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Without Remorse Ch. 01

By: shandal



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy reading about.

It has ten chapters, and I do hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Definition of a Sociopath -- someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

He stood panting, feet wide apart, staring down at the sprawled out figure of the woman at his feet. The blood from the wound on her head seeped into the dirty floorboards lying under her body and her dirty muddy once blond hair lay matted across her face hiding her thin undernourished features. Torn ragged clothes lay pulled up on her body revealing her sex, the bruises around that area starting to form where he had placed his knee earlier to keep her still as he hit her to keep her pliant before he raped her.

Zipping up the flies on his torn and dirty jeans and hearing her moan he spat down on the woman as she lay there. Contemptuous and feeling no sympathy for her plight he turned to walk out of the empty condemned building in the dark and deserted backstreet of the East End of London where he had led her only half an hour before, telling her that he knew of a good place to bed down for the night, with cover and warmth away from the harshly cold English winter weather. Pulling the old dirty overcoat that he had found weeks ago in a skip at the side of the road discarded by its previous owner tighter around himself, he looked out into the unlit street checking to see if anybody was around in this godforsaken area. Seeing that there was no-one to witness him, he stepped from behind the sheet of hardboard nailed across the entrance and that he had jemmied loose earlier in preparation for tonight's assault.

Pulling the dark grey woollen hat further down on his head so that with the collar of the overcoat turned up and the head covering pulled down if he came across anyone it would be impossible for them to see much of his face and make identification at a later date.

Deliberately walking along as if he was drunk, he made his way a couple of blocks and slipped in behind the public toilets and into the hedge where he had stashed the bag containing his change of clothes. Making sure there was no-one in the men's toilet he walked in, his booted feet squishing in the urine that had escaped from the broken cracked urinals, and made his way into one of the cubicles where after he locked the door, proceeded to remove the dirty old clothes. The torn jeans, old coat, woollen hat, black tee shirt all came off and unzipping the leather holdall he removed the wet wipes that sat at the top of the neatly folded clean clothes and wiped the grime off his body and hands before flushing the small cleaning cloths down the pan.

The man who ten minutes after he had entered the stone and tiled public urinal came out now dressed in smart designer jeans, blue cashmere sweater, leather jacket and expensive trainers, the leather bag with the discarded clothes clutched in his hand. The only reminder of how he entered a slight sour smell emanating from the soles of his trainers where he had stepped in an ever spreading puddle of pee as he had left the cubicle, making him stop to wipe his feet against the patchy grass on the street verge outside in an effort to remove the residue from the leather.

Swearing to himself he continued to make his way along the road, walking at a jaunty pace until he reached the bridge by the canal, and leaning over he dropped the bag into the dark and deep water, watching it as at first it bobbed along and then slowly sank without a trace, removing any evidence of the homeless person that he had pretended to be earlier.

Taking a deep breath of the cold night air to clear the smell out of his lungs he continued to walk across the road until he reached his car, and pressing the key fob so that the doors unlocked he climbed in, started the engine with a roar and pulled out, making his way home.

*

The demolition crew arrived early the next morning at the site of the old warehouse that was to be annihilated making way along with the rest of the empty and rundown buildings on the block for the new shopping mall. Trucks, excavators, rubble masters and men swarmed the area preparing to work on the buildings and flatten the area on schedule.

The foreman, Will Stephens stood in his yellow hard hat yelling out instruction to the crew, and men placed barriers at each end of the street stopping pedestrians and vehicles from entering for safety reasons. Striding towards the front door of the first old house at the end of the street Will asked a member of the crew nearest him, "Has the check been made on the buildings to make sure they're empty?"

"Nah.....not yet.....I'll get a few of the men to make a quick run through them to check."

"Get it done.....I want to get started within the next half hour.....if there are any squatters in there, move them out fast...I don't care how. Just get them out."

Shouting at a group of the men and waving them over, instructions were given to go in, check for any sign of people that might be using the derelict buildings for shelter, and throw them out to behind the safety barriers as quickly as possible.

Jemmying the nailed up boarded door of a house demolition worker Mike Edwards stepped in and walking through the sad damp shell that once had been someone's home moved from room to room looking for any sign of life. Finding none he moved to the next house in the small terrace, repeating his check. Finally at the end of the street he came to the small warehouse and grabbing the edges of the slightly gapping hardboard that was nailed covering the front door he yanked, opening up the entrance to the building wide enough for his large tall and well muscled body to go through.

Walking into the old reception area he kicked at the old fallen faux pare torn leather sofa that had once held visitors to the business before walking up the four steps into what was an old corridor, and turning left into the first room stopped dead at what he saw.

"Oh sweet Jesus......!"

Running over to the prone body of the woman he knelt down feeling her neck for a pulse whilst shouting, "Hey.......in here....somebody quick.....in here."

Will heard his shouts as he stood just outside the entrance to the old warehouse and manoeuvring himself through the crack that was left between the entrances way shouted, "What?"

"In here.....there's a girl.....I think she's alive....."

Rushing in Will followed the sound of Mikes voice and stood in the doorway of the room staring at the sight that was before him. "She alive?"

"Yeah....just....get an ambulance and the Police......it looks like rape."

Picking up the cell phone from his belt holder Will dialled 999 whilst saying to Mike, "You think she's another one? One of the Homeless Rapist victims?"

Looking up, his face drained of blood, his eyes reflecting the horror of what he had found Mike just nodded. This would make five so far this year, all homeless women found raped around the city, all left unconscious. Listening to Will speak to the emergency services on the phone he looked down at the victim. Young, somewhere in her early twenties she lay, her lashes laying curved on closed eyes, her dirty blond hair framing a pretty face, his heart broke for her. She was not so different in age and looks to his fiancé, the only difference the breaks life had dealt her. So obviously homeless and now raped and left to die in this godforsaken place.

Life was so unfair for some.

*

Jake Conway sat at his desk, his feet up on the chair next to him, the phone clamped to his ear, his dark blue tie loosened around his neck, shirt collar open. He was on hold. He had been on hold for most of the morning with the handset pressed to his ear waiting. 

Bureaucrats. 

How he hated them. They made his job a nightmare. 

A detective on the Homeless Rapist squad investigating the string of rapes of the young homeless women that had occurred over the past eight months he was trying to establish where the last victim Susan Selby had last lived, why and when she had left. Still in a coma two weeks after the attack that she had endured at the hands of the rapist, the nineteen year olds life hung in the balance. Jake was trying to find some kind of timeline as to her movements and where she had been bedding down. Also if he could find some family member to be at the young woman's bedside when she came around.

If she came around!

But with very little luck and the closed ranks of the homeless refusing to help the squad out of fear and distrust it was not going well. And now he sat hanging on whilst the officious Social Services woman went off searching for someone of higher authority before she would pass on the information he required.

Glancing up he smiled across the room at the female detective who also sat at her desk, phone clasped to her ear, chasing up other information that might help them to move this damn investigation closer to catching the bastard that was doing this.

Suddenly the door swung open and Jake lifted his feet from off the chair automatically as his boss stormed into the office and in a deep voice said, "There's been another one.......get your butt in gear and let's get going."

Slamming down the phone just as he heard the voice at the other end return, Jake stood, grabbed his suit jacket and along with Kelly, who also put down her phone and ran around her desk joined his boss asking as the three people rushed down the stairs of the Police Station and out to the car park at the back, "Where was she discovered and is she conscious."

"Don't know.....they found her in some derelict building about to be demolished this morning. If they hadn't found her she would have been buried under tons of rubble. The bastard may have run out of luck."

Climbing into the unmarked Police Car, the siren and blue lights flashing, the trio rushed across town to the incident site now swarming with local Police Cars and coppers roping off the area with white and blue tape along the steal barriers that the demolition team had set up only forty-five minutes earlier.

Chief Inspector Matthew Porter got out the car even before Jake had pulled it to a complete halt, shouting out for whoever had found the woman to come forward, and running over to where two ambulance men were lifting the unconscious victim into the back of an ambulance on the gurney. "Wait........hold it." He stood next to the trolley, looking down at her, "She going to live? How bad is it?"

"Head wounds, looks like a broken arm and ribs, lots of cuts and contusions."

"She's been raped?"

"Looks like it."

Turning around the CI shouted for Kelly, "Wright get over here, go with them to the hospital. If she wakes up get as much info as you can and get it back to me. Don't let her out of your sight." Looking at Jake he asked, "Any sign of forensics yet?"

"I'll find out........" and turning around as he pulled out his phone striding over to where Will and Mike stood slightly apart from the rest of the men. After finding out that the forensics team would be there in under five minutes he asked the two men, "You the ones that found her?"

Stepping forward Mike said, "I did. Will is the boss and he also saw her."

"We'll need you to make statements. Go over there and the officer will drive you over to the station. As soon as we've finished up here I'll be over to take them."

Will stepped forward, "How long before you guys finish here? I'm on a tight schedule and if we go over time we'll be penalized."

Giving the man a hard withering look Jake replied, "It'll take as long as it takes. If I was you I would expect to start paying the penalty."

*

The forensics team was working and doing their thing in the incident site, taking samples of the blood that had seeped into the bare floor boards, sweeping up for any sign of fibres and dropped fluid. The girls meagre possessions sat bagged in a large plastic bag and photos were being taken for reference of the site. Jake and his boss stood just on the outside of the door to the room where the woman had been found. 

"This is the second derelict building that a victim has been found in that was due to be knocked down. Let's see if there is a connection between the two."

Jake nodded and told his boss he would make his way back to the station and also take the first statements from the two demolition men.

"Find out who the contract was from for this job."

Turning around Jake left the building, kicked off the white forensic covers from his feet and climbed out of the white forensic overall before asking a young copper who was holding back the crowds now starting to rubberneck behind the barriers to give him a lift back to the station.

*

Kelly sat outside the Operating Theatre in the hospital waiting for the Doctor and his team to finish up with the victim. A rape kit was in her hand, sealed and waiting to be delivered back to forensics, when her phone rang.

"Any news?" her boss's voice rumbled in her ear.

"Not yet, they're in Theatre with her. I've got the rape kit done. Her clothes are bagged and one of the nurses has promised to let me know as soon as she gains consciousness."

"As soon as she does get a description of the rapist."

"As good as done boss."

Ending the call she leaned back tired. The past couple of months she had been working flat out along with the rest of the team to try to catch the Homeless Rapist as the newspapers had dubbed him. Her social life was now nil and the last time she had even been out on a date was somewhere in the far and distant past. Squeezing her tired and gritty eyes closed she grimaced. Thirty five and her biological clock was ticking. If she didn't find a man to love and love her soon it might be too late and with a job like hers finding a good man was getting to be looking less and less likely.

