Shit. So much for telling her he couldn’t see her again. But how could he walk away leaving her in the hands of that psychopath?

Chapter Forty

When he telephoned on Friday, Ali assured him she would finish with Tony, but he wasn’t sure he believed her.

‘I need to make sure you’re okay.’

‘Not this week, Adam, I’ve got stuff I need to sort out.’

‘Let me help you. I could knock off work early.’

But she kept putting him off, and a week later, when he couldn’t get any answer from her, he was convinced Tony was still on the scene.

He drove to Ali’s maisonette one gusty afternoon and parked nearby. He lit a cigarette and checked his watch. Three hours at the most. He’d told John he had to take one of the girls to the dentist because Maddy was busy. He shouldn’t be taking risks like this, but Ali wasn’t safe with that nutter.

He texted Ali, but she didn’t reply so he switched the radio on low and shut his eyes. The first time he kissed Ali was under Bull’s Bridge, in Hayes. She’d passed him a note when her dad wasn’t looking, asking him to meet her there. She was so pretty and petite, like a little doll. He couldn’t believe she was interested in him. It was the first time someone had properly wanted him.

The roar of a car engine woke him from a light doze. The unmistakable bulk of Tony wrenched himself out of a BMW. He unlocked the front door to Ali’s flat and disappeared inside. Max waited ten minutes but there was no sign of him leaving, so he got out of his van, took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Tony answered.

‘I’m here to see Ali,’ Max said.

‘Well look who it ain’t,’ Tony roared.

‘Ali,’ Max called into the house.

‘She doesn’t wanna see you.’

‘She can tell me herself.’ Max stuck his boot in the doorway.

Ali appeared at the end of the hallway in a sheer petticoat dress.

‘Five minutes.’ Tony grinned at Max and retreated into the kitchen.

‘I thought you said you’d finished with him,’ Max whispered. He reached out to Ali, but she held onto the door handle.

‘I have, I mean, I tried to, but he still comes over. He likes to help out, that’s all.’

‘You’ve not answered any of my calls.’

‘I’m not sure it’s a good idea you being here, Adam. It’s… difficult.’

He stepped into the hallway and took her hands. ‘Look at me and tell me, is he hurting you?’

Ali stared up at him but didn’t answer.

‘You still here?’ Tony stood in the kitchen doorway holding a can of Foster’s.

Max let go of Ali.

‘We’re talking, that’s all,’ she said.