No Going Back

world. Today was his day. Today he was set to win big, finally.
Ashley couldn’t wait to see Shelby’s face when he told her that he’d managed to come up with the deposit for a place down at the river. One of those posh apartments that he knew she had her eye on. And, even more importantly, he couldn’t wait to wipe the sanctimonious look off his father-in-law, Pete’s, face when he finally proved to the man that he and Shelby didn’t need his handouts. That he was more than capable of providing for his new wife.
Ashley scoffed to himself. He was high as a kite and the beer was going down well too. His eyes fixed on the screen, he remembered how he’d once so desperately wanted an in with Pete Baker.
When he’d found out that Shelby was the man’s daughter, he’d bent over backwards to get her to go out with him, dying for a chance of an introduction to one of London’s once most notorious gangsters. Ashley had been desperate to get on the man’s payroll and earn some decent money. Because Pete Baker was still respected. He had years of clout and reputation behind him and had earned some serious money over the years. And Ashley had wanted a piece of that too. And now look at him.
He’d stupidly managed to get Shelby pregnant within just weeks of starting to date her. And the irony wasn’t lost on him that, although Pete Baker couldn’t stand the sight of Ashley from the first second they’d met, he’d soon changed his tune once he’d realised what Ashley had done to his daughter.
Wanting Ashley to do the right thing and stand by Shelby, Old Pete and Janey Baker hadn’t been able to get the two marched up the aisle quickly enough. They had put on the over-the-top, glitzy, extravagant wedding of Shelby’s dreams, all bought and paid for, of course, by Daddy Dearest. And Ashley had had no choice but to just go along with it all.
The biggest insult of all, though, had been the wedding gift: a deposit for their first house together. Because Ashley had known what Pete Baker was thinking. It was the same reason that Pete had finally given in and offered Ashley a job. Of course, he had; how else was his precious Shelby going to get on in life without someone supporting her? And it was clear he didn’t think Ashley could do that without his help.
Though even giving him a job hadn’t panned out the way that Ashley had hoped. Pete treated him like a dogsbody, giving him all the shitty jobs that no one else wanted to do, and the wage, though regular, was pretty basic.
The one thing Ashley had refused point-blank, though, had been the gift of the house deposit. Putting his foot down, he’d told Shelby in no uncertain terms that he drew the line at being beholden to his mother and father-in-law for the rest of his days. He’d made her a promise that he’d get the money himself. Until then, they were living in his flat on the Griffin Estate. But he knew that Shelby hated it there. That she wanted to get out.
And today was that day. It was the last few tense minutes now, but his horse was still up there in the lead, steadfast and running at a blistering speed. The horse at his rear, Victory Call, was gaining. But Dark Horse could do it. He was set to win. Ashley had every faith. He’d got this tip from someone on the inside, someone with the know. This was his lucky day.
Only Dark Horse was starting to lag, head-to-head with Victory Call now. The loud cheering in the pub started to blur into one loud, white noise, until all Ashley could hear was the whooshing sound inside his ears. His heart sinking as he forced himself to keep watching as Victory Call took the lead. Charging across the finish line ahead of Dark Horse. It was over. The race done.
He stared at the screen in complete dismay. Ashley Cooke had just lost a small fortune that wasn’t even his to lose.

2
‘Which hospital are you taking him to?’ Stepping aside as the two paramedics guided the trolley that cocooned the critical patient onto the ambulance, DC Lucy Murphy stared down at the victim, noting the straps holding the patient down and the neck brace. His body had no doubt suffered from numerous breaks and who knows what kind of internal injuries, after being hit head-on by a speeding car.
‘St George’s Hospital.’
‘Okay, I’ll meet you there,’ Lucy said, turning and making her way back to her own vehicle further up the street.
The man was critical and would no doubt end up with life-altering injuries. But he was alive, and from what Lucy had learned so far about the incident, since she’d arrived on the scene, she was surprised that the man had survived the horrific ordeal at all – small mercies.
Despite the fact that it had just gone midnight, people from the street were out in their droves now, she noted as she made her way back to her car. All taking in the chaos and commotion of the aftermath. No doubt in shock that something so sinister and horrific had taken place on what was normally a quiet, residential Wandsworth street.
Reaching her car, Lucy stopped as DS Morgan pulled up beside her and wound down his window for an update.
‘What are we looking at? A hit and run?’
‘It’s looking more like attempted murder, Sarge,’ Lucy said, jumping as the ambulance siren echoed loudly behind her and turning briefly to watch the vehicle pull away. ‘It appears to have been a targeted attack. Deliberate. There was a verbal altercation first. Then the attacker got back in his car and purposely drove at the victim before driving off again. The patient is critical, Sarge, they’re taking him to St George’s Hospital. I’m going to meet them there