The Swap Skills Killer Read online

  If you can help me, I would be happy to give you anything. I know that money cannot pass hands on this site, it has to be a swap, but my husband has lots of gold jewellery and good watches, perhaps we could make it look like a burglary, and you take what you want. We could meet to discuss plans on the green with the fountain across from the Antique Shop in Horncastle, on whatever day you want.

  Please reply by return.

  Louise

  She pressed the button and off it went.

  They waited and a few minutes later, she got a reply to the message.

  Hello Louise, of course I am deadly serious. People out there do not realize how many people get a kick out of killing. I personally do it for the thrill. Yes, I would like to help you out with your little problem, and it is a good idea of yours, a burglary.

  I could come beforehand to get a feel for your place, discuss the plan with you, preferences on the way you want him killed. You just have to let me know what day he is in, you can go out, and I will sort him.

  I will meet you tomorrow, Wednesday. Like you said on the green with the fountain across from the antique shop in Horncastle. There is a bench there, sit and wait for me. I will be there around 3pm. Do not bring anyone with you, any funny business and the deal is off. Bring a recent photograph of your husband, and your address.

  Your secret friend, Contract Man

  “Just text him back and tell him, yes you will meet him there,” said Jake.

  The next day Amelia got dressed casually to go to work, a sage green trouser suit and white blouse that made her auburn locks stand out beautifully. She got some wolf whistles as she arrived at work, which actually made her feel like she had dressed for the right occasion, to impress a serial killer.

  She said, “Down boys, you couldn’t handle me.”

  As they walked into DSupt. Oliver Blackwell’s office, he received a call from the Morgue saying that Mr Hardy had identified the body and clothing of his daughter Caroline Hardy and that the Family Liaison officer was supporting him.

  Jake, Oliver and Amelia had a team meeting regarding the appointment with the killer. They told her that she had to get as much information as possible off the killer, set up an appointment to meet her at home. She had to go along with taking a photo of her husband; she downloaded one off one of the free photo sites online. Jake said he would be doing an observation at the antique shop, watching the meeting at the bench. Moreover, not to worry because they would be ready if there was any funny business.

  CHAPTER 25

  At a quarter to three, Wednesday afternoon, Amelia made her way to the bench. She lowered herself onto the bench thinking of how lucky she was to live in a place like Horncastle. It was a lot nicer than where she lived before in Derby. There were lots of quaint antique shops where she had bought special ornaments for Christmas presents, a few nice restaurants, and a wonderful Fish and Chip Shop. In addition, you were close to the coast for another good day out.

  A man, younger than she would have imagined, swaggered towards the bench with his hand held out towards her. She took his hand and gave it a firm handshake.

  “You must be Louise, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he said.

  “Pleased to meet you too, you’re younger than I imagined you would be,” she said apprehensively, stumbling at the same time for words.

  “Let us not waste time and get down to business. Have you brought what I asked you for?” he said.

  “Yes it’s a recent photo and this is my address, what other information do you need?” Amelia said.

  “Nothing more, we will discuss the project in more detail when we meet at your place,” he said.

  “C-Can… I-I…. Just need to ask you a few questions as I’m not sure I can trust you,” Amelia said.

  “Yes, but I don’t give any personal details out for obvious reasons, all you need to know that you can call me Fred, after Fred West for this project,” he said with a quirk in his voice.

  “Oh dear, that sounds serious. Why are you doing this for me?” Amelia said.

  “That’s my service; you have a problem I dispose of it,” he said.

  “But, you get nothing in return for it, it’s not like I am going to pay you, why take the risk?” Amelia said.

  “There’s no risk because I plan every little detail out, I evaluate the situation, go check out where the slaughter is to take place, what is the best weapon to use. Don’t be fooled by this baby face, I’ve been knocking them off since I was ten,” he said.

  Amelia did not attempt to look shocked. “Oh, you’re a professional then,” Amelia said.

  “Yes, you could call me that, started off killing pets and neighbour’s animals, then progressed to humans,” he said.

