Pacing the floor of Catherine’s apartment Vincent exclaimed not for the first time, “Something’s wrong, I know it!” He crossed over to the balcony wall for the umpteenth time and searching the streets below cried, “She should have come up by now.”

Jenny’s face was pinched with worry. Ever since Vincent had arrived, he’d been agitated. He’d been in two minds as to whether to turn up at all. The invite was to go to Catherine’s apartment, but he had felt that Catherine was moving away from her home and going into the city. Jenny and Devin had confirmed his suspicions upon his arrival and he had wanted to go after Catherine straight away. This was the very thing he had been afraid of the attendance of an unscheduled function that no one foresaw. It had to be the one that represented the danger, why else would he and Jenny have been shown the future?

All evening he had felt Catherine’s agitation. Minor hurt swept through the bond a time or two, and then apprehension and a little fear and suddenly all was fine, but Catherine had been coming home, Vincent had felt it. He knew that she had arrived, he’d seen the taxi pull up at the curb, felt her coming to him and then suddenly nothing! It was as if she failed to exist, yet the feel of her heartbeat still thudded gently next to his, as if she were sleeping! But that was ridiculous!

“Calm down Vincent.” Devin tried to stop his brother in mid stride, but Vincent surged past him and walked the length of the room once more. “I can’t, something is wrong. Something has happened to her.”

“Look if it’ll make you any happier we’ll go down and see what’s keeping her.” Devin offered and Jenny was on her feet at once nodding in agreement.

“All right but don’t be long.” Vincent told them gruffly.

They left, out of the door the moment they had fished their shoes from beneath the chair where they’d left them. Devin took the stairs and Jenny the elevator, stopping at each floor and looking along the corridor in both directions before stepping back in and going onto the next floor. She did this all the way to the lobby where she found Devin waiting for her.

“Anything?” He asked hopefully. Jenny shook her head, “Nothing. Come on let’s look outside or have you already done that?”

Overhearing their conversation the guard asked if he could be of any help. They asked if Miss Chandler had come home, he shook his head. “Haven’t seen her since just after six o’clock” he told them, then asked ‘why?’

They explained that she was due home and hadn’t arrived. He told them not to worry, as something would have delayed her. Still they ignored him knowing better and went outside.

“Vincent said she’d stepped out of a taxi.” Devin mused thoughtfully.

“And that she had walked toward the doors, so we know she got that far. Devin what’s that, is it a handkerchief?” Jenny pointed to the small white cloth just outside the doors.

Devin went outside to pick it up, “Pooh!” He exclaimed suddenly.

“What is it?” Jenny rushed to his side.

“Chloroform!”

“Chloroform, Oh Devin!” Her eyes wide, Jenny took the cloth from him. The smell was apparent without lifting it to her nose. It was that strong. “We’ve got to tell Vincent. Oh my God, what has that bastard done to her?”

Coming back through the doors their faces ashen, the guard enquired as to their find. He’d seen them pick something up and they quickly told of their suspicions while they waited for the elevator. “I’ll ring the police.” He told them, “Are you positive it has something to do with Miss Chandler?”

“I saw her step from the taxi and come up to the doors twenty minutes ago.” Devin lied, “Yes, I’m certain someone has abducted her. Remember all those flowers she’s been sent recently? Well they were from some crank, someone that intends to harm her.” As he was speaking the guard was dialling 911 and the elevator doors opened as he started to speak into the receiver.

Tell them to come straight up.” Devin cried over his shoulder, “We’ll be waiting.”

Back up in the apartment Vincent had the most terrible feeling pass through him. Wherever Catherine was she was in a deep sleep. He guessed that someone had put her to sleep even before Devin charged into the apartment shouting “Chloroform! Someone knocked her out with chloroform, Vincent. The guard is calling the police. You’d better go.”

“Go? Go where? I can’t pinpoint where she is until she wakes up.”

“Oh, I thought you could?” Devin sounded surprised, “I mean I thought you went by her heart beat and all that?”

“I do,” Vincent told him, “But when she is artificially put to sleep it makes it difficult. The sleep is so deep and as she is not aware of her surroundings I can only go as far as the area.”

“Then you’ll go there? The moment she’s awake you can get to her?” Devin asked.

“Yes.”

Vincent was about to leave when he heard Jenny gasp and turning saw her staring at the television screen where images from the tapes were being displayed, “Vincent, look! It’s him, that’s the man from my dreams! For definite. And it’s the same guy we met in the park.”

