I've Been Watching You: a stunning crime thriller from The North East Police Series (31 page)

Chapter Twenty-one

18
^th
June, 0625 hours – O’Byrne residence, Sunderland

Ben didn’t want to wake up. She was warm, and comfortable and sleep was calling her back. Suddenly she heard the soft sound of breathing coming from beneath her and her eyes flung open. Her mouth dropped into a soft ‘o’ shape as she realised it was Jacob.

He looked so peaceful, his breathing deep and regulated, his face completely untroubled. She found herself drawn, and unable to stop herself, she gently traced his face with the tip of her finger.

Jacob was awake in an instant, his senses kicking into overdrive and making him sit up, disorientated. The movement jolted Ben off the couch and she landed on the carpet with a loud ‘Oomph!’

‘Shit, sorry. Are you OK?’ Jacob grabbed his leg and swung it over the edge so that he was sitting up, and leant down. ‘Ben, are you OK? I’m sorry, I was startled.’

He watched as her shoulders started shaking. ‘Ben, please don’t cry, I said I’m sorry. I didn’t mean –’ Ben looked up, interrupting him, her eyes sparkling with laughter. ‘I’ve never seen anyone move so fast! I didn’t even notice you were awake `til I ended up on my arse.’ A giggle escaped, and before she knew it, she couldn’t stop. Tears sprung into her eyes, and Jacob couldn’t help but smile back. Her laughter was infectious, and within seconds they were both giggling hysterically.

Eventually, the giggling eased to smiles.

‘I’ll go make some coffee,’ said Ben, kneeling in front of him, intending to use the edge of the couch to pull herself up. But something made her pause. Jacob’s mirth had eased, and his eyes were full of something else. Something she hadn’t seen for a long time, it took her a moment to recognise it as desire.

She felt like a deer caught in the headlights again, half-wanting to move but mesmerised. She didn’t register him moving closer, not until she felt his breath softly touching her lips.
Shit, he’s gonna kiss me. What do I do?
‘Kiss him back,’ the voice in her head said. ‘You know you want to.’

His lips were soft as they touched hers, and she wasn’t prepared for the bolt of lightning that flew between them. He deepened the kiss a little, his hands gentle on the back of her head. Ben couldn’t have pulled back if she wanted to. Her arms snaked up his back, her fingers caressing him, and he groaned into her mouth. Pulling back, he stared at her, almost as if he needed confirmation that it was alright to kiss her. She leaned forward and kissed him, tentatively, her movements a little shy.

Suddenly the door opened, and they jerked apart, looking guilty.

Grace wandered inside, rubbing her eyes.

‘Mammy, is it time to get up now?’

Ben glanced at Jacob, a little pleased that he looked as flustered as she felt, and got to her feet. Picking Grace up, she hugged her daughter tightly. ‘It’s a little early, pumpkin, but that’s no problem. Shall we go and see what we have in for breakfast? Maybe Jacob would like to join us in the kitchen, too?’

He nodded silently, watching as Grace laid her head on Ben’s shoulder in contentment. He pulled himself up from the couch and for the first time in years, his leg didn’t seize up. Stretching, he took hold of his cane and followed the pair through the doors.

The breakfast passed with ease, Grace not even thinking to question why Jacob was still there. When Aoife had entered the kitchen, she had shown mild surprise but it was disguised by a knowing smirk. The two were as awkward around each other as a wolf meeting a bear in the woods. But beneath the surface there was a comfort that they didn't even realise was there. They'd survived their first night together. It was a huge step. Aoife was pleased. She patted Ben on the back as she took her coffee and sat down next to Jacob.

He didn't quite know what to say to her, had gone to start a couple of sentences but realised how stupid they would sound. So he stayed silent, holding his coffee and just watching the interaction at the table.

Before he knew it, it was time to leave for work; they'd both showered as if it was any normal morning. As they walked to the front door, Aoife gave Ben a push towards him.

'Jacob can take you to work today; I need the car for an appointment at the hospital. You don't mind do you, Jacob?'

He could barely contain his grin as he shook his head. Ben just groaned quietly. Aoife just couldn't stop herself interfering. She was incorrigible!

She followed Jacob out to the car, and bumped into his back as he stilled suddenly.

