Ep 1

As Charly slept with Christine curled upon his lap, elsewhere, darker events were unfolding.

Tim Crisp had ran the wine store for three years now, and hated every minute of it. A tall but overweight individual, his doctor had warned that unless he lost weight and quickly, he could expect the crunching pain of a lethal heart attack.

This had not really bothered him of course. Even as he closed up this night, he chuckled about the irony of the situation.

“Well,” he muttered. “At least it would be restful.”

He scurried toward the rear car park, spotting his dilapidated van easily. The figure standing near the door was unfamiliar though.
A tall, slim woman, dressed in short skirt and see through top, turned and smiled.

“Hi mister. I really need a ride.”

Tim reached the pleasant woman and sighed.

“Sorry to disappoint my dear. I’m on my way home you know.”

The woman raised her eyebrows and slim fingers started raising the skirt toward those cream thighs.

“I can make it worth your while.”

Tim had never had such a blatant offer before and placed the key in the driver’s door.

“Hop in then my dear. Where to?”

As the woman climbed in, she whispered, “Foxly Wood.”

The dark trees grew undisturbed as the van drew up slowly. Tim could feel his heart thumping as he brought them to a halt.

“Here we are then mam. Strange place for a drop off though.”

The woman did not reply. She climbed over and sat upon his firm lap. Slender fingers tore at his zip, digging inside for his member.
Tim gasped as she impaled him, warm lips dragging across his sensitive throat. Her lips closed upon his and pain ripped through his body.

“This is what you deserve pig.”

She clamped her firm palm upon his screaming mouth as the skin peeled back rapidly. His eyes expanded before bursting from their sockets in a shower of white jelly.

She did not react to this horror. She was still impaled, even as the grinning skull fell forward and rested upon her cold shoulder. She climbed out slowly, chuckling to herself.

As owls hooted their protest, she wandered off into the darkness.
 
Ep 2

By the time that Percy and his DI arrived, the forensic team were crawling all over the vehicle. Each man dressed in the paper white suit.

“What have you got for us doc?”

“He was middle-aged for a start. He’s in quite a mess though. The acid stripped his skull and upper torso back to the bone.”

“He drank it?” Percy asked.

“That was my first thought,” the doc replied. “Problem is though, the forensic boys found no container.”

“What kind of acid are we talking about?” the DI asked.

“Sulphuric. Damn dangerous stuff. There is something else too.”

“Which is?” Percy asked.

“He had sex just before death intervened.”

As the doctor left the scene, the CSI officer walked over.

“We found extra prints sir. Definitely female.”

“I want DNA as well,” the DI said. “If he had sex, there should be traces from the female.”

“We have swabbed for that sir. The results should be on your desk by midnight.”

The DI looked inside the van where the corpse now sat.

“Ever see this before?”

Percy shook his head.

“Neither have I,” the DI said. “We’ll collect the prints and run them through the computer. We may get lucky.”

Back at the station, the prints turned up a negative response.

“I just hope that the swab gives us a better result Percy.”

“You think the woman did it?”

“She was certainly there. That makes her our prime suspect.”

The boring hours ticked away slowly. A search of the wine store turned up nothing of course. Elsewhere that day, a familiar face turned up at the flat.

“Hello again Charly.”

He stared at his middle-aged visitor who sported a long grey beard.

“Do you ever change that multi-coloured poncho Grant?”

“No point. I’m stuck in the good old days. May I come in?”

Charly stepped aside as his new friend made his merry way to the lounge.

“Mind Christine,” Charly said as the cat bounded over.

“What plans have you today?” Grant asked.

“I thought sitting at home would be nice.”

Grant reached under his poncho and pulled out the evening paper.

“This might fire you up.”

Charly took it as they sat upon the sofa. Christine leapt on the headrest and watched intently.

As Charly read the report, he screwed up his eyes.

“Stripped to the bone?”

“That’s what it says. Cops suspect acid did it.”

Charly read down.

“Says here they are looking for a woman.”

“That is not unusual. It was the nature of the killing that took my attention.”

Charly finished reading.

“You have a theory?”

Grant nodded.

“He certainly did not drink that acid willingly. I knew the bloke you see. He was decent and single. As a matter of fact, I was his best customer.”

“What do you think happened?”

“He must have picked up a prostitute. That would explain his van turning up at Foxly Wood.”

“You had better tell the cops.”

“I have just come from there. They took a statement. That CID bloke is in charge.”

“The one I spoke too?”

“Same damn idiot,” Grant said.