*

In his office the man sat watching his fellow workers, a small smile on his face, contemptuous and feeling superior to them. A sociopath, he had learnt early on in his life how to seem charming and fit in, without actually feeling any of the emotions that the others around him seemed to feel. Good looking he could be cunning and manipulative without appearing to be, and had easily worked his way up in the past year within this architectural firm where he had moved to after loosing his last job on the suspicion of stealing.

Watching as Anna the office junior bent over to pull out a file from the bottom of the large wooden cabinet his smile expanded as he saw her thighs encased in her nylons as her skirt rode up high. Thinking that the good looking Account Manager was smiling and being appreciative at the glimpse of her legs Anna bent down lower, her small pert bottom pointing up higher, giving him a better view of her attributes as her blouse gapped open revealing her cleavage as it spilled over her white lace bra.

In fact the mans thoughts were not on Anna, her shapely thighs, wiggling bottom or plump breasts but on the memory of last night as he had slapped the begging and cowering woman over and over again, and her grunting and squealing as he had thrust into her before he had grabbed at her hair and banged her head against the floor boards repeatedly until she no longer had made a noise.

Her breasts had been tiny, her hip bones stuck out, skin tight across them from lack of food, her eyes hollow as only the really homeless can be. But he had enjoyed the sex more for feeling domineering and powerful over this pathetic creature and causing her pain.

Just like the other four he had raped.

All of them pathetic creatures, homeless and desperate. Needing and responding to the smallest gesture of kindness.

Trusting him, trusting one of their kind. Another homeless person.

Or at least someone they thought was like them.

Too bad they lacked judgement. Their stupidity was his good fortune.

Without Remorse Ch. 02



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Ten chapters long it tells the story of an investigation, with many characters weaving in and out the story.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Under the Arches near the Embankment a handful of people started to settle down for the night. Cardboard boxes found thrown out by local shops, and newspapers laid down on the concrete and cobbled ground helped to make more comfortable and warmer beds to lay upon. A girl of about twenty with greasy straight black hair, pierced eyebrows and thick opaque tights on long spindly legs pulled the blanket over her as she leaned back into the shadows of the recess. Hugging her arms around herself she asked the young lad with a shaved head and tattooed neck, "Have you seen Janice?"

"Not since yesterday over in front of Holborn station. She was trying to raise some cash for a bed over at the hostel."

Watching as he lifted the can of extra strong cider up to his mouth she asked him, "Got any for me?"

Passing the can across to her he told her, "Janice is finding it hard to keep warm. I told her to get over to St Mungo's and they'll give her a place for the night if they have space."

"Maybe that's where she is then." And handing back the half empty can she watched as the office workers made their weary way down to the nearest underground station and the journey home. She had been on the street since she had left Local Authority Care with whom she had been looked after since she was three years old, her mother unable to cope with her five kids due to drink. Coming down from Leeds to the Capital City to find a more exciting life she had ended up living on the street, turning the odd trick for a handful of coins, begging and spending them on drink to wipe out the stress of being homeless.

Settling down further into the thin blanket, the absence of her friend Janice floating towards the back recesses of her mind she muttered, "Maybe I'll catch up with her tomorrow."

*

Janice lay in her hospital bed, head wounds stitched, arm in a cast and drips in her other arm feeding her nutrients. Her hair spread across the white cotton of the pillow below her head and her small frame hardly made a dent in the sheet and blanket covering her. Kelly watched her as she moaned and moved a little, her hands grabbing at the material covering her as she rose up into consciousness.

Shouting out in her distress the patient moved fitfully, "No.......stop, please stop......help."

Moving to the side of the bed Kelly leaned down and told the waking girl, "It's ok. You're safe now. You're in the hospital."

Eyes flew open and stared up at the female Police Detective standing next to her.

"Oh God, help me...."

"It's alright, you're safe, I'm a Policewoman. No one is going to hurt you."

"Where is he?"

"Who?"

Glancing around the scared girl seemed to be searching out for someone. "Charlie.......he said his name was Charlie.......he took me to that place and then he.....he.....I couldn't stop him....he hurt me...."

In a calming voice Kelly asked the sobbing girl, "What's your name?"

"Janice."

"Well Janice can you tell me what happened?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"Ok. But who is Charlie, can you tell me who he is?"

"I saw him a few times around, over the last couple of days. I was so cold. He told me he knew a place where we could sleep that was warm. A building that was closed up and other squatters lived. He took me there."

"Janice can you tell me what he looked like or his full name?"

"Charlie. His name was Charlie. I don't know his other name. No one gives their family name on the street."

"What was he like? What did he wear?"

"A big coat."

"Hair colour?"

"I don't know....he always wore this dark grey woollen hat....but I remember his eyes...they were brown. I remember him staring down at me as he hurt me....you know as he....oh God he raped me....I thought I was going to die...." And the girl started to cry again. 

Kelly reassured her, probing to try to get more information and slowly she pulled out the story from the girl about the assault. How he had taken her into the warehouse, then suddenly started hitting her, slapping her and calling her names, Bitch, cow, cunt. He had ripped at her clothes and thrown the poor girl to the floor, forcing her legs apart and still hitting her he had forced himself into her before finally hitting her head on the floor knocking her out.

Finally a nurse came and asked Kelly to let the poor girl rest. Walking out the room Kelly pulled out her phone and called her boss filling him in with the description and details of the attack.

"Sounds like our man....similar MO. Takes them somewhere quiet, derelict or waste ground and turns suddenly hitting them and leaving them unconscious to be found."

"Her description pretty much matches that of the one the others gave us. Only difference is this time she had seen him around a few times."

"Jake is getting CCTV footage from around the area. There were no cameras in the immediate area but we can maybe get a picture of them walking towards the site. Getting an idea of what he looks like from that."

"I doubt it. Seems he made sure that his features were covered up most of the time. What about forensics?"

"If it is our man, and I think it is, there will be no sign of him in the database with prints or DNA. The semen gathered from the others didn't give us him, and unless he has been picked up in the last two weeks and been processed for something else there will be nothing to compare the info with."

"Damn. It's as if he's like a shadow. One minute there, the next gone."

"Yeah. Other CCTV shows him going into an area, but not coming out. Get on back here and we'll get a full statement from the victim tomorrow. I need you to go down to where she says he met her and speak to some of the other homeless in the area and see if they recognise his description."

Kelly turned off the handset and left the hospital, leaving the victim laying in her bed, nurses checking on her. She would be better off in the hospital than on the street she thought. At least she would be warm and fed in there.

*

Jake sat pouring over the CCTV footage from the area, trying to find both the route that the victim and her attacker had taken, and how he had left the site of the incident. There on the screen he could see the two walking along, the taller figure of the man, his head down, features obscured by the hat and turned up collar of the coat, the thin woman walking next to him, walking trustingly towards the attack. Footage finished three blocks from the derelict area, and no sign of the attacker was picked up from then on.

It was a mystery. 

He must have left the scene, but how? It was as if he had melted into thin air.

Jake sat back staring at the screen. The man shown walking along with the victim was about six foot tall, well built and white, too well built to really be homeless. The beginning of a thought started to form in Jakes mind. Suppose he wasn't a homeless person, suppose he was someone pretending to be homeless? 

Jake stood up quickly full of energy.

The bastard wasn't attacking one of his own types through availability he thought; he was targeting the homeless woman deliberately. Planned and not random. Going to his boss's office he laid out his idea.

Sitting back in his chair the CI nodded and told Jake to re look at the incident sites and see if there was a link somewhere. "If it is someone not homeless they would probably know the sites and have chosen them, rather than as we thought just a random opportunity. Could be he even prepared the sites first. Lets look back at CCTV back over the week before each incident, see if anyone turns up consistently."

"I'll get the footage sent over. Should take about a week or so to get it all over and quite a while to look through it all."

"Yeah. But it might be just the lead we need."

*

Kelly watched as the girl with long greasy straight hair came out of dark alley straightening her clothes as her trick walked away without a second glance. She had seen her pick up the middle aged fat man and take him into the alley. Watched as she had pulled down her tights and hiked up her skirt to let him screw her up against the wall and then take the money before emerging minutes later.

Walking up to the girl she showed her badge, noticing the body language of the girl as she hopped from leg to leg in panic at speaking to the Police.

"I ain't done nothing wrong!"

"Don't worry, I'm not vice. I want to ask you if you know anyone called Janice. Blond, green eyes, very slim and about five six?"

"Might do."

"Know someone called Charlie?"

"Might do."

"Look it would really help us if you could be a little more helpful. If you do know Janice it would help us to catch her attacker."

"Her attacker? She been hurt? Where is she? She ok?"

"She's safe. She was raped last night. Can you tell me anything about her?"

"Don't know much.....she appeared about four months ago.....I don't think she was homeless before that....she was a little bit of a lost lamb....did a bit of begging but refused to turn tricks for money....wasn't really made for living on the street."

"Did you see her go off with some man last night? Have you ever heard of a man called Charlie hanging around?"

"No. Didn't see her since yesterday morning...but she was having trouble coping with the cold at night now that winter is setting in. She may have been going over to one of the hostels to see if she could scrounge a bed for the night."

"OK, thanks. By the way what's your name?"

"Hanny."

Giving the young girl her card, Kelly told her, "If you hear anything or remember anything give me a call."

Taking the card and scurrying away the hungry girl went to the nearest café to get herself something to eat with the money she had just earned from screwing the fat man in the alley.

*

The next morning Kelly was walking down the corridor of the hospital. She was going to take a formal statement from Janice, but when she came to the room that the girl had been in she found it empty. Turning around to find a nurse she asked her where the girl had been moved to.

"She's not been moved. She should be there in the bed."

"She's not. The rooms empty."

The nurse walked back with Kelly towards the room and looking in noted that the drip was still there but now the tube that should have been attached to the arm of the raped girl was now hanging loose, the end laying forlornly on the bed, a small puddle of the nutrients spreading onto the white cotton sheet instead of into her veins.

"Shit she's gone."

Indeed the girl was gone. Fled into the mass of millions that made up London. 

Kelly hit the doorframe with the palm of her hand, "Damn, damn, damn." Her boss was not going to be happy about this.



Without Remorse Ch. 03



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Ten chapters long it tells the story of an investigation into a cunning serial attacker running loose in London.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

The man sat in his office flicking through a list of empty building sites or waste grounds on his screen that the company he worked for had put in bids to design new buildings on. He was looking for one that they did not get and went to another Architectural firm. One that was fairly isolated and in a part of the city that was close enough to where he knew the flotsam and jetsam of the street hung out and he could find his next victim.

Tomorrow he would pop into a Charity shop where they sold second hand clothes and find something he could wear to scope out the site and the next possible bitch he could rape.

No one really cared about these people, certainly not him he thought.

