Page 124 of Vengeance is Mine

Dawn took out another photo. It was a blown-up version, concentrating on a specific part of the room.

‘Have a look now.’ She held it close to his eyes. ‘Under your bed were several boxes of Fenadine. They’ve never been opened. You were prescribed them, but you didn’t take them, did you? You never took one single tablet of that drug in your whole life, did you?’

Dominic breathed in and out, but it was causing him serious pain. He was uncomfortable and every movement hurt.

He shook his head.

‘I need you to say it,’ Dawn said. ‘I need you to look Barbara and your father in the eye and tell them you never took a single tablet of Fenadine.’

Dominic looked at his dad. His gaze moved to Barbara, then back again.

‘No,’ he said, barely audible. ‘I never… took Fenadine.’

Barbara turned away and wiped her eyes.

‘You lied. For twenty years, you lied and said you were innocent, hoping someone would listen and try to get you released. You must have thought it was Christmas when Clare Delaney contacted you. Not only could she get you out, but she could get you compensation too. You’d be set for life. You managed to fool everyone. But you’re not a victim, are you? You’re a cold-blooded psychopath. You attacked kids at school, you attempted to rape Joby Turnbull, but worst of all, you saw a happy, smiling thirteen-year-old girl, and you kidnapped her. You strangled her. You cut her body into fifteen pieces, and you hid her in your attic. You did all of that, and you knew exactly what you were doing. Didn’t you?’

‘Yes,’ he spat, blood dripping down his chin.

Dawn turned away. There were tears in her eyes. Her father, the man who gave half his DNA to make her, was pure evil, and he’d finally admitted it. She felt angry, betrayed, deceived, sick. With one swift movement, she picked up the knife she’d placed on the carpet beside her and plunged it deep into his chest.

‘That’s for Joby Turnbull.’

She pulled out the knife and held it out for Anthony to take.

He stepped forwards. He held the handle firmly in his shaking right hand and walked slowly up to his son. He leaned down. He didn’t have much strength for the thrust into his chest, but it was enough to break the skin and cause his son to wince in pain.

‘That’s for your mother,’ he said, his voice full of emotion. He pulled out the knife with both hands and handed it back to Barbara.

She took it from him. Despite wanting this man to pay for what he’d done to her daughter, she couldn’t look him in the eye. She stepped forwards and plunged the knife firmly into his chest.

‘That’s for Stephanie.’ She let go and stepped back, turned on her heel and headed for the kitchen.

Dawn reached for the knife handle. She pulled the knife out of her father’s chest and slammed it into him once more.

‘And that’s for your dad.’

She looked up at Anthony and smiled.

Chapter Fifty-Four

‘I can’t believe any of this,’ Terry said, after Barbara had told him everything.

On the coffee table in front of them lay the long grey coat and black wig. Terry looked up at Harry’s pale and stony face. Barbara’s eyes were full of tears. She was anxious and frightened. Terry was numb, disappointed and shocked.

‘My dad…’ Terry began. His voice croaked. He cleared his throat and started again. ‘My dad said something about not blaming you both for what you’ve done. Did he know?’

‘I haven’t done anything,’ Harry said.

All eyes turned to Barbara.

‘He may have become confused,’ she said quietly. ‘I needed to unburden myself. I needed to tell someone I could trust with what I’d done.’

‘He’s not well, Barbara,’ Terry chastised.

‘I didn’t… I just wanted someone to understand.’

‘And did he?’