Within the Shadows Read online

  Within the Shadows

  by

  J.D MCG

  This is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, organizations, incidents or events are purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2021 J.D MCG

  Dedication

  For all my family, friends and fans. Thank you for making this journey so special and I hope you all enjoy what’s to come in the future.

  Prologue

  December 2019

  Jack Roberts loves to run. Whether it was a bright sunny day or wet, rainy and miserable. Whatever the weather, he loved to be outside. Whenever he would get the chance, he'd sign up for any marathon and charity run he could. One thing people would say about Jack was he had a huge passion for running.

  He kissed his wife on the lips like he always did before his late evening run. It was cold when Jack set off from his house but he soon warmed up after a few metres; sweat dribbling down from his forehead. Jack couldn't resist wiping the sweat with his wrist as he carried on running.

  Before he knew it, a mile had passed and he still had more than enough energy to go further. Nothing could stop Jack, not while he was running anyway. He approached the woodlands as 'Eye of the tiger' burst through his earphones. Standing still for a moment, he placed his hands on his knees and took deep breaths. He needed a rest. After a few more long, deep breaths, he straightened his back and stood tall, lifting his head to look up at the night sky which peered through the trees. What a beautiful night, he thought. The moon shone brightly through the trees, lighting up the woods below.

  Jack began to move again slowly but picking up the pace a few steps at a time. Ahead of him, he could see the end of the woods through to the open parkland. He kept his breathing regular, and his feet in rhythm with one another. Something stopped Jack in his tracks. A feeling as if someone was watching him, a feeling like no other he'd experienced in his lifetime. He stood still on the path surrounded by the tall trees and leafy bushes. The perfect spot for someone to be hiding. He removed his earphones from both his ears and called out.

  'Hello? Is anybody there?'

  But nothing, just the silence of the woods. The wind gently rustled the leaves and moved them around him. As Jack put his earphones back in, his eyes caught a glimpse of a bush rustling to the left of him. He removed his earphones once again and dangled them outside of his top.

  'Who's there?' he yelled. 'This isn't funny. Show yourself.'

  Jack's pulse was racing. His fitness watch was monitoring his heart rate, which shot up like a rocket as he kept his focus on the rustling bush. His eyes remained on the undergrowth, ready for somebody to jump out and mug him, but nothing happened.

  A minute passed, and nothing else happened. What am I doing? he asked himself. I must be going mad. He placed his earphones back into his ears and started jogging again. The end of the woods was just within sight. Just a few more steps and he'd be out of there, but something else caught his eye. He could see someone hiding behind a tree as he stopped for the second time.

  'What do you want?' he shouted at the top of his lungs, making sure the person could hear him.

  The mysterious figure removed themselves from behind the tree and into the open. Jack couldn't quite see their face. They'd hid in the darkness of the unlit woodland where the bright moonlight was unable to lighten them up.

  'Who are you?' Jack asked, but the figure said nothing. 'Why have you been following me?'

  But again, the figure was unresponsive. They just stood in one spot staring directly towards Jack. He felt scared and he didn't scare easily.

  Jack began to walk away slowly and kept his eyes fixed on the figure. One step, two steps and then picking up the pace slightly, he was almost at the end of the woods. The figure had gone from his sight.

  He stopped while looking anxiously around to find the person. Jack was two steps away from the end of the woods. It was silent. All Jack could hear was his heartbeat thumping in his chest. He turned his head from side to side when he caught sight of the person standing right in front of him. Their face lit up brightly in the moonlight. He could see every feature on their face. What do they want? he thought as the person approached him.

  Chapter 1

  January 2020

  Jacob waited for Barnes to arrive at the wake of his father and step-mother. He held a drink in his hand while tears filled his eyes. Memories of his mother and father flooded into his head as he sipped from his glass. The memory of him getting into the police force and seeing the proud look upon his fathers face. Remembering what his father had said to him at that precise moment was all he could think about.

  'Your mother would be so proud of you, son. Just as proud as I am.'

  Jacob snapped back to reality as his brother, Adam, sat next to him with a pint in his hand. Kate sat on the other side of Jacob, staring downwards at her phone like usual.

  'Are you okay?' Adam asked him.

  'No, but are any of us?'

  'True,' Adam replied. 'I can't really remember half of these people,' Adam said while looking around at all the guests.

  'Me neither,' replied Jacob. 'Dad never really had any family, well none that we know of anyway. I'm sure all of these people are from Maria's side of the family.'

  'Where's your boss anyway? I thought he said he was coming.'

  'I'm sure he'll be here in a minute,' Jacob said with certainty.

  Ally Miller suddenly made an appearance, as she walked through the door to the pub. Everyone inside turned and stared at her, before returning to their conversations. She made her way towards Jacob's table and took a seat.

  'I'm sorry for your loss,' she said as she approached Jacob and his family.

  'Thank you, Ally. That means a lot,' Adam replied.

  'Would you three like a drink?'

  'No, thank you,' replied Kate, sat with her head down.

