Page 97 of The Girl in the Woods

Ana swallowed, trying to take everything in. ‘I understand,’ she said.

‘When she comes out, she’ll need somewhere safe and quiet to stay. We keep patching them up, Ana, but…’

‘I know. I have somewhere she can stay.’

Cherry tried to smile when she saw her, but her face was so bruised and bloated that it was almost impossible.

‘I hit him too many times,’ Ana said softly.

Tears rolled down Cherry’s cheek. ‘Oh, Ana.’

They held hands silently for a time.

‘You need to do it.’ Cherry finally whispered. ‘You need to get rid of the anger. You know where he is.’ Her voice was hoarse, and Ana had to lean close to hear her.

‘I know.’

Of course she knew. She’d known when she got the address in Oxford six months ago, but the thought of facing him again was too much for her to deal with.

‘When you leave here, you’ll be looked after, okay?’

Cherry nodded and closed her eyes. ‘They think I might lose my kidney.’

‘You’re going to be fine. Besides, some of the best people only have one kidney.’

A loud ringing tore through Ana’s eardrums and she woke with a start. She’d set the alarm so she wouldn’t oversleep.

‘Cherry,’ she said, looking around. Then she remembered she was in her fancy flat in Oxford. She called Cherry’s number and was relieved to hear her voice.

‘Hey, girl, how’s it going?’

Ana closed her eyes and pictured Cherry in her mind. That deep richness of her black skin, the brightness of her eyes, the colour of acorns. That broad smile and contagious giggle that was uniquely hers.

‘Good, how about you?’

‘You sounding posh, babe.’ Cherry laughed and then said, more seriously, ‘Found him?’

‘I will.’ Her eyes landed on the bedside clock, and she remembered the drink with Beth. ‘Shit. I have to go. Drink with the boss.’

‘Okay, girl. All is well here. No worries.’

Ana hung up.

Had beating McQuire helped get her the transfer? She’ll never know, but she’s here. McQuire had been done for attempted murder, and still, Ana hadn’t got her man. But I’m close, she thought. I’m so close.

CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

PRESENT DAY

Ana glanced around the pub before spotting Beth. ‘Quiet tonight,’ commented Ana.

‘I think the locals are a bit unnerved. They don’t like knowing someone is walking around capable of attacking a young girl.’ Beth had a glass of wine in front of her.

Ana apologised for being late, explained she’d had a bad headache. Then she wondered if Matt had said anything about how oddly she’d behaved at the psychiatrists.

‘What do you prefer, red or white?’ asked Beth.

‘Just a tonic water, thanks. I don’t think my head could take a wine right now.’

---