Bloodshed - A Dark Star Tale Pt. 03

As days had turned to weeks frustratingly there was almost a lack of evidence to prove that the alter Cheri Hernandez actually even existed. This then not ruling out the possibility they were searching for someone who simply didn't want to be found.

While Emily Winters, and her simple lifestyle didn't create as much of an enigma there was very little in the way of recent updates to her case file either. In short Emily was un-extraordinary, she led a such a simple uncomplicated life. No relationships beyond those with her parents, no boyfriends of note for several years now. She'd worked at a succession of bars, briefly a few restaurants and had recently taken over managing the Mockingbird Coffee Shop in the recently developed plush financial office area close to the City Centre. Emily was the kind of girl, attractive girl, that you'd pass in the street a hundred times a week and pay little to no attention to. Emily's past though was markedly different, tainted by her unexplained disappearance three years ago. Callaghan was almost obsessively intrigued by this aspect of young Emily's life, fascinated but frustrated given that Emily hadn't even felt able to discuss what had happened in the prolonged absence from her normal mundane life with even her own parents. They'd furnished Callahan with details of a local therapist Emily had visited but unsurprisingly the questions asked had been met once again, and possibly more understandably with a degree of client protection and confidentiality. Callaghan had taken some assurance from the therapist, Dr. Kayleigh McDermott, that in light of what she did know she didn't believe that the two events could be or would be connected. She'd also gone so far as to say that given how Emily had handled the trauma of the past and was rebuilding her life to all intents and purpose, in looking forward to the future the Therapist did not believe Emily to be a risk to herself. Reaffirming another line of thought that Callaghan and her team hadn't ruled out.

Stood there hands on hips, looking at the three smiling faces of the dark-haired girls Callaghan felt the presence on her shoulder. Without turning she recognised the floral Dior perfume Detective Constable Sarah Myers was perhaps a little too overly fond of.

"What strikes you about them all Sarah?" Callaghan asked without looking to her left.

"Females... attractive... all mid-twenties... dark hair... dark eyes ...all 5ft 6 or taller"

She was good Callaghan mused, in tune with exactly the same thoughts she had on the three of. Sometimes such simplicity couldn't be overlooked.

"Are We looking at profiling a type here?" Callaghan said focussing on Maya Cruz "Is Maya Cruz only connection to Cheri Hernandez and Emily Winters the fact that she fits the physical profile you just outlined."

"So, all the victims..." pausing realising her faux pas "...all the missing girls who are taken ...are you are assuming they are taken because of their appearance?"

"Rule nothing in and nothing out," Callaghan stated with our referencing DC Myers use of the word victim. "Not until we can be certain of anything... if I'm being unpolitically correct I could suggest that the fact Emily Winters isn't mixed race bucks the trend we just associated immediately."

"Unless you assume our potential perpetrator doesn't differentiate the girls by such un-PC parameters."

"Very true," Callaghan stated, "Very true."

She turned finally to the fresh-faced young Detective Constable. Dressed today in a long sleeve fitted white blouse over a navy skirt that sat just above her knee. Callaghan wasn't the sort of woman to be jealous over superficial appearance, but she could understand why the young DC was the object of affection for every hot-blooded male at Central HQ, alongside of her beauty she had a demeanour and a physical aura that seemed to fill a room. Something you couldn't teach, something she couldn't have learned, but something that managed right would serve her well in her career.

"What are your plans for today DC Myers?" Callaghan enquires.

"I'm just heading over to Maya Cruz employers," she briefly consulted the notebook in her hand. "A company called Marchant's Meats ...out on one of the big Industrial Estates the other side of town."

"Good," Callaghan nodded her approval of Myers to be involved when she could easily have sent Uniform to make tentative enquiries.

"You're welcome to come with me if you want," Myers offered.

"Fly free little bird," Callaghan smirked lightening the tone a little, "Besides... I'm a vegan... never enter a place of interest with preconception."

"Wow..." Myers stated her own smirk barely suppressed. "Those new heels you've got on sure look good for fake leather."

Callaghan laughed gently aloud at her protégés audacity.

