CHAPTER SEVEN
Martha couldn't sleep. She'd been trying to drop off for the last two hours, but it seemed her mind and body wouldn't allow it. So many thoughts were going through her mind and it was driving her crazy.
Did the boys and her family know she was missing yet? Were they worried about her? Did they know that she was still alive? Were they even still alive? She hated to think what they might have been going through at that moment. No doubt they'd be in the same position as her; unable to sleep.
Of course there was one extra factor that added to her insomnia; Jack Holden. He lay just centimeters away from her on the bed. She could feel the heat radiating off his body, and the sweet scent of the soap that he had used to shower himself with, lingered under her nose.
But that also wasn't the problem why he was keeping her awake. The real problem was driving Martha crazy. Every time she got comfortable, Jack would roll over or start twisting and turning. It seemed he was having trouble sleeping too.
And there he goes again; for about the hundredth time that night, he flopped over; making the bed squeak.
"Oh for gods sakes," Martha cried as she sat up. "Can you stop flopping around; it's like I'm sleeping with a trout," she snapped.
Jack sat up, rubbing at his sleepy eyes. "I'm so sorry princess. But it isn't my fault that this bed is a piece of shit," he growled. "If this was my bed; it would have been chopped up and thrown on the fire a long time ago," he exclaimed.
"Sleep on the floor then," Martha sneered and gave him a hard shove; sending him off the side of the bed. A split second later, Martha heard him hit the ground and groan in pain. "Serves yourself right," she laughed at him.
"When did you turn into such a bitch?" Jack spat out as he pulled himself back up onto the mattress. "You used to be such a sweet girl," he said sarcastically.
"Me, sweet?" Martha said dreamily. "Never. You must be crazy," she exclaimed.
"So, you like to be naughty then?" Jack flirted as he gazed intently into her eyes.
"Stop looking at me like that," Martha turned serious.
"Like what?" Jack smiled at her.
Martha shook her head at him. "Just don't do it? It's making me extremely uncomfortable," she sighed as she lay back down and rolled onto her side.
"Sorry," Jack scoffed as he also lay back down. "I'll try not to do it again," he said sarcastically.
"Can we just try to get some sleep," Martha groaned. "We have a lot to think about in the morning," she said.
"Hey, you were the one who cracked the shits and pushed my off the bed coz I rolled over one too many times," Jack pointed out. "Don't blame me coz you couldn't sleep," he growled as he pulled the blanket up over his head.
"Shut up," Martha snapped.
"Women," Jack muttered. "They only cause you grief. So not worth it," he sighed.
"I heard that," Martha growled.
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Corey was up early the next morning. He wanted to get his visit with Peter Baker over and done with. He got Jesse and Johnny, two of his best and most loyal men, to drive him to the other side of town; where Peter lived.
He knew that Amanda wouldn't be there; no doubt she'd be out with one of her other conquests. For someone who claimed she was so in love with her fiancée, she sure liked to sleep around a lot. Of course Corey applauded her for that; he too liked to share himself around. One was never enough.
"Wait here for me," Corey gave his order to Jesse and Johnny. "I shouldn't be too long," he said as he stepped out of the car and made his way into the apartment block.
It was safe to say that Peter was quite surprised when he found Corey standing on his doorstep with two hot coffee's in hand. "Corey, what can I do for you?" Peter stepped aside and let Corey into his apartment.
"Is my sister in?" Corey faked a smile.
"No, she spent the night at a girlfriend's house," Peter answered him as he closed the door.
Corey laughed to himself. Girlfriend my ass, he thought. "Great, you were the one I actually wanted to speak with," he said to Peter. "Coffee?" he grinned as he held out one of the paper cups.
"Sure," Peter shrugged as he took a cup and took a sip. "So, what did you want to speak to me about?" he asked.
With a fake smile still planted on his face, Corey began to answer. "You're marrying into the family; I just wanted to welcome you," he explained. "Sorry if it's a bit early, but I have things to do today, so now was the only time I could drop by," he exclaimed.
"Its fine," Peter assured him. "I've always got time for Amanda's family," he smiled.
"It's amazing that she has chosen such a fine and outstanding member of the community," Corey started as he stood up and started walking around the room. "And a cop too. I never would have thought that she would marry a cop," he laughed.
"I'm a lucky guy," Peter laughed along with him.
