by Jaye Peaches
“Let’s get to bed, tomorrow is going to be a long day.”
He leaned over me and helped me up.
***
Martinson parked outside the hotel. One of the most elegant and prestigious in the city. I took one more deep breath and prepared myself for the whirlwind that would be Jason’s annual masked ball. Jason was out of the car and coming round to meet me as Martinson opened the car door. Stepping out of the car, I allowed my long red gown to settle around me and reached out to take Jason’s proffered hand.
“You look sublime, Gemma. It is a pleasure to have you here next to me.” Jason was handsome in his black tie suit. Mr Tuxedo himself.
His mask was on, golden and simple, blue eyes staring out of the lion’s face. It continued over the top of his head, like a mane. Just looking at him made my heart flutter uncontrollably. Mine was simpler. I had gone for a gazelle with two horns rising up above my head. I had been tempted to go for a baboon, but somehow I did not think Jason would have been amused.
He was pleased by the gazelle. “You’re my prey,” had been his comment as I slipped it over my eyes in the car.
In an instant his smile had gone. “You will remain on my heels for the duration of the evening, at my beck and call. You will require permission to leave my side.”
I huffed at his instruction until he gave me his severe blue eyed glare and I relented.
We paused in the foyer while Jason checked that all was going well with the hotel manager. Taking a glass of champagne from the waiter for me, Jason led me into the ballroom. The ceiling was high with glass chandeliers and the floor full of bustling, swarming people in gowns and black ties wearing their own masks. The red carpet underneath me was cushioning my heels. Mirrors hung around the room, reflecting the light around almost disorientating me.
Jason was guiding me through crowd, holding me gently by my elbow. He nodded and greeted different people, occasionally proffering a handshake. Everyone knew who he was but nobody recognised me. I rapidly became the topic of conversation and the sound reaching me ears was the whispering buzz going round the room.
I can survive this, I chanted repeatedly to my inner self.
More people arrived and I was constantly being introduced to new arrivals. I smiled and shook hands, but otherwise remained quiet. I was so out of my comfort zone while Jason handled it all with incredible ease. His affable manner and behaviour were an eye-opener. The whole time he managed to keep himself both detached and cordial, never more than a polite handshake, no hugs or kisses. Although I was sure some of the ladies would love him to touch them.
As we moved around the room, I made eye contact with another woman, young like me. Her lips were firmly set and turned down, she looked miserable. It was Libby. What was she doing here? Her mask was an ostrich, complete with feather at the top and her extravagant gown was an expensive design. How could she afford that on her salary? Jason touched my shoulder, and I turned back to him.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Some-one from my old office, one of the gossip makers. I thought you said nobody would know me?” I whispered at me.
“Who?” he said following my gaze.
“Libby,” I hissed back “Bloody Libby Turvington, with the ostrich feather sticking up. Over there.”
Jason thought for a minute. “Turvington. Mike Turvington is her father, we’ve done business together, and she probably came with him. He is a widower. I think he helped Libby find a job in my company a few months back.”
I looked away in case she caught my eye. “I would rather avoid her at all costs. Can’t stand her,” I said with venom.
“We need to keep circulating, Gemma.” Jason tugged on my arm and I followed him.
There was music playing around the ballroom and in an adjoining room, a sumptuous buffet laid out. I managed to select a few things and nibbled on them as I tried to listen in on one of Jason’s numerous conversations. His knowledge of different subject matters seemed wide ranging and deep.
I needed to pee. I whispered in Jason’s ear. “I’m need to go the powder room.”
He dropped out of his conversation. “Sure, baby. Over on the other side of the ballroom. I’ll find you, can’t miss those gazelle horns.”
I made my way over to the Ladies’ restroom. The relief from emptying my bladder was immense. I had been holding out for too long. I came out of the cubicle and she was there, Libby. Her mouth was a scowl and she whipped off her mask to expose her wide-open spoon shaped eyes. They were fixated on me.
