“Where are we going Echo?”
“I saved your life once. Now you are coming to save mine.”
“Oh. Ok, but can I have an ice cream cone?”
“Sure kid. Just as soon as we get done with business.”
“Are we going to see Syd like you promised we would someday?”
“Something like that Ray. Something like that.”
“Good. I can brain her back just like she brained me.” Ray replied with an adult, sinister conviction.
8
The second encore was done. It was twenty past eleven. Mark climbed wearily from his drum kit and found his way back stage. When he got there he found Inspector Bosend was waiting for him.
“Everyone must remain here.” The Inspector ordered. “I have information that Peter…..” He was interrupted before he could finish.
“I am here.” It was Echo. “And I have brought Ray with me.” He glanced at the inspector then at Mark. Then he fixed his eyes on Inspector Bosend. “It was my knife that killed Syd, but it was not me who stabbed her.”
“Really. And I suppose you know who did.” Bosend replied with a sceptical rasp.
“I have no idea who killed her but I know everyone thinks Ray’s disappearance two years ago meant he was dead and that I killed him.” Echo glared at the Inspector. “Well he is not dead and I didn’t kill anyone.”
“At least not this time round maybe.” The inspector replied cynically.
“Then who did kill her?” Mark Galbraith queried moodily.
“I have come to take Peter in. Maybe he didn’t kill Sydney Little but right now every piece of evidence points to him. I have no choice.”
“Mark.” Echo cried out pleadingly.
“Go with the Inspector Echo. I’ll do everything I can to help you. Don’t say anything. I will get you a lawyer.” Mark assured.
Echo nodded and went peacefully with Inspector Bosend.
Mark fixed his gaze on Ray, glaring with suspicion and anger. “You were nothing but trouble back then and you are the same now.” He snarled.
“Mark wait. Ray has no idea what you are talking about. I doubt he even remembers you. The only reason he recognises me is because I visit him at the nursing home. He’s like a kid Mark. Syd did this to him…” Phil redirected Marks attention. Then he gave up the whole story about Ray’s vanishing act.
Ray smiled. “Echo promised me an ice cream cone.”
“Ok kid. We will find you one…..tomorrow. It’s too late tonight.” Phil responded. “I better get him back to the nursing home.” He added.
“No. Keep him here. Echo didn’t bring him here for nothing. Ray must know something. That’s why Echo risked getting arrested to come back.” Mark demanded then stared into Ray’s seemingly vacant eyes… and there, almost indiscernible he caught a glint that did not belong to a brain damaged 6 year old. Ok seven.
“Ok. I will take him home with me.” Phil offered.
“No. He is coming with me. I know someone who might get through to him.” Mark countered.
“Jeanette.” Phil guessed. “Sure. She has that way about her, but you better have an ice cream cone handy. He gets a little upset when he can’t get what he wants.” Phil warned.
Mark flipped his cell phone open and pressed HOME. When the call was answered he said. “Hi Hon. Get the ice cream out. I am bringing a guest home. You remember Syd’s Ray.”
9
Mark Galbraith helped Ray into Phil’s car. “Take him to the police in Wiarton. That’s where they are keeping Echo. Make damn sure he doesn’t wander off.” Mark instructed.
“Did Jeanette get anything out of him?” Phil inquired. “Just enough. I will tell you and the police all about it at the station. And Phil stop somewhere and get him an ice cream cone or he’ll drive you bonkers.”
Phil drove off. Mark went back into the cottage. “Thanks Hon. I knew there was more in that brain of Ray’s than a lot of ice cream.”
“He’s got more on the ball than he lets on. In fact it’s my guess he knows exactly what’s happening.” Jeanette replied.
“But you don’t think he could have come and killed Syd.” Mark interjected.
“Definitely not, but I’ll bet he knows who did.”
The phone rang. Mark answered.
“Help.” It was Ray.
Mark was out the door and racing down the road in his pickup in seconds. Phil had only been gone five minutes so he could not have gotten far and three klicks down the road he found Phil’s car in the ditch and Phil hanging out the driver’s door. Ray was nowhere to be seen.
Phil was barely conscious. Mark dialed 911.
“Phil. What the hell happened?”
“It was……..” Phil tried to talk but passed out before he could finish. It was then that Mark realized Phil had been shot in the shoulder. “Did Ray do this?” He tried to wake Phil but it was no good.
