Chapter Fifty-Four Hoxa
Chapter Fifty-Four
Hoxa
Amelia was driving away from the house in a panic.
She still had her money and passport in the bag around her waist but she was trapped.
In the rearview mirror, she saw the helicopter landing and heard the ambulance sirens blaring.
She knew she had to get as far away from the scene of her crimes as possible.
She muttered to herself, “That idiot, Ross!” Why had he decided to try and act the hero? She blocked out the loud thud of the van hitting his body and the sight of him bleeding on the road. Under cover of darkness, she’d find a place to hide out while she thought of a plan.
Liv and Rab had waited at Freya’s, hunkering down on her sofa, until Liv told him to go home and get some shuteye in his own bed. Unable to sleep herself, Liv kept checking her phone, but there were no messages.
“Forgotten about me again,” she told herself. “They couldn’t even be bothered to tell me what happened after I told them the truth about that bitch Amelia.” She sighed, “Always the same old story. I’m the one at the back of the queue that no one cares about.”
Feeling sorry for herself, she went to the kitchen to make herself a pot of tea when the phone rang.
It was Edwyn. “Liv, I know it’s really late and I’m so sorry no one contacted you yet.
It’s been an absolute nightmare. Evie asked me to call.
It’s desperate.” Edwyn quickly filled her in on what had happened.
“The police are out searching for Amelia now.” He went on urgently, “Did she say anything to you about her plans? Or was there someone else on the island she knew? Or somewhere she could hide?”
Liv told him, “I don’t think so. She lived with Freya all the time she was here, and I really only saw her a few times, but you know how sly and sleekit she is. She’ll have found a hole to hide in.” Liv swallowed hard and asked, “How is Evie?”
“Not great. She might appreciate a call or a message. Or you could come to the hospital to be with her.” Liv laughed scornfully. “I’m the last person she would want to see.”
“Don’t be so sure. You were the one who helped the most in showing us all what Amelia was really like. We owe you a great debt.”
Liv wasn’t used to praise. She coughed uncomfortably, said goodbye and hung up, putting her head in her hands. “What a clusterfuck this all is,” she groaned. Then she remembered something.
Amelia had been to visit Liv and knew about her AA meetings. The community centre where they held the meetings was always left open. It was only a twenty-minute drive from the sanctuary and would be the perfect place to hide.
Liv reached for her phone to call the police and let them know and then hesitated.
What if she had got it completely wrong?
She’d had so many run-ins with the law in the past. They all had a low enough opinion of her when she was taking drugs and boozing.
She couldn’t bear to risk their scorn and be accused of wasting police time, and it was only a hunch, after all.
‘I’ll check it out for myself,’ she thought. ‘Then I can give the police a call if it turns out Amelia is there.’
It was a cold night and Liv trudged in the darkness up to the back door of the centre. There was no sign of the van but if she was here, Amelia would have probably abandoned it somewhere and walked the rest of the way.
Liv peered in through the window, into the tiny kitchenette. It was dark inside, but then she spotted a light moving. She was right. It was Amelia, walking up and down, looking at her phone screen.
Liv’s heart was pounding so loudly all she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. She realised, too late, that she should have brought Rab with her, but for the same reason she didn’t call the police, she hadn’t wanted to appear ridiculous in front of him if it turned out she was wrong.
She crouched down and pulled out her phone, calling the police with the details, speaking softly. She hung up and stayed still, but then she heard the groaning squeal of the front door opening.
“Well, well,” said Amelia menacingly. “Look who’s here.
” Much to her dismay, Liv found herself looking at Amelia with a deep sense of dread.
Past experience around criminals and lowlifes had taught her you must never ever show your fear.
So she breathed in hard and said in her strongest voice: “I knew you would be here. It’s all over. Get your sorry arse back inside. Now.”
Amelia cackled, “Are you going to make me? Take a look at yourself. You look like a scarecrow. I could snap you in half like a rotten twig.” Then she hissed, “Why don’t you do us both a favour and just fuck off.”
Hoping to take Liv by surprise, she made a run for it but Liv was too quick for her. She grabbed Amelia and slammed her to the ground. “I thought I told you to get back inside,” Liv shouted, dragging a writhing, spitting Amelia over the open doorway and into the kitchen.
There was only one way in and out. Liv slammed the door shut and stood with her back to it, facing Amelia, who glowered belligerently at her. “Oh, Liv. What a complete asshole you are. This could have been so good for both of us. You just wouldn’t listen to me.”
Liv knew the police were on their way. She just had to keep Amelia talking. “Well, I’m hearing you now. Why don’t you tell me what this really has all been about?”
For a flicker of an eye, Amelia looked vulnerable. “Do you really want to know?”
“I’d like to try and understand how we got here,” said Liv.
Amelia stared at her, and then she began to talk …