  'I'm good, thanks,' said Adam.

  'How about you?' she looked at Jacob.

  Jacob was elsewhere. His mind was all over the place, reminiscing memories of him and his father. He flashed back to reality to see Ally staring at him.

  'Sorry, Ally, did you say something?' he said.

  'Would you like a drink?' she repeated.

  'I wouldn't mind another pint,' he said after looking down at his empty glass.

  Ally made her way over to the bar and ordered herself and Jacob their drinks when she noticed Jacob stood to the side of her. His phone was in his hand texting somebody, but she couldn't quite see who. She didn't want to appear nosy by looking over his shoulder or by asking who he was texting but she was curious.

  'Have you heard from Barnes?' Jacob asked her.

  'Not since the funeral. He said he was going to meet us here.'

  'I know but he should be here by now. I've texted him a few times but no reply,' explained Jacob.

  'I'll give him a call,' Ally told him. She pulled out her phone, found Barnes' number and placed it against her ear. No more than two seconds later, Ally moved the phone from her ear. 'Straight to voicemail,' she told him.

  'I think something may be wrong, Ally.'

  'I'm sure it's nothing,' she said while studying the worried expression on his face. 'But we'll go and check out the cemetery since it was the last place any of us saw him.'

  'I'll ask Ethan to see if he can trace Barnes' phone,' Jacob said before making his way over to Ethan.

  Ethan, Brian and Sarah were all squashed around one small table with Chloe Fisher, the forensic investigator, who perched with them. They all took their attention off one another and turned towards Jacob.

  'I think Barnes may be missing,' he informed them of his suspicion. 'Ethan, would
you be able to trace his phone, please? Me and Ally are going to check the cemetery as it's the last place any of us had seen him.'

  'Yes, Jacob, no problem,' replied Ethan.

  'What do you want us to do?' Sarah asked.

  'Would you be able to check to see if Barnes went home?'

  'Of course,' replied Sarah, 'But I don't know where he lives.'

  'I do,' Brian piped up.

  The three of them finished up their drinks quickly before grabbing their coats and heading out the door. Jacob made his way back over to Ally who was now back at the table with his family. He grabbed his pint from the table and downed it as quick as he could.

  'Let's go,' he uttered.

  Ally finished up her drink and picked her coat up from the back of her chair. She gave Adam and Kate a slight wave before following Jacob out of the door. Jacob ran over towards his car as Ally caught up and snatched the keys out of his hands.

  'I think I'd better drive, don't you?' she informed him with a rhetorical question.

  Jacob glared at her before moving over to the passenger side. They both entered the car and drove to the cemetery. He had no idea what he would find, but he was hoping it would be something that could help them in the disappearance of their DCI.

  * * *

  It turned 3.44 pm by the time Jacob and Ally arrived in the cemetery car park. They both exited the car and made their way over to where Barnes had parked his car when Jacob received a call from Ethan.

  'Jacob, I tried tracing Barnes' phone but no such luck. I think the phone is off. The last location was the cemetery,' he informed Jacob.

  'We're here now, Ethan. Barnes' car is gone. Do you know if there is any way of tracking it?'

  'Barnes' car was never fitted with a tracker, so I'm afraid not. We could track his car through CCTV images but that could take days, even weeks, by which time he could be gone. Have you heard anything from Sarah or Brian yet?' Ethan asked.

  'Not yet, but we'll keep you updated,' Jacob replied before putting the phone down. 'Ethan said the last place Barnes' phone could be traced was here,' he relayed to Ally.

  'Right. Let's search the area. There has to be something that can help us explain what happened.'

  The pair of them looked around the car park. Five minutes had passed before Jacob noticed something on the floor below him. He crouched down, his eyes trying to analyse what it was. But he knew deep down. Bright red spots of liquid. He was just hoping Barnes was still alive.

  'Ally, over here,' he yelled.

  She came running over to where she saw Jacob crouched over red spots on the floor. She looked at Jacob who was staring directly at her with a sad look upon his face.

  'Do you think it's his?' she asked, knowing she knew what his reply would be.

  'Without a doubt,' he replied. 'We need to find him, Ally, and fast.'

  * * *

  Sarah and Brian pulled up outside Barnes' home address. His family had moved out a year ago when he and his wife went through their messy divorce. Brian had known Barnes for many years and visited his house on many occasions.

  They both walked up the pathway towards the house. Barnes' car wasn't on the drive so they knew the chances were he wasn't there. But that didn't stop them. Sarah tried the door handle to see if it was open, but it wasn't. No surprise there. Who leaves their door open? she thought.

  Brian knew exactly where to find a spare key. He walked through the back gate and into Barnes' garden and lifted up a plant pot, which had seen better days. It was crumbling with cracks throughout. Sarah made her way into the garden to see Brian holding a key in front of him with a smile on his face.

  'Where did you find that?' she asked him.

  'You forget how many years I've known the man,' he smiled.

  'True,' she also smiled along with him.

