Occupied

by Janet Preece

  Julie had given Rachel no warning, no clue that she was coming. She thought her own disappearance might have been reported by now, if anybody cared. If she was down as a missing person, she wanted to stay that way.

  As she glanced in the rear-view mirror, Julie marvelled at the change in her appearance. Her face somehow altered, devoid of the usual tense worry lines she’d spent the last twenty years nurturing. The outdoor lifestyle suited her. She was tanned, leaner, stronger. Living for herself was easy; an active lifestyle and time to make personal food choices had made it easy to quickly shed her excess weight, the weight that had tormented her for as long as she could remember, like a forgotten child.

  She was ready. Rachel, I’m coming for you.

  Outside the office building, the streets were crammed with people going about their daily business, unaware of what Julie was planning, most of them staring blindly down at their phones. Nobody worried about having things stolen anymore – hundreds, even thousands of pounds held precariously in the palms of their hands.

  Julie took her own phone out of her pocket and dialled Rachel’s number.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Hi, Rachel, I’m outside.’

  ‘Julie?’ Rachel screeched down the phone. ‘Julie, is that you?’

  A heavy silence hung between them, both waiting for the other to speak. The pivotal moment, everything was about to change.

  ‘Come now, alone, and we can talk,’ Julie warned, ‘Don’t tell anyone or I’ll go into hiding again.’

  She hung off and waited, watching the back door of Rachel’s work, wondering how long it would take her to come down in the lift and make her way out – and there she was. Dressed in a thin floaty material, stiletto heels finishing the look. Tart. She looked around frantically, then stopped still, staring as their eyes met.

  ‘Julie! I can’t believe it!’ Rachel shouted across, at the same time appearing like a gust of wind had swept them together. She gripped onto Julie holding her tight at arm’s length to take a proper look, then gasped, ‘You look so different! Are you OK? You’re so tanned! So thin! Where have you been?’ She hugged her close, Julie uncomfortably accepted the embrace. She doesn’t know. She doesn’t suspect anything. Have to keep it that way.

  You are not my friend. But, if you hadn’t taken my husband, I’d still be stuck with him, so for that I am grateful. For that I will give you your moment.

  Rachel slowly released her grasp, still clutching her friend’s arm as if scared she might vanish if she relinquished. Perfect, that makes life easier. Just come with me to my car, follow me, your future awaits, she thought, guiding her towards her car. If only she knew the truth behind Julie’s smile, that she was looking forward to unshackling herself from the constraints of humanity, torturing the beauty before her, cutting off those objects of Dan’s desire so he would never be able to enjoy her again. The horror-movie scenes she had recalled often over the past months excited her. It would be a challenge whether she could cope with the reality, the blood… the horror… but she was up for it.

  Julie thought back to Amrita, her death in the cinema seemed like a lifetime ago. She was a different person then, yet she could still see the bits of bone shattered around the walls, the streaks of deep beetroot blood dripping down the porcelain. The only thing she remembered was the smell, the rich iron scent of raw meat – fresh, metallic; the clean white and the dark red against it. The image in her mind conflicted with the images she had seen on the internet, she regretted looking. They didn’t know the truth, shared only lies.

  Her time with Rachel wouldn’t be the same. This was planned. But how could she knowingly torture someone she knew. You don’t know her. The slut is not your friend. Damn right.

  Julie licked her lips. They were dry; she was thirsty. Hannibal Lecter would have drunk her blood. She blanched thinking about it, not her style. Maybe she could smear it across her face, Game of Thrones-style? Messy. She could cut off a finger, dip it in dripping blood, write with it on the walls of her enclosure; cut off Rachel’s eyelids so she was forced to watch everything, her own torture. Would the blood drip in her eyes so she couldn’t see? Maybe it would kill her? Julie wasn’t sure, hadn’t done enough research, only on the ways to cause pain, and happily, there seemed to be endless opportunities.

  She looked over at her ‘project’, unable to refrain from grinning and was met with a squeeze and a warm smile.

