Page 16 of Savage Obsession

His face is melting, blistering while I watch. He hurls himself and the chair onto the floor and writhes, in agony. The screams are ear-splitting, and I’m briefly concerned that there may be neighbours about, but I’ll deal with them if they see fit to interfere.

He might survive this, he might not. I suppose that depends on whether anyone finds him. Not my problem. I rinse out the jug then peel off the gloves. I’ll burn them later. Then I turn to leave.

And pull up short when I spot the figure watching me from the open door.

CHAPTER 4

Julia

The door slams behind him, and his footsteps retreat down the path. My car door opens, shuts, the engine starts. By the time I fling the front door open again, he’s driving off down the road. The taillights disappear round the corner.

I grab my coat and my phone. It takes me a few moments to locate a cab company, but they have a driver available straight away. “He’ll be with you in five minutes, ma’am.”

In fact, it takes him seven minutes to arrive outside. I’m pacing the pavement. I leap in and rattle off Gerek’s address. “Quick as you can, please.”

There’s a chance Baz won’t know exactly where the apartment block is, and I could still get there before him. If I can somehow manage to head him off…

My heart sinks when my driver pulls onto the forecourt, and I spot my Toyota parked in a disabled space close to the door. Still, it may not be too late. If I can get up there fast, it’s possible that Gerek didn’t go straight home. Baz might have missed him.

I bless the fact that Gerek gave me an access fob and I’m able to get past the outer door easily. I rush into the foyer and stab at the call buttons to summon a lift.

“Miss? Can I help you?” The concierge appears beside me.

“Is this working?” I demand. “Why is it so slow?”

“Allow me.” He reaches past me to press the button, as though that will make any difference.

“Has anyone else come in just now?” I ask. “A tall man, wearing a dark jacket and?—?”

He narrows his eyes. “Yes, miss. He went up to the penthouse about ten minutes ago.”

“Oh God.” The lift appears, and the doors glide apart. I dash inside and press for the seventh floor.

“Maybe I should come up with you, miss.” The concierge steps into the lift alongside me.

“No! I’m fine, really. This is a private matter. Personal.”

“Even so, I think?—”

“Please, just leave it.” I hold the ‘doors open’ button and glare at him until he steps back out. He does, eventually, and I stab again at number seven.

The lifts ascends at a sedate pace, mercifully not stopping at any other floors. When it arrives at the top, I burst out onto Gerek’s landing and sprint across the shagpile to his door. My key fob does its duty again, and I push the door open.

Gerek is tied to a chair in the kitchen, and Baz is seated in front of him, straddling a second chair. Gerek’s lip is bleeding, but oddly, he’s smiling. Chatting, as if they’re old friends.

“I suppose you’d say Julia was a package deal,” he leers. “And quite a tasty little package at that.”

Baz just nods and encourages him to continue. “But it didn’t go quite the way you wanted, did it? Lily didn’t like you. Did she?”

Unnoticed by either of them, I stand there, silent, mesmerised, listening to the exchange as Baz questions him and the truth becomes obvious. I feel sick.

What have I done? How could I have missed what he is? What was happening right under my nose?

Baz continues, probing, and Gerek just continues to spill his filth. Listening to the way he tells it, he seems actually proud himself and his so-called conquests, as though what he’s done is perfectly normal. I wasn’t the first, neither was my little girl. He used me, and I almost throw up when I think of what could have happened, would have happened if Lily hadn’t taken matters into her own hands.

No wonder he was so keen for me not to pester the police. He was worried she’d tell them what he was like. I should never have listened to him. She’s been missing for days, and he tried to persuade me not to make a fuss.

Except I did. I phoned Baz, thank goodness.

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