‘Woah…’ Noakes held up his palms towards Beth. ‘What are you doing?’
Beth continued to swing the hammer back and forth.
‘Get back!’ she screamed. ‘I will hit you with this if you come any closer.’
Noakes backed off a little, lowering his hands, eyes fixed firmly on the weapon.
‘Can you put that down? Didn’t you do enough damage to my face already? I could have quite easily gone to the police, but I didn’t.’
‘You could have? Is that a joke? After everything you’ve done, I’m the one who should be going to the police.’
‘I’m pretty sure I haven’t done anything illegal… apart from keying your husband’s car… I couldn’t resist. But I’m guessing you didn’t report that anyway.’
Beth was astounded by his arrogance. The man was clearly unhinged if he thought he had been behaving within the limits of the law.
‘Look, Beth, I don’t know what you’re playing at, but I came in good faith when you asked me to meet you here. Why don’t you calm down, stop waving that hammer around like a lunatic, before you hurt someone, and tell me what it is you want?’
Beth paused momentarily, confused by the statement.
‘What do you mean when I asked you to meet me?’
Noakes pulled out his phone. He tapped on the screen, reading aloud.
‘Mikey, I think this has all got a bit out of hand. We need to talk. Meet me at the Marshall Hotel. I’ll wait for you inside.’
Beth glared at the handset.
‘I didn’t send that.’
Noakes turned the screen, holding it out towards Beth, taking a few steps towards her. She flailed the hammer between them as a warning, then took a step closer for a better view of the phone. The message appeared beside her name.
But she hadn’t sent it.
Letting go of the hammer with one hand, she pulled her phone out, scrolling through her messages. She found Mikey’s name, turning it to show him.
‘I didn’t send it,’ she said firmly.
Noakes’s brow furrowed as he tried to make sense of the situation.
‘Well somebody did,’ he replied sarcastically.
Cogs began to whir inside Beth’s head. A rush of information swam around, and she felt suddenly dizzy.
‘How did you find me?’ she shouted.
‘Huh?’ Noakes still seemed to be trying to figure out if Beth was lying or not.
‘In Brighton… how did you find me? I was so careful. I always thought it was Vicky who had told you. But when I was in your flat and I saw your little shrine to me, some of the photos you had there predated Vicky working with me. You must have tracked me down before that. How?’
Noakes smiled.
‘Oh right, yeah. I got an anonymous tip-off. A handwritten note delivered through my door one night. It had your name, your address, and a photo of you. I knew it was you as soon as I saw it. I showed my mum, to make sure. She was adamant.’
‘But that doesn’t make any sense. Who would have done that?’
‘It could have been anyone. You haven’t changed that much… not really. Your eyes are the same. Anyone could have recognised you.’
Beth considered this for a moment. She noticed Noakes eyeing the hammer in her hand, which she had lowered down to her side by now. He edged forwards slightly. She swung her arm up towards him.
‘Don’t!’
Noakes stopped. His eyes wide. He looked confused. Beth swung her arm again, but he appeared to be looking through her. He was trying to trick her, and she wasn’t going to fall for it.
A shove from behind sent Beth falling onto her hands and knees. She glanced up to see a dark figure dressed in black motorcycle leathers and helmet stride past her towards Noakes. His eyes widened further in terror, as an arm swung up, holding a knife.
‘Look out!’ Charlie yelled, but it was too late.
The blade plunged deep into the side of Noakes’ neck. As the biker pulled it out, a plume of red rocketed out, showering the floor around him, splattering across the biker’s jacket and trousers.
Beth screamed.
Mikey made a gurgling sound. Raising his hand to the wound, he held it there, trying to stem the blood flow. A look of confusion and disbelief fell across his face as he realised what was happening. He stumbled backwards a few paces, before steadying himself slightly.
Without warning the biker thrust the knife forwards, plunging the blade deep into the front of Noakes’ throat. He fell to his knees slowly. The biker pulled the knife out, and Mikey’s body slumped face forward into the dirt, blood mixing with dust.
Beth watched in horror, as his life ebbed away.
The biker turned towards her, unzipping his jacket. He slid the knife into an inside pocket, then began fiddling with his chinstrap.
Beth glanced down at Charlie. He looked broken; eyes fixed in horror on the corpse on the ground. They both returned their attention to the biker, who grasped the sides of the helmet with his hands, then slowly lifted it off, the moonlight glistening off the iridescent visor.
And what was left of Beth’s world crumbled into confusion.
58
An abundance of deep auburn curls tumbled from beneath the helmet, as Margot pulled it off her head.
Beth and Charlie both stared, dumbfounded. Suddenly Beth was able to place the smell.
Margot’s perfume.
‘Margot… I thought you were hurt… I don’t understand.’
Margot looked down at Beth on the floor. Her face devoid of its usual friendly smile.
‘Oh you mean my little scream down the phone? You’re not the only actress here, my dear!’
Beth looked across to her husband, who was staring in disbelief at what was unfolding before him.
‘Please… this wasn’t all you?’
Beth stood up slowly, hammer in hand, looking back at her friend. Margot returned her stare with the hint of a grin.
‘Oh, Kitty, you really are quite stupid, aren’t you?’ she said mockingly.
‘My God… that night… it was you! You rammed