Charly thought deeply.

“If you are right, then she will strike again.”

“That is my conclusion,” Grant said. “Fancy a ride?”

“You have a car? I thought you were a cycle person.”

Grant grinned.

“Only during the summer my friend. My mini is outside.”
Charly grabbed his trench coat and said goodbye to his loving pet.

As they left, she meowed bitterly.

The mini was of the old design and badly in need of repair. As the motor started, Charly said, “I hope you know that cruising is illegal.”

“Course I know,” Grant said. “That is half the fun mate.”

The vehicle set off for the town centre as darkness finally fell.
 
Ep 3

At Market Street, the mini stopped. Grant wound the window down and shouted toward the two scantily dressed women.

“Any new girls working the area?”

A dark haired female who was obviously over sixty came forward.

“Hello Grant. Nice to see you again.”

Charly was rather astonished.

“Any new girls Stella?”

“Just the usual. Why ask?”

“The cop’s suspect that one of you lot did that chap last night. Keep a lookout eh?”

“We usually do, but ta for the tip.”

Grant rolled the window down and glanced at his friend.

“I’ve only ever spoken to her.”

“Hey, it’s your life mate. Where too now?”

“How about club land? It’s not that far.”

As they set off, a seventeen-year-old clubber was making her way gently home. Despite it only being eight o’clock, she was fairly on the inebriated side.

As she turned into the alleyway, a tall slim woman stepped from the darkness.

“Have you a light love?”

Tanya stopped.

“I don’t smoke I’m afraid.”

“Where you been then?”

“Cooper’s”

“That gay place?” the woman asked.

“What of it?” Tanya demanded.

“No worries girl, I’m as bent as they come.”

Tanya stared at the suggestive clothing and did not like what she saw.

“I need to get home now.”

The woman reached out and gripped her right hand.

“Just have a feel darling.”

“I eh, don’t want to ta.”

The woman’s grip was like iron, and the young girl could not stop her hand being thrust inside the flimsy top. The warm skin and firm nipple brushed across her palm.

“Can I go home now?”

“Only after a peck my dear.”

Tanya closed her eyes and pressed her lips against the stranger. As contact was made, a searing pain ripped through her. A hand clamped to her mouth as the head smoked profusely. As the legs collapsed, the stranger went down with it until all was silent once more.

“You should have taken more care,” the stranger whispered before wandering into the night.

The mini had now stopped in Perky Road where the clubs were located.

“Are we going in?” Charly asked.

“No point in doing that mate,” Grant replied. “We will just sit tight for a bit.”

The hours passed slowly and the young clubbers took no notice of the strange old car. Just after midnight though, a shrill scream rent the night air.

“That came from near here,” Charly said.

“I know it did. Hang on.”

Grant spun the mini around and throttled it into the main street. He spotted an hysterical woman gripping the wall tightly. The car screeched to a halt and the two friends leapt out.

“What’s the matter?” Grant asked.

The woman simply pointed down the dark alley.

“You keep her there,” Charly said. “I’ll take a look.”

He crept into the alley and nearly tripped over the cold corpse. He stared down at the grinning skull and staggered back.

“There is another one here,” he shouted back. “You had better phone the damn cops.”

The DI was not very happy when he arrived in the town centre. For a start, the DNA had turned up nothing in the way of a suspect, and the last thing he expected was to see Charly and Grant.

“Strange place to meet again,” he said. “Check the victim Percy.”

As the officer did so, the tired DI turned toward the hysterical woman.

“You found the victim?”

She nodded.

“She looks fairly young,” Percy shouted.

“What are you two doing here?”

“We just happened to be in the area,” Charly retorted.

“That’s a likely story. I’ll need to question you both tomorrow.”

“We are not to blame sir,” Grant insisted.

As Percy returned, the DI said, “Like the other?”

“Almost identical.”

“I could arrest you both on the spot,” the DI said. “However, reporting to the station at nine will be enough for now.”

“We can go then?” Charly asked.

“After one final question. Did you recognise her Grant?”

Grant glanced at Charly.

“I never saw the body.”

“Then have a look man,” the DI suggested.

Grant wandered into the alleyway and returned moments later.

“Thankfully she’s not one of the girls.”

“Okay,” the DI said. “Of you go, and remember nine.”

As the forensic team arrived with the doctor, the DI told his sergeant, “Those two know more than they are letting on.”
 
Ep 4

As nine came the following morning, Charly and Grant climbed the steps and entered the station. As they sat waiting, Charly said, “Just stay calm remember. Those idiots are barking up the wrong tree.”