He cared for no one. 

All his life he had felt superior to everyone. Contemptuous. No empathy.

From the moment as a young boy when his stupid weak mother would cower as his drunken bullying father would hit her he had learnt not to feel. And as he grew he had evolved into a self centred and cunning person who was a skilled and pathological liar who enjoyed living on the edge, taking what he wanted, taking a gamble with life and with no remorse.

Leaving his dysfunctional home at the age of sixteen he had moved around, sometimes abroad, sometimes in the UK, but always leaving behind chaos and problems. 

Problems for others. Problems for the women he had met, for the people he had conned from and from the past. Always moving on.

Early on in his life he had learnt that others expected to him to act in a certain way, to have emotions that he did not have, to be like them. So he had managed to become what they wanted, feigning those emotions, and pretending to be what they wanted. He had become a manipulative and cunning actor, getting by conning others with a superficial charm.

At thirty eight he was now at his peak, dangerous, practiced and empty.

And he was the person that the newspapers had dubbed the Homeless Rapist.

And a lot more.

*

Jake and Kelly sat with the rest of the team and the Chief Inspector in front of the crime board showing all the victims and photos of the sites. A review of what they knew and what they all were going to do next was taking place.

"Any news on those sites yet? Any links."

"Yeah. Two of the sites, where the latest one and victim number two was found both have the same Architectural firm designing the rebuild." And looking at the notes in his hand Jake told his boss, "Secours and Noble Designs, based over in Battersea."

"Go there with Kelly. Check them out. See if they have anyone that has worked for them in the past or now that could be a likely suspect."

"What about the theory that it isn't a vagrant?"

"We'll re-go over the surrounding CCTV footage of all the rapes, checking to see if the same person turns up walking around the area that is not a tramp. It is going to take a long time as there is so much footage." Turning to another detective he told him, "Paul, I want you to carry on doing the checking. Look out for anyone who turns up more than once. I don't believe in coincidences. If they appear more than once in the footage taken months apart they become a person of interest. Man or woman."

"Any news on the DNA from forensics."

"Too early, should be with us tomorrow. But I don't hold out any hope there. The DNA has turned up clean from the other rapes. No sign in our database."

"Any sign of the girl."

Kelly groaned. "No. But I'm going to do a search after I've been to the Architects of the areas down by the embankment and the car park down by the Royal Festival Hall where they tend to hang out."

"Hit the back of Waterloo Station. There's an area there that they congregate."

Someone piped in, "I heard a lot of them hang around a park over by Vauxhall. There's a hostel there and once they're turfed out in the morning they hit the liquor stores and spend the rest of the day getting high in the park around the memorial."

"Jake go with Kelly. Hit as much as you can looking for her. We need a better description and statement from her."

The team all started to move, their agenda for the day set. Jake grabbed his jacket and slipped it on smiling at Kelly, "Your car or mine?"

"Oh definitely yours. I didn't get much sleep last night and I can get a little shut eye on the journey over to Battersea."

"Burning the candles at both ends?"

"Some of us are single and still looking, and that takes effort and time, and involves a lot of booze down at the local club."

"Thank God I'm married and past all that."

Reaching up and tightening Josh's loose tie she told him, "All the best one's are taken."

Clearing his throat he looked down at her, "Some of us don't get much sleep due to screaming babies."

Patting his cheek she smiled, "Just give me the chance."

"Don't be desperate Kelly. Men can smell that a mile off."

Frowning and stepping away she told him over her shoulder, "Is that all it takes?"

Laughing Jake patted the pockets of his jacket for his car keys and followed her out the office and down to the car park and his car.

*

The girl called Janice had made her way over to the embankment to look for her friends. Finding Hanny standing on a street begging she went up to her.

"Janice!......so it's true.....you were attacked....what happened?"

Standing shivering, her arm in the cast, and her head with the bandage still on Janice broke down in tears, "Help me Hanny. I need somewhere to lie down. I feel weak."

Putting her arms around her friend's shoulders the girl led the injured woman over to the arches and placing her deep in the shadows on the makeshift bed, covering her with a dirty blanket. "You should be in hospital."

Grabbing the edges of Hanny's jacket Janice sobbed, "No...it's not safe.....please help me.....I just need to eat and then sleep. I'll be ok. Just keep an eye out for Charlie. Don't let him near me. Don't let the police know I'm here."

"It's ok Janice....I'll look after you." And getting up she went out into the street and walked up the road to the small café to spend the meagre amount of money she had got from begging this morning for a cup of coffee and a donut for her friend.

*

Jake and Kelly sat opposite one of the Partners of the Architectural Company that was involved in the two incident sites. David Noble was shaking his head, "I can't believe it. No one here could have done this."

"Can you provide us a list of your male employees, both present and any that have left, in say since you got details of the sites to do the quotes."

"Of course. I'll ask one of my staff to get it for you. Is there anything else we can help you with?"

"We'll need to speak to those on the list. If you could set it up for us to maybe come back in over the next few days. It will just be a matter of taking some details from them. Where they were the other night, that kind of thing...."

"Of course."

Looking across at him Jake asked, "....and where you were on Tuesday night?"

"Me? You're joking of course."

"No Mr Noble. You're part of the list, so where were you?"

"Tuesday night? At home with my wife, all night."

"Fine. We may need to get that confirmed in the meantime please can we have the list."

Getting up he went to the door and called out, Mike can you come in a moment."

Kelly and Jake watched as a man in dark trousers, white shirt, his sleeves rolled up, and well styled brown hair walked in. Smiling down at Kelly as he passed her, and then standing with a small smile on his strong and interesting face he asked his boss, "Yes Mr Noble?"

"I need you to get a list together of all the men that have worked for the company for the past year. These are Detectives Conway and Wright and they'll require the list and an office set up for tomorrow to interview everyone. Can you set it up please?"

Looking down at Kelly with a spark of interest in his dark brown eyes the man asked them, "What's this about?"

"We just need to find out where everyone was on Tuesday night."

Giving a slow look at the two detectives and then to his boss the man frowned, "Why?"

"You'll find out tomorrow, just get the list and the room sorted out."

And with a last look at Kelly he left the office.

*

Later that night Jake sat lounging on the sofa, his legs sprawled out in front of him, his wife snuggled up against his side. His right arm was around her, her head leaning against his shoulder, arm across his chest.

Turning her head towards him she kissed his cheek, "Fancy going to see the new George Clooney movie on Saturday. Heard it's good. Joan says she'll babysit, and we can go out for a meal before going."

"Yeah ok."

Lifting the remote up he pointed it at the TV and ran through the channels, "Nothing but crap on as usual. Crap and repeats."

Just then the sound of the baby crying came over the baby monitor. Sighing Joan buried her face in his chest and mumbled, "Damn I was hoping for at least one night of him sleeping through."

Untangling himself Jake stood up, "I'll go check on him." and climbing up the stairs went into the small back bedroom and leaning over the cot, smiled down at his little seven month old son and whispered to him, "Hello there little fella, looking for attention and food?" and scooping him up kissed his little forehead before wrinkling up his nose, "Phew that must be some dump you've done. Stinks to high heaven!"

Placing him on the table next to the cot he proceeded to change him.




Without Remorse Ch. 04



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Ten chapters long it follows the story of a group of people involved in an investigation into the serial attacks on homeless women.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Laying in bed and staring up at the ceiling Jake listened to the gentle breathing of his wife. The sounds of the night could be heard outside the glass of his bedroom window, a train trundling past, the sounds of late night drinkers making their way back from the pub and the sound of the odd car driving down the road.

His mind could not rest, the jumble of facts and information about the six rapes running through his head. All women taken to isolated and derelict buildings or waste grounds. Each women describing the rapist as a homeless man who had befriended them within the day or two before the rape, the descriptions of the rapist sparse, but each time he was wearing different clothes. Each rape violent, the man hitting and kicking the victim both before and after the rape, filthy names hurled at them during the assault and spat at after.

Every victim was young and homeless themselves. Vulnerable, hungry, cold and desperate the girls had trusted the man quickly, grabbing onto the slightest show of friendship, and paying for their trust with violent assaults on them by this perpetrator who preyed on the frail and weak.

Turning to his side he scooped up the sleeping woman next to him, holding her close, breathing in the smell of her, sweet and sexy mixed with the smell of baby talc and milk. Burying his nose deep into her silky hair he relaxed his body and tried to drift into much needed sleep.

Content in the love for his wife and child.

*

The man lay in bed next to the drunken girl he had picked up at the pub that night. Short and slightly dumpy, she had been easy to get stoned, happy to come back to his place and eager to let him screw her. She lay there her slightly saggy plump breasts flattened out as she lay on her back, dull brown short hair sticking out against the dark blue of the pillow behind her head, mascara slightly smudged.

Getting up on his knees he told her to turn over and position herself on her knees doggy style and entered her from behind without any foreplay, grabbing hold of her short spiky hair and grunting he pumped away into the body of the drunk woman, uncaring whether she was comfortable or not.

For him it was just sexual relief.

No feelings, no emotion, no attachment.

Cheaper than a hooker, just a bottle of wine at the pub, a quick fuck, and then kick her out into the dark night to find her own drunken way home.

Not as much fun as raping those girls, but at least he got to screw some cow.

*

Kelly sat in her flat, alone.

She thought about the smile of the man in the Architects office this morning. He had shown in that smile and his deep brown eyes an interest in her, and she was very interested in him.

He was her type of man, just shy of six feet tall, his body looked buff under the white shirt, and the rolled up sleeves had revealed sexy forearms sprinkled with dark hair the colour had matched his well styled hair on his head.

Walking over to her bed she lay down. When they did the interviews at the firm she was hoping to get him as one of hers. She felt that with a little flirting she might just get a date with the man. And who knows maybe he might be the one, with her biological clock ticking she was assessing every man as a possible option now, and he looked like a very nice package indeed.

*

The woman that called herself Janice huddled in the dark shadows of the arches with her friends, all of them homeless. Her body ached, her arm encased in the plaster cast was making getting comfortable on the hard cardboard pallet more difficult, and the cold was biting at her nose and ears. 

How she hated how her life had spiralled out of control over the past four months. She missed her old life, and missed her old digs with the pretty old fashioned flower duvet on the bed and the hot water electric shower in the tiny bathroom.

On the streets she always felt dirty and cold. 

She had been scared before but now she had an extra layer of terror. The memory of the rape eating into her already fragile soul, she snuggled deeper against her friend and let the tears run down her face, running down the hollow cheeks and into her hair as she cursed the bad luck that had dogged her life so recently.

*

David Noble walked up to the woman in his kitchen as she poured him a glass of red wine, bending over he lifted the curtain of hair away from the back of her neck and kissed the nape of her neck.

