“I just hope Kimmy and I can find something incriminating. Serial killers like to keep trophies, don’t they?”

  Noel sighed. “I shouldn’t be telling you this, but there is something you could look out for.”

  I whipped my head around. “What? You know something?”

  He rubbed at his chin, hesitating for a moment. “There was something taken from the crime scene, something we held back from the public to use as evidence when we caught the guy. If he knew we had noticed, he might have gotten rid of it.”

  I shuffled impatiently in my chair. “Go on.”

  He pointed at his head. “A chunk of her hair had been cut off, and the locket Jay bought her was missing. I heard a rumour when I was doing some digging that the same thing has been done to the victim from the other day. She has a chunk of hair cut out, and her parents reported a piece of jewellery missing.”

  I tutted. “You didn’t think to tell me this earlier? Now we know exactly what to look for when we go to his apartment!”

  Noel thumped his fist on the table and the guard in the corner glared at him. He raised a hand to say sorry before sliding his focus back to us. “I didn’t tell you because I wasn’t on board with your plan. I told you that. But being here, seeing you…” His eyes brimmed with tears as he gazed at Jay’s sunken, bruised face. “I don’t like the plan, I don’t condone it, but I can’t bear to see you like this. I promised your mother that I would do what I can to help, and that’s exactly what I am going to do. I’m sorry I haven’t been to see you son. I’m ashamed. I promise I’ll be here for you – in person – from now on.”

  Jay opened his mouth to speak but the sleepy guard in the corner, suddenly full of life, interrupted. “Time’s up, say your goodbyes.”

  Whatever emotion Jay had been holding back suddenly erupted.

  A sob gargled in his throat, and he choked on his words. “Thank you, thank you both so much. Please, you have to be quick. I don’t know how much more I can take. I can’t survive here.”

  20

  That evening I avoided studying for my looming exam by debriefing Kimmy and Smokey in our dorm as the wind battered our window.

  Kimmy lay in bed, a book open on her chest. “Gee, poor guy. That sounds rough.”

  “This is excellent news though!” Smokey purred. “I was starting to grow worried we were getting nowhere. Things have been feeling a little off.”

  I scratched behind his ears. “What do you mean?”

  In a serious tone he muttered,. “Well, I didn’t want to add to the pressure on you.”

  I stopped scratching and pretended to gasp.” Wow, that’s a first!”

  He swatted at me with his paw. “Ever since we met Shane and his infernal bird, I’ve felt a strong presence lurking. I can’t quite get a read on it, and I haven’t seen anything to cause alarm, but I feel this terrible sense of dread. He drifted off, as if lost in thought. Smokey was always serious, but this time, there was almost a sadness in his eyes.

  I laid down on my front and met his gaze. “What’s wrong? Couldn’t it be Mel’s spirit becoming more warped? That’s why he gave us the deadline, isn’t it?”

  He shook his furry little head. “It doesn’t feel like that, it feels much more powerful.”

  Kimmy’s voice quivered from her bed. “L-like a d-demon or something?”

  Smokey muttered, “Could be.”

  Kimmy’s eyes widened and she gripped at her bedcovers, pulling them to her chest. Her book she’d been holding thudded to the ground.

  I prodded Smokey. “There’s something you’re not telling me. I can tell.”

  He padded away from me, eyes still filled with sadness. “It’s more like something I can’t remember…”

  We didn’t have time to mull it over as our conversation was interrupted by a sharp knock at the door. “It’s Audrina, open up!”

  I jumped up from my bed and opened the door. Audrina was in short pyjamas, her hair scrunched up into a bun and a proud grin on her face.

  “The game is on guys,” she said, entering the room. “Got a hot date with psycho boy tomorrow night.”

  “You’re sure you’re going to be ok?” I chewed on the end of my fingernail. I’d barely slept last night and had almost dozed off in all my classes today and through a tedious phone call with my mother that afternoon. I had wanted to ignore the ringing phone, but I couldn’t be bothered with any more check-ups from the councillor because my mum had panicked at my lack of contact.

