Mummy's Little Girl

by Kay Leitch

  'Yes but…' Tracy stopped at Carla's worried expression, 'ok don't worry I'll be good.'

  She left not long after that, and Carla started on the kid's tea. James came home and they had a lovely, but sadly rare, family evening together, talking about their day and shouting at the telly and a very noisy and soggy bath time with Rosie and Harry, so it wasn't until Carla was lying in bed much later with James gently snoring next to her that she started to ponder on what Tracy had told her earlier.

  Despite what she had said to Tracy, Carla thought it was too much of a coincidence that they had both thought they recognized something or someone that, maybe, had something to do with the death of this young girl. She had been on enough murder cases to know that what seemed like nothing, could end up being the key to solving the case. She began to weave a scenario in her head. What if, for instance, the killer was Tracy's blond mystery woman who, after discovering that she had lost an earring at the scene of the murder, and knowing that that same earring would undoubtedly have traces of DNA on the post, had gone back to the woods to try and find it, only to discover that the whole area was being searched with a fine toothcomb. That might be enough to panic someone and send them running off in desperation…of course it was only a theory but it was all Carla had to work with at the moment so she decided to start making some enquires about the lost earring, see if anyone recognized it. And on that positive note she fell asleep.

  CHAPTER 13 - July 14th 1992

  Today it was my best friend Julie’s birthday…she's 11.

  I went to her party, she had a magician and a chocolate fountain, Mum bought me a new dress it is red with a cream sash and I have a red hair band, Julie's mum said I looked as pretty as a picture.

  Dad has picked me up after the party…he is really angry with me and keeps shouting at me.

  He thinks I have told Julie about our 'special times'…I haven't told anyone…he told me not to tell anyone.

  He says he can tell that I've told her because she keeps on avoiding him and looking at him in a funny way…I know I haven't said anything to anyone.

  He keeps on shouting at me, telling me that he will be arrested and then what will Mum do, and what will happen to the family, he said that Faye and I will be put into care and how will I like that, being taken away from Mum and Faye…is that what I want, is it?

  I am sobbing and trying to tell him that it's ok I haven't said a word, but he is so angry that he is not listening to me…he drives us to a field near the downs, and pulls me out of the car…I am so scared, I have never seen him so angry. He drags me round to the front of the car and rips my dress, my lovely new dress Mum bought for me, I am sobbing and trying to stop him but he is so angry he doesn't hear me, he turns me round so that I am facing the front of the car…he pushes me down I am bending over the car, then he pulls down my knickers I am squirming and struggling to get free, he holds me down with a hand on my neck, and then I feel the sharp pain as he whips me with his belt, over and over, I am screaming with the pain then suddenly it stops and I am free to move I slowly turn round, he is standing behind me rubbing himself with his eyes closed, I pull up my underwear and wait until he is done.

  I don't know how I'm going to tell Mum about my dress…Dad said he was sorry he'd had to do that, but maybe it will help me to remember that I mustn't tell anyone…ever.

  CHAPTER 14 - MAGGIE

  Maggie sat at a corner table in The Bull, Charles (it was Charles and not Dave) had finally swallowed his pride and asked her out again, and because she was at a loose end and because she was feeling horny Maggie, had agreed to meet him for a meal.

  The Bull seemed particularly chaotic this evening, Giles was obviously on his own and by the way he kept looking at his watch and then at the door he had obviously expected Vanessa to be back in time to give him a hand.

  Because it was mid-week he only had a handful of young waitresses, and usually that was enough. He and Vanessa worked as a team and normally the restaurant ran like a well oiled machine. They were an odd couple those two, Maggie thought as she waited. Giles was a lot older than the glamorous Vanessa and despite putting on a very united front they seemed more like business partners than husband and wife. There were no children as far as anyone knew and seemingly not much family, apart from Vanessa's dad who lived in the 'Happy Valley home for the elderly' a few miles from Kenley. It seemed there was bad blood between them and Vanessa never visited him, despite the fact that it must be costing them a fortune to keep him there, 'How sad,' thought Maggie as she pictured her own rather awkward, but lovely Dad. 'What would it take for me never to speak to my Dad again,' she just couldn't imagine it.