  ‘Wow, Julie, what big eyes you’ve got!’ Rachel exclaimed, ridiculously.

  ‘Yep, I’m the big, bad wolf!’

  Why was Rachel laughing along? Stupid girl. She wondered if Rachel had stepped into her role back home, if the kids had welcomed her as their new mother, if she’d been over all the time under the pretence of helping with the family.

  While away, Julie had dipped in and out of the stalker app, noting Dan had spent most of his time at home during her absence, didn’t even seem to be going to work regularly. Had he brought in help, a nanny, perhaps? Someone else for my revenge list? Keep focused, it’s Rachel’s turn.

  ‘We’re here – climb in!’ Julie shouted, reaching the Land Rover.

  ‘Whose car is this?’

  ‘It’s mine for the day, just borrowed.’

  Julie bit down on her tongue to stop from screaming, she was losing patience. Shut up and get the fuck inside!

  ‘We’ll just go for a ride. I want to show you where I’ve been living. It’s nice – you’ll like it.’ She didn’t recognise her own voice, the velvety-smooth focus in it, the confidence. She wasn’t listening to Rachel’s array of endless mumble, but when she tuned back in, it was still coming.

  ‘Where have you been? Why did you go? Are you okay? Are you coming home? Dan was so worried! And the kids, they’ve grown so much. You must be desperate to see them again!’

  ‘I’m sure they were fine with you there, in my place.’

  ‘It was the least I could do for you, my friend.’ Rachel smiled in response.

  My friend? Who says that? Was she feeling guilty about the affair? Trying to persuade herself she was still a good friend? What a joke.

  Julie revved up the car, cool and calm under Rachel’s fixed stare. Months of alone-time had focused her body and mind. She was able to control her physical responses, knowing Rachel was likely assessing her every move, trying to work out what was going on.

  ‘I’ll explain everything when we get there,’ she said.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘Patience, patience!’

  ‘I need to tell work I’ll be out for the afternoon. I literally just ran out of the building!’ Rachel said, looking around the car, then tutting when she realised she hadn’t brought her bag.

  ‘Can I borrow your phone?’

  ‘Um, no, sorry,’ Julie said, stalling. ‘It’s… out of battery. Don’t worry, you won’t be missed.’

  Rachel looked confused, but leant back against the chair and relaxed, accepting that fate was out of her control.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  ‘But this is a storage place! Surely you haven’t been living here?’

  Of course she hadn’t been living there, had no intention of doing so, but Rachel didn’t need to know that. Why did she have to interrupt with her questions, didn’t she realise the dilemma Julie was going through – whether to kidnap, torture or murder? It was a tricky one, to say the least. She looked at Rachel, still so perfect, unphased, actually believing that Julie might ever choose to live in a storage unit. Ridiculous. It wasn’t safe, it wasn’t humane, come to think of it, why wasn’t Rachel pushing her to return home instead?

  Because she wanted Dan to herself. It suited her perfectly to keep Julie away.

  Looking over at Rachel, she tried to work out what was going through her head. She looked innocent, made Julie pause, wonder if she could have been mistaken. If her friend was really guilty or if she
’d somehow muddled things up.

  But those phone pictures. She’d seen the evidence with her own eyes, images burnt into her memory that seemed an impossibility, yet were undeniable. Was Rachel humouring her now, biding her time until she could inform Dan, warn him perhaps? Planning how she could still keep Dan for herself and keep Julie away. She bit her tongue watching, Rachel’s cool exterior giving nothing away.

  ‘I don’t live here – yet, but I’d like to,’ Julie breathed the appropriate response to the questions that hung in the air, ‘that’s why I need your help.’

  Would Rachel agree to help? Their fates entwined depended on it. Was it believable? A realistic plan?

  ‘I’ll pay them cash, so it doesn’t come back on you. Don’t look so worried. This isn’t going to work. Come on Rachel, stick to the plan.

  ‘This is stupid. You can’t stay in a storage place, it’s dangerous … and creepy.’ Rachel shuddered but kept pace with Julie as she headed towards the office.

