Nightshade

35

The woman was begging Fisher to let her up and complaining that she couldn’t breathe. Fisher had some plastic ties in one of the pockets of his overalls and he pulled one out to bind her wrists together. ‘You can’t do this to me, I’ve got rights!’ she shouted. ‘He hit me, he hit my leg with a bloody spade!’

Fisher stood up. As he took his phone out he looked down at the bloody gash on her leg. ‘You’ll live,’ he said.

‘I’ve got my rights!’ she shouted again.

Fisher called the superintendent and told him what had happened.

‘Do you have the girl?’

‘I’m not sure,’ said Fisher.

‘What the hell do you mean you’re not sure? What are you playing at?’

‘I’ll check,’ said Fisher.

‘Check? What do you mean, check?’

Fisher hurried to the stairs. ‘Sir, the Super wants to know if the girl’s okay.’ There was no answer. ‘Sir?’ He headed up the stairs. The inspector was kneeling next to the naked girl, blowing into her mouth, then he sat back on his heels and began a vigorous heart massage. ‘Sir, is she okay? The Super wants to know if she’s okay.’

Fisher realised that there were tears streaming down the inspector’s face and that little Bella Harper wasn’t okay.