Running Scared, page 5
‘Lexi?’
Jolted awake, Lexi’s eyes shot open and she let out a little cry of fear.
‘It’s only me, love,’ Beth said, guessing that she must have been having a bad dream. ‘When did you get home? I didn’t hear you coming in.’
‘This morning,’ Lexi croaked, hoping her mum didn’t ask what time, because she’d go mad if she knew it had been in the early hours – and that she’d had to climb in through the window because she’d realized her key wasn’t in her bag when she got back.
‘Why?’ Beth asked. ‘I’d have thought you’d want to spend the day with Nic.’
‘I had a headache.’
‘Well, I hope you helped to clear up before you left? I wouldn’t want them to think you were rude after they invited you to their party.’
‘They’ve got a cleaner.’
‘Now why doesn’t that surprise me?’ Beth tutted. Then, tilting her head to one side when she noticed Lexi’s swollen eyes, she said, ‘Have you been crying?’
‘No.’ Lexi pulled the quilt up a little higher.
‘You look like you have. Is it the headache, or did something happen to upset you over there? You and Nic haven’t fallen out, have you?’
Lexi shook her head again, but Beth saw a tell-tale tear trickling down her nose and sat down on the edge of the bed. ‘Oh, love, what’s the matter?’ she asked, reaching out to stroke her hair. Hesitating when Lexi flinched, she narrowed her eyes when she spotted a clump on the pillow. ‘What’s this?’ She picked it up. ‘Have you been fighting?’
‘It wasn’t me, it was Nic,’ Lexi sobbed, unable to hold in the tears any longer. ‘She thought I was trying to get off with her boyfriend and went for me – but I wasn’t, I swear. I tried telling her he was only pulling Adam off me, but she—’
‘Whoa, back up a minute,’ Beth cut in. ‘What d’you mean he was pulling Adam off you? And have you been drinking?’ she added, picking up the scent of alcohol.
‘A bit.’
‘Well, I’ll be having words with Nicole’s mum and dad about that. But right now I’m more concerned about what you and Adam were up to – and, more importantly, how far you went. The pharmacy shuts early today, so if we need to get you the morning-after pill—’
‘He didn’t do that,’ Lexi spluttered, her cheeks on fire. ‘Not all the way, anyway.’
Instincts prickling when she realized Lexi had said he not we, Beth said, ‘But he tried?’ Frowning when Lexi nodded, she said, ‘And did you want him to?’
‘No,’ Lexi whimpered. ‘I told him to stop, but he wouldn’t.’
‘Right, get dressed,’ Beth ordered. ‘I’m calling the police.’
‘You can’t!’ Lexi yelped, sitting bolt upright. ‘Please, Mum. They’ll say it was my fault for drinking.’
‘No, they’ll say it was his parents’ fault for letting you drink. I should’ve known they couldn’t be trusted to look after you. That Rachel’s always looked down her nose at us, and as for that husband of hers—’
‘They weren’t there,’ Lexi interrupted.
‘You what?’ Beth was confused. ‘You mean they took off from their own party and left a load of kids around booze?’
‘They went to Paris for their anniversary,’ Lexi explained guiltily, unable to meet her mum’s gaze. ‘They didn’t even know about the party. Adam organized it behind their backs.’
‘So let me get this straight . . .’ Beth’s eyebrows knitted together as she started to put the pieces together. ‘If they’re not there and didn’t know about the party, they couldn’t have invited you to stay over, which means you lied to me.’
‘I’m sorry, Mum. It was Nic’s idea.’
‘Are you lying about Adam as well?’
‘No, that’s true, I swear. I was drunk and got sick, so I went for a lie-down. He came up behind me and pushed me onto the bed. I told him to get off, but he . . .’ Unable to carry on, she pulled up her knees and buried her face in them.
‘Lexi, this is serious, so I need you to be completely honest with me,’ Beth said. ‘Have you and Adam ever done anything in the past that would make him think you wanted him? Have you ever kissed him or slept with him?’
‘No, never,’ Lexi said truthfully. ‘I always thought he was good-looking, but he’s not very nice to me, so I don’t like him like that. But last night . . .’
