Ben felt awkward hearing the sordid secrets she was spilling out. He couldn’t understand how she and Edward could do this to the innocent parties involved. But he wasn’t going to give an opinion out loud. He needed to get to the barn, do what they had to do and then he’d try and find where the caller was holding the others.
As they approached the barn, Abigail was still talking. Ben’s mind had drifted, worrying about what they’d find when they got there. Suddenly, Abigail stopped walking and turned to face him. ‘Where’s Nigel?’
It was a question that hit like a blow to the head. What did he say? How did he answer? Knowing what had happened. Ben quickly changed the subject. ‘That’s where we have to go.’ He helped Abigail up the grass verge and through the sharp barbed wire. They walked along the field.
‘Why does he want us here?’ she asked.
‘He likes to play these games.’ Ben stared hard at the door of the barn. ‘I want you to wait here. I’m going to check inside first. Wait by the door. If you see anything, run.’
‘Ben, I’m scared. What does he want?’
‘Just do as I say. If you see him coming, run through the field. Don’t stop until you reach the coach, okay.’
‘Okay.’ There was fear in her voice.
Ben slowly opened the barn door. The boxes were still at the far end, lying on the floor. Andrew’s head had been removed from the floor. The cart on which Edward and Ben had placed Nigel was now empty.
He walked slowly across the floor, shining the torch over the ground towards the corners of the barn. The place was deserted.
He had a terrifying thought that maybe the caller was under one of the boxes, hiding on the floor. Ben moved to the far side of the room and lifted them slightly off the ground. They were empty. He turned, listening for any movement. Why had they been asked to come here? It wasn’t the way he played. Usually, the phone would ring. Earlier, Nigel was waiting with the gun he’d been given; the boxes were ready for him and Lydia. Now, there was nothing. He suddenly thought about Abigail, standing at the barn door. Was this his way of taking her? Getting them down here to add to his collection of hostages.
Ben raced across the ground, calling her name. ‘Abigail, are you there?’
‘Yes. What’s going on?’
‘The barn is empty. I don’t know what he’s playing at.’ Ben waited, looking across the fields. The caller had brought them both to the barn. He’d intended on setting something up. A sick task for his entertainment. He hadn’t called. Maybe something had happened. Jack, Lydia. Gareth. Could they have tied him up? Got the better of him?
Ben glanced at the phone, waiting for a call. It was silent. He turned to Abigail. ‘I think we should go back.’
A noise came from inside the barn, like a radio crackling, switching between stations – white noise.
Ben stepped inside, and Abigail followed. He turned, keeping his voice low. ‘Stay beside me. Whatever happens.’
A glow came from the left corner. A monitor, hanging on the wall. Ben hadn’t noticed it when he came in a few minutes ago. He’d been shining the torch in the other direction. He heard a voice. Ben knew who it was.
‘Welcome. Both of you. I want to show you something. It’s taken a little time to plan this, so I want you both to watch – concentrate on what is happening. In a moment, once I can work out how to operate this thing so you can see me properly, you’ll witness retribution in its finest form. I explained to you earlier, people being punished for their wrongdoing. Well, this is no different. It took a while to devise a game where both Lydia and Jack could be placed in a similar situation to one they created themselves. I thought long and hard about this one. I think you’re going to like it. In fact, it’s going to make for great viewing.’
The caller was humming to himself as he tapped buttons, filling in the silent gaps, forcing the situation under his control, making sure his visitors didn’t lose concentration. ‘Okay, I think we’re ready to roll.’
Ben and Abigail moved closer to the monitor.
The screen was still unfocused, a blurry mess of flickering lines and irritating sounds were pushing through the speaker. Suddenly, they saw something. The screen became split. Ben struggled to see what was happening. He stepped nearer, looking up onto the wall, aware the caller could come into the barn at any second. The monitor showed a live feed. Two people, lying face down in a hole. The lights that shone on them made it easier to see what was happening.
The voice came through again. ‘So, here you have it. I think it’s very apt to the recent events of both these participants, don’t you? Let me explain what’s happening. I’d hate for you not to get it. Lydia is in one hole, her husband in the other. Very much like graves. I’ve filled the bottom with cement; they’re lying face down, placed inside sleeping bags which means their movement is limited, their hands are tied behind their backs. The hole is narrow. If they turn over, they lose. The graves I’ve dug contain water, roughly a foot deep and almost covering their heads. They have to last for one hour without drowning. Can you imagine the pressure it would put on their necks, holding their heads up for that long. It doesn’t bear thinking about.
‘They’ve been instructed to ring the bell when they’ve had enough. It’s a small cord which is linked to where I’m sitting. I’ve placed the cords by their mouths so they can pull on it with their teeth. It’s amazing technology, Bluetooth they call it. If they ring it too soon, I’ll kill them both. Keep watching. It should be fun. They’re doing well. I hope I have your attention.’
Abigail spoke first. The tension in the barn was one of desperation. ‘I can’t believe what he’s doing. That poor couple. It’s sick.’
They could see the screen. Lydia was frantically wriggling her body, her head was tired, and her face was dropping into the water for longer periods. Jack was on the right of the screen and seemed to be coping better. They could hear as he spat out the liquid.
‘They have to be close,’ Ben said. He kept his voice low. ‘We’ll find them. It’s obviously a field, he’s dug two large pits, and the place is well lit. He has a florescent light set up. It can’t be too far from where he lives. He needs power. He’s probably run a cable from his house. He has the monitor, watching when they ring the bell. He said it was rigged to where he’s sat. We find where he lives, and we find Lydia and Jack.’
‘How do we do that?’ Abigail asked.
‘This guy thinks he’s God himself. He’s convinced that it’s his duty to hand out punishment. That he’s within his rights to do this. He thinks it’s his responsibility.’
They heard Lydia scream. They watched as she ripped her head left and right. She was frantically trying to keep from burying her head in the water.
Ben looked at Abigail. ‘I’d say when the hour’s up, he’s going to shoot them regardless of the outcome. Lydia looks like she’s about to ring the bell. We need to find them.’ He dropped the phone onto the floor. ‘I’m certain the caller thinks we’ll stay in the barn, so I’m leaving the phone. If he’s tracking it, he’ll think we’re here.’
They walked across the floor of the barn and out onto the road. Ben continually looked around, expecting the caller to spring out at any second. He was certain he’d hear the rustle of bushes, the footsteps, the heavy breaths as the caller approached. They’d have to run, hide and stay hidden.