  Maggie looked at her watch and realised that Charles was late, well she'd have another drink and if he hadn't shown up by then she was off, she gestured to Giles who was hovering not far away.

  'Can I get another G&T darling?' she said as he came over. 'You seem rushed off your feet tonight, all on your own? Where's Vanessa?'

  'I have no bloody idea,' said Giles scowling. 'She was meant to be back ages ago, only popped out for a walk...oh speak of the devil… about bloody time… I'll be right back with your G&T Maggs.'

  Giles went over to the bar to get her drink and Maggie could clearly see that Vanessa had come in through the back door which led to behind the bar, Giles was whispering furiously at her and Maggie occasionally heard Vanessa equally furious whispered replies. She couldn't really see them from where she was sitting, but just then Vanessa put her head round the door of the bar and Maggie was shocked at the state of her, she looked dreadful, no make-up on and her face was all puffy and blotchy. She only saw her for a couple of seconds and not at all for the rest of the evening, Giles soldiered on alone so Maggie could only assume that she must have been ill or something.

  Charles redeemed himself by turning up shortly after with an apology and a big bunch of her favourite tulips, and the rest of the evening was spent very pleasantly, so much so that a few hours later she was lying in bed with a warm glow about her, after another very satisfactory shag. Whatever his faults no one could ever accuse Charles of being a disappointment in bed. The man knew things about her body that even she didn't know. The whole evening had been fun, the conversation had flowed and Charles had been really good company, maybe he was worth trying out a few more times. Maggie stretched contentedly. Charles turned towards her and she felt a warm hand moving over her body, rubbing over her erect nipples and trailing down her flat belly to the soft down at the junction of her thighs, she sighed tremulously as Charles began to slowly and gently bring her back to orgasm…mmm yes definitely worth a few more dates…after all what had she got to lose?

  The next morning Maggie woke up alone. There was a note from Charles on the pillow next to her.

  THANKS FOR A WONDERFUL EVENING, WON'T BE AROUND FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS BUT MAYBE I'LL GIVE YOU A CALL WHEN I GET BACK

  XX

  Maggie was fuming, who the hell did he think he was…'maybe give me a call,' he'll be lucky, she was the one that played it cool, she was the one that kept them hanging on a string. 'Well he can try giving me a call but it won't do him any good,' she thought angrily, but she was surprised at how gutted she felt…damn it she really would have liked to get to know him better…and yet, another one bites the dust…'Oh well his loss,' she thought with a grim smile.

  She spent the rest of the day in a filthy mood, most of her staff had soon realised to keep out of her way, she'd nearly reduced her secretary Hayley to tears when she dropped a load of architects plans on the floor, and her scathing sarcasm to one of her suppliers, who was late with an order, made her team wince and raise their eyebrows at one another. So consequently she ended up having a very quiet day, everyone keeping their heads down and well away from her.

  She got home to find both Jed and Dominic in the kitchen cooking up a storm.

  'Oh my god, look at this mess,' she shouted irritably, 'what the hell are you cooking Jed, you had better clean this all up.'


  'Chill Mum I'll clean up later, Jools is coming over I'll do it after she's gone,' Jed said as he drained pasta down the sink, spilling half of it on the work surface.

  'You will do it now young man! I am so sick of cleaning up after you two, you are grown men, you both have jobs for Christ's sake. You seem to think I am here simply to look after you, well I have a life too you know …' at this point in her tirade Maggie had dissolved into tears, both the boys looked sheepishly at one another.

  'Sorry Mum,' Dom was the first one to speak. 'Don't worry we will clean up, won't we Jed?' he gave his brother a hard look.

  'Of course we will, sorry Mum, don't cry you silly old fool, we love you, and just for the record we don't think you're here just to look after us, we expect lifts and money too.' Maggie chuckled snottily, she put her arms round each of her beloved boys.

  'I'm sorry, just had a rotten day that's all, love you both too,' and then she wiped her nose on Jed's best jumper.

