Bad Advice

by S M Mala

  ‘You’re really turning me on,’ he gasped.

  She was still shivering when he gently turned her around, holding her firmly around the waist from behind.

  Then he pushed all the way in and started to screw her very gently, moving back and forth, all the time squeezing her breast, his lips on her neck while holding onto her firmly. Her hands were banging against his six pack and she realised her knickers had plenty of elastic. She released her wrists and leaned into him, bending her arm so she could cradle his head in her hand, his lips licking her neck.

  ‘Oh god I love you,’ she said and could hear her groans getting louder as he was thrusting with such speed. ‘I love you so much.’

  Scottie buried his head in her hair and put his hand gently across her mouth, as if he knew she was going to scream very loudly, when she hit another massive womb busting orgasm. She gently bit his finger while he moaned quietly into the back of her head.

  ‘Oh Ruby, I never want this to end.’

  ‘I buy my thongs in packs of three… I’m sure it never will.’

  They both started to laugh.

  Ninety four

  He knew what he had to do.

  She was sat on his lap on the sofa, late into the evening.

  It was quiet and all you could smell was the faint aroma of food from the neighbours’ kitchens wafting through the doors.

  The night was still and Scottie caught her looking at him with a grin.

  ‘I need to tell you something,’ he said gently while she stroked his face. ‘You might not like it.’

  ‘Okay,’ and instantly she looked upset.

  He knew she was thinking the worst.

  ‘I’ve come to a decision on what I have to do.’

  ‘It’s fine,’ Ruby said and he noticed she pursed her lips tightly together. ‘I understand, really I do.’

  The evening light couldn’t hide the tears in her eyes. He put his forehead against hers and closed his eyes.

  ‘I love you Ruby,’ he whispered, feeling something surge deep in his chest. ‘Will you be my wife?’

  Ninety five

  She did a double take.

  That wasn’t what she was expecting.

  Ruby thought he was going to extract her out of his life permanently.

  Looking straight at him, she watched as he opened his eyes and stared.

  There was some confusion in her head about what just happened.

  Straightaway all the reasons came into her head for why it wasn’t the best idea.

  But as she was about to say something, Ruby stopped.

  ‘Yes, I’d love to inflict myself on you for the rest of our lives.’

  He smiled.

  Ninety six

  He didn’t mind not working as he was getting updates from Dave and having sex with his woman.

  Scottie was on cloud nine.

  They had made love non-stop and he wanted to tell the world what was going on, tell someone, anyone.

  That person was sitting opposite him for lunch.

  ‘So my friend,’ Sebastian said, glancing at the menu. ‘What or who have you been up to? And how is she? Her ex hates you, do you know that? ‘Poster boy!’ That made me laugh. Is she safe?’

  ‘Considering they’ve all been pulled in for questioning and my cousin is a suspect, she’s safe.’ Scottie shook his head in dismay. ‘That’s clutching at straws and-.’

  ‘It makes it easier for them to extract you if they accuse Diane. Mud sticking and all that.’

  ‘And all that,’ he said, taking a deep breath and sighing.

  ‘No, please. I haven’t bunked off work this afternoon to hear your stupid noises of love. I take it that’s what this is about?’

  ‘I might need your help,’ Scottie said, leaning forward. ‘If Ruby or Diane need your assistance, you would do it for me wouldn’t you?’

  ‘You think one of them is in the frame?’

  ‘I think they’re digging very deeply into Diane and Dave has told me they think there’s a link. My mother has been calling me continuously to find out if I can stop it. Diane’s nerves are in shreds and the senior people at the Samaritans are becoming increasingly sceptical.’

  ‘You’d think the fuckers would be more supportive,’ laughed out Sebastian. ‘But I know if they think it’s one of their own, they’ll easily cast them out. It’s not very good publicity over all, if the general public are speaking to a serial killer.’

  ‘That’s why I love you,’ grinned Scottie. ‘You sum it up in a nutshell.’

  ‘That’s what I do for a living. And talk about living, have you decided what you’re going to do when they kick you off the force? I hear security firms are always in need of a good copper to train as guards.’

