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Then she caught a glimpse of the bloody nozzle of his weapon； saw it ing at her； knew that this time the target was her weakened； pulsing jugular。 She felt the steel tube sinking into her throat but there was hardly any pain because she was beyond that barrier； a numbed dying naked body； her beauty gone and only a vestige of life remaining。
He leaped clear this time； dodging the jetting scarlet fluid and through a darkening haze she saw him emptying his vile instrument of vampire death； washing it out under the tap as casually as he might have cleaned his toothbrush。
Bleeding profusely she hung there； death still taking its time。 The man who had called himself Lassiter was still talking； his voice a dull faraway vibration like jungle drums but she heard and understood。
'It was thoughtful of you to have this room soundproofed。 Two other girls； you say。 I have some eager young men outside lusting for their bodies and afterwards your colleagues' fate will be the same as yours。 And then Sabat； truly a good night's work which will please Lilith！'
Neither dead nor alive； her bleeding body sagging from the wall； Ilona had one last glimpse of the departing Lassiter； his long legs taking two steps at a lime； not once looking back because he knew she was finished and he had more work to attend to。 He did not close the door and even when her vision was a crimson haze she could still hear。
The front door opened and closed； padded footfalls； whispered voices。 The Disciples of Lilith had arrived； the Merchants of Blood were about to feast again！
As Ilona weakened still more she heard the screams ing from above； two girls in the throes of indescribable agonies and the man who called himself the Fuhrer laughing at the sight of their blood。 And her last living thought was in the form of a prayer； that Sabat would be equal to the challenge and that his revenge would be terrible。
Mandy Wickham wandered the darkened streets； a stupefied expression on her pimply features； her slippered feet scuffing along the pavement； peering into every patch of shadow； straining eyes that were sore with crying。 Her earlier panic had numbed her； she had wept until there were no more tears to fill her smarting ducts。
Those policemen hadn't helped； hadn't shown the slightest trace of emotion。 Because they didn't bloody well care； it wasn't their baby。 All they had to do was write down all the details； file them away； and hope that the infant turned up somewhere。 And if it didn't； then it was no skin off their noses because they'd worked according to the book of rules。
'This car； madam； the one the woman who was looking at your baby got out of； have you got the registration number？'
'No。 Of course I bloody well 'aven't。'
' What make of car was it？'
'I dunno； one o' them big ones； you know； like you see on telly sometimes in them cop chases。'
The constable sighed； glanced heavenwards； tried again。 'What colour was it？'
'Red。'
'Well； that's the first fact we've established today。 The man who was driving it； did you get a look at him？'
Mandy was totally confused by the time the policeman left。 That was when the crying started； escalating into a tantrum of frustration in which she threw cushions and shoes at the wall； finally collapsing in an exhausted heap on the floor where she remained for several hours。 It was already getting dark when she made up her mind that she had to do something positive； like going out and trying to find Davey。
She felt calmer now that she actually had something to do instead of sitting around and waiting for calls that would never e。 Those coppers wouldn't be returning to tell her they'd found her baby； more likely they'd forgotten all about it； had gone off duty and were in the pub right now。 She contemplated going and seeking the help of her parents but that would be futile。 They'd be glad she'd lost the baby； felt that a smear had been removed from the family。 Or Big Dave 。。。 no； he wouldn't be interested； might even get nasty if she hinted that it was his baby。 Which left only herself。
Mandy put on her coat and went outside。 She didn't know where to look。 Couldn't think what that woman could possibly want little Davey for 。 。 。 unless the cow couldn't have kids of her own and had decided to pinch somebody else's。 Mandy had seen a programme on TV once about women who stole babies； nutters who got round to convincing even themselves that they had actually had the child。 On the other hand 。。。 a ray of mingled hope and fear 。 。 。 sometimes they got scared； realised just what they'd done and dumped the babies in all sorts of places； on doorsteps； in bus shelters； even in litter bins。 Oh God！ The thought of Davey upended amid a pile of refuse had her searching with desperation； scrabbling through the contents of council waste baskets； caring not for filth or scratches from sharp objects。
She began her search back outside the post office where her baby had been snatched from its pram。 The car had gone off down the High Street； certainly past the first set of traffic lights so it was no good looking anywhere before then。 Just keep on walking； follow the main road； it could be they'd dumped it anywhere along there as far as 。。。 no； God； not the Thames！
Mandy was tiring； unaccustomed to walking further than the nearest shops； forcibly dragging herself along。 She'd have to rest； try to think something out。 Oh please； whoever you are； give me back my baby。 There's thousands of others； unwanted ones； give me Davey back and take one of them I
The shops had petered out now into an area of dereliction。 Homes of families which had been rehoused； corner shops which had succumbed to the chains of giant supermarkets。 Depressing。
Mandy almost fell over a protruding front door step； cursed beneath her breath； then decided that it was as good a place as any to rest her weary limbs。 She lowered herself down on to it； sat staring into the enshrouding darkness； seeing the headlights of passing cars beyond the junction at the e*hd of the road。 Nobody came here any more 。 。。 except perhaps Davey's kidnappers！ He could be anywhere； just dumped on a piece of waste ground 。。。 dead from exposure by morning！
She was starting to tremble again； but the maternal instinct forced her to be logical within her own capabilities。 If Davey was anywhere around he would be crying； screeching like he did at home because he didn't like the dark。 He would be terrified without his night light。
Her ears picked up a faint sound； a sort of rustling like clothes make 。。。 she sat upright； heard it again。 Mandy was back on her feet； about to run in the direction from where the noise came when she was suddenly aware that somebody was approaching。
'Who's 。 。 。 that？' Mandy hadn't expected to meet anybody around here。
'Hello。 Fancy seeing a pretty little thing like you out on her own at this time of night。 No boyfriend tonight； sweetheart？ ' A half…mocking voice。
Mandy caught her breath； tried to