Guaranteed Justice
Read Guaranteed Justice Online
Authors: MA Comley
| Guaranteed Justice |
| DI Lorne Simpkins [5] |
| MA Comley |
| UK (2012) |
fulfilling, Lorne can't help but feel that something vital is missing from her life.
miracle, she survives, but now she lives each day terrified by the perpetrator's final threatening words--that her sister, Fiona, will be his next victim.
The sisters decide to adopt a guard dog and contact the rescue centre. During a home check to see if the girls and their flat are suited for a German Shepherd, Lorne witnesses Linda's horrendous injuries. The young woman knows the identity of her rapist--wealthy, playboy Graham Gibson--however, the police haven't made an arrest. The shocking story turns into a life-altering moment for Lorne. She decides to become a Private Investigator, and urges the girls to let her take up their case. Little does she know that more victims
will come forward to accuse Gibson of rape.
Lorne is determined to see this vicious criminal behind bars, but is anyone ever guaranteed justice?
GUARANTEED JUSTICE
M A Comley
OTHER BOOKS BY
M A COMLEY
Cruel Justice
Impeding Justice
Final Justice
Foul Justice
It’s A Dog’s Life
A Time For Change
A Time To Heal
High Spirits
A Twist in The Tale
Keep in touch with the author at:
http://melcomleyromances.blogspot.com
If you fancy something a little
saucy
why not pick up one of the short erotic stories I have written under the name of Tiffany Towers
http://tiffanytowers1.blogspot.fr/
This book is dedicated to Nic, thanks for being you and Sammy you’ll always be remembered.
Thanks to Karri Klawiter for the wonderful cover, you’re a talented lady.
PROLOGUE
L
inda Carter glanced the
handsome onlooker’s way for what must have been the hundredth time. His broad smile beamed back at her.
Abigail’s elbow connected with her ribs. She winced.
“Girl, does he have the hots for you or what?”
“Behave yourself, Abigail.” Linda blushed. She hoped he wouldn’t notice in the dimmed lights of the nightclub.
After another dig in the ribs, she issued her friend a warning glare.
“Oh my God! He’s coming this way,” Abigail said behind her hand.
Before Linda had the chance to look in his direction, she felt his arm slink around her waist and his hot breath heating up her neck.
“Oh my God” is right!
Abigail drifted away through the crowd. Linda and the hunk danced for the next half an hour or so before they moved over to the bar. He bought the drinks while Linda went to the ladies’ to powder her nose.
She returned and downed her drink in one gulp before he eagerly steered her back onto the dance floor. Was it a coincidence that the music tempo changed to a slow number? He held her tightly and rubbed his groin against hers. A tingly sensation took over her body as his kisses burned first her earlobe then her cheek.
His hot breath lingered by her ear, and he whispered, “What do you say we get outta here?”
Linda didn’t need asking twice. He was easily the best-looking guy in the club, and he wanted to leave with her. What more could a girl want? She nervously moistened her lips, then nodded her agreement.
He took her by the hand and led her through the heaving club and the main door. She smiled shyly as he shared a private joke with the doorman.
“Where are we going?” Linda asked sheepishly after they reached his Ferrari.
“Thought we’d go back to my place for a nightcap. Is that all right with you?”
She answered him by jumping in the passenger seat. They engaged in light, flirty conversation for the next ten minutes or so before he guided the car into an underground car park. He applied the handbrake, then slid a lazy hand up her thigh. He lingered at the hem of her mini-skirt for a second or two.
Her eyes automatically clenched shut, and she held her breath, anticipating his next movement.
He surprised her by laughing softly and ran his tongue up her right cheek. Linda shuddered as the excitement stirred.
“Not here. Come on,” he told her, his tone sexy and full of promise.
Linda stumbled from the car as if drunk with happiness when he held the door open for her.
“Oops! Steady girl,” she reprimanded herself, pulling her shoulders back. She giggled and asked, words slurred, “You wicked man. Did you slip an extra voddy in my drink?”
His hand covered his chest, and he innocently fluttered his eyelashes at her. “Moi?”
Then he gripped her elbow, and they moved toward the elevator in the corner. The bell tinged, and the doors slid open. With every passing floor, his kisses became hotter and more urgent, until finally, with Linda gasping for air, the doors opened to an illuminated view of London.
“Wow! You live in a penthouse.” She made her way over to the full-length window, her feet sinking into the luxury carpet beneath.
He stood behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Sod the view. I have something crying out for your attention.” His tone was flat.
She felt a stiffness rubbing up and down her backside. She didn’t have to be a genius to figure out what it was.
In a flash he’d turned her to face him. His arms pulled hers behind her. His handsome face had contorted with what appeared to be anger.
Confusion made her ask, “Is something wrong?” Her head swam. Was that the drink or the confusion?
Then she heard a click behind her back and thought she felt cold metal clasp her wrists.
His lips turned up at the corner. “You’ve been begging for this for weeks. Now you’re going to get it.”
Scared, Linda wriggled her arms, trying to release her hands. It dawned on her that they were being restrained by cuffs. “Please, I don’t know what you mean.”
