With Ray working for the council, he only worked five days a week. Sunday was a day off for all staff and his other day was on Thursday's, which was this very morning. It was also the day that Darren always went off to the office late so that he could spend more time in bed with Ray on those mornings.
So he didn't get up till nine and went off to the bathroom for the usual and smiled at his reflection in the mirror as he shaved, seeing the letters CCB on the mirror.
`Cats cannot bark. Can come behind. Cannot creep backwards. Cute cheeky bum,' were words he muttered, using these letters on the mirror as he shaved, and when finished, got dressed and went downstairs and started seeing to the breakfast for Ray and himself.
This was put on the table as he sat down and Ray entered and sat down too.
`Have you checked your cheque book yet?' Ray asked through a mouthful of food.
`Not yet. Do it after I've eaten,' Darren replied, and so it was a quarter to ten when he went and got his cheque book out of the drawer.
`Shit and fuck!' he cried out when he saw that there was a blank stub and no cheque. Bollocks!' he swore as he rushed to the phone and had to fumble with the diary next to it to find the bank's number.
`What's up?' Ray asked, entering the sitting room.
The bastards had us,' he exclaimed, finding the number and dialing. Do you remember anything about last night?'
`Er...no,' Ray said after pondering for a moment.
Neither do I. The bloody Shadow was here. There's a cheque missing...Hello? Give me the manager please. Quick. It's urgent. The name is Smith. Darren Smith. Yes I'll hold but be quick please.' His face was flaming now at knowing that he'd been had during the previous evening and knew nothing about it. Hello, yes. You remember me telling about a cheque being paid in for cash? Yes, yes. Well there will one be coming in any time now. Please stop it and make sure that the CCTV is on the tellers desk and that nobody but the teller touches the cheque like we agreed. Understand? Yes, yes. I'll be right over.' He pressed the bar to disconnect and then dialled the number for the police station where Judy worked.
`Yes, hello. Can you put me through to woman police constable Judy Sharpe please, it's urgent. No I can't. She'll know what I'm talking about. Please! It's urgent!' He waited for a moment until the other end made the connection.
`WPC Sharpe.'
`Judy! It's gone,' he shouted.
`What? What are...Oh, Darren?'
Yes. He's been here. The Shadow. One of my cheques has gone. Yes, I've already phoned the bank and I'm on my way there now, yes, yes. I'll meet you there,' and slammed the phone down and gave Ray a quick kiss. See you later,' and dashed out of the house.
Judy, on putting down the phone, went straight to the Superintendent of the station and it took several minutes for her to explain what she and Darren had set up with the bank and the reasons for it. The Superintendent was quick to grasp what she was saying and phoned somebody else and got a Detective Inspector along with his sergeant and a forensic man capable of taking fingerprints to accompany Judy to the bank. It took them just over thirty minutes before they all left the station to go to the bank and on the way, Judy explained what was happening.
Patrick Turner, i.e., The Shadow, entered the bank at five past ten and was at the tellers window a minute or two later.
`I'd like to cash this cheque please,' he said to the young woman behind the screen, pushing the cheque through. The girl had been told only the afternoon before that a cheque from Darren Smith may be presented and was told what she must do if this happened and here it was, now in front of her. She took the cheque and looked at the total.
`I'm sorry sir, but I cannot pay out on this amount without you signing the back and showing proof of identity,' she said, pushing the cheque back to him. Patrick cursed inwardly not knowing banking rules because he'd not tried to get more than several hundred before. But he was content to sign the back and produced a driving licence and the signature and name on the licence were the same and passed the cheque back with the licence.
Thank you sir,' the girl said, checking that the two names matched before pushing the licence back to him. I must get some more money from the safe for I don't have that amount in the drawer,' she said as she got up from her chair. `I won't be a moment,' and walked back and through into the manager's office and showed him the cheque.
`Yes. We've just had Mr. Smith on the phone. We're not paying it. I'll come with you,' he said as he stood up and followed her back out and toward her window.
I'm sorry sir,' he said to Patrick, but this cheque has been stopped. I'm afraid we cannot release the funds.'
`Damn!' said Patrick and quickly turned and left the bank.
The manager went back to his office and got on the phone and asked for the Chief Superintendent when he got through to the police station and found out after a few words, that a car was already on the way having been alerted by Smith.
Darren arrived at the bank at the same time as the police car pulled up and so the five of them entered the bank. They were quickly ushered through and into the manager's office. The cheque was lying in the middle of the desk.
`Has anybody but the teller touched the cheque?' the Inspector asked the manager.
`No sir,' he replied.
Call her in please,' he was asked and went and called her into the office. I also want the CCTV tape.' This he got as he spoke to the young teller to confirm that only she and the man had touched the cheque. So the forensic man, after dusting the cheque and having bagged, seeing that it had three different sets of prints on it, then took both the girl's prints and that of Darren.