Corey continued to laugh as he walked around the couch; behind Peter. "And that's why I won't allow it," he said as he slid a piece of long wire out from the sleeve of his jacket.
"Won't allow what?" Peter went to turn around.
But Corey was too fast. He quickly wrapped the wire around Peter's throat and started to tighten it. Peter's arms and legs thrashed about; trying to escape Corey's clutches. The wire started to dig into Peter's skin and droplets of blood started to drip down his neck.
"Didn't your precious Amanda tell you what her family done for a living?" Corey whispered in Peter's ear as continued to strangle him. "We're not very nice people Peter. Infact, we're horrible people. That's why we can't afford to have a cop in the family. I tried to warn Amanda but she wouldn't listen to me. She loves you too much," he laughed harshly.
By now, Peter's face had gone blue. His eyes had glazed over and he was quite still. The blood was pretty much gushing from his neck wound now. Corey pulled a few more times on the wire; making sure that Peter was infact dead.
Once he was finished, he slid the wire away from Peter's neck. He picked up a crisp white shirt that was folded over a chair and used it to wipe the wire clean of Peter's blood. He then slid the wire back up his sleeve before dropping the bloodied shirt onto the couch next to Peter.
"Welcome to the family," Corey whispered one more time before exiting the room.
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"So, where are we going now?" Martha asked Jack as she threw a backpack with some extra clothes into the back of the car; Zoë's car.
"I don't know," Jack answered.
"I don't understand why we can't just go home," Martha sighed.
She was desperate to see her family and friends. She needed to see that they were okay.
"I already told you; we can't go back. Not until its safe," Jack told her. "Our friends and family could already be dead, and we'd be walking right back into Corey and Ash's trap," he explained.
"When we find a phone, we have to at least call them and tell them that we are fine," Martha started. "But more importantly; to find out if they are okay," she said softly.
"Look, I hate this as much as you do," Jack said to Martha. "I'd do anything to protect my dad and my brother, and I know I can't do that when I'm not there. But I also know that I have to protect you. Alf would kill me if I ever let anything happen to you, so my job right now, is to be here with you," he explained.
"I just feel so bad about leaving them all there in the middle of this. I'm supposed to be there telling them what to do," Martha sighed.
"The boys will know what to do. No doubt they've already gone to Alf and told them that you are missing," Jack told Martha.
Martha started to laugh. "I wonder if they know I'm with you. Maybe they think that you kidnapped me. Oh, you are in big trouble mister," she tried to stifle her laughs.
"Let's just get out of here," Jack scowled. "I'm sure that they'll figure out what really happened," he said as he walked around to the driver's side of the car.
Martha, realizing what was going on, took off after him. "Oh no no no," she grabbed a hold of his arm. "I told you that I would be driving next. I don't particularly fell like being in another accident. I can't afford to get anymore cuts and bruises on this bod," she explained.
"Fine. Whatever," Jack rolled his eyes as he dropped the keys into her hand.
"Hey," Martha called to Jack just before he jumped into the passenger seat. "I'm sure the boys will find out that you weren't the one who hurt me. There's no need to be scared," she teased.
"I'm not scared," Jack spat out.
"Uh huh," Martha tried not to smile. "Keep telling yourself that".
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"Baby," Amanda called out as she jiggled her keys in the lock. "I'm back," she sing songed as she opened the door.
Amanda was met with a deafening silence. She knew that Peter was home; his car was out in the car park. "Baby, I brought us some breakfast," she called out as she made her way into the apartment.
"I brought your favorite. Pancakes, muff………," she trailed off as the bags fell from her fingers. The scene that greeted her was sickening. Her stomach churned. She felt like she might pass out.
"Nooooo," she cried out. She rushed across the room and fell down next to Peter. "Baby, wake up," she screamed as she shook his body.
She already knew there was no point. He was dead; murdered. She started to sob as she looked over his body. There was so much blood, but she didn't care. She leant down and pulled him to her; holding him tight.
She knew whose handy work this was. He'd given an order and she'd disobeyed him. He'd warned her and now her Peter had paid the ultimate price. She cried harder as she stood and let go of Peter's body. "I love you baby. I'll love you forever," she sobbed as she moved away from him. She knew where she had to go. She couldn't let him get away with this.
She picked up her bag and quickly left the apartment; leaving the door wide open, so that everybody could see exactly how great this community really was.
Amanda had only one destination.
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