An officer wandered in from the rear.

“We are ready for you now. If you could both follow me.”

Within the bleak interview room, Percy and the DI sat impassively as the suspects entered. As they sat down, the interview began.

“I don’t like civilians who interfere with official business,” the
DI said firmly. “You first turn up during the burnt body's case, now this one. So, I have been doing some digging.”

“What did you find?” Grant asked.

“You Grant have been involved in petty dope. Nothing too serious I might add. As for you Charly, I don’t like the file ending with classified. Seems military intelligence blocked the search.”

“I really don’t know why,” Charly replied calmly.

“Are you some kind of agent?”

Charly shook his head.

“Never mind then,” the DI continued. “Grant here gave us a statement concerning Mr Crisp which was a nice touch. However, we have a problem. You were both seen sitting inside a mini at Perky Road, just about when the murder took place.”

“We did not commit it,” Grant protested. “That woman suffered an acid attack, just like the last victim.”

“How do you know that?” Percy asked.

“I read the paper dumb ***.”

As Percy moved forward, the DI waived him away.

“You may not be our killers, but you do have an idea of what is really going on. I’d like to hear it.”

Charly cleared his throat.

“You asked for it.”

As the DI listened, the theory was put before him.

“Whoever is behind this operates as a sex worker. She also operates at night. She kills without thought or mercy and is so inconspicuous, that the victims are taken in. Grant spoke to one of the girls to warn them of the danger. Yes, we were in club land but the hunch did not pay off.”

“Police work is harder than you think sir,” Percy reminded him. “Amateur sleuthing is not appreciated.”

“Would you mind if we checked out the mini?” the DI asked.

“Go ahead,” Grant replied. “I would like it washed too.”

Percy smiled at the joke.

“I think that will be done,” the DI said. “Next time that you have a hunch, try and let me know.”

“Can we go now?” Charly asked.

“I don’t see why not.”

As they reached the door however, the DI’s voice swirled up.

“After the blast at the monastery, those nuns saw two blokes running off. They even gave a description. I cannot prove it was you two, but I’ll be watching.”

Charly whirled around.

“If I were you detective inspector, I’d spend more time looking for the killer!”

With that, he stormed out. Leaving Grant to follow. Outside the station, Grant caught up with him.

“What was that about military intelligence?”

“You would never believe me Grant. I suggest returning to my flat for a cool down.”

“Fancy some dope?”

Charly gave him a withering look.

“My brain is far too precious for that. Come on, before that DI changes his mind.”

Back at the flat that grim morning, Charly opened the Grouse and poured out two glasses.

“Get this down you mate. We both need a calm down.”

As they slugged it back, Christine watched from the rear armchair.

“How long you had her?”

“Since she was a kitten,” Charly said. “Bites and scratches but she really does love me.”

“No woman then?”

Charly’s face fell.

“Been married twice actually. Both committed adultery. Morals of a pig you know.”

“I think pigs would regard that as a slur,” Grant suggested.

Charly smiled.

“No snooping tonight eh? Let the cops work for a change.”

“Until another body turns up,” Grant said.

Charly was about to reply when the door rapped.

“Stay here mate. I’ll see who it is.”

“If it’s the DI,” Grant said. “Tell him to take a hike.”

As Grant laughed, his host pulled the door open.
He was confronted by a tall, slim woman, wearing a full dark suit.
At her side stood a short bloke in similar attire.

“Can I help you?”

The woman smiled.

“I’m Triad. This is Doctor Peters.”

Charly scowled back.

“You lot waste no time in replacing people do you?”

“It’s what we do Charly.”

As they entered the lounge, Christine fled to the rear of the sofa.

“Let me introduce military intelligence. I have a feeling that we are about to be conscripted.”

“That would take the emergency powers act 1939,” Grant said.

“We are acting under those powers sir,” Triad informed him.

As they sat down, the woman said politely, “We discovered the local police had been probing your past. Then we discovered why.”

“You know about the killings then?” Grant asked.

“We certainly do,” the doctor replied.

“How can we help?” Charly asked.

“The nature of the deaths suggest an alien involvement. Despite the tragedy of the admiral, we feel that you can help.”

Charly thought quickly.

“What you will need is a sample of that acid.”

“Our men are retrieving that now sir,” the doctor said. “Along with the DNA and the files.”

“We like to upset the Bobbies,” Triad added.

“You plan to hush this up?” Grant asked.