Vincent stepped closer and as he neared the set, suddenly the features of the man came into focus from the part of the dream that had always eluded him on waking. Jenny had been right it was the same man. Undecided, Vincent hesitated. If they could only find out who he was then they might know where he had taken Catherine.

A sudden knock at the door made Vincent hurry into Catherine’s bedroom and Devin opened it once he was satisfied that his brother was out of sight.

“Hello, is this the apartment of the missing woman?” Devin was asked by one of the two officers outside the door.

He nodded and let them in, “Yes and we have just found out whose taken her.” Quickly they explained about the flowers and the gifts, and the chance meeting in the park, leaving out the bit about the visions and they convinced the officers that the man on the freeze frame on the screen was the fellow who had abducted Catherine. “Thing is we don’t know his name? You ever seen him before?” Devin asked hopefully. “The mayor’s dinner/dance. Holds it every year apparently, same place each time, though I don’t know where that is. Joe Maxwell will know though.”

“Joe Maxwell, the Assistant District Attorney?” At Devin’s nod they went on, “We’ll call him. Can we use this phone?”

“I don’t think he’ll know him Dev.” Jenny exclaimed, “Remember when the guy delivered those flowers to Cathy at her office, Joe didn’t recognise the guy then did he?”

Overhearing, the officer ceased dialling Joe’s number, “Then we’ll just be wasting time calling him. Ideally, we need someone that was at tonight’s function. If the abductor was there tonight, someone may know. Thing is who to ask? Did either of you see the guest list?”

“No, but the mayor was there. You might start with him.”

“Have you played this tape forward, maybe it will give us some additional information that we can get started on until he arrives. Its possible that he’ll still be at the dance.”

Devin and Jenny shook their heads. They were worried about Vincent as much as anything else for despite what was happening, Vincent was trapped in the bedroom and couldn’t leave even if he wanted to do. He could get out onto the balcony, but he would be seen as he passed the doors. Jenny had an idea. “I’ll just close the balcony door and drapes if you don’t mind. It’s getting chilly in here.” She said it loud enough hoping Vincent would take the hint. He did, as she was pulling the drapes together she saw him alighting over the wall and silently wished him luck.

Back in the room, the tape was running and one of the officers was taking down a description of the fellow in a notebook. “Can we have this film?” He asked.

“You can borrow it. Catherine borrowed it until tomorrow. It’s a security tape from the company written on the cover.” Devin gasped, Bingo! The officers realised at the same moment. “Where’s the box?” One exclaimed. Devin was already passing it to him, “Here. Yes, there’s a logo and a telephone number. A twenty four hour number!” He exclaimed happily.

The officer wasted no time in dialling. “Hello, yes. This is the police department. I’m Officer Kettle.” (Devin almost choked at this whispering to Jenny, ‘I bet he’s always on the boil’.)
“I’d like to speak to the managing director if possible? He’s not there? Well then whom can I speak to? Security would be nice. You can? Fine. Yes I’ll hold.”

Stifling a giggle at Devin’s quip Jenny tried to look innocent. Despite the seriousness of the matter, Devin had made her feel so much better by his comical observations and both of them had to force themselves to listen intently as the officer started to speak again.

“Hello, yes I’m still here. That’s correct. Yes. I need some information. A Miss Chandler from the DA’s office borrowed one of your security tapes earlier today.” He looked toward Devin for confirmation saw him nod and went on, “Yes today. I need to ask some questions regarding one of the guests from the 2nd of this month at that particular venue. Do you have a guest list? Yes, I know you don’t keep a description of the guests, but this one appears to be some sort of photographer. Who? No, it’s a man. Blonde, tall, looks like a Swede. Who? Can you spell that? Aha got it. Do you have an address for him? You do? Great! Yes, I understand that, I’ll have an officer come over straight away and pick it up. Thank you so much for your help. Goodnight Sir.” He put the receiver down and turned to Jenny and Devin, “Well they won’t release his address over the telephone, as they said I could be anyone calling. So I’ll just get on to that and then fill you in.” He went out of the apartment and with his radio he contacted the police department so that neither Jenny or Devin were able to hear. That done he returned, “Well, the name of the fellow if its him, and we’ll run a positive ID later, is Cameron Davy. He’s a photographer and has connections in the movie industry. As soon as we get an address on him, we’ll go over to his place and see if Miss Chandler is there, then look for anything suspicious. Do you have a recent photograph of Miss Chandler that I could take with me?” He asked hopefully.

