Chapter Nineteen
Saturday night
The door opened a crack and part of a face framed with a shock of blonde hair appeared.
‘Hey Dan,’
‘Hi Jen, you all right?’
‘Yeah.’
Her voice did not back up the word. It sounded higher than normal and slightly strained to Dan, but he accepted that he could have been imagining it.
‘Can I come in?’ he said.
‘Oh, yes, sorry.’
She fumbled with the chain, getting it off at the third attempt, then opened the door to let him in. She tried to close it again as soon as he was in but Dan caught it with his hand.
‘Sorry Jen, I don’t think I’ve locked the car.’
He opened the door wider and aimed the key fob at the Skoda that was parked on the kerb outside.
‘You’re getting better at lying,’ whispered Tess as she stepped past him into the hall. Jenny pushed the door shut as soon as Dan stepped back inside, and put the chain back on with trembling hands.
‘I think I’m coming down with something,’ she said, ‘I don’t know what’s up with me. Come on let’s get into the warmth.’
She walked through into the lounge.
‘She’s been crying,’ said Tess.
‘I know.’
‘What?’ said Jenny, looking back.
‘I said I know it’s cold,’ he said.
Jenny looked puzzled but said; ‘Yeah.’
She sat on the settee, fiddling with her fingers. Her eyes were red and puffy and her hair was untidy.
Dan sat on the chair. There was an awkward silence.
‘Did you have a nice time in Scotland?’ said Jenny at last, without real interest or enthusiasm.
‘Yes it was good.’
Jenny played with her hair. She didn’t seem to have really registered the reply.
‘Did you really go on your own?’ she said.
‘Tell her, yes,’ said Tess who had sat next to Jenny on the settee.
‘Yes I did,’ said Dan.
‘What about that girl you told me about?’
‘I went on my own.’
‘Ask her about Alex,’ urged Tess.
‘Jen, I wanted to apologise about last week. I think it was all a bit soon for me. I thought I was OK but I wasn’t. I was confused and I didn’t want to hurt you. It was the last thing I wanted to do. I just needed to sort things out in my own head.’
Tess looked at him in surprise.
‘Hey, you’re smoother than I thought,’ she said.
Jenny gave a weak little smile.
‘You really are sweet. Most guys would have just shagged me anyway and then told me afterwards.’
‘Ask her, Dan,’ urged Tess.
‘What’s happened to you, Jen?’ Dan asked, his voice gentle.
‘Nothing’s happened,’ said Jen rather too quickly.
‘Hey Jen!’
Jenny’s flatmate had popped her head around the lounge door.
‘Oh hi,’ she said to Dan.
‘Fi this is Dan,’ said Jenny, ‘Dan this is my flatmate Fiona.’
‘Hi, yeah we met briefly the other week,’ said Dan.
‘Oh yeah,’ said Fiona, ‘I was just going to ask you if you’d changed your mind about going out but I see you have better things to do!’ She winked at Jen and gave a little nod in Dan’s direction, ‘See ya , sweetie,’ she said and left.
‘See ya, Fi,’ called Jenny after her.
A moment later the front door opened then slammed shut.
‘Did you want to go? It’s fine, I don’t mind,’ said Dan, ignoring Tess’s frown.
Jen shook her head. ‘No. I don’t fancy going out,’ she said.
‘I don’t care what she said, something bad has happened. Ask her again,’ urged Tess.
‘Would you like something to drink,’ Jenny said before he could.
‘Er, yes, tea please,’ said Dan.
‘Tea? Since when do you drink tea?’ said Tess.
‘I do sometimes.’
‘You do sometimes what?’ Jenny had stood up.
‘Drink tea, ‘ said Dan, ‘Sometimes. Rather than coffee or alcohol.’
‘Oh. Right.’
Jenny headed towards the door, then hesitated. The hall was dark.
‘Would you come with me?’ she said, looking appealingly at Dan, biting her lip.
‘Yes, of course,’ said Dan getting up. Tess followed.
‘She’s scared to bits,’ she muttered.
Dan went with Jenny into the kitchen, which was also in darkness. She stopped at the door and reached in for the switch. Only when the light came on did she go inside. When she picked the kettle up she almost dropped it, then fumbled with the lid. Dan stepped over and took it off her; she said nothing but meekly let him, watching him fill it and then switch it on.
‘Now,’ he said. ‘Are you going to tell me what’s wrong?’
Suddenly his world was filled with blonde; Jenny had flung herself at him.
‘Oh Dan, Dan, I was so stupid,’ she sobbed, her face buried in his chest. Startled, Dan put his arms around her. She felt warm, soft – real. Dan couldn’t help but look at Tess, into her face. She was tight-lipped, her eyes looked to be rimmed with moisture. He felt a prickle in his own too and screwed them tight shut, partly to hold them back and partly so he couldn’t see the look on Tess’s face.
‘It’s all right,’ whispered Tess, ‘ask her.’
Dan opened his eyes.
‘Jenny,’ he said, ‘Was it Alex? Alex Curry?’
Jenny lifted her head. She looked bewildered.
‘How did you know?’ she said.
‘I just heard something about him. From a friend. I was worried.’
Jenny pulled away from him and leant her hands on the kitchen worktop, head bowed.
‘It wasn’t his fault, it was mine,’ she said in a small voice.
‘How do you work that out?’ said Tess. It was a few moments before Dan remembered that he had to repeat the question.
