Face of Evil: A Bondy Thriller

By Peter Garner

What happens when you come face to face with evil? What can you do when you feel helpless before an enemy who fills you with terror? What if you can't escape, but find yourself dragged inevitably into a confrontation with the very FACE OF EVIL?
Bondy and his friends are terrified by the MAN WITH THE CROOKED FACE. They seem destined to meet him despite their efforts to stay clear. Does he know that they have seen what he did? Can the police protect them?
And who is the mysterious MAN IN BLACK?
Follow the twists and turns to the final breathtaking confrontation with...the FACE OF EVIL!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Feb 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491891551

Peter Garner

The author is a former Comprehensive School teacher who has been involved with young people for most of his adult life. He has led youth clubs and worked as a leader in youth camps and youth holidays. He has written in a series of “Camp Talks” for young people. Born in north Wales and educated at Grove Park Grammar School Wrexham, he subsequently studied at Manchester University. He now lives with his wife in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, writing novels for children and young adults. His hero VINCE in this novel is a departure from his earlier series of BONDY thrillers. These are, in order of publication: THE CAVE; HIDDEN CITY; WHEN THE BELLS FELL SILENT; FACE OF EVIL and NIGHT OF THE SHADOW - all available from Author House.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

It was an evil face. The eyes had that sinister look and that bleak unwavering gaze that seemed to see right through you. Saw your fear and played on it, leaving you trembling inside and groping for some way to avert your eyes.

It was hypnotic, like the staring, transfixing eyes of a snake that takes away your resistance and leaves you defenceless, helpless, like putty in the hands of the assailant.

It was dark and the sky was moonless. There were no street lights and there was nowhere to hide. You just had to keep walking, walking and as you walked you could hear those relentless footsteps that followed, followed, never ceasing, never pausing, on and on and on… .

A look ahead revealed, even in the thick darkness, that there was a high wall, a very high wall. It could not be climbed. You were being driven down an alleyway—a dead end. There was no escape.

He thought of crying out, but it was no use. The place was deserted. Where were the police? He had been promised protection. Someone would come. They were watching the murderer, monitoring his every move.

The murderer had a knife. He was holding it in his hand. He meant business. He had struck before. He would surely strike again. There was no stopping this evil.

Suddenly he saw a movement high on the wall. Something was happening up there!

Numerous figures all dressed in black were all at once clambering, monkey-like down the sheer face of the wall. Was this a trap?

In a frantic panic he turned to look behind him. The brutal killer was still there, but he was surrounded by more black-clad figures. He had been disarmed.

He turned again to look back in the direction he had been walking and there ahead of him slowly making his way towards him with a huge smile on his face was the detective. He was saved! It was over!

"My apologies, Mr Jones, for our late arrival. The timing was essential.

We had to be sure. Please come with me. There is a police car waiting to take you down to the station, where we need to ask you a few preliminary questions—over a cup of strong tea, of course. But your ordeal is over and now we have got this monster, you can rest easy and sleep peacefully in your bed. We thank you for your cooperation."

They shook hands firmly and walked together towards the waiting car. A police officer was there to open the door for him. He climbed in and sank down into the leather seat, leaned his head back and breathed a deep sigh of relief.

The lights came on and the film ended… 

CHAPTER 1

HE’S EVIL!

It was that same night when they were returning home from the cinema.

Toby was the first to see him. It was the summer holidays and the three friends, now sixteen year olds, were all staying together at James’s cottage. Their parents were away on a teenage-free holiday. They didn’t mind because they were equally enjoying their parent-free holiday! Thankfully each of their parents was confident that they would behave themselves, act sensibly and look after the house, whilst still having fun. Their confidence was not misplaced!

It was a particularly dark night and it was pouring with rain. They’d been to see the latest hit murder film and were just on their way home. All three of them were endeavouring to take shelter under Mary’s not very large umbrella. It was not proving very successful! Mary had just made the comment regarding the film:

He’s nearly as good as you, Bondy!

