Face in the Frame (24 page)

“Rubbish. That ape isn’t capable of thinking anything.”

“You underestimate him. He knew and no one would listen. Not even me.” She staggered back a couple of steps, her muscles weakening. “For the first time ever I didn’t believe him. You bastard,” she said, drawing back her fist. It was like being in a dream where everything was slow and sluggish and she could do nothing to speed it up. Lucas caught her fist, twisted her arm up her back and spun her round, so her back was pressing against his front in a move she had no idea he was even capable of.

“You’re not the only one with secrets,” he whispered in her ear. “I’m a black belt too. After you lied to me I didn’t feel the need to enlighten you. After enduring years of bullying not just from my parents but from my peers I thought it wise to learn how to defend myself. I’ve never been a victim since. Don’t fight,” he said when she struggled against him. “The drug’s too strong. Very soon you will be unconscious. I need to take your face while you’re alive, to preserve the animation, your life spark as I like to call it.”

“No,” she tried to scream, tears falling freely now, the horror of what he was going to do to her almost too much. But even her vocal muscles were failing her and it came out as a raspy cry. In one last ditch attempt to escape before her body gave up entirely she tried to drive her elbow into his ribs but the movement was so weak it was completely ineffectual.

“Please don’t fight me,” he whispered in her ear, holding her close, pressing his face into her hair. “It’ll be completely painless, I promise. I don’t want you to suffer, my love.”

“You don’t love me,” she mumbled before losing control of her tongue, everything swimming out of focus as she began to fall into darkness.

“I do. You’ll live forever my sweet.”

The last thing Cass saw were those eyes she had loved so much. Her last thoughts turned to Brodie.

CHAPTER 22

“What the bloody hell is wrong with you two?” said Pete as he strolled into the office to find Christian and Ross slumped behind their desks, looking miserable.

“Cass has gone,” said Christian.

“Gone where?”

“London.”

“Why?”

“She’s moving there with Lucas Thorne.”

“Moving, as in permanently?”

“Yeah,” sighed Christian.

Pete looked to Brodie’s office to see the blinds had been drawn. “Oh hell,” he said, striding across the room and bursting inside.

Brodie was slouched behind his desk swigging red wine directly from the bottle. He didn’t even bother to look up when Pete entered.

“Christian just told me about Cass,” said Pete, closing the door behind him.

Brodie dragged his bloodshot eyes up to his friend. “She’s sodding off with the Elf and they’re going to live happily ever after,” he said sarcastically.

“It’ll all probably fall through in a few months and she’ll be back with her tail between her legs.”

“You’ve not seen the way she looks at him. It’s the real thing. She’s gone Pete,” he said before taking another swig.

“Why can’t you drink scotch like any normal burnt out private eye? You look a right ponce with that bottle of Rioja.”

“Who are you calling burnt out?” he scowled.

“Alright, maybe not burnt out but you’re not living up to the stereotype drinking that shite. Why don’t you come out to the pub with me and get hammered?”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“You’d rather sit here and get steamin’ all on your lonesome?”

“Yeah because that’s what I am. Alone. Always will be.” He looked up at his poster of Nicola Sturgeon and raised the wine bottle in a toast. “She’s the only woman in my life now.”

“Don’t think like that. You’re a good looking man.”

Brodie’s scowl deepened. “Are you hitting on me? Is that why you want to get me drunk?”

“Jesus Christ man, I’m trying to cheer you up. I won’t be able to stand looking at that miserable face for the next few months.”

“Why didn’t I tell her how I felt before? She might have stayed.”

“Or she might have run for the hills.”

“You know Pete, you’re just pissing me off even more.”

“You didn’t tell her because she didn’t feel the same way. This way at least you had more time with her. It was always on the cards that she’d find a man she liked and settle down one day.”

“But she was supposed to settle down in Glasgow, so I could at least see her. I’ll never see her again now. She’s gone for good.”

“It’s much better this way. It would have driven you crazy seeing her every day when she was getting serious with another man, being invited to the wedding, having weans.”

“Cass doesn’t want kids.”

“She might change her mind now she’s in a serious relationship and she might get a less dangerous job. This is for the best Brodie.”

“See if you say it’s for the best one more time I’m going to jam this bottle right up yer arse,” he glowered, brandishing it.

