Текст книги "The Black Pathway"

Автор книги: Mark C. Sutton

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Текущая страница: 14 (всего у книги 18 страниц)

“Yeah, I know that. At least we might get a bit more visibility. It’s pretty treacherous up here at the moment.” Replied Tom.

“The two search teams from Knighton left just under an hour ago, by the way. If Howard Trenton’s up there on the Black Pathway, as that journal of his suggested he would be, then we’re gonna catch him.” Said Kevin.

“Maybe, but he’s had one hell of a head-start on us. I just hope that he hasn’t got to Mary and Alex yet. You read what he said he was going to do to them both… is there any more news on Kate Williams?” Tom was eager to know.

“Well, from what Julie down at the crime scene told me, there was no doubt that Kate and the other guy…”

“Alan Lane.” Corrected Tom.

“Yeah, Alan Lane… there was no doubt that Kate and Alan were murdered. Just like it said they were in that fucking freak’s journal.” Said Kevin.

“The little fucker.” Snarled Tom, who had known Kate Williams from when she was a young girl. You’re out there somewhere, Trenton, thought Tom, and we’re gonna find you too, you crazy piece of shit.

***

Mary, Gary and Shark followed a natural bend as Skerrington Forest began to climb to the north, towards Knighton and the Black Pathway.

“Shouldn’t be much longer now.” Said Gary.

“Good. I’m bloody knackered.” Replied Shark.

“We all are.” Smiled Gary. “At least we haven’t heard any more fucked-up shit coming from behind us in the last half hour.”

“What do you think that was?” Queried Mary.

“Dunno… and I don’t really want to think about it. Let’s just concentrate on getting back to the pathway.” Gary suddenly remembered something. He took his backpack from off his shoulder and opened it up. After a few seconds of rummaging around, he pulled out a small portable radio. “I’d forgotten about this. Fancy a listen to some music, girls?” Gary asked, in a bid to ease the tension within the group.

“Switch it on.” Smiled Shark. Gary put the wireless on. Static immediately filled the air. Gary began playing with the tuning dial. After a few moments, an old seventies song crackled across the airwaves.

“Fucking hell, I remember my dad playing this, when I was a little kid.” Said Gary, smiling at the memory. “It’s bloody awful.” He added. “No wonder mom broke up with him.”

“Are your parents divorced then?” Asked Shark.

“Yep. Mom threw him out years back. He was a bit of a druggie… still is. If it weren’t for my old man though, I wouldn’t be into the punk stuff. I grew up listening to all of that sort of music, coz that’s what dad always used to listen to… The Pistols, Discharge, The Exploited, GBH, Crass… oh, man, I could go and on.” Said Gary.

“This ain’t punk.” Said Mary, referring to the song that was playing on the radio.

“Well, Dad did listen to some shit stuff as well. But then, don’t we all? How’s the pop-punk, eh Mary?” Gary teased her.

“Pop-punk’s not shit!” Mary argued.

“Yeah it is, it’s a pile of old fucking bollocks! It’s not proper punk.” Replied Gary.

“I know. That’s why it’s called pop-punk.” Answered-back Mary, who then flicked the finger at Gary. And that’s when Shark let out a scream.

***

That afternoon… on the day that Howard had followed Mary and the others up onto the Black Pathway… it was fucking mental. Our house, our home, it suddenly filled with coppers, and Kay and I were told that we would have to leave. Some neighbours of ours, Martin and Anne, they let us stay at theirs for a while. Within an hour of us arriving, the police were hammering on their front door. They wanted to speak to me about something that they’d found in Howard’s bedroom, concealed under a loose floorboard. So, off I went, back up to the house. The police led me into the kitchen. One of the coppers was sat at the table, and he had an A4 -sized book in front of him.

“Sit down, Lucas.” Said the policeman, I forget his name. I did as I was told. The copper pushed the book in front of me. “Have you ever seen this before?” He asked. I looked at the book. Scrawled across the plain white cover, in red marker pen, were the words,

‘Journal of Howard Trenton – My thoughts and reflections on life’. I shook my head. I’d never seen the book before in my life. “Are you sure about that, Lucas?” Said the copper.