‘Last night what?’ Beth prompted when she tailed off. ‘Did he say something to make you think he liked you?’
Lexi nodded and wiped her nose on her hand. ‘Nic had done my hair and make-up really nice, and he said I looked beautiful.’
‘And you were flattered?’
‘Kind of. But that was before the party started, and I didn’t see him again for ages, ’cos I was sat by myself all night.’
‘Why were you on your own? Where was Nic?’
‘I don’t know. She’d gone a bit funny with me earlier on and then disappeared. I didn’t know anyone else, so I sat in the corner. But then Adam came over and . . .’
‘And?’ Beth pressed, struggling to curb her rising anger at the thought of her daughter being abandoned in a room full of strangers by her so-called best friend.
‘He pushed me up against the wall and kissed me, and he didn’t care when I told him I’m only fifteen,’ Lexi said quietly. ‘One of his friends called him and I got away, but he must have seen me go upstairs and followed me.’
‘Did he touch you?’ Beth asked, softening her tone when she saw fresh tears glistening in her daughter’s eyes.
Lexi nodded and bit her quivering lip.
‘Where?’ Beth asked. Blood boiling when Lexi pointed at her breasts and then between her legs, she hissed, ‘Little bastard! Wait till I get my hands on him.’
‘I think it might have been my fault,’ Lexi gulped. ‘He – he told Ryan I’d been up for it before he came in, so I must have done something to make him think I wanted it.’
‘Now you listen to me,’ Beth said, gently cupping Lexi’s cheeks in her hands and forcing her to look up. ‘I don’t care if you’d been dancing naked in front of him before that, if you said no he should have stopped. Do you understand?’
Tears streaming again, Lexi nodded.
‘Good girl.’ Beth hugged her. ‘Now tell me exactly what happened from the beginning, then we’ll decide what we’re going to do about it.’
Tony woke to the sound of voices in the hallway, and he muttered a curse under his breath when he squinted at the clock and saw that it was only 9 a.m.
‘Beth?’ he yelled. ‘BEEEETH!’
‘Stop shouting,’ Beth hissed, slipping into the room and closing the door. ‘The police are here.’
‘What?’ His face paled. ‘Why?’
Immediately guessing that he thought she’d reported him for hitting her the previous night, Beth wished she could string it out and make him sweat – payback for all the times he’d got away with abusing her in the past. But her daughter needed her, so she had no choice but to let him off the hook.
‘They’re here to see Lexi.’
‘Why?’ Tony looked no less worried. ‘I haven’t spoken to her all week, so if she’s saying I’ve done something, she’s lying.’
‘What are you talking about?’ Beth frowned.
‘Nothing.’ He shiftily averted his gaze. ‘So what’s she done?’
Annoyed that he’d immediately assumed Lexi was at fault, Beth said, ‘She hasn’t done anything. If you must know, she was nearly raped last night.’
‘You what?’ Tony scowled. ‘By who? I’ll skin the fucker alive.’
‘It was Nicole’s brother, and you’ll do no such thing,’ said Beth. ‘The police will deal with it.’
Bravado disappearing as fast as it had appeared, Tony said, ‘Hang on . . . you’re not talking about Danny Harvey’s lad, are you?’
‘Yeah, why?’
‘And you’ve called the police?’
‘I just told you the boy tried to rape her, so why wouldn’t I?’
‘Because Harvey’s a fuckin’ nutter,’ Tony said as he sat up and shoved the quilt off his legs. ‘How could you be so stupid?’
‘Where are you going?’ Beth asked when he started getting dressed. ‘You can’t go in there while she’s giving her statement.’
‘Don’t worry, I ain’t getting involved in that shit,’ Tony assured her. ‘I’m out of here before Harvey turns up and caves my head in.’
‘He’s in Paris, so that’s not going to happen. And his son’s the one who caused this, so he’s the one he’ll be mad at, not us.’
‘Get a grip. Harvey ain’t gonna give a toss about two kids having a fumble; all he’ll care about is you grassing him up.’
‘A fumble?’ Beth repeated incredulously.
‘There’s certain things you don’t do, and sending the pigs to a dealer’s house is one of them,’ said Tony. ‘What d’ya think’ll happen if they search his gaff and find a shitload of gear? Who do you think he’ll blame?’