  “I’ll be fine,” Audrina hissed into my phone, bringing me back to the backseat of a taxi, where I sat next to Kimmy. We were on our way to Ramsay’s apartment. Thanks to discreet ear buds and a four way calling feature, we were connected with both Audrina and Noel.

  If we weren’t about to be breaking into the home of a possible serial killer, it might have been exciting, like a spy movie.

  “Jay’s dad is right around the corner. Aren’t you?”

  Noel’s voice came through the earpiece. “In position.”

  Smokey mewed in the cat carrier that sat in between Kimmy and me as the taxi took a sharp turn after almost missing a turn off.

  “Are you ok?” Kimmy asked, reaching over to squeeze my hand. “You haven’t stopped shaking and fiddling with that damn bracelet since this morning.”

  “I’m fine.” I lied, as the taxi pulled to a stop outside a rundown looking apartment block. According to Audrina it had been surprisingly easy to get Ramsay’s address out of him. She had feigned that she would meet him there, before claiming she was running late and wanted to meet at the restaurant.

  Kimmy paid the taxi driver and then we hid around the side of the building, next to an overflowing communal bin to wait for the all clear from Audrina.

  She grumbled as she arrived at the restaurant. “Who brings a girl to a dive like this on the first date? I’ll be scared to eat anything for fear of food poisoning!”

  Kimmy rolled her eyes and I stifled a laugh.

  “Oh, Murray! There you are. It’s so nice to see you,” Audrina chirped into my ear.

  The introduction was followed by the sound of what I assumed was a kiss on the cheek and I grimaced at the thought. All I could see was Ramsay’s grey eyes leering at me as he leaned in for a kiss the other night. I made a mental note to thank Audrina profusely for putting herself through this.

  “That’s our cue,” said Kimmy and we left the stench of the bin-store for the stink of weed and damp that permeated the apartment building. I was grateful that Ramsay stayed on the first floor as we climbed the steep, stone steps. My arm ached from carting around the cat carrier, and I placed it on the ground as Kimmy tried the door handle. It was locked. No surprise there.

  Kimmy pulled out a sharp piece of metal and a hairpin from her pocket. “Thank, God for YouTube tutorials.”

  Fear flooded me as Kimmy fiddled around with the lock, while Audrina and Ramsay chatted in my ear. Ramsay sounded bored, often giving her one-word answers or dry remarks in response to her questions. Audrina seemed to pay no mind, laughing sweetly, and nattering away as if unfazed

  There was a banging upstairs as a door on a higher floor opened, followed by the shuffle of feet. I froze and Kimmy stood up straight, clutching the makeshift lockpick in her hand. We waited, chests sucked in, breath held tight, for the neighbour to pass us, but they didn’t descend the stairs. What sounded like a lighter being lit echoed from above and we stood in silence for five long minutes as the smell of cigarette smoke drifted down toward us. We both gave a sigh of relief when they were done, closing the door shut behind them. Kimmy turned her attention back to the lock. Finally, it gave a satisfying click and Kimmy punched the air as the door swung open.

  I beamed at her. “You’re a natural!”

  I scooped up the cat carrier and crept in. The place was bare. The door opened into a small living room with a kitchenette that was surprisingly clean, save for a couple of unwashed plates stacked to the side of the sink. The scent of aftershave permeated the air. He must have made an effort to smell good for his date. I unlocked the cat carrier and Smokey slipped out, sniffing the air.

  “Sense anything?” Kimmy asked as she walked into the kitchen and began opening cabinets and drawers.

  Smokey prowled around the sofa, nose twitching. “Not yet.”

  “I doubt he’s hiding the souvenirs from his murders in the kitchen,” I said. “I’m going to check the bedroom.”

  The first door I opened led to a cramped bathroom and the next, a boiler cupboard. Third time lucky, the last one led to the bedroom. The bed was unmade, the crumb scattered carpet covered in books and empty cans of juice. I guess Ramsay wasn’t banking on bringing Audrina back here for any action after their date. I scanned the walls, a gasp escaping me as I clapped eyes on what was displayed on the wall to the left of his bed.

  “You guys!” I screamed. “Come and see this!”

