Without looking at him, Isobel attempted to walk past the now angry and evil looking Paul to leave, but just at the point when her back was to him he grabbed her around the throat. If she could have she would have screamed but the grip round her neck was too tight. Connor was now in a dilemma. If he got involved in something that was really nothing to do with him it could jeopardise what he had come here to do. The wheels were already in motion and if tonight’s wheel didn’t turn to plan Connor would never forgive his self. Under normal circumstances Connor would never have let an incident such as this get this far but this time he had been prepared to see if it blew itself out or got out of hand. It was now getting out of hand and fast.
The anger built as Isobel was pushed to the floor as Paul tried to climb on top of her.
“What the fuck are you doing Paul get off me?”
“Listen Isobel if you mutter another word or scream I will kill you do you understand?”
At that moment the beast named Paul, who Connor already knew to be her ex- boyfriend pulled out a gun. Straight away Connor glanced around for something resembling a pillow or a cushion but could see nothing. He watched as Paul pointed the gun at Isobel enjoying the fear he was generating and the power he now had. Still holding the gun he started to try and pull her dress up and undo his trousers and it was then Connor knew that it was the right time to step in. He had made up his mind and quietly crept alongside the black range rover.
“Please Paul no don’t do this again, you won’t get away with it”
“Who’s going to stop me raping you? No one will believe you anyway. Hugh certainly won’t give a shit in fact he will probably want to join in. It’s like this gun…..Hugh lent it me to do some shooting in the woods. This is a bit of a bonus though”
“Please Paul I’m begging you don’t do it” cried Isobel as he grabbed her underwear and tried to pull them down with one hand whilst pointing the gun at her with the other.
Even though Isobel was scared of being shot she still tried to fight off the drunken monster that was her ex-boyfriend. Connor appeared behind him doing his best to keep out of the vision of Isobel in case she alerted her attacker. In one move Connor had placed his belt around Paul’s neck, tightened it and snatched the gun out of his hand. Isobel watched as Connor dragged her ex across the floor kicking him in the ribs every time he tried to resist. Part of her conscience was telling her to make sure Connor never went too far but she froze and watched as Connor grabbed a cushion and blanket out of Hugh’s Aston Martin convertible.
“Who the fuck are you? Do you know who I am you prick?”
Connor never answered. Using the butt of the pistol he hit Paul square in the mouth. Isobel turned away at the sight of Paul’s teeth falling out of his mouth onto the floor in a splatter of blood. He tried to talk but only whelps of pain came out as he tried to crawl away from Connor. Unable to go too far, he rolled over onto his back and put his arms and hands into a protective position as Connor pointed the pistol at him. The expression on Paul’s face changed as the pain twisting his face seemed to disappear for an instant as he stared at Connor, the cogs in his head could be heard turning. Through a mouth full of blood he seemed to be trying to say something but having lost most of his front teeth it was proving too difficult. Spitting out a gulp of blood he cleared his mouth as best he could then pointed to Connor with a confident look on his face. Isobel watched slightly in awe of Connor as this was a person whom she had never seen before. This wasn’t the Connor she had started to fall for but never the less he had saved her from certain rape and possibly worse. She watched as Paul pointed to Connor and gurgled.
“You’re……..you’re…….. Connor Chevaal……… I know you”
Connor glanced at Isobel who looked back scared and confused.
“It’s you isn’t it?” said Paul spitting out more blood onto the floor.
Again Connor never answered him as he placed the cushion and blanket on top of Paul’s head then pressed the weapon tight against them and fired it. There was hardly any sound, the shot nearly drowned out by Isobel letting out a muffled scream as she turned away at what had just happened.
Before Isobel had gathered herself Connor was grabbing her arm and pulling her up off the floor. In a calm voice he told her what he wanted her to do.
“Listen Isobel are you ok?”
“Yes thank you Connor”
Connor was relieved that his analysis of Isobel was telling him that she was still in control and was not going to turn hysterical on him. He even sensed that there was a part of her that enjoyed seeing the monster suffer.
“Isobel I want you to go back to the party, grab your stuff and go home. Do you understand?”
“It’s not the first time he has done that you know” said Isobel staring at the slumped body in the corner of the garage.
Connor looked at her sympathetically.
“I’m sorry!”
“Not just me…..other women. That’s why it ended 2 years ago………..he raped me, I went to the police and they did nothing”
Connor took a deep breath before he comforted her.
“I know Isobel. I also know Hugh’s asshole lawyer cousin made sure it never went to court. He also put my friend on the street with nothing but a bag on his back”
“I don’t think Sarah knows” said Isobel starting to get angry.
“She doesn’t know but believe me that will be the least of her problems. You shouldn’t worry about that now”
Connor started walking her towards the door but Isobel still had questions.