“Libby, what a surprise,” I lied.
I dashed over to the hand basin and washed my hands. There was one other woman in the room and when she left, I was alone with Libby. I turned to face her taking my mask off as I could not look at her with it on.
“No fucking surprise, I knew you would be here,” she said. “I’ve been hoping to get you on your own. I’m on a mission.”
She stepped closer to me and without warning her hand lashed out and slapped me hard across my cheek. My head was thrown backwards and pain exploded across my face.
“Arggghhh, what the fuck was that for, Libby?” I yelled at her.
“You bitch! I spent ages getting my dad to find me a job in Jason’s company. I’ve been waiting and waiting for him. Then you waltzed in and took him from under my eyes.”
Her hatred of me was written across her enraged face. I did not think a face could display raw emotions so strongly and aggressively. All those months of barely interacting with me and now she boiled over with clear loathing and envy.
“Jeez, Libby,” I said, “Jason doesn’t have a clue who you are. He didn’t even recognise you in this crowd.”
Slap!
Another painful blow across my face and for a fraction of second a multitude of tiny lights flashed before my eyes.
Why was I standing here taking this shit?
I picked up my mask and made to leave quickly, to find Jason and have him throw her out.
“Oh no you don’t,” she snarled.
She grabbed my arm, pulled me towards her and then I saw it in her other hand - a knife. It was short but very sharp and I could see the overhead halogen lights reflecting off its edge. Now my fear level had increased. I looked at her eyes, they were wild and I was very scared. I needed to control my sense of fear, to keep my focus on escaping from her.
“I have to bring you to him. He wants to chat with you. Clear up outstanding issues. I’m to bring you to the emergency exit down the corridor,” she seemed to speaking these instructions as if from memory.
“Who, Libby?” I gasped.
The knife was pointing at me, raised and threatening.
“My new boyfriend. Well, if Jason doesn’t want me, then I’ll find another. Well, he found me actually. Turns out he knows you, very keen to meet you. He’s promised me a night of great sex if I take him to you. Boy, can he fuck. It has been a revelation been fucked by him over the last couple of weeks.”
I felt faint. I knew who she was talking about and my worst fears were materialising before me. My nightmare was coming to life.
“No, Libby, please. I can’t come with you. He’ll kill me. He wants to kill me,” I spoke rapidly and urgently.
“Well if he does I don’t care. But we have to go, he’s waiting.” She forced me around and pushed me up against the sink. “Put your mask back on.”
I did as she asked because the knife was now poking into my back. The point was sharp and digging into me. I fought back the desire to retch.
“We’re going walk out of here,” said Libby. “Don’t talk to anyone and we’re going to head to the door. If you say or do anything I will stick this into you.”
She jabbed me again and I cried out. I was sure she had pierced my skin. We headed to the door, my legs shaking terribly. She walked behind me, very close and breathing rapidly on my exposed neck.
“Libby, please, don’t do this,” I pleaded with my h
eart in my mouth.
“Shut the fuck up,” she hissed in my ear.
The noise of the ballroom was deafening. A throng of disinterested people. Nobody recognised me or seemed to realise anything was wrong with the way Libby was escorting me. We had a few metres to cover before turning off down one of the corridors. She knew where she was going. I winced as she poked me again. I looked out over the crowd, desperately seeking out Jason. I spotted him, he was on the other side, so far away. His lion mask was clearly visible. I tried to catch his distant eyes. He stopped and I thought he was looking at me.
“Keep fucking moving.” I heard Libby say breathlessly in my ear.
I looked back across the room and Jason had turned his back on me.
Hell no! He did not see me! He was facing the wrong way.
We were heading down the corridor, double doors in front. She pushed and shoved through another set of doors into a quieter service corridor with laminate floors rather than soft carpeting. There was a service exit in front of us. I tried to pull away from her hand, but it was gripping my upper arm tightly while the knife remained stuck in my side. She pushed on the bar of the door and kicked it open with her feet. I heard it slam behind us but my eyes were fixed on the person greeting me.
