Private London

Chapter 22

Laura Skelton was sitting up in the bed, her face as pale as the case on the pillow propping her up.

Her right arm was bandaged and tears had streaked her mascara, giving her a bedraggled, gothlike appearance.

DI Webb flashed her warrant card at the doctor and nurse who were standing by Laura’s bed. ‘I’m Detective Inspector Kirsty Webb. Is it okay to speak to Laura?’

The doctor looked across at the young woman who nodded weakly.

‘Thanks,’ said Kirsty. ‘I know you must be pretty shaken up by what happened.’

‘Have you found Hannah? Is she okay?’

‘I’m sorry. But we’re doing all we can. Which is why I need you to try and remember everything that happened.’

‘I told the others all I know.’

‘I understand that. But I want you to go through it again – some detail might be essential.’

‘It all happened so fast.’

‘I know. Start with you leaving the university grounds. You’d been drinking in the union bar?’ Kirsty prompted.

‘Yes. Since six o’clock. But Chloe wanted to get something to eat. She was feeling a little dizzy.’

Kirsty checked her notebook. ‘That would be Chloe Wilson?’

Laura looked over at the doctor, tears starting in her eyes. ‘Is she going to be okay?’

The doctor made a calming gesture with his hand. ‘She’s being closely monitored, Laura.’

‘He hit her with a baseball bat. The sound it made…’ Laura wiped her eyes again, fresh tears running down her face.

‘Take your time.’

Laura gulped some air into her lungs. ‘The street lamp was out and when we turned the corner there was a bunch of hooded men who jumped on us.’

‘How many?’

‘I don’t know,’ Laura said, clearly distraught. ‘It all happened so fast. One of them had a knife.’ Her hand went unconsciously to her bandaged arm.

‘What happened?’

‘Chloe came round the corner. She ran straight at them – kicking, punching. I’ve never seen anything like it. I didn’t know she could do that.’

‘Do what?’

‘Kung fu. Whatever it was. Martial arts. She was amazing – and then one of them hit her with the baseball bat.’

‘And they took Hannah away in the van?’

‘Chloe must have spooked them. The one who had hold of me pushed me away, cutting my arm. Then they threw Hannah in the van and drove off.’ Her face paled even more as the reality of it all hit home again. ‘It could have been me.’

‘What was the van like?’

Laura shrugged apologetically. ‘Just a black van. No windows. It looked quite new. A Ford, I guess.’

‘You didn’t get its number?’

Laura shook her head. ‘No. I don’t think there was a number plate.’ She squeezed her eyes shut. ‘I can’t remember.’

An alarm went off from the next room. Shrill. Insistent. Laura looked across for a moment and then screamed.