The Darkness Within (19 page)

‘Good lord!’ Murphy gasped. ‘We have a psycho on our hands.’

Semen was found on the sheets, some other bodily fluids and strands of hair. The forensic team had to be called in. Trevor’s home had become a crime scene.

‘Trophy’s?’ Roy suggested about the panties.

‘Looks like it. I think we have a rapist on our hands. I wonder if his mother knew how sick this man was or is. Don’t know where he is, but if we go on the theory that the killer gets rid of scum, then we’ve got our man.’

‘I was thinking that all these men have one thing in common. A victim. A woman who I think was raped and hurt.’

‘I think you’re right. I think that someone is getting revenge, but if it’s a woman, I don’t think she’s working alone.’

‘She might have a lover who is the man we’ve been searching for.’

‘That is a possibility.’

They found a laptop underneath the bed. It was a while before they were able to bypass the password.

‘Good God! This is one sick man! I would want to kill him myself!’ said Murphey. They’d watched how women had been drugged and raped against their will. It was a horrific scene. The man had taken the time to record all of his perverted acts. ‘I wonder if his mother knows that her son is a sick bastard,’ he repeated.

‘Perhaps we need to spare her the details.’

‘To be honest, this man deserves what he got, whatever it is. I’m ashamed to say it.’

‘I agree. No one should go through such horrible acts. Where are these women? Why haven’t they come forward, unless of course they’re dead.’

‘I’m going to try and find them.’ He sat back and tried to digest what he’d seen. It made his stomach turn thinking about it. He didn’t care if Trevor was never found. The man deserved whatever he got.

‘We’re looking for a female with an accomplice,’ said Roy.

‘Yes. This makes things a little easier. We need to compile a profile for Ferguson and see if any of the guests at the ball Ronald attended, went to Leeds university.’

‘I’ll get right on it as soon as we get back.’

‘I honestly wonder what happens to the bodies.’ He was curious.

‘I’m sure whoever is behind this will makes sure the bodies are never found.’

‘That would make our case hard to prove.’

‘Yes it would.’

‘I don’t know how I feel about that. On the one hand after seeing what Trevor has done, I think he deserves what came to him, but on the other hand, the law isn’t to be taken into one’s own hand,’ said Murphy.

‘I agree. I guess we still have to follow the law and bring in the person who has decided to take revenge into their own hands.’

‘I agree. Let’s bring this person in or people in, whoever they are.’

Chapter fifteen

‘So we know that all the men that have died or we presume are dead were all at the same university. We also know that they did something to have caused this. The question is. Why now? Why after all these years would someone seek out revenge.’ Murphy studied the wall with all the information gathered.

‘Perhaps the person has more resources now. Perhaps they were working their way towards doing it.’

‘Nah. That’s not it. I think like you said there are two people. A woman and a man. The woman probably didn’t think of revenge until she met the man. Have we got a profile for Mr Banks?’ He kept his eyes on the charming man.

‘We have.’ He printed what was on the laptop and added it to the board. ‘I’ve also narrowed down the number of people who were at the ball that also attend the same university the same year group.’

‘And?’ he waited.

‘I have four people. Two women one man.’

‘We’ve got the footage from the ball don’t we?’

‘We do.’

‘Great. Let’s go through it and see if we can spot something obvious.’

It didn’t take long for Roy to spot Freya talking to Ronald briefly. She looked uncomfortable and dashed out, Ronald following her and then Ferguson followed a few seconds later.

Roy went back to the list of people that had attended the same university. All he needed were some photographs.

‘I think I’ve got something. I’m just waiting for some images.’

‘It better be good news.’

‘I think it will be.’

They worked for another hour before the pictures came onto his screen. He took time to compare them to the footage he’d seen.

‘I think I’ve found something.’

‘Ferguson Banks and Freya Johnson.’

Murphy stood behind Roy and studied the information.

‘This is good. Very good. Let’s get a profile on Freya. I think we have the people you were looking about. If we find out what happened, then we can take it from there.’

‘I’m right on it.’

The next few hours all they did was work. They were getting closer to find out what happened to the men that had disappeared.

****

‘If anything goes wrong or if you need me just give me a ring. My phone will always be on.’ Freya told Bailey.

‘So do you know where in Italy you’re going.’

‘Venice. I believe it’s nice weather out there, compared to our unpredictable weather.’

‘Sounds so exciting. What’s it like to fly private?’

‘Well.’ She looked at the hostess who had just approached her to ask what she wanted to drink. Freya lifted the empty vodka glass and mouthed, ‘The same please.’  She then looked over at Ferguson who was studying his computer.

‘Come on, do tell.’

‘It’s luxurious and you can do whatever you want. You don’t have to be squashed into a plane with others like cattle. It’s pretty amazing.’

‘Gosh I can imagine.’

‘Anyway I’m going to have to go. We’ll be taking off soon.’

‘Okay. You have a wonderful time with that lovely man of yours and don’t worry about a thing at the office. I have it all under control.’

‘Thank you. I’ll speak to soon. Call me if you need me.’

‘Will do.’

Freya hung up.

‘All sorted?’ he asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Good.’ He put his hand across so she could take it. ‘We’re going to have a lovely time.’

‘I don’t doubt it.’

‘We’ll see Thomas tomorrow at twelve, everything is set, just the way you want it. He’ll be at the coffee shop from about eleven thirty. Someone has been watching him like clockwork.’

‘What if tomorrow he decides not to do what he does every day?’

