by Mel Sherratt
Her thoughts turned to Joe then. She hadn’t heard from him either; expecting him to call her as he’d said. But there hadn’t even been a text message. She wondered if he was giving her space or if it was his way of dealing with the break-up – a complete break.
She sat quietly, hoping to calm down her thoughts enough to sleep. If she didn’t, she would stay up, go in to work early and continue with the paperwork for the charges against Daniels. There would be plenty of them – that was a dead cert.
One thing she was happy about was that the women in Stockleigh were safe from one attacker this evening. She and her team had done a good job. She was proud of them.
But she had never felt more alone, more vulnerable, in her life.
Chapter Sixty-One
Eden was up early the next morning, unable to sleep with pain and adrenaline whooshing through her. Yet she couldn’t wait to get back to work. Her eye was sore but she was controlling the ache with painkillers. It looked worse than it was, and once she’d toned it down with a bit of foundation, she felt passable.
On the drive to the station, she decided to stop off to buy cakes for the team.
She tucked her scarf into her parka to stop it blowing in her face and pushed her hands inside her pockets, remembering her phone conversation with Casey half an hour earlier. Yet again she had mentioned meeting up with her father. Eden had snapped at her, saying it wasn’t the right time to talk about it and had regretted it since.
She knew only too well that she needed to talk to Danny again. He’d sent her several texts, which she had ignored. If she didn’t contact him soon, he’d find another way to see her.
She’d been distressed at first when Casey had said she wanted to meet him. What if it didn’t work out and she felt rejected again? Eden didn’t want Casey to see him, but Casey was old enough to make her own decisions – and mistakes – so she had to let her be.
She wondered if money could run to the two of them having a night away together soon. Maybe a girlie day shopping and a meal, if she couldn’t afford a show, would be better than nothing. It could be good for them both to get away for a while. Maybe Laura and the girls might want to come too.
She came out of the shop, mobile phone in hand as she walked to her car. Scanning her emails, she put her shopping in the boot and closed the lid. Jed Jackson was standing right beside her.
‘What do you want?’ she asked, almost jumping in fright.
‘To see you.’ He came closer to her.
She took a step back. ‘You’ll have to contact me at the station if you want to talk to me.’
‘No need if I can talk to you now.’ His smile was all sweetness and light, but she knew it was fake. ‘I was just passing and saw you. Nasty shiner you have there, and that’s before I caught up with you.’
Eden still had her phone in her hand. As she looked down at it, Jed hit out. Her hand flew up into the air, and her mobile went skidding across the car park.
‘You need to remember you’ll be caught on camera and that, if you do anything to harm me, we’ll have you up in court by tomorrow morning.’ Eden’s threat was meaningful, her words clear and concise, but inside she was shaking. She’d met a lot of creeps in her time but none as dangerous. ‘Goodbye, Mr Jackson,’ she said.
‘I’m not done yet.’
‘Oh, but I am. You don’t intimidate me like you do Danny.’
Jed laughed. People milling about in the car park turned to look. To them, maybe it would seem they were old friends catching up.
Eden stayed quiet as cars passed them by. She looked at Jed from the corner of her eye. He was a bad boy, a charmer, but a downright thug when pushed. Yet to look at him, you wouldn’t get that impression. His long coat was expensive, the suit under it tailored and his shoes designer. Groomed to perfection, he was slick, in every sense of the word. The shaved head suited him, and the scar underneath his right eye was faded compared to the blue of his irises.
‘I know Danny’s told you that he owes me. I also know he’s told you that I’m coming after my debt. But what he hasn’t told you,’ he smiled at a young girl as she skipped past holding a woman’s hand, ‘is that his time is up for getting it back.’
‘Danny and I are through. You already know that.’
‘But you’re family!’
‘Not any more.’
‘Okay, so if he’s not family, then the force is. So either you get my money, or I’ll tell your boss and your colleagues our little secret about where he got the information.’
Eden paled. Surely he wasn’t thinking she would become his informant? She wouldn’t do it. But she didn’t have what he wanted.
‘I don’t have that kind of money,’ she said.
Jed stepped closer to her. He looked her up and down, slowly. ‘Then maybe there’s another way to clear the debt.’
‘Over my dead body.’
Jed laughed. ‘Oh, I don’t mean you and me getting jiggy with it.’ His laugh stopped as quickly as it had started. ‘I mean either you get me that money or I’ll be coming in to see your boss.’
‘And tell him what? You didn’t go ahead with the robbery at Cardman’s Cash & Carry so I kept you out of prison?’
Jed glared at her.
‘You’ll land yourself in it if you say anything and you know it.’
‘Maybe, maybe not. But I will be seeing you around, you mark my words.’
Eden stared back at him. Would he hurt her, a serving police officer? Would he deem her as more of a challenge?
‘Did you enjoy the vanilla slice that your friend bought you the other day?’
Eden froze. The only vanilla slice she’d had lately was when she’d gone out for lunch with Amy. She’d sensed someone watching her – surely not?
‘She’s a looker, the woman you work with, isn’t she? I bet she’d like to know what—’
‘What’s your game, Jackson?’ she cut in.