"Alright ...alright ...I eat plant based... now be gone with you so I can sneak to the canteen for a bacon sandwich while you're not here judging me."

Exchanging "See you laters" DC Myers turned on her heels and Callaghan watched her as she confidently headed out across the investigating office. Blissfully unaware of the gaze over his shoulder she earned from the not unattractive uniformed officer she passed as she headed out. The Officer a slither away from being transfixed as he looked back at the beautiful Detective now headed for the internal lifts. The smell of her Dior perfume no doubt in his nostrils.

**********

"Coffee Will"

"Please Flick" Will Marchant offered barely looking up from his phone.

He was still staring at the 7-inch screen when Flick Bowerman stepped into his office and set down the Chop the Pig mug in front of him.

"Problem?" She couldn't help but enquire.

"Nothing ...nothing you can help with," Will answered, barely restraining his annoyed tone as he finally set his phone to one side. Taking the coffee, he blew away momentarily the steam that floated across the top of the coffee, chasing away the whisp of silver white steam that the science of the heat of the liquid replaced immediately. He took a large swig and realised his actions had been futile. Swallowing hard the hot liquid seemed to burn all the way as it passed down his front. He didn't acknowledge his assistant any further as she hovered in the doorway, dressed in a navy short little summer dress which seemed in keeping with the weather of the day we're it not for the black leggings she sported underneath the dress and the navy cardigan that clung to her upper body. Sometimes, as quirky as her fashion sense could be Flick could look good, other times she just looked a little odd. Flick didn't make the most of herself Will had often thought but she wasn't one for conforming to style. Flick had her own style.

Will couldn't help but notice the bruise that protruded from under her sleeve when she'd set down the coffee, a mottled blue purple mark that seemed to wrap around the underside of her wrist as she'd set down the coffee. Will was minded to ask her about it but something made him feel uncomfortable, as if to ask would be too invasive. In herself she seemed fine there was nothing to suggest otherwise, and Will now started to wonder if he was the one dwelling too long on a matter that probably held a trivial and therefore simple explanation. Wills mind today was over thinking was dwelling, he needed to focus and to concentrate.

"That's everything I need for now I think Flick," Will stated finally looking up to only catch the glimpse of resignation come sadness on her face.

The truth was there was very little she could help with. Will's mind was in more than one place as it had been constantly for the last few days now. Something always niggling him eating away at him. The overall feeling of not being in control. The business had caused him significant stress over recent months and now, in the short term at least those problems seemed to be rescinding. Sure, the day to day still kept him busy enough but perversely it was like he missed the pressure that the fear of failure brought to him. He knew how crazy that sounded in his own head. He knew how even crazier it would sound to be said out loud. He dwelt on the matter if it was the truth or not. He needed a positive focus.

The removal of such pressure should have given Will more time at home, more time with the family. The possibility of such though was a bother situation that again almost filled home with dread. Something like the failure of the business Will wouldn't openly admit to, but it was slowly becoming obvious to him and no doubt others that his marriage was failing, his family life was in danger of falling apart around him. As much as his heart wrenched form his chest every time he even thought of the consequences, he sensed the inevitable and it filled him with dread. Not a dread for him and for Kelly but for his girls, his little princesses Lexi and Tilly. They didn't deserve the consequence of Kelly and him.

"You're not happily married though are you," the words of Ari Walker-Smith echoed in his head. If relative strangers saw the signs surely those closer to them on a day-to-day basis must have been able to see through the thin veneer of their relationship, had they let things slide too far? Did he still love Kelly? Could he still love Kelly? The fact that less than 24 hours after Ari's self-evaluation of the state of his fractured marriage he'd paid to repeatedly fuck the enigmatic platinum blonde was probably the only answer needed to the questions that he asked of himself.