Looking around the apartment Jenny couldn’t see anything that would help. Any photographs that were in view were of Catherine as a child with her mother and father. “No, I’m sorry there is nothing appropriate.” She told the officer. “I have some at my apartment though shall I go home for one? We could accompany you to the location and collect the photograph on the way to save time.” Jenny’s mind was racing ahead. If she could let him believe that, then they might have a chance of finding out that address.

“No, don’t worry about it and I must ask that you do not accompany us but rather stay here just in case Miss Chandler comes home. And please ring us immediately if she does.”

Jenny had an idea, “Tell you what then, call Joe Maxwell. I know he has some recent photographs of Cathy, and he has the authority to meet you at the location. He might even be able to help.”

The officer nodded, “Yes good idea. I’ll have the station call him to bring a photograph over to me.”

Jenny’s mind was racing ahead, she was hoping that she could catch Joe before he left, and he would leave, he’d not bother with a photograph Jenny was certain of that. For the moment he heard that Cathy was in trouble he’d insist on going over there to identify her himself. And then Jenny would tail him and get word to Vincent once she knew the exact location.

Now all she needed was time on her side. As soon as the officer had left, Jenny bid Devin goodbye and raced down to the parking lot for her car. Good job she knew where Joe Maxwell lived and good job she didn’t have to stop for gas on the way.

A vision would be helpful right about now, Jenny decided as she got into her car, a vision that would tell her that everything was going to be alright. Unfortunately, she never could get a vision when she wanted one.

Vincent had gone to the area where he assumed Catherine to be but as her heartbeat was slower than normal and without any sign of consciousness, he wasn’t able to pinpoint the exact location. All he could do was wait. Unless…

Suddenly he backtracked deciding that Devin and Jenny might know more than he did. The apartment wasn’t far and he could soon get back if Catherine awoke though he had the strangest feeling that she was being kept asleep for some reason or another, possibly for further transportation. That terrified him. If she were to be taken out of the city then the chances of him reaching her in time became very slim.

Gauging his arrival onto the balcony some minutes later, he listened intently, and hearing nothing he let himself drop onto the terrace. There he tapped lightly on the door and hoped someone was still there.

Devin came at once “Vincent! Thank God, I was praying like crazy that you would come back. Jenny’s just rang. She’s got an address for you.”

“Jenny?” Bewildered, Vincent looked around the apartment, “Where is she?”

“Long story. Don’t worry about that now. Jen followed Joe Maxwell, and she has a street name and house number. Here I wrote it down, do you know where that is?”

Vincent nodded. It was right in the vicinity of where he’d just come from and turning he swept back into the night.

With his heart racing, Devin watched his brother go. He wished that he too could do something or that Jenny would soon return. And no sooner had he thought it when he heard her voice on the other side of the door. “Devin, let me in.”

He sighed with relief, crossing the room and flinging open the door, “Vincent’s just left.” He blurted as she stepped into the apartment, “I’ve given him the address. I take it Joe went there?”

“Yes, I tailed him all the way, watched while he met up with Officer Kettle, and then satisfied that I had the right place went to call you. It was no use my hanging around, I didn’t want anyone to find I had been meddling besides I wasn’t certain if I would need to try and find Vincent. Thank God, he came back.”

“Yes, and all we can do now is pray that he reaches Catherine in time, and that no one spots him.” Jenny grasped hold of his arm. There was nothing more either of them could do but wait and that was sometimes the hardest part, still Jenny felt that she had done all she could and at least she wasn’t waiting alone. “Thanks for being here, Dev.” She told him sincerely.

“My pleasure.” He replied happy to be with her. “Cathy’s got a good friend in you.”

“Cathy’s got a good friend in Vincent.” Remembering the vision that she had had when touching Davy that night in the park, she drew in a deep breath and sighed, “I only hope that he reaches her in time.”

“He will, don’t worry.” He hoped he sounded optimistic for he didn’t feel it. Catherine had been gone for hours and in that time anything could have happened!

