Hunted (30 page)

Rachel put herself before him and pressed her hands against his chest. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“Out of my way Rachel.”

“No. You’re only going to make things worse. Instead why don’t you sit down, get that big brain of yours in gear and think your way out of it.”

When he looked at Ashley the pure rage in Ryan’s eyes made him back up a step.

“How do we bring him down?” Rachel asked Ashley.

“It would help if his accomplices gave statements against him, both of them preferably. That way we can arrest him and it’ll give us time to find something concrete against him. We’re still trawling through the evidence we found in the hide.”

“Are either of them talking?” said Rachel.

“Well Brian can’t but his doctor said I’ll be able to interview him tomorrow. Gerard has been remanded to Belmarsh but he’s refusing to cooperate. We’ve started examining building projects he was involved in every time one of the men disappeared. We’ve located one body under the new tennis courts at a park in Torquay. Judging by the timing we think it might be Luke Jones.”

“God,” said Rachel. At least Tracey might get some closure now.

“I think we’re going to be doing a lot of digging. I seriously recommend you stay away from Eddie Cope,” said Ashley.

“Have you had the results back on the meat yet?” said Ryan.

“Yes, that’s another reason why I’m here. I’m afraid it was human. We’re confident the DNA test will prove it belonged to John Owen.”

Ryan turned a sickly grey. Thank God he’d vomited that meat up again.

“So far we’ve managed to keep it quiet and I’m working to make sure it stays that way,” continued Ashley. “But we have a leak at the station. It’s possible it will become public knowledge. Also, if we don’t get guilty pleas it’ll go to trial and it’ll definitely come out then.”

“The other men would have been forced to do the same,” said Ryan. “All made to eat their predecessors to stop their families getting hurt.”

“What about the first victim, George Romer?” said Rachel. “What did they make him do?”

“We won’t know unless one of the killers starts talking and right now that’s not looking very likely.”

“They will,” said Ryan confidently.

“I wouldn’t bank on it. It’s common for serial killers to refuse to talk about their crimes, it gives them a sense of control.”

“We’ll see,” was all Ryan said, his expression granite.

“I’ll be off then,” said Ashley. “I hope one day to come here with good news. Let me know if you have any trouble from the reporters outside and stay away from Eddie Cope. If he was something to do with this we’ll get him for it.”

“He was,” said Ryan, but he’d already gone.

Rachel went to Ryan and embraced him. “Are you okay?”

Ryan hung onto her. He couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have this woman. “I suppose deep down I already knew. I had hoped it was just an animal I ate but it was a vain hope.”

“Ashley might be able to keep it from the press.”

“Ashley doesn’t wield that sort of control. Hell, the Chief Constable doesn’t and for the media the cannibalism is the juiciest part of the story. They’ll find out then everyone will know, including the victim’s families, including our family, and Leah,” he croaked.

“And we’ll handle it, like everything else.”

He kissed her again, needing to know he still didn’t revolt her. Judging by her reaction he didn’t.

“I need to make a call,” he said.

As Rachel listened to him talking on the phone she broke into a slow smile. Finally Gerard Kerrell was going to get what was coming to him. Jules had been right, law and order did stand in the way of justice.

CHAPTER 32

Gerard Kerrell lay back on his bunk in his cell, a smile on his face, despite the grim surroundings. The whole country was talking about what he’d done. No matter what happened now he was forever immortalised, his name joining the list of his idols. He and Brian had already been dubbed The Dartmoor Butchers. Once you got your nickname that was it, you were truly famous. Far from his life being over this was the beginning of a new one. He wondered if he’d get fan mail.

The only black spot was that he was parted from Brian, his god, his friend, his soul mate, his everything. Gerard had never married because he’d never needed anyone else. He wasn’t gay or anything, he liked women, although he did find some men attractive, especially Brian. But as long as he had him in his life he was happy.

At first he’d begrudged Eddie coming in on their little hobby but Orion had quickly realised he would never be one of the main players. He was happy to do the hunting and partake in the celebration of the kill but he’d wanted nothing to do with the kidnappings. For Gerard that had been one of the highlights, stalking the prey, learning their routines, deciding on the perfect time to strike. It made him hard just thinking about it.

He prayed he and Brian were put in the same prison, that’s if they actually got sent down. His lawyer - and he could afford the best - was optimistic they could at least get a reduced sentence because of the brutality they’d endured. The damage Ryan had inflicted on Brian had been dubbed overkill, as well as his mad sister stabbing him in the stomach when he was tied up and helpless. Rachel tasering himself only evened up the balance too. Their human rights had been violated and his ferocious lawyer was going to use that to great benefit, as long as they both kept their mouths shut and didn’t confess to anything. Eddie - AKA Endymion - had already been released, they had nothing on him and Gerard wasn’t about to drop him in it. With him on the outside the hunt would continue. His lips curled into a smile. They had the best of both worlds.

