He was quiet.
“It was me who punched Mr McKend-Berry in the face when I knew he’d brought Ava here,” I said, loud enough so that only the officer could hear as well as Jon.
“Actually, he’s lying. It was me,” Max said, giving me a broad grin.
The officer rolled her eyes. “If there are any cameras we’ll know who it was, if Mr McKend-Berry wants to press any charges. Can you empty your pockets, sir? Or shall I do it for you?”
We watched as Jon lifted his arms and the officer went through each pocket. I knew he’d have been patted down for weapons already. She pulled out a wallet and went through that and I noticed the gloves on her hands. Then she gave a loud exhale and held up a small bag that had been in his wallet. “Wonder what the lab will say these are?” she said. “Cuff him and get him in the car.” She put the tablet in an evidence bag and the wallet in another, taking photos. Then she turned to look at myself and Max.
“He might press charges for his jaw. But I wouldn’t worry too much.” She stood up. “It’s hard to press charges or get anywhere near that stage when someone is spiked. We might have enough in this case.”
I nodded and glanced towards the stairs where Ava was being supported by the paramedic and an officer. Her face was streaked with make-up, around her eyes was blackened by it and her honeyed skin was pale.
“Unclench your fists,” I heard Jackson say. “And fucking breathe, man.”
“I need to go with her,” I said to Jackson. Max was standing with his arm around Victoria, murmuring into her ear.
“Let’s go to the station first and give statements. Then you can pick Ava up and take her home,” Jackson said. “She won’t want you to see her in that state. And at the moment, she doesn’t know who’s here and who’s not.”
I shook my head. “I don’t care about what state she’s in…” And I realised I didn’t.
I walked out of the hotel, through the main doors that had been opened by the emergency services, towards a tall wall that was half crumbling. I drew back my fist and slammed it in, feeling pain shoot straight down my hand and into my wrist. “Fuck!” I shouted, feeling the frustration being replaced by sharp pain.
“Feel better?” Jackson said, standing a good few feet behind me.
“Kind of.” I turned round. My knuckles were grazed but I knew I wouldn’t have done any serious damage due to how I’d angled my hand. My father had taught me how to fight when I was younger and although I didn’t have an easy temper, I had a breaking point.
“Station. Statements. Hospital. You good to get through this?”
I nodded, hoping I was telling the truth.
“Hey,” I said, stopping at the bottom of the hospital bed where Ava was lying.
“Hey you,” she said and then she burst into tears.
I took two steps and had her in my arms, feeling sobs wrack her body.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry for? You have done nothing to be sorry about, Ava,” I said, breathing in her scent.
“I’m sorry you saw me like that,” she said. “I’m sorry I let him take advantage of me and caused everyone to have to rush over. I spoilt our night…”
I kissed the top of her head. “You didn’t. You didn’tlethim do anything. He spiked your drink and took you back to the hotel.”
“How did you know?”
“You rang Max. And I knew where you were because of the app,” I said. “And we got to you as soon as we could.”
Her cries had softened. “Fuck,” she said. “I feel so fucking stupid. Why did it have to happen to me?”
“It isn’t your fault. Jon had an issue with women who didn’t do what he wanted. You’re too strong for him,” I said.
I felt her stiffen. “Am I? Now that’s happened everyone is going to want to wrap me in cotton wool. I’ll have four bodyguards back, and you… You’ll be worried every time I’m out, that I’m going to get myself involved in some stupid situation again and you’ll have to come rescue me.”
“I think everyone will be worried about any of us having a drink spiked, Ava, not just you. But you trusted him – it isn’t like he was a random stranger,” I said, keeping her close.
“But I didn’t trust him, Eli. He creeped me out. I should’ve listened to my gut. Or not been so nice,” she said, nuzzling my chest.