“You always were a kinky bastard but seriously, one day you’ll see I’m right.”

“She was the one person I could talk to about Ricky and Nat and the shit that goes round in my head.”

“You can talk to me too.”

“Yeah but she’s got nicer breasts.”

Pete looked down at his chest. “Mine aren’t bad. The dragon queen always said I had a cracking pair of moobs.”

“Did you come here to talk about your man tits or was there a purpose to your annoying visit?” said Brodie, leaning back in his chair.

“Actually there was a reason. I’ve found Fred.”

“Oh aye?” he replied disinterestedly, only half-listening.

“In the Clyde. With his face missing.”

Brodie went rigid in his seat. “What?”

“Pathologist said it was done while he was still alive, although he must have been out cold. There were traces of a very strong sedative in his system. This wasn’t about watching the victim suffer. They just wanted his face.”

Brodie shot to his feet, sending his chair rocketing back against the wall. “It was Thorne.”

“Now you don’t know that.”

“Some prick comes to the city with a load of faces and you think he’s nothing to do with it when a body turns up with the face missing? Are you fucking serious? It was either him or Oliver Fender, the wee cockwomble.”

“Thorne’s agent? What’s he got to do with anything?”

“He’s a creepy wee shite who likes copying his client’s work. He did it with Hans Albrecht…”

“Who?” Pete shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. Just calm down. You’re making assumptions. You were wrong about the mad harpy, remember?”

“Don’t give me that shite. The prick’s a murderer and Cass is about to swan off down south with him. If it’s not Thorne then it’s Fender and Cass has pissed him off. Either way she’s in danger.”

“Take it easy will you,” said Pete, hurrying after Brodie as he made for the door. “You’re just using this as an excuse to stop her leaving.”

“You’re fucking right I’m going to stop her. She is not going anywhere with that bastard. He’s a fucking serial killer.”

“You don’t know that,” exclaimed Pete.

“Go and get a sample tested from one of his creepy exhibits. I bet they come back showing human DNA.”

“Do you think any judge in his right mind will give me a warrant?”

Brodie clutched at his hair. “Has the whole fucking world gone mad? Just because someone’s rich and famous doesn’t mean they’re not a criminal. Actually that only means they’re more likely to be a criminal. You can stand here and fanny about but I’ve got a friend to save.”

“What’s going on Boss?” said Christian, both he and Ross getting to their feet when he burst out of his office.

“Your boss has lost his mind,” said Pete, striding after him. “And you’re buggered if you think I’m letting you drive,” he said, snatching Brodie’s car keys from his hand. “You’ve had way too much to drink.”

“Ross can drive then.”

“I could,” he said, hanging his head when Pete glared at him.

“No one is driving you anywhere Brodie,” said Pete. “You will sit down and wait here until I’ve got more information on this body.”

“Body?” said Christian, but no one answered him.

“If Lucas is guilty I’m not having you charge in there like a dick on a mission and buggering up any chance of a conviction,” continued Pete.

“But Cass…,” began Brodie.

“Cass can take care of herself. If he is responsible he goes for the homeless, those with no one to miss them, not women he claims to love. She’ll be perfectly safe.”

Brodie huffed and folded his arms across his chest. “Fine.”

“You know I’m talking sense.”

“I said fine, didn’t I? I’ll wait here like a good little boy for you to come back.”

“Thank you. Watch him you two,” Pete told Christian and Ross.

“We will,” said Christian determinedly, ignoring Brodie’s thunderous look.

“I’ll be back,” said Pete before stomping out.

“Thinks he’s fucking Schwarzenegger now,” said Brodie. “Telling me to wait here like a naughty kid. Who the bloody hell does he think he is?”

“A detective inspector,” replied Ross. “Sorry,” he added when Brodie scowled at him. “But he could nick you if you don’t do as he says.”

“He’s had plenty of chances to nick me in the past and never taken them, even when he should have.” He was so distracted he automatically answered his mobile phone when it started to ring. “Oh Jesus Shelley, it’s over. Leave me alone,” he bellowed before hanging up and sticking it back in his jeans pocket.

“What if this isn’t Thorne and you charge in there and spoil everything for Cass?” said Christian. “I don’t want her to go but I do want her to be happy.”

