Unable to control himself, Ben screamed, ‘Morgan,’ through the letter box.
Inside, Stan paused, he’d filled a backpack and was about to leave. He ran into the kitchen, ready to go through the window when Morgan stuck out her foot and he tripped over it, sending him flying head first towards the cooker. His head struck the corner of it with enough force to disorientate him, and he stumbled. She stood up, her hands free. He realised she’d escaped and turned towards her.
Not sure where he’d pulled the knife from, she paused; it looked as if it was the same kind he’d used on Sharon, Lydia, Lauren and Lynsey. He rushed towards her, and she grabbedthe heavy pan just as the sound of breaking glass filled the room. Stan raised the knife, ready to stab her at the same time she swung the pan around sending Bolognese flying all over the kitchen. As he lunged for her, the knife clattered off the pan and he yelped in pain. Not hesitating she swung it as hard as she could and felt a satisfying crunch as it impacted with his wrist first and then on the second swing, the side of his head, stopping Stan in his tracks. It was his turn to fall to his knees.
‘How do you like it, you bastard.’ She swung it again, but not with the same amount of force, but he managed to knock it out of her hands, sending what was left of the contents everywhere. No time to lose, she swung her foot back and kicked him as hard as she could in the groin. That did the trick. A huge figure blocked out the light from the window as it began to climb through it, and she wondered if he had an accomplice. Maybe she wasn’t out of danger yet.
‘Morgan, it’s okay. Ben’s here, we’re here.’
She realised it was Bigfoot clambering across the marble worktop towards her, and her legs began to wobble as the adrenaline left her shaking and she slumped onto the chair. Stan was on the floor clutching his balls and panting like a wild animal. If she had the energy, she’d kick him again and again, but there was no need because he was currently being dragged to his feet and cuffed very roughly by Bigfoot, who looked as if he wanted to strangle him with his bare hands.
Ben appeared at the window, took one look at her face and swore as he climbed in the same way. She wanted to tell them to be careful of the Bolognese so he didn’t slip but couldn’t speak, the words were stuck in the back of her throat, and then she felt his arms around her. He held her close, murmuring soothing words in her ear as he gently studied her head and face.
‘I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, Brookes, you’re a total liability.’
Morgan was shaking her head. Her throat dry she managed to whisper, ‘It was him. He’s their adoptive brother.’
Bigfoot took the key from Stan’s trouser pocket and opened the front door for the patrol officers to come through. Amber and Scotty walked in, and Morgan felt glad to see them. She would explain to him how close he’d come to being accused of the murders – that print must have been accidentally left by him and he’d been too embarrassed to tell them he’d touched the blade without any gloves on.
Ben looked shocked to see the pair of them.
‘How come you’re not at home?’ he asked Scotty, who frowned.
‘I only nipped home earlier to grab my bait, boss, left my phone there by accident. Amber was taking me home to get it. We’ve been doing a drugs talk at the school.’
Ben glanced at Morgan, who smiled and shook her head, sending a wave of nausea through her entire body.
‘Why are you asking that?’
Ben pointed towards Morgan. ‘When she’s been cleaned up, I think I’ll let her explain.’
Scotty shrugged. ‘Right, okay. Well anyway, what in the name of Gordon Ramsay is going on here? Why is there Bolognese everywhere and why have you handcuffed Stan the man? Are you okay over there, Stan, you look a bit green around the gills.’
Ben looked over at him, and Morgan felt glad Stan had got what he deserved. He was a parasite.
‘Stan is under arrest for the murder of the Williams sisters, Jack and Sharon Montgomery, kidnap and police assault. You do not have to say anything…’
Ben’s voice sounded a million miles away as he read Stan his rights before handing him to Amber to put in the back of the van. Bigfoot and Ben accompanied them outside in case Stan decidedto put up a fight, all of them ready to take him down if they needed to.
FORTY-NINE
Morgan stared at the cupboard. She was alone for the time being and knew that if she was right and Angela’s body was inside, then she wanted to be the first person to find her. Her legs still shaky, her fingers trembling now too, she stood up and felt in her pockets for a glove, pulling a single blue one out. She snapped it on. Took a deep breath, turned the key and pulled open the door.
‘Oh no.’ She stared at Angela’s lifeless, glassy eyes and a sob escaped from her swollen lips. The yellow discolouration of her skin and the overwhelming smell of rusty nails told her that she was dead and had been for some time. Her beautiful pink hair was streaked with dark red dried blood, and Morgan began to cry. She didn’t care who saw her.
She couldn’t contain the tears if she tried, and the anger she felt towards Stan was like a bubbling volcano inside her chest. She wished he was still here, on the floor cupping his balls, because right now she would happily keep smashing that heavy cast-iron pan into the side of his head again and again.
‘Is that Angela?’ Ben’s voice whispered into her ear.
She hadn’t even heard him come back in. Unable to speak, she nodded.
‘Cain,’ was all Ben said, and she knew exactly what he meant. Their friend was going to be devastated beyond belief.
Morgan didn’t want to leave Angela alone any longer, but Ben gently led her outside, guiding her to the van where he opened the door and sat her inside.
‘Wait, I can’t leave the dog.’ She clambered out and ran back inside to fetch Barney from the bedroom he’d been locked in. Scooping him up, she carried him back out to the car. Ben arched one eyebrow at her but kept quiet. Once she was inside, Barney safe on her knee, he leaned over her and turned the heating up. The engine was still running, so desperate to find her, he’d left it parked up, keys inside and the doors unlocked – a car thief’s dream.
She stroked Barney softly and watched as Ben spoke to Bigfoot, who then followed him back inside.