  Scottie picked up his beer and sipped it. Sebastian raised his eyebrows before his attention was taken with a gorgeous young waitress walking past.

  ‘Yates was screwing the Commissioner when he was married to Ruby. That’s what she found out when they pulled her in for questioning.’

  Suddenly Sebastian did a double take and his mouth dropped open.

  ‘Helen told Ruby last week and, of course, Ruby was very upset but now she’s not. I know she’s not speaking to Hugh. I think that’s why he’s on the warpath in print. I also suspect he knows she’s with me and that’s causing him some concern as well as the Commissioner.’

  ‘Why that fucker!’ mumbled Sebastian. ‘I warned her! But Ruby didn’t listen. I suspect your boss wasn’t the only one.’

  ‘I’m not like that. I would never do that to her,’ he said in all honesty. ‘I don’t understand that if he knew how much she loved him, why screw someone who was going to really hurt her?’

  ‘Only Hugh Yates can answer that.’

  ‘I asked her to marry me.’

  Again, Sebastian’s mouth dropped open, even wider than before.

  ‘She’s only just got her divorce through,’ he hissed. ‘You’re playing with fire.’

  ‘She said ‘yes’.’

  ‘Jesus, you don’t waste time, do you?’

  ‘I wasted enough time away from her. I don’t want that to happen again.’ He realised Sebastian was about to say something. ‘I know what you’re going to say. It is complicated. There are four children involved, three exes, though Rita doesn’t really count. One ex-husband, my job, her situation, two houses and-.’

  ‘Lucky you don’t have pets,’ smiled Sebastian, who jumped forward and gave him a massive hug then kissed him on the cheek. ‘Congratulations! You’ve done the right thing.’

  ‘I’m so happy. I knew I had to do something and this seems right for me. For us.’

  ‘I am the best man which means she’ll have Jacinta as maid of honour,’ he smirked. ‘I remember she was good fun.’ Sebastian laughed. ‘Will you invite the exes?’

  ‘We’ve not thought about a date. I just want to enjoy this feeling though we can’t tell anyone. You’re the first one to know. We’re going to leave it a few months after the kids get to meet each other,’ Scottie sighed and sunk deeper into his chair. ‘I want to be with her forever so there’s no rush.’

  ‘Jonathan, how are you going to break the news to your boss?’ smirked Sebastian. ‘Do you want me to write a letter to her?’

  ‘When the time’s right, I’ll tell her.’

  ‘You mean, after you’ve done the deed?’

  ‘Of course.’

  Ninety seven

  Ruby felt awful. Her head was throbbing and she was drained. The first thing that came to mind, it was all down to having great sex with the man she was intending to marry. It was Scottie who told her the night before she needed to see a doctor. And to keep him sweet, she arranged to get a late night appointment that Thursday.

  But right now, sitting in Diane’s living room was stressing her out. Her friend was in a terrible state and Nana Gwen was looking icily at her granddaughter.

  ‘I haven’t done anything,’ Diane said and gulped back her tears. ‘Just beca
use I’m active on the social networks doesn’t mean I killed those poor people. Do you know, they questioned my medication for diabetes?’

  ‘You’ve got diabetes?’ Ruby immediately asked. ‘You never said.’

  ‘I take a mild form of tablet, nothing amazing. I tried to regulate it but I have large bones and a slow metabolism.’

  Ruby tried not to laugh as Nana Gwen eyed Diane up and down, looking extremely unconvinced.

  ‘So you didn’t kill these people?’ the old woman diplomatically asked. ‘Believe me, I would be a little pissed off to find out I had spawned a serial killer. It’s bad enough the other one’s a copper.’

  ‘Nana Gwen, why are you here? I asked you to come round and you refused but as soon as I tell you Ruby was coming, you’re here like a shot. What are you up to?’

  ‘I wanted to check out what was happening,’ she replied shiftily. ‘Ruby, may I say, you look like shit.’

  ‘Thanks,’ mumbled Ruby.

  ‘You do look a little peaky,’ Diane said sympathetically. ‘Are you alright?’

  ‘I’m wonderful,’ she smiled brightly and was met with a sneer from Nana Gwen. ‘What’s the face for Gwen?’

