Chapter 48
FORTY-EIGHT
Ben heard his collar number echo across the airwaves radio by one of the control room operators.
‘Sarge, we had a silent nine nine nine a couple of minutes ago. We’ve managed to trace the number back to Morgan’s phone. Is she with you? Has she accidentally called it?’
‘Not that I know of, let me ring her.’
‘It’s dead now, we’ve tried multiple times.’
The sickness in his stomach made his muscles clench too tight as he fought to keep his breakfast down. All eyes were on him – they had been about to knock on Scotty’s door.
‘What’s her location?’ He was praying she hadn’t got into a car accident on the way.
‘Looks like her radio pinged at Winter Street, but she’s not answering that.’
Bigfoot was racing towards a van, and Ben sprinted after him, his heart racing, but he refused to believe she was in trouble. It didn’t make any sense.
‘That’s Stan’s street, she has to be near there. I dropped him off not that long ago. What the hell is going on?’
Ben’s mouth was dry; the all-too-familiar feeling of utter dread made it hard to speak. He was grateful for the big guy next to him. If he didn’t have Cain to have his back, at least he had Bigfoot.
Lights flashing but no sirens, they raced to the area to begin searching for Morgan, another patrol car following behind.
As Bigfoot drove into the street, Ben spotted the plain white div car that Morgan had been driving parked up.
He ran towards it. Her radio was sitting there on the passenger seat but there was no sign of Morgan.
‘Fuck.’ He slammed the palm of his hand against the window.
‘Come on, it’s the big house at the end of the street. We’ll see if she made it to Stan’s.’
Ben had to give him his due, for a guy that was huge and solid, he could run.
He took off sprinting. He ran around the back of the building, and Ben went in through the unlocked communal door and then realised he didn’t know which flat.
He didn’t want to alert Stan if he could help it and figured if Bigfoot had gone around the back, it must be the ground floor.
Unable to control himself, Ben screamed, ‘Morgan,’ through the letter box.
Inside, Stan paused, he’d filled a backpack and was about to leave.
He ran into the kitchen, ready to go through the window when Morgan stuck out her foot and he tripped over it, sending him flying head first towards the cooker.
His head struck the corner of it with enough force to disorientate him, and he stumbled.
She stood up, her hands free. He realised she’d escaped and turned towards her.
Not sure where he’d pulled the knife from, she paused; it looked as if it was the same kind he’d used on Sharon, Lydia, Lauren and Lynsey.
He rushed towards her, and she grabbed the heavy pan just as the sound of breaking glass filled the room.
Stan raised the knife, ready to stab her at the same time she swung the pan around sending Bolognese flying all over the kitchen.
As he lunged for her, the knife clattered off the pan and he yelped in pain.
Not hesitating she swung it as hard as she could and felt a satisfying crunch as it impacted with his wrist first and then on the second swing, the side of his head, stopping Stan in his tracks. It was his turn to fall to his knees.
‘How do you like it, you bastard.’ She swung it again, but not with the same amount of force, but he managed to knock it out of her hands, sending what was left of the contents everywhere.
No time to lose, she swung her foot back and kicked him as hard as she could in the groin.
That did the trick. A huge figure blocked out the light from the window as it began to climb through it, and she wondered if he had an accomplice. Maybe she wasn’t out of danger yet.
‘Morgan, it’s okay. Ben’s here, we’re here.’
She realised it was Bigfoot clambering across the marble worktop towards her, and her legs began to wobble as the adrenaline left her shaking and she slumped onto the chair.
Stan was on the floor clutching his balls and panting like a wild animal.
If she had the energy, she’d kick him again and again, but there was no need because he was currently being dragged to his feet and cuffed very roughly by Bigfoot, who looked as if he wanted to strangle him with his bare hands.
Ben appeared at the window, took one look at her face and swore as he climbed in the same way.
She wanted to tell them to be careful of the Bolognese so he didn’t slip but couldn’t speak, the words were stuck in the back of her throat, and then she felt his arms around her.
He held her close, murmuring soothing words in her ear as he gently studied her head and face.
‘I can’t leave you alone for five minutes, Brookes, you’re a total liability.’
Morgan was shaking her head. Her throat dry she managed to whisper, ‘It was him. He’s their adoptive brother.’
Bigfoot took the key from Stan’s trouser pocket and opened the front door for the patrol officers to come through.
Amber and Scotty walked in, and Morgan felt glad to see them.
She would explain to him how close he’d come to being accused of the murders – that print must have been accidentally left by him and he’d been too embarrassed to tell them he’d touched the blade without any gloves on.
Ben looked shocked to see the pair of them.
‘How come you’re not at home?’ he asked Scotty, who frowned.
‘I only nipped home earlier to grab my bait, boss, left my phone there by accident. Amber was taking me home to get it. We’ve been doing a drugs talk at the school.’
Ben glanced at Morgan, who smiled and shook her head, sending a wave of nausea through her entire body.
‘Why are you asking that?’
Ben pointed towards Morgan. ‘When she’s been cleaned up, I think I’ll let her explain.’
Scotty shrugged. ‘Right, okay. Well anyway, what in the name of Gordon Ramsay is going on here? Why is there Bolognese everywhere and why have you handcuffed Stan the man? Are you okay over there, Stan, you look a bit green around the gills.’
Ben looked over at him, and Morgan felt glad Stan had got what he deserved. He was a parasite.
‘Stan is under arrest for the murder of the Williams sisters, Jack and Sharon Montgomery, kidnap and police assault. You do not have to say anything…’
Ben’s voice sounded a million miles away as he read Stan his rights before handing him to Amber to put in the back of the van. Bigfoot and Ben accompanied them outside in case Stan decided to put up a fight, all of them ready to take him down if they needed to.