27. Eva
CHAPTER 27
EVA
I follow the directions that I jotted down before leaving the house, even though her location is currently unknown. I’m hoping there will be some sort of clue that will guide me in the right direction, either that or some CCTV locations I can access. I turn into Turners Street, the closest location to our home. I scan my surroundings seeing the street is lined with shops on either side, from bakeries to electronics. My spirits lift when I realise how many CCTV cameras must cover this area. If I can track the same car passing through these spots, at the same time that was pinged on the map, I might just have a chance to narrow down my search.
I pull up at a curb and turn the engine off before quickly slipping out of the car.
My eyes dart, searching for the nearest camera.
“Bingo.” I whisper to myself. Right there, at the front of a convenience shop sits a camera facing the road.
Taking a deep breath, I shake the nerves away before entering.
The bell chimes at the top of the door as I step inside, and a man at the counter barely glances up from his newspaper. What a warm welcome this is.
Clearing my throat, I take a step towards him catching his attention. He slowly places the newspaper down on the counter as I approach. My skin crawls as I watch his eyes examine every inch of me. Fucking men.
“Hi, I’m looking for someone. I think they might’ve come through here recently. Is there any chance I could check your CCTV footage?”
He continues to stare at me as if I was just speaking a different language.
“Is that okay?” I ask, trying to get him to give me some sort of answer.
He raises his eyebrows slightly, suspicion flickering his eyes. “That isn’t exactly public access darling.”
Darling? Who does he think he is. I push whatever I’m feeling aside and produce a smile towards him.
“I get that,” I say, pulling my phone from my pocket. I lean forward against the counter which in turn, forces my boobs to be more dominant.
His eyes light up, obviously very happy with the movement. I have to force myself from curling into a ball of disgust if I want to get to these cameras.
“Soo… do you think I could?” I say sweetly.
He hesitates, looking towards the door in the corner. “Alright, but make it quick. I don’t want to get in trouble.”
Relief washes over me as he leads me into a tiny back room filled with clutter and a single screen showing a black and white feed.
I guess it’s better than nothing.
The door closes, leaving me alone to find what I need. Pulling out a USB drive, I search the computer tower for a slot.
There you are.
I quickly insert the USB and drag all the files from today on to the drive. It will take too long for me to go through it here and I have other places to check. Once I get home, I can go through them one by one.
My heart races as I watch the little green bar move slowly across the screen. I know I don’t have long in here and the man could come back any second.
After what felt like hours, the bar finally reaches 100%. I grab the drive out of the tower and dash back out of the door. The man is still behind the counter reading his newspaper. I thank the man and rush back to my car, already planning the next route. If the car was here at that time, it means I’m getting closer. But where did it go next?
I clutch the USB in my hand like it’s my lifeline. My fingers drumming anxiously against the steering wheel as I pull away from the curb. There are still a few more streets I need to check, but every second wasted feels like I’m failing her.
It’s dark outside now and the thought of being outside on my own in an unfamiliar place has my nerves on edge.
Glancing at the clock on the dashboard, I can’t help but think how much time I have left before the trial goes cold and the CCTV becomes useless?
No, I need to find something now before it’s too late.
I find a car park next to a restaurant and bring the car to a stop in the back corner, making sure I have a full view of everything in front of me and that no one can come from behind.
Pulling out my laptop, I connect the USB. The faint glow of the screen illuminates the car as I sift through the files.
I really should’ve got a fucking coffee before this.
My eyes dart from timestamp to timestamp as I search for the one to match the tracking information. I scan the images in front of me, searching for anything that might help… a car, a figure, a shadow. Anything that could lead me closer.
I nearly give up when all of a sudden something catches my attention. A jump in the time stamps.
Something has been removed, something that should have been here.
Opening up FXUS, a software we use to retrieve missing data. I place the file inside, waiting to see if it catches anything.
While I wait, I decide to watch the people outside of the car, going about their daily routine. Some of them are going to the restaurant next to me, another girl is trying to get off the floor as she’s surrounded by her friends and a car… wait.
Sitting forward, I try and get a better look at the car at the other side of the street.
The windows are blacked out, similar to mine but something feels off. Something is wrong about all of this.
Just as I decide to pack everything away and leave, the computer dings, telling me it’s finished.
I look at the findings to see a file has been recovered. Thank fuck for that. Pressing play, it shows a car pulling into the street and stopping briefly at the bakery that is opposite the shop I was just in. I quickly write down the first part of the license plate but when I try and zoom in for the rest, the screen goes black.