Collecting all that he would need together in one heap Cameron Davy checked his victim one final time. Good she was still sound asleep. He ran a finger down one flawless cheek, having noticed the scar on the other side earlier. She was indeed beautiful and brainy too. Such a shame that she had to be a lawyer, such a waste of a beautiful woman. She could have been a star an actress or even a model. Could have adorned the arm of a millionaire could have been a wife and a mother, but instead she had to be a career minded woman and a lawyer at that. Cameron sighed oh well she wasn’t likely to have been his wife so what did it matter? After tonight she would be a star her beauty captured forever on film, her demise featured exclusively to all those who had paid for the contract killing. Strange how it had all come about. Usually clients just wanted the job done. A quick kill, no leads nothing to tie them in as suspects. But this one had been different. Wherever Cameron had gone her name was always on the hit list, and when he had seen her…wow… He couldn’t let an opportunity like that go by. Besides, those that had promised the rest of the fee after the lady was dead, had wanted proof anyway and Cameron decided this way he could kill two birds with one stone. He’d make money from the killing and he’d make money from the snuff movie that he would make at the same time. He couldn’t fail and that gown – wow – it would make the capture of the mermaid scene even more authentic. Strange really, because when she had arrived at the function earlier in turquoise he had almost decided not to carry through with his plan for the movie. He’d just abduct, rape and kill her, but when he’d seen her in that shimmering silver gown, well it had been perfect and just what he’d been looking for and he changed his mind.

All he needed was for one or two colleagues to be ready and he knew they’d be willing and then they could get started. Briefly, he drew up a script. She was out for the count anyway, would be for at least another hour unless he wafted some more chloroform under her nose. They could either cut her up while she slept or they could let her wake first then do it. Depended what his clients wanted really. Straight kill or kill with torture. He thought about it a while, watching her sleep, thinking on the lives of those families that had suffered since she had sent their men folk to jail, and came up with the idea that torture might be fun. Just a little, a few cuts here and there. He’d heard about the knife slashing she had undergone a few years back so she’d react to that knowing how it would feel again to have the knife slice through her skin and feel the hot blood trickle then gush away from her. He laughed cynically. “Throw my gifts away would you? How dare you. Well don’t expect me to bring any flowers to your grave, you’ve had enough already.” The telephone rang and picking it up he said nothing until a voice enquired, “FX? You there?”

“Yes, I’ve been waiting for you to call. Is everything ready?”

“Yes. You got the girl?”

“Yes ready, waiting and out for the count. Shall we do it here or at the warehouse? I can’t decide.”

“Did you have to knock her out after all? I thought you were going to woo her with all those expensive flowers and chocolates. What went wrong?”

“She didn’t buy it and I got desperate. And she was wearing this exquisite little number that was perfect for the mermaid part. All we need do is bare her to the waist, tuck the gown around her feet so that it looks like a mermaid’s tail and then we can start raping and cutting her up. So what do you think, where’s it to be here, or across town?”

“Robin’s on his way over to your place, so we may as well do it there. You still got that acid pit?”

“Yeah, yeah, haven’t used it since that last time, but I guess it’s still strong enough. It’ll liquefy flesh anyway but bones might take longer. It could do with some fresh acid in there really.”

There was laughter at the other end, “You said that the last time.”

“Did I? Oh, well it worked last time. Okay then come on over. I’ve enough film to make a two hour-long movie. I thought we could do some rape scenes, some torture and then cut her up. The acid will do the rest.”

“Okay, see you in ten.” The caller hang up and Cameron checking Catherine once more satisfied that she was well out of it went outside to the shed to set up everything they would need to carry out the act.

He whistled as he worked, props, lights and other equipment all in the right places. Satisfied he turned to a drawer and pulled from it a large clean plastic sheet and laying it down on the floor, he smoothed it out then tacked it down at the edges with a hammer. Around the edges, he also placed strips of foam rubber. These would soak up any of the blood that might run out from the centre. That done he visualised the next couple of hours and hoped that the lighting used to make the film would be precise enough to get a good sale on it. A good movie would go around the world. Some of his best were those where the guts of a victim with withdrawn and held up before the camera. He wasn’t called Special FX for nothing. He laughed wickedly, people were so gullible they would believe anything. Still while they wanted horror films, he’d give them horror films and while they paid for blood and lust, he’d give it to them in abundance. There were so many kids seeking stardom that would do anything to have their name in lights. It was easy money with no wages to pay out to the star and the clientele that ordered that type of movie were growing in numbers every year. Well while they ordered FX was prepared to meet demand but little Miss Chandler now she would be a bonus, rarely did they find one so beautiful, or so well known.