‘Nothing. I just like keeping an eye on my favourite sergeant.’
She stepped towards him, pointing into his face. ‘You stay away from me, and my family,’ she demanded.
Jed raised his hands and smiled. ‘I’ll be seeing you, Sergeant Berrisford.’
Eden watched him walk away, get in his car and drive off before she moved. Her hands shook as she got into her car, and she sat for a few moments to catch her breath.
That bastard. How dare he threaten her! He was the crook. She would never bow down to his threats.
Despite her fear of what he might do to her, she’d just made it her mission to go after him. Before he came after her – or Casey.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Eden’s office was buzzing as she walked in, and after telling everyone she was fine, she stopped by at Detective Sergeant Adam Ridley’s desk to check what was happening with Daniels. Handing the case over to Major Crimes was a godsend in a way, because more hands had got the job done. But she still wanted to be there to follow through to completion, if she was allowed.
‘Care to get me up to speed?’ she asked him.
‘Grab a pew, Twiggy,’ he said.
Eden smiled. She liked working with Adam. He was in his early thirties, married with twin girls aged five and very well liked. A stickler for tidiness, with a bit of OCD thrown into the mix, he’d been known for pushing everything off an untidy desk in temper if he couldn’t find what he wanted. Eden loved that he was feisty and passionate – two of her own qualities. And two qualities that most officers needed to get the job done. Adam had been in the Major Crimes Team for three years. Across from him sat Detective Constable Sam Croft and Detective Constable Tim Purcell. Their heads were down as they worked. Sam was on the phone, nodding as someone spoke to her. Tim was tapping away on his keyboard.
Eden wheeled over a chair and sat with them while Adam updated her on what had happened so far.
‘We kept at him last night and we’re just heading in to interview him again,’ he said, once she was up to speed. ‘Dinnen should be here
in about half an hour. Your team did a terrific job of gathering evidence so we have enough to go at him. And with the sixth victim in Stockleigh identifying him from the image you showed her, not everything is sticking yet, but we’ll get there. We’re sure to nab him for one of the attacks in Manchester, at least.’
‘I hope so.’
That afternoon, Eden was at her desk with her team when the door to the office opened and an almighty roar was heard. She looked up to see Adam walking towards them.
‘We nailed him!’ he cried. ‘We twisted him round in knots until he eventually confessed to all six attacks here, and two in Salford. The job’s a good ’un, Eden.’ He held a hand in the air and she leaned up to high-five with him as a round of applause went around the room.
‘Nice work.’ Adam bumped fists with Jordan and Phil in turn. Then with outstretched arms, he turned to Amy. ‘Hug it out?’
‘In your dreams,’ Amy huffed, then let herself be enveloped into his embrace for a moment.
Eden smiled as she laughed along with her team. There was no better feeling than the euphoria of solving a case.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Carla woke up with a start. By her side, Tanya was curled up, asleep for now. Her breathing was laboured, but she seemed to be stable. She listened but all she could hear was the drone of the television from the kitchen.
It was nearing 4 p.m. She and Tanya had been in the living room for near on twenty-four hours. Neither of them had been hungry at first but she could feel the first pangs starting. Tanya’s breathing was still cause for concern and she’d pleaded with Ryan to get some help, but he’d just laughed at them. It was clear that he’d enjoyed saying no.
Instead, he had come in every two hours, waking them if they had dozed and yelling at them if they were awake. Already she dreaded the sound of the bolt being drawn. It seemed as if he was their prison guard.
Tears poured down her face as she fought with her resistance. If she tried to escape, he would harm Tanya. Images of Vic on her kitchen floor filled her mind. What had happened for Ryan to kill him? Vic was a big man. It would have taken some force to overpower him, unless Ryan took him by surprise with the knife.
Was Ryan’s plan always to do away with Vic? And Tanya too, once she had fulfilled her need? Carla shivered. What was going to happen to them?
She couldn’t understand why he would keep them both locked up for so long. What was his reasoning? Just to punish her? And then what? That was the part she was dreading.
She heard the ringtone on her phone. Ryan let it ring until it stopped. She wondered who was trying to get hold of her. Perhaps it was Lisa, as she hadn’t turned up for work at lunchtime. Holding on to the thought that help would be with them soon, she checked on Tanya again.
Suddenly she heard the lock on the door pull across.
Ryan came into the room. Carla cowered as she saw the knife in his hand.
‘Best get moving,’ he said, urging her to her feet. ‘Seems you have a friend on her way over to see you.’
Carla tried not to show her relief. If he was taking her somewhere, at least Tanya would get help.
He pulled her towards the front door. ‘No funny business,’ he warned as he pushed her through it. Outside, it was dusk, people were returning home from work. Unless Carla screamed, no one was going to come to her rescue. But she couldn’t do that. It was too risky.
At the pavement, Ryan held her close, as if he was supporting her. They walked down the road together until he came to a car.
He pressed a key fob and opened a door. ‘Get in, and don’t even think of trying to escape.’ He pushed her inside. ‘You and I are going for a drive.’
She got into the car.
‘Fasten your seat belt,’ he said, getting into the driver’s seat. ‘Don’t want you to jump out.’