  “So, you are happy to do the job, what do you want in return,” Amelia said.

  “I get pleasure in killing, it gives me a thrill, I don’t want anything in return, perhaps a couple of bits of jewellery to make it look like a robbery,” he said with a smirk in his voice.

  Then he burst out laughing, “I’m sorry I can’t keep this up any longer, it was just for a bit of fun, and my mates were egging me along to do it when we’d had a few lagers at the pub last week. You know I could call the coppers, you wanting to knock your husband off, you could get into serious trouble, are you some kind of sicko or what?”

  Amelia plastered a smile on her face “Do you know chummy you do not need to call a copper because I am Detective Sergeant Amelia Saunders and you’re well and truly nicked,” she said grabbing him by the scruff of the neck.

  “W-What do you mean, get off of me, don’t tell me you’re the Old Bill?”

  “Correct, and you’re nicked for wasting police time, placing obscene messages on the internet.”

  A few seconds after she got her handcuffs out of her handbag, Jake came galloping across the road, like a whippet after a rabbit, to see what had happened and why Amelia had the cuffs out.

  “It’s okay, it’s sorted Detective Chief Inspector Hammond. Chummy here thinks it’s all a bit of a prank wasting police time, egged on by his mates. We’ve got a stupid one here, wants to have a stretch in prison, for the price of a laugh with his mates, showing off and being the big guy down the pub.”

  “Do you know what serious trouble you are in, this silly prank is taking precious time away from a murder investigation? Come on Amelia let’s take him to the station and book him for wasting police time.”

  On the way, back to the police station Amelia asked Jake whether he wanted to come round for another meal Thursday evening because they had Bank Holiday weekend off and weren’t due on till Monday earlies. He said that he would love to but he had a better idea and that he ought to cook a meal for her. They arranged to meet at his place at seven o’clock.

  CHAPTER 26

  Amelia finished early and decided to pamper herself and take a long luxurious bath with scented candles placed strategically round the room. She put some hot hair wax on her hair, wrapped it in a towel, and read her latest James Patterson novel for half an hour. She woke with a start when a man pounced out of the airing cupboard with a knife, only she realized she had nodded off and had been dreaming.

  She got out of the bath and stood on the fluffy white bathroom mat wiping herself down. She honestly did not know how stunning she was, and had a body that any woman would die for, and any man would lust after, or vice versa even. At the police station, she was secretive; she did not say much about her personal life. Some of the lads judged she was a bit standoffish but took it that she had her reasons; it just gave a mysteriousness about her. Her colleagues would never have to know her secret, because they would not get close enough to her.

  She sauntered into the bedroom and got a few dresses out of the wardrobe. She had tried a few on and could not decide which one to wear. She decided in the end to wear a simple black figure hugging dress that made her look sensational and way too sexy, but she did not have a clue how wanton it made her look.

  She stood in fr
ont of the mirror and contemplated, make up or natural, and decided in the end to slap some mascara and lipstick on. She combed her beautiful auburn locks, which were now rich and luscious like the hair dye adverts on TV because of the hot oil treatment, and she breathed in the smell of an oriental garden of coconut and Jasmine.

  She got dressed, squeezed herself into her bike leathers, and threw her stilettos and handbag in the back box along with a white and a red wine and some nibbles.

  ***

  Meanwhile Jake had put the dinner on and decided to go out into the garden and catch a bit of sun before Amelia arrived. He had a well-deserved weekend off and decided to spend it in the garden digging troughs to plant new fruit bushes in. He adored the taste of blueberries and blackcurrants, his mother comes, and picks the fruit to make him pies and crumbles. Emily used to spend time baking when she was not working and could make a delicious sweet and fruity crumble, and he had tried many a time to make his own puddings but his mother took over and he likes it that way.

  The garden was beautiful, borders with flowering perennials of yellow, blues, pinks and purples and in the background yuccas and palm like plants to give the garden a tropical feel. He had a paved patio area where there were benches, patio furniture and the outdoor barbecues, weather permitting, and a lovely green lawn.

