Page 88 of Little Children

Once there, he’d been unable to settle after calling Jenny, convinced that Roy Moss would head back to Pippa Jacobs’s house. And with one of the three names on the anonymous list already dead, it wasn’t only the sex that was the problem. An even worse fate could befall her.

So what exactly was he going to do now? Sit here and watch the house all night? The plan in his mind hadn’t been that detailed. All he knew was that just over there lived an empty, broken woman who never knew when the door was going to be knocked for someone to sexually assault her again. He didn’t care if she was running a doss house or not; she didn’t deserve that.

He got out of the car.

There was something inside him that needed to let her know that she had a friend, and that not all police officers were like Roy.

For some reason, he found himself looking around before he knocked on the door. An involuntary shiver crept up his spine, causing him to look again, but there was nothing except parked cars as far as his eyes could see.

Pippa opened the door and immediately her eyes filled with disgust and a hint of disappointment.

‘Suppose you’re here to?—’

‘Absolutely not,’ Bryant said, shaking his head vigorously. ‘In fact, the complete opposite.’

She frowned and stepped aside to let him in. She closed the door behind him. ‘Go on.’

‘I want you to take my number. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be around, but if he comes knocking, I want you to call me.’

‘Why?’ she asked, folding her arms. Was it too late for this young woman? Would she forever view any act of kindness with suspicion?

‘Because I’d like to find a way to stop him from assaulting you again.’

‘You gonna break down the door?’ she asked with a wry smile.

‘If I have to,’ he said, returning the smile. ‘We’re not all like him.’

‘So, you know what he’s like?’

‘We’re getting a pretty good idea.’

‘Yet he’s still knocking my door and bringing his new buddies along too?’

‘He will be stopped. I promise you that.’

She let out a long breath. ‘I know you mean well…’

‘Pippa, why have you never reported him?’

‘You know why. My word against his. They’ll never believe me. They didn’t the last time.’

‘What time?’ Bryant asked, having no knowledge of any time at all.

‘You seen my record?’ she asked, pushing her hands into her pockets.

He nodded. ‘I know you’re an addict. I know there are other addicts here. But that still doesn’t give him the right to?—’

‘You’ve read my record and think you know everything about me, which kind of proves my point. I’m clean. I’ve been clean for almost eighteen months. This house is now open only to people trying to get clean.’

Bryant was confused. ‘You were only inside for possession seven months ago.’

‘I was indeed. Moss came and I said no. I found the courage to tell him to fuck off. Coincidentally, I was raided that night and drugs were found in my room. A lot of drugs.’

‘Jesus,’ Bryant said, running his hand through his hair. He didn’t doubt Pippa’s story for a second.

‘So, you’ll understand why, much as I appreciate you trying to protect me, I know he’s a step ahead. I just want to keep my head down and move out of this house. Then I’ll be free.’

Bryant said nothing, wondering if she knew how easy it would be for Moss to find her if he wanted to. He was guessing that she just hoped he wouldn’t be arsed to put in the effort.