‘We are creatures of habit. He will. ‘

‘What if he gets ill and doesn’t show up?’

‘He will. If not, we’ll wait. He won’t be sick forever, but a far as I’m aware. He’s doing fine.’

‘Okay.’

‘Don’t worry it will all turn out fine.’

‘You think so?’

‘I know so.’

The drinks arrived and soon the captain announced that they would soon be taking off.

‘Here we go,’ he said.

‘Here we go.’

The private jet began to taxi off the runway and up into the air. Thomas had no idea what was coming for him.

****

There had been another call reporting a missing person. Marvin’s sister had called because he hadn’t answered any of her calls or texts. The detective took the details and told her that they would get right on it.

‘What if we never find the bodies?’ asked Roy.

‘If we find the people who did this, then we’ll find the bodies or at least have an idea where the bodies are.’

He nodded, but not convinced. They worked until the late hours of the evening and finally there was a full profile of Freya and Ferguson. They stood watching the board both tired from all the work, but determined to get to the bottom of this.

‘So we know Miss Johnson has mental health issues. She’s been admitted numerous times. We also know that the problems started around the end of the first year of university.’ Murphy was recapping.

‘It means that a trauma happened and even though the hospital won’t release why yet, we think it’s rape. Gang rape.’

‘Most likely. How else could we explain it?’

‘We also know that as soon as she met Mr Banks, things began to take a turn for the worst. We also know that not so long ago his father died. The hospital claim illness, he was on his way out, but Mr Banks had visited his father the day he died.’

‘You think murder?’

‘The more I learn about Mr Banks the more I think so. We can’t prove it, and I think it’s going to be pretty hard. He’s an upstanding man with influence right at the top. He’s a billionaire who thinks he can get away with murder. Literally.’

‘He probably can. He has no family we know of, he doesn’t hang out with friends, the closet person he has to a friend is his assistant Gary Moore.’

‘Yes. Then he attaches himself to a woman who is not only vulnerable, but is looking for a way out of her misery. So he puts all of it together and that’s when things start. I think we might have our killer.’ Murphy seemed happy about it.

‘Tread carefully,’ the chief of police walked in.

‘Sir, didn’t hear you come in.’

‘I hear you’ve been investigating the very prominent Mr Banks.’

‘We have sir. We think that he’s the one committing all the murders.’

‘I see. Can I have a word with you in private,’ he said to Murphy.

‘I’ll go grab us some coffee,’ said Roy.

‘You do that,’ said the chief. ‘Now… I think that you’ve bitten on a little more than you can chew.’

‘But sir. This is all pointing to one man. If you look at the evidence, its clear that he’s done it.’

‘But you have no real proof. You don’t have any bodies to back it up. You can’t accuse a man of doing something out of nowhere.’

‘It isn’t out of nowhere. If you let me get a hold of him and ask him, we can get to the bottom of this.’

‘I’m going to say this to you in the nicest of ways. You need to drop this one.’

‘What about the families of all these people? What about them?’

‘Our financial interests are more of a priority at the moment. The way I see it, these men on the board all did something wrong. I’ve been following this investigation.’

‘Just because they’re bad, doesn’t make it right.’

‘Listen to me very carefully. You will drop this. Tell the families that it’s an ongoing investigation and that you’re doing everything in your power to find their missing family members. As with most missing people, we rarely find them. Days will turn into weeks and then months and then years. They will soon move on.’

‘I can’t believe you believe that. You can’t do that.’

‘I can do whatever I want. I’m the chief of police, now wrap this up.’ He nodded a warning then left him.

Murphy couldn’t believe his ears. He believed in justice. This was why he became a cop. Now his chief was telling him to drop it all for the sake of money.

‘Is everything alright?’ Roy entered.

‘No. It’s not. I’ve just been told to drop the whole case.’

‘What? With everything we have?’

‘Yes.’

‘What are you going to do?’

He stood up and pulled Freya’s and Ferguson’s picture off the board. ‘Something you shouldn’t do.’

‘Should I come with you?’

‘That will be at your own risk, because what I’m about to do now will cost you your job. With your young family I don’t think you can do that.’

‘I believe in justice like you do.’

‘I’m afraid there is no justice. Not yet, but I will do my best to prove this. To bring those families some peace of mind.’

‘Be careful.’

‘I’ll do my best.’

Chapter Sixteen

Ferguson and Freya checked into the luxury hotel. They then headed for the restaurant to have dinner. Freya was on top of the world. It was the last kill and she was a little high on cocaine. Ferguson had found contacts in Italy before leaving. He always made sure to plan ahead. He wanted her at ease and he knew that having some cocaine would do the trick.

‘I can’t believe we’re here,’ she said.

‘Believe it darling. You’ve achieved so much since we met.’ He took her hand and brought it to his lips. ‘You’ve managed to stay out of the hospital.’

‘I have. It feels pretty good.’

‘And tomorrow you’ll put the final nail in the coffin.’

She nodded. ‘He will be surprised to see me.’

‘Yes he will.’

‘Are you ready for it?’

‘I am. I don’t think I’ll sleep tonight.’

‘Oh I’ll makes sure I tire you out.’

‘Your naughty boy.’ She giggled.

They wined and dined and Freya drank quite a bit through it, but as usual there was no judgment from him. He just wanted her to be happy. And she certainly looked it.

Ferguson helped her upstairs to their bedroom. She fell into the bed laughing. He took time to slide of her heels. She giggled some more.