‘You just can’t see what you’ve done, can you?’
‘See what, tell me.’ Maybe she could keep him talking.
‘What you do. The way you are! You’re just like her.’ He brought the mallet down. She guarded her head with her hands, feeling the strength in his blow as it made impact with her wrist and forearm.
The neighbour’s dog began to bark as it ran down the garden. It knew she was in trouble. Barney had been trying to warn her and she hadn’t listened. She knew someone was watching her and she’d been right. ‘Barney,’ she called, hoping that the dog would continue to cause a nuisance and attract her neighbour’s attention.
‘Shut up, bitch.’
‘Barney.’
She went to stand. Knocking on the window would cause more noise. As she did, he struck her head with the mallet until her flecked vision faded. She could hear the dog but she could no longer shout. Dribble ran down her chin and her ear began to ring.
‘The other one died on me, she deserved it too – it was a bit too soon but it was always going to happen. You’re not going to die, not yet. Stand.’ He pulled her by the arm.
She tried to stand but her legs gave way. Collapsing back onto the floor, the room spun. Her vision – it was like she was looking through a tunnel, a long tunnel with a fuzzy wall. The ringing was louder, then it became constant and piercing. The tugging on her arm, more violent. She was sure she was walking, either that or the hallway was moving, like she was on an escalator. Daylight, rain, wet. Her hair, rain, or was it blood? The car on her drive. She’d parked on the road, so she thought. Barney, he was still barking. His owner was shouting out the back door, she could hear it over the house. Sobbing, she knew that meant he wasn’t looking out of his front window. Bushes, that’s all there were at the side of her house. Her large lean-to shimmered ahead. Was it shimmering?
She felt her teeth rub on the blanket that lined the back seat of the car. A prick to her neck was the last thing she felt before he covered her up with another blanket. ‘Where are you taking me—’
Sleep, so tired, so sore, nightmares, Jade, blood, he was chasing her. The river, she was falling and falling. Choking. No, she was in her bedroom, Rhys stared at her with bloodshot eyes, grinning as he blocked off the bedroom and then there was Sally, her client. Sally was after her too. They all wanted to hurt her. They were all in it together.
Rumbling sounds, maybe she was still in a car. Was she in a car? Relaxed muscles. Deeper and deeper she fell into the abyss of her mind. Breathe – she couldn’t. The smell, diesel and air freshener. Deeper and deeper. The rumbling of the engine, so relaxing. She wanted to fall. Count. One, two, thre—
Pain, gravel piercing skin. Daylight, now darkness. She closed her eyes, wanting to sleep. A sliding door, clanking.
His robotic voice echoed through the room. ‘And of course there was Jade. After all those years I never thought I’d see her again. You, young lady, you are part of that same problem. It was meant to be you but when I saw her there, I just knew I had to take care of business. I couldn’t let it go and I can’t let you go.’
Uncontrollable sobs filled her lungs. Her brain wasn’t working, it kept drawing her back to the dark abyss. She couldn’t fight it.
‘And all I wanted was a normal life and from the beginning it was never going to be. She brought those men into our lives. When that happens, people get hurt. I had to stop you before you became that person. Pretty little Aimee will always be Pretty little Aimee. Don’t be sad, I’m helping you. I can’t let you ever become like her.’
She listened as his sobs sounded in time with hers. Hypnotically, they lured her back where she wanted to be. Her sobs softened to the rhythm of his, until silence took over. The abyss was waiting.
Fifty-Two
As the interview with Steven came to an end on replay, Gina’s face burned with embarrassment. Just as the tape was switched off, her name was mentioned and she knew what had come after, Briggs had told her. Her phone call to forensics hadn’t given her anything new to go on as yet. Their mystery attacker was still preserving his anonymity.
Briggs had messaged a few minutes ago and prepared a brief press release, appealing for witnesses to Sophie Dobbin’s attack. Another reason for the press to hang around for a scoop.
She flicked open her notepad. There was something that had been bothering her, something she needed to investigate. If Rex had sent her the flowers and the chocolates, she needed to know. She had the name of the flower shop. Smith had seen their van pull in and she knew the only florist that worked on Cleevesford High Street was Blossom’s Bouquets. She’d called them, giving them the time and date of the delivery. An email on her personal account pinged up on her phone.
Hi Gina,
Just following up on your call earlier. I’ve had a look at our order book and can confirm that the sender of your gifts was a man called Trevor and he paid in cash. I don’t have a surname unfortunately or any further contact details. Hope that helps.
Hayley – Blossom’s Bouquets.
Her mind whirled with everything that was happening. The flowers, a man called Trevor. She didn’t know anyone called Trevor so why would anyone of that name send her flowers and chocolates? Paid cash – it was obvious that Trevor was not Trevor, but who was he? Was he Rex? If so, she had no idea why Rex would just not send them using his own name. The concealment felt more like harassment. The thought of someone playing with her made her skin crawl. She had to tell someone, she should tell Briggs. CCTV, maybe the shop could show her exactly who this person was. Her investigation wasn’t official. She had no right to demand it, she’d have to rely on the goodwill of the florist when it came to giving it to her. She replied.
Hi Hayley,
Thank you so much for getting back to me – much appreciated. I don’t know of anyone called Trevor and I’m a little concerned for my safety. I know this is a lot to ask but do you have CCTV? Is there any way I can get hold of a screen grab of the sender. I would be hugely grateful if you could assist me in getting to the bottom of this.
Many thanks,
Gina.
Before hitting send, she was tempted to finish the reply off with DI Gina Harte but this was a personal investigation at present and she’d done enough damage for one week. She wouldn’t use her DI status to get what she wanted. She’d only just smoothed things over with Jacob and Wyre, the last thing she wanted to do was upset anyone else on the team.
