Authors: JJ Franklin
Urge to Kill (1) (39 page)
Then, aware that the Matron woman was approaching him, he moved to scoop his prize into his arms.
T
here was silence between them, a heavy sense of urgency as Matt skilfully manoeuvred out of the driveway now crowded with police vehicles. It was as if they were both holding their breath.
Just as they were clear and ready to turn into the road Matt’s phone rang. Matt hesitated, glancing down to check the caller. It was Fluff. His immediate thought was of Eppie, and he wondered if anything had happened to her. With a coldness spreading through him he answered the call, putting it on speaker.
‘Fluff?’
‘Guv. I have been trying to get you. I can’t go into the details but there is a possibility that our man is a Clive Draper. He may be planning to attack again tonight at the spa. I’m almost there now.’
Burying the sense of guilt he felt at the relief that Eppie wasn’t in danger, Matt replied. ‘Spot on. He’s just murdered his mother. We’re on our way too.’
‘Matt, that’s not the only thing.’
‘Fluff?’ Something in her voice told him it was bad.
‘Eppie is missing. Clive went to the flat and I think she must have escaped him. She had left me some notes about who Clive was going for next. There is a patrol car looking for her. I’m sure they will find her soon.’
A mixture of fear and anger shot through Matt. He couldn’t deal with either right now. Had to carry on.
‘Liaise with uniform when you get there.’
‘OK, but I’m halfway up the driveway and there’s no sign of the patrol car.’
‘Shit.’
‘Guv?’
‘Hold off until backup arrives, that’s an order. We’ll be there in fifteen minutes, try to make it ten.’
‘Something’s going down here, Guv. Call you back.’
‘Fluff? Fluff? Bugger and blast.’
Matt didn’t waste anymore time but cleared the driveway, allowing the siren to scatter startled motorists out of his way.
‘Sam, call Jenny. Tell her we need her to get backup to the spa ASAP. Tell her Fluff is there on her own, that will shift her.’
With a puzzled glance at Matt, Sam picked up the police radio.
‘She has come to the same conclusion we have and is on the scene now, damn it.’ Matt swerved to avoid a deaf and blind driver who was blocking the only chance they had of getting through the junction.
‘Bloody moron.’
‘Uniform should be there though, Guv.’
‘Should be yes. But apparently not.’
While Matt concentrated on a minor busy patch, Sam rang Jenny. Matt heard him relay the message and ask about uniform before ending the call.
‘Blimey, you were right. She’s jumping into action, no questions or anything. What’s going on then?’
‘Tell you later, Sam, OK.’
As Sam nodded, accepting that the present situation was paramount, the radio buzzed into life. Sam picked it up.
‘DS Withers.’
‘Tell the boss that some taxi driver rang to say his wife is on her way to the spa, where she believes another murder is to take place.’
‘Eppie? What the hell? When?’
Grant’s voice crackled over the radio. ‘About a minute ago, Sir.’
Matt ignored the snide Sir at the end. This was the wrong time to get riled by the man.
‘Where was she when she called?’
‘I’m afraid I don’t know, Sir. I wasn’t aware that it was part of my duties to keep track of your wife.’
Sam gave a sharp intake of breath as Matt scraped past a car that had pulled over only to pull out again just as they were even with him. By the time the way was clear, the radio had gone dead.
‘Bastard.’
‘Shall I get him back?’
‘No. He will be no use. Try Fluff.’
‘She’ll be fine, Guv. You know what women are like.’
No
, Matt thought,
I don’t know
. Eppie was the first woman he had ever wanted to share his life with. And she was turning out to be an unknown quantity. He was learning fast that she would do what she thought was right and not as he wanted. Where did he ever get this stupid idea that a wife would be subservient to her husband anyway? It wasn’t how it was in this day and age. He knew he was damn lucky that she had been willing to give it all up for him.
‘Keep trying.’ Matt couldn’t keep the tension out of his voice. They had all been so busy with the murder of Mrs Draper. Surely to God, Eppie wouldn’t be trying to stop Clive Draper on her own? At least Fluff was there now.
