Nine Elms (Kate Marshall #1)(107)

“Nine Elms Lane,” she said.

“Not just Nine Elms Lane,” said Peter into her ear. “This is the location of the Nine Elms car scrapyard, now owned and redeveloped by CM Logistics. Your sad little bedroom back there sits on the exact spot where I dumped the body of Shelley Norris in 1993 . . .”

Kate fought his grip and tried to break free.

“You’re fucking crazy,” she said.

“Yes,” he said, turning her around to face him. “That’s what I always thought attracted you to me.”

The cold wind screamed through the door, and she saw that Joseph was coming toward her.

“Where’s Jake?” she started to say. There was a clicking sound, and she saw Joseph holding a Taser. She looked down and saw two wires hooked into the front of her sweater. A terrible pain jolted through her body, making her rigid, and the blackness overcame her again.



When Kate came to, she smelled the strong scent of ammonia, and her eyes shot open. Joseph stepped back with the smelling salts he’d used to revive her. She was lying on the bed, in her old bedroom, wearing a white toweling robe. Peter was kneeling on top of her, trapping her arms down by her sides, just as he had all those years ago. He held a long, thin knife.

In place of the fourth wall, Joseph was behind a video camera, filming. To the side of him, Jake was trussed up in a chair, his arms and legs bound with tape.

Despite his age and loss of muscle, Peter was still strong, and he leaned his weight into her, making her cry out. This had escalated fast; she had no time to think. Peter had stabbed her with the knife, and he was going to do it again. On the floor by the video camera were a bottle of water, a roll of tape, and the Taser.

“Are we rolling?” asked Peter. Joseph gave him the thumbs-up. Jake’s eyes were wide, and he writhed in the chair. Kate looked at him, desperate to see if he could reach the Taser, but he was too far away and his feet were taped to the chair.

“Something’s not right,” said Peter. He put the knife between his brown teeth and untied Kate’s robe. When he opened it, she was naked underneath. Kate yelled out, and tears filled her eyes at the humiliation.

“No, no!” she cried. Peter traced the tip of the knife across her nipples and down to the scar.

“They did do a good job sewing it up, didn’t they?” he said. Joseph laughed from where he was watching. Peter turned to the camera and noticed Jake had closed his eyes. “You open those eyes, boy! Open those fucking eyes or Joseph will peel them open with his knife!”

Jake writhed and cried under the restraints, but he opened his eyes. Peter lifted up the blade and placed the tip at the end of Kate’s scar.

“Do you remember the pain?” he said. “I’ve heard that the body forgets.” He went to push the knife in.

“Peter! Wait!” she cried, trying to stall him.

“What?” he said.

“You forgot to do something. If Joseph wants this to be authentic.”

“No, I didn’t forget anything,” he said.

An idea came to her, and she hoped she would have the strength to see it through.

“No! It’s not right! Stop! It’s all wrong,” she said.

“Hang on, hang on,” said Joseph, moving around the camera and toward them. “What is it?”

Peter sat back, digging his knees and legs into her wrists and stomach. The pain was hot and fierce, but she kept her face neutral.

“It’s . . . er, well, embarrassing.”

“What?” asked Joseph.

“Peter knows,” she said.

“I do?” he said, confusion in his eyes.

“I said something to you, on the night you stabbed me. I . . . pleaded with you, for my life.”

The pain was now unbearable where Peter leaned on her wrists.

“Okay, okay, let’s start again,” said Joseph, moving back behind the camera. “Go.”

Kate tilted her head up in preparation to whisper, and Peter leaned down toward her, putting even more pressure onto her wrists. She felt like they were going to break. As he leaned close, Kate saw the skin on his neck, how it had changed over the years from being taut and youthful to crinkled like crepe paper. The tendons were sticking out, and she could see the pulse beating under the skin of his throat.

“You’re going to die,” he said. He came closer, grinning. Kate put her mouth to his ear.

“You’re going to rot in that mental hospital, you evil bastard,” she whispered. She opened her mouth wide and sank her teeth into his throat, biting down as hard as she could. She felt his skin tear and the blood from his jugular pour out. He dropped the knife, and it clattered on the floor. Jake screamed as she bit down harder and kept hold, shaking her head from side to side, biting down like a dog. Peter screamed and pulled back.

“Let go! Help me!” he cried. He was screaming and crying out and finally broke free, holding his neck where the blood was gushing. Kate’s face and eyes were covered in blood.

Joseph held his camera in shock, and he instinctively went to help Peter. Kate leaped off the bed and skidded across the floor, grabbing the Taser. She twisted on her feet, took aim, and fired it at Joseph’s neck. He screamed and fell forward, writhing and clutching at the wires.

Kate didn’t wait a moment longer. She gathered her robe, picked up the scissors, and started to cut Jake free.