There he stood, leaning back on the side of a car, denim legs crossed casually. The same crew cut hair, muscular physique and gold chain necklace. I had forgotten about his necklace, the way it had jangled over me while we had sex. He grinned widely at me, dark wild eyes, as they were the night he assaulted me. I could barely take him in. A haze of extreme fear had shielded my sight. I wanted to vomit and my legs were starting to give way. In his hands, a pair of handcuffs and duct tape.
“So, Gemma. Didn’t I tell you I’d find you? Remember what I said I was going to do to you? Fuck you. Fuck you dead!”
He uncrossed his legs. There was no sign of the knife he had promise to use on me. Libby was routed to the spot next to me with her mouth gaping at him.
“What about me? You said you were going to fuck me. Great sex you promised me tonight,” she shrieked at him wildly.
“You, you prissy, fucked up girl. You can piss off! You’ve served your purpose. I don’t have any desire to fuck that skinny arse of yours again,” he laughed at her with his well-practised humiliating snort of derision. He re-focused on me. “You on the other hand. I want you.”
He started to move toward me and I could not move or speak. I was frozen rigid with my feet growing roots into the tarmac. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Libby raise her arm up, her knife in hand and she let out a blood-curdling cry. I did the only thing I could think to protect myself. I dropped down to my knees and curled up, head in hands. Suddenly I found my vocal cords and I screamed like I had never screamed before. Not out of sexual lust or sensual pain, but because I was terrified for my life. As she moved, I shut my eyes tight and held my breath. I had merely a second to accept it was over for me.
Chapter 19
Monday 10 am. Interview with Mr Jason Lucas.
Conducted by Detective Inspector Clark.
DI Clark: Thank you, Mr Lucas, for coming this morning. You’ve no problem with the voice recorder being on?
Mr Lucas: No. What do you need to know?
DI Clark: I want to run through Saturday evening’s events. Can you describe in your own words for me what you saw happen.
Mr Lucas: Fine. (pause) I attended the ball with my girlfriend Gemma Marshall.
DI Clark: This is a relatively new relationship?
Mr Lucas: Yes. A few weeks. I was aware that Gemma, Miss Marshall had been threatened by an ex-boyfriend of hers. I had a security detail with her at all times. (pause) I thought she was safe at the ball.
DI Clark: An unforeseen development with Miss Turvington.
Mr Lucas: I knew nothing about the situation with Libby Turvington; her relationship with him. So when Gemma commented on her presence, I saw nothing malicious about it. It was only when I glimpsed Gemma coming out of the ladies with Libby that I became concerned.
DI Clark: You could tell this from across the room?
Mr Lucas: She didn’t like Libby and to be in such close proximity to her.... She had told me she didn’t want to be anywhere near her that night. Gemma looked tense. She’s my girlfriend, I know her well enough to recognise her unease. I indicated to Mr Martinson, my personal protection officer, that something was amiss. But when I turned back, Gemma and Libby were gone.
DI Clark: Please go on, Mr Lucas, this is very helpful to our enquiries.
Mr Lucas: Martinson and I headed to where we had last seen them. I was suspicious. There was no sign of them. The obvious route out of the building was down some adjoining corridors. There were two choices; one went out on to the terrace, the other a side exit. We were about to split up when I thought I heard a cry. I followed the direction of the cry coming from outside, by the emergency exit. Then we heard the scream. I recognised Gemma's cry (pause) it was muffled but distinct. We reached the door as quick as we could. You know what we found on the other side of the door.
DI Clark: Yes. Libby Turvington has been charged with murder. However, given her mental status she is currently confined to a secure psychiatric unit. Whatever happens in the criminal court, she’s not going anywhere for a long time. Well thank you for coming in.
Mr Lucas: Will you require any further information?
DI Clark: It can wait a few days. We’re following up the forensic scene and there have been developments in the assault on Trudy Belling.