A sharp knock at his shed door had FX going to open it, he’d expect Jim and Robin, so was surprised to find two officers and a plain clothed fellow that seemed vaguely familiar waiting outside. FX quickly exited and padlocked the door behind him hoping that they wouldn’t ask to see inside. “Can I help you?” He asked politely.

“We hope so. We’re looking for Cameron Davy.”

FX was in two minds to say he’d never heard of him. After that night he’d have to move on anyway, he’d already decided that. Questions would be asked regarding Miss Chandler’s disappearance. Questions that weren’t usually asked until months, even years later. Since most of the victims were orphans or had run away from home. But they seemed to be sure it was him so he replied, “I’m Cameron Davy. How can I help you?”

“We’d like you to accompany us down to the precinct if you may. You may be able to help us with our enquiries.”

“Can you tell me what its all about?” He asked noticing a car pull up in his drive and recognising it as Robin’s.

“Not here. Are you ready? Do you need to lock up your house?” Cameron glanced over to it. “Yes and I’ll need my jacket. Do you want to come with me?”

“No Sir, we can wait here for you. Who is this, were you expecting someone?” The officer indicated the car that had pulled in.

Cameron shook his head. It served two purposes. Robin saw it and turning the engine over backed out of the drive. Whatever had happened he didn’t know, but one thing was for certain tonight’s activities were cancelled. He’d go home and wait up till FX called. Maybe they could get back on schedule tomorrow.

As he walked toward the house, Joe asked one of the officers if he might stay. He hadn’t brought the photograph, having rushed from his apartment the moment he had got the call and deciding that he could identify Catherine better in person.

“Providing you don’t do anything stupid. You might be the Deputy DA in this city but that doesn’t give you the right to snoop without a warrant. Just wait in your car until I return okay?”

Joe agreed, but he wasn’t happy about it.

Cameron hurried through his house, locking all the inside doors, and picking up his jacket he stuffed another chloroform soaked cloth beneath Catherine’s nose before he left the room. With a bit of luck she’d still be asleep when he got home. Then he would call Robin and ask him to come back over. Whatever happened, they had to dispose of her by morning – he had a lot riding on her death – hundreds of thousands of dollars worth in fact.

Watching from the shadows, Vincent waited until he was certain that all was clear before venturing out into the yard. Catherine’s senses still told him very little and he wasn’t sure whether she was being held in the house or the shed from where he had seen FX depart. He tried there first. Creeping around the perimeter listening for any sound within only breaking the lock and entering when he was certain the shed was empty.

Cracking open the lock Vincent opened the door and slid inside unprepared for the amount of light therein and pulled his hood more firmly about his face to shield his eyes from the glare.

The shed from the outside revealed nothing of its contents. Here a whole different world met Vincent’s sight. The first thing he noticed was the lighting. Not just a solitary bulb or strip light, but rather the sort one might expect a photographer to use and these were positioned at various angles around the floor centred mainly on a plastic sheet spread half way across it. He noted the foam positioned around the edge of the sheet and that it had been tacked into place to avoid disturbance.

Upon the walls, a grisly sight met his eyes. It reminded him of a torture chamber, not that he had ever seen one literally but encyclopaedias had afforded him with insight and recognising some of the props that horrific movie that he and Catherine had watched flew to mind. He moved toward the objects drawn there by disbelief. How could any one subject another to such forms of punishment he’d never know. He’d heard how some people used such methods for sexual stimulation and he was astounded that anything but a beautiful partner could be needed for that. He only had to look at Catherine, and he needed her. It shamed him at that moment that such as his human side could want or demand such grotesque acts of violence for sexual gratification. And though he remembered Father giggling at an article he had read in the paper regarding such a method, now seeing the actual tools that were used turned his skin to ice. Maybe Father wouldn’t be quite so jovial if he could stand here and see this, Vincent thought as he remembered Father reading out the article to Peter Alcott. “Listen to this Peter, ‘there’s a fellow here that could only be sexually stimulated by the amputation of a limb. Not just any amputation either. He refused any form of anaesthesia and was conscious when a friend axed off his leg. (*) That’s sick!” Father’s stomach had churned at the thought, but he read on avidly wanting to know the outcome, “The victim said that he received the greatest orgasm he had ever achieved as the axe hit the bone, and was prepared to lose his other leg in order to feel such exquisite pleasure again.’ (*) Good Lord, what is the world coming to?” Vincent could remember Peter and Father discussing the article in great length and then laughing about it. ‘Oh well’ Peter had reasoned, ‘he would only experience it twice in his life. Pity he wasn’t an octopus.’ Father had laughed at that, and had continued to laugh in a cynical kind of way whenever he thought of how ridiculous it was. To be prepared to lose one’s legs for something so fleeting angered him. There were people that would love to be able to walk and couldn’t. Himself for example, what he would give for a hip replacement and be pain free. The people that had it all abused it, while those that needed it most suffered. The world was sick.

