The Vow - Debbie Howells Page 0,111

up outside, he glances towards the window.

‘You called the fucking police.’ As he turns back to look at me, his voice is loaded with venom. ‘You’ll regret this.’ Muttering under his breath, he steps close enough that I can smell his body odour, a menacing look on his face as he threatens me. ‘One day, when you’re least expecting it, I swear I’ll find you, Jess. You’ll look around and see me there, and this time, there won’t be any police to come to your rescue. You won’t be able to get away from me. Think about how it will feel, when at last I catch up with you – because I will. You haven’t heard the last of this.’

In that moment, my terror knows new heights. Knowing he’s going down, he’s left me with something I can never forget. Fear – that if he ever gets out of prison, he’s going to look for me; that wherever I go, I’ll never be safe. Rooted to the spot, I hear the police coming up the stairs. Then from behind me, comes PC Page’s voice.

‘Matthew Roche, I am arresting you on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

As she finishes speaking, two more officers walk over to Matt, as she glances towards me. ‘Are you OK, Jess?’

I shake my head, watching as they handcuff him, then lead him downstairs, a look of pure malevolence on his face. Then as the police escort him outside and into a car, PC Page turns to me. ‘I can’t stop now, but I’ll call you shortly about your mother.’ As she walks away, Cath puts her arms around me.

‘I heard what you said to him just now … I wanted to applaud. You’re strong and brave. I’m so proud of you, Jess. And you were right. He’s despicable.’

My legs weak, I sit on the bed, feeling my body start to shake. ‘He threatened me, Cath. He said that one day, when I’m least expecting it, he’ll find me. He means it.’ I look at her, filled with panic. ‘He’ll do it, in the same way he planned everything with my mother.’

‘Jess … He won’t get away with it. We’ll tell the police. They’ll add it to their list of charges against him. Come on. I’m taking you back to Zoe’s.’

*

An hour later, PC Page calls me, to confirm that my mother’s being released and all charges have been dropped. She may be called as a witness at some point, but she’s free. When I tell her about the way Matt threatened me, she takes down all the details, trying her best to reassure me.

Then she tells me about a call the police have just received. ‘It was from a woman who heard our press release this morning. She’d read about Matt’s disappearance in the papers and got in touch because on the night he allegedly disappeared, a man had paid her to book a taxi from Beachy Head to Steyning, offering her £500 if she’d wear some clothes he gave her and book it in the name of Amy. He’d even bought a cheap imitation of your mother’s engagement ring. After she got to Steyning, he picked her up and drove her home. He must have got rid of his car later that night. It had bothered the woman that he’d been up to something, but at the time she was desperate for money. But when she recognised Matt’s photo, she knew she had to call us.’

Dazed, I think of the irony of the timing. ‘It’s a pity she didn’t come forward sooner.’

‘I know. She’s a prostitute – apparently he’d found her a week earlier, wandering the streets. He gave her a lift home, to Kemp Town, when he offered her money just to take a cab ride, as long as she pretended to be your mother. If it’s any consolation, it gives us more against Matt. We’ll be calling her as a witness.’

There’s no mention of Kimberley’s murder, from which I take that it’s Fiona who’s being charged. Taking heart that after all these years, at last there is justice.

Amy

Chapter Thirty-Eight

When I’m taken from my cell to a small room I don’t ask, nor am I told, what’s happened. Sitting down, I wait for a few minutes,