Trauma Read Online Free PDF Page B

mile along the towpath and were now walking along a particularly dark stretch where the canal curved under a bridge.
    'There were four of them,' began Rothwell. 'They were wearing sheets over their heads so I didn't get a good look at them and the leader, he was wearing a mask, a ram's head mask and ...' McKirrop told Rothwell what he had told the police. When he finished he was disappointed at Rothwell's lack of reaction. Rothwell just kept walking, slowly, evenly, easily. He said, 'I got that much from my contacts in the police. I hoped you could come up with something more.'
    'I was scared out of my wits I can tell you,' McKirrop added, hoping to elicit some more positive response.
    'Must have been terrifying,' said Rothwell. 'Utterly terrifying.' He turned to look at McKirrop as he repeated the comment.
    'It certainly was,' replied McKirrop with a grin adopted to counteract Rothwell's stare.
    'Tell me about the child's body.'
    'It was awful, absolutely awful,' said McKirrop, shaking his head. 'Poor little bastard. Makes you wonder what the world's coming to when they can do something like . . .'
    'Quite,' interrupted Rothwell. 'Tell me what you saw.'
    'The leader . . .'
    'The man in the ram's head mask?'
    'That's right. He brought out this long knife and he cut open the kid's body.'
    'How did he cut it?'
    McKirrop shrugged and said, 'He sort of held the knife in front of him with his arms outstretched . . . like this.' McKirrop demonstrated. 'Then he raised it up slowly and plunged it straight down into the kid's body.'
    'Then what?'
    'He sort of moved it around. I couldn't see exactly from where I was hiding but I think . . .'
    'You think what?'
    'I think he cut the kid's heart out.' McKirrop looked to Rothwell for a reaction but Rothwell remained as impassive as ever. In fact he showed so little emotion that it was beginning to annoy McKirrop.
    'What makes you think that?'
    'He held something up above his head as if he was offering it up to someone.'
    'And then?'
    'What do you mean and then?' snapped McKirrop. 'Isn't that enough for Christ's sake?'
    'They took the body away?' asked Rothwell, quietly ignoring McKirrop's comment.
    'That's right. They had this big bag and they put the kid into it.'
    Rothwell stared silently at McKirrop until McKirrop felt uncomfortable. McKirrop said, 'You're not writing anything down. I thought reporters made notes?'
    'I have a very retentive memory Mr McKirrop,' said Rothwell. 'How did our friends leave the cemetery?'
    'They had a van.'
    'A van,' repeated Rothwell.
    'A black van, a black Transit van it was.'
    Another silent stare.
    'Do I get my money now?' asked McKirrop.
    Rothwell brought out his wallet and counted out three hundred pounds in twenty pound notes.
    'I don't suppose you have anything smaller?' McKirrop asked.
    'No.'
    'Oh well then,' grinned McKirrop. 'This will have to do.'
    'And if anyone else asks what you saw at the cemetery . . .' began Rothwell.
    'I know,' said McKirrop. 'Mum's the word.'
    'On the contrary,' said Rothwell. 'You tell them exactly what you've told me. Understood?'
    'You're the boss,' said McKirrop shrugging his shoulders.
    'I'm glad you understand that,' said Rothwell. 'I'd hate for you to forget.'
    McKirrop felt the skin on the back of his neck tighten at the implied threat. He did not like Rothwell at all. 'I'd best be getting back,' he said.
    'We'll go back together,' said Rothwell pleasantly.
     
    The group had almost finished their fish and chips by the time McKirrop and Rothwell got back. Bella said to McKirrop, 'I've saved some for you. How about you Mr . . .'
    Rothwell held up his hand politely and declined. He turned to McKirrop and said, 'It's been nice doing business with you Mr McKirrop.' The two shook hands and Rothwell turned to start up the steps to the road. As he did so, McKirrop expertly flicked his toe at Rothwell's heels and Rothwell stumbled and fell. Bella and the others expressed their concern loudly and McKirrop went to help him