'What is it?' she asked, her voice turning wary at his silence. He turned to her with a frown. 'Someone’s slashed the tyres on both the cars.'

'What? Are you sure? Maybe we just ran over glass or something ...' Ben manoeuvred around him, and paused as she realised he meant all the tyres. Her eyes focussed on the words etched into her bonnet she felt the blood drain from her face. The world went off-kilter, and she felt herself start to fall.

Realising what was happening, Jacob dropped his stick and caught her before she hit the floor. The added weight caused his leg to give way and he only just managed to move himself under her to break her fall. 'Crap,' he muttered before raising his voice and shouting for Aoife through the open front door.

Ben had barely lost consciousness and could hear Grace telling her to wake up, and slowly she fluttered her eyes open. She saw the sky above and realised she was outside. Her senses went into overdrive and she realised Jacob was caught beneath her. Realising she had passed out again, she groaned and swore at herself softly.

'Mammy, that's a naughty word. Jacob said you fell asleep on him. Are you awake now?'

'Yes, pumpkin, I'm awake.' Embarrassed, she pulled herself to her feet and stretched a hand out to help Jacob to his feet. His face was twisted in a grimace and he tried to hide the pain that was shooting through his leg, but failed. Accepting her hand, he was surprised at the strength with which she tugged him to his feet. He leaned into her shoulder as Grace handed him his stick.

'Sorry,' whispered Ben into his ear, fear causing her voice to shake. 'It's him. He was here. I need to get Aoife and Grace away from here. I can’t let them be here when he’s out there and knows where I live. Will you help me?'

Jacob nodded, 'I know just the place. Leave it to me. You phone the police.'

18
^th
June, 0810 hours – O’Byrne residence, Sunderland

Ali pulled on to the driveway of Ben’s house. He’d literally walked into the office when comms had told him about the damage to Ben’s car. He needed to see about getting her away from the house, putting her somewhere safe, but first he had to speak to her. How the hell had this guy known where to find her?

‘Ben, Jacob,’ he acknowledged as he strode into the living room. He’d glanced at the cars on the way past. This was getting personal. This guy knew where she lived, and had no qualms about letting her know he had visited.
What’s so different about Ben though? Why is he focussing on her now, after all this time?
The question kept popping into his head, had been since he’d set off from the nick. Ali knew the answer was in there somewhere, and pushed it to the back of his mind as he sat down.

Ben and Jacob were sat next to each other on the couch, Jacob’s hand resting softly on Ben’s knee. She was leaning into him, their body language practically screaming there was something between them. Ali wasn’t surprised; he thought Ben was enigmatic and appealing, had done since he’d first time he’d seen her. She was strong, but today her vulnerability was showing through, slight cracks appearing in her strong façade. She was tapping her foot softly against the carpet, nibbling at the inside of her bottom lip, and her eyes were haunted.

‘I’ve read the report you gave to Charlie, Ben. You said he whispered those words to you during the attack. Is it possible that that sentence could have been found out somehow, either through the news or you telling someone, and this could just be someone playing silly beggars?’

Ben pondered his question. ‘No. The police didn’t release any of the identifiable facts about the rape. They didn’t mention the words he said, and they didn’t mention my … scars. The news was generic. And until now I’ve never told anyone else except my aunt, about what happened. This is
him,
Ali. I’m sure of it. I don’t know why he’s come back, but he has.’

Ali nodded. He already knew that, but he needed to hear that she hadn’t told anyone. His gut already told him she hadn’t and that this was indeed the same guy, but the confirmation proved it. He felt a lead weight in his stomach.
Damn, I need some antacid. I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

‘I need to put you and your family somewhere safe. He knows where you live. We have a safe house we’d like to use outside of the city centre. I’ll assign two cops to be with you at all times. It’ll mean taking your daughter out of school for a little while.’

‘They’re safe, Ali. I’ve already sent them somewhere that nobody would look for them. Jacob knew a place.’

‘Will you tell me where? I’d like to assign officers to them.’

‘It’s OK,’ said Jacob quietly, ‘They’re staying with a friend of mine from my time in the service. No-one will get near them.’

