though the Wild still lingered in him and the wolf in him merely slept.”

Jack London, White Fang

“Cleanliness is next to godliness. Always remember that, Martina,” he sang, setting her down on the slick black tiles, before adjusting the showerhead so that the water sprayed over her filthy and bloodied body.

Martina sat terrified with knees huddled against her chest until he gently pried her legs apart to soap that most private area.

Finishing ten minutes later, he turned the water off. There was nothing but quietness, interrupted only by her heavy breathing.

“Good. Almost new again,” he said, smiling, scooping her effortlessly off the floor. “You really wouldn’t recognise yourself. All that weight you’ve put on instead of that horrible skinny frame you existed in. And spotless! My! Remember when you first came here, infested with fleas and lice? And that horrible stench of unwashed flesh and raggedy clothes? Now look at you. Practically reborn!” he exclaimed, burying his head in her wet hair, sniffing like a curious dog. “You smell so beautiful when you’ve washed. Yes you do do do!”

Martina tried speaking. Her mouth began leaking sounds, but the words dropping from it were like dull coins, as if she couldn’t remember how to form language.

Gently, he placed her on top of a steel table. It was freezing. It chilled her immediately. She began shivering. Leather straps tightened themselves around her, like tentacles.

“Soon have you nice and warm. But first, there are a few more hurdles we must get over.”

From a large plastic container, he scooped up a handful of items and sprinkled them about her body.

Leeches.

She tried to scream, but nothing came.