Not seeing anything in the pit, Kronid turns to face Dragos.
The drug has slowed his reaction as he hears the flick of a knife. His face turns to fear but it is too late.
Dragos smiles as he plunges the blade straight into his victim’s heart.
As Kronid falls to the floor, Dragos stands over him.
“Yes, you’ll be rich, but unfortunately you will also be dead.”
He leans down and takes out the key Kronid has been guarding. The key that has so far prevented him from getting to the girls.
“Now I can have some fun before they join you on the bonfire.” He is talking to the body lying next to the jerry can full of petrol.
“Or maybe I’ll ask the boss to just kill one of them and I take the other one with me for some more fun before I dispose of her later.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Daniel has been watching with his binoculars. He is horrified by what he has just witnessed. He watches as Dragos walks over to the office and unlocks it.
He sees Dragos as he grabs Leona, who happens to be the nearest, and pulls her out into the workshop area. Before Erica can react, he turns the key to the office, locking the door.
Dragos pulls Leona close. The drug has taken effect. She can hardly stand up. She doesn’t know what is going on.
“Now we’re going to have a little fun, girly. I’m going to show you a real good time. Don’t be shy. Take off your top. Here, I’ll help you.”
Dragos lifts her top over her head.
“That’s right, girly. I know you’re begging for it. Let me get my trousers off and I’ll show you what you’ve been missing.”
Leona is barely able to stand. She’s confused and not sure what is happening.
Dragos pushes her down onto the sofa and is trying to pull her jeans off.
“You lucky girl. I’m going to give you the time of your life.”
The instant he sees Dragos unlocking the office door, Daniel runs down the stairs and into the street.
He runs as fast as he can from Lensfield Road, and round onto Tennis Court Road. He climbs through the gap in the fence he made when he put the listening device on the window.
He rushes to the door at the back, the one he has seen the men using. It swings open and he comes face-to-face with Dragos who is in the middle of removing his trousers. Leona is on the sofa, with only her bra and knickers remaining.
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Daniel shouts.
Dragos turns to face a man he has never seen before. Dragos smiles and pulls up his trousers as he reaches into his pocket. He pulls out his flick knife.
“Who the fuck are you?”
Daniel is afraid but remembers a line from a movie, although he cannot recall which one. It seems apt.
“I’m your worst nightmare.”
Dragos raises the knife.
“So you want to be a dead hero, eh?”
Daniel doesn’t even have time to think. He pulls out the gun and shoots. Dragos falls, clutching his stomach as the echo of the gunshot rings out around the empty factory.
Daniel turns to Leona. “Don’t be afraid, you’re safe now. Let me take you back in with your sister and wait until I collect you. I promise you will be safe with me. You don’t need to see this.”
Daniel picks up her clothes and hands them to Leona as he helps her stagger back to the office. The key is in the lock. He unlocks then opens the door, walks her in and sits her down. He closes the door without saying a single word and returns to where he left Dragos who is on the floor writhing in pain.
Daniel aims the gun at his head.
“Please don’t,” Dragos begs. “I can give you money. Lots of money!”
“I’m not interested in your money.”
Daniel doesn’t think twice. The gunshot rings out.
Daniel drags the body over to the inspection pit and leaves it lying next to Kronid. He notices the jerry can just to the side. He opens the spout and the smell that hits him confirms it is petrol.
Now he knows what Dragos meant. They never intended to release the girls. They were always going to kill them. Daniel assumes they intended to burn the bodies to hide any evidence of the crime.
Daniel walks over to the office and opens the door. He sees both girls. They seem unsure of what’s going on but more than that, they look disorientated. He’s not sure why. Maybe they are in shock.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m Daniel. I’m your friend and I’m here to save you. Wait here while I get my car then I’ll take you somewhere safe. I’ll just lock you in for your own safety. Give me five minutes and I’ll be back.”
He runs out of the building and doesn’t stop until he reaches Lensfield Road and the hire car. He’s left all his items behind in the phone exchange but he is in too much of a hurry. He will come back and collect them later, when he has time. He drives around to the old car workshop and parks outside the front. He goes back into the building and unlocks the office.
“Okay, girls. You are safe now. I won’t let anything happen to you. Come with me.”
The girls are still drowsy and unsteady on their feet. Daniel has his arm around each girl and leads them out. They follow without question as he helps them into the back of the car and fastens their seatbelts.
Daniel walks round to the driver’s door. As he does, he fails to spot the vehicle parked a few yards away and the driver who has been watching as the three emerged from the building.
Chris writes down the registration number of Daniel’s hire car.
As Daniel drives off, Chris gets out of his car. He is on his phone as he walks over
