Chapter 51
Eve and Iwan pulled into Bella’s estate and parked next to a block of flats.
The satnav told them they had reached their destination and they made their way to the entrance, where they could see they had the right block.
The door to the building was open, and so they went in.
As they made their way up the stairs, one of the residents opened their door.
‘There’s something going on up there,’ she said, looking frightened. ‘The flat above me. There’s been loud banging for a few minutes now. It sounds as if there’s a fight going on.’
‘Who lives there?’ Eve said, sharply.
‘It’s young Bella, my neighbour. Sounds like her fella’s hitting on her, but he’s not the type and I’ve never heard it before, so I didn’t know whether to call the police—’
‘Call them!’ Eve hissed, then she grabbed the handrail and raced up the stairs, with Iwan hot on her heels.
There were only two flats on the first floor and Eve could hear sounds coming from the nearest one.
She banged on the door, then peered through the frosted glass, but all she could see was a hallway that ran into darkness.
She banged again, and then Iwan took her arm and moved her aside.
He lifted his leg and kicked hard with the flat of his foot.
The door rattled. He did it again and again, and then to Eve’s surprise, the door flew open and a man lunged past them.
In a flash, Iwan caught hold of him in a bear grip while Eve moved in from the side.
The three of them grappled for a moment, and as she clung on, Eve could see that the man was DI Carver.
‘Hold on to him, Iwan!’ she cried out. ‘Keep hold of him, just for a moment longer.’ And then she let go, pushed Carver’s head back, grabbed hold of his face and scraped her fingernails down his cheeks as hard as she could.
‘Bitch!’ he screamed out. He grabbed Eve by the arms and threw her hard against the handrail, then shook free from Iwan’s grasp and flew – almost fell – down the stairs in his race to get away. Iwan sprinted after him.
Eve, meanwhile, ran into the flat and along the hallway to the living room, where a woman in a dressing gown was on the floor, curled up into a ball, crying, her hands taped together and a piece of rag in her mouth.
‘Bella?’ Eve said.
The woman turned her head and nodded. Eve sank down beside her and took the piece of cloth from her mouth, then said, ‘You’re safe now, my love. You’re safe. I’m Eve. I’m Joe’s girlfriend. The police are on their way.’
‘Where is he?’ Bella sobbed. ‘Has he gone?’
Eve nodded. ‘Yes. He’s gone. He’s not in your flat any more, I promise. Is that cord round your throat hurting you?’
‘No.’
‘The tape round your wrists?’
‘No.’
‘Then leave everything just as it is for now, if you can, just until the police get here.’
‘OK,’ Bella agreed.
Eve helped Bella up and walked her to the sofa. Iwan came back a few minutes later with the police. The room was filling up. A paramedic sat down next to Bella.
Eve stood up. ‘My name’s Eve Shotton,’ she said to an officer. ‘I scratched the man who did this. I need you to bag my hands.’
The police took her to one side and began to do as she had asked.
She turned to Iwan. ‘Did he get away?’
He nodded. ‘Unfortunately. His car was outside.’
‘The black Lexus?’
‘Yes.’
‘He can’t get far, surely?’
‘I hope not.’
Eve heaved a sigh. ‘I think we got our evidence, Iwan.’