Page 127 of The Girl in the Woods

Ray’s head fell forward, defeated.

Ana handed her the phone. The album was still open. Sandy’s expression didn’t change.

‘Our whole life ruined,’ she said, letting the phone slip to the floor. ‘Thanks to you,’ she said, turning to Ana. ‘Why couldn’t you just let it go?’

‘Because he raped me,’ snapped Ana.

Jonny dived for the taser, feeling his knee crack as he did so. ‘Stop,’ he yelled.

Sandy turned in surprise.

‘Aim the red dot,’ screamed Ana.

‘No,’ said Sandy, determinedly, turning away from him.

Jonny aimed the red dot at Sandy’s back just as she cocked the barrel.

Ana squeezed her eyes shut. Oh God, she prayed, please not now. I can’t go now. But it was too late. The reverberation from the firing of the shotgun threw Jonny to the ground. Wood debris rained down on them like curled ribbons. Jonny didn’t think he would ever forget in the mesmerising blackness, the silver-blue twirls of smoke from the shotgun or that terrible sound of Ana’s horrified screams.

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

‘It’s not exactly a meeting,’ said Jassy, avoiding eye contact with Needles.

‘Well, it’s not a love tryst, is it? At least, I hope not, seeing as Laine hasn’t even been buried yet,’ Needles said scornfully.

‘Don’t be stupid,’ said Sajid. ‘Laine meant the world to me.’

Needles narrowed his eyes suspiciously. ‘You’re shutting me out from something. Please don’t take me for a fool because I’m not one.’ He shot a suspicious glare from one to the other. ‘I saw you puncture your bike so you could get into Tim’s garage.’

Sajid lowered his gaze from Needles’, confirming his guilt.

‘It’s not Tim,’ said Jassy. ‘He wouldn’t lay a finger on Laine.’

Needles rolled his eyes in an exaggerated gesture. ‘You two, honestly. You’ve found someone that looks like he could be The Vigilante, and we know The Vigilante killed Laine.’

‘We can’t be sure it was The Vigilante,’ argued Jassy.

A muscle twitched in Needles’ cheek. ‘So now you’re defending him?’

Sajid didn’t know how to appease Needles. Once he had an idea in his head, there was no removing it.

‘We should call the police first, tell them of our suspicions and then if they do nothing, we can–’

‘Fuck that,’ spat Needles. ‘That bastard killed my sister, and he will pay for it.’

Sajid grabbed him by the arm and got punched in the face for his efforts.

Jassy gasped. ‘Stop it,’ she shouted. ‘Both of you.’

‘Either you’re with me or not,’ said Needles, making for the door.

Realising he had no choice, Sajid followed him, with Jassy behind.

The Code Zero turned the quiet police station into chaos. Beth checked the destination.

‘Code zero,’ she yelled. ‘6553, it’s Ana. Matt, we need everyone. Ambulance, MIT, the lot,’ she said, pulling on her jacket. ‘One person down.’

Matt felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. ‘Not Ana?’ he said quietly.

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