‘That’s his problem, not mine,’ Beth said stiffly, turning to the door. ‘I’ve got to do what’s best for my daughter.’
‘Beth, this ain’t a joke,’ Tony hissed, grabbing her arm before she could leave. ‘If Harvey gets us in his sights, we’re fucked. Did his lad actually – you know?’
‘He started to, but he got pulled off.’
‘That’s good then, isn’t it?’ Tony said. ‘I mean, it ain’t good, obviously, but at least it wasn’t like proper rape.’
‘Are you serious?’ Beth scowled, unable to believe he was trying to downplay what the boy had done.
‘I’m deadly serious,’ said Tony. ‘Tell her to say she made it up before this goes any further, I’m begging you.’
Wincing when his knuckles grazed her bruised ribs, Beth clenched her teeth. ‘No chance! And get your hands off me before I report you as well.’
Tony stared down at her for a few more seconds, his blazing eyes telling her that he was battling the urge to punch her. Then, abruptly releasing her, he said, ‘Do what you want, you stupid cow. But don’t say I didn’t warn you when it comes on top.’
Beth scuttled out and closed the door. Shaking all over, she wondered if she ought to do as he’d said and call this off before Lexi made her statement. But if she let Adam Harvey get away with what he’d done, who knew how many more girls he would attack before somebody decided to take a stand?
Terrified at the thought of the potential repercussions, but convinced that she was doing the right thing by her daughter, Beth raised her chin and walked into the living room.
6
Danny Harvey was in a foul mood. He’d spent a fortune on plane tickets and a suite at a swanky hotel within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower and all the designer shops Rachel had set her heart on visiting. But now, less than twenty-four hours after leaving, they’d been forced to fly back to sort out the mess their fuckwit son had got himself into while they were away.
Fresh off the phone with his solicitor, who had assured him that the police would probably drop the investigation unless the as-yet-unnamed witness verified Lexi James’s account of the assault, Danny poured a glass of neat whisky and slammed the bottle down on the kitchen table.
‘So what happened?’ He scowled at his son, who was slouched in the chair facing his. ‘And don’t be giving me any of your bullshit, boy. This is serious and I need the truth.’
‘I didn’t do anything,’ Adam muttered, a hard-done-by expression on his handsome face.
‘Then why were you in the bedroom with her?’ Rachel asked curtly, equally as furious as her husband – if not more so, after coming home to find her beautiful house trashed.
‘I was pissed; I don’t remember anything,’ Adam replied sullenly. ‘But I deffo know I didn’t do what she said. Why would I? I’ve got a girlfriend.’
‘He was out cold when I got there, so he couldn’t have done it even if he’d wanted to,’ Nicole added in her brother’s defence. ‘If you ask me, she’s doing this for revenge.’
‘Revenge for what?’ Danny switched his glare onto her. ‘Did something happen between them before last night?’
‘Only in her dreams,’ Nicole sneered. ‘She’s always fancied him, and she wouldn’t listen when I told her she stood no chance. She was proper embarrassing last night; following him round like a little dog. I wish I hadn’t invited her now.’
‘But you did,’ snapped Rachel. ‘Even though I’ve told you a million times I don’t want her in my house. God only knows what the neighbours think of us when they see slum-rats like her at the door.’
‘Well, it won’t be happening again,’ Nicole huffed. ‘I’ll kill her if she comes anywhere near me after this. And she’s double dead if she goes near Ryan again.’
‘Who’s Ryan?’ Danny asked.
‘Her boyfriend,’ Rachel told him as she got up to open a fresh bottle of wine.
‘Since when?’ Danny glowered. ‘And how come this is the first I’m hearing about it?’
‘If you stayed home more often instead of spending all your time with your crew, you might know what your children were getting up to,’ Rachel sniped as she topped up her glass.
‘And if your kids hadn’t pulled a fast one and thrown a fuckin’ party behind our backs, we’d still be in Paris and I wouldn’t have wasted a shitload of dosh,’ Danny shot back. ‘So think on before you start having a go at me.’
Satisfied that he’d made his point when his wife came back to the table without replying, Danny turned back to Nicole. ‘So what’s this Ryan boy got to do with this?’
