Only the Brave (A DS Allie Shenton Novel Book 3)

by Mel Sherratt

  ‘Yes, I think I am.’ She tried to stay cheerful.

  ‘I was hoping you’d be home by now.’

  ‘Me too. But you know how these things go on the first day. I have to be here until –’

  ‘I know, I know – until you can do no more. But I’ve been at work all day and then I’ve been to see Karen and now I’m back in an empty house. I’d just like to unwind knowing that my wife is safe and –’

  ‘Mark, don’t do this to me now, please. I can’t think about anything else.’

  ‘You mean you can’t think about anyone else.’

  ‘Oh, stop being so bloody needy.’

  ‘Thanks a million.’

  ‘Mark?’ Allie checked her phone but he’d hung up. ‘Shit!’

  Craig ducked behind the hedgerow out of Allie’s line of sight, watched her go downstairs again. He smirked after overhearing her conversation. It seemed she wasn’t so perfect after all. But it was the sight of Ryan Johnson leaving Sophie’s flat that piqued his interest more. What the hell was he visiting her for? That could prove very useful information to use later if necessary.

  Once they’d both disappeared, he ran to the side of the building. He waited a few more moments and then climbed up to the first floor.

  8.30 P.M.

  After the phone call from her mum, Leah had done nothing but think about what to do next. Even though it was risky, as the police would think she was involved if she disappeared, she packed an overnight bag, covering the money with a few of her things. She would go to her mum’s for the night and then if Craig was still after her, she could hide for a while. Stuff Kenny Webb. She would keep the money for herself.

  Her phone rang. Stella was on the line this time.

  ‘Stella, what the hell am I going to do? Craig has been to see my mum and broke in to her flat!’

  ‘Oh, Leah, I’m so sorry. Craig took my phone. I’ve borrowed next-door’s to ring you. Is your mum okay?’

  ‘Yes, she’s fine. But he’s assaulted an old man, too. He knocked his head on the ground – he might be dead for all I know now!’

  ‘Jesus Christ.’

  ‘He thought I had the money hidden there. He was searching through her things and then he rang me to say I’m dead when he finds me. Did you tell him –’

  ‘He’s . . . he’s hit me,’ Stella interrupted.

  ‘That bastard! Are you okay?’

  ‘Yes, but I’ve just had the police here again. They think Craig’s involved with Jordan’s murder somehow. I can’t believe it, though.’

  But Leah wasn’t listening. She slapped her hand on the wall. ‘I should never have kept that money. I should have given it back.’

  ‘It’s too late now.’

  ‘But I’m in trouble already so if I say I found it, they –’

  ‘They won’t believe you!’

  ‘They can’t prove I took it.’

  ‘Your prints will be on the money. And the bag.’

  ‘Yours too, remember? I gave it to you to look inside.’ Leah paused. ‘I’m going to hand it in. That sergeant gave me a card. I’m going to –’

  ‘No, wait! You can’t do that. I’ll be in trouble, too.’

  ‘I have to! I can’t do this anymore.’ Leah paced the room. ‘I’m scared of where it’s going to end.’

  ‘Don’t do anything until tomorrow. Just keep your head down and we’ll think of something.’

  ‘I don’t know, Stella. It’s all got out of control. I can’t –’

  ‘Give me five minutes and I’ll be along to you.’

  There was a bang on Leah’s front door.

  ‘What’s that?’

  ‘Someone is kicking my door!’

  Before she could react, it had crashed against the wall. Craig appeared in her hallway.

  Leah dropped the phone and screamed as she ran into the kitchen, Craig following her. She tried to close the door but he was too strong.

  ‘Where’s the money?’ he cried.

  ‘You’re not having it.’

  Craig went for her neck. As he squeezed his hands tightly around it, Leah gasped for air and she scrabbled about for anything along the kitchen worktop. Her fingers clasped around something hard – the tea caddy. She grabbed it and smashed it into the side of his face.

  Craig stepped back, momentarily stopped in his tracks, and clutched his head.