Yes, Vincent thought, looking about him, the world is sick. And he could easily see that Catherine was not in the shed but in all probability, the set had been arranged in preparation for her. And he knew that he shouldn’t loiter for to be caught in such a place would be as stupid as allowing himself to be shackled and tortured, but something had caught his eye that he needed to check out. Just beyond the plastic sheet a large concrete wall rose with steps leading up to it. He didn’t need the steps with his height, but looked over the side and quickly pulled his head back as the fumes touched the sensitivity of his nostrils. Acid! There could be no two ways about it. That acrid scent was acid. Now he knew what went on here, though he could not be certain, there was only one reason why acid was used in such a place, and that was to dispose of bodies. He’d not walked into a torture chamber for sexual gratification. He had walked into a film studio for the making of snuff movies! There had been people in the tunnels that had escaped from such with the skin of their teeth, generally youngsters seeking stardom who fortunately had a sixth sense for smelling trouble. Vincent hated to think of the number of people that had been sucked in by offers of being a star and had lost their lives. He should have known when he saw the knives and the weapons that more was at stake here than sexual perversions. His stomach turned over and he had to get out and fast. On his way, his cloak brushed against a sheaf of papers and he caught them before they fell. His eyes caught a name that screamed out at him in bold underlined ink. Catherine Chandler – Script. He snatched up the sheaf of papers, not knowing their content, not wishing to know of them at this stage but knew without a doubt that they might provide the evidence Catherine would need to investigate the fellow that signed himself FX.

Cracking open the door once more he peeped outside. Everything was still and the house loomed ahead of him. Naturally the house had windows that afforded him a better view unlike the shed that had none and creeping around he was able to look through them taking in the neatly furnished house that told nothing of the horrors within its grounds.
Standing outside one window and focusing within Vincent finally decided upon the one where the sense of Catherine came through the strongest. Here he broke open the window and froze when an alarm sounded and looking wildly about thought at first that Catherine wasn’t inside until he noticed all the photographs of her lining one wall. Then he dashed around the room searching frantically and then he saw her, lying stretched on a sofa, a chloroform soaked cloth under her nose. Vincent flicked it away and bent to pick her up, trying to rouse her at the same moment but she was dead to the world and he knew he would have to get her outside into the fresh air before he had a hope of waking her. Crossing back to the window he stopped dead when the sound of sirens could be heard coming up the drive, and racing for the door with Catherine in his arms, found it to be locked and sealed with security bolts, impossible for him to break down. It had to be the window, even though the red flashing lights signalled that the police had arrived.

With an ease born of experience, Vincent backed himself out of the window one leg at a time, careful not to scrape Catherine against the broken glass and expecting at any moment that spotlights would pick out his movements. He then took the greatest risk. Depositing Catherine behind a bush where he deemed she would be safe until he could collect her he made a mad dash across the grounds heading for the shed, hearing the raised voices of ‘STOP’ as the officers shouted at him. As much as he wanted Catherine away safe, he wanted to do everything in his power to prevent any other innocent person losing their life in this place at least. So tearing open the door of the shed he swept inside and hearing the running footsteps of several officers in hot pursuit he crashed through the back of the shed wall, rounded the perimeter and very cleverly outwitted them by climbing up the one storey house onto the roof, over the top and dropping down back at Catherine’s side. Thus taking advantage of the fact that sight of the shed’s interior would stop the officers in their tracks as they took in all he had seen earlier. However, he had forgotten about Joe and froze when he heard him shout, “Not so fast mister!” And felt the barrel of a gun pressed close to his head.

Time seemed to stand still for such a long time. Vincent’s heart hammered painfully, as he knew that he couldn’t harm Joe.