“We have no option,” the woman replied.

“I don’t suppose Jerrix has contacted you?” Charly asked hopefully.

“Not at present. Anyway, she died some time ago.”

Charly now repeated his theory as Triad listened intently. When he had finished she stroked her firm jaw.

“When I get the results of the search, I’ll make contact. For now though, stay put. If the DI calls again, give him this number.”

She handed over a small white card, which he took gratefully.
Triad looked at the whisky bottle.

“Enjoy yourselves. We shall be in touch.”

After they had left, Charly poured out two more doses.

“I hope you realise, this could mean our life’s?”

“Who cares,” Grant said. “I have always fancied going out with a bang.”
 
Ep 5

The sun had gone down now and Casy wandered back towards her North Street flat after a hard day at the office. Elegant to look at, with fluffy ginger hair, her friends wondered why she had never married.
She smiled at that thought as she entered the apartment block. As she reached the third floor, a tall slim woman greeted her.

“I seem to have locked myself out. Mind if I use your phone love?”

Cassy smiled at the daring attire.

“I don’t mind in the slightest. Perhaps we could chat and things...”

The stranger smiled back as they entered the short hall.

“Phone’s in the lounge. I’ll just take a shower.”

As the stranger walked off, Cassy entered the shower room and quickly stripped off the formal clothing. She adjusted the dial and stepped inside the warm flow.

“I must not take too long. My catch may fly the nest.”

As she rapidly soaped herself, the shower room door opened and the stranger padded inside.

“I’ve made the call thanks. How much?”

Cassy took a deep breath and almost rushed from the shower. Now standing naked, she stammered, “No charge. Look, stay a bit longer eh? I shan’t be too long.”

The stranger glanced at the wet body and slowly advanced. As Cassy closed her eyes, firm fingers stroked the curvy thighs.

“Enjoying it?” the stranger asked.

“Oh yes.”

“Then perhaps you will enjoy this too.”

Warm lips enclosed Cassy’s own, as firm arms embraced her. A violent pain shot through the unlucky woman, as the flesh was stripped from her skull and upper torso. As the cadaver collapsed, the woman let it drop.

“Just too easy.”

She left quietly, as elsewhere; military intelligence was dealing with the confiscated items.

“According to this,” Doctor Peters said. “The DNA sample is perfectly human. As are the fingerprints.”

“How can that be?” Triad asked. “The victims suffered horrendous damage.”

The doctor continued.

“The acid is definitely sulphuric. No alien isotopes at all.”

“That has torn it,” Triad hissed. “We are not allowed to interfere with those crimes.”

“There may be an explanation for all this,” the doctor said.

“Get on with it then.”

“Duplication. The alien could be using a mock up.”

“That would certainly explain the results,” Triad said. “Any sign of alien tissue in the victims?”

“None I’m afraid. We will of course examine the next victim.”

As the phone went off, she picked it up harshly.

“Yes DI? Thanks for the tip. We will be right on it.”

“Problem?” Peters asked

“Some woman has been found dead in her flat. Come on, we better take a look.”

By the time they arrived, the crime scene was swarming with CSI operatives.

“What have you got DI?” Triad asked.

“Same modus operandi. These killings are horrendous.”

As the doctor examined the corpse, Triad asked, “How long she been dead?”

“According to my doc about two hours. The housemaid found her.”

“It’s obvious that the acid entered via the mouth,” Peters pointed out. Never seen this level of damage before though.”

“Was she assaulted?” Triad asked.

Peters examined her lower region and shook his head.

“She was a virgin. Gay probably.”

“I suppose that you will want these samples as well,” the DI said.

“Of course. Until we are satisfied, that is. If it turns out to be a normal crime, we step away.”

“Who could call this normal,” Percy asked.

“That is not what I meant,” Triad said coldly.

As Peters stood, the CSI officer approached.

“We have fingerprints of two female’s sir. I’ll send them off to you tonight.”

Triad smiled.

“As a matter of fact, you will send those to me. Your DI knows where we are.”

They left the police to sort things out before speeding towards Charly’s flat.

“Why go there?” Peters asked. “He is as much in the dark as we are.”

“Have faith doctor. Charly may think of something we can’t.”

Charly was a little worse for wear when he answered the door.

“Join the party.”

“We have no time for that,” Triad snapped. “Another woman has been murdered.”

Charly staggered back as the officers walked inside.

“Whereabouts?” Charly asked entering the lounge.

“North Street,” Peters answered as they sat down.