"We did stay at home on Tuesday didn't we?" he asked her, "only the Police may come around and ask you if we were or not."

Smiling up at her husband of two years she nodded, "Yes we were at home, except for the half hour or so you went out to buy some more wine."

"Nah, that was the day before."

Frowning she said, "Was it? I thought it was Tuesday?"

Leaning forward he kissed the end of her nose, "Nope Monday. We spent the night at home together Tuesday. Just remember to get the days right when they ask you."

"Oh, ok." and he slung his arm around her shoulders and walked with her out of the kitchen.

*

The morning saw the team in the incident room, a buzz in the air. Kelly and Jake sat hot mugs of coffee in their hands waiting for the entrance of the Chief Inspector. After about five minutes he walked in, the look on his face like thunder, and in his hand a sheet of paper. Going to the front of the room he turned, gave Kelly a long stare making her squirm in her seat and said, "The one thing I hate to be is a laughing stock for some Northern squad leader who thinks we in London are playing at being a bunch of wankers."

Jake's brows came together in a frown as he listened to the angry voice.

His boss continued, "It appears that the forensics team ran the blood, semen and saliva samples through the database and although our rapists DNA didn't throw up a match, the sample from the victim did." Taking a long pause for effect he told the team, "Seems the victim is wanted by Norfolk CID as a witness to the murder of two undercover policemen by the local drug baron up in Great Yarmouth. She disappeared four months ago, at first thought killed on the say so of the bastard from inside prison where he is sitting on remand waiting for trial. A trial that she is the main witness...... A trial that is due to start next month." and focusing on Kelly his voice lowering to almost a deathly quiet growl, "and we fucking let her disappear again. Out of the bloody hospital, without an official statement on our own fucking multi rape investigation.... Without a bye you leave....back into the fucking thin air."

Kelly looked down into her lap, the blood in her face draining out.

"We need to find the stupid cow. A detective from the Norfolk squad is on his way down, Jake and Kelly go complete the interviews booked at the Architectural office this morning, don't take too long, then get out with the rest of the team and find that friggin' homeless girl and get her in here before my blood pressure goes into overload."

People rose from where they sat, a murmur running through the room. Jake smiled at Kelly, "Don't take it personal, there's nothing you could have done to keep her in the hospital."

"I just feel so stupid."

"Kelly you're not stupid and you didn't know she was going to do a runner. It's not your fault."

They walked out the office and made their way back to Battersea and the offices of Secours and Noble Designs. Sitting in two small rooms with copies of the list of names the two detectives interviewed the men that worked for the firm, taking down where they were on the six dates of the rapes including Tuesday night and any witnesses to their whereabouts. 

When Mike walked in and sat down Kelly smiled across at him leaning forward, her breasts thrust out, one of her eyebrows raised in interest. Looking him in the eye she asked him in a husky voice, "So where were you on Tuesday night?"

"At home alone. Feet up in front of the TV."

"Anyone can verify that?"

Smiling back at her, a twinkle in his eye, "No.....I'm a lonely boy, no one I'm afraid."

"No wife, girlfriend or significant other?"

"Nope." 

"That's too bad, and difficult to believe, a good looking man like you, what about these other dates?"

"Not sure without looking them up in my diary." Biting his lip he leaned back, "How about you and I meeting up tonight for a drink and I'll bring my diary and we can go over the dates in the past and make some dates for us in the future."

Kelly smiled, she really fancied this man and although strictly it was against policy she didn't want to let the chance to go out with him for a drink go by. She didn't buy the theory that it was not a homeless person doing the rapes so she said, "Tonight sounds good. Meet me at the Slug and Lettuce at the end of York Road at nine and bring your diary with you."

Getting up he grinned, "I hope I'm a suspect. Sounds intriguing and I would love to be searched for concealed weapons by you. By the way you never said what the crime is we're all needing to give alibis for."

"Rape."

Laughing now he said, "Rape?....Do I look like the kind of man who needs to rape someone?" and he walked out the door throwing over his shoulder, "See you tonight."

"Looking forward to it."



Without Remorse Ch. 05



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Ten stories long it will take you down a path as you follow Ben, Jake, Kelly and the villain of the piece along the investigation into the serial attacker of homeless women.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Ben Stanton stood in the line for a taxi outside of Kings Cross station, the noise from the street and surrounding area overpowering. Changing his small suitcase from his right hand to his left he moved forward in the queue, his nose wrinkling up with distaste at the stink that assaulted him. Traffic fumes, stale curry, perspiration and just plain dirty smells wafted him, so unlike his home town back up in the North East where the air was fresh and clean.

Finally he came to the front of the queue and leaning into the Black London cab he asked the driver, "Marylebone Police Station." before climbing in the back and getting comfortable on the big leather seat. The cab joined the heavy traffic in the Euston Road, stop starting its weary way to its destination, whilst Ben stared out the window lost in thought. Finally he had a possible lead to finding the witness to the murder of his best friend and colleague. 

Earlier in the year Richard Symonds had been working undercover as a member of a local boat crew that dealt in drugs, bringing them in through Great Yarmouth and then out into the rest of the country. Somehow he and the other undercover colleague had been uncovered and the top man, a violent and hard man called Micky McShaunassy had executed them with a bullet to the head after having them beaten up. The killings had taken place behind a local pub in an alley, amongst the garbage bins and rubbish thrown by the holiday makers and night revellers in the famous English seaside town, and witnessed by the barmaid from her window where she lived above the pub.

Ben's eyes closed in sorrow as the cab continued its jerking journey forward. Richard had been due to get married about now, his fiancée Penny still mourning the loss of the love of her life, while he was to have been the best man.

Getting the bastard that had taken his friends life had now become an obsession, and he was going to find the scared witness who had run for her life when it had become obvious that a contract on her life had been taken out to stop her giving evidence. And now he had a place to look, a lead. He wasn't going to go back up North without her, even with the incompetence of these stupid London cops he was determined to find her and get her back for the trial next month. 

*

Walking through the dark and dank basement of the car park near Waterloo Jake and Kelly stepped over the makeshift cardboard lean-to's that some of those living rough, that called this grey and godless area of London home, had made. In front of them sat four of those people huddled around a small fire, the smoke rising up and staining the concrete ceiling a black sooty mess.

Holding out the photo that the force up in Great Yarmouth had sent electronically over Jake asked, "Any of you seen this girl. She would have a cast on her arm and a bandage on her head."

Shaking their heads without really looking at the photo the listless down-and-outs continued to roll a toke and pass around a can of extra strong beer ignoring the two detectives. Leaving the dark and dingy corner and walking towards the exit Kelly said, "Its like looking for a needle in a haystack, she could be anywhere in London."

Jake looked at Kelly and said, "Did she say where she met this Charlie?"

"Over by the Thames, on the embankment near to Cleopatra's Needle, why?"

"Just a thought but if I was her, hurt and in pain I would go looking for where I knew others would help me, somewhere I was familiar with, friends, and that there are lots of places to get food and shelter. The embankment has lots of cafes, places to hide, and has a fairly eclectic atmosphere. My bet is she went back there."

Just then his cell phone rang, answering it he heard his boss telling him to get Kelly and himself back to the station as the Detective from Great Yarmouth had arrived and was going to brief them. Walking back to the car where they had parked it, Jake told Kelly, "Remember, don't let them wind you up. It's not your fault she did a runner from the hospital."

"But the CI doesn't see it that way. He already thinks women Detectives are next to useless and especially me....."

"The man is old guard, just forget it and do your job."

"....and I bet this plonk from up in the sticks will think it's my fault."

Jake shook his head, quietly he thought Kelly was a little to thin skinned and self absorbed to be a cop, and that was a real liability to him.

*

Meanwhile the girl called Hanny was giving a blow job in the alley to an office worker her head bobbing up and down as he stood, his flies open and cock out stuffed in her mouth. She needed to get some money as she was feeding and looking after both herself and Janice, who was running up a fever and unable to go out begging. Lying deep in the Arch recess, the injured girl lay, the cold and her injuries robbing her of any strength. Sitting stoned near her was the shaven headed and tattooed friend of Hanny, finishing off the third can of extra strong cider he had managed to get hold of today, his buzz just at a nice level, feeling no pain and paying no attention to the sick girl as she shivered in her misery.

*

In the incident room Ben stood in front of the team next to the Chief Inspector, and listened while the older man introduced him. He had noticed the very attractive woman detective as soon as she had walked in sitting down, her lovely slim stocking covered legs crossing so that her pencil line black skirt had raised up her thighs enough to make him feel a little hot under the collar and down in his groin. 

Kelly sat looking at the stranger in front of them; he leaned against the desk behind him, his white shirt open casually at the collar, his black suit jacket held back where his hand was in his trouser pocket showing off his long slim body. Short dark brown hair topped a strong face with sexy stubble, and grey eyes looked back at her in interest.

Handing over to Ben, the CI stepped back and Ben told the team, "The girl we are looking for was a witness to the murder of two undercover cops. Her name is really Linda Rothley although I understand from the CI that she is going under the pseudonym of Janice." Taking a deep breath he continued, "Micky McShaunassy is a local drug dealer bringing in tons of hash into the country through the fishing ships that come into Great Yarmouth. The two cops were undercover in the crew of two of the ships we suspected of running the drugs. Somehow McShaunassy got tipped off and executed the two men. Linda witnessed the killings. Her DNA was on the database from a couple of years ago when she had been picked up for shoplifting. She had been pulling her life together working and living as a barmaid in the pub behind the alley where the killings took place. She saw the whole thing and is our main witness. We need her by next month to give evidence at the trial. If we don't find her and get her back he walks."

There was a murmur that arose from the room; no cop likes to let a bastard go free that has killed one of their own.

"Any questions?"

"Do you have any better photos of the girl than the one sent over?"

"Yeah, I brought some down with me, the chief is getting them printed up for you."

"Are we letting the press know about this? Get some publicity as maybe a member of the public might recognise her and turn her in."

"Too dangerous. McShaunassy has a contract out of her from his prison cell where he sits on remand. That's why she fled in the first place."

Stepping forward the CI told the team, "Grab a new photo and get out there looking, I want her found."

Standing up and turning around to pick her bag off her desk Kelly didn't see the look of interest that Ben gave her bottom as she bent over. But Jake did. Smiling to the other man he acknowledged man to man the appreciation. Walking up to him he asked him, "Want to join me and Kelly on our part of the search?"

"Yeah, that would be good. Just let me get my case, later can you drop me off at my Hotel?"

"Where are you staying?"

"The Travel Lodge on the north side of Putney Bridge apparently."

"Forget that, can't have you living in a sterile hotel room whilst you're down in the big smoke, my wife and I have a spare room and if you can put up with the crying of our baby you are welcome to stay with us."

