Betrayed by Anna Smith Read Free Book Online Page A

hungrily took another chunk then swallowed.
    Liz sighed and dabbed the sides of her mouth with her finger and thumb, ignoring the napkin on the plate. ‘I feel better now. I can’t cope if I’m hungry, and I haven’t eaten since last night. Rushing around like mad.’
    ‘I know the feeling.’ Rosie watched her patiently.
    ‘You know when I called you last night, about what Jimmy said,’ she whispered, ‘about Wendy getting raped by Eddie? I want to talk you through the whole conversation.’
    Rosie nodded.
    Liz told how they’d met for a drink after her shift was finished in the pub, and had ended up in a late bar in the city centre drinking until three in the morning.
    ‘Jimmy was on a real downer. He wasn’t saying too much about Wendy in the beginning – just that he really missed her and couldn’t get his head around why she hadn’t contacted anyone. At first I just listened to him and we kept the drinks coming. But after a while I said to him that I really have a feeling something bad has happened to her. He looked right through me and asked what I meant. I said that I didn’t trust Eddie.’ Liz looked beyond Rosie. ‘I don’t like Eddie. He’s a bully and a dangerous bastard. He’s the kind of guy who could put a bullet in you and not turn a hair. I’m sure he’s done plenty of people over. That’s why he’s untouchable with the coke. People are scared of him. He’s a cold bastard.’
    Once more, Rosie was surprised at how easy Liz was with her information – and she wasn’t even drinking.
    ‘Do you have any personal experience with Eddie?’she asked. ‘Has he ever done you a bad turn? Or harmed you?’
    Liz shook her head.
    ‘No. But he scares me. That’s all.’
    ‘Go on with your story. How did Jimmy come out with the stuff about Wendy phoning him?’
    Liz lit another cigarette and took a deep draw.
    ‘He went quiet after I was saying what a psycho Eddie was. I asked him what was up, and did he think the same as me. I know Eddie is his boss, and didn’t expect him to say anything against him. But I felt he was holding back. Then suddenly he comes right out with it. He looked me in the eye and grabbed hold of my arm, squeezing it so hard it hurt. He made me promise I wouldn’t go to the cops with what he was about to tell me, and I promised him. Then he said to me that Wendy had phoned him that night. Jesus, Rosie. I nearly died. I couldn’t believe my ears. Jimmy’s a really tough guy but he was on the verge of tears. He told me that Wendy had phoned him sobbing. And that she said Eddie had raped her in his car.’ Liz shook her head. ‘I didn’t know what to say. I know Jimmy was drunk. But I know he was telling the truth. He wouldn’t make a thing like that up.’
    ‘And did he tell you anything else?’
    ‘Yeah. He told me he went round to her house immediately and she wasn’t there. That’s what he said. And I believe him.’ She sighed. ‘The next day, after we were drunk, Jimmyphoned me and made me vow again not to tell anyone. He said he shouldn’t have told me, and if I did anything crazy like go to the cops then I would be signing my death warrant … And probably his. But I’m not that stupid.’
    Rosie looked at her and said nothing.
    Liz puffed her cheeks and shrugged. ‘Then again, maybe I am. I’m sitting here talking to a fucking reporter about it.’
    Rosie watched her, trying to work out how she was going to tell McGuire this one. Just being in possession of the rape information was dangerous, whether there was any truth in it or not. Passing it on to the police, which is what she should do, would be even more dangerous for Liz, and for Jimmy. And who knows, maybe even for Wendy – if she was still alive somewhere. Keeping it to herself could have consequences for everyone, including the paper.
    Rosie drummed her fingers on the table.
    ‘This is dodgy, Liz. To be honest, right now, I’m not sure where we go from here. I want to have a think