Chapters (58)
- Cover
- Dedication
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-one
- Twenty-two
- Twenty-three
- Twenty-four
- Twenty-five
- Twenty-six
- Twenty-seven
- Twenty-eight
- Twenty-nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-one
- Thirty-two
- Thirty-three
- Thirty-four
- Thirty-five
- Thirty-six
- Thirty-seven
- Thirty-eight
- Thirty-nine
- Forty
- Forty-one
- Forty-two
- Forty-three
- Forty-four
- Forty-five
- Forty-six
- Forty-seven
- Forty-eight
- Forty-nine
- Fifty
- Fifty-one
- Acknowledgements
- An Eastbourne Murder Mystery
- Canelo Crime
- About the Author
- Also by Sheila Bugler
She didn’t see her mother’s hand until it hit her. A slap across the side of her face that knocked her head sideways and left a ringing sound inside her head so that when Mum started speaking again, Kitty had to struggle to hear the words.
‘You need to watch your mouth, young lady. You have no idea the amount of trouble you’re in. Your father and I, we’re doing everything we can to protect you, but you don’t make it easy for us. You’re lucky you didn’t end up dead that night as well. If you tell anyone – and I mean anyone – what happened that night, you are putting all of us in danger. Think about that. It’s not just your own life that’s at risk anymore.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The men who were at the house that night are very powerful. If you speak to the Guards, two things will happen: one, you will be arrested and sent to prison for pushing your friend in front of a car; and two, our family will be punished.’
‘You’re lying!’ The words burst out of her mouth before she could stop them. She jumped off the bed and faced up to her mother, rage making her reckless.
‘You don’t care about me or Emer or Dad or what happens to us. You only care about him. Does Dad know about the two of you? No. Of course he doesn’t. Well maybe it’s about time he knew the truth.’
‘That’s enough.’
She hadn’t heard him, hadn’t even realised he was here in the house. But now he was standing in the doorway of her bedroom, blocking out all the light from the corridor. Bigger and wider than her father, and stronger. The bruises on her arms were proof of just how strong he was.
‘Can I speak to her for a moment, Ursula?’
Kitty looked at her mother, eyes begging her not to leave. But Mum ignored her, just like she always did. And then her mother was gone and the bedroom door was closing and he was walking towards her.
She screamed, as loudly as she could, and when he reached out to grab her, she tried to dodge past him. But she wasn’t fast enough. His hand wrapped around her arm and his other hand wrapped around her neck. And when he leaned his face close to hers and started telling her what would happen to Emer if Kitty ever spoke to the Guards, she lost control of her bladder and the rush of urine on the inside of her legs was the last thing she remembered before she passed out.