  Audrina stopped mid-sentence in my ear.

  “You were saying?” Ramsay’s voice was faint, but clear enough to make out.

  “Oh, sorry…” She carried on.

  Kimmy and Smokey thundered into the room and I pointed at what had startled me. It was a poster of Volatile, but their faces had been scribbled over with marker pen. A pocketknife stuck out from where Miles' eyes would be.

  “Creeeeeeepy,” said Kimmy. “You think he’s pissed after the other night?”

  I swallowed. “Just a little.”

  Smokey wandered under the bed. “Nothing under here but used tissues and wrappers,” he called out.

  I tried to open the wardrobe door, but it kept catching. With an enthusiastic tug, it jerked open to reveal a small selection of clothes and stacks of shoe boxes. Kimmy and I rifled through them. They were full of ticket stubs, receipts, and more books, but nothing stood out. There were no locks of hair or stolen jewellery.

  “Hey, look at this,” said Kimmy. “Isn’t this Mel?”

  I froze, the box I was holding slipped from my grasp and dropped to the floor, its contents spilling across the floor. Foggy brained, I strode over to Kimmy and stared down at the picture.

  Mel was holding up a polaroid. I knew straight away from the braids in her hair that it was from around a year before she had died. She was smiling brightly in the photo, her head resting against an equally happy Ramsay’s shoulder. My eyebrows knitted together. I opened my mouth to voice my confusion when Ramsay’s voice came over the phone call.

  “So, Audrina,” he said. “Why don’t you tell me why you’re really here?”

  Audrina cleared her throat and an uncomfortable laugh echoed in my ear.. “What do you mean by that?” She sounded frazzled.

  My heart pounded at the sound of the menacing calm of his voice as he said, “It can’t be a coincidence that Audrina Powers of all people, messages someone like me on a dating app, just days after Cassie Harris punched me in the face.”

  “C-Cassie Harris?” asked Audrina. “What makes you think I would be in touch with her? We hated each other.”

  Ramsay continued, “Cut the crap Audrina. I know you’re both snooping around because you think I killed Mel. That idiot police officer put it in your head, didn’t he?”

  “Busted,” said Kimmy, still clutching the photo. “Audrina get out of there.”

  “What the fuck do we do?” I hissed.

  Audrina’s voice changed, calm and cool to match his. “Well,” she said. “Did you have something to do with it?”

  Ramsay laughed. “You’re unbelievable. All of you. You say that Jay was railroaded but aren’t you all doing the same to me? The little poor boy with the abusive mother must be a deranged killer. Everyone thought of me as a weirdo, everyone except Mel. She was different, she saw me for what I really am, so why would I hurt her?”

  “You attacked Cassie,” said Audrina, throwing out pretence.

  A chair screeched across the floor and his voice grew more distant. “I did that to scare her off. I was on to something, and she had to stick her nose in and fucking ruin it. You had all better stay away from me, you hear me?”

  Audrina called after him, shouting down our ear, until finally she sighed and admitted defeat. “Sorry guys, he’s gone.”

  The date was clearly over and Ramsay could be on his way back home. Jumping to action, I scrambled to pick up the contents of the box I had dropped, stuffing them back in and shoving the box back into the wardrobe.

  I pushed the dresser door shut and the three of us made a dash for the front door. Kimmy ensured it was locked as she pulled it shut and our footprints echoed as we sprinted down the stairs, cat basket in my hand, polaroid in Kimmy’s.

  We didn’t stop for breath when we got outside. We dashed down the street in an attempt to put as much distance between us and the flat as possible. Our plan was thwarted. I was so panicked I could barely register my surroundings. Then, a bird screeched. Seconds later we both ran into the familiar dark figure of Shane.

  I gasped for breath. “What the hell are you doing here? I thought you were done stalking me.”

  “I am,” he said, raising his hands in protest. “Agi sensed a spirit in need of exorcism, but I can see now it’s only you.”

  Kimmy panted beside me. “So, you’re the mysterious exorcist?”

  “Shane,” he said. “Why do you two look like you’re running from the police after having robbed a bank?”