This boy made Brodie feel ashamed of himself. He’d been so busy thinking of his own happiness he’d failed to consider that Lucas might actually make her happy. Pete was right, he’d been using this as an excuse to stop her from leaving. But what if his gut instinct had been right all along? He thought of what Lucas’s parents had said, of the stuffed animals heads on the wall and his body went rigid. “The heids.”

“What’s that boss?” said Christian.

“Lucas’s parents had all these stuffed animal heids all over the house. They were everywhere, even in the cludgy. Growing up there Lucas wouldn’t have been able to get away from them. His dad said he liked all the heids because it preserved the animal’s beauty. What if Lucas associates death with saving someone? Don’t look at me like I’m a fucking loon,” he added when they gaped at him.

“Doesn’t mean he’s a murderer,” said Christian.

“Pete’s just found Fred with his face cut off.”

Ross and Christian looked at each other in astonishment. “Alright, maybe there is something in it,” said the latter.

“Course there is. Thorne’s ex said he’s into some weird sex and he can get aggressive. His parents also told me he liked to torture and kill small animals when he was a kid, especially his own cats. That’s a big fucking red flag for a serial killer. Apparently the cats died in nasty ways after they’d pissed him off. What if Cass pisses him off?”

“I don’t think she really wanted to go to London,” said Ross.

“Ross is right,” said Christian, looking worried. “What if you’ve been right about Thorne all along Boss? What if Cass changes her mind and pisses him off when she’s all the way down south, far away from family and friends, all alone.”

“Just the way he likes them,” said Brodie.

The three men looked at each other in worried silence.

“Fuck what Pete said,” growled Brodie. “We’re going to Thorne’s.”

Lucas gazed at Cass out cold in the empty bath tub. This wasn’t ideal, he had a special place where he prepared all his exhibits, a lock-up in the city that was untraceable to him and that he carefully scrubbed down after each use but it was the best he could do given the unexpected circumstances. However she wasn’t going to be exhibited. She was for his own personal delight.

He gripped the scalpel tightly in one hand, trying to find the will to do what must be done. He hadn’t wanted it to come to this, he really loved her, had wanted to spend his life with her but she’d thrown that all back at him and he would not lose her. That was unthinkable. This way he could look upon her beauty forever.

However he was troubled. She’d said Brodie suspected him, how he had no idea. Thanks to Oliver’s squirreling he knew all about Brodie MacBride, knew he’d been a highly respected police officer who had brought a lot of criminals to justice. He couldn’t take the risk, especially not if he wanted to get away with keeping Cass all to himself. It would mean sacrificing his best work but he was willing to do it to keep his liberty and his love.

Leaving Cass in the bath he turned and made his way down the hall to one of the spare bedrooms where his laptop was set up, connected to four different monitors, each one giving him a different view of his exhibition in the museum. When he saw Bill the security guard there he smiled. Perfect. Leaning towards the microphone he started to speak.

Bill stood before Sylvie, pouring his heart out to her about the latest slanging match he’d had with his vicious harpy of a mother. Just getting it off his chest made him feel better, made him not want to draw the knife he’d secreted in his jacket and carry out his grand plan to rid himself of his pent-up rage.

“Thank you Sylvie. You always know how to cheer me up.” She hadn’t actually spoken to him this time or even opened her beautiful eyes but just knowing she was here listening to him was enough to soothe his anger. Gently he ran a fingertip over her lips. “I wish I could take you home. I would be able to face anything if you were with me.”

He gasped when her eyes flew open and her mouth turned into an ‘o’ without him even having pressed her button.

“Sylvie, is something wrong?” said Bill, panicking.

“Help me Bill.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“He’s coming, He’s going to take me away from you.”

“Who is?”

“That horrible man who came in here looking mad and staring at us all. You remember him?”

“Yes, he was very rude.”

“You made him go away Bill, you were so brave and I was so proud. He’s going to take me from you. You can’t let him do it.”

“Of course I won’t.”

“I can’t fall into the wrong hands, I want to be with you,” she wailed.

“And I want to be with you but what can I do?”

“There’s only one way we can be together. You have to burn it all.”

Bill’s face fell. “Burn you? But that would destroy you.”

“Only this form. You would be setting me free. Then we could be together. Forever.”

“We could, couldn’t we? Finally.”

“It’s all I want Bill. Is it what you want too?”