  ‘You don’t look wonderful. What’s he done to you? I know he’s not in work. Took a forced week off.’

  Just as she was about to make up an excuse, Nana Gwen crossed her arms firmly.

  ‘Is it because of me?’ asked Diane weakly. ‘Are they now turning on all of us?’

  ‘It’s because of you and me, if we’re going to be honest,’ replied Ruby, gently stroking Diane’s arm. ‘They think he’s in a compromising position, a word that keeps constantly cropping up.’ From the corner of her eye she saw the old lady smirk. ‘He’s been told to take time away while they sort this out. What I don’t get is why they suspect you?’

  ‘You must have done something,’ said Nana Gwen firmly. ‘No smoke without fire, the saying goes. As much as I hate the piglets, they wouldn’t think you’ve got something to do with it if they didn’t have a reason.’

  ‘All I do is send out universal messages to everyone and it seems, on the days I did, these people were killed. I didn’t directly contact them and…’ She bit her lip hard as Nana Gwen shot Ruby a worried glance. ‘I like to keep friends with people, you know that. It doesn’t mean I want to kill them!’

  ‘But Diane, some of them, actually all of them, weren’t exactly the nice face of the Samaritans,’ Nana Gwen said gently. ‘I’ve read so much about it and they abused their trust factor by making money and pulling women. That’s not good.’

  ‘Mick Dawson seems to be doing that,’ mumbled Ruby. ‘You’d think he would be the lead suspect considering he’s got work and money from this whole situation.’

  ‘Just because you don’t like him doesn’t mean he’d do something like this,’ Diane said quietly.

  ‘But to suspect you is right, is it?’

  ‘It’s a mistake and I know they’re doing their job,’ she sighed as Nana Gwen shook her head from side to side. ‘The truth will out.’

  ‘Doubt it,’ Nana Gwen said, getting to her feet.

  ‘And Larry’s worried about it all and Petra! She keeps giving me strange looks and I know she thinks I’ve got something to do with it. My own daughter!’

  ‘Imagine how I feel,’ mumbled Nana Gwen, shaking her head.

  ‘And her friends are saying that it’s good to be a vigilante and seeking revenge on the bad people,’ wailed Diane. ‘I’m innocent!’

  ‘Want to share a cab Ruby? I can’t be arsed to get the bus back and if I stay here any longer, my ear drums will burst,’ Nana Gwen whispered loudly.

  ‘Okay,’ she replied, knowing the woman was up to something while she gave Diane a sympathetic hug. ‘They’ll catch the real killer soon and this will all be over.’

  ‘You think so?’ asked Diane.

  ‘Don’t hold your breath,’ mumbled Nana Gwen. ‘I’ll come visit or you could make a cake and cosh the prison wardens over the head then escape. Your sponges are like concrete bricks.’

  Diane burst into tears once again as Ruby looked on in dismay at the old woman.

  As soon as they were driven off, Nana Gwen turned to look at Ruby.

  ‘What?’ Ruby asked. The woman’s pursed lips gave way to her thinking hard. ‘You were no help to her, do you know that?’

  ‘That Tuesday, why didn’t Diane get attacked?’ asked Nana Gwen. ‘Why just the three of you?’

  ‘If that’s the case then Diane would have had to be in three places at one time.’

  ‘So where was she?’

  ‘In Tesco’s.’

  ‘But there’s no security footage.’

  ‘Gwen, you can’t seriously think she did this, can you?’

  ‘I think it’s more complicated and, to be honest, she’s not bright. None of my intelligent genetics have passed down the line.’

  ‘Does that include Scottie? He’d be pleased to know what you think.’

  ‘I bet they’ll fix this on her so they can shaft him. You know, I met that Commissioner Trott when he got promoted and I don’t like her. She looks at my boy like lecherous old men do over Page Three girls. Do you think she’ll keep him as a sex slave so he doesn’t get demoted?’

  Ruby started to laugh at her comment then felt sick again.

  ‘The last thing I want to happen is for him to lose his job.’

