Prologue
“I said let me go, I am not willing to come with you,” she screamed. He let off her and stared at her coldly.
“How dared you to bring me here? You could not force me,” she said, angrily. He did nothing but instead, he stared at her coldly.
She felt strangely panicked because there was something in his eyes that gave her a shiver through the spine.
“My work is done, you are now on your own,” he said.
She looked at him with her mouth open.
“You..you are not supposed to be here. They…They..will think I helped you escape,” she said, scared.
“That’s none of my business darling,” he said, expressionlessly.
“You…you have brought me here; you have framed me. My…my reputation,” she said, angrily.
“Someone wants to use you someone get abused by you,” he said, expressionlessly. His deep blue/green eyes were lifeless indicating hell and deadly links to the underworld. His tall and muscular build was almost towering over her. His golden hair was set properly but his golden beard was hiding his beautiful features.
She clenched her teeth, she was angry because he had ruined her life. He had framed her. 24 hours ago, she had not thought that he was going to frame her like this. She was the happiest girl on earth just 24 hours ago. She was going to interview the infamous serial killer Adrian Ramonwood for the first time and this could lead to a great career boost but now just after 24 hours, her life had gone ups and down because Adrian Ramonwood had framed her and now she was an official criminal in the eyes of the world.
24 hours ago,
“Mom, look, I have just hit it. I am going to interview. I am the one they have selected for the job,” she said, excited.
“Honey, congrats. I knew that you were going to do it,” said Kristina, her mother. She is a short-height, round-bodied woman.
“Edward, look, she cracked it,” Kristina said to her husband who was writing something on the parchment. He raised his head and hugged his daughter.
“Valentina, I knew it you are very intelligent and you can do it,” he said.
“Dad, if this interview is a success they will offer me one of the best opportunities in BBC News, Scotland,” she said excitedly.
“Honey, I knew it,” said Kristina while serving her pie.
Just then Edward’s phone beeped and he grabbed it from the table.
“Holly craps, it’s Mariana again, she again sent me a voice note and I am sure it will be in Spanish and oh come on, I am an English man,” he said, irritated.
Valentina chuckled.
“Play it, Dad,” she said.
Edward plays it and a female voice with a strong Spanish accent echoes.
“Hola Edward, tu reunión con el investigador de arología ha sido arreglada y debes estar en la torre del reloj en punto de las 10 de la mañana,” said the voice.
Edward was listening blankly because he was unable to understand Spanish. He was born and raised in Wales. No one in his family had ever learned Spanish.
“Oh, Dad you look so funny with these expressions. You need to learn Spanish as well. I mean you are a linguistic expert and could speak multiple languages Why don’t you learn Spanish?” she asked.
“Because my daughter can speak so I don’t need to learn,” he said, chuckling.
She nodded no and smiled.
“She said, you should be at Clock Tower sharp at 10 and some archeological officer is coming,” she said.
He looked at the clock, it was 8:40 a.m.
“Oh, okay, I need to leave,” he said in a rush and got out.
She smiled.
She was reading the newspaper, there was an article in Spanish and she could understand it well.
Kristina walked inside the kitchen and placed a glass of juice in front of her.
“Mom, can I ask a question?” she asked.
“Sure honey, what is it?” said Kristina while sitting in front of her.
“Mom, do you have your links with Spain?” she asked.
Kristina chuckled.
“Why?” asked Kristina.
“Well, Dad was born and raised in Wale and all of his lineage was English. You were born in London but you can speak and write English. Mom, who was from Spain from your side?” she asked, curious despite her knowing her mother would not answer her properly.
“Well, my dad was Spanish,” Kristina said.
“But Grandpa was from Romania, how can he Spnish,” she asked.
“How did you know?” Kristina asked, she was a bit shocked.
“I have looked in your documents,” she said and for the first time, she noticed her mother’s face turned white.
She looked extremely shocked as if she was caught red-handed.
“What have I taught you not to touch things without permission?” she said, annoyed and got up.
“But mom…..” Valentina tried to say something but she was abrupt by her mother.
“You are getting late,” Kristana said and walked out of the kitchen.
Valentina took a deep breath. She knew from the beginning that her mother was hiding something from her.
He was standing in front heat-strengthened glass drinking coffee. His graceful personality never changed. He was as handsome as he used to be, forever young. The door opened and a young girl entered the room.
She was wearing a pencil skirt and her short hair was touching her right shoulder.
“Boss, it’s the third time he called you, he said it’s urgent,” she said.
“Deciana, tell them, I don’t want to speak,” he said, coldly.
“Boss, I have told him a tenth time but he is being stubborn,” she said.
He turned towards her coldly.
“What he said?” he asked.
“Amm…” she said nervously.
“Daciana, I need truth,” he said, firmly.
“He said, I should you to drag your fine ass….” She said hesitant.