“What did he mean when he called you Connor Chevaal? I thought your name was Connor Rogers”
“Please Isobel don’t concern yourself with this. You have been through enough, now you must listen to me and trust me when I say you have to leave here”
She could tell Connor was not going to take no for an answer so she nodded and held his hand, secretly wishing circumstances could be different for the first time she did this. Connor placed the key back in the door turned it and listened to see if the coast was clear. Opening it quickly he glanced right then left then pushed Isobel into the hallway. Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile she disappeared out of sight and Connor shut the door then locked it again. For a second Connor
stood and thought about the opportunity this situation had given him. Then with no hesitation Connor dragged the body to a more secluded location in the garage. He then removed an envelope from his pocket and placed it in the pocket of the rapist. Wiping the few bloodstains off his clothes he then re-joined the party like nothing had happened. By now most people were too drunk to even care where Connor had been and as he looked around the room he noticed Isobel was nowhere to be seen. In his hand was a second item which he placed in Keith’s jacket pocket. It was a computer disc, the same one Dr Pete Carr had given him and Connor could barely hide the smile on his face as it dropped in.
“Connor have you seen Isobel?”
Connor turned around to see Sarah holding her daughter Ava.
“No I’m sorry Sarah I haven’t. Hello Ava what are you doing up this late shouldn’t you be in bed”
“Yes she should but there is too much noise down here isn’t there sweetheart”
Connor smiled and picked a handful of nuts off the table. Ava seemed shy and ducked her head behind her mum’s head to hide.
“What’s that sweetie? Oh don’t be silly”
Sarah looked at Connor, smiled and rolled her eyes.
“It’s ok she has got an imaginary friend who she says has been in her room”
“Really Ava have you got an imaginary friend?”
Again she hid her head behind Sarah’s and whispered something. Sarah smiled and rolled her eyes again.
“She thinks you might be her imaginary friend. You’re so funny Ava”
“Am I your imaginary friend Ava? Mummy doesn’t believe you does she. Well I know I am and you know I am so we don’t care what mummy thinks do we”
“Right come on you back to bed. See you in a bit Connor”
“Yeah see you in a bit Sarah. I’ll pour you a glass of red wine”
Sarah climbed the stairs with Ava waving at Connor as she went. Connor waved, then did one last check of the room before pulling the door open, stepping out onto the drive and quietly closing it behind him. The night had not gone how he originally planned it but there was nothing more he could do. Everything was now in place and it would now be a waiting game.
Chapter 17
18th June 2011
“You’re up early. What’s the matter can’t sleep?”
Rachel didn’t respond as she purposefully washed up the few items left in the sink that wouldn’t fit in the dishwasher. It was obvious she was trying to keep herself busy, like she was doing her best to occupy her mind after the events last night with Dr Carr .The effects of the alcohol had blurred the events slightly but the fact she was unsure of how many people knew about them both having an affair was gnawing at her conscience. Other questions surfaced and teased her, such as why he had acted in such a negative and obtuse way last night. The obnoxiousness he had showed was something she had never seen in his personality before. The noise of the television being turned on in the lounge and the commentary from a football match blaring out had Rachel stop and attempt to look through an imaginary hole in the wall at Keith. Swearing under her breath she shook her head in anger as the whole world seemed to be looking in on her. The clock on the kitchen wall told her it was 11am and she needed to take a walk to clear her head and perhaps start smoking again. Not really caring whether Keith heard them or not, she shouted out instructions to him as she headed out through the door.
“I’ll be back in a while. Don’t forget to ring the shop then pick the car up from the garage”
There was no answer as Keith remained engrossed in the football match he had already seen.
Rachel headed for the nearest newsagents to fix her cravings for a cigarette. She had not reached the end of the street before her emotion started to get the better of her. The reality was sinking in that the secret life she had planned and hoped for seemed to be crashing down around her. She saw Dr Carr as her way out of pretending to have money. With him there would be no pretending. She loved Keith but she knew she would never be financially secure. He had told her of his big dreams when they met like most couples do when they get together but he had never pursued them. Football was his big passion, well watching it was anyway. Dr Carr was already what Rachel wanted, he was a doctor on good money, he was buying his own four bedroomed house in the country, he had a nice car and plans to buy a holiday home abroad. It started off as an affair but Rachel knew when she was on to a good thing. They both had promised each other different things and a future but all that now seemed a distant dream and she remained unsure why.
