He stayed at the bowl for the next 10 minutes, cursing, groaning and puking until his abdominal muscles ached. What the fuck was with those pills? Or was it the booze? He’d long lost count of the number of pints he drank. He had a hazy memory of popping some Captagon, but he couldn’t tell whether it was real or imaginary. Twice he tried to get to his feet, but each time his legs gave way. He grabbed hold of the toilet and pushed himself up with his hands, then took hold of the sink and dragged himself upright.
The bits of partially digested food caught between his teeth and under his tongue worsened the foul taste. As he rinsed his mouth out, he tried to remember what he had eaten, but he soon forgot what he was trying to remember. He made it to his bedroom with only one serious stumble, where he threw himself face down onto the duvet and fell into dreamless oblivion.
84
Ian unpacked his bag in the hotel room while Alice lay on the bed. Jo had sent him another text and he hadn't been able to read it in full yet. The fact he hadn't replied to the one she’d sent that morning also played on his mind. He gave his head a shake hoping to stem the growing guilt, but the feeling persisted. It was past time to move on from Jo.
“What do you reckon?” he asked Alice.
Alice shrugged and pressed the TV remote to flip through the few available channels.
He hung his jacket in the wardrobe and placed his bag on the shelf. He glanced over to her, “You hungry?”
She shook her head.
“Tired?”
She didn't look at him, just nodded and continued to stare at the TV.
Ian’s phone vibrated in his pocket, but he ignored it as he had a fair idea of who was calling him. “Do you mind if I get something to eat at the bar? Or I can stay here if you prefer?”
She shrugged again and Ian rolled his eyes. “What does that mean?” he asked.
“I don't care,” she said. “Do whatever you want.”
“Fine. I’ll be downstairs. Call me if you need anything.” He stopped at the door and put the ‘do not disturb’ sign on the outside handle. “You should lock the door. You know, just in case.”
She didn’t reply, and he let the door swing shut behind him as he walked to the lift. He waited until he got to the bar and had ordered a large gin and tonic before he looked at the latest message from Jo. Now I am worried! Where are you? Call me Jo xxx. He put the drink on the room tab and sat at a table where he could keep an eye on the entrance.
He took a deep breath and called Jo.
“Ian. What’s going on?”
“Sorry. I had to go back to London. It’s Alice.”
“Oh.” She sighed down the phone. “What now?”
“Someone broke into the house last night and tried to rape her.”
“Shit. Oh shit, Ian. Sorry, I sounded, um, callous. I didn't mean to be. Is she all right?”
“Not physically affected. But the psychological ramifications are another ball game. It’s not the first time.”
“You never told me that. Is that why...?”
“Yeah. This won’t improve things. That’s for sure.”
“My God. That’s just awful. I can't imagine how I’d react if it were me. I’d want to run home and hide forever.”
“The police advised us to move out of the house. And now I’m in another hotel, the Metro in Ladbroke Grove. It may look like the one we were in last night, yet everything couldn't feel any more different.”
“How long will you be in the hotel?”
“The weekend at least. Hope to move back home on Monday or Tuesday. We’ll go stir crazy in here.”
“I can imagine.” She paused, and Ian heard her take several breaths. “Look, I know this isn't the ideal time, but when will I see you again?”
“Jeez, Jo. I can't say.”
“I see. Maybe you should go look after Alice.”
“Yeah. I should...”
“Then you have a decision to make...” She paused and took a deep breath. “Awkward, isn't it?”
“Very.” Ian took a long drink from his gin. “I better go. I’ll call you.”
“Another promise?”
“Sure.”
“You sound convincing.”
“Sorry. It’s just... I don't know...” Ian looked around the bar for a moment and tried to think. “Are you in Lime Street on Monday?”
“Uh huh.”
“Coffee in the AM?”
“To say goodbye? Is that it?”
“I’ll call you Monday.”
85
Kapoor and Manning sat in a meeting room armed with coffees, a secure laptop, notepads and pens. Kapoor rubbed the back of her neck and stretched. “This might take a while.”
Manning pointed at her watch. “Well past end of shift. This is OT, right?”
“Uh huh.”
“That yes? Cos I’m going out later.”
“I’ve gotta life too.”
“Oh yeah?”
Kapoor ignored her, plugged a mouse into the USB port and powered on the laptop. She took a sip of coffee while it booted and curled her mouth. “Christ.”
“What?”
“Doesn't matter. Here’s what we’ve got.” She logged onto the system, clicked open the case file on the database and pointed to the screen with her pen. “Maurice Williams, the digi-tech in CEG, recovered files from the camera’s SD card in Alice’s bedroom.”
“How come? You’d think the guy would have deleted them.”
“Williams mansplained it earlier.”
