DETECTIVE JACK PARNELL, NORTH YORKSHIRE POLICE HQ UK, 1986, 10.55
The door opened to the police interview room. Both policemen stared at the tape sat on the table in a sealed plastic evidence bag. One walked toward the table and took the last drag of his cigarette. He looked at the smoking filter and sniffed, then stubbed it out in an ashtray in the table's centre. He sat down and looked up to the other officer who stood perfectly still.
'Come on Gary,' he said, 'we have to make sure it's real. If it gets too gruesome I can always turn it off.'
Gary walked to the chair opposite and sat down, all the while eyeing the tape in the bag.
'Jack,' he said, 'I didn't join the squad to fanny out at the first hurdle, just play the damn tape.'
Jack nodded, his grim face gave Gary the impression this was not going to be easy to listen to. Pressing the record button, Jack started. 'This is detective inspector Jack Parnell and with me is Gary Auckland, Gary if you would, state you are here for the tape please.' Jack nodded toward the tape recorder.
'This is D.I. Auckland, as previously stated.'
Jack sat back in his chair, an ominous silence filled the room. 'Okay, I am opening the bag, which has the tape inside.' Jack pulled the tape out and put it in another tape player adjacent to the first.
'Just as a footnote for anyone listening to this, the 'Ankle Biter' always starts the tape off with his poem, this way we know it is authentic.'
Jack nodded to his partner, whose finger hovered over the play button.
Gary closed his eyes as he pressed down.
A deep slow voice started the poem.
Jack leant over and whispered. 'He uses a contraption to change his voice.'
Gary nodded.
The ankle biter
Comes at night
Its eyes are black
Its skin is white
It does not want
To hear you speak
When in your room
It comes to peek
So firmly close
Your mouth I say
Or it will steal
Your tongue away
And furthermore
Upon your feet
It likes to gnaw
It likes to eat
So keep your boots
Bound good and tight
Before you go
To sleep at night
It comes for you
It comes for me
It comes for those
Who cannot flee
It comes for both
The old and young
So guard your feet
And hold your tongue.
Jack put his head in his hands. 'Fuck! It's real.'
The voice on the tape started again. 'Jack? Oh, I do hope you are there Jack, I do love our chats.'
YOU ARE READING
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