  Brian placed the key in the back door, and they entered the house of their boss. The house was dark. Curtains and blinds were closed, empty beer bottles, dirty bowls and plates surrounded every surface. Barnes lives like a slob, Sarah told herself.

  'Barnes is a very respectable man,' she began, 'but looking around, this is not the life of the man I know.'

  'You think you know,' Brian commented.

  'Well yes. I don't get it,' she continued. 'Barnes is well presented. Clean-shaven and well dressed. I'm looking around his home, and I'm disgusted by the mess he's left.'

  'Don't judge the man,' Brian yelled at her. 'You don't know what he's been through.'

  'Oh and you do?' she replied with a question, not taking any shit off her partner.

  'As a matter of fact, yes I do,' he answered. 'He went through a very hard time when his wife left him and asked for a divorce. That's what broke him. I don't think he ever really recovered. Then recently, losing his old partner, his friend, to the one person they both helped after the death of her sister, really crushed him,' he explained to her.

  Sarah began to feel bad. She wished she had just shut her mouth. Why do I always get myself into these situations? she asked herself.

  'I'm sorry,' she apologised to Brian. 'I just open my mouth sometimes and say really stupid shit.'

  'It's okay. Let's just search for anything that can help us find him.'

  The pair of them searched Barnes' home but couldn't find a single thing that could help them. Barnes was missing, gone and they had no leads, nothing to go on. The search for Barnes was beginning to look like a dead end.

  * * *

  It was 5.43 pm by the time the forensic investigators arrived on scene at the cemetery. Jacob and Ally needed them to take a sample of the blood for testing, to see if it truly was Barnes' blood. Chloe Fisher was also there taking photos. While Jacob and Ally left the forensic officers to do their job, the pair of them took a walk over to the nearest bench, overlooking the whole cemetery, and sat down.

  'I really hope the others find something that can help us,' Jacob said.

  'Me too,' replied Ally.

  They sat there for only a few minutes before Jacob became restless and raised himself from his seat. He couldn't sit still, he felt he needed to do something. Time was slipping away and they were no closer to finding Barnes.

  'I can't just sit here,' he shouted. 'I need to find him. That man has done so much for me this past couple of months. We need to find him.'

  'I know, Jacob,' she said, 'but we have no other leads. We have to see whether this is his blood first. We've got Barnes on a missing alert so every officer in Birmingham is on the lookout for him and his car. Don't worry, we'll find him,' Ally consoled him.

  'You're right, Ally,' he said as he began to sit back down.

  Something caught Jacob's eye before his bum hit the bench. His eyes were diverted to the bin at the side of the bench. Something in the bin might be of some use in helping them find him. Barnes' phone was peeking out from under a dirty piece of tissue.

  'Ally. I think I've found something,' he informed her while reaching into his coats inside pocket and retrieving a latex glove.

  'What is it?' she asked.

  'I think it's Barnes' phone,' he answered, before shouting out to Chloe to take a photo for evidence.

  He placed the glove on his hand while Chloe took the pictures they needed. Then Jacob pulled the phone out of the bin. The screen had been smashed and scratched like it had been stamped on by somebody's foot.

  'I need an evidence bag over here,' he shouted to the forensic officers. 'I hope this can help us find him,' he said to Ally.

  Chapter 2

  Jack Roberts hadn't run in over four weeks, ever since his experience in the woods. He was so frightened, he'd forgotten how he'd got home. That night had terrified him for weeks, making him give up his passion for running.

  His wife had asked him many times what was wrong, but he always insisted he was fine. She noticed his behaviour had become erratic over the past few weeks; looking out of windows and maki
ng sure doors were locked.

  'Are you not going out for your run tonight?' she asked him.

  'No,' he replied. 'I think I'll just stay home again tonight.'

  'Why? You used to love running,' she reminded him. 'What's going on with you?'

  'I just don't fancy going running, okay,' he yelled while peeping through the blinds.

  'You've been acting so strange ever since your last run. What happened?' she asked, edging closer to him. 'You know you can talk to me, Jack.' She placed her hand on his back.

  He jumped as her hand gently touched his shirt. 'I'm fine. Just stop asking me!' he yelled again before storming out of the house.

  His wife, Charlotte, stood in shock as she watched him leave the house. What is going on with him? she thought. What is going through his head? She had no idea and he was beginning to scare her. She peered out of the window to see her husband walking down the street. Where would he be going at this time of night?

  * * *

  Jack needed to go on a walk to clear his head. He hated himself for shouting at his wife like that, but he was scared of what he saw that night. He watched his back as he walked down the street, and turned his head in every direction.

  Nothing had ever frightened him so much before that night. The person he saw stood in front of him still scared him, even though his memory was blurry when he tried to remember their face. The whispers that surrounded him still haunted him, during the day and in his dreams.

  Jack came towards the end of his street and turned left on to Russell Road. He just kept walking, not realising how far he was going. All that was going through his mind was that night.

  'Jack,' a voice whispered down a cold, dark alleyway. 'Jack, come here.'