Time To Kill (DI Sara Ramsey Book 17), page 1
TIME TO KILL
DI SARA RAMSEY
BOOK SEVENTEEN
M A COMLEY
Copyright © 2022 by M A Comley
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks as always go to @studioenp for their superb cover design expertise.
My heartfelt thanks go to my wonderful editor Emmy, and my proofreaders Joseph and Barbara for spotting all the lingering nits.
Thank you also to my amazing ARC Group who help to keep me sane during this process.
To Mary, gone, but never forgotten. I hope you found the peace you were searching for my dear friend. I miss you each and every day.
ALSO BY M A COMLEY
Blind Justice (Novella)
Cruel Justice (Book #1)
Mortal Justice (Novella)
Impeding Justice (Book #2)
Final Justice (Book #3)
Foul Justice (Book #4)
Guaranteed Justice (Book #5)
Ultimate Justice (Book #6)
Virtual Justice (Book #7)
Hostile Justice (Book #8)
Tortured Justice (Book #9)
Rough Justice (Book #10)
Dubious Justice (Book #11)
Calculated Justice (Book #12)
Twisted Justice (Book #13)
Justice at Christmas (Short Story)
Prime Justice (Book #14)
Heroic Justice (Book #15)
Shameful Justice (Book #16)
Immoral Justice (Book #17)
Toxic Justice (Book #18)
Overdue Justice (Book #19)
Unfair Justice (a 10,000 word short story)
Irrational Justice (a 10,000 word short story)
Seeking Justice (a 15,000 word novella)
Caring For Justice (a 24,000 word novella)
Savage Justice ( a 17,000 word novella)
Justice at Christmas #2 (a 15,000 word novella)
Gone in Seconds (Justice Again series #1)
Ultimate Dilemma (Justice Again series #2)
Shot of Silence (Justice Again series #3)
Taste of Fury (Justice Again series #4)
Crying Shame (Justice Again series #5)
To Die For (DI Sam Cobbs #1)
To Silence Them (DI Sam Cobbs #2)
To Make Them Pay (DI Sam Cobbs #3)
To Prove Fatal (DI Sam Cobbs #4)
To Condemn Them (DI Sam Cobbs #5)
To Punish Them (DI Sam Cobbs #6)
To Entice Them (DI Sam Cobbs #7)
Forever Watching You (DI Miranda Carr thriller)
Wrong Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #1)
No Hiding Place (DI Sally Parker thriller #2)
Cold Case (DI Sally Parker thriller#3)
Deadly Encounter (DI Sally Parker thriller #4)
Lost Innocence (DI Sally Parker thriller #5)
Goodbye My Precious Child (DI Sally Parker #6)
The Missing Wife (DI Sally Parker #7)
Truth or Dare (DI Sally Parker #8)
Web of Deceit (DI Sally Parker Novella with Tara Lyons)
The Missing Children (DI Kayli Bright #1)
Killer On The Run (DI Kayli Bright #2)
Hidden Agenda (DI Kayli Bright #3)
Murderous Betrayal (Kayli Bright #4)
Dying Breath (Kayli Bright #5)
Taken (DI Kayli Bright #6)
The Hostage Takers (DI Kayli Bright Novella)
No Right to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #1)
Killer Blow (DI Sara Ramsey #2)
The Dead Can’t Speak (DI Sara Ramsey #3)
Deluded (DI Sara Ramsey #4)
The Murder Pact (DI Sara Ramsey #5)
Twisted Revenge (DI Sara Ramsey #6)
The Lies She Told (DI Sara Ramsey #7)
For The Love Of… (DI Sara Ramsey #8)
Run for Your Life (DI Sara Ramsey #9)
Cold Mercy (DI Sara Ramsey #10)
Sign of Evil (DI Sara Ramsey #11)
Indefensible (DI Sara Ramsey #12)
Locked Away (DI Sara Ramsey #13)
I Can See You (DI Sara Ramsey #14)
The Kill List (DI Sara Ramsey #15)
Crossing The Line (DI Sara Ramsey #16)
Time to Kill (DI Sara Ramsey #17)
Deadly Passion (DI Sara Ramsey #18)
I Know The Truth (A Psychological thriller)
She’s Gone (A psychological thriller)
Shattered Lives (A psychological thriller)
Evil In Disguise – a novel based on True events
Deadly Act (Hero series novella)
Torn Apart (Hero series #1)
End Result (Hero series #2)
In Plain Sight (Hero Series #3)
Double Jeopardy (Hero Series #4)
Criminal Actions (Hero Series #5)
Regrets Mean Nothing (Hero series #6)
Prowlers (Di Hero Series #7)
Sole Intention (Intention series #1)
Grave Intention (Intention series #2)
Devious Intention (Intention #3)
Cozy mysteries
Murder at the Wedding
Murder at the Hotel
Murder by the Sea
Death on the Coast
Death By Association
Merry Widow (A Lorne Simpkins short story)
It’s A Dog’s Life (A Lorne Simpkins short story)
A Time To Heal (A Sweet Romance)
A Time For Change (A Sweet Romance)
High Spirits
The Temptation series (Romantic Suspense/New Adult Novellas)
Past Temptation
Lost Temptation
Clever Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
Tragic Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
Sinful Deception (co-written by Linda S Prather)
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Epilogue
Keep in touch with M A Comley
PROLOGUE
Watching and, more importantly, waiting, was the name of the game for him this evening. He had dutifully followed the target for the past week, and tonight was the night he would make his move. Grinning, he settled into his seat and pulled the cap over his eyes. He could afford to have at least a thirty-minute snooze. His target would be at his designated location for the next couple of hours, what with him being a creature of habit and all.