‘Well he took me out, the second time, to this really expensive restaurant. It must have cost a fortune. And he sent me flowers, lovely ones.’
‘So? What happened?’
Jenny straightened up and wiped her eyes, then started making the tea.
‘Nothing,’ she said, ‘forget it.’
Dan caught her hand and made her put the mug down she was holding. He took her gently but firmly by the shoulders and turned her round.
‘Jen, what happened? Tell me.’
He saw that she wouldn’t look at him, wouldn’t risk eye contact.
‘Everyone say’s I’m a prick tease,’ she whispered, ‘All tease and no delivery…I deserved it.’
‘Oh no,’ said Tess, ‘The poor kid.’
‘Jen,’ said Dan, ‘You have a right to do what you want. No means no.’
Jenny shook her head.
‘Dan, will you give that girl a cuddle. She needs it,’ said Tess, quietly.
He did.
‘Did he hurt you?’ he asked.
She nodded into his chest.
‘Why didn’t you go to the police?’ he said.
‘Well, as he said, it was my fault. I got him so het up, gave him all the signals, what did I expect?’
Dan stroked her head.
‘You did nothing wrong. It was him. He’s done this before.’
Jenny looked up at him again sharply.
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ she said.
‘I didn’t know until today, I promise. I just found out myself,’ he said, ‘and you really should go to the police.’
‘Dan!’ said Tess urgently, ‘there’s someone at the kitchen window!’
Dan turned sharply to look. He saw a brief flash of something pale that could have been a face but then it was gone.
‘What is it, what’s wrong?’ said Jenny, looking alarmed.
‘I thought I saw someone outside,’ said Dan, ‘just for a moment. They seem to have gone now.’
Jenny shivered.
‘I keep thinking I’m being watched,’ she said, ‘ever since… well, you know. That’s why I keep the chain on.’
Dan nodded.
‘Dan the chain’s not on,’ said Tess. ‘Fiona went out, remember?’
‘The chain’s not on!’ said Dan, letting go of a startled Jenny and rushing out of the kitchen across the hall.
He had just reached the door when it burst inwards, hitting him in the face. He staggered back, blinded by the blood, shock and pain. Another blow made the world flash red.
*
He couldn’t work out where he was at first.
He was on the floor but not his floor, this one had black and white tiles. The pain from his nose was intense, his head throbbed. He got on his knees, trying to work out what had happened, where he was, how long he had been there.
Then he heard a twisted, angry voice, seemingly in the distance.
‘You little bitch! You wouldn’t give it to me but I bet you open your legs for lover boy there! Were you going to the police about me, Jenny? Were you and him plotting? I bet you were you dirty little whore!’
Jenny!
He was in Jenny’s flat. And that was Alex Curry.
Dan staggered to his feet. Through the blood that streamed from his forehead, he could see a black-clad figure in the kitchen. Jenny was cowering and backing away from him, her hands in front of her. The figure was holding something in his right hand; Dan couldn’t see properly but knew it had to be a knife. Tess was stood to one side, looking horrified.
The black figure suddenly jerked his arm forward. Dan caught the flash of light on the blade. Jenny brought her hands down, catching the knife’s blade. Blood spurted over her clothes. She screamed but held on.
The man cursed and pulled back. Jenny held on for a moment but she had to let go, Dan could only imagine the pain, and this unbalanced Alex, who staggered back.
Dan had to do something, there was no one else. He lurched to his feet and towards the kitchen but everything seemed to be happening in slow motion.
He knew he was going to be too late.
‘You slut, you whore!’ Alex shouted and lunged forward again. As he did Dan saw Tess step between him and Jenny.
Alex stopped. Dan knew that he could see her; it gave him time, a chance.
‘But…I killed you,’ Alex said, then added: ‘And I will again.’
In the moment that it took Dan to get to them, he saw Alex plunge the knife into Tess.
Then Dan was on him.
‘Tess, no!’ he shouted, wrestling with Alex, trying to reach the knife. Alex was forcing it though Tess, through her hands, through her body, trying to get at the cowering and bleeding Jenny beyond.
Tess looked into Dan’s eyes.
‘I love you,’ she said. ‘I don't want to go’
She went limp.
Dan found new strength, twisting Alex away from the women. The knife caught on the handle of a cupboard and sprang from his hand, clattering on the floor as both of them fell backwards, Alex on top of Dan. The impact drove the breath from Dan’s body; he struggled to get free, but then the weight was gone and he heard heavy footsteps running away.
By the time he scrambled to his feet to follow the hall was empty, the shattered front door hanging open.
He turned back to the kitchen.
There was just Jenny, curled up on the floor in the corner, her hands over her head, blood pouring from them.
Of Tess there was no sign.
He leant down to Jenny.
‘It’s me, Jenny, it’s Dan,’ he said, ‘He’s gone, let me help you. Let’s look at those hands.’
She pushed him away at first, then seemed to realize who he was and let him see. He winced when he saw the wounds; he knew he had to stop the bleeding. He looked around, after a few moments he found some clean tea towels in a drawer. He bound them as tightly as he dared around her hands.
Only then did he use his phone and called the police and for an ambulance.
And after he had made the call he looked all around the flat.
There was just Jenny and him, no one else.
The tears flowed down his cheeks. He slumped to the floor on his knees and sobbed uncontrollably.