  When Amelia arrived, she drove up onto Jakes drive, the gravel was scrunching and flicking up onto the lawn, and Jake heard the throaty roar of the engine as it came to a stop. As he turned round, he wondered who had come on a motorbike, then recognition dawned on his face and he realized it was Amelia.

  She flicked the kickstand and then stepped off the bike and went to the bike back box and got out the two bottles of wine, nibbles and her stilettos, and followed him into the hall, and took off her helmet.

  As he watched her take her leathers off he was gob smacked, she was all legs and long lovely ones at that. One long leg strode out, there was no graceful way of doing it, but it was tantalizing and he went for her elbow to steady her so she did not fall over when she pulled the other leg out.

  He fixed his gaze on her. She was even more sensual when she slipped her feet into the red stilettos and he could not keep his eyes off her, it was scandalous that a woman could look so good and it was uncensored what he was feeling right then. The smell of a tropical island breeze wafted past his nose, as she bent over and tousled her hair. He wanted to reach out and grab it, and run his fingers through the long curly locks.

  She shook her head again and said, “How’s that then for a transformation.”

  Jaw dropping bloody gorgeous he was tempted to say, but answered “Delightful, good enough to eat. Talk about eating I had better mosey on in and see to our food. Help yourself to wine and nibbles, it’s all set out in the lounge.”

  Amelia flitted into the lounge, having regrets now that the dress was a little short, and a bit too provocative, pulling it down but the material instantly rose back up. She helped herself to a glass of white wine and a few cheesy nibbles. She glanced around the room, and saw little in the feminine touch. If she lived here, she would have some vases with flowers, some cream chintz like cushion instead of the maroon velvet ones. He had some photos displayed, but she would have ones out of fun days and holiday pictures on the walls, the place was spacious and not enough ornaments, looked too empty and minimalistic.

  Meanwhile Jake was taking the stuffed roast pork out of the roasting bag and placing it on an oval meat plate to cool ready to carve, the swollen stuffing oozing out of the succulent meat topped with crispy crackling. Jake could not help but pull a sliver off to taste the tender meat, and burnt his fingers for pinching.

  He could not for the life of him understand why he had butterflies in his stomach, he felt like a teenager on his first date and he hoped that he didn’t give his feelings away to Amelia.

  He strolled back into the living room and announced with gusto that all the veggies were on now and that he was waiting for the meat to cool a while before carving.

  “You are a mysterious girl, full of surprises and very daring; tell me about this biking secret,” Jake said.

  “Oh it’s no secret really; I love motorbikes, and collect classic English bikes. Most of them I get from Newark and Nottingham Auto Jumble. You can pick an old bike up there for two hundred pounds, take it to bits, clean and mend it and sell it on for a couple of grand,” Amelia said.

  “You never cease to intrigue me Amelia; you’re one hell of a woman.”

  A blush crept up her face and she lowered her head. He lifted her chin and said, “Don’t be embarrassed Amelia that was a compliment, there are not many women like you,” and planted a kiss firmly on her lips.

  He then wandered back into the kitchen to carve up the pork, and to serve the dinner.

  When he brought their meal out it was an absolute feast, and she savoured the smell that was better than a dinner at some of the finer restaurants she had eaten at recently.

  The plate in front of her was a feast; it had Stuffed Roast Pork, Carrots, Sprouts, Potatoes, Roast Potatoes and two small Yorkshire Puddings.

  “Tuck in – Help yourself to apple sauce and gravy,” he said licking his lips.

  Amelia could not believe what a dinner he had organised for her, and if he was as good in bed as he was cooking…

  They relished their meal, both hungry after their day at work. Amelia was getting down the second bottle of wine and was feeling very tiddly. She then remembered that when she had too much to drink that’s when she started telling the truth and had the confidence to say whatever came into her head.

  “Have you had enough to eat, or do you want seconds. Besides, there’s plenty left if you want to take a doggie bag. I don’t mean that literally, you can take some for sandwiches in the week as I still have roast beef left over from Monday.”

