visible to someone like me who knew how to use the power of the Shadow.’
‘And if you did discover some evil inside them?’
i told you, they would be destroyed. Executed. This knowledge gives me the power of life and death over anyone I choose. It’s a weapon too.’
‘For selling?’ she asked, cryptically.
‘If necessary,’ he told her. There’s no weapons system on earth to match it.’
‘But why use it to kill?’
‘Every discovery has its sacrifices,’ he said, smiling. ‘You should know
that.’
‘No one will believe it.’
Blake smiled and crossed to his desk. He pulled open one of the drawers and took out a letter. Kelly watched him, warily.
if you’d searched my office more thoroughly,’ he said. ‘You’d have found this.’ He unfolded the letter, it arrived two days ago, from Thames TV. I’ve been invited onto a discussion programme. Myself and two other “experts” are supposed to discuss whether or not the supernatural is real or imaginary. Nice of them to include me don’t you think?’
“What are you going to do?’
His smile faded.
‘I’m going to prove, once and for all, exactly how powerful the Shadow is,’
Blake told her.
Kelly took another step back.
i loved you, David,’ she said, softly, tears rolling down her cheeks.
‘Then stay with me,” he said, moving towards her.
‘You’re a murderer. I saw you kill Vernon.’
‘Ah, your dream,’ he said, that chilling grin returning, i had already been probing your mind for a week or two prior to that little incident. Can’t you see, Kelly, you and I are one. We belong together. You can share this power with me. Learn how to use it.’
‘Learn how to kill, you mean?’ she said, vehemently.
‘All right then, leave. Go to the police. Tell them I killed Dr Vernon but who the hell is going to believe you? Hqw could I have killed him?’ he added, mockingly, i was in bed with you last night.’
She swallowed hard, realizing he was right.
‘Go. Get out,’ Blake roared, i offered you the chance and you refused. Leave here.’
He watched as she turned and hurriedly climbed the stairs, disappearing into the hall. A moment later he heard the front door slam behind her. His expression darkened as he gripped the file. He clutched it a second longer then, with a grunt, hurled it across the room.
Kelly knew Blake was right.
As she started the engine of the Mini she realized she would never convince the police of his guilt. She was helpless, something which made her feel angry as well as afraid.
She guided the car out into traffic, wiping more tears away with the back of her hand. Combined with that feeling of helplessness was also one of loss, for somewhere inside her, despite what she knew, she retained her affection for Blake. Kelly felt as if the world were collapsing around her.
She knew that she must tell Joubert what she had learned. There was a phone box on the corner of the street. Kelly slowed down and prepared to swing the car over. She checked her rear view mirror.
She could not supress a scream.
Reflected in the mirror, glaring at her from the back seat, was the face of Blake.
Kelly twisted the wheel, her eyes riveted to the visage in the mirror.
All she heard was the loud blast of the air horns as the lorry thundered towards her.
It was enough to shake her from her terror and now she looked through the windscreen to see the huge Scania bearing down on her. The driver was waving madly for her to get out of his way.
She pushed her foot down on the accelerator and the Mini shot forward, swerving violently, missing the nearest huge wheel by inches. Kelly yelped as the car hit the kerb with a bone jarring bump before skidding across the pavement and coming to rest against the hedge of the garden opposite.
A car behind her also came to a grinding halt and the lorry pulled up a few yards further on, the driver leaping from the cab.
Kelly shook herself and twisted in her seat. The back seat was empty. There was no sign of Blake.
She felt sick, the realization of what had just happened slowly dawning on her. She heard footsteps approaching the car then her door was wrenched open.
The lorry driver stood there, his face flushed. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked, anxiously. She nodded.
‘What the hell were you doing? You pulled straight in front of me. I could have killed you.’
Kelly closed her eyes tightly for a moment. ‘I’m sorry,’ she whispered.
The driver of the other car had arrived by now and he reached in to undo Kelly’s seatbelt. The two men helped her from the car, standing beside her as she sucked in deep lungfuls of air.
‘I’ll phone for an ambulance,’ said the truck driver. ‘No.’ Kelly caught his arm. ‘I’ll be OK. I wasn’t hurt.’ ‘You look pretty shaken up,’ he told her.
‘Please. No ambulance.’
She wasn’t sure what had disturbed her the most. Nearly being hit by the lorry or the sight of Blake’s leering face. ‘I’m fine, really,’ she assured them both. Other vehicles slowed down as they drove by, glancing at the roadside tableau.
Kelly eventually clambered back into the Mini and strapped herself in. The two men watched as she guided her car off the pavement back on to the road.
‘Thanks for your help,’ she said and drove off, leaving the two men shaking their heads as she disappeared into traffic.
After another mile or so and Kelly came to a second phone box. Glancing somewhat nervously into her rear- view mirror she signalled then pulled in, clambering out of the car and reaching the box moments before two young girls, who began muttering to each other and pacing up and down outside.
Kelly fumbled for some change and dialled the number of Joubert’s hotel. She tapped agitatedly on one glass panel of the phone box as she waited to be connected. Finally she heard the Frenchman’s voice.
Scarcely had he identified himself than she began babbling her story to him.
About Blake. About Vernon’s death. The murders committed by Toni Landers and the others. Blake’s TV appearance.
The power of the Shadow.
The Frenchman listened in stunned silence, only his low breathing signalling his presence on the other end of the line.
The rapid pips sounded and she pushed in another coin.
‘Kelly, you must get away from there,’ Joubert said, finally.
‘I can’t leave now,’ she told him.
‘For God’s sake, he could kill you too.’
“He must be stopped.’
‘But Kelly …’
She hung up, paused a moment then walked back to her car. As she opened her hand she glanced at the bunch of keys resting on her palm.
One of them unlocked the front door of Blake’s house.
The thought hit her like a thunderbolt. She scrambled behind the steering wheel and started the engine.
It was 5.56 p.m.
She had time but it was running out fast.
PART THREE
‘We’ll know for the first time, If we’re evil or divine …’
— Ronnie James Dio