“Absolutely.” I confirmed.

 

The policeman that was questioning me about Howard’s secret journal didn’t exactly pull any punches.

“If what your cousin has written down in this diary is true, then he’s gone up to the Black Pathway Trail to murder your wife’s sister, Mary.” The copper told me. “Seems that he’s not taken too kindly to being knocked back by her, a couple of weeks ago.” He continued. “There’s also a confession in here, in relation to a double-murder that Howard says he carried out last night, down near the harbour. Do you know a Miss Kate Williams, Lucas?” The policeman quizzed me.

“I’ve heard Howard talk about her. I think that she was a staff member at Elman College… not one of his tutors though. I think that Kate was more of a friend to How…”

“Nice to see that he treats his friends with such kindness. It says in this journal that he tried impregnate her, but failed. So it looks like your cousin might be a rapist, as well as a killer. Bet that makes you feel proud, eh Lucas?” The copper had said to me… the sarcastic cunt. At that point, I tried to get up from the table, and was ordered to stay put. To this day, I can’t understand why the policeman was treating ME like shit, as if I were the murderer. In fairness though, I had a lot of dealings with the police over the days, weeks, and months that followed; he was the only rotten apple that I ever encountered in our local force.

 

The copper had come out with one revelation after another… I couldn’t take it all in. I was told that Howard had, according to his journal, murdered eleven people, including Alfie Whitehouse. I was informed that Howard’s first killing occurred when he was just thirteen years of age. Howard was a rapist, by his own admission. Did I know any of this, the policeman kept asking?

“Yeah, of course I did, because I’d be quite happy with someone like that living under the same roof as myself, my wife, and her younger sister.” I answered back, displaying a thick slab of sarcasm. The policeman kept asking me if I wanted to have a read through the journal that was in front of me, and I kept telling him that I didn’t. “You’ve already told me what Howard has written down in it. That’s enough for me, thanks. I don’t want to see it.” I said.

“Some of it’s fascinating reading though… did you know that your cousin thinks that his father is actually an alien?” Laughed the copper. “By all accounts, his mom told him that she was raped by an extraterrestrial! How fucking mental is that? Your cousin’s as mad as a hatter. Sounds like his mother was as well! I doubt he’ll end up in prison though… they’ll probably give him the cushy alternative, down at Ashworth or Broadmoor.” He smirked.

 

I was finally allowed to leave the house, and return to Martin and Anne’s, after an hour of sitting in the kitchen of my own home, being goaded and grilled by that prick of a copper. At this point, there were other policemen, outside, blocking off any access to the house. It was a hive of activity. Most of the neighbours were out in force, and the ones that weren’t out in the street were hiding behind their curtains, peeking out, trying to be a little less obvious with their curiosity. As I walked back down to Anne and Martin’s, one of my friends who lived just three doors down from us, Rick, called me over.

“Is it true, Lucas? What they’re saying about Howard? That he killed Alfie?” He asked me. I appreciated the fact that he’d just come right out and asked me, straight, up front.

“It looks that way, Rick. It looks that way.” I informed him, with sadness in my voice. Rick put a hand on my shoulder.

“If there’s anything that me and Sharon can do to help…” I smiled at him, and carried on walking to Martin and Anne’s, though my legs would barely carry me, they were shaking so much. That was just the beginning. The next day would be even worse. It took a long, long time… years… for anything to ever feel normal again.

 

 

Chapter Twenty Two

 

Gary Ackley, Shark Mako, and Mary Broderick stood, frozen to the spot, on the western edge of Skerrington Forest, all of them staring up at the body of Alex Crennell, who had been hung by the neck from a tree, a long, black scarf being used as a makeshift noose. The state of Alex’s face told the three individuals looking at him, in horror, that he had died an incredibly violent death. Gary clutched at his radio, which, perversely, began playing a cheery country and western tune, the male singer informing the listener of a new love in his life, a girl called Jodie, who he’d met at a dance.

“Do you think…” whispered Shark, her voice trembling, “… that the scream we heard earlier… was Alex?” She asked. Gary didn’t answer her question.