‘He was there,’ she said, her eyes narrowing in anger as she recalled the moment she’d walked into her bedroom. ‘She was crying and clinging onto him, but I could tell she was putting it on, ’cos she looked dead guilty when she saw me. I asked what was going on, and that’s when she came out with that bullshit about Adam attacking her. But Ad was out cold, so I knew she was lying.’
‘I don’t get it.’ Danny was confused. ‘Why would she be crying if nothing had happened?’
‘To get Ryan to feel sorry for her, obviously,’ said Nicole. ‘She’s always fancied him, an’ all, so when our Adam knocked her back, I reckon she made up that story about him attacking her so she could try it on with Ryan instead.’
‘I need to speak to him,’ Danny said. ‘Call him and tell him to come over.’
‘He won’t answer,’ Nicole said miserably. ‘I’ve been trying all day and he’s ignoring my calls.’
‘Give me his number.’ Danny pulled out his phone.
Scared now, because she knew how angry her father could get if he thought someone was taking the piss out of one of his kids, Nicole said, ‘Please don’t hurt him, Dad. I really like him, and I know we’ll be OK when I’ve had a chance to talk to him. This is her fault, not his.’
‘This isn’t about you, it’s about your brother,’ Danny replied sharply. ‘Now hurry up and give me the number.’
‘If he’s grassed me up, he’s dead,’ Adam muttered as Nicole scrolled through her phone.
‘Shut your mouth!’ Danny barked, slamming his fist down on the tabletop and making them all jump. ‘You caused this, and I don’t want to hear another word out of you until I ask you to speak. Have you got that?’
‘What you shouting at him for?’ Rachel snapped. ‘He’s the victim here, don’t forget.’
‘So what was that crack about the lad grassing him up?’ Danny asked. ‘Only the way I see it, you don’t worry about shit like that unless you’re guilty. And, let’s face it, this ain’t the first time, is it?’
‘And that little slut was lying, as well,’ Rachel hissed, her anger about the ruined holiday and trashed house momentarily forgotten as the habitual urge to defend her son rose to the fore.
‘I didn’t even mean it the way you took it, Dad,’ Adam interjected, giving his father a wounded look.
‘So what did you mean?’ Danny glowered.
‘Ryan’s a prick and he knows I can’t stand him, so I only meant I wouldn’t put it past him to try and drop me in it out of spite.’
‘He’d never do that,’ Nicole protested.
‘You’re screwing him, so you’re bound to say that,’ Adam sniped.
‘No I’m not!’ Nicole’s face turned as red as a beetroot. ‘Don’t listen to him, Dad. He’s only trying to make you mad at me so you’ll lay off him.’
‘It don’t even matter what Ryan says, anyhow,’ Adam sighed. ‘If my own dad doesn’t believe me, I’m fucked.’
‘Of course he believes you,’ said Rachel.
‘It’s all right, Mum,’ Adam said, scraping his chair back and standing up. ‘I know he’s ashamed of me ’cos I’m not a thug like the lads on his crew. He’ll probably be glad if I get sent down for this.’
‘You can get that nonsense out of your head right now,’ Rachel said firmly. ‘We’re both very proud of you. Aren’t we, Danny?’ She glared at her husband.
Sighing, Danny raked a hand through his hair before looking up at his son. ‘I ain’t ashamed of you, son. I’m just sick of you getting yourself into these situations.’
‘But I didn’t do anything.’
‘It won’t matter what you did or didn’t do if it gets round that you tried to rape a fifteen-year-old,’ said Danny. ‘You’ll be labelled a nonce and every fucker in Manchester will be gunning for you. And shit like that sticks for life, so you’ll be a dead man walking.’
Adam’s shoulders sagged, and the sickly look on his face told Danny that he was finally beginning to grasp the seriousness of the situation.
‘You need to go and see her,’ Rachel said. ‘The other one dropped it after you had a word, so you can make this one drop it too.’
‘The other one hadn’t been to the police yet,’ Danny reminded her. ‘But this one has, so I can’t go near. If it looks like I’m trying to intimidate her, I’ll get nicked.’
‘So what are we going to do?’
