Free The First Betrayal by A. M. Clarke

spa treatment room. The smell assaulted his unwitting senses, burning the nose hairs on its way down to his throat. The burnt flesh smell never gets old, and it was in no danger of doing that, as it assailed all before it. He could taste the choking chemicals, and his eyes watered from the fumes. 'They should get danger money working here, he coughed to himself'. The room was cold, obviously, and a metal table dominated the sterile space. A smaller metal table on wheels was close by; it had an array of disturbing medical paraphernalia on it, with tubes and syringes adding to its macabreness.
    . . . . .
     
     
    Mr Fox was very kind and very graphic in his description of the procedure to extract bodily fluids, and disposal of, and then to introduce new embalming fluids in through the body’s orifices. If Stephen ever needed to induce vomit again, it wouldn’t be hard. Mr Fox proceeded to explain how they secured these orifices from leakage, this included, a stitched up anus, gluing eyes shut in case of skin shrinkage and inopportune lid movement. Stitching together lips to avoid mouth drop-page, and nasal passages plugged for obvious reasons, were grossly necessary, but mind bendingly disturbing. 
    Stephen knew the score, but didn’t really need to know the tune., Wow. Horror reels were playing in his head. He didn’t need to know any more. He needed to get the hell out of there, and fast. He thanked Mr Fox, signed the necessary paperwork and left Gladys and Jim in his grisly care.

Chapter Thirty
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    News of Gladys and Jim’s demise had reached the hotel staff, and between tears and disbelief, there was scandal-mongering and disrespectful rumours abounding. People they knew and supposedly liked ripped their characters to shreds as communal entertainment. In a single breath, they were described as a 'nice couple, that never had a cross word, but you never know what goes on behind net curtains.' 'Gladys was too friendly, while Jim was too quiet.' Those who hadn’t listened properly, or more likely didn’t want to hear the actual truth, claimed it was 'only a matter of time before poor Jim would do her in.' 
    Adam was in the foyer, taking it all in. He heard the good, the bad and the ugly. He also heard that an investigative team was coming that morning from the mainland. He would hang around there until they arrived, nowhere else to be.

Chapter Thirty One
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    Vera stood stony faced while they all climbed unaided onto the bus. No wheelchairs needed, no walking aids required, no handholding wanted, no help necessary. She watched, fully aware and fully awake, trying to comprehend the madness that had engulfed her world. How was this even possible, was the recurring thought that kept picking at her brain?
    ‘Good morning Vera’
    ‘Adam, I’m surprised to see you’
    ‘Well I wanted to thank you for a wonderful evening. Everything was so lovely, especially you.’
    ‘Thank you Adam, I had a great time too. You just missed the gang; they decided to go to the mainland for a day trip.’
    ‘But I didn’t realise they were all fit enough to make a journey like that.’ Vera looked at her shoes as she answered him, ‘They perked up after your visit, and were feeling very spry this morning. A few Dramamine and morphine patches, and they were good to go.’
    ‘That’s great, I’m sorry to miss them but very happy their off to have fun. So they are on their way to the ferry now, as we speak?’ Adam wanted to know.
    ‘Yes, they left just a few minutes before you arrived. Why?’
    ‘No reason Vera, how about a cup of coffee?’

Chapter Thirty Two
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    Inspector Rudder was bloody furious; he had been sequestered from his usual beat to baby sit a standard domestic drama. He reckoned, if these people couldn’t survive on an island then don’t bloody well live on one. Oh hell, he knew the local stations had been closed down, and he was somewhat considerate of that, but all in all, it