As he manoeuvred in and out of the now thinning traffic, Matt knew that it would be just what Eppie would do, and he knew he had to put it out of his head for the moment. Negotiating traffic at this speed, even with the lights and siren was dangerous enough, and he dared not give way to the panic he was feeling.
By his side, he heard Sam repeating the call to Fluff. But there was still no answer.
Matt felt a spike of anger. It was as if Eppie had no regard for his feelings, the pain that would devastate him if anything happened to her.
T
he Inspector’s woman was struggling to get to her feet when Clive reached her, but one leg was damaged and there was blood running down her forehead. This was a pity, since he wanted all his
statements
to be perfect. He took out his hankie and attempted to wipe away the blood.
She didn’t seem to understand what Clive was trying to do and dragged herself backwards away from him, until she was against one of the pillars to the left. He stopped, facing her. Her eyes held no fear, just defiance.
She must go to sleep, like his Mother. He brought up his hands, allowing them to move towards her neck, savouring the thought of compressing that pink skin. It didn’t matter if there were footsteps behind him. The foolish old woman couldn’t stop him now.
Clive ignored the blue light flickering in the corners of his vision and the sirens slicing through the night, coming closer this time. He had to do it now. Make her his. He could see she was preparing to hit out, but that didn’t matter, she couldn’t stop the inevitable.
The blow when it came was from the side, catching Clive unawares and knocking him sideward. Regaining his balance, he spun to face his attacker, hands in defence position. Clive didn’t recognize the man, but he had that certain solidity of a police officer. He had no time for this, but the man was already closing in. Obviously, he wasn’t going to bother with the niceties, was only intent on stopping Clive.
‘Get out of here,’ the man shouted to Clive’s prize.
She looked dazed but took his advice and began to hobble away up a corridor nearby. Clive noticed that the matron woman and the girl had retreated back behind the reception counter, although the woman still clutched the file to her ample bosom as if it were a shield.
The man lunged forward trying to grasp his arm, no doubt to spin him round and bring his arm up in restraint. Clive aimed a blow at the man’s windpipe. Seeing the blow coming, the man moved his head, but the blow landed with sufficient force to cause him to double up, fighting for breath. Clive added a vicious kick to his side, and he sprawled on the floor, face turning red and beginning to froth at the mouth. There was no time to finish the job. He needed to recapture his prize. Nothing would matter then.
With a last look of contempt towards the two women behind the desk, Clive set off along the corridor after Mrs Turrell. She wouldn’t have been able to move fast, and he was sure to catch up with her. When she became the centrepiece of his third statement, it would devastate DI Turrell and he would know forever that Clive was cleverer and more powerful.
Clive lifted his voice so that it bounced back off the walls of the corridor.
‘Where are you Mrs Turrell? You know you can’t escape me.’
E
ppie limped along the corridor, trying hard to remember where it headed. She had to find somewhere to hide before he caught up with her or she would be dead within seconds.
Was Fluff dead? She had looked so white.
Her head hurt, but it was the leg that was slowing her down. She forced herself on through the pain, moving as fast as she could.
She passed the multi-purpose gym; it offered no place to hide. She went on past linen and equipment stores to the end of the corridor, till the only option left to her was the double doors leading to the aqua complex.
Behind the swing doors was a wonderland of water. Bubbling hot pools were interspersed amongst twenty-foot palms; waterfalls cascaded over rocky outcrops, and splashed down into the large irregular shaped swimming pool. The whole area was larger than a football pitch.
Looking around, she realised this was a mistake, for although the area was huge she couldn’t see anywhere to secrete herself. She started to turn back then froze as footsteps came towards her. He was calling to her.
‘Where are you, Mrs Turrell? You know you can’t escape me.’
A shudder ran through her. There must be somewhere. Would she be better in the water? Eppie was a strong swimmer and the pain from her leg would ease in the water.
‘You are meant to be mine.’
Eppie could see the madman’s outline behind the doors. She couldn’t wait any longer. She limped to the edge of the pool and eased herself in. As he burst through the doors, she struck out towards the middle of the pool.
There was silence as he stood looking for her and Eppie slowed her pace to move through the water as quietly as possible.
