Flesh House

'I went on a stag night in Dundee once. Ended up in this strip club and--' 'What do you want?' 'Right.' Rennie clapped his hands together. 'Tonight: Archies, pints. Laura and me are off to a costume party later, but we can stop by for a few drinkies on the way.' He dropped his voice to a camp stage-whisper,'Laura's got this kinky schoolgirl outfit. She put it on last night, and I tell you--' 'Is this going to be one of those conversations where you tell me about your sex life and I fantasize about beating you to death with an office chair?' 'OK, OK.' The constable held his hands up in surrender. 'Jealousy's an ugly, ugly thing.' Pause. 'About you and Jackie: I was thinking--' 'Don't, OK?' 'But you're both mates, I mean I--' 'Just ... don't.' Logan pulled the crime scene photos from the pile and flicked through them. 'I only wanted to--' 'Seriously, you'll live longer if you shut up right now.' There was a brief, petulant silence. 'You're going to come to the pub though, yeah?' 'Will Jackie be there?' 'No.' 'Then I'll think about it.' Rennie nodded. 'You can bring your English overlord if you like?' 'You're kidding, right? He sodded off hours ago.' 'Come on, while the cat's away, the mice can sod off to the pub and get blootered.' Rennie jumped to his feet. 'Couple of pints, get you out of this shitehole, spend some time with the living for a change.'

The world twisted and throbbed around Heather's head. In and out, in and out. Sounds came and went in the darkness: the pounding of her heart, her mother's disembodied voice:'You're just feeling a little under the weather, Darling. You'll be fine. You will.' A cold, papery hand on her forehead. She'd been asleep, but now she was awake. Or still asleep, and dreaming she was awake. Feeling drunk and tired and sick. 'I want to see my Justin ...' 'I know, darling, I know. You'll see him one day. When you die. But that's not going to happen for a long, long time. The Flesher will look after you. You'll see. The medicine will make you all better.' 'Kelley? Kelley?' 'Shhh ... Kelley's asleep, Darling. You should be too. You'll feel much better in the morning.' The screaming outside had started again: Maureen bellowing at the top of her lungs that she was scared and wanted someone to let her out ... Only the words were different. Panicked. 'Please! I'll do anything you want! Please!' More screaming. 'Please! I won't tell anyone: PLEASE!'