Again, she slammed her foot down hard and propelled forward. She hit the rear wheel, the bike swerved violently and ended up rebounding out of the hedge. Megan glanced in her rear-view mirror, pressed her foot on the brake and reversed at speed. The car bounced over the bike and Bobby. She paused to see if there was any movement from him. Peering through the windscreen, she saw his fingers move.
“Die, you bastard, die!”
She thrust the gear stick into first and drove forward a second time. The car humped over the obstruction. Another glance in the mirror and all was still this time. Just to make sure, she drove backwards and forwards another five times. Overkill? Maybe, but it’ll be worth it. He shouldn’t have been involved in their deaths. Revenge will be mine.
Two down, another two to go.
She continued down the country lane to the next village and turned right. The road led back into town. Her adrenaline was pumping fast. That was two men she’d killed in the last twenty-four hours; she should at least feel some form of remorse, shouldn’t she? Instead, she was buzzing, the thrill of the kill seeping into her nerve endings. I could get used to this! Do I want to get used to it? That’s the question!
She didn’t, that was the answer, pure and simple. She said it over and over again. Once the plan is complete, I’ll hang up my killing gloves and get on with my life. She repeated the mantra several times as if trying to convince herself.
A niggling doubt crept in for the tiniest of moments. What if they catch me? What will happen to Daniel then? How will he cope without me?
However, the doubts weren’t strong enough for her to reconsider her plan. As far as she was concerned, these men deserved to die and she would see to it they suffered in their deaths, too, just like her parents had.
4
“Oh, what a joy! Another weekend shift to look forward to. What have we ever done that was so wrong to be dealt this hand?” Katy complained. They were en route to yet another crime scene.
Charlie groaned. “Maybe someone up there is trying to tell us something.”
“Perhaps you’re right. All I know is that I was enjoying my morning cuddle with AJ a little too much this morning, in fact, between you and me, I almost picked up the phone and rang in sick.”
Her partner shot her a sideways glance and gasped. “You would never do that. You’re far too professional to sink to that level, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, you know me too well. It’s just, some mornings, especially when you have a sexy, hot blooded male in your bed, it’s more difficult to leave than others.”
Sniggering, Charlie said, “Crikey, I bet AJ would be all of a dither if he ever heard you talk about him in that way.”
Katy cringed and conceded, “You’re probably right. Hey, I’m still classed as a newlywed, so maybe it’s acceptable, for now. Enough about me. You haven’t raised the subject lately, and I haven’t felt inclined to push you on the matter, but how has Brandon been since your promotion? The last I heard, he was giving you some grief.”
“One day he’s as good as gold and the next he doesn’t even bother speaking to me. I don’t understand it. We used to be so close, you know, before, when I lived at home with Mum and Tony.”
“By the sounds of it, you’re saying that since you started living together, he’s changed.”
“Either he has, or dare I say it, I have. Heck, if I have, I haven’t noticed.”
Katy cast her a quick glance before averting her gaze back to the road ahead. “I doubt if you would. Want my opinion, for what it’s worth?”
“Here we go. Go on then, you might as well let me have it, now we’re on the subject.”
“Don’t say it like that. If you’d rather I keep my mouth shut, I will.”
“No. Go on. Let me have your valuable insight.” There was no sarcasm in Charlie’s words and she chuckled.
“You’re guilty of growing up, and maybe he’s yet to catch up. Every day, I notice a change in you. You’re becoming far more confident. Now, whether the change has been down to your recent promotion, I don’t think it is.”
Charlie fell quiet and glanced out of the side window. She watched the fields passing by for a moment and then turned her way. “I haven’t really thought about it. Working with you has definitely brought me out of my shell. If that means I’ve grown in confidence, I’m not so sure.”
“I am, because it’s true. I’ve seen it happen so many times over the years. Not just in this job, but amongst my friends who had big ambitions. Their partners, most of the time, took umbrage at their success.”
“Really? Maybe it’s a male ego problem, although I couldn’t aim that at Brandon, he’s so inoffensive, most of the time.”
The traffic came to a standstill and Katy drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “He’s a sweetheart, from what I’ve seen of him. But men are strange creatures, maybe that’s why AJ felt the need to start up his new business in the end. Who knows what’s going on in their heads, unless they come right out and tell you?”
“You two have a fabulous relationship. Not every man would have put his career on hold and chosen to be a househusband.” Charlie lowered the window to rid the car of the stuffiness that had descended.
The car behind beeped, startling Katy into action. She slotted into gear and pulled away. “I know. I’m indebted to him for being a super dad and caring for Georgie so well. I could never stand in his way in the future, I will always be conscious of the sacrifices he made for our family. Sorry, I didn’t mean to turn the conversation to me, that