Clapping Jakes shoulder Ben told him, "Thanks, that's very generous of you. I'll think I'll take you up on that offer." And the two men walked out the room followed by Kelly who paid the compliment back to Ben by watching his arse and back with approval.

*

Micky McShaunassy's Solicitor sat with him in the Prison Meeting room, his chunky body encased in prison denim jeans and blue shirt frayed at the cuffs and collar. His once carefully groomed hair cut by the prison barber was now short, and his skin had a pale pallor that gave his jowly face a pasty and unhealthy look. 

Leaning forward his pale blue eyes bore into the smartly dressed bent Solicitors eyes, "Send Archie down to London, tell him to follow that copper and when he finds the cow that put me in here, kill them both."

The legal man sat back, swallowing hard, "Mick, it would be better to lean on some of the jury once it's picked. Two more killings are going to look too much like a contract on your orders and bounce right back to you."

"I don't give a shit. Do what I say. I want both the fuckers dead. My sources say the copper has gone down as she has been found in London and to pick her up and bring her back for the trail. I do not intend to even take one step into a courtroom. No witness, no trial."

Nodding the man sitting opposite him rose up and picking up his briefcase told him, "Archie will be down there by tonight. They're walking dead."

"Good."

*

The man stood in front of the mirror feeling good. He had an in with the investigation now, and he believed he could find out more if he played his cards right.

The urge to go out on the hunt was taking hold again, the need to rape, to hurt, to feel the terror of the woman as he took what he wanted from her was overpowering him, so soon he knew he would have to go out again.

The cycle was getting shorter between rapes. The high after the last rape not lasting as long as before. A plan had formed in his head on how to build a strong alibi for the next one and tonight was the start of preparing that plan.

He couldn't wait and picking up the electric razor he raised his chin and started his preparations for the night ahead.

*

David Nobles wife watched as her husband walked through the front door worried. Recently he had been either going out in the evening, or coming back home late. Often he seemed distracted and tonight she had walked into the bathroom and found him staring at himself, a strange look on his face.

Half her husband's age she had met him at a Conference in the Midlands where she lived. They had had a whirlwind romance and married only three months after meeting. That was two years ago.

She had been swept off her feet by him, impressed by his charm and attention, putting aside the worries that this was his third marriage, that he was so much older than her, and that she knew little of his friends or family.

She was in love and until recently she had thought they had the perfect marriage, but now she was worried. Walking back to the lounge she sat down on the big light green sofa and started to cry.

She had her suspicions. She thought he was having an affair.

*

Kelly, Jake and Ben had spent the last couple of hours around the Blackfriars Bridge and Cleopatra's needle area of the embankment, searching out the disenfranchised individuals that made up the invisible underclass of London. The search had been fruitless and Kelly was on edge not wanting to be late for her date with Mike from the Architects office. Agreeing to start fresh tomorrow Kelly left the two men to make her way home, whilst the guys climbed into the car to make their way to Jakes home, discussing Jakes theories on the Homeless Rapist.

"So you think this man is playing at being homeless?"

"Yeah, two of the rapes were in buildings that the Architects Secours and Noble had the contract with giving a link, but the other rape sites don't seem to have a link with each other."

Ben thought for a moment and then said, "Maybe not with the Company that won the contracts for designing or building on the other sites, but what about if they had put in a bid that didn't win. That would still give them knowledge to the sites."

"And a real link!"

"Narrowing down the possibilities."

Smiling across Jake told Ben, "Tomorrow we start checking out that theory, as well as hunting your missing witness."

"Pharmacies!"

"What about pharmacies?"

"We hit the pharmacies around the area you think she's in, she has to be hurting bad about now. She'll need painkillers. We ask at the pharmacists if they've seen her."

"Good thinking Batman."

The two men laughed, feeling like a team. Working together like good cops should as they headed towards Jakes home, his wife and child, and a good home cooked meal.



Without Remorse Ch. 06



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Kelly flirted outrageously with Mike, the noise swirling around them in the pub that they had agreed to meet at. It was a new Gastro Pub, with a young and rowdy crowd, great food and very good wine. Picking up her fourth glass of wine and eyes twinkling across the table at the man sitting opposite her she asked, "So how come you've not been grabbed by some woman and pinned down yet? A good looking, and if I may say so, very sexy man like you?"

Balancing his chin on his hand Mike smiled back, "You're very forward."

"Does it scare you?"

"No I like it. I like a woman that knows what she wants."

"......and what is it you think I want?"

"Mmmm.....I think you want a good time....."

"Yes..."

"some masculine attention...."

"Yes....."

"a bit of romance...."

"Yes...."

"and a lot of very hot steamy sex."

Nodding her head she held his gaze. "So your place or mine?"

Standing up and holding out his hand he asked, "How close is your place?"

"Close enough for us to get there before I jump your bones in public."

Laughing as Kelly got up and wobbled a little he threw his arm around her shoulder and whispered in her ear, "Better get a move on then officer, I'm all yours."

*

Her hands leaning on the bathroom sink, her body balanced forward, her feet apart and back, her face watching herself and Mike in the mirror, she pushed herself back with each thrust of him into her, his hands ran over her body, squeezing her breasts, running down her belly, rubbing her buttocks, stroking her back. His face stared into hers in the reflection, his mouth open panting as they had sex, his hard penis sliding in and out of her tight and sensitive hole, the sounds of small grunts mingled from both of them as the speed of the thrusts increased along with her pleasure.

Arching her back forward and pushing harder against him she felt him grow inside her as the tight coil of pressure built in her lower belly, skin slick with sweat she lifted one hand from where it rested against the cold hard porcelain and lowered it to touch herself, rubbing her clitoris so that her pleasure peaked and exploded.

Behind her his pace became frantic until with one strong push he stilled, and his hands holding her around her waist tightened as he pumped his seed into her.

*

Jake lay on his back, his wife astride him, her hands stroking his chest, her nails scraping through the wiry hair on his chest, the afterglow of making love settling like a soft haze in the small bedroom, the musky smell permeating his senses, his heart rate slowly going back to normal.

Whispering she leant down and kissed his lips, a soft and gentle kiss, "You've still got it buster."

"Practice makes perfect."

"At least tonight the baby didn't interrupt us."

Watching as she leant back, running her hands through her long thick hair, pushing it up and back behind her head and down her back so that her breasts lifted up, the now large and hard nipples pointing up and out he told her, "I love you so much. You know that don't you?"

Giggling and laying down over him so that she covered his prone body she replied, "You had better love me you big oaf, I've just wrecked my body giving birth to your child."

"No babe, not wrecked it. Made it even sexier than it ever was before."

"You think so?"

"Yeah, those nipples are now the size of bullets. Just thinking about them makes me hot."

"You up for another round.....?" but just then the unmistakable sound of the baby crying came through the baby monitor on the bedside table.

"Your turn or mine?" Jake asked.

Climbing off him his wife told him, "I'll get it this time, you the next." and pulling on her dressing gown in deference for their house guest walked out the room and into the tiny nursery to see to the baby.

*

Hanny sat chewing on her fingernails as she looked down at the shivering girl next to her, and asked her, "You sure you don't want me to get you to the hospital? St Thomas's Hospital is just over the river, we could walk down to Waterloo Bridge and over to it."

Shaking her head the sick woman told her, "No! No hospital. Just get me some pain killers in the morning and a hot drink. I just can't seem to get warm."

"They would keep you warm in the hospital!"

"I told you no hospital."

Biting her lip Hanny sat worried, the girls face was now a very sickly colour, and there was a fine sheen of sweat on her face, even though she said she was cold. First thing in the morning she was going to go and get some medication and see if she could filch another blanket for tomorrow night to put over Janice.

*

Arriving by car in the centre of London the contract killer Archie sent by Micky McShaunassy's solicitor parked it across the road of the Police Station that his sources had told him the Detective that had come down from Great Yarmouth was being based at, and settled down for the night, waiting for him to appear so that he could follow him.

The gun tucked into the holder in the small of his back pressed against his spine as he tried to get comfortable, and he shifted a little to remove it and place it in the door space amongst the crisp packet wrapper and crumpled serviette from the hot dog he had eaten on his journey down south. His orders were to get the girl and cop and eliminate any chance of them testifying, and he was a man who always completed his assignments. It was a matter of principle to him. To do his job and do it well. After all he had a reputation to uphold.

*

Morning saw Hanny begging with the early morning commuters as they made their way to their offices from the underground station that she stood outside. People either streamed past her ignoring her or the occasional kindly person dropped a few coins in her hand. Pretty soon she had enough money to get what she needed and scurrying off she went in search of a chemist, and finding that it was not due to open for another half an hour walked down to the early morning café and bought her and Janice breakfast of hot sweet tea and a couple of bacon rolls.

When she returned her male friend with the shaven head and tattoos asked her, "You got anything for me?"

Hanny looked over her shoulder at the man, "Andy you're big enough and ugly enough to get your own. This is for Janice. She's sick and needs it more than you."

"Well fuck you and fuck Miss high and mighty!" and getting up staggered out into the cold daylight, "I thought we were a team until you met up with her, the stupid cow."

Ignoring him she helped Janice to drink the tea telling her she was going to go out again to get the pain killers and to just try and rest. Then getting up, her own cup of tea in her hand she left the arch recess and made her way back to the Chemist shop up the road.

*

A pounding headache and a dry mouth left over from last night when after she and Mike had shared another bottle of wine before making love again, this time on her bed, Kelly walked carefully into the team room for the morning briefing.

Sitting down she looked across the room to find Ben watching her, his right eyebrow raised in a questioning look, and sticking out her tongue at him just as the chief entered the room, she turned and looked to the front of the room.

"So far we have no sight of the girl, and the CCTV footage shows very little, except the victims all walking along with men, each dressed differently, each making sure that their features are not revealed, and then disappearing into thin air. Any suggestions?"

Jake looked across at Ben who nodded encouragement, "Ben and I have a theory we would like to chase up. Look for further links to one firm between all the sites."

"Ok, get on it, and you two," pointing to two of the team, "Check out the alibis gathered yesterday, the rest of you keep looking for this girl. She must be somewhere."

Getting up Jake walked over to his and Kelly's desks, "You can sit here while Kelly's out looking for the girl. Lets get on with it; I've got a good feeling about this."

*

The killer Archie sat in his car waiting for Ben to come out when he heard a knock on the window next to him, and winding down the window saw the face of a traffic warden bending down and looking in at him.

"You can't park here."

Straightening up in the seat he told her, "I'm not parked, I'm waiting for someone."

"Sorry Sir but you can't wait here. Please move on."

Getting angry he said, "I will as soon as the person I'm waiting for comes down."

"This is a no parking or waiting area between nine and six thirty, please move on or I'll be forced to write you a ticket."

