Electric Light (Blair Dubh Trilogy #3) by Heather Atkinson Read Free Book Online Page B

police. Jimmy’s been taken to hospital, he got shot in the arm. It was just a nick though, he’ll be fine.”
    “It’s safe?”
    “Yes it’s safe. The sniper’s dead.
    “Who was it?” called out Howard.
    “Adam. He killed himself.”
    “Jesus Christ,” exclaimed Toby.
    Absolute silence reigned as Bill related what had happened. Shock washed over the room, some vocalising their pain, others taking it silently, stoically. Despite the different reactions, all were devastated.
    “Not again,” groaned Gordon from behind the bar, looking more withered than ever. This was bringing the pain of his beloved wife’s death screaming back. “What’s wrong with Blair Dubh?” he called out helplessly, addressing the entire room. “Something is seriously fucked up here.”
    Many of the residents would have protested against the use of such offensive language, but they all recognised the violent emotion he was experiencing so they kept their peace.
    Nora nodded sadly. Despite how much it had hurt her she was relieved Freya hadn’t wanted to bring Petie here. The sense that she’d been betrayed by her daughter-in-law ebbed away, leaving her feeling very foolish. Craig could have been shot too, he could have died today and the last words they’d ever exchanged would have been cross ones. “Because this place is evil,” she called out.
    Everyone went silent and turned to regard her, including Graeme.
    “We all know it but no one ever wants to say it,” she continued. “We’re all so proud of our wee village but it’s rotten. On the surface everything is so pretty and clean but underneath it’s putrid. It started with Father Logan and it got worse because we ignored what he was. We let them take Freya away, drag her kicking and screaming from here and this is our punishment. This is going to keep happening until someone does something about it.”
    “And what do you suggest Nora?” said Gordon. “Dig up Logan and throw his bones into the sea?”
    Nora drained her whisky and banged the glass down on a table. “Why not? Let’s dig Lynch up too while we’re at it.”
    “You can’t do that, it’s a desecration,” said Mary, one of the older village residents, scandalised.
    “The only desecration is those two bastards still lying up there, in our churchyard. It’s wrong.”
    “No, your plan is what’s wrong Nora,” retorted Mary.
    “Did those monsters try to kill your daughter-in-law and the mother of your grandchild? No,” she cried, glad she was feeling protective of Freya again. It had pained her to have bad thoughts about her.
    More people joined in the debate and a furious row erupted, fuelled by the large amounts of alcohol the villagers had thrown down their necks in an attempt to soothe their nerves after this latest atrocity.
    Graeme leaned back against the bar, lapping it up, enjoying listening to them argue back and forth about digging up bodies in the hope it would improve their shitty little village. No one had a clue he was at the centre of the carnage, they’d just accepted it was Adam. Their stupidity and gullibility sickened him. They were all completely useless, taking up valuable resources that could be utilised by more useful members of society. Worst of all they were infected with evil, which made it vital they were eradicated as soon as possible. When the police had gone they would be.
    A flash of lightening and a rumble of thunder made his guts clench, cold sweat breaking out on his spine despite the humidity. Suddenly he was twelve again, hiding under the kitchen table, watching that big pair of boots slowly circle the room. He could hear the heavy tread as they banged off the wooden floor, louder than the thunder. He could see his father lying on that very floor, his front stained with blood, hands clutching his chest. His eyes widened. “No, please no.” Another loud rumble of thunder, a flash of lightning and his dad’s chest exploded, blood and bits of bone and flesh