  Later on she texted Carla:

  HELLO MY LOVELY, CAN'T WAIT FOR TOMORROWS CAULDRON, PLEASE COULD YOU PICK ME UP AGAIN I NEED A DRINK SOOO BADLY XXX

  CHAPTER 15 - 2013

  The arid smell of damp leaves assailed her; she could feel the icy cold, hear the crunch of the frosty ground as she ran through the undergrowth of the woods. She knew when she was getting near, the smell of rotting flesh was unmistakable, it made her want to gag. She tried to stop herself going forward terrified to see what she knew was there, but some unseen hand was pushing her forward making her witness again and again relentlessly forcing her to see…and then there she was there like some discarded rag doll, legs akimbo face obliterated and arms outstretched towards her as if pleading for mercy…but this time she noticed something different, something shining amongst the blood and the leaves…oh my god it looked like…oh my god!

  She woke up bathed in sweat and shivering in fear, she crept out of the bedroom closing the door behind her, and made her way downstairs to where her coat was hanging in the hallway, hidden right at the back where she'd left it. She rummaged desperately through the pockets and pulled out a small gold and emerald earring, her hand went back in looking for the other one she started to search feverishly pulling at the pockets of the coat until they were ripping …

  Nothing…

  CHAPTER 16 - November 3rd 1992

  I wake with him next to my bed, he is kneeling down with his hands under my quilt he is pulling at my breast…hurting me…I turn my face away close my eyes tight, I know this makes him angry but I can't bear to see his face.

  His fingers trail further down, instinctively I close my legs together he roughly pushes them apart.

  'None of that, don't pretend you don't like it…I can feel you getting wet, feel your little quim trembling you love it you dirty little whore.'

  I try to ignore him and his horrible words, I'm not dirty, I know I'm not, I hate his touch and the smell of him as he puts his face so close to mine, those words they are all just part of the horror of it. This has been going on for so long now that I have found ways to put him out of my mind, so I don't listen to his spiteful words or his threats of terrible repercussions should Mum ever find out, I think of other things, happy things, until panting and sweating he has finished and I can go to sleep. The only problem with that is that he seems to want a reaction from me, and he seems to need more and more from me…last time he made me use my mouth…I try not to think about it…he seems to be getting close the swearing starts and the insults.

  'Dirty little whore…want me to come in your mouth? Come on then you fucking whore,' he is climbing on the bed pulling my face towards him…but then a loud groan, I feel something warm and sticky on my face and he collapses on me…another night over…thank god now he'll leave me alone and I can go back to sleep.

  CHAPTER 17 - HELEN

  After loading the dishwasher and clearing round her immaculate kitchen, Helen goes upstairs to change. It was only a cauldron meeting but it was a chance to dress up in one of her new outfits. Wills was home this evening which in itself was something of a surprise, so she was going to make the most of a chance to show off her new look because as Maggs said, 'Make him wonder sweetie, let him feel a bit insecure, show him what a stunner you are.'

  As it happened Wills did seem a bit bewildered by the change in Helen, and as far as she could see he was none too happy about it, all the better she thought as she pulled a figure hugging red woollen dress out of her wardrobe, this little baby had cost her (or rather Wills) a small fortune, but it was worth every penny, it hugged in all the right places and concealed any lumps and bumps. She teamed it with a pair of stilettos that she was only just getting used to, but she figured that they would be ok just to hobble from the car to the pub as long as she took it slowly.

  After applying her smokey eyed make-up and some bright red lippy she felt like a million dollars. She went downstairs, Wills was in the kitchen, he did a double take when Helen casually walked in looking for her keys, and for a minute just stood there staring at her.

  'You're a bit over dressed aren't you?' he said trying to sound nonchalant. 'I thought you were just going to a cauldron meeting.'

  'I am,' she said with a smile, 'don't wait up,' and with that she walked as sexily as she could out of the kitchen, she felt like punching the air, he was seriously bothered.

  As usual The Bull was heaving and as usual she was the first one to arrive, she went straight to the bar.

  'Well hello, Ding dong you're looking extremely edible this evening Helen, I'm surprised Will let you out,' said Giles wolfishly. 'What'll it be, the usual?'