  ‘You mad bitch!’ he cried.

  Leah glanced behind him. The bag was behind the door. Would she make it past him before he caught up with her?

  She chanced it, grabbing it on the way. Hearing Craig’s boots thundering behind her, she screamed again. He pushed her up against the wall and slapped her face.

  ‘Let go of the bag.’

  Leah struggled for a few seconds but she realised it was no use. Despite all her fighting in the past, he was too strong for her. The bag slid down her arm and dropped to the floor. Craig bent to retrieve it. She wanted to bring up her knee and catch him full in the face but she was too scared of the consequences. Instead she watched him grab it, shrugging it onto his shoulder.

  ‘That’s a good girl.’ Craig squeezed her chin then and pressed his face within an inch of hers. ‘You’ll feel much better now it’s out of your hands.’

  He let go of her and moved towards the door. But something inside her flicked, and she found that she couldn’t let that money go. Why should he have it and not her? She ran after him and grabbed the strap of the bag.

  ‘It’s mine!’ She pulled at it with all her strength.

  Craig came back at her. The bag swung away from him and she clung tighter to it, pulling harder.

  ‘You’re not taking it to anyone else, are you?’ she said. ‘You’re going to keep it for yourself and let them think that I’ve still got it and then they’ll come after me.’

  ‘Clever girl.’

  ‘But they’ll kill me if they know I have it!’

  ‘I’ll fucking kill you if you don’t let go of the bag!’

  ‘You’re not taking it.’

  ‘You don’t have any choice.’

  He dragged her onto the walkway. She pulled, her fingers burning as the leather strap slipped through them, but she wasn’t going to let go. Craig punched back at her but she continued to cling on. She pulled one more time, then twisted and aimed a kick where she knew it would hurt the most. With a groan, he lost his grip.

  The bag came at her. It hit her full in the chest, the force of it sending her hurtling backwards. The base of her back hit the edge of the wall on the walkway, overbalancing and tipping her over the side. Screaming as she felt herself falling, she let go of the bag, her arms and legs flailing. She landed on her back, pain shooting through her as she hit the grass below with a thud.

  A second later, the bag dropped to the ground a few feet away from her.

  ‘Leah!’ Stella shouted in horror as she saw her best friend fall. Her slippers flapped as she ran along the walkway. She looked over and down and then ran towards Craig, who was outside Leah’s door. ‘What the hell have you done?’

  He held up empty hands. ‘I had the money and now it’s gone.’

  ‘But . . . but how could you have done that to her?’ Stella turned wildly back to the edge and looked down at the ground again. ‘Leah!’

  ‘I have to have it, Stel.’ Craig grabbed both her arms.

  ‘Did you kill Jordan?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘But you’re involved somehow, aren’t you?’

  ‘Leave it alone. The less you know the better.’

  She pushed his hands away and looked at him in disgust. ‘You won’t get away with this. Not with all the police around.’ She turned to leave. ‘I’m going down to see if she’s okay.’

  ‘No, you don’t.’ Craig grabbed her again. ‘You need to be my alibi. Say I w
as in the flat with you.’ He began to march her along the walkway.

  ‘You’ve gone too far this time.’ She tried to pull her arm away again. ‘You could have killed her!’

  ‘I’ll be dead myself if I don’t get that money back.’ Craig pushed her forward. ‘Why can’t you understand?’

  Stella stumbled, nearly falling to the floor. ‘Leave me alone. I hate you. You don’t think of anyone but yourself, and you don’t care who you hurt as long as you’re all right. Well, I’ve had enough of playing second fiddle to you all the time.’ She turned back to him. ‘And another thing – that police sergeant called again.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’ve had the police after you twice since you left. She told me they’d seen you leaving Flynn’s at midnight, and then they found your car on camera. What were you doing in Regina Street last night? Are you screwing someone there? Because if you are and you think for one minute I’m going to cover for you, you have –’

  ‘Will you keep your fucking voice down!’