“Here, hold this.” He said to Shark, passing her the portable radio, before walking slowly towards Alex’s suspended body. A breeze picked up, whistling through the trees of Skerrington Forest, and Alex’s body started to gently sway, backwards, then forwards, causing the long, thick branch that he was attached to to creak. Gary looked up at Alex, who stared back at him, his eyes lifeless, the skin around each of them a sickly yellow-black.

“Who did this to you, Alex?” He asked, quietly. Shark walked up behind Gary, and placed a hand on his shoulder. She couldn't bring herself to look at Alex anymore, and stared at the ground.

“We need to get out of here, Gary.” She said.

“I know… but Alex… we can’t just leave him like this. We need to cut him down.”

“No, we don’t. We just need to get out of this fucking place, now… reach the Black Pathway… then get help. Somebody has done this to Alex, and they’re still out here, somewhere. We need to go.” Insisted Shark.

“But Alex is my friend. I can’t…”

“We need to go, Gary.” Repeated Shark. She clutched at Gary’s shoulder a little harder, and began to guide him forward, past the body of Alex Crennell. Gary slumped a little, allowing Shark to move him onwards.

“Come on, Mary… we’re out of here. Don’t look up, just focus on me and Gary.” Shark called out. There was no reply. Shark looked over her shoulder. Mary wasn’t behind her. She had disappeared.

***

Gary and Shark scanned the whole area around them through frightened eyes.

“She’s not here, Gary. She’s not fucking here.” Whispered Shark. “Mary! MARY!” She screamed. Her calls were met with silence. “How could she just vanish like that?” Shark asked Gary. “She was right behind us! MARY! MARY!” Shark went on. She let go of Gary’s shoulder and walked over to the trees of Skerrington Forest. “Mary must be in the woods somewhere. It’s the ONLY place that she could be. We’ve got to go and find her, Gary. We’ve got to go and find her.” Shark said, her words coming out fast, bordering on hysterical. “Mary’s in the woods. She has to be in the woods…” Gary walked over to Shark.

“I don’t think that there’s anything we can do for her.” He said. “Whoever’s done this to Alex must have taken Mary as well. We need to go and find help.” Gary continued. Shark span around, staring at Gary angrily.

“We can’t just fucking leave her out here! Go… go on, Gary, go, if that’s what you want to do, but I’m not turning my back on a friend.” Said Shark. She started walking into the woods. Gary followed her, then grabbed at Shark’s arm.

“This is insane. Alex is dead, and whoever killed him must have taken Mary as well. We can’t do anything for her. Do you want to get yourself butchered too? Do you want to end up like Alex over there? Because that’s what’s going to happen, if you go waltzing into this fucking forest.” Suggested Gary. Shark pushed him away.

“No, I don’t want to end up like Alex, but I’m not prepared to just walk away and let the same thing happen to Mary, either. So, you go if you want to, Gary, if you’re too scared. Go on… fuck off. But don’t try to stop me from trying to help Mary, because you won’t be able to.” Shouted Shark.

“But you won’t…”

“Just GO, Gary. Piss off back to the Black Pathway.” Shark interrupted. She gave Gary a withering stare. “I don’t need you.”

***

Howard Trenton watched the argument between Shark Mako and Gary Ackley with glee. He was hiding in some woodland foliage, one arm clasped, vice-like, around Mary Broderick’s body. His hand was held firmly over her mouth. This is just like last night, with Kate, all over again. I love the feeling… of being so close…

“You’re friend… Shark… she’s got some spirit, ain’t she?” Howard whispered to Mary. “I’m looking forward to getting to grips with her. She’s gonna be a challenge. You’re going to watch what happens.” Stated Howard. He felt a pulse of pain down in his lower back, from where Alex Crennell had knifed him. At least the bleedings stopped now, but fuck me, the pain… I’ve gotta hand it to you, Alex, you did a real number on me, I never saw that one coming. Not by a mile. Sly little toe-rag.

