A denial came on a burst of genuine outrage. “Come on! I just smacked her around a little. She likes it.”
Tracey didn’t say anything, but Carol Emmett exploded. “It’s a good thing I got here when I did.” She looked directly at Damon, her face filled with disgust. “God knows what might have happened. This isn’t the first time, is it, Tarik?” she said with searing contempt.
“You’re no pal of Tracey’s,” he yelled over his shoulder, clenching every muscle. “This is all your fault! Why don’t you mind your own business? I’ll get square. Don’t you worry about that.”
Angered by the threat, Damon exerted ever-increasing pressure.
“You’ll break my bloody arm, mate.” Tarik, the abuser, was full of self-pity.
“It is possible,” Damon said, the voice of dispassion, knowing the point to stop. “Call the police, Carol.” He looked to her, not absolutely sure she wasn’t planning to hit the boyfriend with the glass paperweight near to hand.
“No, no!” Tracey finally found her voice. The note in her voice sent a shiver down Damon’s spine. Hadn’t he heard that note before?
Carol rounded on her friend, looking dismayed. “What’s wrong with you, Trace? Can’t you see what this guy’s capable of?”
“Why don’t you sit down, Ms Emmett?” Damon advised, trying to steer the situation into calmer waters. “Let me ask the questions.”
She raised her brows. “Go right head,” she said dryly. “You’re my new solicitor, right? News to me. I don’t have a solicitor.”
The boyfriend let out a sneering laugh. “Caught out, eh?”
“Bradfield Douglass.” Damon found his business card, handing it to Carol Emmett. “Damon Hunter at your service. And this young lady’s, too. She obviously needs help.” Tracey had straightened up, so now Damon could see the full extent of her injuries. They extended to around her neck.
“Good God!” he breathed in dismay. “Do what I say, Carol. Call the police.”
“Right away.” She sped away to the landline, without glancing back at her friend, who didn’t speak again.
While Carol Emmett made the call, the boyfriend seized a last opportunity to get away. He got to his feet again, shaping up and looking dangerous. Only Damon was taller, stronger, in excellent shape. He worked out regularly at a boxing gym. He found the exercise both tough and relaxing after long hours at his desk. The owner, an ex-middleweight champion who could still box the ears off anyone, had become not only his sparring partner but friend.
For his pains, the boyfriend was yanked back in his chair, looking as though he’d been hit by a train.
Tracey witnessed the whole thing. “Thank God!” She breathed a heartfelt sigh, her voice hoarse from the injury to her throat. “I’ve been such a fool.”
“Don’t I know it!” said Carol, not about to make soothing noises. “But don’t worry, Trace. We’ll get you through this. I’ll throw a few things in a bag, and then I’m going to take you back to our place. You can’t stay here any more.” She looked across at Damon. “She can take out an AVO against him, right? He must be kept away from her.”
He nodded. “I’ll have it seen to.” They all turned their heads at the sound of the heavy boots on the stairs.
“That’ll be the police now,” Carol announced, relief mixed with satisfaction.
Tarik scowled. “I’m gonna complain you assaulted me.” He fixed Damon with a look of loathing.
Damon gave a brief laugh. “Go for it!”
“I’ve got witnesses.”
A hoot from Carol. “Shut up, Tarik. Tracey is the one with the witness to your attack.”
“You won’t stop me,” he threatened, trying to catch his girlfriend’s eye. He had found it easy enough to control her. He had the knack.
“We’ll see about that.” Damon’s tone was curt. He knew men of Tarik’s type couldn’t be counted on to obey the law. In fact, they were proud of flouting it.
“Police,” a tough male voice boomed from the front door.
There was a big smile on Carol Emmett’s face. “I have to say, that was quick!”
“What, did you offer a reward?” Tarik sneered.
“I was on the point of it,” she replied, going swiftly to the door.
In the end, after initial statements had been given, Damon followed Carol’s little silver car to her flat. Tracey was tucked into the back seat, nursing her injuries, although she had refused point blank to go to the hospital to have herself checked out.
“I’m okay!” It was almost as if she feared presenting herself at Accident and Emergency.
“How do you know?” Carol had shot back.
“I know.” For once Tracey was adamant.
End of argument.
It was almost an hour later before Carol had settled her friend. After a shower, clean nightwear and pain killers, Tracey allowed herself to be tucked into Carol’s bed. Carol had assured her friend it would be no problem for her to sleep on the three-seater sofa in the living room.
“I’ve done it before.”
She hadn’t, although all manner of their friends had.
When she finally returned to the living room, she found Damon inspecting a group of photographs she’d put into a large frame and hung on a wall.
Damon had been expecting the usual student clutter, but what he had seen of the three-bedroom apartment—open-plan kitchen and living room—was a neat, very attractive dwelling place that had been furnished in a stylish way. He liked the three-piece lounge suite in genuine cream leather. There was a glass-topped circular table with four yellow cushioned rattan chairs arranged around it for dining. A wooden bookcase packed with a wide range of books, from romances to far more weighty tomes, stood in a corner. A large abstract painting hung over a Chinese altar table. A distance away to either side of the altar table stood a pair of traditional Chinese cabinets with horizontal open-work panels. Yellow curtains hung at the plate-glass doors that gave onto a small balcony where four yellow glazed pots planted with strelitzias were lined up against the balustrade.
“You’re taking an interest.” There was a faint taunt in her voice.
“Just admiring the decor. Someone has created a certain style. I love the Chinese pieces.” He bent to take a closer look at the cabinets. He thought the wood was huanghuali, the principal hardwood used by Chinese cabinet makers. He thought he was right dating them as late Qing.
“Me, too,” she said, offhandedly. “As for the decorating, someone had to make the effort. And find the money.”
“I’m sure your friends appreciate
