I SHALL FIND YOU (17 page)

When he opened his eyes darkness lay in the room. Rose was fast asleep. He needed to empty his bladder. After washing his hands, drying them and flushing the loo, he walked back to bed. Rose switched the bedside lamp and lifted an arm.

“Need to visit the bathroom.”

“You ok, Rose?”

“You got no place to escape?”

“No.”

He held her arm and helped her up to her feet. She leaned against his shoulder. He put an arm around her.

“I look as fat and ugly as a whale. Still two weeks before birth.”

“You’ve never looked lovelier.”

 He joined her as he pushed the door and she sat on the bathroom seat. After she had finished he suggested she a bath. He ran the it for her, squirted liquid bath soap and sat inside the tub with her amidst the bubbles. He massaged her shoulders and neck.

“Mm. Ah, your daughter’s awake. Touch my side here. She’s kicking.”

“Hey, girl. Ease it now. Stop kicking your mom so hard.”

“This girl will be a good soccer player. Miss talking to your mum. She’ll be on the plane soon. Doesn’t want to miss the birth.”

“You talked to her two days ago and get along now.”

“Reminds me of you and my dad,” she said. “He never could stand you. Now you’re the best of friends. Your mom didn’t want me for a daughter- in-law. But you stood with me. Now I wear a ring, changed my last name and am carrying your child. Let’s sit here for a while. I enjoy being married.”

“I miss being single.”

“Lies. I’ve caught you looking at me many times. No way you can wish for that empty shell you called life without me. Besides, weren’t you the one that wanted to see my naked back and count scars?”

They chuckled. He thought of their wedding. David had been his best man. Rose’s best girl was Loyce. Among the invited guests were the two Stones detectives Martin and Linda.

Now they talked of the unborn baby. When the water got lukewarm he helped dry her and lead her to bed. When they drifted off to sleep the clock on the wall registered 4AM.

They never noticed the silent figure that jumped over the garden gate, climb up the gutter to the kitchen roof and step through an open window into the bedroom. Moved stealthily to the bed a large knife gripped in one hand.  Stood looking at them, drew closer and raised the knife, a snarl on his face.

Godfree’s eyes snapped open. Someone had shaken him awake. Rose was fast asleep.

“Sshh. It’s me,” a voice came from the darkness.

“James!” He sat. “What’re you doing here?”

“Shhh. I escaped. You don’t want to wake up Rose now. We need to talk. I need your help and a place to hide. Get up now. Help me. I don’t want to go back.”

“You escaped? Let’s go to the cellar.”

Heart pumping fast he got up and slipped his bottom pyjamas. He held James’ arm and led him down the stairs and into the cellar. Closed the door and clicked on the light, started when James showed him the knife and waved it.

“Sit in that chair, Godfree!” he snapped. “Now!”

“Do nothing foolish.”

“Too late. I stole a car and killed the owner. Don’t care if police catch me. People will know I’m a hero. I will slit your throat first. SIT!”

He sat. “Why, Jamie?”

“You betrayed me by taking my woman. I killed that man for you. How could you repay me by going behind my back and taking Rose? Die now. I liked you as my best mate.”

“I never hurt you, Jamie.”

Keep him talking.

This was real. James meant to kill him. How had he escaped?

James lifted the knife, advanced. “You connived behind my back. Went to the police and reported me. Sided with my mother, the loose girl that abandoned me. You’re nothing but scum.”

“Jamie, how could you kill another man? The police are on your tail here. I’m not your enemy. Never was. Give yourself up.”

“You don’t understand. I must kill you and Rose first. You must die and then I’ll go to her and slash her too.”

“Don’t hurt my wife. We’re expecting a child.”

“SHUT UP!” James screamed. “Stop talking. Don’t even think of jumping me. Prepare to die.”

“We used to be close pals. Have you forgotten those times you bought Nandos chicken for me, came home and we’d play chess? I’ve never forgotten. Didn’t we have good times?”

The door opened and a pregnant figure in a nightie stood on the steps. Her eyes opened wide.

“James? What’re you doing here? Why do you have a knife?”

He smiled. “Came to pay you a visit. I escaped. You saved me coming back to the bedroom. You’re pregnant now? Need to kill Godfree here for betraying me. He should not have protected you.”

“Go back, Rose,” Godfree shouted.

“No, don’t leave! I must kill both of you.” James said as he started up the stairs towards her.

“Run, Rose!” Godfree yelled as he tackled James.

They both fell on the steps. Rolled as they fought over the knife. The strength in James’ lithe body was surprising. Even after Godfree hit him he still came back. Now he was on his back with James choking him. He picked the knife and raised it. His face was suffused with hate.