  “Oh yes please, I love cold cuts.” Amelia said with enthusiasm.

  “Are you ready for your pudding, Lemon Meringue, and I’ve got a liqueur if you would like one?”

  “Yes, you’re spoiling me, and you definitely know how to treat a lady. I am so…. ready for dessert and a liqueur, if the dinner is anything to go by.”

  They ate the lemon meringue, and it was scrumptious. Amelia insisted that she got up to wash the pots, but when she stood up, she was a little wobbly and a bit worse for wear, and had a tipple too much.

  “I think I will just stack the pots in the dishwasher and put it on tomorrow, so you can sit and let your dinner digest and enjoy yourself.” Jake said.

  “OK, but I think it’s about time I got off soon as it’s after ten,” Amelia said.

  “Why don’t you stop here for the night, as you’re a bit tipsy, and you can’t drive your bike in that state? We’re having a good time so why spoil a good thing. I have a spare room you could sleep in?”

  “Well, if that’s OK with you. I was having such a good time and didn’t realise how much I was drinking. That’s a problem I have you see, don’t know when I’ve had enough.”

  “Tell you what then Amelia, what if I turn the coffee maker on and we sit down and have one last drink, and then we have coffee for the rest of the evening to sober ourselves up.”

  They lounged down on the beige shag carpet and enjoyed each other’s company and it was amazing how they enjoyed so many similar likes and dislikes. It was as if they had known each other all their lives.

  Amelia was quite drunk and she knew that she had confidence now and it was time to tell Jake the dark secret that she had kept to herself all these years. She felt that she could trust him, and knew that he would not divulge her secret to anyone else. Amelia wanted him to know, but she couldn’t understand why it was so important for her to share her secret with him. She did not want him to think that she was gay because she didn’t want to be around men, like all the men in the office thought.

  “Jake do you know when I said I had a secret that no one knows about, can I get it off my chest and tell you about it. I don’t know wh
y but I need to tell you so you understand me, and realize that is why I am the way I am.” Amelia said bravely.

  “You don’t have to tell me so that I understand the way you are Amelia. I like you the way you are and I would not want you to change. You are like a breath of fresh air. Tell me this secret because you want to, or need to offload it on someone.” Jake said.

  “I want to tell you Jake because I know you would keep what I say a secret between me and you,” Amelia replied trustingly.

  “OK love, but only if you are sure about this, I would not want you to regret telling me tomorrow, because you have opened up to me because you’re a bit tiddly.” Jake said.

  Jake went over to the side table; poured them two Irish Creams, got a dish of cheesy nibbles, and placed them on the coffee table near to where they hunkered down on the floor.

  She took a deep breath, her face devoid of emotion, and deep in thought. “When I was twelve years old my parents were slaughtered in my home. I was an only child and I was out at school that particular day. I always came home for my lunch; my mother used to make me soup and a sandwich or a light cooked meal. I can recall it quite clearly. That tragic day they were murdered I came home lunch time and ploughed in on a bloodbath and the murderers.”

  Jake fell silent, to think of what to say.

  “I am so sorry Amelia, it must take some courage to disclose this to me,” Jake said with compassion in his eyes.

  “They had already killed my dad, and had raped and killed my mother. I picked up the phone to call the police, and the phone was dead.”

  “Oh you poor girl.” he said, wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.

  She shrugged him away, downed her Irish Cream in one, asked for another, and continued with her story.

  “Then it occurred to me to run upstairs and get my mobile off the dressing table to ring the police. I got to the top of the stairs and I realized that they were still in the house; they were looking through the jewellery boxes, and had dad’s Rolex and Gold jewellery. I turned round to run back downstairs, and one of them grabbed my backpack and dragged me back into the bedroom. They threw me on the bed and raped me, repeatedly. They beat me nearly unconscious, and I knew that if I didn’t act quickly they would kill me, so I played dead, I muffled the cries and lay paralysed,” Amelia said with a quake in her voice.