Will's thoughts lingered now on Ari's toned pale skin that seemed to glow red in the illumination of that basement. Her gasps of pleasure her heavy breath, the taste of her, the physical memory of her seemingly etched into his conscience, he'd never been with a girl like her before. Never entertained in his own mind the thought of some of the physical acts he'd undertaken in their time together. The control he'd held over her as he'd used her had been both empowering and liberating. He was worried he might never have the opportunity again never feel as he had felt in those short few hours. By contrast Ari had become almost as cold and sterile as Kelly by the end of their time in one another's company. Will was physically exhausted but emotionally he'd wanted to reach out to her. He wanted more of her, wanted more from her. They'd parted on awkward sterile terms though as she'd all but ushered him from the premises, not back through the Club which had fallen silent and empty but into a dark back alley littered with detritus and scurrying rats. Her weak smile at his suggestion they'd see one another soon perhaps the only sign he needed to suggest that wasn't likely. Let alone a good idea. In truth perhaps for the best given despite their evening of carnal sin she was still to be married to his less than trustworthy business associate. One thing passed repeatedly through his mind had she been the one with the power despite what had transpired ultimately had she used him as much as he'd used her?

There'd been other girls of late, Will considered the escort and the brief passion of the hotel room encounter with Emily who he'd met at the coffee shop close to Harry's accountancy firm. Should the instability of such intense physical moments tell him everything he needed to know?

The sound of the desk phone on Flick's desk distracted him briefly. He heard her answer but didn't listen to the call. Moments later she rose from her desk not making eye contact and headed away out through the Admin Office.

Activating the screen of his phone once again Will hovered over two Apps side by side, the short cut to 'Elite Escorts' and the 'Loc8' App. Stabbing his finger against the screen a map slowly focussed on the green dot of his location, his finger scrolling through the contacts bar only able to highlight the name 'Kelly'. The Map shifted and refocused on a white outlined blue dot. Will had to zoom in on the map to recognise the location exact location of his Wife, still he was at a loss other than recognising she was in the City not at the Spa her and Ellen preferred and were supposedly at, given that the Spa's location should place the little blue dot some thirty mile south of the City. Will kept zooming to street level. The word 'Metropole' highlighted above the blue dot. The Metropole Hotel, Will knew of it, he'd never been inside it but had passed it regularly enough. He'd heard their tasting menu came highly recommended; he'd heard that from the one person he didn't want to associate with the location. Once again, the shared conversation with Ari of the previous Friday night echoed through his frustrated mind. Marco Mancini has recommended the Metropole. It didn't take much to come to a conclusion in his mind.

"Will?" Flick offered from the doorway; concern etched across her petite features behind her dark wide glasses. He hadn't even heard her approach.

"What?" Will answered a little to curtly, whilst almost guiltily shutting down his phone.

"Will there's a Detective here to see you ... she wouldn't say what it was about."

Will felt his heart in his mouth at the words Flick spoke, rising from his seat he followed his red-haired assistance who stepped away from his door as he rose. Almost obediently following Flick trying not to feel like a lamb to the slaughter as they crossed the Admin Office towards the fresh faced, very pretty and incredibly young-looking girl.

"Detective Constable Sarah Myers of Central Police HQ," she offered proudly but on a hushed tone as Will shook her slender hand, aware of his slightly clammy palms. Her hand was slender but offered back a surprisingly firm grip.

Will immediately felt on guard, "How can I help you Detective?"

"Have you somewhere private we can chat?" she replied despite casting her eye around the practically empty Office space and then back at Flick in particular, who to her credit had stepped aside and back a pace for once.

"Sure yeah ... Uh how about the Boardroom?"

Will led the way pressing open the left-hand side of the double doors that led to the slightly stuffy window lined office, as the bright sun filtered through the blinds, pausing he fumbled with controls as he tried to recall how to turn up the rooms air con. As the hazel haired detective walked in, he caught the aroma of a sweet floral scent, Flick hovered close to the doorway but didn't enter.

"Thanks Flick... that'll be all," Will stated a little too dismissively at no doubt her impending offer of Tea or Coffee.

The Detectives unannounced presence spooked him, what was she doing here? Taking a deep breath as he attempted to compose himself, Will had less than half a mind now on the whereabouts of his Wife and the company she kept but a little more than half his mind, as the Detective took a seat opposite him, on the dedicated Warehouse space full of Marco Mancini's drugs.

**********

Kelly gasped as she felt him press against her.