“I told you I'll find you. Goodbye you cheat! Ah!”

Rose screamed. Something slammed hard into James’ temple. The knife fell as he slumped onto Godfree lay still. Godfree glanced up, saw Rose standing with a broken broom hand in one hand.

“How dare you attack my husband?” she yelled as she hit him again.

Godfree pushed James off him, staggered to his feet and grabbed her arm.

“Enough, Rose. Got to tie him.”

“Here’s the ropes.”

Godfree tied James’ hands and arms.

“What’s going on? I heard screaming, ran to your bedroom.” A tussled Frank in pyjamas stepped inside the cellar his wife behind him. “James? What’s this killer doing here?”

“Call the police now, Dad.” Godfree said. “He escaped from prison and came to kill me and Rose.”

Frank rushed to call the police while Godfree held two shivering women. James revived as the police arrived. Blinked at the flickering blue lights as cuffs clamped on his wrists. Blood covered his face.

“Godfree. You and Rose were lucky this time but I’ll find you again and slit your throat.”

Frank’s fist landed in James’ belly.

“To think I liked you once. You wanted to kill my son and daughter. He’s a better man than you’ll ever be, murderer!”

“You won’t come out this time,” Godfree said. “They’ll make sure you’ll die in prison.”

“My husband’s right,” Rose said. “Go back where you belong.”

Neighbours came out of their homes to see several police cars and a man being led by police, pushed into a car. The police left.

Rose held on to Godfree’s arm as they went back into the house. Now she had a morning gown over her nightie.

“I never thanked you for whacking that killer hard.”

“He deserved it. Oh, Free.” She grimaced as her hand gripped his.

“You alright, girl? You need to rest now.”

“Free, my water’s broken. The baby’s coming. Must be the excitement. Call the ambulance now.”

He yelled. “Mom, it’s coming.”

Godfree’s daughter arrived at hospital that night with a splitting cry. He witnessed the birth. Rose held onto his arm as she pushed, watched with a look of wonder as she held her daughter, kissed her and bared a breast. The new arrival started suckling. Godfree kissed both mother and child. Later his wife held her out to him.

“Meet your daughter, Maria.”

He held her, felt moisture in his eyes. Maria’s hair was reddish, her features Rose’s.  Rose and Maria would sleep here tonight, be discharged in the morning. Rose fetched the child and suckled her again.

“Maria's already an expert at suckling.”

Rose bubbled with laughter. “I love the sensation. Did I tell you I’m a mother now?”

He was unaware of time. When the nurse took the child Rose drifted off to sleep. A smile on his face and holding his wife's hand, he dozed.

***

James sat in the back of the prison truck, his wrist cuffed to a prison warden’s. Another armed guard sat opposite.

The warden spoke, “Dirty and bloodthirsty killer. You won’t just stop killing, can you? I needed to be home with my wife not this killer.”

The other nodded. “But you’ll never be released. A rapist and murderer are right at the bottom of my totem pole. That’s what you are.”

“Wish they’d hang you, stretch your neck.”

“They won’t,” James snickered.

One man elbowed in the stomach. His eyes smouldered with hate. He smiled.

“How can you even smile? Six deaths and you still wanted to kill two more.”

“You’re crazy. Try to run and I’ll shoot you, James. I’m waiting.”

The two wardens looked mad, and ready to suffocate him right there. He had failed. Should have held a pillow on Godfree’s face and slit his throat and done the same to Rose. Only he got caught. Those two outsmarted him again. Rage filled him. How had a pregnant woman hit him so hard with a broom and almost broke his head? None of the blondes he had captured had ever hurt him. She humiliated him, pretended she liked him better than Godfree. Laughed at him and was there again to save her husband before James plunged the knife into his heart. How he hated her. How much she reminded him of his mother. The same green eyes and hair. He must escape.

“I need to urinate,” he said.

The two wardens laughed. “No ways. You used the loo back there.”

“I’m pressed, got a weak bladder.”

“We aren’t dumb.” The man shouted as the van swerved and hit something. “What’s happening?”

Everyone screamed as the vehicle rolled several times and rested on its side. They must have collided with another vehicle. When it stopped James lay upside down, still chained to an unmoving warden lying below him. The smell of fuel hung in the air.
The van could burst into flames at any minute. He saw the still form of the other warden on the next seat, his head at a strange angle. After dragging the warden towards him he dipped in his pocket and pulled out the key and freed himself. Crept to the door and pushed it open. The van rested on its back in trees at the bottom of a steep slope. Fate had dealt him a lucky hand. He needed to get away before it burst into flames. Had only run a few yards when a huge explosion sounded. An inferno engulfed the van. James had escaped the flames by seconds. The trapped men inside stood no chance. He felt no sympathy for them as he disappeared into the trees. They had been taking him back to prison without fulfilling something he must do. After two hundred yards he peeked out at a motorway, took his bearings, knew where he was. Nothing could kill him. That was why he was still alive. The accident was for a purpose. A sigh he need to finish what he had broken from prison for. There was one place to go. This time he must not make a mistake. Not allow himself to be humiliated by Rose again.

