Brody was distracted for the next week. His operation was winding up, the person who assaulted him due in court. He’d been called to give evidence in court, and the news had not been welcome.
‘I can try to get it rearranged,’ he said doubtfully over coffee that Thursday morning. Hannah had the day off and was looking forward to taking Ava to the toddler group to see the girls. Since that day outside the shop, Victor had not been seen. The police had warned him off contacting her again, and her solicitor confirmed that he had dodged the servers. They’d posted it through his door, their old front door. He was denying receipt of anything. Her solicitor was ploughing on regardless, trying to get Hannah, Erin as was, her life back. She didn’t want a penny from him, though her solicitor had strongly advised against it. Brody had backed her all the way, giving her support. They were decorating Ava’s room together. Brody was excited about it. He’d picked out some samples from the local DIY shop, asking her to pick what colours she wanted. ‘I can try and pull some strings, get it vacated for a bit.’
Hannah was already shaking her head. ‘No way. You got hurt by that arsehole, you need to be there to tell the truth. You’ve both worked too hard on this.’ She stroked the scruff of Bullet’s neck as she passed him, putting the breakfast things away. Ava was talking more and more. Dog. Mama. The other night, she’d looked straight at Brody and said, ‘Dada.’ They’d both pretended not to hear it, but she saw the look on Brody’s face. He lit up from the inside, and Hannah didn’t want to contradict her daughter. So she ignored it. She was a pro at that now. He was more of a father than her real dad was; it was only natural. ‘Besides, we’re fine. I’ll be busy at work; Lola is desperate to start her maternity leave. She’s done in but she wants to be near John too so the café is the best place.’ Hannah had extra hours planned at the shop, and given the last few weeks, she wasn’t about to let John and Lola down. Plus the money would help. Solicitors weren’t free, and she wanted to maintain her own money and independence.
‘I know, John’s eager for her to rest too.’ Brody spoke in sullen tones, and she went to sit on his lap.
‘Andrew, I’m fine. We have to live our lives, remember? Now, you go to court, and kick some arse.’ She straightened his dark grey tie, smoothing down his crisp white shirt and taking in the contours of him. ‘I’m going to get ready, go see the girls.’ He opened his mouth again, and she pushed her index finger against his lips. ‘Shush. I’ll take my phone. Martine and Ruby will be there, and I’ll come home straight after. Okay?’
She could tell he wasn’t comforted much, but she kissed him by way of distraction. ‘And if you have a bad day, when you come home I can do this …’ She ran her fingers down the side of his neck, making him groan. ‘And this …’ She undid one of his shirt buttons and pushed her fingertips inside, running them down the length of his chest. He sighed heavily, squirming in his seat under her.
‘Distracting me won’t work, Han,’ he said between gritted teeth.
She smiled knowingly. ‘Oh really?’ She blew on his ear, and he looked across at Ava. She was oblivious, playing with one of her toys in the corner. Bullet was following her around as usual. Best buds. ‘I think it might.’
He groaned again, pulling her closer for a quick and very deep kiss, before lifting her off his lap. He adjusted his trousers, and she smirked at him.
‘It’s not funny,’ he grumbled, but she caught his sexy smile. ‘You’re killing me here.’
‘Your ban, not mine,’ she sang back at him. ‘I’m ready when you are.’
His eyes widened, and she laughed again. She loved to tease him. She did hope he would cave eventually though. It was getting far too steamy in their bedroom; it was affecting her sleep more than the worry.
‘Tonight,’ he said gruffly. ‘I might just cave with a little persuasion.’ His lip twitched in the adorable way she liked. ‘I just want it to be right. For both of us.’
Hannah’s stomach flipped. ‘It will.’ She whispered the last part into his delectable ear. ‘I know how right it will be, trust me.’ The answering groan he gave made her wish the whole day away.