‘Mrs Turrell. The gods have brought you here to me. You are mine.’
Although the water had muffled his voice it had a booming quality, which made him sound nearer than he was. Eppie renewed her pace.
‘I will show them all. I am the cleverest. Mother can tell you that. She is sleeping.
“Rock a bye baby in the tree top, when the wind blows, the cradle will rock
.”’
Eppie slowed down, trying to judge where Clive was and if he had entered the water after her. She wondered at first if she was hearing things. Maybe the bang to her head was causing hallucinations. She stopped and listened. A lullaby spread out over the water followed by an inane laugh.
This was more frightening. There would be no reasoning with a madman, who was intent on killing her.
She could see him now. He was moving towards the edge of the pool, planning to follow her across the rocks. Eppie swam on past a large island and for a moment she thought she must be out of his view.
In front of her was a small island. This might be her chance. If she could clamber on it and hide amongst the rocks, he might miss her. It could give the police time to reach her. She thought of Fluff and prayed she would be all right.
Clambering awkwardly onto the island, she was about to crouch down and hide when the double doors flapped open. Clive had flattened himself against the wall.
Eppie screamed a warning.
A
s they cleared the last bend in the drive, Matt could see the two police cars outside, the emergency lights flashing blue and red over the walls of the building and the grounds. At least Fluff had backup and that meant Eppie would be safe.
Even so, he skidded the car to a halt and ran for the entrance, bent low and ready for action with Sam beside him. Whatever he had expected, Matt was shocked at the scene. Two officers down.
Fluff was lying deathly still with Mrs Trowbridge kneeling at her side. She gave Matt a look of desperation as she glanced up. Nearby a dark haired young lady was trying to get Grant to sip water from a glass. He was coughing and choking. Matt was surprised to see him here.
As he ran towards Fluff, he barked the order, ‘Officers down.’ As Sam began calling for urgent medical and backup, Matt knelt beside Fluff, horrified to see how pale she was. Feeling for a pulse, he had trouble finding it at first, and then felt an immense relief as the slight, thready, life energy fluttered under his fingers.
‘Come on, Fluff, come on. We’re here now. You’ll be OK. Stick with us, don’t you dare…’
‘Guv.’
Matt looked up. Sam was besides Grant. The man was trying to speak between fighting for breath.
‘You should hear this.’
Something in Sam’s eyes forced him to his feet and over to Grant. The man had a look of desperation that was nothing to do with his injuries, and was pointing towards the left. As he coughed and spluttered, all Matt could make out was the word woman. He was about to tell Sam to take a look when Mrs Trowbridge stood and took a step towards him.
‘It’s Eppie.’
Matt stared at her, part of him unwilling to hear what she had said.
‘Eppie. He’s following Eppie.’
The realization shot through him like cold steel, giving power to his muscles. He was halfway towards the corridor shouting over his shoulder to Sam. ‘Stay with Fluff, order her to hang on.’ Then he was pounding down the corridor, frantically checking every exit as he ran. At the entrance to the swimming pool he hesitated.
For a moment Matt stood, uncertain of which way to turn. He listened and tried to catch any sound above the water. He could hear nothing and wondered if there was another way out.
At that moment, his mobile rang. Before he could answer it, something hit him hard across the back of the head throwing him into the pool. As he hit the water, he thought he had heard someone shout out his name.
The next few seconds were hazy as the water closed over his head. The taste of chlorine mixed with blood rushed into his mouth. Dimly through the water, he could see a wavering figure standing at the edge of the pool. He kicked hard against the side to propel himself several feet away from the edge leaving a spreading trail of blood behind him.
He surfaced and wiped the water from his eyes. At last he was looking into the face of the man who had murdered at least three women, one of them his own mother. Matt didn’t want to count Fluff, not yet, although she had lain so still. Eppie he couldn’t even bear to think about. Had she called out to him?
It always surprised Matt over the years that evil didn’t show on the face. There were no lines or marks, no demonic light pouring from the eyes. Clive had quite a pleasant face, even if now it was etched with desperation, a desperation he knew mirrored his own.