  Craig clenched his fists, stepped towards her and then away again. His eyes were wild, spittle gathering at the corners of his mouth, but Stella couldn’t stop herself, fed up with years of his lies.

  ‘Well, if you’re not, then you must be involved in all that.’ She pointed downstairs. ‘You are, aren’t you?’

  Craig punched her full in the face.

  Blood poured from her nose. She stumbled backwards. His fist came at her again. She felt a kick to the stomach and another. Then everything went black.

  8.40 P.M.

  Leah couldn’t believe she was okay when she landed. But then she tried to move. Red hot pain shot through her back and she winced as she moved her head, remembering she had banged it on the grass. She felt clammy almost immediately.

  Then she saw the bag two feet away from her. She tried to roll over to her side but her vision blurred.

  ‘Don’t move!’

  She heard a voice but couldn’t turn her neck. Pain was making her feel queasy. She flopped back to the ground, not caring about the implications.

  ‘Are you all right?’

  Someone stooped down beside her. Christ, it was that sergeant.

  ‘What happened?’

  Leah tried to move again.

  ‘Please, stay where you are.’ Allie pushed her gently back down. ‘You need to stay still. I’ve called for an ambulance.’

  ‘No! I’m fine – just a bit winded.’

  ‘Stay where you are. The paramedics need to assess you first.’

  Leah kept glancing to her right. She had to keep the bag in her line of sight. Tears welled in her eyes. Oh, God, what happened if they opened it up and saw the money? It would all have been for nothing.

  ‘You’re in safe hands.’ Allie stooped down. ‘But what happened?’

  Leah decided playing dumb was going to be the best policy. ‘I – I can’t remember.’

  ‘Not to worry.’ Allie’s smile was warm as she picked up the bag and placed it by her side. ‘The ambulance staff will make you comfortable, give you pain relief before they move you. You took a nasty fall there.’

  Leah blinked back tears. What was the point of going on with the pretence? Even if she had got away with the money, Craig would still come after her. He wouldn’t give up until he had it back.

  Allie glanced up to Leah’s flat. When Leah was in trouble, there would always be a story to cover up the truth but this one seemed an impossibility. How could anyone fall from a balcony like that? They’d have to have been sitting on the wall. What was going on – had she been pushed?

  She looked down at her again. ‘You’re on the first floor, flat 203, right?’

  ‘Yes.’

  A small crowd had begun to form around Leah, people asking if she was okay. Two uniformed officers were trying to keep them at bay.

  Perry came running over. ‘Someone told me she’d fallen?’ he said when he reached them.

  ‘Yes, although I’m not sure how.’ Allie looked up again with a frown. She lowered her voice. ‘Can you keep an eye on her while I go and take a look upstairs? Clearly something isn’t right.’

  ‘It’s under control down here.’ Perry shook his head. ‘I’m coming with you.’

  They walked across the grass to the entrance.

  ‘She didn’t fall, did she, boss?’ said Perry.

  ‘I doubt it.’ Allie couldn’t shake off an image of Leah being pushed over the wall. ‘It seems a little too convenient to me.’

  At the entrance, they heard a shout. ‘Up here!’

  A woman stood at the top of the stairs beckoning them up. They jogged up to her and onto the walkway of floor one. Outside Leah’s flat, Allie could see a person kneeling down next to someone on the floor. She glanced at Perry and they quickened their step.

  ‘I shouted down to you people,’ said a man in a white T-shirt and gaudily patterned jogging bottoms. ‘We heard arguing, came out to see and she was lying here.’

  ‘It’s Stella Elliott,’ said Perry as they reached the top of the stairs.

  Allie stooped down over the woman. Blood poured from her facial injuries. She wasn’t moving. Perry radioed through for another paramedic while she retrieved latex gloves from her belt and flicked them on quickly.

  ‘Stella, can you hear me? It’s DS Shenton. It’s okay, we’ll get you sorted soon.’ She looked at the man who had found her. Two women now stood at his side. ‘Did you see what happened?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘What about the woman downstairs? Did you see what happened to her?’

