They get only as far as the end of the landing before the music starts up.
Webley’s heart almost stops as the first guitar notes land on her ears. She whirls, as does Cody.
The music is coming from the room containing Parker.
38
Love Will Tear Us Apart
– Joy Division
Cody races back into the bedroom, Webley at his side. He has no idea what to expect, but he hardly thinks that Parker has jumped off the bed and is now strumming a guitar.
Parker is exactly where they left him: on the bed, his instrument playing days behind him.
The music is coming from a speaker placed on top of the wardrobe. The song is Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division. Ha-ha, very funny, thinks Cody.
Next to the speaker is what appears to be a security camera.
They are being watched.
The music stops suddenly, as though this is some kind of warped version of musical chairs or pass the parcel. Cody looks at Webley and sees a reflection of his bafflement.
And then a voice breaks the silence.
‘Hello, you two! How are you both?’
Cody doesn’t recognize the voice.
‘Who are you?’
‘I go by lots of names. When you met me, I was Bobby. That name will do for now.’
Cody casts his mind back. Bobby had a Scouse accent, now totally gone from this voice. Cody is willing to bet that everything else about Bobby was probably fake, too. The red hair, the beard, the glasses, perhaps even the paunch.
Cody has so many questions, he doesn’t know where to begin.
‘What is this, Bobby? What’s going on?’
‘Yes, I’ve been a busy boy, haven’t I? There’s another camera in the main bedroom, so I already know you’ve been admiring my handiwork. It’s something, isn’t it?’
‘So, you’re admitting to these killings, then?’
‘Oh, yes. I’m not letting anyone else take the credit.’
‘Care to tell us why?’
‘Do you really want to know? Or do you just think I’m out of my mind?’
Cody thinks he’s completely batshit crazy, but he doesn’t say.
‘I’d like to give you the opportunity to enlighten us.’
‘All right, then. I will. It’s for love. Everything I do is for love.’
Webley loses it then. ‘Love! Ha! Are you fucking serious?’
‘Yes, my dear Megan. I am deadly serious. And you shouldn’t swear. Men often don’t appreciate swearing in women.’
‘Oh, fuck off. Don’t tell me what to do, you psycho. Explain to me how what you’ve done to the people here has anything to do with love.’
‘It has everything to do with love. People need to love each other more. I help them to do just that.’
Webley gestures towards the remains of her ex-fiancé. ‘Really? By murdering them and mutilating their bodies?’
‘Not always. Every situation is unique. I tailor my approach to individual circumstances.’
Webley throws her hands up in the air. ‘Jesus. You’re talking like someone who makes wedding cakes for a living. These are human beings! They are not your playthings.’
Cody understands Webley’s anger, but he is beginning to worry that it might cause Bobby to end the conversation abruptly. They need to find out what took place in this house, and why.
Surprisingly, Bobby seems to remain unruffled.
‘I don’t treat it as a game. When love has gone wrong, I offer my services to fix it. Sometimes, though, I find out that the participants are beyond redemption. They have made a mockery of love. They don’t deserve my help.’
Cody jumps in before Webley can unleash her fury again. ‘And is that what happened here?’
‘It certainly was with Oliver Selby.’