She kissed him again, giving him something to think about while he was sat in that courtroom. She wished she could go, see him up there, but she had a feeling it wouldn’t be the best move. Too risky. Too close to home too. Her day in court was coming, and she would have to get through that. ‘Now go to work; get those bad guys.’
He left begrudgingly, gathering her to him at the front door and kissing her breath away before heading out with Bullet. He was due at the station to go on another job with another handler whilst Brody was in court. Another reason for Brody’s distracted mood this morning. He didn’t like Bullet out without him, and it was well known at the station that Bullet had the same opinion. He worked well with others, being the professional hound he was, but Brody and Bullet were as close as two partners could be. The whole station could see that. Hell, the whole village.
She watched them drive away and finished up with breakfast. She cleaned everything up, packing up some snacks to take to the group. She went to get ready, noticing the time on the clock. She often went a little earlier, to help Ruby and Martine set up. She was halfway up the stairs, Ava in her arms, when there was a soft knock on the front door. Frowning, she turned to see a dark shadow in the glass and froze.
It wasn’t Brody. Brody wouldn’t knock, and the shadow was too small. The knock came again, the shadow moving lower. A second later, the letterbox flap flipped up, and she ran up the stairs out of sight. Ava was chatting away, and she shushed her. Hands shaking, she put Ava into her cot in her room, shutting the curtains quickly and passing her a few toys.
‘I know you’re there, Erin. I could see you. Open the door. Now.’
Victor’s voice stopped her in her tracks. At the sound, Ava looked up and started to cry. Her face was fearful. Did she remember him? Or is she reacting to me? Hannah gathered her breath and tried to think. Victor banged again. Not enough to draw attention she noticed. The neighbours would all be at work by now. She was due to meet the girls. The girls!
‘Erin, open the door. It’s time to come home. Stop all this shit. You’re costing me money!’
She pushed Ava’s bedroom door to, hugging a crying Ava to her behind the door. Every hard knock he made cut into her. Shaking, she felt something dig into her hip from her pocket, and Hannah came bursting out of her. It was as though Erin was there for a second, holding her daughter to her body tight and wishing she could disappear forever. To escape the inescapable.
‘Get up,’ she growled at herself, and Ava stopped crying. She stood up, grabbing for the mobile she’d shoved in her pocket on her way up the stairs. She dialled 999. When the operator connected, asking which service she required in a thick Yorkshire accent, someone spoke. They asked for the police, citing that they were in danger. A woman and child. The voice rattled off the address, their names, the details of the restraining order. All while downstairs, Victor talked through the letterbox. He was getting louder now, having heard Ava. How the fuck did he find us here? He must have waited for Andrew to leave. Bastard. The operator took the details down, assuring her officers were on the way. To keep calm, to lock themselves away, hide till the cavalry arrived. The operator was still speaking to her, but she ended the call. Trying Brody with frantic fingers, she got his voicemail. Shit. He was due in court, he’d probably had to turn his phone off. She went to dial John, but then thought of Lola and dialled Martine instead.
‘Hi, love, you running late?’
Hannah burst into tears at the sounds she could hear on the line. On a normal Thursday off from work, she would be there now. Having a coffee using the cups she could hear tinkling in the background. She knew that Martine would be able to hear the noises around her too.
‘No. Victor’s here. I’ve rung the police, but Andrew’s in court.’ She realised then that the voice on the 999 call had been her. She’d done it. She’d parroted off that information. She brushed her tears away angrily, peeping out of the bedroom window. She couldn’t see anything. No people.
‘Open this fucking door now! Erin, this is your last warning!’
She could hear Martine in her ear, telling her it would be okay, shouting things at Ruby so fast she couldn’t understand what she was saying. Ava wailed again, and was repeating ‘mama, mama, mama’ over and over. The occasional shuddering ‘dog-gie’ breaking her heart. God, she wished Bullet was here. She could hear Victor at the back of the house now, banging the fence, shouting her name. She listened on the line to her friend, back behind the door.