“Uh oh, here comes Shark!” Mumbled Howard, as he watched the athletic, blonde woman enter Skerrington Forest. “Looks like Gary’s bottled it. Yep, there he goes… heading off towards the Black Pathway. He’s forgotten his poxy little radio, too, coz Shark’s still holding it. Hey, Mary, we can have a bit of music playing as me, you and Shark all get it on together… oh my word, what a party this is gonna be!” Giggled Howard, enthusiastically.

***

Shark ventured into Skerrington Forest.

“Mary!” She called. “Mary! Wherever you are, I’m going to find you! Mary!” Shark said, her voice full of determination. The music on the radio suddenly stopped.

“This is Radio Hoffen’s six o’clock news bulletin, read by Anna Rich.” Said a voice on the wireless. “Coldsleet and Knighton Police have stepped up their hunt for a man wanted in connection with the murder of a Coldsleet pensioner. Alfred Whitehouse was found dead at his home on Thursday. Police have named eighteen year-old Howard Trenton, a neighbour of Mister Whitehouse, as a man that they urgently wish to speak to in relation to the incident. Police are believed to be searching the Knighton and Coldsleet Moor areas for Mister Trenton, who is said to be both armed and dangerous, and are said to be ‘very concerned’ for the safety of four other individuals linked to the eighteen year old. Knighton Police have named these individuals as Alex Crennell, Mary Broderick, Gareth Ackley, and Ellen Mako. Speaking at a press conference late this afternoon, Detective Kevin Burrows said…”

“Well, well, well! I’ve finally got my fifteen minutes of fame!” Said Howard Trent, emerging from the undergrowth of Skerrington Forest, together with a terrified Mary, right in front of Shark. “It looks like we all have! Is that your real name then, Shark… ‘Ellen’? That’s a nice name. Ellen, I mean, not ‘Shark’. That’s fucking ridiculous, if you don’t mind my saying so. Oops, forgive me. I don’t think that we’ve met before.” Howard grinned. He walked towards Shark, pushing Mary with him. Shark took a step backwards.

“You’re him, aren’t you? You’re that guy they just mentioned on the radio. Howard?” Replied Shark, trying to stay calm. What the fuck is wrong with his eyes? Is he wearing contacts or something? Shark thought to herself.

“Yeah, I’m Howard. Mary here… her sister is married to my cousin, Lucas. That’s right, isn’t it Mary?” Asked Howard, and he forced Mary to nod in agreement by pushing and pulling with his hand at her mouth.

Shark felt a surge of anger at Howard’s humiliation of her friend.

“Let go of Mary.” She ordered.

“No. I don’t want to.” Replied Howard Trenton, with a sickly grin on his face.

“I said let go of her.” Repeated Shark.

“I’m happy having Mary right here with me, thanks.” Said Howard. He took another step towards Shark. This time, she stood her ground. Howard glanced at Shark’s hair. “That’s a nice haircut… dated, but, yeah, I like it.” He commented. “Very eighties. A bit like how that singer… what was her name now… Grace Jones… used to wear hers. Except yours is blonde. Well, bottle blonde.” Howard went on, trying to provoke Shark.

“Did you enjoy hearing about yourself on the radio?” Shark suddenly asked.

“Oh yes. Fame at last.” Smirked Howard. “I’m a fucking celebrity… get me out of here!” He took another step towards Shark, so that he was practically within touching distance to her.

“You’re suited to that sort of thing.” Commented Shark. Howard looked at her, puzzled.

“Suited to what?” He asked.

“You know, you… the radio… you’re suited to it.” Advised Shark.

“I don’t understand what you’re…” Howard was cut short as Shark swung the portable radio in a horizontal arc, slamming it with incredible force, right into the side of his head. Immediately, Howard’s legs buckled from underneath him and, not for the first time that day, he crashed to the ground, letting go of Mary in the process. He landed close to the radio which, miraculously, was still working.

Howard rolled around on the floor, clutching at the side of his head. A wound had opened up on it, and it was beginning to pour with blood. He looked up. Shark was hovering over him. She swooped down, and dragged Howard back to his feet, her hands gripping at his overcoat. Howard felt a wave of dizziness travel through his head.