Ali nodded silently. It hadn’t escaped him that Ben and Jacob were keeping schtum on purpose. Understandable, he supposed. He couldn’t say he wouldn’t do the same in their situation.

‘So just you and Jacob then.’ He paused gauging Ben’s reaction. Before she even spoke, he knew she wasn’t going to let him put her in the safe house.

‘If he thinks he can run me out of my home, and make me hide away like the scared girl I was after he attacked me, then he’s dead wrong. I refuse to be driven out. When I moved back in with Aoife, we had state-of-the-art alarm systems installed. We’ve not really used them the last couple of years, but they will keep him out. I’m not going to the safe house. Feel free to assign cops outside, but I will not let this monster ruin my life again.’

‘I’ll be staying with her too. My boss has already given me permission to work from home for a while. I need to pick my kit up but otherwise I’ll be here.’ Jacob’s voice was calm.      

‘OK. I’m going to have one of the PCSOs come and install a Tunstall alarm in the premises. You know how they work, right? Anything happens, and I mean anything, you press the button and it connects to the control room and results in an immediate response. I’ve got Kevin coming down here to examine the vehicles, see if the offender left anything behind that we could use. There’ll be two officers outside the address in an unmarked pool car 24/7 until this guy is caught. We won’t let him near you, Ben.’

‘I know, thanks, Ali. Have you mentioned anything to Cass? I wouldn’t want her to worry.’

‘Yeah, I’ve told her. Only because I was discussing it with Alex, though. She said to tell you she’s there if you need her.’

‘I’ll give her a ring tonight and put her mind at ease. She has enough on her plate right now.’

‘Yeah, you’re not wrong. OK, Ben. I’m going to head back to the office, see if we can’t make some headway on who the hell this guy is. You’ve got my number. You need anything, day or night, you call me.’

Ali stood and left the living room. Pausing at the front door, he rested his head on the frame, just for a second. He felt a little sick, bile sitting in his oesophagus as he considered all the things that could potentially happen. Whitworth’s wife had known she married a monster, and she hadn’t reported him, but at least he was known. This killer was like a ghost, he could pretty much pass through walls. How the hell did one live under the radar in this day and age? Lifting his head slowly, his eyes narrowed as he thought about his silent question. The only way people could live under the radar, was if they were homeless and didn’t claim dole which was unlikely, or if they knew how to navigate the system and use it to their benefit.

It gave him an idea, and jumping in the car, he sped back to the nick.

18
^th
June, 1030 hours – Boxmania Gymnasium, Sunderland

Stan was in the gym, throwing punches at the large bag that hung from the ceiling. One of the young lads, a new-comer to the boxing world, was holding the bag and grimacing whenever the punch connected. Stan wasn’t holding back.

He felt each impact shudder up his arm and into the muscles at the top - could feel the tension in his shoulders as he drew back and released in a steady rhythm. He was focussed, concentrating hard on his work-out. A lot of it was second nature now, twenty from the left, twenty from the right, ten from each knee, ten spinning kicks, and then repeat using upper-cuts instead. Sweat was beading on his forehead, dripping down on to the black sweat band he wore. For the time he worked out, his mind was a blank canvas.

He’d needed the workout today, wanted the challenge of kicking the hell out of something. He’d been listening that morning when
Ali
had turned up.
What kind of name was Ali anyway? What self-respecting man would let himself be called a girl’s name?
He faltered as the errant thought entered his mind and threw off his rhythm.

Coming back to earth momentarily, he registered the burn in his muscles, smelled the sickly scent of sweat as it congregated in the curves of his armpits, and ran down the small of his back into the top of his shorts. His body was telling him he’d done enough. Glancing at the clock he realised he’d been working out for well over an hour.
Best not overdo it. I have planning to do.

‘Jacko,’ he yelled suddenly, ‘Come hold the bag for Ricky here, he’s held it for long enough.’ Jacko strode over, flexing his arm muscles. His wide chest caused his narrow hips to sway as he walked.
Now that’s taking things to the extreme. Wonder if he realises how ridiculous he looks. Arms the size of tree trunks and I could still take him down in one move.
Luckily for Jacko though, that wasn’t Stan’s intent. He moved to the locker room at the side of the boxing ring, grabbed his bag, and left.