Definitely Dead by Kate Bendelow (howl and other poems TXT) 📕

That psycho wouldn’t just kill him, he would torture him and enjoy every second.

No, the best way he could control her was to keep her sweet. Then in time, he hoped she would tire of the relationship and find herself someone younger and richer. Maybe he could even persuade her to get back with Nowak. Frantically, he rang her straight back, but her phone tripped straight through to voicemail. Slumping down on his sofa, he cradled his head in his hands and let out a low guttural moan. For the first time in his adult life, he felt like crying.

48

Maya watched Spence through lidded eyes. He had just called last orders and was clearing the tables. Since she had arrived, the pub had only welcomed another four customers. This had given her and Spence time to sit and chat and she had thoroughly enjoyed his company.

‘I’ll finish this and head home,’ she called to him as he collected glasses and torn beer mats from the table nearest to her. Her voice had started to slur, which was hardly surprising as she’d had several drinks and nothing more substantial to eat than three packets of prawn cocktail crisps.

‘You’ll stay there, love. Wait until I’ve locked up and I’ll walk you home.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘I’m perfectly capable of walking myself home, thank you very much.’ She realised she sounded like Dominique when she put her posh work voice on, and laughed to herself.

‘I don’t doubt it, but in your line of work, you of all people should know it would be common sense for me to accompany you. Just to be on the safe side.’

‘Are you insinuating I’m drunk,’ Maya said with mock outrage.

‘Yep, pissed as a fart.’ He laughed as she threw a glacé cherry at him.

Maya weaved somewhat unsteadily to the ladies’ toilet as Spence wiped the bar down. The old man with the newspaper was the last to leave, his bulbous nose shining like a beacon as it guided him through the pub door, which Spence locked and bolted behind him. Maya gathered her bag and followed Spence through to the back of the pub, watching as he set the alarm panel, they left through the barrel-store exit.

They picked their way through the side streets which led to Maya’s apartment. Maya asked Spence about his time working and living in Spain and he regaled her with tales of the cocktails he used to experiment with – the nice ones and the ones that went terribly wrong.

‘Who knew Baileys and tomato juice would make such a terrible combination?’ He shrugged.

‘Erm, anyone with half a brain.’ Maya laughed as she elbowed him playfully before linking his arm as they walked.

‘I’m glad I popped in. I’ve had a really nice evening.’ She smiled.

‘Me too, although I’m going to have to completely restock the cellar tomorrow. Give me advanced warning next time and I’ll let the brewery know we need to double our order,’ Spence said with a grin.

‘Cheeky git,’ Maya retorted with a slur as they arrived outside her apartment.

They headed to the lift and rode up to Maya’s floor in silence. She wondered whether she should invite him in. Their previous ease was replaced with a weighted embarrassment. The fact they were alone in such a confined space felt loaded with meaning. After what felt like an eternity, the lift jolted to a halt and Spence followed Maya out into the corridor.

She swayed slightly as she wafted her hand at the door. ‘This is me. Well, it’s not me, obviously it’s a door, but you know what I mean.’ She let out a throaty guffaw, swaying against the wall as she laughed drunkenly to herself.

There was a split second of awkwardness and before either of them knew what was happening, her arms were round his neck and he was pressing her against the door as they shared an urgent, deep kiss. She could feel his taut body as he pressed against her and the feel of him smiling as their lips ground together intensified her need for him. She dropped an arm from around his neck and frantically reached in her bag for her keys.

49

Markita was sat on the sofa clutching onto her mobile phone like it was a lifeline. Andy had left her a frantic voicemail message urging her to say nothing to anyone about their relationship yet and to reconsider ending things with Nowak. He had said he would try to come and see her as soon as he could so they could talk. She hadn’t been able to get hold of him since as he wasn’t replying to any of her calls or texts.

Well, whatever he had to say it was too late. She had been unable to keep up with the pretence of still loving Piotr a moment longer. She just didn’t want to be with him, and the lying was killing her. She had decided to end it once and for all. She knew she had taken the coward’s way out by ending things via a text message, but she was too scared of him to do it face to face.

She was falling in love with Andy and despite the fact this new relationship should never have happened, she couldn’t deny her feelings a moment longer. Despite not having been together long, she knew they could make a go of things. She just hoped he felt the same. The message Andy left her had been devastating. She could hear the panic in his voice. It had not been the reaction she had expected. She was now deeply concerned that her feelings for Andy weren’t reciprocated.

She didn’t know what she would do if he told her she should keep up the façade with Nowak, or worse. If he ended things with her, it would break her heart. She stared nervously at the phone as if it was a hand grenade she had just pulled the pin from.

Suddenly there was a frantic knocking on the