  ‘Just do this one thing for me,’ Julie said, ‘You owe me.’

  Rachel’s eyes narrowed. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  Backtracking quickly so as not to ruin the surprise, Julie told herself to stay patient. Plan Julie, slowly slowly catchy monkey.

  ‘Nothing, it’s just I really need your help with this. It won’t work without you.’

  They weighed each other up as the man on the desk spoke.

  ‘Okay, so, which of you lovely ladies is going to be signing up today?’

  After a few seconds of deliberation, Rachel finally caved in, much to Julie’s relief.

  ‘Me. I’d like to set up a month, please.’

  ‘You get the first six weeks for one pound if you sign up by direct debit on a monthly contract, but I’ll need ID.’

  The man looked from one to the other, his burly frame sweating around the rim of his shirt, discolouring the peach with a darker hue. His suit shimmered slightly, bulging under the effort of maintaining his bulk, reminding her of a sausage roll, the meat poking out of the pastry, trying to escape. She had imagined he’d be in a uniform, nondescript, a minion to the system, a faceless name that would carry out the transaction. ‘Simon’ his nametag read, ‘Here to help.’

  She didn’t want to know his name, didn’t want to humanise him, but she had to make him feel special, use her feminine charms to get what she wanted, without making herself too memorable.

  ‘I’m afraid I don’t have my bag on me. We’ll have to come back another time,’ Rachel said, interrupting the silence, making Julie flush crimson that she’d glazed over in thought. Simon smiled back, taking her blush as flirting, giving Julie the nudge she needed to work him.

  ‘I have cash! LOTS OF CASH,’ Julie butted in, repeating herself slowly and watching his wondering eyes. ‘Can’t you make an exception just once for us damsels in distress?’ She batted her eyelids, slowly lowering her glance down his body and up again to meet his eyes. She let them fix and linger, hoping it would be enough, if Rachel’s beauty hadn’t already won him over.

  ‘She’s just had her bag stolen and wants a safe place to put her remaining jewellery while she sorts out her house security, surely you wouldn’t see her beautiful jewellery put at risk? Just a few days, pretty please?’

  Simon leered over at Rachel, eyeing up her necklace – which was obviously worth thousands – the rings on her fingers, her sparkling earrings so unique. They’d won him over. His body responded like a cartoon character, salivating at the mouth, tongue out panting with excitement. It had been a waste of time flirting with him but when it came to greed he was much more pliable.

  ‘I’m sorry, it’s a no. No arguments – those are the rules. Now, leave before you get me into trouble.’

  Damn. Really?

  Julie was sure she had him, but it didn’t look like today was going to be her day. What to do now, she wondered walking away with Rachel.

  Was Rachel disappointed too, she wondered, secretly hoping to keep Julie away from home? Will she try and persuade me to go home now? That’s what a true friend would do, would have done already if there was nothing in it for them.

  Rachel’s ice-pick heels clicked along determined heading out of the building and back to the car. Think Julie, but she couldn’t, watching Rachel’s curled locks bouncing as she walked was mesmerising, floating then resting, kissing, floating then resting again, kissing the pea-green silk of her blouse. Oh, how she would love to burn them off one by one, watch her distress, relish the smell of burning. Unconsciously reaching to flick her own matted hair, she wondered at their differences. Another reason Dan had fallen for her?

  Rachel hadn’t mothered kids, had time to exercise, dress well, create healthy meals – time for herself. Julie’s family had taken that away from her long ago and why bother anyway for Dan, the lazy, selfish, egotistical adulterer.

  Revenge. Julie was entitled.

  They were nearly at the car when Julie realised, with heart pulsing, that she wasn’t ready to let this go, had to at least question her and make her admit her guilt. Also, she wanted to know about Dan, what had been happening in her absence, had he been under suspicion from the police for her disappearance, suspected of killing her off? She hoped so, that would be fitting. Hopefully he’d been under house arrest awaiting the outcome of her disappearance. She made a mental note of what to ask her hostage. Where are all the abandoned warehouses when you need one?

