Missing Years ( Part 27 )

DCI Spencer was back in his office at the station. His phone rang. It was Eddie Samuels.

“What can I do for you Mr Samuels?”

“It’s Ray Inspector, I’m, I’m worried about him, someone’s turned up, I, I, think he could be in danger, this man, this horrible man is here, they’re talking, I didn’t know who else to call, then I saw your card by the phone, he’s, he’s in trouble I just know it, I know he is, he’s not my Ray, there’s something”

Eddie was rambling and none of this made any sense to Spencer.

“Mr Samuels, slow down, what’s the problem?”

“There’s a man here, just turned up out of the blue, says he’s an old friend, he’s with Ray now, they’re talking weird, chanting, he’s someone bad, I just know it”

Once again this made no sense to Spencer.

“Ok, an old friend of Ray’s has turned up, is that what you’re saying?”

“But he isn’t an old friend that’s just the point, he says he is but no one knows who he is”

“But Ray does?”

“He says he does but he’s lying, I’m sure of it, he’s in trouble Inspector, I’m sure he’s in trouble”

Spencer sat back in his chair and took a deep breath.

“Look, Mr Samuels if you want me to help, I need to know exactly what’s going on, so calm down, take your time and tell me what’s happened from the start, can you do that for me?”

Eddie took his time and relayed the story of Trevor Wilson’s arrival at his home, how he was sure that Ray didn’t know who he was, how he had called Stacey and what she had said. Then he told him about the strange language that he had heard and then finally about the three demon names.

Spencer wrote them down.

“Ok, Mr Samuels, this is what I’m gonna do. I’ll run a check on Trevor Wilson; see what I can find out about him. You stay with Ray, make sure he’s ok, meet me at 5 o’clock in the Golden Lion opposite the station, can you do that?”

“Thank you Inspector, I’m sure he’s in trouble, I don’t know what it is but I have a very bad feeling about this!”

“Leave it to me Mr Samuels, you take care and I’ll see you at 5”

Eddie didn’t have time to say goodbye. Someone put their hand on the handset and cut him off. He turned round to see both Ray and Trevor standing behind him.

“Who were you talking to Dad?”

Once again Eddie noticed the menace in Ray’s voice, his eyes seemed to have changed colour slightly as well, no longer the clear blue that they once were, but now a deep, dark blue.

“Just the inspector from Romford, he asked me to give him a call today and let him know how Laura was, that’s all”

“No more calls to them again Dad, understand?”

“Yeh sure Ray, everything OK, with your old friend Trevor?”

“Everything’s fine Dad, the old season is over, it’s our time now!”

Trevor and Ray turned round and walked back into the kitchen and closed the door.

Eddie held his old Polyglott Bible close to him and closed his eyes; he said a prayer under his breath.

Spencer ran a check on Trevor Wilson. Trevor Wilson had been arrested twice for burglary in Camden, North London. He had no fixed abode; basically he was homeless and living on the street. Divorced from his wife in 1994, alcoholic, been in The London Hospital three times in the past 10 years, broken arm once, head injuries the other times. Got into fights with other homeless, got beaten up and ended up in hospital. Nothing on record since 2004.

Now why would an alcoholic, homeless man be claiming to be a friend of Ray Samuels, more to the point why would Ray Samuels pretend to know him?

He called James Conroy.

“Hi James sorry to call you again so soon but I wonder if you can help me with something”

“Sure, what’s the problem?”

“I’ve just had Eddie Samuels on the phone, he was worried about Ray. Apparently a stranger has turned up at the house claiming to know Ray, Ray has met him and according to the old man he could hear them talking together in a strange language and chanting names”

“What names”

“I’ve written them down, they are Balan, Jezebeth and Pyro, the old man thinks they are names of Demons, do they mean anything to you?”

“Yes they do Inspector, they are names of Demons, he’s certain he heard THESE names?”

“Yep kept repeating them over and over again apparently, why, what do they mean?”

“Balan is a commander of demons, legend has it that he is a chief commander, an instructor of Evil, before any evil event commences it must be approved by him. Jezebeth is the Demon of falsehood, a deceiver, the ultimate liar, Pyro is the Prince of falsehood and lies and reports directly to Jezebeth. Even in hell there is a pecking order Inspector!”

“What do you think this means James?”

“If I told you what I really thought you’d probably have me locked up and put away somewhere, but I do have a very bad feeling about this”

“That’s exactly what old Mr Samuels keeps saying, I’ve arranged to meet him at 5 o’clock tonight in the pub opposite, fancy joining us?”

“Try stopping me, this is what I’ve been waiting for all my life!”