Page 66 of The Girl in the Woods

‘Who?’ asked Ana, while thinking, Where’s the sodding police? Didn’t Jonny call them?

‘The Pakis. It makes me sick.’

‘So, you thought you’d smash up their shop with your hatchet and teach them a lesson. Not very bright, are you, sunshine?’

‘Stop calling me fucking sunshine.’

‘Okay,’ said Ana, ‘tell us your real name, and I’ll use that.’

‘That should be our shop,’ he said viciously.

‘I bet you use it a lot, though, don’t you?’ said Jonny from behind her. Ana didn’t turn around. She wasn’t going to take her eyes off the hatchet.

The man with the hatchet stared long and hard at Jonny. ‘I won’t forget your face,’ he said threateningly before turning on his heels and running away.

Ana threw herself at the other man, pulling him down by the legs. He scrambled to free himself, scratching like a mole at the grass of the playing field.

‘Keep still, you little sod.’ Ana cursed, ‘You’ve already twisted my finger.’ Jonny knelt across his legs and pulled his arms behind his back.

‘You’re under arrest for robbery,’ Ana said breathlessly. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention something when questioned that you may later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence. Do you understand?’

‘I ain’t done nothing.’

‘Do you understand what I’ve just said?’

‘Yeah, but I ain’t done nothing.’

Ana pulled off his balaclava. ‘Well, if it isn’t “Mr I’m good at everything”. Stand up and don’t even think of running. I’ve seen your face, and it won’t take long to find you.’

Skinner heard the police siren and sighed heavily. He was in deep shit now with just about everyone. Why couldn’t they have nicked Needles?

Beth wasn’t happy, and it showed on her face.

‘You could have been injured, Seargent Rawlins. I don’t know how they do things in Liverpool, but here we wait for back-up.’

‘With all due respect, ma’am, I’d have lost them by then.’

A crowd of locals was milling around the shop while a paramedic checked over Tim and Huma. Imran, sitting beside her, suddenly recognised Skinner and lunged at him.

‘I know you. Your parents come in all the time. I’ve been nothing but kind to you all. Look what you’ve done to my wife. You’re a racist coward.’

Matt gently pulled him away. ‘It’s okay, sir. We’ve got him now.’

‘It wasn’t me,’ said Skinner, almost in tears.

Ana watched as he was taken to a police car, aware that Beth’s eyes were on her.

‘Good work,’ she said softly. ‘What happened to the one with the hatchet?’

‘He got away.’

‘Next time, think of your pretty face and wait for back-up.’

Ana nodded. ‘Ma’am.’

They both knew she wouldn’t.

Beth liked her, and something about Ana reminded her of when she was a young copper, all eager and ready to take on the world. ‘Well done,’ she said.

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