“Not so fucking big now, are you?” Growled Shark, before executing a judo throw on Howard that sent him flying over her shoulder, and back to the ground again. He felt something in his shoulder crack, and pain shot down his arm.

“You fucking bitch!” He screamed. Howard rolled onto his side, and tried to reach for the knife that was in his coat pocket. His arm wouldn’t move. “You’ve bust my fucking arm!” He yelled, in anger. Shark knelt down beside him.

“Good. That’s nothing to what I’m going to do to you…”

“No, Shark.” Cried Mary, pulling at Shark’s arm. “Let’s just leave, get out of this place.” She pleaded.

“You’re a piece of shit.” Shark whispered into Howard’s ear, before grunting and then spitting a large greenie at his face.

“I’d do as Mary says, and quit while you’re ahead, if I were you.” Remarked Howard Trenton, Shark’s spit and snot splattered across his cheek and nose. He rolled onto his back, and stared up at the sky, which was finally clearing of mist. I can see the stars… somewhere out there is my home. Thought Howard. A home that I’ll never know.

Shark Mako got to her feet, towering over Howard Trenton.

“Come on. Let’s just go.” Repeated Mary. Suddenly, Gary Ackley appeared in the woods. He walked up to his friends, and then looked down at Howard, who was lying on the floor, clutching at his arm.

“Howard?” He asked.

“How are you doing, Gary? Your hair looks shit.” Croaked Howard, referring to Gary’s flattened blue mohican, which was hanging down, over his eyes.

“I take it that you know this freak?” Observed Shark. Gary nodded. “He’s the one that murdered Alex, and then snatched Mary.” She went on. Gary Ackley looked down at Howard, shocked.

“Why, Howard? Why did you do that to Alex?” He asked. Gary turned to Shark. “What’s wrong with his eyes?” He mumbled.

“Fucking contact lenses.” Answered Shark. Howard smiled.

“Because the little fucker knifed me in the back.” He advised, referring to Alex.

“What, you mean because of him going out with Mary?” Gary responded, confused.

“No. He actually knifed me in the fucking back, Gary.” Answered Howard. He rolled onto his front, and pulled up his clothes, exposing the stab wound inflicted by Alex Crennell. Gary winced at the sight of the ugly puncture, which was clogged up with congealed, scabbing blood.

“Don’t listen to him, Gary. He’s going for the sympathy vote. He murdered Alex, and he took Mary.” Said Shark.

“I know what he did.” Gary replied, still staring down at Howard.

“The police are after him. He murdered some old man back in Coldsleet.” Shark told Gary.

“How do you know that? “Gary asked.

“I heard it on the news, just a few minutes ago… it was on your radio.” Answered Shark.

Gary stared down at Howard Trenton, who had rolled onto his back again.

“Did you murder Alfie Whitehouse, Howard?” He asked.

“Yep.” Howard replied, matter-of-fact. “He was a miserable old bastard who had it coming. I killed Kate Williams, too.” He grinned. “Just last night, as it goes. I cut her throat… you should have seen the blood, Gary. So much blood…”

“What, Kate from the college?” Replied Gary, his voice quivering. Howard nodded.

“We should finish him off, here and now.” Said Shark. “You can see what he’s like. He’s a fucking murderer. He doesn’t deserve to live.”

“No, we should just leave him here. You heard what it said on the radio, Shark. The police are searching this area. Let them deal with him.” Mary reminded Shark.

“Mary’s right. You three need to get out of here, fast.” Exclaimed Howard. Shark stared down at the serial killer.

“Oh, and what’s it to you?” She asked.

“Well, you’ll get a head-start on me, if you go now.” Smiled Howard. “A couple of minutes lead. Hey, you might just make it to safety. I can’t offer you anything fairer than that now, can I? Go on, run. While you still can.” He said. Shark knelt back down, close to Howard, and grabbed at his neck.

“Nah. You’re a wild animal, Howard, and I think that you need putting down, right now.” She snarled. Then, suddenly, Howard’s fist shot upwards, delivering a blow to Shark’s chin. The young woman crashed onto her side, felled by the punch, knocked completely unconscious. Howard rose to his feet, unsteadily. He stared at Gary and Mary.

