‘Nothing to worry about.’ Rage pulsed through him. ‘Which bit of weird do you not get?’ he asked through gritted teeth. ‘This guy broke in and a message. A fair clue he’s dangerous, don’t you think? I’d say we can be reasonably confident he’s here. Olivia’s on her own, she said she would be here... and she’s not answering either phone. It’s not looking that great to me.’ He’d never hit a woman in his life but the urge to slap Emily itched at his palms. Even Barney looked impatient.
‘What if he’s holding a knife to Olivia’s throat?’
For a moment she looked shamefaced.
Barney turned to her. ‘Em, you have to go in. See what he’s doing? Find out the lie of the land. We can’t all just barge in there.’
‘You are joking.’ Her eyes widened. ‘No way.’
He took a step towards her and drew himself up. ‘Olivia could be in a lot of trouble in there. We have no idea what he’s capable of... but given his track record to date, I’m not prepared to risk another minute. You have to go in. We’ll follow behind quietly, he won’t be expecting us.’
‘Besides,’ Barney looked at Emily briefly and gave her an apologetic smile, ‘having seen those photos, it’s you he wants.’He took both her hands and held them, looking sincerely into her eyes. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll be right behind you.’
‘Actually,’ he had had a moment to think. It was no use blindly charging in, they had no idea where Olivia was, where Peter was and whether he had any weapons on him. ‘It would be better not to scare him or alert him to the fact we know he’s dangerous. Emily should go in as if she were coming home from work as normal.’ He paused to make sure Emily got the point. ‘You and I, Barney, need to go in quietly as backup, so that we can surprise him. I suggest Emily leaves the latch off and you sneak in after her and I’ll try and get in at the back so that we’ve got two lines of attack, especially as we have no idea where they are in the flat.’
‘Or even if they are in there!’ snapped Emily bitchily.
His palms twitched. ‘Let’s stick with worst case scenario.’
He gave her a look of disgust and focused on Barney. ‘We’ll time it exactly. Emily, you need to make as much noise as you can so that I can come in through the back. I might have to break the window in the kitchen or force the door. Give me five minutes from now and then you go in the front.’
Emily put her hands on her hips but he could see her defiance deflating rapidly. ‘Do I have to?’
He glared at her.
‘You’ll be a hero,’ said Barney, hugging her to him, eying Daniel over the top of her head.
He swallowed the metallic taste of fear in his mouth and glanced again at his mobile phone, willing it to reveal that he’d missed a call from Olivia and this was all crazy supposition. The screen remained blank.
Where was Olivia? And why wasn’t she answering her phone?
Chapter Twenty-One
Peter had been lying in wait for me. With my windpipe under pressure there was no way I could fight him as he forced me towards the metal staircase to the flat.
As he pushed me at the first step, I could smell the strong scent of carbolic soap as the rough hair of his strong forearm rubbed under my chin. I could barely make the steps, my knees were only just working and my thighs shaking.
‘Ups-a-daisy,’ said Peter, kneeing me sharply in the back of the leg.
‘You know the police know all about you. You can’t get away with this,’ I said, my teeth gritted so that the betraying tremor in my voice didn’t escape.
‘Can’t get away with what?’ he answered his voice pleasant and reasonable, remonstrating with me for my deplorable manners. ‘That’s no way to greet a guest, not very friendly at all.’ He tutted and shook his head. ‘You should have invited me in. Shall we start again?’
We reached the kitchen and he let go and shoved me in.
‘This is the part where you invite me in.’
‘I’d rather you left.’ I tried to sound firm. It didn’t work, my voice came out weak and wobbly.
His lips twisted unpleasantly and I caught a fleeting something in his eyes.
‘No can do. It’s Emily I’m here to see but I see she’s out. So I’ll just have to wait. In the meantime, you’re in the way.’
What the hell did that mean?
‘I can leave,’ I said stupidly, never believing for a moment he’d agree.
‘I think not. Don’t worry, you won’t be in the way while I wait.’