  He shook his head. ‘I didn’t realise anything was going on until I called for help and looked down.’

  ‘You mean you’re unwilling to tell me what you really did see?’ she barked. She turned to the women and glared at them in turn. ‘Any of you two see anything?’

  ‘No, sorry,’ said one woman, looking anywhere but at Allie. The other just shook her head.

  Allie cursed under her breath. Her initial thoughts were that there must have been some sort of fight. Had Leah beaten Stella up and then tried to get away over the wall and landed wrong? But why wouldn’t she have run down the stairs to get away rather than risk injury? And they were supposed to be good friends.

  Stella groaned and Allie sighed, glad to hear it, thankful she was still alive. The last thing they needed was another body right now.

  9.00 P.M.

  Allie rang Nick and updated him as she arrived with Perry at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.

  ‘This can’t be a coincidence, sir,’ she said. ‘Leah Matthews allegedly falling and Stella Elliott being beaten up on the same day that Jordan Johnson is murdered? I know Harrison House is renowned for its trouble but even so, that’s a lot of things happening at once.’

  ‘I agree. Can you stay with Leah Matthews and get a statement from her? Gauge her reaction when you tell her how Stella Elliott is, see what she has to say first. Get Perry to stay with Stella, see what he can find out.’

  ‘Yes, sir. I haven’t managed to catch Craig Elliott to question him yet about his timing, although I did speak to Stella earlier and she was still adamant he was in around midnight,’ she added. ‘Her face was a mess then, too; said she’d fallen.’

  In A&E, Leah had been transferred onto a hospital trolley. The paramedics at the scene had strapped a padded brace around her neck to support it until she was fully assessed. When the nurse attending to her left to find a blood pressure monitor, Allie leaned on the bed frame.

  ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked.

  ‘Like I’ve fallen and landed on my back,’ Leah replied.

  ‘Oh, good. You have a sense of humour.’ Allie’s smile was full of sarcasm. ‘That means you’re able to answer me a few questions. Care to explain what’s been going on at your flat?’

  ‘I told yo
u – I can’t remember. I must have blacked out or something.’

  ‘Cut the bullshit.’ Allie leaned in closer. ‘We went up to your flat and found Stella outside on the walkway. She’s been beaten really badly. She’s across the other side of A&E being tended to now. Whoever hurt her is in a lot of trouble. Want to tell me about that?’

  Leah’s eyes flitted around in confusion. ‘I wasn’t with Stella!’

  ‘The door to your flat was wide open.’ Allie sighed. ‘Stop pissing me about.’

  ‘No, Stella wasn’t there when I – I fell. Is she okay? What’s happened to her? I want to see her.’

  Allie took hold of one of Leah’s hands.

  ‘You see?’ Leah cried. ‘No marks. I haven’t been fighting.’

  ‘I wouldn’t put it past you to hit out with something else. Tell me what happened.’

  ‘It wasn’t me! It must have been that bastard. He hit her earlier and –’

  ‘Who did?’

  ‘I – I can’t remember.’ Tears trickled from Leah’s eyes. ‘Is Stella okay?’

  Allie pointed to the overnight bag placed underneath the seat next to the bed. ‘Were you going somewhere, Leah?’

  ‘My mum had a break-in this afternoon and was upset so I thought I’d stay there tonight.’

  ‘Right.’ Allie paused. ‘Did you jump over the side?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Is this anything to do with what happened to Jordan Johnson?’

  ‘No!’

  ‘Were you running away from something – someone?’

  ‘I told you – I can’t remember!’

  ‘Well, something’s not quite right here, is it?’ Allie snapped.

  ‘Am I under arrest?’

  ‘Not yet.’ Allie stood up to leave but stopped when she heard Leah crying. For a moment, she tried to put herself in Leah’s position, understand how scared she’d be if someone had pushed her over the edge.

  ‘Is someone threatening you?’ she asked calmly.

  ‘No,’ said Leah.