“The hell… what just happened?”
I try and replay the video, but the video never plays. It’s like it’s just been erased entirely which is impossible.
I quickly finish writing down the time that was on the screen before it disappeared, giving me some sort of direction to go in when I check it against my notes.
From here.. It looks like she went east.
There’s a chance I could follow this but it also means I’ll be heading straight into unfamiliar territory alone.
I think back to the forest with Axel. Was I too harsh with telling him I want to do this alone? Am I stupid for doing this without some type of help?
It’s too late for me to be thinking about any of this and there is no way that I can go back and ask him for help. Fuck, I wouldn’t even know how to get hold of him. He’s always found me.
Pushing all the doubt aside, I place the laptop on the passenger seat before gripping the steering wheel. I don’t have the luxury to currently second-guess myself. Every minute matters right now and I’ll make sure I use every single one finding Mandy.
“East it is.” I mutter under my breath. The tires screech beneath me as I take off out of the car park. People jump back as I approach them, my foot never leaving the accelerator.
Turning on to the main road, I glance at the sat nav, waiting for it to reload the map of the direction to go. 25 minutes away… okay I can do that.
As I turn a corner, a flash of lights in my rear view mirror grabs my attention. Something about the vehicle grabs my attention but not in a good way. Something about the vehicle being so close behind me sends goosebumps across my skin.
Gripping the steering wheel tighter, I feel my pulse quicken as my palms begin to sweat. Maybe it’s nothing, it could be completely harmless. But… what if it isn’t?
Deciding to follow my instincts I take the next left turn. My sat nav starts screaming at my to turn around as it makes my ETA later than planned. I check my mirror, waiting for the car to pass the turning but my heart sinks when I see them follow.
It could just be coincidence right?
I try again, making a sudden right turn into a road that seems quieter as all the shops close. The vehicle behind matches me as they speed up towards me.
Okay… definitely not a coincidence.
Slowing down, I move over to the right side of the road giving them enough space to pass but instead, a scream erupts from my throat as they collide into the back of me causing me to smash against the steering wheel.
A sharp piercing pain throbs in my head as I fight to bring myself around.?“Fuck, that hurts like a bitch.” I mutter through clenched teeth.
The faint sound of tapping cuts through the buzzing in my ears as my mind scrambles to make sense of everything around me.
Car…Mandy…Crash.
Oh god.
I raise my trembling hand to my forehead, hissing as the touch ignites a fresh wave of searing pain. Cold liquid coats my fingertips as it runs down my hand. Blood.
Panic rushes through my chest as everything from the moment before comes flooding back.
This isn’t right, I have to get out of here.
The tapping gets louder. At first I think it’s in my head, that it is my brain throbbing against my skull- that was until a voice calls out to me.
“Miss? Miss, are you okay?”
Groaning, I squint towards the window. A blurred figure leans against the glass, their hands pressing against it, leaving marks.
Great, now I have to get the damn windows cleaned.
I open my mouth to respond, to reassure them I’m okay so they will stop banging on my windows, but the words catch in my throat as a realisation slams into me.
How do they know I’m a ‘Miss’?
The windows are blacked out. There’s no way they could know who’s inside… Unless this was planned.
Oh my god. The car. The one that was following me.
This was planned and I’m their target.
Why is it always me?! Why do I have to be someone’s target and not Sandra who lives down the road.
The figure knocks again, louder this time as their muffled voice pushes through the glass.
“Miss? You’re hurt. Please, let me help you.”
Help me? My pulse pounds against my skull. That’s what they want me to think. Make me trust them, get me to open the door, and then what? My chest tightens as I look around me.My eyes dart to the door handle. Locked. Good. But for how long?
My phone… I see it sitting on the passenger seat but as I turn it over, a shattered screen stares at me. Pressing the side button, a gasp escapes me as the screen lights up barely clinging to life. My fingers fumble against the shattered screen as miniature shards pierce my skin when I press the emergency call button.
Shadows move outside of the car as the figure steps back from the window, I freeze thinking they’re finally leaving but all hope is gone as they signal to someone I can’t see. One by one shadows of other figures surround the car.
A different voice speaks, deeper and more firmer. “Open the door miss. We’re not here to hurt you. We just need to talk.”
Liar .
My stomach twists, all my instincts screaming at me to do something, anything, but my body refuses to cooperate. I look towards my phone, waiting for a voice at the other end but as it connects, the call drops as the screen turns black.
No…. please.
The sound of shattering glass takes me by surprise as panic slices through my chest as the passenger window explodes inward, spraying shards of glass into my skin.