With the cheque in a clear plastic bag, the name on the back could be seen.
Frederick Brinkman,' the cashier said on being asked the question. The same as what was on his driving licence.' This was noted down and with thanks to the manager for the prompt action of him and the staff, they would soon find the man through now having his name and the tape to get his picture.
Darren had briefly touched Judy's hand and thanked her for acting so quickly.
I'll give you a ring when we've got a bit more,' Judy said to Darren. Will you be at the paper?'
`Yes, but if I'm not there, I'll be at home,' he said and gave her his telephone number and they said goodbye as she got into the police car and was driven off.
Bollocks,' Darren exclaimed. They could at least have asked me if I wanted a lift,' so he had to walk to the paper and went straight up to the editor's office and told him that things were now reaching a head regarding The Shadow.
At the police station, the Inspector by the name of Walton, reported to the Super and was told to look into the case with his sergeant and to have WPC Sharpe along.
Detective Constable Cooper was already on the phone to the D.L.A., Driving Licence Authority, to get the address of Frederick Brinkman, which turned out to be in Hull. He then phone the Yorkshire police in Hull and asked them to check on this Brinkman, giving them the address and said that it was quite urgent and was told that they would ring them back with details very shortly.
In the meantime, forensics had isolated the odd set of prints having established those of Darren and the bank clerk and had them sent off for cross checking with other prints already on file, but the news later was that they didn't have the man's prints on file, meaning he had no previous convictions. They had also now had a picture of the man from the video and were in the process of printing off quite a few to be circulated.
The next news was not good as Cooper took the phone call from Hull.
Not good news for you,' said the voice from Hull. Frederick Brinkman died six years ago from a heart attack. He was working on an gas rig out in the North Sea when it happened.'
Shit,' said Cooper. What was the name of the rig and the company?'
`The rig was Norse Four and owned and run by Norgas.'
`Okay, and thanks,' Cooper said and went and gave the bad news to his boss.
Damn,' he said, but maybe not so bad,' he mused. `Get onto Norgas and tell them that we want the names of all personnel that were on that rig when Brinkman died. Also send a picture of the man to see if anyone can identify him for he may have worked on that rig and got the driving licence that way. Also, if he was a rigger, he just might have worked overseas. Get a copy over to the Passport office and see if they can trace the man.'
Cooper went off and the Inspector turned to Judy.
`Well there's nothing more we can do until we hear from both ends, so you might as well carry on with your other work.'
`If you'll excuse me sir, I've done a bit of work with Mr. Smith in this chase of The Shadow, and what he's found so far, that all those that we know that have been in contact with The Shadow have lived in this close area of South London. Shouldn't we then give out photos to all the beat constables?'
`Good idea. I'll let you see to that then,' he said, letting her get on with what she had suggested.
This she did and when done, went to see the Super and told him exactly of how she got involved with The Shadow and asked him if he could give her his backing in her getting an abortion while there was still time. This he agreed and arranged for her to see one of the police doctors to take on her case.
Next, she phoned Darren at the paper and gave him the news so far, though it wasn't very good, she assured him that they expected to get more later from either the gas rig company or from the Passport Office.
Patrick left the bank rather hurriedly, inwardly cursing the banking system and hoped that the CCTV wasn't very good in pictures of him that he was sure was being scrutinised. He also cursed himself for being too greedy in his aim of taking Smith to the cleaners. Must keep the money totals down he thought. He was not a happy man as he made his way home but he brightened up when looking through his scrapbook, especially those pictures of Smith with him fucking him up the backside.
Darren was somewhat disconsolate at his desk at not hearing any good news in his chasing of The Shadow. His editor, Colin Murray had promised a double column if it could be brought to a conclusion, well an arrest at least. Darren couldn't really concentrate at even laying out what he would report without knowing how the police were faring and so gave it up. He left word at reception that if any phone calls came in for him, to transfer them to his home, and that's where he went.
`Is that you darling?' came the call from Ray as entered the front door.
`Of course. Who did you expect, The Shadow?'
Not really,' he said as he went into the hall to meet Darren. For if he had me last night, I don't want him again for I'd rather have you. Now that I will remember. Hey! You're home early.'
`Yes, for there's not a lot I can do,' and went on to tell him what he'd learned so far, and Ray, not expecting things to move that quickly, had started to prepare a lovely meal for Darren. This went down well and Darren kissed Ray for his effort.
Can you thank me in bed?' Ray said with a coy smile. If we went there now?'
`I can't think of a better place,' Darren laughed, and so, leaving the dishes, went upstairs and were soon undressed and on the bed. They were quickly top to tail as they hungrily took each other's erect cock into their mouths to suck and play with, moving their heads and hands until both had their orgasm. The outpouring being quite copious that they welcomed to move round the head still there before swallowing and then licking the head clean.
Ray turned round on the bed so that they could kiss and begin the fondling of each other to rouse them up again for the later pleasure of then having the prick that they each played with, being used up inside them. But we'll leave them to later fuck each other as we return to the police station.
