Divided Loyalties Read Online Free PDF Page B

Tiff feeling distinctly nervous.  Rachel put on her most sympathetic expression. 
    “Your gran told me what Gavin Morley did to you.”
    Tiff’s eyes filled with tears and she looked down at her hands.  “I don’t know why, it’s not your problem.”
    “Gavin Morley is everyone’s problem, including mine.  Is it true Tiff?” she probed gently.  “Did he rape you?”
    Tiff nodded, keeping her head bowed.  “I’m friends with his sister.  They live in the same flat.  I went round there to see Lisa.  She wasn’t in but Gavin was.  He said I could wait for her, then he…”
    Rachel squeezed her hand gently. “It’s okay, I get it.  Did he hurt you badly?”
    Tiff pulled down her robe to reveal mottled bruising all over her arms and bites on her neck.
    “I’m sorry Tiff,” she said quietly.
    “I’m not the first,” she replied, pulling her robe back up.
    “You’re not?”
    “He did the same to Jade Anderson.  She told some of us about it but we didn’t believe her.  I believe her now,” she said sadly.  Desperation flared in her eyes.  “You said you were here to help me?”
    “Yes.”
    “Gavin’s still threatening me.  He said he’s going to do it again.”
    “He actually told you that?”
    “Not to my face.”
    Tiff switched on her laptop and brought up her Facebook page.  Rachel was appalled by the disgusting threats poor Tiff had been hounded by.  Gavin was clearly disturbed and incredibly stupid to broadcast his intent like that.
    “That’s proof enough,” said Rachel.  “You don’t need to be afraid anymore, he’ll be sorted.  In fact this whole bloody estate needs sorting.”
    A high pitched scream cut through the air, followed by a man’s angry shouting.
    “What the hell is that?” demanded Rachel.
    “The Crickleys next door.  He must be drunk again.”
    “This happens a lot?”
    She nodded.
    The screams grew louder and more fearful then there was an ominous thud.  A higher pitched scream joined the woman’s.
    “Jesus, there’s a child in there,” said Rachel, appalled.
    “They have a five year old daughter, Emma.”
    “Fucking hell,” said Rachel, leaping to her feet.  “I’ll be back in a minute.”
    Rachel strode out of Tiff’s flat, raced next door and pushed the door open to find a big sweaty man beating a thin, almost skeletal woman with bright red hair.  A little girl cowered in the corner, face streaked with tears and terrified out of her wits.  It was this sight more than the woman being attacked that fuelled Rachel’s rage.
    “Oy,” she yelled.
    At first the man was confused to see her standing in his living room.  Although he stopped hitting the woman he maintained a grip on her with one meaty fist.
    “Let her go you fucking pig.”
    The man swayed unsteadily, eyes bloodshot with drink and anger.  “Who the fuck do you think you are?”
    “The woman who’s going to kick the shit out of you, you cowardly bastard.”
    He grinned, appearing amused by the challenge.  He released the woman and she slumped to the floor, her face bloodied.
    He rushed at Rachel clumsily, who sidestepped him and kicked him in the belly.  When he crumpled in two she punched him hard in the side of the head then smashed her knee into his face, sending him to the floor in a dazed heap. 
    “Take the child next door,” Rachel ordered the woman.
    With a nod she grabbed the little girl and they raced out of the door, skirting round the man.  Rachel slammed the door shut behind them and pulled out her phone, glaring at the struggling lump of flesh on the floor.
    “Jez, you need to get your arse round to the Montford.  Now.”
    “Why, what’s happened?”
    The man started to pull himself upright.
    “One moment please.”
    Rachel pulled her taser from her jacket pocket and jammed it into the man’s back.  He jumped and jerked before slumping back to the floor. 
    “Sorry about that Jez.  There’s some shit here that needs clearing up.”
    After