Chapter 9
Rating: M for VIOLENCE and a scene of torture. This chapter focuses on Simon.
Disclaimer: Not mine
Notes: Sherlock's boorishness from the last chapter can be explained by his feeling vulnerable about his feelings for Molly. He's never experienced this before, so he is awkward, uncomfortable, and threatened by Gavin, so he's a bit OOC. He'll come around and start acting more gentlemanly as we go along in the story.
The blood streamed down Will's face from the deep gash on his forehead. He opened and closed his eyes rapidly trying to get a good look at the face of his attacker. He cried out in agony when the hammer came down on the knuckles of his left hand, shattering the bones instantly.
"Oh God…why are you doing this?" Will pleaded.
Simon smiled. "I'm afraid you've been very naughty. I saw you talking to her outside of the cash and carry. You were carrying her groceries to her car for her. You see, I'm afraid I don't like it when other people try to move in on what is mine."
"What are you talking about? I just work there. It's my job to help customers out with their bags." Will said, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes, but you were flirting with her, weren't you?" Simon hissed jerking Will up by his hair.
"Who are you talking about?" Will screamed in agony as the hammer came down on his other hand, breaking the bones.
"Molly Hooper…my sweet Molly Hooper. You need to learn some manners William. You need to learn it's not nice to touch other people's things without their permission. Now I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish you, to see to it that you never do that again."
Simon turned away from Will for a moment, leaning down to pick something up from the floor. When Simon turned back around, he held a small electric saw in his hands. Will's eyes opened wide and he screamed when Simon started the saw, smiling a terrible smile.
"Can't touch what's not yours if you don't have hands." Simon said bringing the saw closer to Will. "Oh, I almost forgot."
Simon sat the saw down and grabbed the duct tape that was beside him from the floor. He ripped a few pieces off and covered Will's mouth.
"This is probably going to hurt a bit. Can't have you screaming the house down can I?"
The blood curdling screams were muffled by the duct tape as Simon placed the saw against Will's right hand and turned it on. Only the sickening sound of disintegrating bone could be heard clearly in the garage.
Simon noticed Will vomiting from the pain and he ripped the tape from his mouth. "Can't have you choking on your own vomit, I'm not done with you yet Will."
When Will finished vomiting, Simon covered his mouth with fresh tape. Simon severed the left hand with Will screaming in agony, his body convulsing from the pain.
Will did not vomit this time, but he passed out from the pain. Simon sat the saw down and shook his head.
"Oh I don't think so William. I want you awake and aware for the finale."
Simon slapped Will hard in the face. In was a hard enough blow for Will to come to instantly.
Will's eyes snapped opened wide, glazed over from the agony he was in. Simon grinned at him and ripped the tape from his mouth.
"On second thought, I think I do want to hear you scream." Simon said picking up a hammer.
"Oh God…please…don't…don't…" Will screamed as Simon brought the hammer down onto his head, cracking his skull open.
Will screamed again and again as Simon hit him with the hammer, the blood splattering on the walls as the hammer was brought into the air. Soon, there was only the sound of cracking skull and bone as Simon continued crashing the hammer down onto the lifeless form of Will Banner.
"When was the body found?" Barnaby asked Gavin as they entered the garage.
"His mother found him at around 7 pm this evening sir when she was coming in from her job at the market. It's a bloody mess, sir. I can't imagine coming home and finding your own child like this."
Barnaby made no response but, even underneath the purple bruises on his face he could see that Gavin was pale.
Barnaby walked passed two officers that were blocking the garage door from prying eyes and entered the crime scene.
"Good God…" Barnaby said softly under his breath.
The ground and walls were slick with blood, brain, and pieces of skull. Barnaby was overcome with smell of iron and sweat. He moved further into the garage and saw the coroner leaning over the young man's body.
"William Banner, 21 years old…" The coroner muttered to Barnaby.
"Where in god's name is his head?" Barnaby asked.
The coroner pointed to a lump of skin, bones, and hair in the corner.
"I'm not entirely sure why he beheaded him. The killer crushed every bone in his head and face. It's nothing more than a lump of…well it's a bloody mess, is what it is Tom. I can't say that I have ever witnessed a killing as full of rage as this before."
Barnaby scanned the remains of Will's body. "Where are his hands and feet?"
"His feet were under the work bench. The right hand was under his body, we're still looking for the left hand. His hands were removed when he was still alive."
"Where's the mother?" Barnaby asked
"On route to hospital, they had to forcefully sedate her. I don't think you're going to be speaking with her anytime soon."
"Sir, you need to come and look at this." Gavin called out to Barnaby from the other corner of the garage.
Barnaby stood up and walked over to where Gavin was standing. He immediately noticed Gavin's horrified expression. On the wall in front of them was another message, written in blood.
I'm cleverer that you think I am Sherlock Holmes. Come and get me if you can. You hold little Molly's heart in your hands so you had better catch me soon or I'll have to cut the heart of her myself.
"What does that even mean sir? It doesn't make sense?" Troy asked.
Barnaby turned to Gavin, anxiety in his voice. "Troy, get to that hotel room now and bring Dr. Hooper into the station."
Gavin nodded. "She's at work today sir."
"Well then go and collect her." Barnaby snapped.
"Yes sir." Gavin said turning and running from the garage.
Barnaby watched Gavin leave the garage before pulling his mobile out. He dialed the number and waited.
"Mycroft, I need to speak to you in person. Come to Causton as soon as you can"
Simon stood across the street from the teashop watching Molly work. She was pouring cups of tea for an elderly couple that sat at the table beside the window. She was talking and smiling at them.
You're so beautiful…Simon thought as he watched her. Look at everything I've done for you, my love. Soon there will be no one in the way…not even Sherlock Holmes…
Molly was still talking with the couple when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand. Something didn't feel right. Chills broke out over her skin, making her shudder in spite of the comfortable temperature within the tea shop. She felt as if she could sense some imminent danger or doom.
When she felt his eyes on her, she looked up, out the window and across the road. There he stood, smiling maniacaly at her. She screamed, dropping the tea pot. Her hands went to her mouth, muffling another scream. She could see him laughing at her before turning and disappearing down the side street beside the building he stood in front of.
"Oh God…its him…" Molly said barely above a whisper.
The elderly couple looked at her with concern as Meryl made her way over to Molly from behind the counter.
"Who, dear? Who is here?" She asked gently, placing comforting hands on Molly's arms.
Molly was shaking violently, her eyes glistening with tears. "Simon…"She whispered. "He's here…he's come for me…"
Meryl's face became frightened and she pulled Molly into her arms, stroking her back. "Don't you worry dear, Tom is the best that we have and he'll get this awful man. Tom will get him."
Sherlock stood with his mobile pressed to his ear. "Right Inspector, that won't be necessary. John and I can be there in a few minutes." He closed his mobile and yelled for John.
John came out of the hotel loo and looked at his friend. "Well, what is it?"
"A murder, a rather nasty one. The Chief Inspector rang me. Apparently there was a message left for me by the killer."
"What? Why would a killer leave you a message?"
"Because it's him, John. Its Simon and he's ready to play."