The cigarettes were bought and Rachel found solace in taking a long drag on the first one of four as she strolled back towards home. The nicotine surged though her body and mind, calming her enough to think more straight and methodically. A plan was hatched in her head to make sure she would make the right decision. She would contact Pete and find out if it really was all over or whether last night was just a game. If she could not convince him that them being together was for the best she would resign to the fact that Keith would at least be there instead of having to go and look for someone else to be with and have to start all over again. As much as he didn’t possess as much enthusiasm for money as she did, although he did a little, they had a house together at least and maybe she could persuade him to still pursue his earlier goals of working within the banking system.
He certainly didn’t lack the qualifications, only the motivation. She could see their house at the bottom of the road and as she drew on another cigarette a feeling of wellbeing came over her, if only for a second. She had another plan to focus on and this made her feel slightly better. Her energy would now go into her relationship with Keith.
Keith turned the TV off, placed his coffee mug on the draining board then picked his jacket up off the back of the sofa.
“Where’s my mobile phone?” Keith mumbled to himself as he scoured the bookshelf where it normally resided.
It was nowhere to be seen as he moved towards the sofa to start a new search. There wedged down the side of the cushion was the black Nokia he had been looking for. As he picked it up and placed it in the jacket of his pocket, an unfamiliar object could be felt inside. Placing his phone in the other pocket he pulled the object out, forcing a bemused look on his face. It was a CD disk for a laptop in a clear sleeve. There was no writing on it indicating what it might be and Keith could not remember putting it in his pocket. Checking his watch he realised he had time to put it on and cure his curiosity. The large flat screen TV burst into life again as Keith pressed the button to open the DVD player. Pressing the button to close it he sat back on the edge of the sofa and waited with anticipation. A menu appeared with only 2 options telling Keith he could choose to” view pictures” or” watch film” with no indication of what they were.” View pictures” was chosen and approximately 20 small pictures appeared on the screen. Keith found the option for slideshow and pressed the ok button then waited with excitement. Maybe one of his friends had given him the disk and he had forgotten all about it. The excitement built as the first picture appeared of a man and a woman half naked having oral sex, both their faces obscured by different parts of the body.
“Fucking hell it’s porn” said Keith as he glanced through the window to check the coast was clear so he could watch it without being caught.
He quickly turned the setting off slide show to be able to view the pictures individually and take his time. The same picture appeared again and he waited with greater excitement to see what the next picture would be. It appeared, only this time the woman was lay across the desk totally naked having sex with same guy, who was still half dressed, again both of their faces slightly obscured. Keith grew impatient and decided to play the video. It burst into life and Keith let out a triumphant “yes” as it went straight into a scene similar to the pictures. This time the woman was on all fours with the guy up behind her forcing her to scream with ecstasy. The guy had his back slightly to the camera and Keith watched as he slapped her arse and pulled her hair making her scream with delight even more. As the guy mumbled things to her too quiet for the camera, she gasped replies back to him.
“Oh my god you’re so good……… I love you so much……aahhhh fuck me harder”
The guy pulled her hair harder this time, forcing her to turn around and look at him. As she did this Keith tried to see how nice she but his stomach flipped and his heart appeared in the back of his throat. Not being able to believe what he was seeing he scrutinised her even more to check if what he had seen had been right. In a second the video was stopped and Keith jumped up barely able to comprehend what he was watching. He could feel his stomach trying to kick his breakfast out over the floor as he paced the room, his mouth drying and his heart tearing a hole in his chest.
“Oh my god, oh my god it’s fucking Rachel it’s fucking Rachel…………please no please no don’t let it be Rachel……….what the fuck is going on?”
His shaking hand pressed the button again, only this time not being able to watch it at normal speed he visually fast forwarded in search of certain proof it was who he thought it was. He spotted the scene change to a different position and he quickly pressed play and there was the proof he hoped he would not see. Rachel lay on her back with her face and every inch of her body in full view. He even recognised her tattoo of a butterfly just level with her pubic hair and the clothes she regularly wore to work including her underwear, scattered over the furniture in what looked like a doctor’s surgery. Not being to cope with the volume on, he watched as the scene unfolding in front of him got more degrading forcing him to throw up over the lounge carpet. Tears tried to come but anger took
over as he turned it off and grabbed the car keys, the want to get out of the house becoming too much. Walking past the window he spotted Rachel making her way back down the road towards the house.
“Keith are you still here?” she shouted.
There was no answer as she entered the lounge and noticed the TV was on with the volume up.
“Keith you dirty bastard what the hell are you watching?”
Just as she was about to turn it off through squinted eyes she froze at the mention of her name.
“Oh Rachel tell me what you are”
“I’m a slut……I’m your slut”
Watching it for a few seconds more she realised who it was and screamed at the top of her voice.
“The fucking bastard shit, shit, shit” she shouted as she tried to turn it off.
“To be fair you seemed to be putting a lot of effort in” said a voice from the entrance to the kitchen.
LUCIFER'S ANGEL Page 14