  'Thanks Giles and I'll have you know I'm a big girl now, I don't need anyone's permission to go out.'

  'Yes you certainly are sweetheart,' said Giles unashamedly staring at her breasts which were being shown to great advantage by the woollen dress. 'Are the other witches in tonight? Shall I set their drinks up?'

  'Oh yes please, how's Vanessa? I can't see her in here tonight.'

  'Oh she's around somewhere, she's ok, a bit down maybe, I just think she needs a break, but there just never seems to be a good time, it'll soon be spring and that's when the business really starts to pick up, no time for holidays.'

  Helen smiled, 'I guess you two are just the victims of your own success …oh there she is…hi Vanessa, Giles was just telling me how much you need a holiday.'

  'Well he had no business telling you any such thing,' snapped Vanessa crossly, 'I'm fine I keep telling him, just a bit overworked! He needs to hire more people, the old skinflint, not go on about ridiculous holidays.' She gave Giles a filthy look and rushed on through the crowds with a tray above her head. Giles gave Helen a sheepish look and shrugged his shoulders.

  Helen fought her way to the back of the pub and found a table; she then spent the next few minutes borrowing stools from other tables so that by the time Tracy arrived Helen had secured a cosy little corner for the cauldron to sit in.

  'My god Helen you are amazing,' said Tracy after kissing Helen hello. 'How do you always manage to find us a table, even in these crowds and…ohmygod let me look at you…wow! That is all I can say, you look amazing, who would have thought that killer body was hiding under those baggy clothes…you are going to have them queuing round the block girl.'

  Helen couldn't help but feel elated, 'Wills nearly swallowed his tongue when he saw what I was wearing tonight, you should have seen his face Trace. I don't know how I stopped myself from laughing.' She put on a fake Wills voice 'is that what you're wearing, I thought it was just a cauldron meeting.'

  'Ha what did I tell you, well you just keep him looking girl, all the time he's worrying about what you're getting up to he won't be able to concentrate on slutty Sarah.'

  Helen's face immediately dropped.

  'He has been with her nearly all this week,' she told Tracy about the phone call from Dave, 'I mean what is he playing at risking his job like that!'

  'Sod his job, he's risking you Hels, the man mus
t be an idiot,' said Tracy.

  'Who's an idiot?' asked Maggie arriving at the table, 'and where's my drink, oh thank you Carla darling I need this big time!'

  Carla, who had followed Maggie in, balanced her drink on the table in front of her and tried to manoeuvre her stool in as close as she could get.

  'Right what have I missed, who are we slagging off, who's a secret tranny or…good grief is that you Helen, or have you sent your much more glamorous younger sister in your place?'

  'I know, doesn't she look fantastic?' interrupted Tracy, 'And,' she said before Helen could get a word in, 'Wills is having kittens, can't believe what was right under his nose all this time stupid wanker.'

  'Thank you Tracy,' said Helen giving her a look, 'but actually she's right girls, I think our plan is working.'

  'What about the web site, any joy there?' said Maggie, after downing her G&T in one and waving to Giles to get her another.

  'Well plenty of interest thanks to your fab picture Maggs, but until the other day I didn't feel like doing anything about it, but now, I have short listed 3 I thought you lot could look them over for me.'

  She leant down and started rummaging through her enormous handbag coming up for air holding a folder containing 3 printouts. She spread them out on the table, meanwhile Carla was mouthing to Tracy, 'What happened the other day?'

  'Wills…arsehole,' Tracy mouthed back as if that explained everything.

  'Oooh he looks nice,' exclaimed Maggie picking up one of the printouts. 'Lovely dark eyes and a wicked smile…oh yes I would…'

  'Well you can keep your hands off Margaret Wendover,' said Helen. 'He just happens to be top of my list, the only problem that I have is that he says he's separated waiting for a divorce, I'd rather he was free and single.

  'Um excuse me Mrs Drover,' said Maggie pointedly, 'he's probably just in the same boat as you love, unhappy marriage, looking to see what's out there and anyway it's better to start with someone that's not looking for commitment from you, and he strikes me as a delicious way to start mmm.'