Cut and Shut

CUT AND SHUTJONATHAN PEACE This edition produced in Great Britain in 2023by Hobeck Books Limited, Unit 14, Sugnall Business Centre, Sugnall, Stafford, Staffordshire, ST21 6NFwww.hobeck.netCopyright © Jonathan Peace 2023This book is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in this novel are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons (living or dead), events or localities is entirely coincidental.Jonathan Peace has asserted his right under the Copyright, Design and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the copyright holder.A CIP catalogue for this book is available from the British Library.ISBN 978-1-915-817-02-0 (pbk)ISBN 978-1-915-817-01-3 (ebook)Cover design by Jayne Mapp DesignPrinted and bound in Great Britain ARE YOU A THRILLER SEEKER?Hobeck Books is an independent publisher of crime, thrillers and suspense fiction and we have one aim – to bring you the books you want to read.For more details about our books, our authors and our plans, plus the chance to download free novellas, sign up for our newsletter at www.hobeck.net.You can also find us on Twitter @hobeckbooks or on Facebook www.facebook.com/hobeckbooks10. PRAISE FOR JONATHAN PEACEDIRTY LITTLE SECRET‘A masterfully told thriller which mines the darkest corners of the 1980s as an experimental police unit race to save a young life from a sadistic killer.’ Graham Bartlett‘My goodness what a novel!! This story was absolutely full of suspense, mystery, strong female characters, misogynistic males in roles of power and thrills. Honestly I devoured it as quickly as I could, I couldn't put it down!’ Bex Books and Stuff‘This was well written, pacey, the plot was solid and the ending left you quite stunned and ready for more.’ Hanny May Reviews‘Jonathan Peace did a fantastic job of expertly weaving story lines like spider’s webs, interweaving them until you were so wrapped up, you forgot all notion of time.’ Books With Gina‘Altogether an addictive and immersive read.’ Sharon Beyond The Books‘There is a tautness to the storytelling, especially until the climax block, that keeps us hooked.’ Surjit Book BlogFROM SORROW’S HOLD‘An exciting read.’ Carole Gourlay‘Easy five stars for me.’ Donna Morfett‘Another enjoyable read.’ Sarah Leck‘One to look out for.’ Pete Fleming‘Although I enjoyed the first book, I enjoyed this one more … An enthralling read throughout.’ ThrillerMan‘I would like to applaud Peace for handling the delicate issue of teen suicide, anxiety and depression. I think he handled it very well.’ Monika Armet‘Diving straight into the hard issues of the day, Peace tackles them head on, in a tale where nobody comes out the better for it. Compelling read from a writer who knows his trade and boldly handles the subject matter.’ Avid ReaderCUT AND SHUT’Take a bow, Jonathan, you have created another brilliant book … an amazing thriller, full of suspense and mystery that will blow your mind.’ Surjit Parekh‘Cracking read … definitely one to be adding to your reading list.’ Peter Fleming CONTENTSPrologueSix days earlierChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 6Chapter 7Chapter 8Chapter 9Chapter 10Chapter 11Chapter 12Chapter 13Chapter 14Chapter 15Chapter 16Chapter 17Chapter 18Chapter 19Chapter 20Chapter 21Chapter 22Chapter 23Chapter 24Chapter 25Chapter 26Chapter 27Chapter 28Chapter 29Chapter 30Chapter 31Chapter 32Chapter 33Chapter 34Chapter 35Chapter 36Chapter 37Chapter 38Chapter 39Chapter 40Chapter 41Chapter 42Chapter 43Chapter 44Chapter 45Chapter 46Chapter 47Chapter 48Chapter 49Chapter 50Chapter 51Chapter 52Chapter 53Chapter 54Chapter 55Chapter 56Chapter 57Chapter 58Chapter 59EpilogueAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author‘Til It BleedsThe Louise Miller SeriesHobeck Books – the home of great stories To those who leave reviews, authors the world over love ya! JUNE, 1989Women are the twin halves of men.The Prophet of Islam PROLOGUESATURDAY, 24THShe could hear him mumbling to himself somewhere in the darkness.His words were lost within the ringing that pulsed in her ears; the place he had struck her throbbed painfully, and when she focused on it, the pain only intensified. Thoughts rolled around in her head, jumbled together. The rally, people pushing close. Shouting, and then strong hands grabbing her. Something hard hitting her head. Blackness that closed all around her. The screams and the shouts drifting away as she floated in the darkness.Something crashed, a metallic clash that echoed through her head with the stabbing pulse of hot needles.He cried out, the words a low murmur of angry whispers.She could feel four hot lines on her face where she had been slapped into silence when she had been taken.The fog in her head lifted slightly and her stomach rolled. If she hadn’t been bound to the table with thick straps of leather she would have turned to the side to vomit. Four of them; two across her legs, another two across her chest. Each one was secured in the centre with a silver buckle, it too secured with a small gold padlock, the kind she used on her locker back at the office. Not that that had stopped them from getting inside. Leaving her ‘jokey’ messages and gifts.She thought about calling out, but knew it would only signal that she was awake once more. If she had any chance of getting away, it would be now, when he was preoccupied.Her wrists wiggled just enough that she could move her hand fractionally. The straps covered her forearms, the sleeves of her jacket bunched up beneath the elbow to reveal the soft skin of her arms. Several long cuts ran across in jagged streams, the blood already hardened into a crisp shell, the result of the scuffle in the marketplace.It was starting to come back as the fog lifted; the BNP protest in Dewsbury town centre that she’d attended. The lines of police with their batons and their shields. The cries for white justice. And then it all went to shit and everyone was being pushed back. The call came and they all fled back towards Savile Town.The fog fell again, drifting across her mind to the pulsing beat of her headache. Still, she fought on, fought