Paranoid after the events of the day, Neil rose from the sofa, went into the kitchen, and reached into the dishwasher for the kitchen knife he’d used last night.
He turned it over beneath the light bulb.
See… sparkling… not a trace of blood… now stop being ridiculous!
His mind turned to the jumper outside in the dustbin.
Should I burn it rather than leave it for the binmen?
He dismissed the idea. He’d probably attract more attention with the fire!
No, the best thing you can do right now, Neil, is have a beer. The police have a knack for getting you rattled.
He heard a loud knocking sound and looked up at the ceiling where Cherish’s room was.
Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?
There was another loud knock.
Unbelievable.
He shouted, ‘Don’t I have enough to worry about?’
He paused, waiting to see the impact of his words. Nothing. Blissful silence. Good. They were really winding him up—
Another knock.
What the hell do I have to do to get some peace around here?
He bounded up the stairs, reached into his pocket for a key, thrust it into the lock on Cherish’s bedroom door and opened it.
Cherish, clutching her exposed, pregnant belly, stood there, staring at him. Her face was blotchy from incessantly crying all day, but there was now fire in her expression. Her lip was pulled back in a snarl, and her teeth were exposed.
‘Now you show some balls, lass!’
‘I hate you.’
Neil laughed. ‘It’s a shame you couldn’t show them when Bradley was walking all over you. We might have had one less problem to deal with.’ He nodded down at her bump.
She stroked her stomach. ‘You can’t treat us like this.’
‘I can’t?’
‘Doesn’t matter who you are,’ Cherish said.
‘Doesn’t it?’ Neil stepped to one side and looked over at Mandy, who was sitting on the end of their bed. She was holding a bag of frozen peas to one eye.
Neil gestured to the open door. ‘Okay, Cherish. I’ll leave this door open on one condition.’
‘Anything,’ Mandy said and then winced.
Cherish shook her head in disgust.
‘The police will be back. They always come back. And when they do, just keep your bloody mouths shut, okay?’
‘Yes,’ Mandy said.
Cherish narrowed her eyes.
‘Cherish?’ Neil said.
‘Whatever.’ Cherish stormed past him.
‘Good girl.’ Neil smiled.