She wanted to leave it undone, in case she saw the means to escape, but she knew the car would sound an alarm so she clicked the fastener into place.
‘Did you enjoy being locked up for twenty-four hours?’ he laughed snidely.
Carla didn’t know what to say, so she shook her head.
‘Now imagine it for nine years! Every day I spent in that prison cell, I thought of you and what I would do to you when I got out.’ He started the engine and pulled away from the kerb. ‘I’ve been watching you since I came out a few weeks back. I couldn’t do anything until Vic the prick came out too, but once he did, I swung right into action. He was such a gullible fool.’
‘Why – why did you kill him?’
‘Collateral damage.’ An ugly laugh came from him. ‘He thought he could blackmail me into giving him more money. I had to finish him off.’
Carla kept quiet, trying not to antagonise him as he ranted regardless, pushing his foot down on the pedal. They drove for a few minutes, tears building up in her eyes as she watched families going home, people on the pavements walking to get shopping, some teenagers still hanging around after school. She thought about jumping out of the car, but it was too dangerous. Even through rush hour, he was driving too fast.
He glared at her, the car veering to the right as he fought with the control. ‘I have something special planned for you.’
Carla tried not to cry out. They drove for a further fifteen minutes. And then the thing she feared most of all came into sight.
The sign came up on her right. Stanley Quarry was just ahead. Ryan was fulfilling his threat. Flashes of the night he almost killed her came crashing into her mind.
Nine Years Ago
I had gone to see my parents with a view to leaving him, but when I got home, he was incoherent and so angry that I had been out on my own. He grabbed me by the hair and threw me into the bathroom. My hip connected with the side of the sink and I groaned as I sank to the floor.
His boots came down on me, kicking me in the stomach and then in the back as I curled up into a ball. I heard my fingers crack as he stood on them, the excruciating pain taking my breath away. All I could think was that I was going to see Chloe soon. He was getting his wish. He was going to kill me. There was nothing I could do to stop him. Until he was spent, he would do his worst.
I wasn’t sure if I would be around to see what damage he’d caused this time. His fists pummelled at my head. I was so weak I couldn’t even put up my arms to defend myself. I can’t remember how long he was hitting me because it all went black soon after as I slipped into unconsciousness.
When I opened my eyes, I didn’t know if I was on my own until the memories came flooding back. Fearing for my life, I moved my arms slowly, then my legs, twisting my body a little. The pain was unbearable.
I was broken but not dead. I pushed myself up to my elbows, crawling along the floor to the bathroom door where I sat for a while until I had the strength to open it. I reached up to the handle and pulled myself up. The door opened but I flopped to the floor.
Sheer determination pushed me forward again and I crawled into the hall. I knew not to try the front door, as he would have deadlocked it. I could see the phone base at the end of the hall, but the phone wasn’t there. Inch by painful inch, I made my way along the floor, hoping I wouldn’t pass out before I got help. Blood was pouring from a wound on my head, and I was finding it hard to breathe.
Nausea washed over me but I pressed on. The door to the living room was closed. I managed to reach up and push down on the handle – falling on the floor with relief when it opened.
Where was the phone? Had he taken it with him on purpose?
I sat up, holding on to my chest as I coughed, tasting blood in my mouth. My right eye was swelling and the pain was thumping in my head, but I had to stretch it wide to see, which hurt like hell.
I had to get out of there before he came back to finish what he’d started.
There! The handset was on the coffee table. My breathing became laboured as I dragged myself along the carpet, leaving a trail of blood behind me.
My vision was starting to tunnel. I put out my hand and
tried to grasp the phone, only to knock it out of my reach. But as it fell, it bounced back in my direction and I grasped it again.
Pressing three times, I sat back with relief.
‘You’re through to 999. What’s your emergency?’
‘Ambulance. Eighty-seven. . . Raferty Drive. Help. . . me. Can’t breathe.’
I stayed on the line with the operator until help arrived. I have never been so pleased to see someone break a window. I tried to speak but there were no words as I fought for breath. Little did I know that he had ruptured my lung, and if I hadn’t got help I would have died.
Chapter Sixty-Four
Eden sighed. There was so much stuff to fill in – things to check, items to cross-reference. All were time-consuming but crucial to the pending court case and it helped keep Jed Jackson’s threats at bay. She could worry later what would happen if Danny didn’t sort himself out.
Her mobile rang and she grabbed for it, realising she’d missed a couple of calls. There was one from her sister and one from Lisa.
‘Hello, Eden Berrisford.’
Every hair on her body stood to attention as she listened to the caller. She stood up. ‘What time was this? I’m on my way.’ She grabbed her parka from the back of her chair. ‘The emergency alarm has gone off at Carla’s house. Control room say all they can hear is groaning. They’ve asked us to respond.’
‘I’ll get a pool car and wait for you downstairs,’ said Jordan.
‘Are you sure you’re fit to go?’ Sean asked her as she went to alert him.
‘Yes, I am,’ she nodded fervently.
As Jordan rushed past them, Sean stopped him. ‘Grab an Enforcer too, in case you can’t get in.’