He dropped off instantly. His snooze was filled with moments that had taken place over the past few months and ended with the expectation of the events that were about to come in the days and weeks ahead of him. Stirring, Owen tipped his cap back and adjusted his position. He glanced around the interior of the car, highlighted by the light from the nearby lamppost, and grinned again, delighted with his acquisition. He had his wits about him. Everything would go according to plan, he’d ensure it would. Every last detail had been meticulously planned with one purpose in mind: to evade capture.
There were those he had crossed paths with over the years who had slated him for being sloppy. Although he hadn’t thought it at the time, they had been right in their assumption. No longer, though. He’d spent the last nine months smartening up his act, becoming a force to be reckoned with. The cops wouldn’t know what hit them once it all kicked off. He was prepared for the onslaught that was to come. Forward planning was the ultimate key to success, and he was determined to come away from this mission victorious.
He switched on the radio and tapped along to an old Duran Duran song that he’d detested when it had first been released. It’s taken a while, but I’ve finally changed for the better. Grown in confidence. Now I appreciate my capabilities and no longer doubt them, like others have in the not-too-distant past. I’m ready… bring it on.
All he needed to do now was hang on to his patience. That was the one downside he could think about that might get in the way. His patience had always got the better of him in the past. Although he’d worked rigorously on it lately, it was still a niggling doubt in his mind whether he would be able to combat the issue, if it arose. He sucked in a large breath and let it out slowly. After watching some self-help clips on YouTube, he was sure he’d conquered how to control his breathing enough to make a difference to the anger that rippled beneath the surface. It was that he needed to control more than anything else.
The door to the pub opened, and a couple staggered out. The man had his arm looped over the woman’s shoulders and he pulled her in for a drunken kiss at the top of the steps. He could tell they were both plastered and unaware of what was going on around them. They tripped down the first step and righted themselves in a fit of giggles. He thought how easy it would be to swoop and kill them both but then reprimanded himself—they weren’t his target. Why waste his energy and skills on strangers? Individuals not worthy of his ability?
Another half an hour dragged past. His breathing came in ebbs and flows. His impatience had threatened to surface now and again but, so far,
Now all he had to do was wait a little while longer for his target to appear. He glanced at the digital clock on the dashboard and nodded. Not long now, ten minutes tops. The door to the pub swung open a second time, and his gaze was drawn to a man leaving and making his way down the steps towards his car. How irresponsible of people to go to the pub for a few bevvies only to drive home afterwards. Is it any wonder they have accidents and possibly take innocent people’s lives? Selfish bastards.
Again, he reprimanded himself for going over the top with his thinking. Maybe he was doing the guy an injustice. He hadn’t come out of the pub inebriated, unlike the couple who had left before him. Maybe he’d only consumed soft drinks during his time inside.
His gaze was drawn back to the pub’s entrance. The door opened a third time. His pulse raced; Ben was finally leaving. He knew the man usually walked home from the pub, or should that be staggered? Either way, he waited until Ben got to around ten feet ahead of him before he left the car. He removed the black holdall from the boot then set off on foot after him.
Ben turned the next corner, giving him the chance to speed up and gain the advantage. Poking his head around the fence panel that led up the alley, he paused and tutted as Ben relieved himself up one of the panels.
His gaze drifted the length of the alley. His surveillance had revealed that it wasn’t used much at this time of the day, although it was a busy thoroughfare during daylight hours. That’s why he’d deliberately chosen this location, because he knew the body of his victim would be discovered at first light. A biting wind whipped around him. He combatted it by rearranging the collar of his jacket. He paused for a moment and then made his move once Ben had shaken the drips off his todger and zipped up his trousers. Ben took a few steps but toppled into the fence panel on his right. He lashed out and swore at the offending inanimate object and continued on his journey.
He bided his time, waited until Ben was far enough away from the streetlight, then pounced. He shoulder charged Ben into the fence. Ben swore at him, his words slurring, and he tried to right himself, but his coordination was way off the mark. His hand slipped several times, and his legs gave way beneath him.
He lowered his head to the victim’s, resting his forehead against his. He nudged it a few times. “Get up, moron.”
“Who are you? What do you want? Why don’t you just sod off, be on your way and leave me alone?”
“Get up. Stop asking dumb questions and get to your feet.”
