The van lurched to a halt, throwing the rattled occupants into each other once again.Moments later, the back doors flew open, blinding them all and provoking a chorus of groans.Viyan kept her eyes to the floor, hoping to blend in with the crowdas they exited the van, but immediately her hopes were dashed, the driver’s booming voice filling the metal void.
‘You, out.’
She kept her eyes to the floor, determined not to react.
‘I said move it.’
Her irate minder had climbed into the van and now feel upon her.Viyan’s body was rigid, primed to resist, but in truth she stood no chance.A meaty hand gripped her left arm and she was hauled from her seat, striking her head on the low ceiling.This provoked no sympathy from anyone present, her attacker gripping her by the hair as he led her from the van, tossing her onto the rough ground outside.Quickly, Viyan scrabbled to her feet, ignoring the dust that ballooned into her ears, her eyes, her nose, but he was quickly upon her, grabbing her by the hair once more and pulling her face to his.
‘What did you give her?’
‘What do you mean?I did nothing,’ Viyan protested.
‘Bullshit,’ her interrogator shot back.‘You slipped that woman something.What was it?’
‘What woman?What are you talking about?’
Without warning, her attacker pulled his gun from his belt, slamming the butt into her cheek.Instantly, Viyan’s knees gave out, but she remained upright, held in position by his fist, as he continued to beat her.
‘Get off me, you pig.You’re hurting me,’ she screamed.
‘I’ll do more than that, you little slut, unless you tell me what you gave her.’
‘I don’t know anything about any woman.I wanted to send money home, that’s all.’
‘Have it your way,’ he replied, suddenly releasing his grip on her.
Surprised, Viyan righted herself, confused as to why herattacker had given up so easily.But her relief was short-lived, the thug grabbing her by the collar and marching her swiftly towards the farmhouse.As they stumbled towards the shabby building, his plan became clear, her captor adding:
‘Let’s see ifshecan loosen your tongue.’
Chapter 35
She had prepared her speech, yet was still lost for words.
Standing on the doorstep in an unfamiliar part of town, clutching a cheap bottle of red wine, Emilia suddenly felt exposed.What on earth was she going to say to this woman?How could she dress up her sudden interest in Louisa Baines so that it seemed anything other than highly suspicious?She’d never tried to contact her before, had never shown the slightest interest in any of her father’s many lovers.Indeed, if she had met Louisa previously, she’d have been tempted to spit in her face, her connection to Ernesto another reminder of how little he valued his own family.And yet here she was.Curiosity had driven her to this tumbledown terraced house, a burning desire to know if her dad was telling the truth, but she regretted her decision now.
The echo of the bell ring seemed to linger, but there was no movement inside.Casting a look around the shabby, down-at-heel street, Emilia considered her options.Perhaps Louisawasout, contrary to her dad’s insistence?Or perhaps she’d died in her sleep, lying upstairs undiscovered even now?Maybe the heavy silence within was God’s way of telling Emilia to abandon this hare-brained scheme?She could still go back to her dadand say that she’d tried, but that fate hadn’t been on their side this time.
But now quiet footsteps within gave the lie to her foolish fantasies.Emilia turned back to the door, pasting on her best smile, clocking the spy hole cloud over as the lady of the house surveyed the unexpected intruder.Still silence reigned, however, the owner making no move to admit her.
‘Louisa?Is that you?’Emilia asked plaintively.
And now finally there was movement.First one lock, then a second and finally a third were eased open, before the reinforced door opened a crack, a pair of watchful eyes peering out over the heavy security chain.
‘Thank God, you’re in,’ Emilia blustered, with forced good humour.‘For a minute I thought I’d come to the wrong house.’
She laughed, but it sounded as awkward as it felt.Emilia was an accomplished liar, so why was she finding this so hard?Still the eyes stared at her, appraising her, testing her.
‘You are Louisa, right?Louisa Baines?’
For a moment, Emilia feared shehadcome to the wrong house, but the woman’s shrewd expression suggested she knew exactly who her visitor was and, moreover, was enjoying her discomfort.
‘You’re Ernesto’s eldest nipper, aren’t you?’
‘That’s right,’ came the quick reply.
‘The famous Emilia Garanita.Made quite a name for yourself, haven’t you?’
