Jimmy turned slowly.
Douglas Galbraith was sitting in a high backed Edwardian chair. He was dressed in a navy shirt and pale grey Chino's. His face was heavily wrinkled, his nose a shade redder than it should have been, owing to years of over indulgence, and his silvery grey hair had been swept tightly back into a pony tail. He looked every bit like a gangster from a Hollywood movie.
"You haven't changed much Jimmy," Galbraith stated.
Jimmy, his eyes becoming accustomed to the bright light and regaining some of his composure, replied, "I can't say the same for you."
Galbraith smiled, showing his heavily bridged white teeth.
"What's to stop me leaving?" Jimmy asked, as he inspected the room, searching for an easy way out.
"Oh surely you don't expect me to be alone?" Galbraith answered.
"Aren't you?" Jimmy asked, puzzled by the remark, as he hadn't seen or heard anyone else in the house.
Galbraith clicked his fingers, and two men entered from a door hidden behind a large Egyptian tapestry depicting the head of the boy pharaoh Tutankhamen.
Jimmy didn't pay much attention to the men. He was far more concerned by the two huge black and tan dogs straining at the leash beside them. "Keep the dogs away," he pleaded, as he stepped as far back as he could.
"Hmm. I know about your phobia Jimmy. That's why I let you get this far. I wanted to see the look of terror and defeat in your eyes before I finished this once and for all."
"What do you mean...finish it?" Jimmy mumbled nervously.
Galbraith and his two hench men laughed so loudly, Jimmy thought his eardrums would burst. The dogs started growling, and he watched the drool dripping from their razor sharp teeth falling on to the deep pile carpet. At least his visit would provide a little discomfort he thought, despite his precarious position.
"I can hardly kill you now, can I? Galbraith mocked, before adding, "No, I've built you a nice new home, down in my basement. You can spend your days slowly going insane."
"You can't just lock me away. People will notice I've gone," Jimmy said, trying to put some doubt in Galbraith's head.
"Don't delude yourself son," Galbraith replied sarcastically. "You've no one who cares about you enough to miss you."
Jimmy lowered his eyes to the floor. Perhaps Katie would ask around after him? They hadn't parted well the last time they'd met, but he still believed he'd made some form of connection with her. "Now what?" he finally asked.
Galbraith stood, and for the first time Jimmy saw how much the older man had suffered down the years. He looked shorter than he remembered, and his body looked frail compared to the strong dominant man he'd known. As Galbraith walked slowly towards him, Jimmy raised his eyes and stared into Galbraith's defiantly.
"I've seen that look before," Galbraith mocked, as he took hold of Jimmy's upper arm. "It didn't do you any good then, and it's not going to do you any good now."
Jimmy shrugged Galbraith away. The older man was no match for Jimmy's strength.
"That's why I have these," Galbraith responded by swinging an arm back in the direction of the dogs. "Bring them over here," he ordered his men..
The henchmen moved quickly to Jimmy's side. The dogs growled deeply and sniffed at his legs, no doubt thinking they'd make a nice dinner. Jimmy couldn't put up any resistance. The presence of the dogs rendered him totally defenceless.
"Good boy," Galbraith spat. "Now, behave a bit longer. I need to show you someone."
Jimmy turned to the door he'd entered the bedroom through. Slowly it opened and Mrs. MacDonald walked in smiling brightly.
"You!" Jimmy gasped.
Mrs. MacDonald nodded smugly.
"The lovely lady has worked for me for decades Jimmy. You didn't really believe that she was going to help you rob my home now did you?" Galbraith asked, as Mrs. MacDonald came to stand beside him and took hold of his hand. "Sometimes she even sleeps at the lodge Jimmy." Galbraith added cockily.
Jimmy's head had started to pound, and his legs felt weaker the longer he stood anywhere near Galbraith. Now, with the betrayal from Mrs. MacDonald, for the first time, Jimmy felt defeated.
"Cat got your tongue son?" Galbraith teased.
Jimmy remained silent. He'd started to feel nauseous.
"Take him down," Galbraith said in a disinterested voice. He was used to winning in life, and tonight had just been one in a long line of victories.
YOU ARE READING
Lost Souls
Fiction généraleA family move into an old Mansion in the Highlands of Scotland unaware of the buildings terrible secrets. One of the children is particularly aware something is vastly wrong with the families new home.