Martine sounded like she was running a marathon, the shock making her words come out thick, heavy. Weighted with the panic woven within them.
‘We’re with you, Hannah. Stay hidden, help is coming. Okay, keep talking.’
The thick wooden cricket bat she’d bought and stashed in Ava’s room when they moved in sat at her side now, pulled from the back of the wardrobe where she’d stashed it from even Brody’s eyes.
‘It’s okay,’ she whispered to Ava, who was settling down on her chest. The occasional jump of her little body as her father made more noise, going crazy outside her home. ‘It’s okay.’ She could hear Martine breathing heavily, Ruby shouting something indistinct. Voices around them. It didn’t sound like the community centre. She listened to her friends’ panicked movements, her daughter’s unsettled shrieks and sobs, her own heartbeat. The sound of the back of the house being torn apart by the wolf she’d feared forever. She heard a smash of glass, and Ava whimpered.
‘It’s okay, Ava. We’re safe.’ Half the police station would be giving evidence today, it was a big week. The rest would be covering the day-to-day work. She couldn’t hear the sirens yet. When were they going to come? Trust him to wait till I’m weak. Alone. Cowering.
‘I can’t do this,’ she whispered to herself, shutting her eyes tight. She heard Martine in her ear then, as clear as a bell.
‘Yes you bloody can. I did it once. Ruby knows. You can do this. Ruby, get the key out! I can’t see anything, quickly! Hannah, get off the floor now. You have to get out. We’re coming to get you.’ A second later, she heard a commotion at the front door, just as a loud smash and shattering of glass pervaded the back. The front door opened, and she was on her feet, hand on the door handle. She had Ava gripped to her, the bat in her hand, heavy. Her other hand shook on the handle. The phone was shoved in her back pocket, and she heard the line drop out just as she heard her friends.
‘Hannah!’
She opened the door, and Martine was halfway up the stairs. There was a deafening thud from the kitchen, a wrenching sound. The back door was toast, Hannah knew. Ruby was standing in the doorway, sweating and wild-eyed as she looked down the hall towards the kitchen. She raised her hand, and Hannah thought how long it looked, eerily alien. Then she realised it was a rolling pin, taken from the community kitchens. These women had raced across the village to help her. She felt Erin within her, nod at Hannah in agreement. We can do this. Move!
Then there was a loud smash, and Victor was there in the kitchen doorway as they were halfway down the stairs. He looked at them, Martine on the stairs, looking at Ruby in fear. She was prone in front of him, right in front of the doorway.
‘Run, Ruby!’ Hannah shouted, and she heard Victor laugh. She hated the sound to the very pit of her soul. Ava started to cry again. Ruby, rolling pin still raised high, didn’t move. She didn’t take her eyes from Victor. ‘Martine, take her!’ Hannah turned and shoved Ava into Martine’s arms, and Victor tried to grab at her through the banister. ‘Bitch!’
She kicked out at him before he could get her. She shoved Martine up the stairs. ‘Lock yourself in the bathroom!’
She could hear Victor coming, and Ruby was right there. She wouldn’t let her get hurt. She couldn’t. She felt the bat in her hands as she took the stairs two at a time, getting in front of Ruby just before her nemesis. The anger in his features was so familiar to her, it nearly took her off her feet. She pushed Ruby back out of the door, trying to block the stairs and protect the others, and she saw Victor’s fist fly back, the angle of his feet change. No. NO. Never again. Erin and Hannah said that together, and finally, they were one again. ‘NO VICTOR!’ She raised the bat with everything she could and brought it down on him as he reached for her throat. ‘NOOOOO!’ she screamed! ‘Never again!’
She went to raise the bat again, waiting for his fingers to curl at her throat, but there was nothing. She looked around, and he was on the floor. Ruby took the bat from her, crossing it in her arms with her rolling pin.
‘Now that,’ she said, panting. ‘Was pretty damn Hannah.’