Someone Who Isn't Me, Danuta Kot [good books to read for adults TXT] 📗

A tall, broad figure stood there, his hair in wild curls – she couldn’t make out his face, but she knew who it was.

Johnny Dip.

But he was in Bridlington. She’d seen him at the flat.

And now, like her, he was here. He had a fast bike – of course he’d got here before her.

He was looking at her. ‘What the…?’

‘Right, that’s the lot,’ came another voice. ‘We need to get moving. That dog’s going to wake the neighbourhood.’

‘Go in there and shut it up. Cut its throat or something.’ A third voice; a woman. Two people were hanging back in the shadows, watching Johnny Dip.

For a moment, Becca froze, then she spun round and ran the only way she could, round the house, towards the back.

She was stumbling across rough ground in pitch darkness, and she could hear Milo barking, but nothing else. Oh, God, where was she? She couldn’t run, it was too dark, she was going to fall – where was she, where could she go, where was Kay?

A torch shone directly in her face, blinding her. Someone’s arms went round her from behind, a hand clamping over her mouth and lifting her clear of the ground. ‘Are you going to keep quiet?’ She knew that voice. It was Johnny Dip.

She sank her teeth into his palm, and he cursed and dropped her. ‘You just couldn’t keep out of it, could you?’ he said, rubbing his hand. There was an odd expression on his face that looked almost like regret, and it frightened her more than threats. He didn’t want to do what he was planning to do, but he was going to do it anyway.

Someone was coming towards her through the darkness, silhouetted against the paler light of the sky. A feeling of cold washed over her. She recognised that figure – it was the one she’d seen standing by the gate as she lifted her head from the ground, the night she’d been attacked.

Snitch bitch.

The torchlight caught a gleam of fair hair and she realised who it was.

The woman from the pub. Alicia. The one Andy had called Sal Capone, treating her like some kind of joke.

Only she wasn’t a joke.

This was the person who’d tried to burn a kitten alive, who’d kicked Becca in the ribs and laughed. Her legs started to shake. She was frightened – really frightened.

She swung away, trying to run, but Johnny Dip grabbed her arms again as she struggled wildly. There were more of them, and they were bigger and stronger. She didn’t stand a chance.

They’d got her, like they’d got Andy.

Chapter 42

Becca was going to be sick. She tried to move, clear her mouth and nose to breathe fresh air, but she couldn’t.

Her hands were fastened behind her and she was lying face down on some kind of carpet that felt gritty against her skin. There was a sour smell and she felt herself start to retch. She couldn’t be sick. She couldn’t open her mouth because they’d taped it shut. She could barely breathe. If she threw up, she’d suffocate, choked by her own puke.

They’d argued for a bit about what to do with her. They’d taken her into the house, letting themselves in with a key. The woman had taped her arms behind her and wrapped tape round her ankles, pulling it viciously tight. From behind some door or barrier, Milo barked hysterically.

‘Get rid of the fucking dog,’ Alicia said. ‘I’ll do it if you won’t.’

‘Leave it.’ Johnny Dip wasn’t saying much, but the others seemed to be listening to him. ‘And we leave her. By the time anyone finds her, we’re gone. Get that tape off her mouth. She’ll suffocate.’

‘Doc, you moron, she’s seen us.’ Alicia threw herself into an armchair, rolling her eyes in exasperation. ‘I’ve sorted the other one – let’s get this one out of the way.’

‘Who’s the moron here? How many times do I have to fucking tell you? If you’d left that “other one” alone, we’d be in the clear. Just keep her out of the way for a few hours, and we’ll be gone. You harm her, and they’ll keep on coming.’

‘You really believe that? You really think they’ll leave us alone?’ Alicia stood up and came across to where they’d dumped Becca.

‘No. They won’t. But they don’t have the money to keep after us – unless you make it another murder enquiry. I know how this works. Isn’t that what you pay me for? Just lock her in the shed and go.’

‘We need more time. If it hadn’t all blown up tonight – thanks to her…’ Becca braced herself, but the kick against her bruised ribs forced a scream out past the gag.

‘Lay off. We’ve got the time we need if we stop arsing around here. Now, shut her in and let’s get moving.’

‘OK, OK. You’re no fun.’ Alicia’s long fair hair shimmered in the light from the dim bulb. ‘You’d better make it up to me later. Right. I’ll see to it.’

She came across now and pushed Becca roughly onto her back. ‘You’re lucky you aren’t getting another scar to match the first.’ She ripped the tape off Becca’s mouth and Becca felt the skin tear.

Johnny Dip stood up. ‘I’ll put the stuff in the van and get up there ahead of you. I’ll make sure it’s secure.’

Alicia looked across at him. ‘I’d better deal with the car first.’

‘Cool. Where are you going to take it?’

‘I’ll leave it at Stone Creek. They won’t find it until tomorrow.’

‘Doesn’t matter if they do.’

‘So you say.’

Johnny Dip left the room, and Becca felt as though some protection was gone. She’d been struggling against the tape, working her wrists up and down, but now she lay quietly, trying not to draw Alicia’s attention to her. She heard the sound of feet moving towards the door. Milo exploded with wild barks again. Be quiet, Milo. Be quiet. Then the door opened and shut. Soon,