Three Steps to Hell Read Online Free PDF Page B

front door. He carefully got up from the chair and slowly made his way towards the solid wooden front door. As he did so the knocking became louder and more aggressive.
    “Hold on, hold on,” he shouted, “Who is it?”
    “Courier, mate,” came the reply, “I’ve got a delivery needs signing for.”
    Wayne wasn’t expecting anything, but was used to Sue occasionally having mail order clothes delivered. He turned the latch, partly opened the door and started to lean forwards to see the caller. He caught a momentary glimpse of a large leather clad motorcyclist wearing a crash helmet. The split second their eyes met the heavy door flew back at him violently, pinning him against the hallway wall. His forehead and nose had taken much of the impact. He could taste blood and stood dazed for a few seconds, blinking his eyes trying to recover focus whilst wildly hitting out at his assailant with his free right arm. He felt a blow to the side of his head and a large gloved hand pushed hard into his throat taking his breath away and pinning him harder against the wall. Wayne was finding it hard to breath as he realised he had two visitors, both tall and heavily built, wearing leathers and black full face crash helmets. He desperately tried to get a glimpse of their facial features but cotton ski masks under their helmets made it impossible.
    “You’re supposed to be dead Evans,” shouted the man holding him by the throat. Now he recognised the voice. Without warning he brought his knee up into Wayne’s groin with such force that both his feet left the ground. He squealed with pain, the grip on his throat was released and he fell heavily to the floor in agony.
    “Get up Evans, you’ve got more to come,” he heard before passing out.
    Ever since arriving at work Sue had not been able to concentrate for worrying about Wayne. Alan Bradwick had been running his bakery business in Brampton High Street for 20 years and was a good and caring employer. He employed 12 people all of whom had worked for him for many years and he looked upon them virtually as his family. Sue had started to work for him on Saturdays whilst still at school and he then offered her a full time job when she left school at 16. Now 21 she was his youngest and shortest serving member of staff. He valued her greatly as an employee as she had such a pleasant and polite manner with his customers whom repeatedly returned for their bakery needs. Sue was a slim attractive girl with shoulder length blonde hair. She was very mature for her age, had smiling blue eyes, a soft, kind nature and a natural ability to converse with customers of all ages.
    This particular morning he had noticed that Sue was distressed and worried. After some prompting she told him of her boyfriend’s injuries and he suggested that she should pop home to see if he was okay. Alan Bradwick had never met Evans and had no idea what sort of person he was. If he had, he would probably try to talk some sense into the girl.
    It was only a five to ten minute walk. As she approached the house, which was at the end of a long cul-de-sac of council owned houses, she saw a large black motorcycle parked outside. At first she felt relieved, believing that Wayne must have a friend visiting which would give him some company and cheer him up. As she turned through the rusty twisted gate, which hung sadly on only one hinge, she saw the front door ajar. She walked carefully down the path of broken discoloured twisted paving slabs and as she approached the door she heard a deep muffled voice.
    “Get his legs, we’ll put him on the sofa till he comes round, fucking idiot, why did he have to pass out.”
    She fully opened the door and saw Wayne’s two leather clad assailants. Their size and demeanour frightened her instantly. They had just laid Wayne on the sofa when the taller of the two caught sight of Sue in the hallway. She could see blood on Wayne’s face. She wanted to scream or run back out. No noise