  ‘Something’s not right here. How comes the others aren’t suspects? I think, quite seriously, they’re going to frame Diane and Scottie will lose his job in the aftermath, all because of you.’ Nana Gwen didn’t say it venomously but as if stating a fact. ‘Personally, and this is me thinking out loud, I think the attacks on you three were completely different. Why show you could be hurt without taking you out?’

  ‘Maybe they want the publicity and it failed?’

  ‘There was no mention of you, just the other two. That fat boy is certainly making a mint out of it. It didn’t go amiss, your stab at people who make money out of doing bad things in your column today.’

  ‘Are you my number one fan?’ she cheekily asked.

  ‘Not if my grandson loses his job and my granddaughter gets sent down which will prevent her from baking… actually, maybe I am.’

  Since the revelation about Hugh and Helen Trott, she had avoided speaking to her ex at all accounts but today she had no choice. Ruby wanted to make him suffer, knowing the web of lies he had fed her for years.

  ‘You don’t mind, do you?’ she asked, standing with Theo on his doorstep. ‘I’ll pick him up tomorrow after school.’

  ‘I could’ve stayed in on my own,’ her son shrugged, walking into his father’s apartment. ‘Other kids do.’

  ‘Well then other kids are doing something illegal. Anyway I expect that’s a big fat lie.’ She took the opportunity to give Hugh a filthy look. ‘That’s something your father or I would never condone. Honesty is the key, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes,’ Hugh replied and glanced away, waiting for Theo to go into the living room. ‘You misunderstood what she said.’

  ‘I didn’t and don’t you ever dare speak to me again. We can only converse about our son, anything else is out of bounds.’

  ‘Like you screwing Assistant Commissioner Scott?’ he hissed. ‘That would make a great story considering all these murders.’

  ‘Print what you like, I don’t care,’ Ruby replied defiantly. ‘For your information, I’m deliriously happy with him and madly in love. So shove that up your arse!’

  Not waiting for the comeback comment, she marched away towards the GP’s. Just as she was about to go down the alley towards the bridge, her phone started to ring.

  It was Annette.

  ‘Have you heard? They’ve pull in Diane as a suspect in the murders!’ she said, literally screaming down the phone. ‘It’s outrageous!’

  ‘You’re joking?’ she said, stopping dead in her tracks. ‘Diane? I only saw her a few hours ago.’

  ‘I’v
e just found out. This is unbelievable. How could they get this so wrong?’

  ‘It’s the police, of course they’re going to get it wrong! I’ll make a few calls and find out what’s going on.’

  She hung up and walked towards the bridge then suddenly felt a massive pain at the back of her head. The next thing she knew everything was black.

  Someone was leaning over her. Ruby was face down on the gravel and could hear a voice.

  ‘Are you alright?’ someone asked and she realised there was a dog inches away from her face, being pulled back. ‘We’ve called an ambulance.’

  Voices were in the background and they were saying she got mugged or attacked or both.

  Ruby couldn’t speak as her head was hurting really badly and she lay there, wondering what had happened as she drifted off to sleep.

  Ninety eight

  He had spent much of the afternoon trying to figure out why his cousin had been arrested. There was no real evidence he could see, other than she had diabetic medication and used the social media network.

  And he was at a loss on what to do.

  Scottie had to keep his nose out of it.

  Deep down he knew his days were numbered.

  The phone rang, taking him out of his trail of thought.

  ‘Scottie,’ Dave said anxiously. ‘Your friend, Ruby Marquis? She’s been hurt.’

  ‘You what?’ he gasped, feeling a pain constrict his chest. ‘Is she alright? Tell me!’

  ‘They’ve just called to say she was attacked near her home. Hit on the head,’ whispered Dave. ‘I thought I’d call you first. We’ve got officers at the scene.’

  ‘What was she doing out? Fuck! How bad is it?’

  ‘They’ve taken her to Charing Cross. Get down there and find out what’s going on.’

  Scottie’s hands were physically shaking as he grabbed his car keys and sped off towards the hospital.

  All the time he wondered if something bad had happened and Dave wasn’t saying. His heart was thundering through his chest and, for a moment, he thought she might be dead.