by S A Tameez
****
Zoe’s eyes opened with the weight of Jessica on her stomach and the feeling of choking. It took a moment for her to realise where she was and what was going on. She started to wonder whether this was the pills she had taken. They had knocked her out but because she had taken more than she should have, they were giving her nightmares – side effects.
She tried to push Jessica off as she shoved the pills into Zoe’s mouth.
“Stop resisting!” Jessica slapped her hard on the side of the face. The impact left a ringing in her ear. The surging pain confirmed that she wasn’t sleeping. This was real. It was actually happening. Jessica Hyde killed Sarah Fowler and had broken into her house and was now going for her.
She tried to turn her head to spit out the sour tasting pills in her mouth, but Jessica grabbed her face with one hand and clenched her other fist.
“I’m warning you!” She clocked her arm back and then struck her with a punch. Zoe could feel her lips throbbing and warm blood oozed down her chin. She felt urine in her pyjamas and all fight left her has she lay helplessly on the floor. She was in no state to fight her off. This was it – she would be stuffed full of pills and if not die from choking, would die from overdosing. She was about to die. She almost expected her life to flash before her like it did in books and movies, but it didn’t happen.
Zoe watched the rage in in Jessica’s face as she tried to wedge more pills into her mouth. This was a woman who clearly wasn’t going to stop. Jessica wanted her dead, she had to fight – she had to do something – she was fighting for her life.
“Zoe!” a familiar voice emerged. It was coming from the kitchen. At first, she thought she imagined it. It wouldn’t be surprising as she was drugged up and probably suffering from a concussion. “Zoe!” she heard it again, louder this time. It wasn’t just in her head.
Jessica looked back in the direction of the voice which confirmed it definitely wasn’t in her head. Someone else was here and although it was muffled, she recognised it.
Come on… do something… this is your chance.
Zoe lifted her neck and bit onto Jessica’s hand as hard as she could. It wasn’t easy as she had a mouth full of pills that she was desperately fighting not to swallow.
Jessica screamed in pain and as she turned to look back at Zoe. Zoe clenched her fist and struck her on her perfect jaw, sending her tumbling off her. She didn’t know where the strength came from, but it came, and it came just when she needed it.
A blurry figure burst into the room and leapt onto Jessica, grabbing her arms, and pulling them behind her back and reaching for his handcuffs.
“Are you OK?” the figure said in a soft voice and peered at Zoe as she spat the contents of her mouth on the floor next to her and coughed loudly. As her vision cleared, the familiar voice matched a familiar face. Nick.
She forced a nod and then laid her head back down and gasped for air.
She wasn’t alright. But she was OK.
3 weeks later
Nick sat in the lobby of the station dressed in a suit. Harold marched towards him and smiled.
“Sorry for the lateness, “Harold said, “Shall we make a move?”
“Yup, I was hoping Zoe would come but—”
“I’m here!” Zoe said as she barged into the lobby followed by Harvey.
“Great,” Harold said and gestured for everyone to leave using the side door of the station.
It was still strange to see Zoe and Harvey anywhere near each other, but it was good.
The funeral was pleasant, as pleasant as a funeral could be, that was. A team of uniformed Police had been instructed to keep the Press back as Sarah Fowler’s mother finally got the chance to put her daughter to rest. And Nick assumed with the person being responsible for her death being caught gave her the courage to say a few words.
“No mother wants to say goodbye to her child,” she said letting out misty clouds of air as she spoke. “No mother should have to bury her child – it’s not natural. But nothing about her death was and I think this will haunt me for the rest of my life.” She paused for a moment and stared at the coffin that laid in front of her.
“I do, however, take some relief in knowing that she is not suffering anymore. She was troubled but her troubles are no more. She felt the pains of this world and will suffer no more. No one can hurt her now – not herself and no one else.”
Nick walked back to the car with Zoe ahead of Harold and Harvey who had gotten into a deep philosophical conversation that he didn’t have the energy to participate in.
“So, when you planning to get back to work?” Nick asked.
“I’m not sure.” Zoe smiled, “I am kind of enjoying a bit of time off. Sort of reinventing myself.”
“Oh, sounds modern and cool.”
“It’s not that glamourous. More like picking up the broken pieces of my life.”
“Talking about pieces of your life, you and Harvey seem to be getting on rather… well.”
She shot him a look.
“We’re just friends, mother!”
“Hey, I’m not judging. Just an observation.”
“Well, friends do spend time together.” She nudged him gently, “You know, like the way we used to at the coffee shop.”
“Oh, I love that place.”
“How much?”
“A lot.”
“Enough to ditch the two behind us and get a cuppa?”
“Absolutely.”
T he End
Letter from the author
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading PERFECT LITTLE LIES. I hope you enjoyed the story and meeting DS Nick Bailey and DC Zoe Hall.
This book took me around six months to write - one of those months dedicated solely to researching mental health, psychopathic behaviours, London city/underground travel and Police procedures. I cherished every moment of the writing and publishing process, and I’m blessed to be able to spend a lot of my time doing something I love! I hope you have as much fun reading my books as I do writing them.
If you want to know what’s next, please follow me on Facebook and visit my website.
I am incredibly grateful for all your support – I really couldn’t have done it without you!
Now, before you leave, I have a big ask: if you liked this book, please, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, personal blogs or anywhere else you leave feedback. Reviews are crucial in helping readers discover new books, and what will take you a few minutes will mean the world to me. Thanks in advance!
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S. A. Tameez
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