Howard’s head spun a little, and his body swayed slightly.
“Are you okay?” Asked Shark.
“Nope. Like you said… I’m fucked.” Howard replied. “So, Mike Gudden… why didn’t you…”
“Why didn’t I tell anyone what had happened to him? Fear. Fear that his family might have blamed me for his death. You said yourself what a reputation the Guddens had around town. Taking on Mike was one thing, taking on the whole fucking tribe of them was another. I covered it all up, hid his body, then told everyone that Mike had left me, and gone to live with some woman down south. Mike had a reputation for being a cheat. Everyone believed me.” Said Shark.
“So… his body… where did you hide it?” Howard was very curious to know.
“In Coldsleet fucking cemetary!” Laughed Shark. “I just dug three or four feet down into somebody’s grave, chucked Mike into the hole, and then covered it back up.”
“That’s a pretty good idea… it’s not something I’ve ever thought of.” Smirked Howard. “And I’ve hidden a lot of bodies in my time.” He went on, which caused Shark’s whole body to stiffen with fear.
Shark clutched harder at the knife handle, not taking her eyes off Howard Trenton.
“So, what’s this deal then?” Howard asked.
“It’s simple. Do something good, something for your family… for Lucas and his wife… and Mary, too.” Answered Shark.
“Why should I?” Howard wanted to know.
“Because I know, from what Mary’s told me, that Lucas and… Kay, is it?” Howard nodded. “Well, Lucas and Kay, they think the world of you. Do them a favour, repay them for taking you in just after your mom died. Help me rescue Mary… help me get her out of that fucking farmhouse…”
“What farmhouse?” Howard asked Shark, with narrowed eyes.
“The old farmhouse, back along this track, and up a hill. That’s where…”
“She’s at Ben’s new place?” Said Howard, looking alarmed.
‘What the fuck… no, there’s a guy called Stan living there, and…”
“Is he a tall guy, with grey hair… really blue eyes?” Howard asked.
“Yeah, yeah. He said his name was Stan…”
“That’s not his fucking name. He’s called Ben. Ben Askew. I was reading about him, just before Christmas. There was some big fucking uproar because he’d bought Lee-Hill Farmhouse… do you know who Ben Askew is, Shark?” Said Howard.
“Gary and Mary… they were talking about someone called Ben earlier… some guy that murdered his wife and daughters…”
“Yep. That’s him. That’s Ben Askew… he's a triple killer. As mad as a fucking hatter. He was a kiddie-fiddler, messing around with his two daughters for years, and then he really flipped, became convinced that they were both… what’s the word now… ‘Succubus’s’…”
“What?” Asked Shark.
“Female spirits… they’re supposed to get into your bedroom during the night, have it off with you against your will, something like that. Anyway, that’s what Ben convinced himself of… that the two daughters were causing him to behave the way he did, because they were fucking demons… so he decided to kill them both, and took his wife out too, just for good measure.” Advised Howard, which caused Shark’s blood to run cold.
Shark spoke to Howard with alarm in her voice.
“Are you saying that Mary’s being held captive by this Ben Askew bloke?” She asked.
“Yeah, it’ll be Ben alright. That’s the only farmhouse around here. Mary’s fucked. Quite literally.” Replied Howard.
“Will you help me, Howard?” Requested Shark. Howard glared at her.
“Why would I want to help you?” He asked.
“It’s like I said before. Do something good, for the people who’ve cared for you since your mom died. Do it for Lucas, for Kay…” Howard suddenly remembered his mother, not long before she died, lying in bed with him sat beside her… she was looking up at Howard, stroking his face…
“You’re a good boy, son. Don’t live your life like me… always worrying, constantly seeing the black side of everything… don’t waste each day, stressing about stuff that you’ve got no control over… get out there, enjoy yourself, but always look out for those who love you…” Howard thought about Lucas; the man that he’d looked up to for the past three years.
“Me and Kay, we love having you here, Howard. Don’t ever feel, as you get older, that there’s some urgent need for you to leave this house. You’re as much a part of the home as myself and Kay are.” Lucas had once told him. Howard thought about what his cousin would be going through at that moment; hell. And it was all his fault.
“What do I get in return, Shark? What’s the deal that you say is on offer?” Asked Howard. “There has to be something in it for me.” Shark stepped towards him.
“You help me get Mary out of that farmhouse, to safety. You don’t touch a hair on her head. When that’s done, then, well… whatever it was you were going to do to her… you can do to me instead.” Replied Shark. “I won’t resist. I’ll take Mary’s place.”
Chapter Twenty Eight
Howard Trenton walked a few feet ahead of Shark Mako, whistling to himself.
“Do you have to keep doing that? It’s really annoying.” Commented Shark, who was still holding Howard’s knife in her hand.
“Why? Don’t you like the tune that I’m whistling?” Asked Howard, before beginning to cough. Shark noticed the heavy bloodstain on the coat covering Howard’s lower back; it was spreading.
“No, I don’t like it.” Replied Shark.
“Tough. If you want me to help Mary, then I’m going to have to insist on being allowed to whistle.” Said Howard. He went to whistle again, just to annoy Shark, but couldn’t. Instead, he began coughing again. When he’d finished, Howard looked back over his shoulder at Shark. “I hope I can hold out for just a bit longer… I’m looking forward to us having a little fun together, Shark… don’t worry, by the way. I’d decided not to kill Mary… I was just gonna…”
“I know what you were going to do to her, Howard.” Snapped the young woman.
“No, actually, you don’t. But you will.” Howard grinned, before giving Shark a wink. “Anyway, I still don’t understand why you need my help. You could take out Ben Askew on your own, surely? He’s an old man, and you’re as hard as nails.” Wondered Howard.
“Yeah, an old man with a great big fucking shotgun… and from what you’ve told me about him, he’s not frightened to use it.” Pointed out Shark Mako.
Howard pointed up the track.
“There it is… there’s the farmhouse. Looks like Ben’s still up. The lights are on.” He said. Shark felt her stomach roll with anxiety.
“I hope he hasn’t done anything to Mary.” She mumbled to herself.
“What was that?” Asked Howard.
“It doesn’t matter. Are you sure that you’re going to be up to this, Howard? That bleeding on your back looks like it’s getting worse.” Said Shark.
“Yeah, I’ve got the thought of our little liaison to hold onto, Shark. That’ll spur me on for a bit longer.” Replied Howard. That’s what you fucking think, Shark thought to herself.
“So, have you raped a lot of women, Howard?” Asked Shark. At this question, he turned around, angered. Shark raised the knife towards him.
“I’m not a fucking rapist.” Howard snapped.
“Oh no? Then what was it that you shouted at me and Mary, back in Skerrington Forest? You were gonna fuck Mary like she’d never been fucked before? Charming. I take it that’s what you’ll be doing to me, eh Howie? Fucking me like I’ve never been…”
“Shut it!” Barked Howard. “I’m not a rapist.” He repeated, quietly. Shark gave him a cynical smile.