(Recording stopped.)
***
The fear had gone now. The screaming had left me too. The gurgling noise he made when she had stabbed him in the throat was still lingering somewhere, as was the memory of the handcuffs clattering on the concrete ground as he dropped them. Her frenzy of blood lust I had not witnessed. I had kept my eyes tightly shut while she had gone crazy throwing herself at him. At least I would not have to see the blood in my dreams.
Jason had gone to the police station to give his statement. I was lying in bed, resting, my eyes shut.
I did remember Jason taking me in his arms, letting me bury my face in his chest as I shook violently and painful, like a cramp all over my body. I had to stop the screaming with my fingers, shoving them in my mouth. Jason had held me tight, his breath was so rapid and I could hear his heart pounding like mine.
~
“Oh God, Gemma! I thought... I never want to lose you... I need you. I need you forever, Gemma. I love you so much, so much.” His voice broke through to me and I clutched him tightly, not daring to open my eyes.
“I’ve always loved you, Jason,” I rasped at him, my voice barely audible.
I could hear Martinson’s voice, gently speaking. “Just give me the knife, Libby. It’s over.”
“Keep your eyes shut, baby. I’m going carry you back indoors.” He lifted me gently and I hooked my arms around his neck.
I sat for a while in a small side room. There were police officers and hotel staff coming and going around me and I ignored them. I had a ringing in my face from Libby’s slaps and there was a pain in my side. Even with a blanket around me, I could not stop shivering. My right hip was stinging and there was a wetness to my side. I recollected Jason touching down there and his fingers had blood on them, not much. He wiped it off quickly.
One of the hotel first aiders took a look. “Not deep, I think she’s been nicked.”
“I don’t want to go to hospital.” I looked up Jason’s concerned face. I had never seen such worries etched on to his handsome features before now. With his lion mask gone, his emotions were fully exposed to me.
“Take me home, please,” I whispered.
He did, ignoring the commotion at the entrance to the hotel we went out another back exit. Johnson had arrived to take us home as Martinson was helping the police make sense of what had happened. I lay in the back of the car, a cotton wad taped to my side. Jas
on stroked my hair. I could not stop the sense of fear. The screaming in my mind was deafening and refused to cease.
He carried me in and Brooks held the door open for Jason. “The doctor is on her way as you requested, Mr Lucas.”
I lay on the bed. I was so cold and the duvet was not helping. I sipped a mouthful of water, but I was left with a need to vomit. I could hear voices outside the room.
“Thanks for coming so late,” Jason’s voice.
Then a woman had replied and I could not make out what she said. The bedroom door slowly creaked open. “Hi, Gemma, I’m Dr. Mead. Jason has asked me to check you over. I’m going to be real gentle.” A pleasant voice I could trust.
With cool, confident fingers she examined me. My face first, checking the cheekbone and telling me softly my face would be a bit bruised but otherwise there was no damage to my bone. She shone a light in my eyes. The torch’s shaft of light was too bright and I had shut my eyes. She then took my pulse and blood pressure. I was rolled on to my side, which was when I noticed Jason sitting cross-legged on the bed next to me. He looked at me reassuringly as Dr. Mead inspected my wound.
“Um. It is small but a little deeper than I like. It will need a couple of stitches to close it properly or else it could get infected.” She replaced the wad.
“Can you do that here? Gemma doesn’t want to go to hospital. I don’t want her in an A&E department on a Saturday night.” Jason was persuasive.
“I can do the procedure here. I have suture kit and lidocaine. What concerns me is she is in shock and she needs to rest. She’s not going to keep still in this state.”
I was shaking so badly, my heartbeat would not calm down and my head throbbed. All I could hear was screaming and I did not know if the sound stuck in my head was Libby’s manic shriek or mine.
“I can give her a mild tranquiliser to get her to go to sleep. I can put the sutures in while she sleeps.”
“Do it,” Jason spoke with that calm authority again.