Norgas had come through with all the men on the rig at the time of Brinkman's death, a list with sixty eight names that was not of any help at the present time. They were not confident that they would hear from the Passport Office till the next day.
Judy in the meantime, had been examined by the police doctor and had agreed that she was well in time to have an abortion and he made the appointment for this with one of the London hospitals to be performed in a week's time.
It was at ten past ten the next morning that the Passport Office came through with a name to match the picture. Even though there was an eight year gap, they were certain that it was the same man. They were right in naming him as Patrick Turner and his address was in Streatham. His name was now tied in with being one of the names on the list from Norgas, so they now had The Shadow within their grasp.
A warrant was immediately obtained with the charges being rape and obtaining money under false pretences. Judy asked for permission for Darren to be taken along with the arresting officers and this was agreed. So one car with four officers inside and Judy with a driver picked up Darren from the paper, having been told to be ready. He also quickly alerted his editor and had a photographer despatched to follow the police to try and get pictures of the man when he was arrested.
The two police cars, unmarked, stopped well apart in the road where Patrick Turner lived and it was the Inspector and his sergeant who went up to the house and rang the bell. It was rung twice more without getting the door opened and so returned to their car and they all waited for Turner to show up.
It was Judy who spotted him first. She had happened to look out of the back window of the car that she and Darren were in and told the plainclothes policeman who was the driver that he was coming. It was fortunate that their car was on the opposite side of the road and both she and Darren ducked down so that he didn't see them. Well Judy really, for she was the only one of the police still in uniform.
The driver alerted those in the other car and opened out a road map as though he was parked there to check out where he was. The others could see Turner walking down the road and turn into his house and waited until he had gone inside before exiting their car. The three in Judy's car got out and moved over to the house in time to see the door being opened by Turner and to hear the Inspector tell Turner that he was under arrest and read out the warrant.
Turner tried to argue but Sergeant Cooper snapped a pair of handcuffs quickly onto Turner's wrists and pulled him from the doorway passing him over to the two other constables who walked him off to their car. The newspaper photographer was there on hand to take some pictures of the arrest and of him being escorted to the car and another of him being bundled inside.
Inspector Walton and Sergeant Cooper went inside the house followed by Judy and Darren and they went into the sitting room where there was a desk with a computer on the top. But what caught their eye was the scrapbook open at the page that showed Darren being fucked by Turner, that just being one of the four on that page.
The Inspector had a quick glance at Darren, knowing that it was him in these photos and quickly shut the book as Judy approached the desk.
Get on to the station Cooper and have some men sent over here and take all this,' he swung his hand round the desk and room, back for us to examine it later. Well I must congratulate you two,' he said to Darren and Judy. `With this book and what is possibly in the computer, he's going down for a long time.'
Er, Inspector,' Judy started as she pulled at his arm, away from Cooper, and spoke in a low voice to him. Can you restrict who sees the contents of that book,' her face quite red. `Er, there will be some pictures of me in there as well as that of Darren there. I would rather that those at the station don't see them.'
I understand,' he replied, guessing at what they would be having seen those of Darren, but as this is evidence that we need to convict him, I'm afraid that some of the pictures will have to be shown to the jury to show just how depraved the man is and ensure a conviction. Don't forget, you and Smith there will be prime witnesses. I'll do what I can. I can't say anymore than that,' giving her shoulder a squeeze.
Inspector,' Darren said moving over. I think you should warn those in the car with the man that they shouldn't make eye contact with him for that's how he has been able to get his way with all of us. He uses hypnotism.'
Did you hear that Cooper?' he asked and got a nod back. Well use the radio and let them know this and tell those at the station too.' Cooper nodded again and used his walkie talkie to pass this on. It was later suggested that all who had contact with him, wore dark glasses, and that the number who did, was kept to a minimum. This then became the practice at all the interviews that were held with Patrick Turner.
EPILOGUE
Judy Sharpe had her abortion and was in hospital when Turner was arraigned in court, giving a plea of not guilty and his trial was set for a later date and refused bail.
Darren visited Judy in hospital, taking flowers and was glad that everything had gone well with her. As it had with him. He got to write his double column about his tracking down of The Shadow which also had a picture of the arrest. Because of his report, he was offered a job on one of the national papers, which he declined with thanks. Also with him declining the offer, his editor gave Darren a weekly column plus a pay rise.
Judy and Darren were the star witnesses at the trial of Patrick Turner and Darren had no objections to the photos of him from Turner's scrapbook being shown to the jury with him swearing on oath that he had no recollection of them being taken and him being compromised in this fashion. Judy, with reluctance, allowed some of her pictures being shown too.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty and Turner was later given a life sentence and that he served it in a secure hospital. How many of the other inmates, all male, came under his influence and were seduced into having sex, is unknown.
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