Savage (A Blood Feud Novel)

Chapter Forty

Fraser and Emily were in the living room. Vivian was in the kitchen with a bottle of vodka and was already halfway down the bottle. She had witnessed her niece commit a brutal murder. Emily had changed into a new pair of jeans and a shirt.

Fraser was deep into thought. It was almost midnight. For the last hour or so no one had talked to each other. James' body had been placed in a freezer downstairs in the cellar.

Emily convinced her aunt not to call the police. She just committed a murder, and she felt guilty about it. She didn't blame her father, though. He was only trying to look out for her.

Fraser's mobile buzzed. Someone had been trying to contact him several times already, but he ignored the calls. This time he answered as Emily looked on.

"Hey, Fraser, it's me," Officer Leary said. "I went to the bar as you told me to and talked to her for a while but she put me out later on. I've been watching her for a few hours since you asked me to follow her again. I'm there at the apartment, but her boyfriend isn't around. Do you have any idea where he is?"

Fraser shut his mobile. He took out another phone, a Samsung, and quickly sent a text to Officer Leary. He set the phone back in his back pocket.

He glanced at his daughter for a moment. He said to Emily, "Go check on your aunt while I go upstairs."

Slowly, Emily stood. She went to the kitchen. Vivian looked ruined. She was already destroyed from constant years of hard drinking after her divorce, but this was the final blow.

"Aunt Vivian, are you alright?" Emily asked.

Vivian offered no reply. Emily placed a hand on her. Nothing came about. It was as if Vivian wasn't there, like a ghost maybe.

With a sigh, Emily turned and exited the kitchen. She saw her dad leave the living room and head upstairs. She followed him. Fraser peered into a closet. Emily watched as he retrieved a shotgun.

"What are you going to do with that?" Emily asked.

Fraser smiled. He swerved it back and forth a couple of times.

"Aunt Vivian is a fucking wreck," Emily said.

"I need you to stay here," Fraser said to Emily. "Make sure Vivian doesn't call the police, alright?"

"Sure," Emily said. She realized she had much more in common with her father.

Fraser wore his jacket. He went downstairs and to the kitchen. He delved into the fridge and grabbed a can of cream soda.

Vivian was still out of it when Fraser went to his car. The shotgun was in the passenger seat. He drove to James and Rosalyn's apartment. He messaged Officer Leary to let him know he was on his way.

Officer Leary didn't reply.

Fraser was unconcerned.

When he arrived at the complex, he saw Officer Leary standing outside. The young officer was wearing his police jacket and had his badge on him.

Fraser shut off the engine, exited the car with the shotgun and greeted Officer Leary. The two went inside and walked up the stairs to the fourth floor.

They entered the apartment where Rosalyn had been kept. She was on the sofa, naked.

Officer Leary said, "She's had quite a few tonight. She undressed and apparently shat in one of the rooms. It's a fucking mess."

Fraser chuckled, "You've done enough, and I can take it from here. I need you over at the house where Emily is. She's with her aunt. Go there now if you can."

"Sure thing," Officer Leary said as he left.

Fraser sat on the sofa across from Rachel. She smelled of alcohol. Fraser couldn't contain his glee.

So this was the girl James Taylor had been shagging.

Fraser looked around the freaking house and opened a wardrobe. Disbelief was on his face for a few seconds, and it wore off. He shook his head and then smiled. He lifted the still bloodstained knife and sniffed it.

He examined the rest of the apartment and didn't shudder when he spotted a fetus wrapped in a bag in the fridge. What had been the odds, he wondered?

He stared back at Rachel; there was no doubt she was the one behind it. The James guy had been a pussy; he had no guts to do such a thing.

His mobile buzzed again.

"Hey, it's your little brother, Grant," Grant said. "I've been thinking about this whole thing between us, um, I was wondering if you and I could solve the matter ourselves. Can I come over?"

Fraser replied. "Grant it's finally good to hear from you. Look, you don't have to worry about that shit. I've got some good news I'd like to share with you."

"Alright, how soon can you come over?"

Fraser said, "Within the next half hour. How are you holding up these days?"

"As best as I can mate," Grant said. "Alright, I'll see you then. Cheers."

"Cheers mate."

Fraser shut his mobile. He held the shotgun in his lap and waited. Theopportunity to kill Rosalyn would come, he said to himself. For now, he'd watchher a bit.