A shadow blocked out the light filtering in from the corridor outside and he pushed himself up on his elbows to see three big men enter the room, all looking very menacing.

“What are you doing? You can’t come in here,” frowned Gerard, sitting upright.

The men didn’t respond. They closed the door behind them and formed a tight semi-circle around his bed, glowering down at him.

“What do you want? I’ll shout for a guard,” said Gerard, voice wobbling with fear.

“Ryan Law wants us to give you a message,” said one of the men. “You fucked with the wrong family. He says if you don’t confess to everything and implicate Eddie Cope then we’re to give you a fucking good seeing to.” The man’s smile was macabre, revealing twisted, blackened teeth. “And I don’t just mean with our fists. You shouldn’t have threatened to rape his missus, big mistake.”

“No, no, don’t,” Gerard cried, holding his hands out in front of him as they moved in closer. He turned onto his front and buried his face in the pillow, sobbing his heart out.

“Look at that, I love a big fat arse,” grinned one of the men, licking his lips.

Brian had never experienced so much pain in his entire life. His face particularly, despite all the drugs he was on, was agony. He’d also lost an eye and would be permanently partially-sighted. How had it gone so wrong? Yes they’d been fully aware that Ryan Law would be their toughest challenge yet but they’d never once considered he would do this to them. Now they were finished, although the solicitor Gerard had hired for him had given him a glimmer of hope. The horrific violence Ryan had subjected him to had thrown him a lifeline. Even if by some miracle he did manage to get the charges reduced he would never hunt again. The bitch who’d stabbed him had perforated his bowel and he was on a colostomy bag. He’d discovered she was Ryan’s half-sister. And he thought his family was messed up.

It was night and the hospital was quiet, but not completely silent. There was always someone walking up and down the corridor outside his private room, some patient calling out for attention. He longed for the silence and peace of the woods, he’d always felt much more at home with nature than he had with people. In fact he hated people, hated how they polluted and desecrated the environment. Humans were useless, pointless creatures and they sickened him. He’d proved he was better than all of them by hunting the best of the best - until he’d made a huge error of judgement and taken Ryan Law. The man was as much a predator as himself, that was what had drawn him to him in the first place. However he’d underestimated him and that was his downfall.

He hoped Gerard was keeping his big fucking gob shut. Ever since they were kids he’d followed him around like a puppy, his unquestioning obeisance irritating as well as satisfying. It had been easy to persuade him to do what he wanted, Gerard was always willing to fulfil his every whim. He was sure he wouldn’t drop him in it, he loved him. Little did Gerard know that all he felt for him was contempt.

Brian attempted to calm his turbulent thoughts and get some decent sleep, but the ever-present pain and the sounds of the hospital were making it impossible. He shifted about on the bed, attempting to find a position that didn’t cause him agony. He grimaced as he shifted, tugging at the wound in his stomach. He’d love to get his hands on the bitch who’d done that to him.

He sighed when he heard footsteps approaching. Why couldn’t this whole, entire hospital just shut up for five fucking minutes? It was supposed to be a place for rest and recuperation and it was one of the most stressful places he’d ever been.

Forcing his eyes closed Brian tried to imagine he was back in Dartmoor Forest, running free under the night sky, the fresh night air on his face, the sounds of nature soothing him and urging him on. He was running faster than he ever had before, dodging in and out of the trees, the weight of the rifle in his hands powerful and at the same time soothing. No one could hurt him.

He sighed. The insistent footsteps in the corridor kept disturbing his pleasant dream. He wanted to shout at the idiot to shut the fuck up, but he was incapable because of his broken jaw and that made him furious.

When the footsteps stopped right outside his door Brian went rigid. He was under the care of more than one doctor for his various injuries but there was just something about this late-night visitor, some instinct way down deep in his gut that told him this wasn’t right. There was the low exchange of voices outside his door as whoever it was spoke to the police officer on guard duty.

The door opened and Ryan Law walked into his room. If Brian’s jaw could fall open it would have done. No, this couldn’t be happening, he had a fucking police guard, surely they wouldn’t let him in? The sight of the man who had broken his jaw, fractured his throat and removed one of his eyes and made him swallow it generated a horror in him so extreme tears welled in his one remaining eye.

“Hello Actaeon,” said Ryan, closing the door and sitting in the chair beside his bed. “That’s a much more impressive name than Brian. No wonder you felt the need to use an alias.”

Brian attempted to work out what had happened. Ryan must have bribed his guard, it was the only explanation.

“I believe you’re going to be interviewed by DI Boyle tomorrow,” continued Ryan. “I’ve come to tell you what you’re going to say. You will confess everything. You will tell him - or rather write - where each body is buried. You will tell him what happened to each and every man in great detail and you will tell him about Eddie Cope’s involvement. If you don’t…”

Ryan didn’t use words to demonstrate his point. Instead he pressed his thumb to the lower lid of Brian’s one remaining eye. Brian’s whole body shook and if it hadn’t  been for the catheter connected to him he would have wet himself.