A hand reaches in, unlocking the door. I scramble backwards, pressing myself into the driver's side door to try and get away but it’s too late. The door swings open followed by rough hands as they yank me out of the car.
“Let go of me!” I thrash against their grip, kicking and clawing at them to let go, but they only hold me tighter.
“Enough!” a voice barks.
The man holding me forces me to the ground causing my knees to slam against the concert. Splintering pain runs up my legs from the impact as I try and swallow my scream.
“What do you want?” I gasp, my voice trembling.
The figure crouches in front of me, his face now clear under the street lights. His smile is slow. “It’s not what we want, it’s what Axel wants. Or doesn’t want, I should say.
The name hits me like a blow. “Axel?”
“You don’t know, do you?” The man's tone turns mocking as he gestures his hands towards the men around us. “Your precious Axel. The mafia prince himself. He thought he could play hero and get away with it.”
I shake my head, not wanting to believe a word he said but everything comes back.
The office meeting… They told us someone hired us to follow Carter. It can’t be them can it?
“Axel thinks he can mess with us and walk away? Let’s see how he feels when he sees what happens to people he cares about. How about… we make sure he gets this message loud and clear.”
I don’t have time to register what is about to happen as his hands lashes out, grabbing my hair and yanking my head back.
Pain flares through my scalp as I cry out, tears streaming down my face.
“Stop-please!” I gasp.
“You should be begging Axel, not us.” He sneers, pulling a knife from his pocket. The blade glints under the street lights, cold and ready.
“You don’t have to do this.” I shout, begging to be let go.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he murmurs mockingly, tilting his head to the side, “we absolutely do”
The first blow comes without warning as a fist collides with my temple. Pain explodes in my skull and I fall sideways, barely catching myself with my hands. Before I can push myself back up, a boot slams into my stomach, knocking me flat onto my back.
I cough, choking on air as agony rips through me. I try and catch my breath but another hard kick follows, this time to my ribs. The crack echoes in my ears and a scream tears from my throat as fire burns inside of me.
“Not so loud now,” Another voice says. “We don’t want to draw too much attention now do we?”
My vision blurs with ears as I try and crawl away but hands wrap around my feet as I’m dragged against the cold concrete. I want to scream for help as I feel the skin being ripped off but no noise appears as a boot presses down on my back. Forcing me closer to the ground. “Going somewhere?” The man with the knife asks, grinding his heel against my spine.
The ice cold touch of a blade runs up and down my arm as he starts to apply pressure.
“No, don’t!” I cry but my plea falls flat.
The blade digs deep into my arm, a quick slice that sends a fresh wave of blood pooling beneath me. The metallic scent fills my nose as nausea swims in my stomach.
The man kneels down next to me, his mouth brushing against my ear, “You see sweetheart, you’ve got the wrong idea about Axel. He’s not your knight in shining armour. He’s your devil in disguise.”
I try and turn my head to get a look at him through the tears. “What… what are you talking about?”
A laugh erupts from him as he stands. “Oh she really doesn’t know anything does she?” All the other figures around me join him in his inside joke. “This is gonna hurt worse than anything we could do.”
He leans back down, his voice low. “Axel.. he took your precious best friend Mandy. He’s the reason she’s gone, Eva.”
My stomach twists as bile rises up my throat, his words hitting me harder than any blow they’ve made. “You’re lying, he would have told me.” I whisper, but the tremble in my voice betrays my doubts.
“Am I?” He laughs, “Ask him yourself, if you survive this of course.”
“Enough talking Marco” Another man growls. “Finish this.”
I brace myself waiting for impact as a sharp kick sends me sprawling on to my side. My body screams in protest as I curl into myself, one last attempt to save myself.
The leader ‘Marco’ crouches beside me, gripping my bloodied arm and forcing me to turn towards him.
“You really thought you were special to him? He’s the same ruthless bastard as the rest of us. Mandy was just leverage, just like you are now Eva, or should I call you Buttercup ?”
He pulls my top up, slicing the blade against my stomach. The pain is unbearable as it steals every last drop of energy I have left.
“Get the shot!” Marco barks out.
A hand grips the back of my head, lifting it just enough to face the phone's camera but he drops me to the floor.
“Say cheese,” Someone around me says.
I’m barely conscious, my body shaking as the flash captures my broken body.
“Send it” He orders before releasing one last kick towards my head. “And make sure Axel knows this is only the beginning.”
Within seconds, I find myself all alone and broken as the tears finally break through before losing consciousness.