Page 136 of Silent Scream

She was out of time. She dropped the knife and put every ounce of strength into pulling her hands apart, praying she’d weakened the correct strand.

Her hands and legs exploded apart and she lunged for his knees, but the downward motion of the shovel could not be stopped. The tool hit the lower part of her back, hard.

She cried out in pain as she swept his legs from beneath him. He toppled backwards to the ground. His right elbow crashed against the wall as he fell.

Kim ignored the pain in her back. She knew she had to make the most of this opportunity. The injuries she'd inflicted would not keep him subdued for long.

She pounced on his legs and climbed up his body. He tried to lift himself up from the waist but Kim was too quick. She pulled herself up and sat astride him. He rolled and writhed beneath her but her knees were locked into his ribs.

Kim heard activity in the kitchen as feet crunched on top of broken glass.

‘In here,’ she shouted.

Kim looked into eyes that showed only fear for himself. She smiled down at him. ‘Looks like He has had enough of your crimes as well.’

Again, Wilks tried to turn his body weight to throw her off.

She balled her fist and punched him square on the nose in the exact spot she’d headbutted him.

He squealed out in pain.

‘They were just kids, you bastard.’

She hit him again. ‘And that one's from Cerys.’

The glare of a torch landed right on her. A male paramedic shone the light around the room.

‘Umm ... Police are en route,’ he said, not moving forward, obviously unsure of what had taken place.

‘Thank God for that,’ she said, reaching for her warrant card.

He glanced at it. ‘Okay, what the hell ...’

She pointed to William, who lay groaning beside her. ‘See to him first. Head injuries, both sides.’

‘Do you need ...’

‘I’m fine. See to him.’

Victor wriggled beneath her. ‘Oh, keep still,’ she said, digging her right knee into his ribs. The second paramedic came storming into the room.

‘Police are coming,’ he said, looking at her quizzically.

Why were they both so quick to label her the bad guy?

‘Sheisthe police, Mick,’ said the first paramedic, with just a hint of disbelief.

Mick shrugged, then kneeled on the floor on the opposite side of William’s head. She recognised the second medic from Lucy's recent episode. She couldn't help but wonder just how many times they'd been called out to the poor child.

‘Lucy,’ William managed to utter.

‘She’s fine. She managed to communicate where you were,’ Mick said.

What a girl, Kim thought.

‘You’ll ... never ... prove ...’ Victor started to mutter.

‘Shut up,’ Kim said, using her knee again.