Just then a car pulled up. Mark saw Jeanette in the passenger side of her own car. Beside her in the driver’s seat was the last person in the world he expected to see. Ray. But they were not alone. Someone was in the back seat…brandishing a gun…someone wearing one of Mark’s own balaclavas.
“Get in the car and start driving. Turn right at the next road and don’t try anything or your honey her gets hurt.”
Mark did the only thing he could. He pulled Phil out of the driver’s chair and left him on the road side. At least the emergency crew would find him. Then he got in the car and followed the kidnaper’s instuctions….to the letter.
The first road on the right was little more than a dirt cut through the trees with two signs. One read no winter maintenance and the other read Dead End. “How appropriate.” Mark muttered. Then added, “Now what?” Just as his cellphone rang.
“Keep going to the end of the road and don’t look back” The caller instructed. Mark checked the rear view mirror. The road ran straight back and there was no one behind him as far as he could see.
“Right. “ Mark replied and jammed the breaks on. Then he spun the car around and jammed the gas pedal.
“Son of a…” He cursed but kept his eyes and concentration on the road. They couldn’t have gotten too far but which way. Which way did they go.
Mark turned left and went back to find Phil but the ambulance and a cop had already arrived. He explained to the patrol officer what had happened then learning that no one had passed the cop Mark figured which direction the kidnaper had escaped. Without a word he was back in his truck, leaving Phil’s car behind and racing after Jeanette and Ray. The speedometer wound up to 120…..130…
EPILOGUE
Inspector Bosend removed Echo’s handcuffs and released him. Immediately he went to join Ray in another interview room where he found Mark and Jeanette as well. Mark had a cut over his left eye and Ray was favouring his left shoulder. Jeanette…luckily unscathed was dabbing Mark’s cut with a cloth.
“Jeez. What happened? Why did the cops let me go? Bosend was getting ready to throw me in a cell.” Echo spewed out a line of questions. No one answered right away.
Inspector Bosend entered the room a minute later. “You can all leave but we still have a few loose ends to tie up so don’t go too far.” He ordered.
“We are going on tour next week to Europe Inspector. Will you have it all worked out by then?” Mark asked.
“Sure. We just need statements from you. As soon as that is done you can go where ever you like.”
“Can I have an ice cream cone now.” Ray asked….a little frustrated. “Everyone laughed.
Oh yah….I guess you would like to know what happened. Silly me for forgetting to tell you…or maybe I’ll just stop now…..ok….just kidding.
Mark ran Jeanette’s car down but not getting to close to endanger his wife and Ray. Instead he kept his distance until the car had to slow down as it moved into town.
Suddenly the car turned into a grocery store parking lot and came to a stop. Jeanette bailed out the passenger door and ran. Ray
tried to escape but the kidnaper grabbed him by the shirt collar and held him in the driver’s seat with the muzzle of the gun pressed into his neck.
Mark slammed the breaks on and squealed to a halt only inches from the back of the car. With complete disregard he jumped out and charged in, not knowing Jeanette had escaped.
Before the kidnaper could fight back Mark reefed the back passenger door open and grabbed him by the throat and the gun hand, hauling him out of the car and slamming him to the ground. When the kidnapper lost his grip on the gun it flew up and hit Mark in the head just above the left eye, throwing him a little off balance, just enough for the kidnapper to start gaining his feet. But just at that moment Ray came up behind and slugged the masked creep over the back of the head with a tire iron, knocking him flat.
At that moment Jeanette joined in. She leaned down and ripped the balaclava off the kidnapper’s head.
Mark and Jeanette stared in disbelief for several seconds then Mark, in a raw, angry voice asked. “Why? Why have
you done this. You…..Us….We all have it made….We are making the big time.
“Because Syd found out I was ripping you guys off. I was taking money off the top to pay…..”
“What…Drugs….Gambling…..” Mark demanded in a tone just short of a rage.
“No. Nothing like that. It’s Blackmail.”
“It was you they were talking about in the songs for Blues In B Flat. The first song. A killer’s Heart.” Mark announced.
“Sam.” Ray whimpered.
Mark recited the words of the chorus of first song on the album.
“A long time ago in a run down back street hotel.
A place where only losers dwell.
There was man with a heart of ice.
Whose bloody hands took her life.”
“Who was black mailing you Sam?”
Sam shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. I just got notes every few weeks demanding more money. Syd saw one of the notes just before the show. I couldn’t let her tell you guys what…..”
“Shut up Sam.” Mark said in a hard voice. “Just shut up.”
THE END
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