Grind Their Bones Read Free

Delicious. I think I'll eat you all up for elevenses.'
    He gave his best pantomime villain laugh and leaned down licking his lips, taking pleasure in her half-laughing, half-shrieking retreat into Grandma’s arms.
    ‘What’s elevenses?’
    Frowned Lexie, looking perplexed.
    ‘It’s an old-fashioned name for a snack in between breakfast and lunch.’ Chimed in Grandma before he could reply.
    'Anyway you can't eat people!'
    Annabel joined in, running up close and aiming a gentle slap at his knee before dodging just out of reach of his mock lunge, wild blonde curls bouncing around at the movement.
    'Why not? It's all meat isn't it?'
    He grinned and started to move out of his chair towards them in a crouch, hands forming claws and his mouth dropping open to show off his surprisingly good teeth. The girls hid their faces in the folds of Grandmas pretty floral dress, giggling and sneaking quick peeks at him as he got closer. Strange how children of a certain age were convinced that if they closed their eyes and couldn't see you, then you in turn couldn't see them. Of course he'd seen adults revert back to that same tactic early on in his 'career' too, back before he'd managed to perfect his techniques.
    'Come here!'
    He scooped up a squirming girl in each arm and pulled them in pretending to bite them and then putting them back down before the action developed any substance. That wouldn’t do at all now, would it?
    'Delicious. A waltz of flavours across the tongue, simply divine.'
    He hammed it up, smacking his lips in pretend satisfaction while the girls clapped in delight.
    'What does it taste like, what does it taste like?' they chorused excitedly, hopping up and down.
    'Hmmm…'
    He pretended to chew and consider, winking at Grandma, who shook her head in exasperation at his antics.
    'I'd say it tastes something like suckling pig. Not as good to eat as a teenager, but certainly better than a chewy old man, at least.'
    That part was an outright lie. In his experience, it was the lifestyle rather than the age that gave the meat better flavour and texture. After all, if you wanted excellent beef you fed your cows the best diet possible and made sure that they exercised out in the fresh air for good muscle tone.
    He bared his teeth again for them and then stopped, catching sight of the news unfolding on the television screen over the top of their heads. He paused for a long moment to drink in the details.
    Another grisly find for the Warwickshire police and rampant speculation that the crazed butcher known as the Grey Man has murdered, mutilated and cannibalised yet another young victim.
    Madeleine caught his interest and turned to watch too, frowning at the report and reaching for the remote control to protect the grandchildren's precious little ears from the gory details. She looked back across at him and something complex crossed her expression for a split second before it disappeared from view again and she smiled.
    The look didn’t bother him at all. In fact it was a good part of why he kept her around. No matter what hideous possibilities and doubts might cross her mind after all these years, and God only knew there had been revelations, she never questioned a single thing he did.
     
     

Chapter 6
     
    It was early morning and I was out running in the woods with my mp3 blasting out 'Monkey's Gone To Heaven' by The Pixies. I was absurdly grateful for the light breeze slipping between the trees since I'd been neglecting my usual routine and living on fast food and coffee recently. But my breath was still tellingly ragged and my whole body felt like it was about to burst into flames. As I moved, I tried to avoid thinking about the case that consumed my waking moments just as surely as the monster I had to catch consumed his victims, but resistance was futile.
    If man is five then the devil is six …
    Mention of the devil in the song lyrics immediately brought back the Grey Man's most recent letter, and I stopped