“I will take your other eye. Would you like to be permanently blind for the rest of your life?”

Ryan’s voice was perfectly calm but underneath there was an undercurrent of menace. Brian shook his head, his remaining eye bugging out of his head with fear.

“Gerard has already received a warning from his fellow inmates giving him a vivid example of how his life will be from now on if he doesn’t do as I say.” Ryan leaned closer, staring into that single, startled eye. “You know who I am, you know what I am capable of. If you choose not to heed my warning I will ensure you suffer for the rest of your life. If your fancy lawyer gets you a reduced sentence I promise every day will be a living nightmare for you, not even the prison warders will bother to protect you. I know someone in every prison in the country, nasty people who owe me favours and who are very keen to pay up. Some of these nasty people will also no doubt find you very attractive, just as they did Gerard. However, if by some miracle you do manage to wriggle out of this altogether then I know even more people on the outside who will do to you what you threatened to do to myself and my family. I won’t have to lift a finger, nothing will ever be traced back to me when they eventually find your tortured, mangled body. Basically, the only way you’re going to stay alive and keep your anus intact is by taking my advice.”

When Ryan’s face turned to stone Brian filled his catheter bag some more.

“I want Eddie Cope punished for what he’s done and if he isn’t I will hold both you and Gerard personally responsible. I do hope you understand the consequences?”

Brian nodded, an alarming cracking noise sounding in his jaw.

“Excellent.” He produced a notepad and pen from his jacket pocket, placed the pen in Brian’s right hand and arranged the notepad beneath it. “I want Eddie’s hunting name.” He watched as Brian shakily scrawled the word across the pad before dropping the pen, exhausted and quivering all over. “Endymion,” said Ryan, frowning at the pad. “The Greek hunter often portrayed as a shepherd. Eddie does think a lot of himself, Endymion was renowned for his good looks.” He shoved the pen back into Brian’s hand. “You said you had another victim lined up after me. I want their name too.” Brian started to write again in his ugly scrawl and Ryan sighed heavily as he read the name. “You keep that to yourself, do you understand me? He does not need to know that. If you tell anyone our deal is off and I take my retribution on you.” He replaced the pad and pen in his jacket and got to his feet. “We have no further business.”

Brian struggled for breath as he watched Ryan leave, the number one predator.

Mikey and Jez looked down at the two little boys, barely a month old, tucked up in their cots sleeping soundly.

“They’re big buggers, aren’t they?” commented Jez.

“Just like their dad,” replied Mikey. He turned to the woman they’d hired to look after them. Annie was a very respectable middle aged woman with a long history of childcare behind her. She’d been thoroughly vetted before being hired to raise the boys and had passed every scrupulous test. They had no doubts of her ability to care for the children.

“At least this way they’ll stand a chance at a decent life,” commented Mikey.

Hayden wasn’t so sure. He stood in the background with Mark and Grant, who didn’t seem to have a problem with what they’d done, but he did. When he’d signed up to work for Mikey and Jez he hadn’t envisaged killing women and stealing their children. It just felt wrong, no matter how much he heard the boys’ mother was an evil witch. They would grow up in luxury in this big, beautiful house in the Cheshire countryside, wanting for nothing. But Hayden had seen the way their mother had looked at them as she’d pushed them proudly down the street. Despite everything she was a loving mother and nothing could replace that. Every time he looked at his new employers he felt sick, disgusted, and he was beginning to resent his new colleagues for not seeing anything wrong with it.

“Mikey’s the kids’ family too,” was all Mark had said. The fact he’d murdered the mother of those same little kids didn’t seem to worry him in the least. Hayden had killed people during his time in the Parachute Regiment and he’d murdered even more once he’d left the army and become a contract killer, but this just wasn’t sitting well with him. He was being careful to keep his feelings hidden until he’d decided what to do.

“Which one’s this?” said Mikey, picking the boy up and rocking him gently in his arms.

“That’s Alex,” replied Annie.

Mikey gazed into the boy’s eyes, which opened and fixed on him. That hard gaze bored into him, making him feel a little uncomfortable. But the boy was young and pliant, he could be moulded into an ally and not an enemy.

The boy let up a loud wail and nothing Mikey did would soothe him. The second he’d handed him over to Annie he calmed right down and accepted a bottle. However his crying had disturbed his brother, Daniel, who similarly woke up bawling, but at least he let Mikey give him his feed. Just like their deceased counterparts, Daniel was more easy going than Alex. This wasn’t lost on either Mikey or Jez.

“We’ll give you a good life boys,” said Mikey, addressing the babies once they were back in their cots, sleeping soundly after a good feed. “You won’t need to worry about a thing.”

Hayden stood at the back of the room, his sense of unease growing. This wasn’t right.