“You know exactly what I mean. Your type take pleasure in leading men on. You prick teaser. Well, I’ll teach you. Take your punishment, or I’ll go after your sister, bitch…”
Linda opened her mouth, but before she got the chance to scream, his mouth roughly claimed hers. His hands tore at the buttons on her silk blouse. Linda squirmed, but his superior strength overpowered her feeble effort.
It wasn’t long before the metallic taste of blood ran between her teeth and down the back of her throat.
His hand thrust up her skirt, and he tore her panties aside. She sucked in a panicked breath.
Everything went black.
• • •
When Linda Carter regained
consciousness, she felt dirty. Disgusted. More so with herself than with the bastard who had raped her.
She was lying in an alley. It took her a while to get her bearings and recognise her surroundings. She heard the drunken revellers leaving the nightclub. Even saw a few of the men relieving themselves against the alley walls before they staggered back out onto the high street.
All of them were oblivious to the fact that Linda was in desperate need of medical care.
Please. Somebody please help me!
The attack was a fuzzy image in her mind. When she ran a cautious hand over her limbs, she flinched at the pain her body was in. Her clothes were torn, and her knickers had been removed.
How could she have put herself in such a dangerous position? One minute she was dancing and enjoying herself on the dance floor with her friend; the next she was being led outside by the charmer who had been eyeing her up all evening. Foolishly and against her better judgement, she had allowed him to entice her to leave the safety of the club.
Why did I go with him? When he started to lead her out of the club her inner voice had warned her to be careful, but blinded by his handsome features and charming nature, she had obstinately refused to listen.
Her legs wobbled beneath her as she tried her hardest to get off the cold, damp ground.
Finally she found the strength, with the aid of the knobbly wall behind her, to successfully hoist herself to her feet. The pain forced her to steady herself for a moment. Once she’d caught her breath she hobbled, inching her way slowly up the length of the alley towards the entrance.
Every time she put her left foot on the ground, the pain from her injured ankle surged up her leg and rattled through her aching body. She winced as she battled through the discomfort.
When she finally reached the opening onto the high street, she raised her hand to hail an approaching taxi. She felt relieved when he pulled to a stop in front of her instead of the drunken group messing around about fifty feet ahead, though the screech of tyres in the dimly lit street jangled her frayed nerves.
“Where to, love?” the driver asked. His eyebrows knitted together as he studied her in his rear-view mirror. When she didn’t answer, he turned in his seat. He inhaled in a startled breath and mumbled, “Jesus…I’m taking you to the hospital, right away.”That was the night Linda Carter’s life changed forever.
CHAPTER ONE
“M
y God! Is she
all right?” Fiona sank into the worn leather sofa as she listened to the ward sister on the phone, giving news about Fiona’s sister Linda.
Her Chinese flatmate, Ami—who had also been woken by the telephone ringing at two in the morning—sat down beside her. She tugged Fiona’s arm. “What is it? Has something happened to Linda?”
Both women wore their towelling robes, still half asleep.
“Shhh…Wait a minute…Sorry. Please go on.” She felt the colour drain from her cheeks, and her mind raced as she chewed over the information the nurse was giving her. She grabbed Ami’s hand and nestled it in her lap.
Ami rested her cheek on her shoulder, and Fiona heard her let out a long sigh.
Words caught in Fiona’s throat. “May I come in and see her?”
“Maybe in the morning. We’ve just given her a sedative to help calm her down. Her ankle is broken, so she’ll need to go for surgery tomorrow afternoon,” the ward sister replied.
“I understand. I’ll have to clear it with my boss, but I’ll try to get there first thing. If she’s still awake, tell her I love her and that I’m thinking of her.”
“Of course. Try to get some sleep and try not to worry too much. Your sister is safe with us, now.”
Fiona hung up and sobbed uncontrollably—something she hadn’t done in years—for a full five minutes. Ami cried also and held Fiona’s shuddering body tightly in a vice-like grip.
Eventually, Fiona opened up and repeated the information the ward sister had shared. “Oh, Ami. If I had gone with her tonight, this would never have happened. If I hadn’t been so involved with my blasted paperwork…”
“You can’t punish yourself like this. Sometimes things happen that are out of our control. Besides, Linda was supposed to be with her friends, wasn’t she?” Ami consoled her quietly.
“You’re right, of course. I’m not sure what the ins and outs are of what happened, yet. Why or how did she get separated from her friends? It’s so out of character for Linda to go off with someone she met in a club. She’s always been the sensible one. Whatever possessed her to do such a thing?”
Ami shrugged and stood up. “I’ll get us a mug of hot milk. It’ll help us sleep. Linda will need us to be strong for her. She’ll get through this. We’ll make sure she does.” She left the room.
Fresh tears ran down Fiona’s cheeks as her sister’s beautiful face flooded her mind. Please let there be no permanent damage, either physically or mentally. During their childhood, Linda had always been the one to whom the boys had flocked. It hadn’t been surprising when she’d been labelled the most beautiful girl at school. She had endured copious amounts of jealousy from the other girls who’d been cast aside by the boys clambering to make a date with Linda. Fiona had found it all amusing, the way the boys queued up to talk to Linda in the school playground throughout their school years.