“Have you come to any conclusions yet?” the woman asked.

“I still need one piece of information,” Charly replied.

“Which is?” Peters asked.

“How the hell can she carry all that acid about without spilling any?”

“I believe that it enters through the mouth,” Doctor Peters replied.

Charly thought for a moment.

“In that case, we need a moderator my boy. It could well kill the woman too.”

“I don’t quite follow,” Triad said.

“Charly thinks the acid is secreted from her lips,” Grant chipped in. “If that is correct, then the moderator should at least slow her down.”

“Would that work?” Triad asked.

“Only if her system is full of the stuff,” Peters replied. “We could try it I suppose.”

“Now we have to work out how to flush the ***** out,” Charly said.

“I have considered that,” Triad told him. “We get the women off the streets and make it public. Then we substitute one of ours.”

“Sounds a good plan to me,” Charly stammered. “How do you intend to deliver the moderator?”

Triad smiled.

“Would you believe dart guns?”

Charly glanced at Grant and fell about laughing.

Triad cut them short.

“You had better sober up Charly. You are about to cross dress.”

The drunken man looked at her in shock.

“You want me?”

“Who else? I think you will look quite suave in a dress.”

Charly staggered into the kitchen to make black coffee as the military waited.
 
Ep 6

It had just gone one in the morning. As dark clouds rolled overhead,
Charly walked Market Street.

The girls had been cleared by the constabulary, though the DI protested against the military intervention. In vain, as it turned out.

Charly felt extremely silly, dressed as he was in a short skirt and woolly top. Triad had felt obliged to add a long blonde wig and a bra so large, that it felt quite ridiculous.

Hidden away in the dark, military sharp shooters waited. Their darts filled with the moderator. These darts were designed to impart the fluid on impact.

Not too far away, Triad and Doctor Peters waited in the darkly coloured truck. The vehicle that doubled as a mobile lab and command post.

“Are you sure these darts will work?”

“Of course,” Peters replied. “The trick will be to hit the target and not the civilian. That would be rather tragic.”

“Especially for him,” Triad added.

Charly tried to keep himself calm by whistling, as he wandered back and forth along the cold concrete footpath.

Just before two, the clicking of high heels sounded and the ‘victim’ turned slowly.

“Who is it?” he called nervously.

“You got a light love?”

Charly saw the tall, slim figure walking towards him. Beneath the transparent top, the breasts wobbled in perfect harmony.

“I may have one,” Charly replied. “Just give us a second.”

The woman stopped suddenly.

“You’re a bloke,” she said carefully. “New to the game are we?”

Charly tried to smile.

“Any tips?”

The woman strolled on, stopping at his feet.

“The wig does not suit you.”

“I feel like an idiot.”

The woman smiled.

“No worries eh? Fancy a snog? It may help you to relax?”

Charly stepped back and suddenly shouted, “It’s her!”
Shots rang out and the startled woman staggered under the blows. As Charly watched, the woman began screaming.

“What the hell have you done to me?”

She suddenly convulsed, yellow pus oozing from her open lips. She crashed against the wall of a sweet shop, before crashing to the cold pavement.

The sharp shooters ran forward, the muzzles pointing at the twitching corpse. A few moments later, Triad and the doctor joined them.

“We got her then?” Triad asked.

The doctor knelt down and checked.

“She’s dead. God knows what that pus is though. We will have to cremate her.”

“That is no problem,” Triad said.

Turning to Charly, she put out her hand.

“Thanks for the help.”

Charly took it.

“I just hope this is the last time. Life seems so crazy now.”

Triad smiled.

“Believe me, I know how you feel.”

That morning, the DI had a visitor.

“As far as we are concerned the case is closed,” Triad said.

“What about the files, samples and so forth?”

“Burnt. Standard procedure.”

“There is still the business of the nuns you know,” the DI said.

Triad’s face hardened.

“Whatever Charly was up to, I’m sure it was for the common good.
Just drop it.”

The DI nodded rather reluctantly.

As the military officer was leaving, she stopped and turned.

“I understand that the PM is visiting the glass factory next week.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure that security is tight.”

“You had better,” Triad said. “Otherwise your next assignment will be delivering parking tickets.”

As Triad marched out, she grinned.

Charly woke at seven that morning. Grant had taken a taxi home an hour before. As he fed Christine, the cat meowed loudly.

“Don’t worry darling. Daddy is home.”

Outside his window, a thunderclap rent the air.

Author's note...This is follow up to The Bathtub...