| Taming Sophie (Continued) Martine Hayes
Chapter 12 Rixi stared anxiously around the interview room. He had seen these walls before and had reminded himself of the witty graffiti he had once seen. The room was now painted, leaving the strong odours and bright, new walls. This was the first time he had been innocent. He felt good, he was actually doing something right for a change. He wondered where Sophie was, he hoped she would be thinking of him, but most of all, he hoped she was all right. A lady appeared from the corridor and sat down at the table. She was quite old, but she looked mumsy and sweet. Her bright coloured lipstick, and her blue suit made her look posh and well educated. She didn’t look like a police woman, she looked like a bank manager. Her dark hair was neatly tied back, she was taller than Sophie. She was soon joined by a man half her age, he held a folder in his arms, he didn’t wear a suit, he wore jeans and a sweatshirt. His hair was long and he had a stubble. He too, did not look like a police man, he looked instead like a bricklayer or a mechanic. He placed the folder down on the table, and smiled at Rixi. ‘Hi, I’m DS Walters and this is DI Forest. I believe you have some information for us?’ Rixi felt important, he had their sole attention and was only too pleased to start telling them all he knew. He began by telling them, where they met, how they met and what Sophie had told him, but they wanted more, much more. He racked at his mind, trying hard to remember the slightest details, what she was wearing, how old she was, where she came from. these small details didn’t seem important, and had been overridden by the sheer scope of the dangerous situation that Sophie had been drawn too. ‘Is there anything else you can tell us about this… boyfriend of hers?’ Rixi thought for a moment, he had told them everything he knew. He didn’t seem so important now, he felt unsure and pathetic, he couldn’t even think straight anymore. The questions still came. He began to feel small and intimidated. They asked him some of the same questions that he had already answered. Perhaps they didn’t believe him. He sunk into his chair and sighed. He wished he hadn’t come. The reality of saving Sophie had been buried, all they were interested in now was scoring another point in the capturing criminals game. A game he never knew he was playing. ‘What about Sophie, it’s her that’s in danger. Don’t you care, she could be dead by now, he might have got her. And her friend.’ Forest interrupted him. ‘We know, we are trying, we have got people on it even as we speak, they have gone searching for her, but we can’t find her without some idea of where to look, and what to look for. Your description is a great help, but that description will match a hundred people in London, it’s a big place you know. We’ve got officers at every station on the look out, but if your friend is feeling like a fugitive, then she will do her very best to avoid them. It’s not easy... I know you think were being hard on you, but sometimes you think better, remember more when your pushed that little bit.’ Rixi felt reassured by Forests’ explanation and tried to think again. Sophie stood for a moment outside the bus, and scanned the bus station. It was so alive with movement. She felt almost invisible amongst the chaos of the busy commuters. She hoped Sarah would get there soon, they could be going home soon. She had no intentions of leaving the safety of the station. These busy commuters were her only shield, they would protect her while she waited for her. Sophie scanned the crowds of people, hoping for a glimpse of Sarah, if she had got away, she would be with her soon. She was probably already there. Sophie walked towards the phone boxes. Should she risk phoning her mobile again, or should she wait in the hope that she would see her. She waited for a few minutes and then dialled her number. Clive jumped at the sound of the phone ringing in Sarah’s bag. Swifty leaned towards it and picked it up. Sarah sat up, her face had obviously began to swell, her sight in her left eye was blurred and she ached immensely. The tape around her mouth had begun to tighten and her hands were starting to throb, behind her back. She knew it was Sophie on the phone, it had to be. She watched as Swifty held the phone to his ear. ‘Hello, is that you Sophie?’ He took the phone from his ear and laughed. ‘Stupid bitch hung up.’ He threw the phone to Clive, who was nervously awaiting news. Sarah knew that Sophie would come to the flat. She didn’t want that, but she had no way of stopping it. Sophie stood in the middle of the crowds. Was someone watching her? She could feel it. She began to panic inside, she had to move, somewhere safe. She made her way to the toilets, they had protected her before, she prayed they would again. As she neared the toilets entrance, she felt more terrified than previous. She could still feel the eyes on her. She stopped short of the entrance. She reminded herself, that if she went in, she would have to come back out. Who would be waiting for her? She wouldn’t know, she wouldn’t be able to watch her back from inside the toilets. She might be safer outside. Amongst her shield. Sophie turned round and looked into the crowds. She was looking for Clive. Perhaps he had followed Sarah. What could she do? She headed for the cafe and sat down. Clive would come to her, but at least she could choose where they met. She could stay in control. She watched and waited. Inside, she felt scared, but somehow, she knew it was time to face him again. She was ready. Clive walked towards Sarah. He bent down and removed the tape from her mouth. ‘Hi, What time are you meeting her? He was still so calm and polite. ‘Fuck you!’ Sarah spat in his face. ‘That’s not very lady-like now is it?’ He wiped his face with his handkerchief and smiled. Sarah felt a rush of pain as his foot thrust into her ribs. She slumped to the floor, unable to move. He kicked her again, she wasn’t sure where, she only knew the pain. ‘Sorry about that, Sarah.... What time were you supposed to meet her, is that her phoning you because your late? Or, is she phoning to confirm the meeting. He would have sounded more sorry if he hadn’t have been smirking. Sarah couldn’t answer, she found it difficult to breath. She wanted to ask him to help her up, she needed to sit up. She tried to ask him, but she couldn’t breath more than a whisper without the pain taking over. ‘Okay, Swifty, take a trip to Victoria, she won’t be expecting to see you. Tell her that Sarah is waiting for her. Tell her that I’m concerned about Sarah’s health.’ ‘My pleasure. Don’t worry, she wont need much convincing. I’ll take this with me.’ Swifty pulled Sarah’s purse from her bag and placed it in his pocket. Sophie walked to the kiosk, she could still feel eyes on her. She looked around again in the hope of spotting the face that owned the eyes, but she could see no one she knew. She thought of Sarah. She hoped she was okay. She had little doubt that Sarah would allow her self to be victimised by Clive. She must have left her phone, that’s all. Or perhaps, he was with her and had grabbed it from her. Either way, she was about to meet him. If she hadn’t felt the eyes on her, she would have worried that perhaps Sarah was still in his flat and being held against her will. She knew that was impossible, his eyes were here. They were following her every move. She could feel them. Swifty walked around the Station. He caught sight of Sophie, she was sitting in the cafe area. He walked towards her, watching her. He knew what Clive had seen in her, she was beautiful. He quite fancied her himself. It was sad that she had ended up on the wrong side, he could have looked after her. Karen was nothing on Sophie, he was glad to see her go. It was worth the money. She had been easily bought. He sometimes thought about her, and her new life. The one that they were supposed to share together. Now it was all hers. He might visit her one day, he promised he would, as soon as this job of his was finished. For now, she was out of the way, and didn’t suspect a thing. That was how he liked it. The less Karen knew, the better. She had seemed to wonder where the money had come from as he handed her the plane tickets, but the rewards of a grateful client, and a money spinning tax dodge, was good enough for her. Sophie could sense his approach, she sat up and stared in his direction. Swifty sat quietly beside her. ‘Don’t try anything stupid, Sophie. I have something to tell you.’ Sophie searched his face for clues. Why had he come? Where was Clive? She gasped as she realised. ‘Where is Sarah?’ ‘She’s at home, waiting for you. Clive says he’s worried about her health. She needs you.’ He pulled her purse from his pocket and handed it to Sophie. ‘You sick bastards. You lay one finger on her and.....’ ‘…. And What? You’ll tell the police? ..... The Army? .... What?’ Sophie hadn’t been ready for this, Clive certainly had the upper-hand. She was trapped again. This time, there was no running away or trying to escape, she had to go back to the flat. She had to go for Sarah’s sake. Clive had her just where he wanted. ‘What are we waiting for then, you better take me there.’ Sophie rose from the chair, her assumptions must have been wrong, she could still feel the eyes on her, yet Clive wasn’t there.
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Copyright (c) 1999 Martine
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