"Fuck off you bitch."

Pulling out the machine she started to write the ticket, walking around to the front of the car and as with all tickets in London she started to get out the camera to take the picture of proof when the man, seeing the camera started the engine and drove off pulling into the flow of traffic to avoid having his image captured on film.



Without Remorse Ch. 07



This is a crime thriller with romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Definition of a Sociopath -- someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Ben sat rubbing the back of his neck whilst putting the handset back down and crowed, "Secours and Noble have submitted designs for all of the rape sites, only two of them they won the bid on, the others they bombed out, but that means they have all the details that the rapist would need to plan his exact entry and exit by missing being caught on CCTV."

"That puts all the male workers there in the frame."

Getting up Ben stretched, "I need to get on the case to find the girl, you coming?"

Grabbing his jacket and slipping it on Jake nodded, "Lets hit the pharmacies around the embankment first, I'll print us out a list, and leaning over he moved his mouse, clicking until he had what he wanted on the computer screen and then clicked print."

*

The disgruntled contract killer stood hopping from foot to foot outside of the Police Station, he was cold, hungry and tired and right now he was desperate to go to the toilet, and his car was now parked up the road on a parking meter, the cost which had shocked him. London parking prices were extortionate compared to up in the North East, and he was running out of change to feed the meter. Just as he was thinking of going into the small café up the road to use the loo and change a twenty pound note for change Jake and Ben walked out the station and round to the Police car park to get Jakes car. Running up the road cursing his bad luck at the timing, the killer got in his car and pulled out ready to follow them.

Who knows he thought, maybe he could relieve himself wherever they parked up, because if he didn't go soon he knew he would have an accident on his hands, and in the mood he was in he just wouldn't have much of a sense of humour about it.

Weaving a few cars behind Jake and Bens car he followed slowly through the heavy London traffic, making sure he never lost them, and when finally they parked up he had to drive past looking for another parking space. Not finding one he just pulled up onto a yellow line and left the car hoping his luck would fall into place and he wouldn't get a ticket. Running up the road he caught up with the two detectives and staying slightly back he watched as they walked up to a chemist shop and entered. Five minutes later they came out and looking at a sheet of paper, and then pointing up the road the London copper seemed to indicate that they should walk in that direction. 

The contract killer started to follow and then noticing a small alley that ran up the side of a restaurant popped down into it, undid his flies and pulling out his cock let out a stream of steaming golden urine, sighing with relief as the full pressure in his bladder was relieved. Zipping up his flies he left the alley, running up the road until he found the two men and fell into following them again, feeling a lot happier.

*

In the third chemist the girl behind the counter told Jake and Ben that she hadn't seen the girl in the photo, but only this morning another homeless girl had come in and asked to buy the strongest pain medication that she could buy over the counter.

"I remember her as I've seen her on the street before, trying to pull men or begging for money. She's never been in here before unlike some of them. Quite a few have prescriptions for methadone, and often they are waiting for us to open when we arrive in the morning, but today there she was amongst the junkies and for a moment I thought maybe she was also going to get her fix for the day. But she didn't. Just wanted the pain killers."

"What did she look like?"

"Skinny, dark straight black hair, pinched face, about five-five."

"What was she wearing?"

"A short jeans jacket over a grey hoody, short black skirt, I think she had on a pair of boots, but I'm not sure."

"No that's good, now where do you usually see her, when you see her in the morning."

"Down by the station, she begs there as the commuters come out, and sometimes I see her down on the embankment by the bridge touting for customers."

Walking out of the chemist Jake said to Ben, "You think she was getting the pain killers for our girl?"

"Could be. I think it might be a good idea to be down by the station tomorrow to see her, ask her if she knows the girl."

"In the meantime I think we should go back to Secours and Noble and have a little chat with Mr Noble."

"I agree." And the two men walked back to their car and got in. 

The contract killer ran up the road to get his car and follow them only to find that it had been clamped. Swearing and kicking the car he pulled the penalty notice off the windscreen and read that to get the car unclamped he would have to go over to the car pound and pay one hundred and fifty pounds before they would come and unlock the yellow thing from around the front outside wheel that was holding his car immobile.

His day was going from bad to worse.

*

Kelly got off early and went to have her hair done, she was meeting Mike for supper at a local Italian Restaurant and wanted to look her best. Last night the sex had been great, he was good looking with a good job and she had a good feeling about this.

Realistically she knew she shouldn't be getting mixed up with a possible suspect, but she didn't believe that he was the Homeless Rapist and so she sat in the hairdressers, getting her hair done, and deciding what to wear that would be sexy and inviting to turn Mike on.

*

Jake and Ben sat in front of the Partner of the Architectural firm noting his body language as they asked him questions about who would be involved with the proposals that had been submitted for each of the rape sites, and how each one was put together.

He explained that anyone in the firm would have access and that many of the team worked on the actual proposal from the original sales, through the architect, and on to the accounts department on down. It would be impossible to point a finger at just one person who had access to all the bids and eliminate the others at this point.

Looking shaken at the knowledge that someone in his firm could be the Homeless Rapist David Noble stood up and walking the two detectives out asked if it could be kept quiet in the press as this could cause problems with a number of bids they had out at present. 

Jake looked the man in the eyes and told him, "Mr Noble, at present we are holding back information from the press, I suggest you hold back the information from your staff as well."

"Of course."

"Thank you for your help." and the two men left the offices and walked down to their car watched by the rapist who sat at his desk, a small smile on his lips. He didn't worry about being caught by the police; he felt superior and contemptuous of them and was sure he had covered his back in everyway.

Let them focus on everyone here at Secours and Noble, there were enough men here to keep them busy, and after he had set his new plan in action he would have an iron clad alibi when the next rape occurred.

*

The meal had been lovely and the conversation between them flirty and fun and Kelly was feeling no pain from the amount of wine she had drunk. They had grabbed a taxi back to his place and as they entered his apartment they had grabbed at each other, their kisses hot and heavy, hands undressing each other, clothes scattering around the room as Mike eased her towards his bedroom. Laying down on the bed, bodies rolling around, rubbing against each other, mouths joined, hands stroking the two people made love.

Kelly's body hummed with pleasure, relaxed with the after effects of her orgasm and the potent lethargy of the wine she lay sprawled next to Mike. Rolling over and getting up he bent over her and said, "Stay here, I'll get us some refreshment before we start again."

Stretching her body she watched as his naked body walked across the room and out the door admiring his naked buttocks and long strong back, smiling the contented smile of a woman well satisfied she pulled the covers over herself.

In the kitchen Mike reached across to his wine rack grabbing a bottle of Merlot and removed the cork. Taking two glasses from the cupboard above him he poured out the rich red liquid, then taking the small vial from where he had hidden it after he had bought it from some dealer where he also got his hash from, he placed the Rohypnol into one of the glasses of wine before picking it up and walking back into the bedroom and handing it to Kelly. Sipping from his own glass of wine Mike sat crossed legged next to her on the bed, his left hand slowly stroking her body, knuckles gently skimming her hard tight sensitive nipples, fingertips soothing over her shoulder and tucking her hair behind her ear as she sipped her own wine, waiting patiently for the drug to kick in.

Indolently they sat on the bed, sipping the wine, talking quietly as he watched as Kelly slowly over the next half hour succumbed to the effects of the drug, and taking the empty glass from her limp hand he laid her down on the bed, stood up and walked out the bedroom to collect his clothes and get dressed. 

Then standing next to the bed he then looked down at the drugged woman, checking to see how out of it she was before reaching under the bed for the plastic shopping bag stuffed with the clothes he had purchased from the charity shop over the last few days. 

Turning his back to the bed and the drugged detective he walked out of the apartment and into the night.

Tonight he was going to rape someone, and this time he would have a watertight alibi.



Without Remorse Ch. 08



This is a crime thriller some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Definition of a Sociopath -- someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

The girl walked past the blue boarded up area next to the quiet street where she walked along at two o'clock in the morning. She had been working on the late shift at the call centre and was tired as she made her way along to the main street where she knew a taxi rank was based to catch a cab home.

Seeing the drunken dirty looking vagrant stumbling towards her she slunk closer to the construction sites temporary wall trying to seem as small as possible. The drunk weaved towards her, muttering obscenities, his head hanging down, the black baseball cap shadowing his face, the only bit she could see his mouth. As he drew level with her she never saw the arm that rose up and hit her across her face knocking her momentarily stunned down to her knees. Feeling the hands of the man grab hold of her hair she started to scream only to feel one hand clamp around her mouth so that the scream was lost as he pulled her along the pavement towards an opening in the site wall and into the rubble on the other side.

Stars exploded in her head as she felt him hit and slap at her, the rough ground biting into the soft skin of her legs and back. Raising her arms to try to protect herself she felt him rip at her clothes, his grunts and her frantic pleas mingling into the night. The pain exploded in her groin where his knee knelt into her holding her still, his hands ripping apart her blouse, his fists grabbing and squeezing her breasts so that she cried out and tried to remove them from her. His body shifted, his knee left her and she felt him pull down her slacks. Kicking out at him she then felt the violent pain in her temple as his fist hit her there, partly knocking her out. Unable to get the strength to fight back she felt him push into her, the pain between her thighs and in her groin burning and sharp as he took her virginity in one violent thrust.

Uncaring he humped her until he came, and then just as suddenly as it had started, it finished, and he was gone.

*

Slipping in to the flat as quietly as he could, Mike moved into the bedroom and looked down at the passed out Kelly, a satisfied grin across his face. Slipping out of his own clothes he climbed into bed next to her and plumping the pillow settled down, the night's memories happily wafting through his mind as he drifted off to sleep.

*

Jakes wife climbed into bed holding their baby, the occasional small snuffle emanating from the small child as she placed it between her and her husband. Settling in under the duvet she looked across at him smiling, "As soon as he falls asleep again I'll take him back to his cot."

Jake rested his head on the crook of his arm, his finger on his other hand raised up and touched the small child's hand which grabbed onto it with small little fingers. "Sweetheart I just love these times, you, little Jamie and me all tucked up safe in bed together."

Jakes wife looked at her husband, so gentle, kind, brave and caring, her heart filled with love for him. Her man, the love of her life, he was everything to her. 

*

The taxi driver at the front of the queue noticed her first as he stood sipping from his flask of hot coffee. Shocked at what he was seeing he stepped forward the hot drink forgotten as it fell from his fingers calling out, "Shit.....guys look....."

The drivers who were standing in a huddle turned to look. Crawling towards them on her hands and knees was a girl, her legs and buttocks bare, scratches and dirt clinging to them, blouse hanging open, blood dripping down from the wound on her head down the side of her face. She looked like she was barely going to make it as the men all sprung into action running towards her. One man pulled off his puffer jacket and placed it over her shoulders as she sobbed between words, "Help me......I've been raped....please help me."

