Chapter 26 #2
Outside Aoife’s room, she waited and listened.
She heard the soft sound of crying, overlaid by a man’s voice, low and menacing.
Her daughter was still on her mind after their earlier conversation, safe and cared for in New Zealand.
But Aoife had slipped off her radar for a few days; she was ashamed to admit.
It was a now-or-never moment. But doing nothing wasn’t an option.
She wasn’t going to let another woman start out on the life she’d had for so many years if she could help it.
The violence, the tears and the constant lies whirled around her like autumn leaves in the breeze.
If she hadn’t been able to help herself, surely she could help someone else.
She rapped on the door, and it was opened a couple of inches by a wild-looking Jordan.
‘Yeah, what do you want?’
He stank of drink and was deliberately blocking her from seeing Aoife.
‘I heard crying, and I was worried.’
‘We’re fine. You can pull your beak in and go back to bed.’
‘I need to know that Aoife is OK.’
‘You don’t need to know anything, you nosy cow.’
Using every bit of strength she possessed, Vicky forced open the door. Aoife lay on the bed, curled up like a defenceless child. Even from the doorway, Vicky could see the purple bruise on her arm. She rushed to the young woman’s side, Jordan right behind her.
‘Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?’
Kneeling beside the bed, Vicky held the girl’s hand and stroked her hair.
‘Are you OK, sweetheart?’
Jordan tried to force his way between the two of them.
‘Of course she’s OK, aren’t you, babe? She’s just a bit tired.’
‘I want to speak to Aoife myself. Are you OK, sweetheart?’
The young woman’s face was whiter than a sheet as she shook her head.
Vicky turned to face the man in front of her.
The drink was making him sway, and she had at least a couple of inches on him.
Alex might have tackled the poisoner, but this was one villain she was going to deal with personally.
Just let him try and land one on her. She didn’t want to meet violence with violence, but she’d give as good as she got if she needed to.
‘Listen to me, you despicable piece of shit.’
Jordan’s mouth opened, but no words emerged.
‘And don’t bother denying anything. You’re going to get out of here, leave the sanctuary and never come back. If you do, the police will be waiting.’
The vehemence of her voice had brought Graham to the door in his pyjamas and dressing gown.
‘Can I help?’
‘Please go and wake Seamus and ask him to come up here sharpish.’
Graham rushed off into the night on his mission, slippers flapping.
Vicky held Aoife’s hand as Jordan stood over her, glaring at both of them.
‘You don’t want that, do you, babe? It was just a bit of fun that got out of hand.’
His face was locked in a sneer.
‘She likes it rough, you know. She’s well up for it.’
Vicky had heard that one before too. Men trying to make out that their partners had somehow asked to be beaten up. Aoife’s crying intensified and tore at Vicky’s heart.
‘Let’s ask her, shall we?’
Looking deep into Aoife’s eyes, Vicky willed strength into the girl.
‘Do you want Jordan to stay?’
She didn’t know what she’d do if she said yes, but she’d deal with that when it happened.
Slowly, Aoife looked from one to the other, and Vicky saw her shudder at the set of Jordan’s face. She shook her head. ‘No, it’s over. It’s well and truly over.’
Jordan took another step forward, but Vicky blocked his way. He was so close she could see the spittle on his lips.
‘You bitch, you ungrateful little bitch.’
The rush of adrenaline that coursed through Vicky gave her another ounce of strength.
‘That really is enough. Get out!’
A noise behind them distracted Jordan for a moment.
‘And I second that. Pack your stuff and go, now.’
Seamus was in the doorway with a baseball bat. The affable guy from the restaurant earlier in the week had been replaced by someone Vicky almost didn’t recognise. She knew from Maeve that he’d been a boxer in his youth, but he’d transformed into someone you wouldn’t want to meet in a dark alley.
The exact moment Jordan realised he was beaten was a feeling that Vicky would have liked to bottle and sell. He picked up a rucksack from the floor, stuffed in a few clothes from the wardrobe, and made for the door.
‘Don’t worry. I’m going. This place is a shithole. I was on my way back to Ireland anyway. It was her who wanted to do this stupid volunteering thing. I don’t even like animals very much. Smelly waste of time.’
Seamus’s face tightened even more. Vicky could see that he’d love to take a swing at the little sod, but it was more important that they got rid of him, for Aoife’s sake. Seamus obviously felt the same.
‘I’ll give you a lift to the port. Just to make sure you don’t change your mind. There’s a boat to the mainland in a couple of hours. Be on it. I never want to see your face around here again.’
Vicky was gratified to see fear on Jordan’s face for a change as he walked out with Seamus on his tail, baseball bat still at his side.
A small voice from the bed floated through the room.
‘Thank you. I just didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think anyone would believe me.’
Vicky reached down and took the young woman in her arms as she wept.
‘Shhhh. I know, I know, sweetheart. But you’re safe now. He can’t hurt you anymore.’