“I want you to very carefully turn around and lower that hood.” He heard Joe ask.

“I don’t want to frighten you.” He told Joe softly. “And I mean Catherine no harm. I’m taking her to safety.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Joe told him, “Now do as I say!”

Slowly Vincent turned and aware that Joe still aimed the gun at his head he visualised that this could go horribly wrong. Out of shock, Joe might so easily shoot before he had time to think. “Please lower the gun.” Vincent asked, “I mean you no harm.”

Slowly Joe did as he asked, though he took aim instead at Vincent’s leg just in case. He was intrigued by the soft as velvet voice and longed to know who the fellow was.

“What’s your name?” He asked as Vincent prepared to show himself to Joe.

“Vincent.”

“What that’s it? Just Vincent? Is that your surname, Christian name or what? And how do you know Cathy?”

“Its Vincent Wells. Catherine is my…” unsure how to term her, Vincent added, “friend.” But it was said in such a way that Joe knew that Cathy meant more to the fellow than that.

Suddenly he remembered something. Something Cathy had said when telling him about her nightmares and Joe shivered. “Are you her partner?” He asked trying not to sound nervous.

Vincent wasn’t certain if he had the right to confirm this, but knowing that he loved Catherine, he finally nodded and whispered, “Yes.”

“Okay, look don’t show yourself to me, its all right. Just go okay, but leave Cathy here.”

“Leave her…No!” Vincent gathered her more tightly against him and made to move away, but Joe called him back; “Wait! You don’t understand. If you don’t leave her here we won’t have a case against this guy.”

“You will.” Vincent told him struggling to hold Catherine and pull the incriminating script from within the folds of his cloak, “Here take this. It is a script that shows they intended to murder Catherine for a snuff movie.”

“A what!” Joe exclaimed with fury, “Give me that!” He took the script from Vincent and was beginning to read some of it when they both heard the sound of running footsteps coming in their direction.

“It’s the cops!” Joe exclaimed “Look, go. Just go, take Cathy with you. Keep her safe. Don’t worry I'll convince them of something.”

With obvious relief Vincent sighed, “Thank you Joe. Catherine said you were a good man.”

“Just go before I change my mind.”

Vincent hesitated one more moment. Obviously, Joe had decided that he didn’t want to know what Vincent looked like after all leaving Vincent unsure as to whether he should be grateful for that or not. However, now was not the time to speculate on such things, the police were closing in and he needed to get Catherine home. And aware that Joe watched his every move, Vincent hugged Catherine close and carried her away heading for the tunnels far beneath the city streets where he knew she would be safe.

*** *** ***

Two days later, the news was splashed right across the front of all the papers with the discovery of the ‘snuff studios’. And along with Cameron Davy’s subsequent arrest various discriminating reports were flooding in to the police department, the editorials and the district attorney’s office from people that had either lost loved ones or had their own grisly tale of escapism to tell.

Joe armed with the ‘script’ submitted it to the police department keeping a copy of his own and filed a report of Catherine’s abduction by Cameron Davy and of his assumption that using the script as evidence she would have been his next victim. That together with a notepad in Davy’s house told police that Davy had been paid vast sums of money for a contract killing on Miss Chandler and they were investigating leads to try to find out who had put up the funds. And in the weeks that followed a whole racket was broken apart whereby names came forward and arrests were made. The so-called snuff movie industry spanned various parts of America forming a ring that would take years to crack. However, weeks later as is the way of things with the editorials, interest in the story began to cease. Still Catherine found it very difficult to enjoy her life in the world above anymore and she had become slightly paranoid about the amount of people that had paid to have her killed on Cameron’s list. Thus talking it over with Jenny, Devin and Vincent one day, she surprised them all by announcing, “As soon as the court hearing is over I’m quitting the DA’s office.”

“You can’t” Vincent exclaimed, “Catherine, you help so many people. You are good at your job.”

“Was good Vincent, perhaps too good. It scared me to hell and back when I saw Davy’s list and there’s no telling how many more out there would like to see me dead. I’m not prepared to risk my life anymore, besides time is running away and there are other things I’d love to do before I get too old to try.”

“Such as?” Jenny enquired with a knowing look. She hadn’t been in the least surprised by her friend’s announcement. She had dreamed about this. In fact, she had dreamed about other interesting things too.

