Maya had argued that even if she still managed to keep her job, she would be judged by her association with him. People would be different around her and the relationships she had worked so hard to build with her colleagues would be broken. She would be talked about and judged by other SOCOs and cops who didn’t know her. Even if they didn’t sack her, her reputation would be in tatters and the stigma would ruin her career anyway.
Dominique suddenly broke the silence. ‘I refuse to live in fear again because of that man. And neither should you,’ she added defiantly.
‘What are you going to do? What can you do?’
‘Phone the prison and find out who I need to speak to about this. Surely it counts as witness intimidation or something. He can’t be allowed to get away with it. I’m going to make sure we don’t hear anything else from him again. Ever.’
Maya pulled away, horrified at the suggestion. Fresh tears streamed down her face. The thought of Dominique phoning the prison would be like re-establishing contact with him. It was bound to anger him even more. Surely if they just ignored the situation, Naylor would get bored and disappear back out of their lives as quickly as he’d returned. Maya choked back sobs as she clutched Dominique’s arm. ‘Mama, no. Please. You can’t do that. It’ll make things even worse.’
Dominique smiled sadly at her daughter. ‘Darling, things can’t get any worse. We need to make him stop. Trust me.’ She wrapped Maya in her arms, rocking her like she did when she was a little girl as she kissed the top of her head and shushed her tears away. ‘Mama’s going to make it all go away. And for good this time. I promise.’
Maya pulled away from Dominique and looked her mother in the eye. She nodded slowly. She had no choice but to agree. Whatever else was going on in her life this was the one thing she knew she couldn’t fix but implicitly trusted that Dominique could. Despite Maya’s age, Dominique’s determination set the boundaries of parent and child. As far as this situation went, Dominique was going to do things her own way even if it went against Maya’s wishes.
Maya understood how much Naylor had nearly broken Dominique years ago. Her mother would find motivation and strength in not allowing him to control their lives a moment longer.
He had caused enough trouble for them both in the past and it was Dominique who bore the physical and emotional scars. Maya had no doubt Dominique was capable of putting Naylor back under the stone he had crawled out of.
66
The earlier unfamiliar feeling of fear which Aiden Donnelly had felt was beginning to grow into a full-blown panic. He had lost count of how long he had been tied up in the container. Whoever had him chained up had returned, but it had been during one of his many periods of unconsciousness. The only reason he knew someone had been, was because a couple of the water bottles had had their caps removed and placed within easy reach of him alongside a pre-packaged sandwich.
He took the food and drink as a positive sign that whoever was responsible, didn’t intend to kill him otherwise why would they do that? Unless the intention was to kill him, but just not right now. The smell of his own body disgusted him. Not only had he soiled himself, he also reeked of sweat and vomit. The pain from his head injury was as intense as ever and his eyesight was blurred. The oppressive heat was also adding to his discomfort. The suffocating air inflamed his mounting panic.
Donnelly had never been a religious man, but right now he was praying with a religious fervour which any self-respecting priest would be proud of. He had long since stopped plotting revenge on whoever was responsible for his incarceration and was instead promising a God he had never before believed in that he would atone for all his past sins if only he would get out of this situation alive. For equal measure, he also prayed to the devil. He would sell his soul as long as it meant he didn’t die here like this, coated in his own mess, alone and with no hope of a reprieve.
67
Nowak and Naylor were in their cell. Naylor was concentrating avidly on the news as usual, while Nowak lay brooding on his bunk. He’d not had any word from Donnelly all day, which was unusual. He had even tried to contact Lurch to find out what was going on, but even he hadn’t replied to his texts or calls. Frustrated, he had returned the mobile to its hiding place. He had a sense of unease and was concerned that something had gone very wrong.
Suddenly the viewing hatch was slid back prior to the cell door being wrenched open. Four prison officers were braced expectantly in the corridor.
‘You two, on your feet for a cell and body search,’ said McGreevy, the eldest and largest of the wardens.
‘What the fuck for?’ Nowak snarled.
‘Because I said so,’ replied McGreevy as he pushed his way into the cell and began searching their bunks. Tutting and sighing, Nowak and Naylor got to their feet and stood back as McGreevy conducted his search. Two of the other wardens approached them and began patting down their clothing.
‘How’s that little granddaughter of yours, McGreevy?’ Nowak said pleasantly despite the sinister glint in
