Stone Cold by Christine Pattle

Author:Christine Pattle [Pattle, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-09-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

Tan sat down opposite Rose. “I can’t go home,” Tan said. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

“Why ever can’t you go home?” Rose wondered how long Maggie would put up with her house guest, especially with her eating so much.

“Cathy’s dead. He killed her.” Tan closed her eyes, her face ashen with worry.

“I heard about Cathy. I’m sorry. How do you know her?” Rose asked.

“She’s my friend. Was my friend.”

“So who killed her? If you know, you must go to the police.”

“I don’t know who he is. He’s... He’s a customer.” Tan looked away, embarrassed.

“It’s ok. I know.” Rose wasn’t sure why she said that. It wasn’t really ok. She still felt uncomfortable about Tan’s profession. She was far more embarrassed about it than Tan. “Alfie told me.”

“How did Alfie find out?”

Rose smiled. “He guessed. He’s been around a bit more than me.”

“I shouldn’t have left Cathy. I ran away like a sodding coward. He called himself John, but no way was that his real name. They never give real names. I sensed something wrong about him, but Cathy had been with him before, so I ignored my instincts,” Tan sobbed. “I should never have left her with him.”

Rose tried to summon up some sympathy, even though Tan had got herself into this mess. “It’s ok to be scared.” She’d been in enough frightening situations herself lately to remember exactly what that felt like. She probably would have done the same thing. Run. Get help. Except that Tan hadn’t got help. Rose wondered if Tan could have done anything to prevent Cathy’s death.

“But Cathy was only a child. I should have looked after her.”

A chill ran through Rose. Yes, Tan should have looked after her. She should have called social services as soon as she met Cathy, selling her body on the streets. She should have stopped Cathy before things had ever gone this far. Now Cathy had paid for that negligence, for Tan’s total lack of morals.

“You must tell the police about this man, John,” Rose said. At least Tan would have the chance to do the right thing now. If she gave a description, it would help the police to find him. She could get justice for Cathy.

Tan shook her head. “He’ll kill me.”

“He’ll never find you.”

Tan fell silent. After a while, she spoke. “He knows where I live.”

“Are you sure?”

“He said he did. And I lost my bag. It’s got my address in it. He might have found it later.”

“What are you going to do?” Rose was pretty sure Tanya hadn’t planned that far ahead.

“I can’t leave here. And you can’t tell anyone where I am, Rose, please. I can’t risk Maggie getting hurt. She’s been really good to me.”

“But you can’t stay here forever.”

“No. That’s why I need your help.”

Rose shuddered. She didn’t want to get involved. She’d already done enough, meeting those prostitutes yesterday evening. She didn’t belong in that world.

Tan stared at her pitifully. “Please, Rose. There’s no one else I can ask.

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