MIDNIGHT - HarperCollins NZ

MIDNIGHT
safely home proves that. So I think you know who the
police will believe. No doubt they’ll ask why you allowed
this poor old soul to wander the dark streets in her
nightwear. You put her in danger, that’s what they’d say.’
Sensing Libby’s concern, he went on menacingly, ‘If
it weren’t for me, some lesser man might ’ave had his
way with ’er, before throwing ’er in the canal. Wrong
in the ’ead she may be, but to tell the truth, compared
to some of the scrubbers we get on the streets, she’s
passable enough for a bit of fun.’
‘You get out!’ Diving out from behind Libby, Eileen
suddenly threw herself at him, fists flailing. ‘Get away
from my girl!’ The force of her attack sent him stumbling
against the wall. ‘What d’you want in my house?
Get out! Go on, get out!’
Shocked by Eileen’s vicious onslaught, and now with
Libby joining in, Scott found himself being man handled
across the room. Libby managed to open the front
door, where the two of them struggled to push him
outside. ‘Show your face here again,’ Libby warned,
‘and I’ll have the law on you!’
‘Yer don’t say!’ Grabbing Libby by the throat, he tried
to push her back inside. ‘I don’t need no trouble with
the police, so just give me what I’m owed, an’ I’ll go!’
When Eileen came at him again, screeching and
clawing at his face, he raised his arm and, with one
sharp thump, sent her backwards across the room.
‘Hey! What the hell d’you think you’re doing?’ The man
came at him from behind.
Older than Scott but strong as a bull, Thomas
39