  Kimmy balled her hand to hide the polaroid she was holding, as if he would know where we had gotten it.

  I tossed my hair over my shoulder. “Just doing some investigating.”

  He nodded. “Alright, then. You have ten days left.”

  I exhaled through my nose, pissed. “I’m aware. Now if you don’t mind, we have a murder to solve.”

  With that, we left and headed home but the ordeal wasn’t over. As we ascended the stairs to our room, we were met by the unpleasant sight of Ms. Harding and two police officers hammering on our door.

  I almost dropped Smokey to the ground as my stern looking councillor glared at us and said, “Miss Harris. The police would like a word with you.”

  “Uh-oh,” Kimmy whispered in my ear. “Double busted.”

  21

  I bit my lip, trying as hard as I could to hide the guilt from my face.

  The police officer smiled at me. “No need to look so worried. I believe you know my boss, DI McNeil?”

  I exhaled. “Yes,” I said. “Vanessa sent you here?” Kimmy relaxed beside me as she let out a sigh.

  “They want to talk to you about your friend that passed,” said Ms. Harding, her voice a mock soothing tone that only managed to sound condescending. “I explained to them that it may not be in your best interest, sweetheart.”

  I ignored her, instead smiling at the officer. “I’d love to. I just need to put my cat inside.”

  “No rush,” he said, “Our patrol car is just outside. Come see us when you’re ready.”

  I did just that, ignoring Harding's disapproving stares and headed up to my room.

  Smokey paced frantically. “I don’t want you going without me.”

  I knelt down to scratch his head. “I’ll be fine. Maybe this means Vanessa is really going to help us. I’ll see you soon.

  “Good luck,” said Kimmy as I stood up to leave.

  I nodded. “Thanks,” and made my way back downstairs. I was so relieved they weren’t here to book us for breaking and entering into Ramsay’s flat, I’d barely had a moment to contemplate what they might have to say to me. My stomach knotted.

  The car ride was filled with idle, pleasant chatter as the officer asked what I was studying.“Just trying to get the qualifications I didn’t get in school,” I explained.

  He gave me a genuine smile in the wing mirror. “Good for you.”

  I laughed internally. The words I had wanted to hear from my mother, coming from a police officer I had only met moments ago, was funny.

  The adrenaline from my covert op had worn off by the time we reached the station and was replaced by curiosity. Why exactly did Vanessa want to see me? Was she finally ready to listen? Had my words reached her the other day?

  As I was led through the entrance and passed the reception area, it occurred to me that I had been spending an absurd amount of time in police stations and prisons this week.

  “Would you like a coffee?” the officer asked me as we arrived at an office marked with a nameplate bearing Vanessa’s initials and job title.

  My stomach rumbled. “That would be great actually, thank you.”

  He pointed to the door. “Just take a seat in there, she’ll just be a minute.”

  I did as I was instructed.

  The office was dark, blinds drawn around all the glass panels that housed it from prying eyes.

  I sat on a leather desk chair on the opposite side of the computer and admired the artwork Vanessa had hung on the walls. There were various paintings of a familiar landscape, Newtown. The watercolours showed the sprawling mountains of home, oil paintings depicted the village shops and there was a bird’s eye photograph of the entire area. I could make out my home and Mum’s neatly kept garden in the far corner. Under the photograph was a plaque that read, “Good luck in the big city, Vanessa. Don’t forget about us when you’re a famous investigator.” For a second, the pictures made me miss home.

  The door squealed open, alerting me to Vanessa’s presence. I looked up.

  “Do you miss it,” she asked. “Home, I mean.”

  I shrugged. “Haven’t really had a chance to think about it to be honest. It is beautiful though.”

  She put the cup of coffee I had requested down in front of me before settling in the chair opposite me, one leg crossed over the other. “Oh, right. You must be so busy with your studies.”

  “Right,” I responded. “Studies.”

  She clasped her hands together and rested them under her chin. “You must be wondering why I asked you here.” I took a premature sip of my coffee and flinched as it burnt my tongue.

  “Shit, that’s hot.” I blew air through my lips and squirmed in my chair.

 

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