“I want to get married, have a family.” Catherine told her stealing a look in Vincent’s direction. His face fell and with an unsteady voice he told her, “Yes I have always sensed this in you, more so of late. Will you stay in the city?”

“Oh yes absolutely.” Devin caught the look in her eye and he began to see where she was going with her answer. His brother could be so dumb sometimes.

Vincent nodded. He felt like his gut was being twisted inside of him, his heart ripped away. How would he ever get used to the fact of Catherine married to another man? How would he survive without her?

A terrible silence permeated the air around the four. Each with their own form of trepidation and apprehension they waited for one another to speak. Finally, Jenny unable to stand it any longer blurted, “I shall be getting married too.”

All eyes turned to her with disbelief. Devin’s heart lurched in his chest, “You will?” He asked hoarsely. “Who’s the lucky guy?”

“You are, darling.” She told him with a wink, “and don’t try denying it ‘cos I saw it in a vision and we all know how correct they can be.”

Devin beamed. His face and eyes lighting up he crossed the room to pull Jenny into an embrace and told her, “Jenny I love you. Will you marry me?” Jenny squealed, Catherine burst into laughter and Vincent chuckled as the tension of moments before evaporated with their happiness. But it returned with a vengeance when Devin and Jenny broke apart and they looked at the other couple remembering suddenly what Catherine had said earlier. Vincent looked terrible and Jenny’s heart went out to him, “Put him out of his misery Cath will you? I can’t bear to see him in so much pain.”

“Who?” Vincent asked.

“You, dummy. I know from my dreams that Catherine has something she needs to ask you. And believe me she does need to ask you, cos you are never gonna ask her if she waits a month of Sundays. No, make that a decade.” Jenny laughed out loud and shot Catherine a look that said ‘ok pal over to you.’

Catherine laughed, “All right I get the message, Jen.” Then crossing to Vincent Catherine took his hands in hers, and thanks to Jenny’s dream, asked with confidence, “Vincent, my love, my life, will you marry me?”

He was about to refuse. His eyes wild with doubt and then he too remembered something that had been at the back of his mind these past few weeks something that he had kept pushing resolutely aside, but it wouldn’t go away. And he realised that he too had been dreaming. Dreaming of a life with Catherine as his wife and living in the tunnels beneath the city. They had been happy in those dreams and he had seen her with children, his children and he had felt so proud. So he smiled and he took her into his arms and crushing her to him whispered against her cheek, “Oh yes my Catherine, I would be happy to marry you.”

Jumping to her feet Jenny danced around the chamber, snatching Devin’s hand in passing and twirling him round and round, “We can have a double wedding, what do you think? It’ll be great. And we can go camping at the crystal cavern for a honeymoon. Oh come on, come on say we can do it, it’ll be brilliant!”

How could they refuse? She made it sound so wonderful. Everyone agreed and Vincent had never been so happy in all of his life.

“I owe everything to you two.” Catherine faced Vincent and Jenny. “Without the visions that I found at first to be so burdensome, I would not be here now.”

“And it’s thanks to you for bringing home those security films, Cath and to Joe for giving you the idea. For without them, any vision that we had would never have been enough. Without them, Vincent wouldn’t have known where to look and the police wouldn’t have known where to go. I don’t know, talk about Visual FX. Without the initials and the visual we’d have been sunk. You would not have lived to see this day.” Jenny sniffed imagining such a terrible thing.

“Well I am. And its thanks to the fact that you are still having those visions that just gave me the courage to propose to Vincent. I knew you’d seen a happy ever after for us, and you knew I had to be the one to instigate it didn’t you?” Catherine hugged her friend.

“Yes, knowing Vincent as I do,” she smiled up at him with affection, “he would never have asked you. But I’d seen it you see, I knew it could happen, would work between the two of you, as surely as it will work between Dev and I. We’re all going to be so happy, and our children will play together and drive Father round the bend.” She chuckled, as did her friends, before adding, “We’re going to live happily ever after Cath, you and me, just like it is in the storybooks. Yep, happily ever after, and I can’t wait to get started.”

No one could. And with their arms around each other, the two couples left Vincent’s chamber to break the good news to Father, the patriarch of the tunnels. The one who would retire to bed that night with a heart full of love and gratitude for the two women that had offered both his sons a happy life and made all their dreams come true...

...like apples of gold in silver carvings.
(Proverbs Ch 25 v 11)

(*) True Story.