Her arms extended she playfully pushed her hands against his shoulders to keep him away from her, despite the fact that his hips pressed his erect dick against her.

In the now familiar yet none the less luxurious confines of the suite in the Metropole Hotel she lay flat on her back, stretched out across the bed. Her clothes lay strewn around the floor where he'd frantically removed her off them. The intensity excites her, she already drew deep breaths into her lungs. Her body alive with the desire he never failed to instigate.

The irregularity of their meets was already starting to become an issue for her, Kelly wanted more. There was something about him that like the most addictive of drugs made her crave more. He made her feel like Will hadn't for years, she felt alive.

"You push me away?" Marco Mancini offered on a grin pressing his hips forward, pressing the tip of his impressive length beyond the soft folds of her irrespective of his words and her actions. "You don't want me?"

His face stern rather than playful, Kelly bit her lip as she lay their soaking up the intensity in those dark brooding eyes. Knowing she couldn't hold up this pretence for long.

"Is ...is that going to be an issue?" she playfully offered.

His eyes cast down over her breasts and exposed upper body. Slowly she felt him pressing again, stretching her all the time agonisingly slowly around her as he penetrated her. His eyes came back up her body and met hers.

"It would be a shame..." he stated.

Kelly couldn't help but raise her hips, she knew she couldn't resist, didn't want to resist.

"I guess it would." she softly stated closing her eyes, keeping her arms locked pushing against his shoulders but all the while slowly raising her hips so that her lower body impaled on to him. She shuddered edging him slowly into her feeling him fill her. "I guess it would."

She felt his back arch, gasping out again a shudder and drawn-out gasp as she took him deeper.

His hands slid up her forearms gently, his touch electric.

Grabbing her wrists firmly he snapped her hands away, with little resistance, falling over her, he pinned her wrists to the bed below her and punctuated the swift harsh move with a heavy thrust that now fully penetrated her.

Kelly Marchant craned her head back as he passionately kissed across her neck and into the crook of her shoulder.

His hands didn't relent in the grip in which he held her.

Kelly groaned and accepted the long slow fuck that Marco Mancini dominantly delivered.

**********

Closing the door and setting her handbag on the passenger seat DC Sarah Myers adjusted the rear-view mirror of the VW Golf pool car she'd utilised to facilitate the journey from Central HQ to Marchants Meats.

Using the mirror to watch Will Marchant who had kindly walked with her from the main building to the Car Park, she watched as rather than head back in through the Main Reception doors they had exited Will stood with a phone clutched to his ear. Taking the phone away on either a very brief conversation or an attempt at a second call she watched him pace distractedly in the circumference of a very small circle.

As she watched she pressed her fingers over the familiar keypad on the dashboard connecting her phone via the in-car Bluetooth; she dialled speed dial number one.

"What have you got for me?"

"So, no oh Hi Sarah how are you?" Myers playfully verbally poked her Senior Officer for the second time today. Something which until a couple of weeks ago she'd never have been confident doing.

Sarah welcomed the support and guidance offered to her by DI Rose Callaghan, something of a local legend to her and others at Central HQ. Their professional relationship and personal understanding of one another had melded in recent weeks. The ongoing and slightly baffling disappearance of first one, then two and now a third local girl; all seemingly unconnected had given a good focus, an opportunity to bounce ideas off of one another that the previous cases Callaghan had involved her in hadn't offered. She could tell Rose Callaghan was as intrigued as she was by the disappearances, even if Callaghan was reluctant to admit she was as confused as she was for the lack of details and evidence the cases provided, be the disappearances in isolation or connected. Perhaps the lack of such evidence was a connection in itself.

"Hi Sarah...how has your morning been?" Callaghan heavily sarcastically retorted. "Now...What have you got for me?"

"Not much," Myers responded watching as Will Marchant headed away from the building across the main Car Park and out of the line of sight the mirror provided her. "Not much at all... I met with the M.D. a Will Marchant... he seemed shocked when I told him Maya Cruz was missing ...he didn't seem aware, and claims didn't see her Friday ...although apparently, she can go weeks without coming into the office which really isn't surprising with the nature of her job ...but there was something about his demeanour."