Page 39 of Kill For Me Kill For You
‘No, it’s fine. We just need to go,’ said Scott.
‘No problem. Please do come back and visit us. I’ll charge the wine to your room as you’d arranged,’ said the waiter, then moved quickly on to the next table, who were signaling to him for more water.
Ruth made sure to keep Scott between her and the killer with electric-blue eyes. As they moved to the door, Ruth began to feel faint. She couldn’t pass out now. She had to get out of there. By sheer force of will, she put one foot in front of the other, and took Scott’s arm.
He whispered to her that she was safe, that he was here, and everything was going to be okay. She wanted that to be true, desperately. Just before they reached the door, Ruth glanced back, craning her neck behind Scott’s shoulder.
The man at the table was watching them leave, a half-smile on his face. His eyes seemed full of secret knowledge as he picked up his steak knife. Pink juices were still on the blade as he slid it between his lips, licking the tip of the knife clean – his blue eyes fixed on Ruth.
Ruth quickly turned away, picked up the pace and practically dragged Scott down the corridor to the elevators. She couldn’t breathe, and tears ran down her face, smearing her make-up. It was all she could do not to stand in the middle of the floor and scream for help.
‘Get me to the room, please,’ said Ruth.
They waited in the lobby for the elevator. There were no other guests in line. They would have it to themselves.
‘We have to call the cops,’ said Ruth.
‘No,’ said Scott. ‘What’s the point? They don’t want to know. Even if we told them you’d IDed the guy they wouldn’t believe us. There’s nothing else to link him to the crime. There’s literally nothing they can do. They’re useless.’
The elevator arrived, and they rode it to their floor. Ruth’s fingers began to hurt – Scott was holding her hand too tightly. He wasn’t looking at her, just watching the floor numbers rise on the digital display. The doors opened and he moved fast to their room, opened the door and led them inside.
Ruth didn’t breathe out until the door closed behind them and she grabbed the desk chair and jammed it under the door handle. When she turned round, Scott was standing in the middle of the room with his hands on top of his head.
She started to speak, but Scott cut her off.
‘Give me a minute, I’m thinking,’ he said.
Ruth closed her lips tightly. Scott was riled up. She hadn’t seen him like this in a long time. In the beginning of their relationship, possibly their fourth date, some random asshole had grabbed Ruth’s ass in a club. She’d felt the hand, and swung around fast to remonstrate with the guy, but before she could open her mouth she’d seen a fist flash in front of her, and the creep’s face rocked back before he disappeared into a heap on the floor.
Scott had a temper.
‘What are you going to do?’ asked Ruth.
‘If the cops won’t do anything, then I’m going to go and see what this asshole wants. Why the fuck is he here? In this hotel?’
‘Don’t go near him. He’s dangerous,’ said Ruth.
‘He’s a tough guy when he’s got a woman alone and a knife in his hand. Look, I just want to know who he is. Are yousure—’
He didn’t finish the sentence. He got his answer in her widening eyes before she even spoke.
‘You sound like Farrow. I’m telling you that’s the man who attacked me, and he’s in our hotel, Scott.’
‘Okay, I believe you, honey. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—’
‘I’llneverbe able to forget the face of the man who did this to me.’
‘Then let me try to find out a few things. It might help. Maybe we get enough on him to call the cops? Look, I have to try to do something at least.’
‘Please be careful, Scott. I just couldn’t bear it if something happened to you. Don’t go near him,’ said Ruth.
‘I won’t. I just want to see where he goes, what he’s doing. Why don’t you take one of your pills? You’re shaking.’
She sat down on the bed, her heart and mind racing. Scott fetched her sleeping pill, an anti-anxiety pill and a glass of water. Ruth swallowed them, and Scott sat down by her side. For a time, he said nothing. He stroked her hair and waited while she calmed.
‘Don’t go out there. He’s been looking for me. I don’t know how he found us, but it doesn’t matter. He’s a monster. What if you got hurt? What would I do? Who would protect me?’ said Ruth.
‘It’s fine. He won’t even see me. I’m just going to take a look. See what he’s up to and then I’ll be back. I love you, and I won’t let anyone hurt you ever again. I promise.’