He rolled his eyes.
“Block him,” he said.
“But boss,” she tried to say something when he stopped her.
“I said, do it,” he said, irritated.
She did not want to see his tantrum so she left.
He took a deep breath and then his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen, the unknown number was calling her. He rolled his eyes and cut off the call.
He was spending years like this. Life has not treated him well. After losing his fiancée and unborn child he was lifeless. Spending his time alone and doing charity.
It has been years since he met anyone. He knew his best friend was trying to talk to him but he was not in a position to talk to anyone. This pain was killing him inside. There was a guilt that made him go into depression. He endangered Matilda’s life and now after many years, she was still alive in his memories.
He looked at his hand a wedding band shining In his ring finger.
“I miss you, Matilda. I love you till my last breath,” he said in a whisper.
“What are you saying? How can it be? How can? You have not informed me earlier?” he said, annoyed.
“Mr Easton, we have tried to inform you. It all happened last night,” said the manager.
“How can it be? How can this huge deception occur? We have lost 50 billion,” he said, annoyed.
“Sir, the stock marketing is falling. I must say not our company but the whole world is going through this deception,” said the manager.
Lines appeared on Easton’s face. The rain was falling outside. He got up and grabbed his phone. He dialed a number.
“Got news?” said Micheal, smirking.
“Stop teasing, tell me what is going on in the market?” Easton asked, cold.
“I have been trying to contact you for days and you are acting like a dick. I need to meet you, something weird is going on even in the underworld,” said Micheal.
Easton took a deep breath.
“Fine, I am coming,” he said.
“Are you ready?” asked Edward.
“Yeah Daddy, ready as born,” said Valentina.
“I am very excited about this,” said Kristina while hugging her. “Since your childhood, I knew you are a very intelligent girl,” She added.
“Now go and shine,” said Edward.
She smiled and walked out of the house. She rode up on her bike. She got this bike last year as a gift from Edward and Kristina when she graduated from university. She was very excited and nervous as well. At first, she was not ready to do it at all….who on earth wants to interview a serial killer who kills for a living?
She pushed the break in front of the office and got down.
Entering the building she sensed a familiar environment. She has been working for BBC for the last six months. She had a dream to become a crime reporter since childhood and today she got a chance. She rushed towards her cabin. The file was already there.
“I hope boss must not be so tough on me,” she muttered and opened the file, and the next thing she was enough to give her a heart attack. The name of the ‘death’ was mentioned on top of the page. She looked at it and found herself in some kind of unreal environment.
“Adrian Ramoonwood?” she muttered. This name was death.
She threw the file away as if the file were a scorpion. She felt her throat was dry. She got up grabbed the file and walked towards the boss’ cabin.
He was sitting on the desk while reading some newspaper. He was a tall, slim, middle-aged man. Some of his hair was greying.
“Valentina, welcome, welcome,” he said, greeting her. She sat on the chair. She seemed very upset.
“What happened?” Liam asked.
“Boss, Adrian? Seriously?” she asked.
He took a deep breath.
“I know, this is too much for you for the first case but I am forced to do it because higher authorities assigned you to interview her,” he said.
Her expressions change.
“What do you mean by that?” she asked.
He took another deep breath as if he was making words in his mind.
“Valentina, Andrian is an internationally wanted criminal. You have to take an interview because you are one of the most talented in the crew, you can dig information and you are good at interviewing as well,” he said.
She sighs.
“You don’t have a choice dear,” he said. “You have to do it for the sake of your job,” he said.
She got up.
“He is dangerous, very, very dangerous, do you think?” she asked.
“Valentina, a journalist’s life is the name of danger,” he said.
She turned when he called her again.
“Valentina, things happen to all. Life is not fair,” he said.
She took a deep breath and walked out of the cabin.
“You are meant to do huge things,” muttered Liam and a smile appeared on his face.
“Adrian Ramoonwood, he killed more than 70 women by sleeping with them and later stabbing them, all of them were blondes,” she read, and with every word she was turning paler.
“It was very difficult to catch him because he is a smooth criminal, no one knows what he thinks because he is an expert at confusing his prey,” she read.
“He is extremely talented, he could read thought,” she gulped.
She turned the page to look for his photo but there was no photo.
“Great, now how would I guess about his appearance?” she thought.” Strange, there is no picture of him,” she thought, irritated. “Should I tell Mom and Dad who I am interviewing?” she asked herself.
“No, they will freak out,” she said to herself and got up.
“Come on Valentina, you are doing it for the sake of your job,” she said to herself.
She was standing in front of HM Prison Barlinnie, Scotland. She was feeling very exhausted already and anxiety was already hitting her. She gulped. This place would have been the last place where she wanted to enter. This was the most scary jail in the whole of Scotland. She knew what kind of criminals were living there. She was meeting one of the most dangerous and wanted criminals.