“I’ll honour what I just said. You’ve got two minutes.” Howard looked at his watch. “Starting… NOW.”

“I’m not leaving without Shark.” Replied Gary. Howard had another go at pulling the knife from his coat pocket. This time, he managed to do so.

“Well, if you don’t, then you’ll have to watch me use this thing on her, before I do the same to Mary.” Said Howard, referring to the knife. “Your choice… and you’ve just wasted twenty seconds.” He smiled. Gary grabbed Mary’s hand.

“Run!” He shouted.

Chapter Twenty Three

Gary Ackley pulled Mary along, through Skerrington Forest, against her will.

“We can’t just leave Shark alone with that fucking psychopath!” Mary shouted at Gary. “Did you hear me, Gary? We can’t abandon her like this!”

“We’re not abandoning anyone.” Snapped Gary.

“Oh really? Well that’s what it sodding well feels like.” Mary argued back. She tried to wriggle from out of Gary’s grip.

“What are you doing?” He asked.

“I’m going back! I’m going back for Shark!” Mary told him. Gary stopped running. He didn’t have the strength to pull Mary along any further.

“Look. We’re not abandoning Shark.” Said Gary. He looked around, spotting a thick clump of bushes close by. “Come on, we’ll hide in there.” He suggested, pointing at the undergrowth.

“Why?” Mary asked. Gary Ackley pushed his long blue hair from out of his eyes.

“Because that’s how we’ll get Shark back. Any moment now, Howard Trenton’s gonna come this way. As soon as he’s passed us, we back-track, get Shark, and then fuck off in the other direction.” Mary thought about this for a few moments.

“Okay.” She said. The pair ran over to the bushes, pushing their way into the middle of them.

Darkness was rapidly descending on Skerrington Forest. Howard Trenton walked through the woods, with Shark Mako slung over his shoulder, just like he’d done with Alex Crennell, a few hours earlier. He winded his way through the trees with speed, even though every step that Howard took caused him to wince a little in pain, due to the stab wound on his lower back. Howard’s broken arm hung at his side, and he was struggling to hold onto the knife. Well, it ain’t going back into my coat pocket… I’ve learned my lesson after that crafty little move Alex played on me… I doubt this girl’s gonna be out for too long, either… so that’ll be another fight on my hands. I need to catch up with Mary and Gary… get rid of him, restrain her, and this one here too… then I can have that party I’ve been so looking forward to. Howard sniffed at the air. They’re close, really close. I can smell them… and their fear too. Delicious. Howard slowed down, walking cautiously past a thick tangle of bushes. They’re hiding in there. I’ll let them think that I’m carrying on my way… then I’ll sneak up on the little fuckers and catch them unaware. Gary won’t be too much trouble to take out, even with one of my arms busted.

Mary and Gary watched in horror as Howard Trenton walked past their hiding place, carrying Shark over his shoulder.

“Fucking hell, he’s got her with him… shit… I thought that he’d just leave her back where he knocked her out.” Whispered Gary.

“Yeah, well he hasn’t… we’ve got to do something, Gary. We’ve got to do something now.” Mary replied, with rising panic in her voice.

“Yeah, I know… but he’s got that fucking knife.” Gary pointed out.

“I don’t care, Gary. We’re just going to have to take our chances, hope that we can get the weapon from off him. Look, now’s our chance.” Said Mary. Howard Trenton was moving away from them, facing the opposite direction. “Let’s rush the bastard, take him down from behind.” Mary suggested.

“Okay.” Replied Gary, but before the pair had the chance to even emerge from the bushes, Howard Trenton had stepped off, sidewards, and was no longer in sight.

Mary looked at Gary, alarmed.

“Where did he go? Where the fuck did he go?” She said.

“I don’t know… he was right in front of us just a second ago.” Gary replied.

“What are we going to do now?” Mary asked.

“Well, he couldn’t have gone far.” Answered Gary, climbing out of the bushes. He took Mary’s hand, and helped her out from the undergrowth. “Come on.” Said Gary, moving in the direction where they had last seen Howard Trenton.