He headed back to Stones.

Godfree yawned, stood, stretched, tousled Rose’s hair as she suckled the child. She opened her eyes.

“Could you fetch me a change of clothes at home?”

He pulled her nose, kissed mother and child. “I’ll run home now and fetch the stuff you want.”

“Free.”

“Yeah.”

“Hurry back. Don’t stay too long. You have two women waiting.”

He left, grateful his father-in-law and mother-in-law had been at the hospital, drove home. The house looked empty. He moved to the bedroom, packed his wife's clothes.

And then he saw it.

A shadow that stepped behind him. He turned.

“Hello, Godfree!”

James! Something heavy crushed onto his arm and head.

When he opened his eyes his head throbbed. He lay in darkness, confined in a foetus position, his hands and feet tied. He heard the sound of an engine realized he lay in the boot of a car. James had escaped again. Came back to the house. How had James got away again? There could only be one reason. To kill his family. Anger suffused Godfree. James had a remote place in the trees to kill him. Maybe he had a black bag to put him before he dumped him in a lake. He loved lakes. Once he established a burial place he would find Rose and Maria at hospital.

No. Godfree tried his hands. The cords were tight and painful. What choice did he have? His only chance was to free himself before James stopped and opened that boot. This must be his car. One way to find out. He turned himself onto his belly, tried to reach the place he kept a small tool box with screwdrivers and a knife. Touched a knob, turned it and then touched the box. He wanted to shout.

It’s my car. Keep driving James. Don’t stop.

The box popped open. He found the knife. Clasped and cut the cords around his hands.
Keep driving.
He was free. Now for the feet. There was no time to rub his hands to restore circulation before James stopped and opened that boot. He freed himself and waited.

After what he took as minutes the car slowed, shook as it did, moved a distance and stopped. A door opened and closed. Steps followed. The boot lifted. James did not expect the dark shadow that sprung at him with a scream and head-butted him. Kicks and punches rained on him. He grunted, stood no chance against the relentless onslaught, found himself picked and thrown against a tree truck. When Godfree lifted his hand to strike again he realized James was not fighting back. He carried him to the car, grabbed the cords, tied his hands and feet.

“Help me, Godfree,” James groaned in pain.

“You came back to kill me and my family.”

“Can’t feel my legs. You broke my back.”

“You’re going back to prison. This time you won’t escape.”

“Godfree-”

“Shut up! I could kill you now but I’m not a murderer.”

He threw him in the boot and locked it. After jumping in his car, he fired it up and headed for the police station. James would not escape from that boot. When he swung into the police station and parked he opened the boot, lifted James, carried him through the doors. Three policemen stared as he threw him on the floor.

“I’ve brought back the blonde abductor. He had escaped again.”

“WHAT?”

“It’s him.”

They looked at him, shock on their faces. “Oh, yes. That’s him! But we thought he died in that accident on the way back to prison.”

“He escaped.”

“How did you catch him?”

“He came looking for me, still had unfinished business.”

They cuffed James. He repeated he had no sensation from the waist downwards.

Godfree hoped he had paralysed him. That should stop him killing again. Why had he not just killed James back in the trees? Nobody would cry for him. No, he couldn’t. Because he was no killer. For James a lifetime as a paraplegic would be punishment enough for his crimes.

Godfree headed for the hospital where his wife and daughter waited. Feeling a nightmare had finally ended. Soon he parked at the hospital. Looked at the large building as he sat in the car. Thought of the four times in his life he could have died. Twice back home in Africa, and the rest in Stones. Death had followed him.

The first was when he was attacked at the rally by Moto and his thugs. Next was in that dungeon where Moto had tortured and killed him. His heart had stopped. Enough for Moto to conclude he was already dead, and did not need his head crushed with a hammer. Then those two times in Stones when James tried to kill him. The voice that commanded him back to his old body when he died said it was not time yet. Had he not been given his life back, he wouldn’t have come to Stones, met Rose and James. Stopped a killer. He was grateful to God for another chance to live, and certain James was never going to walk again.

Godfree alighted from the car, smiled as he picked the bag. Feeling like a dad he started for the hospital entrance, with a quick step.

THE END