  ‘Ladies, hang on!’ came a distant shout from Simon, the surly old letch, puffing away as he attempted to jog over to them, a heart-attack waiting to happen. There was still a chance! She grabbed roughly at Rachel’s arm, pulling her to change direction. Questions coming thick and fast once more with the adrenaline of opportunity.

  ‘Just had to get the CCTV sorted. Turns out, it’s not working, so…’

  ‘So, you’ll take the cash?’ Julie jumped in, confident. He didn’t have the charm, and she didn’t have the patience.

  ‘There’s just one thing. Obviously, without the ID, I’m not able to put you on the books, so I’m going to give you a place over on the far side. It’s derelict, to be honest, and there are a few rats around, but it will do for now until you can bring back some ID.’

  He stared fixated on Rachel, clocking the green emerald in the centre of her necklace, winking back at him. Would they have trusteed him in normal circumstances? Clearly not. He knew they were up to something as much as they knew he was after those jewels. It took all Julie’s reserve not to yank that necklace from Rachel’s dainty skin, knowing it had likely cost Dan more than Julie’s yearly allowance. Life just wasn’t fair. She’d make sure Simon got his hands on it. Or maybe on Rachel?

  ‘No, thank you Sir, that won’t be suitable,’ Rachel said, at the same time, Julie handed over the cash.

  ‘Well, little Miss, beggars can’t be choosers!’ he said, gleefully pocketing the payment, his bit on the side. ‘I’m sure your jewellery won’t mind a day in the dark. ‘For five hundred, you can have it for three months. Nobody’s going to go sticking their nose in your business when you’re tucked over that way.’

  Rachel turned to her friend, whispering, ‘Julie, this is nuts, you can’t live in a storage unit! What are you thinking? Come back with me, honestly, you can’t do this – it’s a joke, right?’ She seemed genuine, her and Dan must be estranged.

  ‘Just go home! Dan will be so relieved to know you’re all right. He’s been very worried, not sleeping at all, and the police, they’ve been looking for you! They need to be told you’re okay. Oh, Julie, we thought you were dead!’

  So she did care. But was her concern for Julie, or for Dan? Trying to clear his name then toss her aside once more? She couldn’t hide her disgust, fighting the scowl on her face as she stood hesitant, trying to process her thoughts into words. How does she know he’s not been sleeping? Unless she’s been there with him, at nigh
t.

  Simon and Julie shook on the deal, much to Rachel’s horror, and Julie walked away with the key, following his directions.

  ‘This is ridiculous! You can’t live here. It’s disgusting!’

  They stood rooted to the spot, staring at the small room one of them would be staying in for the foreseeable. The stench was overwhelming – an added bonus as far as Julie was concerned.

  ‘What is that?’ Rachel squealed, walking over to the far end of the room where a pipe was protruding through the wall. ‘It’s leaking sewage! OH, MY GOD!’ she shouted as she began to heave. ‘It’s a fucking dead rat. Seriously, Julie, you can’t stay here! Who thought it would be a good idea to put a pipe inside a storage unit anyway? It’s ridiculous!’ You could catch all sorts! When that door’s shut, how do you know if you’ll even be able to breathe? This is a terrible idea.’ She looked up at Julie’s silhouette in the doorway, bringing her hand to her brow to focus better.

  Julie said nothing as she reached up and hauled the old metal door downwards in one swift motion. There was a screeching noise and a firm click, the old bolt mechanism still surprisingly functional. The metal was cool against her cheek, the rusting smell strangely comforting as she patiently revelled in the moment, listening to Slut’s pleading confusion quickly turning to panic.

  ‘Julie, what are you doing?’ Rachel’s feet clicked across the floor, her hands pounding on the door; unaware of Julie’s cheek resting on the other side.

  ‘You can’t leave me here!’ she screeched.

  Julie didn’t respond, just smiled and listened as a piercing scream filled the air. A perfect start.