"You're safe now....Ritchie call the Old Bill...get an ambulance...the girls been raped."

The men sprang into action, one of them asking if she could tell them who did this.

"A scruffy looking man....I think he was the Homeless Rapist."

A shocked silence fell over the men at her words and then a couple of them decided to see if they could find him and ran off towards where the young girl had crawled from.

*

The cell phone rang at the side of the bed and Jake grabbed it quickly, pressing to answer and climbing out of the bed to stand naked outside the bedroom door so as not to disturb his wife and child who had only managed to drop off to sleep half an hour before.

In a sleep roughened voice he said, "Jake Conway...."

He heard growled in his ear, "Jake, it's another one....a young girl....nineteen....get yourself and Kelly over to the building site on Maple Street. I'll meet you there."

Leaning his head against the wall he stood for a few minutes pulling himself together before pressing the fast dial on the phone and listened to it ring before the voicemail message picked up, "This is Kelly Wright, please leave your name and number......"

Leaving a message with a brief outline and of where to meet he poked his head into the spare room where Ben was sleeping. Calling out the sleeping mans name to wake him he watched as a rumpled head raised up and a deep voice croaked, "Yeah..."

"There's been another rape, you want in on this?"

"Clearing his throat Ben sat up rubbing his face with his hands, "Damn right."

Returning to his bedroom he quietly opened the closet to get out fresh clothes when he heard his wife's voice behind him, "Another one?"

"Shhh....go back to sleep....I'll see you tonight."

Laying back down she mumbled, "Be careful."

" 'Course babe...always am."

*

The phone inside Kelly's handbag rang where it lay just inside the front door of Mike's apartment where she had dropped it hours before. Passed out in bed, the remnants of the drink and the drugs were draining out from her bloodstream, and it would be a while before she would be alert and come round.

Mike slept the sleep of the unworried next to her, his plan for a watertight alibi complete; after all he had just spent the night in bed with a detective on the case. The morning sun beginning to rise up outside the window, soon the alarm would go off and he would get up and go to work.

*

"The girl told the Police Officers who arrived on the scene before she was taken off in the ambulance that the rapist wore a dark baseball cap, dark hoody with the top up and was about in his early to mid thirties.... she thinks."

"Either he's changed his MO or it's a different rapist."

"Why? Because he's raped someone who's not homeless! Could be a mistake. Remember the Yorkshire Ripper.....murdered prostitutes....all except one of them...a young University student....mistaken for one....same as our new victim perhaps."

Standing in the centre of the roped off area Jake and Ben looked at each other, Ben telling the other detective, "Something not quite right here. I don't think it's a mistaken victim. It just doesn't feel right."

Nodding Jake agreed, just then the CI asked him where Kelly was.

"I phoned and left a message for her. Not sure boss. I guess she's on her way."

"Well when she gets here tell her to get going down to the hospital and take a statement from the rape victim, get the rape kit over to forensics, and make sure this victim doesn't vanish." 

Striding away they heard him shout over his shoulder, "And find the fucking missing fifth victim. Can't be that hard, London isn't that big and someone must have seen the stupid cow somewhere."

*

Hanny stood begging as usual beside the underground entrance, desperate for more money and worried about the state that Janice was deteriorating into. Last night had been bad, with Janice throwing up the small amount of food that Hanny had managed to get from scavenging in the bins behind one of the restaurants in the area. She knew she needed to get help soon for her friend, but whenever she had mentioned it to Janice the girl had acted so frightened that she had dropped the suggestion. 

Approaching a smart dressed man who was trying to ignore the scruffy girl she never noticed Jake and Ben as they walked up to her until it was too late. Flashing his ID Jake spoke asking her, "Do you know the chemist over by the Embankment Gardens on Villiers Street?"

Stepping back as if she was going to run, Ben moved around to stand behind her.

"Yeah..."

"Did you go over there yesterday morning to buy some strong painkillers?"

Biting her lip and clearly agitated, Hanny nodded, "So what about it? I got pains like anyone else? I'm entitled to spend me money on whatever I want!"

Pulling out the photo of the missing witness Ben stepped forward, "Do you know this girl, seen her anywhere recently."

Shaking her head she started to step away.

"You know her tell her to call this number," and giving his card to her Ben continued, "tell her I promise to keep her safe, that she's got nothing to worry about, that we need her to testify. If we don't get McShaunassy put away she will never be safe. Tell her that."

Hanny scurried off and Jake asked Ben, "Shouldn't we follow her?"

"She's too street smart to go straight to her and lead us to where ever she is. We'll come down here later and find her, and then without her realising we are following her, let us lead us to the witness, if she goes to her."

"And if not?"

"We keep on searching."

*

Kelly woke up, her head pounding, feeling slightly nauseous. The note from Mike lay on the pillow next to her head. It read, 'Didn't want to wake you, help yourself to whatever you want for breakfast, see you."

Looking at the bedside clock she gasped. Nine o'clock. She had really overslept and her boss was going to go ape shit. She had never had such a hangover from drinking the amount she had like this she thought. Climbing out of bed she made her way to the bathroom and turning on the shower stepped in trying to shake off the feeling of lethargy that seemed to be running through her blood.

*

David Nobles wife sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands grasped in her lap, obviously nervous. Jake sat opposite, his arms on his splayed out thighs, his keen mind and eyes observing her as she answered his and Ben's questions.

"So you definitely confirm that you were at home with your husband on Tuesday night."

"Yes."

"All night?"

"Yes."

"He never went out, not once." 

".......No." 

But hearing the slight hesitation in her voice he asked again. "You're sure?"

Biting her lip and looking down at her lap the tears started to seep out. "He did slip out for about half an hour that night. Most nights he's been slipping out or coming back from work late. He told me to tell you that he was in all night Tuesday but he wasn't. I think he's having an affair or something."

"About what time on Tuesday was he out?"

"About nine thirty to quarter past ten I think."

"Did he seem agitated or different in any way when he returned?"

"No. But he told me he went out for a bottle of wine, and the store is only five minutes down the road by car, and it shouldn't have taken that long."

Getting up Jake told the crying woman thank you for her help and then he and Ben left the house, "What do you think? He had access to all the site plans, was out on Tuesday night, asked his wife to lie for him with us."

"Three quarters of an hour isn't long enough to get over to the crime site, rape the girl and get back."

Nodding agreement he sighed, "Shame."



Without Remorse Ch. 09



This is a crime thriller with some romantic sex, and a smidgeon of violent non consensual sex and interesting by-play between various characters whom I hope you'll enjoy.

Definition of a Sociopath -- someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

Archie the contract killer wandered around the Embankment area of London where the two detectives had led him to yesterday. He looked at every girl as he passed them, scrutinising them, checking them to see if they were the one he had been sent to silence.

As he wandered he didn't realise that he was being observed by a young bobby on the beat. Keeping his eye on the man the officer watched, not sure what the man was up to but with a bad feeling about him. Down in this part of town it was not unusual for men to pick up a woman, especially those who gave out favours for cash, but this man was looking a little rumpled, his clothes creased as if he had slept in them, stubble on his cheeks and a little too much interest in the women of the street.

A possible candidate for the Homeless Rapist.

*

Kelly also was wandering down by the Embankment area trying to find Janice when she spotted the greasy haired girl she had spoken to days ago. Walking over to where she stood begging next to an ATM machine she said, "Hi, remember me?"

"Yeah....you is that rozzer that is searching for the girl in the photo."

"You look hungry. Want to come and get something to eat? I'm paying."

At first the girl looked like she was going to refuse, so Kelly continued, "I know of a great café here where they do a really big fry up. Sausages, bacon, egg and chips..."

The lure of the hot meal was almost too much to bear and Kelly could see her wavering. "....plus mushrooms and a hot cup of tea....."

Nodding the girl followed Kelly as they made their way to the café, her stomach rumbling at the thought of the hot food and warmth the café was going to provide.

*

Unknown to Kelly when she left Mikes flat that morning he had followed her. Phoning in sick he had taken the day off to see if she would try to find his fifth rape victim. Tucked in a bag in his hand was a baseball bat and he was going to finish off the bitch that could witness him and had brought the focus onto where he worked.

He had moved up from rapist to possible murderer without a second thought.

Lagging back at a distance he watched as Kelly, and the stick thin little cow, went into the café and sat down at the table next to the window. Stepping into a shop doorway he stood and waited.

*

Jake and Ben returned to the Embankment area to look for the girl with the greasy hair, and as they too walked down by the river under the bridge they were observed by the bald headed and tattooed man that shared the Arch recess with Hanny and Janice. 

Today had been rough, not able to get enough money to buy himself some extra strong cider to drink he was starting to get the shakes, and his terrible thirst was engulfing him.

He was getting desperate, and desperate begging did not obtain results.

*

In the café Kelly and Hanny were eating, Kelly being careful not to scare off the hungry girl, asking none-threatening questions as she watched her stuff food into her mouth.

"So how long have you lived on the street?"

"Long enough."

"Must be tough."

"It's ok."

As she stuffed a bite of bread and butter that she had dipped in the egg yolk in her mouth she told Kelly, "People are close on the street; they're like your family. I ain't had no family before."

Kelly saw this as a way in to ask about Janice. "She like your family Hanny? Is Janice like your family?"

Chewing on the last bit of sausage Hanny stared at Kelly before answering, "She's like a sister to me, I don't have no sister really."

"She was raped and hurt Hanny. She needs medical attention. Rape does damage. Her arm was broken, head wounds, slight concussion. You know where she is?"

"She don't want no help. I asked her and she don't want no help. She's scared."

"Hanny I promise to not let anything bad happen to her but let me see her and talk to her and if she says no, then I promise to leave it. Ok."

"You promise?....only she's got a fever and the pain killers I got her aren't helping."

"Come on Hanny show me where she is."

Taking the last gulp of her cup of tea the girl stood up. "She's not far from here. Come on."

*

Walking into the back of the arch, stepping over the discarded and dirty refuse that littered the area, Kelly squinted as she passed from the light to the shadowed and dingy depth of the old Victorian arch that formed part of the railway line running eventually over the bridge across the River Thames. The smell was sour, stale sweat mingled with the sweet pungent smell of smoked spliffs. Cardboard covered the floor at the back of the arch along with a discarded shopping trolley filled with a mish-mash of belongings acting as a kind of closet. At the back of the arch, lying in a corner under a filthy looking blanket lay the body of a woman. 

Janice.

Kelly rushed over to kneel by the unconscious girl, her hand feeling the forehead for signs of fever. "This girl needs help Hanny, I'm going to phone for an ambulance."

