Free The Book of Revenge by Linda Dunscombe Page B

looked your file up.’
    ‘That’s confidential!’ she snapped, outraged and just a tiny bit flattered.
    ‘I needed to see you,’ he said, taking her hand again.
    She didn’t snatch it away immediately even though she knew she should. She didn’t want him in her house. He looked down at her; he looked deeply, searchingly into her eyes. He bent his head and kissed her gently. Fleetingly she let herself savour the moment, enjoy the feel of his lips on hers, but then she pulled back.
    ‘Why do I feel like we’ve met before?’ he said.
    Liz withdrew her hand and stepped right back away from him. She moved to the other side of the room and sat down. ‘Because you like clichés?’
    He laughed.
    Sam returned with the tea. She placed the tray on the coffee table and then sat down on the sofa. She patted a place beside her for Matt to sit down.
    With a quick mocking grin at Liz he settled down beside her daughter.
    ‘So what do you do? And how do you know my mum?’

Chapter Twenty One
    Andrew was drunk. Way beyond drunk, he was seriously pissed. He staggered out of the pub, his foot caught on the step and he would have fallen if Kevin hadn’t grabbed him. ‘Thanks, mate.’ He slurred.
    A couple of young girls walked past. He leered and winked. They laughed at him and kept walking. ‘Slags,’ he called after them.
    Kevin took his arm and led him in the opposite direction. ‘How’s your girl?’ Kevin asked.
    Andrew frowned at the thought of her. ‘Useless bitch, just like her mother was.’
    ‘Not seen her for a while’ Kevin said casually, ‘she must be what? Twelve?’
    ‘Nearly fourteen,’ Andrew said before dropping down at the curb to throw up.
    Kevin smiled to himself. ‘Is she now? Doesn’t time fly.’
    Andrew staggered to his feet. Kevin took his arm. ‘Come on mate, let’s get you home.’

    Kylie heard them stumbling down the drive. She heard voices and the key in the door. She strained to listen; if he had a woman with him then she would be left alone. She heard a man’s voice, and it wasn’t her fathers. She pulled the covers high up around her as tears fell silently down her cheeks. The front door closed and she heard the kitchen one open. The mutt gave one brief bark, she heard her dad as he fussed the stupid animal, and then she heard the footsteps on the stairs. Only one set, but they were heavy. The floorboards creaked and groaned and she knew the man was heading her way.
    She glanced at the door. The feeble barrier of the drawers wouldn’t save her. She started to shake. Her eyes darted around looking for escape, but she knew there wasn’t any. Not for her. The door handle turned. Then pressure against the door, the drawers began to slide slowly towards the wall.
    Kylie buried herself under the covers and closed her eyes. If she shut them tight enough and wished hard enough she might get lucky and die.

    Kevin paid the taxi and climbed out. He walked to his front door a contented man. Sometimes life was good. He let himself in and turned around to lock and bolt the door. He didn’t share Andrews view on the killer. Kevin had a bad feeling about it and wasn’t going to take any chances.
    Without switching the hall light on, he went into the kitchen. He was famished. Sex always made him hungry and she had been as sweet as honey. He pulled open the fridge door and the kitchen light flicked on. For a brief second he didn’t get it. Didn’t register what was happening. Then as realisation hit him so did the fear. He swung round to face the black clad figure who was pointing a gun at him.
    On his kitchen table was a note. He stepped closer to the table and read it – ON YOUR KNEES AND WRITE SORRY WITH THE LIPSTICK. Kevin picked up the lipstick. It was new and unused. His hand was shaking violently and he could feel beads of sweat bursting through his pores. He fought his fear. He had to remain calm and in control.
    He looked at the figure assessing. They had a gun; they knew how to