“I can’t,” Ben slurred. “You’re going to have to help me.”
He tore open the zipper of his holdall and, after snapping on a pair of gloves, located the item he was searching for. “Okay, you asked for help, I’m going to give it to you.”
“Gee, thanks, that’s good of ya.”
He took Ben’s right arm and placed it against the fence above his head then fired the weapon. The two-inch nail passed through Ben’s palm with ease. Shocked, Ben screamed. Before Ben had the chance to realise what was about to happen next, he quickly grabbed Ben’s other arm. He held the nail gun up against his palm, pinning it to the fence panel. Again, Ben cried out. He kicked himself for slipping up and shoved a hand into his bag to retrieve a wad of cloth which he forced into Ben’s mouth. Was it too little too late? Craning an ear for any sign of movement, he let out a relieved sigh when silence finally descended. The only sounds swirling around him were those of the fierce wind and the discarded leaves from the nearby trees.
Ben’s eyes widened. There was a fleeting recognition in their depths.
He smiled. “You know me, don’t you?”
Ben nodded and attempted to kick out. No contact was made because he had minimal control over his limbs. Drink had the knack of numbing a person’s abilities. If only people realised how vulnerable they became with the demon liquid inside them.
“That was silly. Now your punishment is going to be ten times worse.”
Tears emerged and dripped onto Ben’s cheeks. He shook his head and glanced sideways at his right arm. Sickened by seeing himself pinned to the fence, he said something, but the cloth muffled his words.
“What? You’re not happy with what I’ve done to you so far? Too bad. That’s just the beginning, mate. You wait until I’ve had a bit more fun with you, you’ll be begging me to end your life in a few minutes.”
Ben’s gaze followed his hand to the bag once more. This time he withdrew a set of pliers. Ben’s eyes widened, and he vigorously shook his head. He said something indecipherable, probably pleading with him not to go through with his intentions. No fear of that happening. Owen was on course to end this fucker’s life, and he’d take pleasure in making him suffer in the process.
Owen reached up for Ben’s right hand, and as he removed each of his fingernails, Ben let out a muffled scream with each fingernail torn from his hand. What was the point in attempting to get free when he was pinned in place? Some people really are as thick as shit when they find themselves backed into a corner. Idiot. You shouldn’t have downed so many pints this evening, then you wouldn’t be in this situation, would you, chum? Dense, that’s what you are, denser than the thickest part of the Amazon rainforest.
With the task completed, he moved on to the left hand and did the same, discarding the fingernails on the ground each side of the victim. The cloth served its purpose by deadening Ben’s cries for help. By now, he was a snivelling wreck. Snot mixed with the tears streaming down his flushed cheeks.
“Had enough yet? You can die when you want, I don’t give a shit if you go early, although I’d prefer it if you stuck around to see what else I have in store for you.”
Ben’s head twisted from one side to the other, and yet another muffled plea was forced back by the gag.
He laughed, removed a hacksaw from the holdall and ran his hand up and down the handle.
By now, Ben’s eyes were bulging, almost popping out of their sockets. He watched the blade get closer to the fingers on his right hand. He kicked out with his legs again; this time they made contact, but the attempt proved pointless. It didn’t prevent the hacksaw connecting with the little finger and slicing through it until it was hanging by a thread of skin. Ben coughed as though choking on the rising bile. The next finger was a tad harder, and the next one after that as well. But the hardest joint to get through belonged to Ben’s thumb. Ben attempted to shout, to kick his assailant, but nothing would prevent the attack from reaching its ultimate conclusion.
Owen continued on to the next hand and did the same, leaving all the digits hanging by sinews and skin. The colour had drained from Ben’s cheeks. “Had enough yet? You’re on the verge of passing out, I can sense it. It’s okay, I won’t allow that to happen. I’ll wake you up. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on anything important.” Next, he unzipped the man’s jeans and pulled out his penis.
Ben thrashed, or tried to, but Owen sat across Ben’s legs and with the nails embedded in his hands, he knew he wouldn’t be going anywhere soon. Ben squirmed, frustrated.
After locating the man’s shrivelled member, Owen flopped it out of the zip and placed the teeth of the saw against the skin. Ben passed out. He slapped his face hard to wake him up, determined Ben should see what was about to become of his manhood. It was easy to see the sheer terror in Ben’s eyes. Should he wriggle, try to get free, or stay still and take his punishment?
He tipped his head back and laughed. “You’re going to enjoy this, having a different set of teeth around it, other than Tess’s, for a change.”
Another muffled plea for help fell on deaf ears. Holding Ben’s penis upright, Owen sawed at the bottom until Ben’s member was free. Ben continually writhed and cried out, but his inept movements did nothing to avoid the inevitable. Ben stared at his penis being held up in front of him, and then his gaze dropped to the blood spurting out of the open wound. His head lolled to the side. He’d passed out for a second time, but Owen wasn’t finished with this dirtbag yet, not by a long shot. A bottle of water aimed at Ben’s face soon brought him around.
