Page 124 of Twisted Lies

She slipped as quietly as she could back into the building through an identical metal door to the other side.

As she stepped into the building, the emergency lights flashed on, revealing a similar setup on this side of the building as the one she’d originally walked into.

A horizontal sorting conveyor inclined to an elevated metal viewing platform, before turning like a roller-coaster ride to run in front of hoppers where the waste fell.

Kim had to think. Her aim was to keep Jacob away from Leanne for long enough, so that Bryant would reach her and call for help. Once her gag was removed, Leanne would be able to tell Bryant she had not been alone, and her colleague would be on his way to assist.

That was the plan anyway, she thought as she looked for somewhere to hide. It was all about time and delay, and although she’d put a minute or two between them, she knew he was after her and she didn’t fancy that claw ripping at her flesh.

The door opened. Jacob stood ten feet away from her. The hesitation had cost her the small advantage she’d had.

‘Where is he?’ Jacob growled, brandishing the claw at her.

Kim was tempted to admit she didn’t know, but she couldn’t risk him returning to Leanne. She had no way of knowing if Bryant had reached her yet.

She jumped up onto the horizontal conveyor belt and began to scale the ascending section, using the ridge between the belt and the belt guide as a foothold. A protruding screw caught in the hem of her trousers. She yanked her foot and heard the fabric tear. Jacob’s hand grabbed at her foot and touched the heel of her boot. She kicked backwards, not daring to take the time to look behind.

Where the hell was Bryant and backup?

‘You will fucking tell me where he is,’ Jacob said, scaling the belt behind her.

Kim ignored the fear rising in her stomach. The man just feet away from her had murdered four people in the most horrific ways imaginable.

Jacob managed to grab the back of her jacket as she clambered onto the top platform. She lurched forward to disengage his hand and stopped short of a section of missing handrail. She grabbed the last piece of railing to prevent herself from falling from the thirty-foot height. She stumbled backwards to avoid the drop.

Jacob grabbed her arms and pinned her against the railing with his body. His right fist thundered into the side of her head.

‘Where the fuck is he? You have to tell me.’

She shook her head to clear her vision as the pain vibrated around her head. Both his hands were on her, leaving her powerless to move. The claw was the only weapon between them and he had possession of it.

‘Give me the claw and I’ll tell you,’ she said.

‘You want this?’ he asked, reaching into his jacket pocket and pushing her further against the railing, so that the bar was digging into the small of her back. She prayed it would continue to support her weight.

His hand raised, and the claw moved towards her face.

‘Oh, I’ll give it to you and then you’ll tell me where he is.’

She shook her head away as she leaned further backwards, trying to bend herself away from the weapon.

She took quick advantage of the fact that only one hand was holding her wrists. She broke free and reached out, grabbing his hand. She pressed hard, turning the claw into his palm, then squeezed with every ounce of strength she possessed. He cried out as the blood from the claw started to ooze from his hand. He let go of her wrist to clutch his own hand and stumbled backwards, his face contorted with pain.

Too late, Kim saw his left foot move back and pause in mid-air before he fell backwards through the section of missing safety rail.

There was a sickening thud as his body hit the ground.

Kim’s legs began to tremble. She collapsed onto the cold metal platform. She didn’t trust herself not to fall through the gap right after him. She took a few breaths to steady her heart rate.

She glanced down at his inert form as the door crashed open and Bryant entered with four police officers.

The officers moved forward around her colleague, who had stopped in his tracks and was looking her way.

His reddened face and heavy breathing told her he’d got there as quickly as he could.

She held up her hand to signal she was all good.

A knowing smile tugged at his lips that said, ‘Of course you are.’