That should be enough to fool her. He’d find out soon enough. When he paid for the flowers, he looped the handles of the holdall over his shoulder and carried the flowers along the road. Before he got to Portobello Close, he ducked into an alley and after a cautious look about, he took the knife from the holdall and slipped it into his front pocket. The handle protruded, so he covered it with his shirt.
His phone beeped with an alert, and he grappled with the flowers using one hand while he tried to use his phone with the other. It wasn't a text from Alice. It was an alert from the camera in the hall outside his flat. He swallowed as he watched the footage. Two uniformed police had entered. Soon they would turn their attention from Scully to Cole. He’d give Alice a little longer to respond to his text, then he’d ring her front doorbell.
The minutes dragged and a familiar sweat broke out on his brow. Everything seemed somehow more intense. Any health anxiety about his increasing pulse rate disappeared in the drug rush. He hoped he’d taken enough to see him through. Then his phone beeped with a message.
Hello. This is Alice. I’ll be home all morning. Thanks.
Cole laughed. She was one instrument he could play to perfection. Alice Madsen danced to his tune. King Cole was in control. He hurried around the corner and along Portobello Road until he came to the Close. For the next few minutes, Cole glanced up and down the street. A lone pedestrian ambled by. He’d have to be quick and play it cool. It would hinge on the timing. But in the long run, it wouldn't matter. He was all in.
Cole thought of Daz. He felt nothing at first. Then it came. Mounting cold rage in search of an outlet. He held the flowers up to hide his face, strode up to the front door and stabbed the bell with a shaking finger. His heart hammered and he came close to hyperventilating. The door swung open.
Cole rushed through the door and bundled Alice into her house. He dropped the flowers on the hall floor and wrapped his arm around her neck. He pulled hard. The bag looped high on his arm made it awkward, but he held on tight. She scrabbled at him, but she was unable to scream or shout due to the pressure on her throat. While she struggled, he kicked the door shut behind him.
“Good, Alice. I won’t hurt you. You need to know that. I only want to talk.” He pushed her towards the stairs where he dropped the bag. Using both hands, he twisted her around to face him, and locked one hand tight around her throat. Her face turned red. She kicked him in the shin and scratched at his wrist.
“You know what, Alice? You need to stop that. Okay? Don't resist and I won't hurt you. Okay?” Then with his free hand, he took the knife from his pocket. He was sure he had cut his leg in the struggle, but he felt no pain. “Remember this, Alice?” He placed it against the side of her neck and cut her. Her eyes flinched. “That’s what happens when you fight. Now sit on the stairs.”
He pushed her down, keeping his hand around her throat. He released the pressure a little and smiled at her. “That better? Good. Take the roll of tape from the bag.”
She shook her head. He brought the knife up to her face and pressed it into her cheek. “You sure?” Her eyes went to the bag, and she unzipped it. She removed the tape with shaking hands. Cole took in every move. His senses buzzed on high alert as Captagon coursed through him. It kept him focused. “Tear off a strip.” Tears welled in her eyes and her lips trembled. Her body shook. It took her several attempts to rip off a piece of tape. When she did, Cole grabbed it and stuck across her mouth. “Now get up and turn around.”
With rough movements he pulled her arms behind her back and wrapped tape around her wrists. He expected her to resist, but she complied. Maybe he had broken her, and now she was his meek bitch. He could do what he liked to her. She’d given in to the inevitable.
When he had bound her hands together, he turned her around. “Okay, Alice. I guess we’re alone. Am I right? Just nod if we’re alone. And don’t lie.”
She gazed at the ground and nodded. He put his hand under her chin and pushed her head up. “Look at me.” He stared right into her eyes. “Look at me. Are we alone?” Her tear-filled eyes swivelled to his, and she nodded. “Good. You know what, Alice? I’m bushed. Let’s go to bed.”
Cole prodded her up the stairs with the knife in one hand and his bag in the other. On the landing, he held the knife to the back of her neck while he opened the office door with his other hand and glanced in. Satisfied it was empty, he pushed Alice into the bedroom. He closed the door. A scuff mark in the corner showed where his camera had spied on her. He pointed at it. “I got great footage of you, Alice. Dancing naked for me. Showing off your sizzling bacon.” He looked at her and smiled. “I have them on the internet. I’ll send you the link later.”
Cole relaxed. So far his plan had worked, but he had thought little beyond getting her into the bedroom. He didn't care. His confidence rode so high, he felt he could accomplish anything. “Remember when we first met?”
Alice eyes were wide, and she nodded.
“Remember what I said to you?”
Alice shook her head.
“Well I do.” Cole