Turning around to speak to Hanny she then had the shock of her life. There stood Mike, his arm around Hanny's neck, the girls face turning purple as the breath was cut off by the pressure on her windpipe. Her eyes stared ahead, her small hands grabbing at the strong arm that pushed against her throat, her small feet on their tiptoes as they tried to get purchase.

Shocked Kelly knelt, "Mike, what are you doing?"

Smiling a parody of a smile he told her, "What I should have done in the first place with all the stupid cows. They were so easy to fuck. You were so easy to fuck."

"I don't understand......"

Letting go of the woman in the crook of his arm, she fell choking to his feet. "Women! You all think you rule men. You all think you're so superior. Well you're not. You're stupid, weak and rubbish. Easy to fuck, easy to hurt, easy to do what ever I want to do with you." Stepping over the prone Hanny at his feet he lifted his other hand carrying the plastic bag and removed the baseball bat, dropping the bag to join the other rubbish on the concrete floor. "I was going to use you as an alibi, but I think now I'll just finish you all off. The police will find you all dead and think that one of the layabouts has gone berserk. It will keep them looking for a vagrant, take the heat off of me."

"You're mad."

Stepping another step forward he raised his arm, the baseball bat menacingly hovering high above his head, "After I finished beating in your head I'm going to enjoy beating in the other two little sluts heads."

*

The tattooed and thirsty beggar sidled up to the two detectives and asked them, "How much will you pay to find out where the stupid bitch is that you're looking for?"

"You know where she is?"

"Yeah but it'll cost you."

Ben grabbed the jacket of the man snarling in his face, "Tell us or I'll fucking rip your balls up through your mouth."

"Five quid, I'll tell you for fiver."

Reaching into his pocket Jake held up the five pound note, moving out of the way from the grimy filthy fingers that the desperate man tried to grab it with. "Not so fast, take us to her and you get the money."

Ben let go of the man as he agreed, and the two detectives followed him up the street and into an alley leading up to the arches.

*

The contract killer had watched the exchange, recognising Ben, and when they moved off started to follow them, his hand slipping into his pocket and wrapping around the gun that nestled in there. Slipping into the alleyway he removed the gun, and quietly made his way, the sounds of the crowds in the street fading behind him, his body tense and ready for anything.

Behind him the copper watched and followed, his mouth talking into his radio softly, giving notice that he was in pursuit of a suspect with a gun and giving out his position.

*

Kelly screamed as the baseball bat came down on her, raising her arm to protect her head, the sound of the bone cracking rung out loud, the pain burning and intense. As he raised his arm again to hit her he staggered, his back hit by a flying figure knocking him off balance. Turning around he found a furious Hanny who had got back her second wind hitting him with both her fists, "YOU FUCKING BASTARD, IT WAS YOU WHO HURT MY FRIEND."

Grabbing the girl as she attacked him he threw her down across Kelly and Janice as they cowered in the corner. Kelly sat holding her broken arm, shock on her face. Raising up the baseball bat again he aimed it at Kelly's head, "This time I'm going to get you, you fucking slut."

Ben threw himself at the man as he entered the arch, grabbing the raised arm and the two men started to struggle. Mikes knee landed a bruising hit in Ben's groin, but the detective kept on fighting, forcing the baseball bat out of his hand. Jake had run past the two fighting men to check on the sobbing Kelly, bending down to check on her and the sick Janice he started to pull out his cell phone to get an ambulance and backup when he, along with everyone else heard the loud shout, "FUCKING STOP IT. EVERYONE FUCKING KEEP STILL."

No one moved in the now crowded space, and all eyes turned towards the shouting voice to see a crumpled man pointing a gun towards them. "STAY WHERE YOU ARE, DON'T FUCKING MOVE."

Cursing, Archie the contract killer stepped sideways to get a better line of sight of all the shocked people, the gun pointing in the general direction of the two fighting men who stood gripping each other still, and glanced at the prone body of the sick woman. Angry at the situation he was in, he had found the contract target, but now he had five other people to deal with. Witnesses to the fact he had a gun, witnesses that could identify him.

Things were going from bad to worse on this trip down south to this stupid capital city.

No matter the gun was loaded and he had a silencer in his pocket. It would be a bit messy but he could do it. Noticing a length of rope on the floor he waved the gun at Hanny and told her, "Get the fucking rope, I want you to tie the men up. Tie them up together." When she didn't move quick enough he screamed, "NOW OR YOU'RE THE FIRST TO GET THE BULLET."

As he screamed at Hanny the young copper came out of the shadow from where he had been hiding and threw himself at Archie, knocking the arm holding the gun so that it moved down at an angle and in reflex Archie's finger tightened on the trigger, the sound of the shot echoing in the brick surrounded space that held all the players in this drama that was unfolding at a fast and furious pace.

There was a scream and a shout as the bullet connected with human flesh.

Someone had been hit.



Without Remorse Ch. 10



This is a crime thriller, and like all good crime thrillers the ending isn't always as we want it to be. I love writing about characters, and I hope you have enjoyed reading about them.

Definition of a Sociopath – someone unconcerned about the adverse consequences for others of one's actions and with a total lack of moral compass.

*

The crowds stood around watching as the ambulances were loaded with the wounded and injured, and the police swarmed around the roped off area as the two white vehicles drove off, their sirens blearing into the noisy sounds of the London traffic. There was a collective gasp as Mike was lead out in handcuffs and placed in a Police car parked close to the entrance of the arch, and then watched as the car drove away, making its way through the gawping crowds.

Next led out in handcuffs was Archie, looking angry and red faced, and another police car pulled up, the back door opened and he was hustled quickly inside. As he bent to go into the interior of the car he banged his head, a final insult to his dignity.

*

David Noble walked up his garden path, having just left his mistress Julia, who lived just around the corner, and with whom he had spent the last couple of hours screwing in bed. Lifting up his key and placing it in the lock he tried to turn it, but finding it not moving rang the bell thinking that his wife must have put the lock on by mistake.

After a few minutes the window next to him opened and her head poked out, "You're home then."

"Yes, sorry a bit late, I went for a couple of drinks with a client and the time just got carried away from me."

"I don't suppose the client was a woman, about five two, blond and well stacked?"

"What do you mean?"

Her head disappeared for a moment and then David watched as his golf clubs in his expensive golf bag came through the window, open top first so that his new set of clubs fell out hitting the ground before the bag followed.

"You know the one, that client, the one that lives round the corner in the big house with the Weeping Willow and pond in the front garden." she continued to taunt.

David felt his blood drain from his face, "I can explain......"

"Really?" and her head disappeared again just before a pile of his clothes were thrown through the open window. Reappearing she continued, "...and was the pub set up in her bedroom?"

"Let me in babe and let me explain."

His DVD collection started flying through the window, a couple of the plastic cases holding the round disks just missing his face as he stepped forward onto the grass in front of the open window.

"Wait calm down. Let's talk about this. Please babe."

"Don't fucking babe me you bastard." and some more of his clothes came flying through the window.

"But if you'll just let me in....open the door."

The window slammed in his face as he heard her scream, "I'VE CHANGED THE FUCKING LOCK, GO BACK TO THE OWNER OF THE CUNT YOU'VE BEEN FUCKING FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF HOURS."

Standing in front of the house amongst the mess of his belongings laying forlornly in his front garden, David Noble started to realise the mess he had made of yet again another marriage.

If only he could learn to keep his cock zipped up he wouldn't have to keep paying out on stupid divorce settlements.

But some people never learn.

*

Mike sat in the interview room refusing to say anything. He considered the two people in front of him that were asking him questions to be beneath him, and the solicitor that sat next to him was in his view less than an insect in intellect. Smiling at the two cops he interrupted them in mid question and said, "She was a good fuck, your Detective Wright, eager for me to stick it in her. Ask her where she spent last night.... In my bed being fucked.... Fucked by a suspect in a serial rapist case.' Smiling evilly he continued, "Fucked out of her brains and enjoying every minute." and sitting back satisfied, he stared at the two detectives. 

The final act of a sociopath, getting enjoyment out of the fact that he had now ruined the career of Kelly Wright by dropping that little bit of information into the official interrogation. 

Let her suffer, he though, but in a different way.

*

Archie sat in a different interview room, also not saying a word. He knew he was safer not talking than saying anything about Micky McShaunassy. If he sung in anyway he would be walking dead, the bastard would make sure of it, even in any prison they might put him in. Better to keep quiet.

Besides the quicker had could get out of this damn town, even if it was for him to be placed in some prison cell, the better.

He hated London. Hated everything about it, from its overzealous traffic wardens, stupid clamp units, expensive crowded streets on down.

*

Ben sat with Kelly, who's arm was now just like Janice's, in a cast. They sat outside the young girl's hospital room waiting to hear from the doctors how bad she was, the fever wracking her body caused by the infection from living the last couple of days in unclean circumstances having infected her wounds from the rape.

His arm around Kelly's shoulders he felt her body move as she sobbed into his neck, his heart breaking for the terrible circumstance that had unfolded earlier today and the fallout that effected them all.

Looking up he saw the Chief Inspector standing in front of him with another male Detective from the team, and one woman officer in uniform.

"You ready Ben?"

Nodding and dreading what was about to happen, but knowing he had to be there when it happened he stood up as the Detective took his place.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

*

Jakes wife heard the doorbell ring just as she was changing the nappy on the baby. Hoisting him into her arms she walked up the small hallway and opened the door to find Ben, Jakes boss and a woman policewoman standing on the doorstep.

Their faces were ashen white, and she knew in that second what they were there for.

Shaking her head she uttered without realising it, "No....please God no....not my Jake."

Ben stepped forward, the look of compassion on his face, "I'm so sorry......"

But she never heard the end of the sentence as she dropped into a dead faint, Ben just catching the baby as she went down.

Killed by the single bullet to the heart, Jake Conway had died in the course of his duty, at thirty four, a good husband, a loving father, an excellent detective.

And a good friend.

*

Epilogue

The commuter put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a few coins, placing it in the palm of the young girl with the dirty greasy straight black hair that he saw every day begging outside of the station. The snow was starting to fall, swirling around them and making his nose cold, even though he was wrapped up in a thick overcoat and scarf.

Walking up the road he looked back at the girl, wondering how in hell she survived outside in the cold, especially at night before he looked forward and started the short walk to the heated office where he worked, the girl forgotten.

Hanny begged for a couple of more minutes before making her way to the small convenience store and buying a can of strong lager, then made her way back to the archway recess, where she sat down, pulling the blanket the Salvation Army had given her a couple of nights ago around her thin shoulders. Her friend with the bald head and tattoos sat down next to her "Got some there for me?" and she passed over the can, letting the small buzz anesthetise her from her half of the can.

Truly one of the lost souls of London.