My head hits the plaster, and I slide sideways, my knees failing as I slide to the floor. I recognise that I’m making a desperately animalistic sound, and beg for Liam.
The man laughs.
He grabs my hair through the bag and pulls me back to my feet. I’m being turned, with my feet barely on the floor.
I scream again.Louder.Ellie, Liam, someone,please?—
I try to bite through the fabric. I try to kick him.
I don’t go easily. I make him work for every inch of the hallway, dragging my feet and writhing. Anything to slow him. Anything to buy time.
The flat door opens. The cold air takes my breath.
I’m still fighting when he lifts me, grunting.
I scream and scream, sure that someone will see me, but I’m pretty sure we only just clear the alley before I’m flung into what feels like the boot of a car. Rough carpet-like flooring grazes my skin, and there’s a metallic sound as he hits against the car.
A terrible thump makes me scream harder. He’s closed me in.
I can’t hear anything except the engine starting and my pulse rushing in my ears.
The stone.
I wish I could hold it, but my arms are still fastened behind me. Tears stream in the bag, and I kick and thrash.
Find me, Liam. Find the dot. Please find the dot.
The car takes a left. I roll slightly with it. Then a right. Then a long straight road, faster now, thevibration of the tarmac coming up through the metal floor and into my body.
I count the turns at first, but my head feels fuzzy where he banged me into the wall, and despite my attempts to focus, the world fades away.
THIRTY-THREE
LIAM
You’re paranoid.You’re always paranoid. It’s just the street.
But what if it’s not?
I shout to Kat tostay here, and then head for the door.
I don’t wait for her to argue.
A man clears the alley, and I take off after him at speed, pulling the door behind me.
I turn right like he did, and nearly run into a woman with a pushchair. Behind them are two students who chat as they walk. A car is turning at the end of the road. Nobody is running or watching. Until a flash of black darts across the road.
My feet pound the pavement as I go after him, gaining on him. Anger fuels me as I follow him, determined to kill the fucker.
After nearly ten minutes of flat-out running, my lungs burn, and I’ve lost him.
‘Fuck!’ I shout, furious that he’s given me the slip again.
At a jog, I head back to Kat.
The door’s open wide when I get there. Fear spikes. Did I close it? I think I did…
My stomach sinks.
