Helen Phifer - The Ghost House

If Annie could have moved she would have squirmed. Jake watched far too much television. Next he would be asking if she was going to live, thankfully he hadn’t. She had lain there waiting for them all to leave her alone.

At some point Kav had joined the party because she heard his deep voice whisper to Jake, ‘I can’t believe she was married to such a bloody wanker.’ His boots squeaked on the highly polished floor as he stepped closer. ‘Annie, can you hear me? Don’t ignore me. We need to talk.’

She had whispered, ‘Yes, Sarge.’

‘You can drop the “Sarge” shit. How are you doing, kid?’ Jake was hovering in the background and Kav turned to him. ‘Can you go and find something useful to do, Jake? Mine’s a tea with two sugars.’

Annie knew Jake would be insulted but he turned to go and find somewhere to get a brew: he knew better than to argue with Kav.

When Jake was out of earshot Kav lowered his voice. ‘I need you to tell me exactly what happened. I won’t gossip like our friend Jake but I want to know everything from start to finish.’

She had smiled at him, which, in turn, made her wince with pain. ‘What is there to say. You know those women who stay with their partners even though they get battered senseless for no good reason, the ones we all berate saying how foolish they are and they’ll end up dead? Well, that’s me, the real Annie Graham is a stupid idiot who should know better.’ She watched as his huge fists clenched into tight balls.

‘I’m so sorry, Annie, I had no idea. I better get to be the arresting officer because I intend to treat him with the respect that he deserves.’

‘Thanks. I hope you do but I did manage to smack him one myself this time. I think I may have broken his nose.’

Kav laughed so loud the whole department turned to look their way. It was so inappropriate it made them both laugh even more.

‘That’s my girl. Now is there anyone you want me to contact for you?’

Annie declined his offer, not wanting anyone outside of work to know about what had happened. In fact, she would rather no one at work knew about it. Kav nodded and wrapped his hand gently around her left hand, which wasn’t swollen, and squeezed it.

Jake rounded the corner carrying two plastic cups filled with steaming liquid. ‘Bleeding hell I’m going to need that bed in a minute; I’ve got third-degree burns.’

Kav peered into the plastic cup. ‘What’s that shit? Don’t tell me it’s tea.’ He took it from Jake, blew into the cup then sipped. ‘I’ll let you off, Constable. It tastes better than it looks.’

Jake offered the other cup to Annie. ‘Hot chocolate?’

A passing nurse paused outside the cubicle then pulled the curtain to one side. ‘Sorry, pet, she’s nil by mouth until the consultant decides if he needs to operate on her hand.’

Both men looked at each other and Jake whispered, ‘I’m glad it’s not me you punched.’

A trio of doctors walked in and Kav stood up. ‘You know where I am if you need me or want anything.’ He stooped down and kissed the one spot on her forehead that wasn’t coated with dried blood. He turned to Jake. ‘Come on, let’s go and assist in the hunt for Barrow’s most wanted. He needs a lesson in extreme etiquette.’

Jake clapped like a big kid. ‘Now you’re talking, Sarge.’ He blew Annie a kiss. ‘I love you loads but I am not kissing you with all that dried blood and brain juice splattered all over.’

Kav’s hand shot through the curtain and dragged Jake out by the shoulder. Annie shut her eyes as the doctor picked up her hand to begin to examine it again.

An outbreak of obscenities shattered her daydream and she walked straight into Jake, who was rubbing his hand vigorously.

He looked at her. ‘These sodding nettles are everywhere. Oh look at you, Miss Nosey Parker, could you not take the suspense or are you just missing me already? I can’t believe it doesn’t freak you out living up here on your own. I’m scared and it’s daytime.’

‘Just remind me why you wanted to be a copper? Stop rubbing your hand and look for a dock leaf; it will take away the sting.’

‘I told you why: I wanted a pair of handcuffs and I can’t resist a man in a uniform. Look, I’m really sorry for embarrassing you before. I never meant to. It was such a shock seeing how bad the back of your head was. I had no idea.’ He hugged her and she squeezed him back. ‘Oh and I noticed the way you looked at Will. You were weighing him up, weren’t you? How many marks out of ten would you give him? I’d give him a seven, possibly an eight? The only person I’ve ever given more than an eight to was that special constable with the bleached blonde hair that joined last year. I was gutted he only lasted a month. Not that I’d ever cheat on Alex but it’s nice to have something other than a bunch of hairy, sweaty coppers to look at.’

‘You’re awful, Jake. I wasn’t weighing him up. Well, maybe a little. Anyway, I know he only fancies supermodel type girls and this, I’m afraid, is no supermodel.’

‘You’re wrong, Annie. Why do you have to be so down on yourself? If I wasn’t into muscular rich men I’d shag you, even though you do look really scary with half of your hair shaved off and that massive scar. I suppose it would be a bit like shagging the bride of Frankenstein.’

She choked. ‘Why thanks, Jake, that’s good to know. It makes me feel so much better.’

Will walked up behind them and Annie pulled away from Jake. Glaring at him then punched him in the arm.

‘Anything?’

‘There is nothing here apart from these nettles. No sign of anyone being around here, Will.’

Annie began walking away. ‘I’ll see you later. If you want a coffee or somewhere to take a breather you are more than welcome to come back to the house. I promise I’ll actually let you in this time.’

‘Thanks. I might have to take you up on that offer. I’m getting the shakes through a distinct lack of caffeine.’

Jake rolled his eyes at her and mouthed, ‘flirt’. Annie stuck her tongue out then turned and left them to it.

He couldn’t stop thinking about the girl. He kept replaying it over and over in his head. Had he really taken her to the big house and slit her throat? It felt as if it was all a dream and he was finding it hard to distinguish between his fantasy life and his real one. How had he turned into a stone cold killer?

He rooted around in the bottom of his wardrobe until he found his backpack. Placing it on top of the bed he unzipped it, his hands slick with sweat he fumbled to get it open. There, in the bottom of the bag, was the scarf his mother had given him last Christmas, which added to the ten others he had in his wardrobe. He took it out and rolled it across the bed until the knife appeared and he inhaled sharply. The long thin blade was covered in flecks of dark brown, dried blood.

It was a very old knife and he knew that by the worn, cracked wooden handle. It was hard to imagine this knife ever being used for anything other than to cut and slice pure white skin with such delicacy. He poked around in the small zip pocket at the front of the bag and felt the gold rope chain between his fingers. He pulled it out and held it up to the light. He had tugged it from Jenna’s neck just before he sliced her throat open: his little piece of her.

He retrieved the tin box from the shelf and took out the photographs. They were mainly pictures of the servants but there was one photograph of Lord and Lady Heaton and their son Edward. It was this one that fascinated him so much; he was drawn towards Edward and had spent hours staring at him. He looked so aloof; there was quite a distance between him and his parents. There was something so compelling about him that he had begun to haunt his dreams.