They were discussing the clever way in which the detective on the case had solved the mystery and trapped and arrested the murderer.

What an evil face he had, continued Mary.

Who, the detective? replied James—knowing who she meant really.

No silly, the murderer. Gosh, I wouldn’t like to meet him on a dark night!

Toby had decided that it would be more comfortable walking apart from the other two, even though it meant leaving the very meagre sanctuary of the inadequate umbrella. He had suddenly darted away from them in a rather exaggerated fashion, muttering something about preferring to get wet than to get a stiff neck, when he bumped into the stranger.

He had a brief but clear view of his face as the man turned angrily towards him, grumbling fiercely under his breath something which Toby could not quite hear. He stopped and turned to watch as the man disappeared down a dark alley under an arch that carried a railway line over the top.

He wore a large black raincoat with the collar turned up. He was of medium height with thin features. But what marked him out from anyone else Toby had ever seen before, was his face. It was a sort of twisted face with a bent pointed nose. One eye was sightless—or so it seemed to

Toby; like a glass eye staring eerily out from his face. The other eye was a piercing black eye under very thin eyebrows, while beneath his bent and crooked nose was a thin slit of a mouth carrying a strip of moustache along his upper lip, almost as if it had been drawn there by some child with a black pen. He had a pointed chin, again almost like some sort of cartoon character. But there was nothing ‘cartoonish’ about him. Toby felt a shiver go down his spine and he found himself saying out loud;

He’s evil

James and Mary were engaged in animated conversation and didn’t really hear what Toby said. It was later on the bus as they made their way home that he repeated it again.

I tell you he’s evil.

James turned to him with a puzzled look on his face;

Who’s evil? You mean the ‘baddy’ in the film?

No, no , said Toby I tried to tell you before but you weren’t listening. I saw him on the street, just after we came out of the cinema; I bumped into him and he turned and looked at me. It was awful; I’ll never forget his face—it frightened me I can tell you, and I don’t scare that easily.

He described the man to them as best he could, adding,

But you’d have to see his face to really understand what I’m saying.

Well he can’t help his looks, said James while Mary added,

Don’t forget we’ve just been to the pictures—perhaps you’re letting your imagination run away with you.

Well I know what I saw, said Toby, defensively, and I wouldn’t like to meet him again on a dark night.

Well now, how likely is it that you will? said James.

Mary laughed, I bet you don’t see him again!

I certainly hope I don’t, replied Toby.

BUT… . HE DID!!

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The next day, Toby was on the bus returning from a visit to his boxing coach at the local gym. The bus was passing the very spot where he had seen the man the night before. Toby was looking somewhat dreamily through the window of the bus and wasn’t even aware that he was passing that particular spot. His mind was on other things and not at all thinking about the ugly stranger; in fact he was actually thinking about the advice his coach had given him concerning his forthcoming bout for the under eighteen championship of Wales!

Suddenly without warning, into his vision came that dreadful face again. There he was, passing the exact same spot! He was not mistaken; it was him. As we have said, Toby did not scare that easily—except perhaps in dark caves! But this man scared him.

He instinctively ducked down in his seat lest the man see him. He put his hand over the side of his face and peered through the gap between his fingers, watching till the man disappeared once again down the dark alleyway under the railway bridge. He sat back in his seat and breathed a sigh of relief—thank goodness he was gone! But what was he doing in that part of the town and why had he gone down that alleyway again? Well, of course it seemed on reflection a stupid question; he probably lived there! Or maybe he was visiting a friend? But who would be a friend to such a man? Then Toby rebuked himself. Since his life had changed from the bully mentality to one of consideration for other people, he had been learning to accept people whoever they were and whatever their peculiarities. Why was he so ‘down’ on this man?

Mary and James had said as much to him when he had talked in more detail to them after the visit to the cinema. Why was he so against the man just because of his face? Of course they admitted they had not seen the man; but nevertheless they had a point, even though Toby was convinced that if they had seen him, they would agree with him. Mary had chided him;

"After all there