Page 63 of Now Comes the Dark

Despite his injured leg, he ran for the sliding doors and out onto the balcony. With incredible agility, he went over the side. Roman rushed after him and watched as he clambered as far down as he could from the first-floor apartment, then let go, dropping and rolling when he reached the ground. He staggered to his feet and gave one last murderous look at Roman before limping along the waterfront.

“The bastard isn’t getting away.”

Roman turned, shocked to hear Mallon’s voice behind him. Before he could stop him, Mallon swung his legs over the balcony and scrambled down exactly like Will had done. He dropped to the ground and rolled in the same expert way.

Roman yelled at him to stop, but it was no good.

Mallon chased their attacker along the riverside.

Chapter Twenty-Three

A Killer Escapes

Although it was only on the first floor, the drop to the street below was too much for Roman. He lacked the physicality of the other two men and didn’t like heights. He scrambled back into the apartment and bolted for the door.

A security guard and two neighbours were standing in the hall.

“What’s going on?” the guard asked.

Roman pushed past him, heading for the stairs. “They’ve gone over the balcony,” he shouted. “We need police and ambulance. Tell them it’s the Blyham Strangler. He’s down on the waterfront heading towards the town.”

“The Blyham Strangler?”

Roman didn’t hang around to the explain. He’d lost enough time already. He leapt down the stairs, two and three at a time. His heart hammered against his chest. He was breathing so hard and fast it hurt the back of his throat.

What was Mallon thinking? Going after him. He was wounded, more than likely concussed. Climbing over balconiesin pursuit of a serial killer was crazy. But Will was injured, too. He couldn’t get far if the cops arrived fast.

Roman reached the bottom, sprinted across the lobby and out through the main doors. He turned immediately right and saw the two figures about three hundred yards ahead. He pummelled onwards, fuelled by adrenaline.

Did Will still have the steak knife? He couldn’t remember what had happened to it after their fight. Mallon was completely unarmed. And in his wounded state, his martial arts skills might be useless.

Roman raced on, gaining on the two men. Their injuries were slowing them down. As he got closer, he saw that Mallon had gained ground and was almost on top of Will.

Why is there no one else to help?

They were in front of the riverside developments, a stretch of bars and restaurants. Roman glanced to his right, hoping someone might notice.

“Help,” he yelled, his throat raw with the effort. “Help.”

It worked. Several faces appeared at the window of one of the restaurants.

He repeated his call for help. “The Blyham Strangler,” he bellowed.

Ahead of him, Mallon put on a sudden burst of speed and, with a leap, was upon Will. He latched onto his back. They were still a hundred yards ahead of Roman. Mallon had his arms and legs wrapped around the killer, using his weight to restrain him. Roman pounded the pavement. If he could reach them, he and Mallon should be able to hold Will until the police arrived.

The two men struggled. Will twisted from side to side, trying to dislodge the weight on his back. Roman glimpsed a flash of steel.He still has the knife. Tapping undiscovered reserves of energy, Roman ran faster. His could no longer feel his legs, was just a blur of motion, propelled by fear and desperation.

The fight had drawn more attention from the waterfront businesses. A group of people rushed across the terrace of one of the pubs, making their way towards the fight.

Will staggered, weaving back and forth, unbalanced by Mallon, who clung resolutely to his back.

Thirty yards. Then twenty. Roman would reach them before the people from the pub.

The two men wavered, precariously close to the edge of the quay. Ten yards. Roman was almost there. He reached out his arms, ready to wrestle Will to the floor. Just as he was about to grasp Will’s jacket, he staggered backwards.

Mallon and Will topped over the edge of the quay. Roman’s heart fell a fraction of a second before he heard the splash.

“Nooooooo.”

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