“Fuck, it’s gonna be pitch black soon.” Gary commented; it was a prospect that unnerved him deeply. He wasn’t aware that Howard Trenton was approaching both him and Mary fast, from behind. Howard had dumped Shark Mako not far away. He was now holding the knife in his other hand, and it was raised in the air, ready to be plunged down into the back of Gary Ackley’s neck. The very last thing that Gary heard was a sudden, familiar, fluttering sound in the distance, overheard. The final words he ever spoke were,

“Can you hear that? Can you hear that, Mary? It’s a helicopter.” Then there was a sudden, savage pain in the base of Gary’s skull, followed by an incredible, blinding light. Gary Ackley’s short time on the Earth was over, but a new journey for him had just begun.

***

Howard Trenton carried Shark Mako over one shoulder, and Mary Broderick across the other; the former was still unconscious, but the latter wasn’t, though she may as well have been. Mary was in a complete state of shock, having watched her friend, Gary Ackley, be butchered to death just moments earlier.

“Do you want to know something funny?” Asked Howard. Nobody answered him. “We’re only about a quarter of a mile from the Black Pathway. Isn’t that something? If you lot had just reached the trail, you could’ve back-tracked a little, into Knighton. You would have been safe. There wouldn’t have been any of this. What a bitch, eh? I bet you find that annoying, hey Mary?” Howard chuckled to himself. “The place that I’m taking you and Shark to… well, I think you’re gonna like it there. I stumbled across it a while back, in the summer. I’m always doing that… finding stuff. There’s this derelict farmhouse… I won’t tell you where… that I visit quite a lot. Do you remember, Mary, when I told you that I loved decay? Well, this farmhouse, it’s a proper stunner, absolutely falling to bits… an ideal place for someone like me to find some comfort and solace. The building where we’re going to now is similar. I don’t visit it as much as the farmhouse, but then it’s much less accessible, difficult to get to. Which is ideal for us three, as it means we won’t be disturbed.”

Mary stared down at the ground, blankly, as Howard Trenton continued to talk to her.

“The good news, Mary, is that you’re gonna get out of this forest alive. That’s something that I’ve already decided on. Unfortunately, the bad news is that your pal here… this feisty little bitch… is gonna have to go, but not until after we’ve all party’d for a while. I promise now though, I’ll make things quick for her, just like I did with Gary. You have to admit, Mary, I made it quick for Gary, didn’t I?” Howard asked. “That was good of me, wasn’t it? See? I can be nice sometimes, even though you probably all think that I’m some kind of fucking monster.” He was met with silence. It didn’t matter. Not to Howard. “Yesterday, I gave away most of my inheritance to a little boy who lives with his mom in Coldsleet. They’re poor… except they won’t be going without any more. I’ve seen to that.” Howard thought briefly about little Jack. “I love that kid. I love his mother, too.” He added. And it was true. Howard Trenton may have been a monster, but his love for Anita and Jack was very real.

From somewhere nearby, a police helicopter could be heard.

“Don’t worry about them, Mary. They’ll probably be scouring the Black Pathway looking for us, except we’re not on it, are we? Fucking coppers… actually, that’s one of my regrets. I know that I’m either gonna be dead or under arrest by the time that this is all over – I’ve got no stomach for going ‘on the run’, or any crap like that – it’s just a shame that I won’t be able to get to that cunt, Tom Grogan. He’d got me bang to rights, Mary, he really had! He knew, KNEW, that I’d murdered Alfie Whitehouse. I guess he had that coppers instinct that they’re always going on about. Who’d have thought that a fuzzy-faced twat like that would be the person to bring my world crashing down, eh? It makes you wonder, doesn’t it, Mary? Jesus, I wish you’d say something. I’m fucking lonely, rambling on to myself like this. Hell, I spend enough time in my own sodding company as it is… that’s all I wanted, Mary. You know… for us two to be together. Well, that’s not strictly true. I had that stuff with Kate Williams going on, too, except that was more of a sexual thing, rather than a proper relationship. The bitch cheated on me, so I…”