‘You looking for something in particular?’ Paige called out. ‘Or someone?’
The man had stopped now. Standing a few feet away, he was wavering.
Still unsure of the man’s intentions, Paige quickly decided that she’d take her chances in approaching him. If he was a copper and she did get thrown in a cell for the night for soliciting, it would be a welcome punishment compared to going home and facing Rusty’s wrath. At least then she could make out that the police had fleeced her for her nightly earn. Rusty would believe that too. He knew that there were more bent coppers than there were straight these days. She’d seen to a couple of the dirty bastards herself. They were the worst kind. Dressed in their uniforms, demanding freebies in return for them not taking her stash or nicking her. Most of them were a law unto themselves.
Still, this bloke looked like he was sniffing around for a ride, and her money, if she had any, would have been on the fact that he was definitely a punter.
Smiling as the man gestured with his hand for her to go to him, Paige didn’t have to think twice.
Grabbing her bag, she stepped away from the wall.
Desperate to earn a few bob, she was going to give this fella the ride of his life.
He was her only chance at making some money tonight. Going home to Rusty with at least a few quid in her pocket was a million times better than turning up completely brassick.
Who knew? If she gave this bloke the full on VIP treatment she might even be able to wangle a lift home afterwards too.
Leaning over the wall Christopher threw up. Overwhelmed with nausea, he felt weak. Dizzy.
The feeling was intense, but he welcomed it wholly.
If he didn’t feel like this, he’d question whether maybe he was some kind of a monster.
Because only a monster would be left numb after what he’d just done.
Standing here throwing his guts up, he had managed to sicken even himself with his depraved actions.
He was only human after all.
Spitting out a mouthful of pungent phlegm, Christopher wiped the corners of his mouth and then stood back from the water’s edge.
He’d have to get rid of his clothes, which were splattered with blood; he’d have to burn them when he got home.
He could still smell the girl; her sickly sour scent was all over him. He could smell her skin, her hair. How she’d masked her bitter body odour with cheap, heady perfume.
It was a shame she was dead really. For a whore she had actually seemed quiet sweet. Young and eager to please. She had been willing to let him do anything he wanted, though all for a price of course.
Christopher, with the victory of tonight’s fight overshadowed by having to look for that prick Terry, had still wanted to celebrate, and spotting the girl touting for business, he had gladly taken her up on her offer.
The girl had thought she was on to a winner, spotting Christopher all dressed up in his smart clobber, with his expensive car. Pound signs must have flashed before her eyes; blinded by the idea of earning herself some money, she’d been ignorantly unaware that she’d inadvertently just sold her soul to the devil himself.
Christopher had taken her with force; bending the girl over he had fucked her with such fierce brutality, all the while the intense rage building up inside him just as it always did. His desperate need to hurt her escalated so quickly, the pressure inside him became explosive.
He could feel it again. The same feeling as before. Building up inside him as he pounded away against her naked flesh.
He couldn’t just release himself like a normal bloke.
He needed to give in to it, to really hurt the girl.
His head throbbed, as he tried his hardest to suppress the strong urge that overcame him to throttle the girl. The need overwhelmed him, becoming so intense that he had no other option but to give in to it.
Caught up in a vicious frenzy Christopher had lost control, lashing out at the girl every way he could. Biting her, punching her, and finally, with his hands wrapped around her throat, he had squeezed the very last breath out of her cold, still body.
Then, pushing himself back inside her lifeless body, he finally reached his climax.
Shuddering, it was all over.
The girl was dead, and Christopher’s rage had subsided as quickly as it had emerged.
Mesmerised as the girl’s body was dragged down into the dark, gloomy water, weighted by the rocks that he’d tied expertly to her scrawny, battered limbs, Christopher watched until she disappeared from his sight.
Until the water became still once more.
She was gone. Disposed of like she was a piece of unwanted rubbish.
Turning, Christopher heard a noise. Worried that someone had seen him, he grinned as he spotted another skanky whore lying on the floor of the underpass behind him. He caught the girl’s eye, but even from this distance, Christopher could tell that the girl was so drugged up she’d be lucky if she knew the time of day let alone be capable of recounting anything that she may or may not have witnessed tonight. Deciding that she wasn’t any kind of threat, Christopher shook his head at her before he continued to walk. His mood was almost sombre, reflecting on his actions as he made his way back to his car.
These girls were all the same. Even the one that he’d just killed may have looked young and naive, but deep down she had known what she was doing. Degrading herself for money, offering herself up on a plate to strangers.
He hadn’t really done anything wrong.
The girls was obviously destitute, broken.
All he’d done was help rid the world of yet another piece of undesired litter.
She was nothing but a whore.
Just like all women were deep down, and Christopher had done the humane thing by putting the girl out of her misery.
Chapter Twenty-One
‘After you, ladies. Welcome to . . . “Destiny’s”.’ Nathan proudly held the pub door wide open as he showed his two sisters inside. Watching their faces as they looked around and then at each other, giggling, Nathan didn’t know why he bothered.
He was trying to help Kelly out, but all the girl did was throw it back in his face.
‘Destiny’s? Are you are fucking kidding me? Dusty’s more like.’ Kelly peered over the top of her sunglasses as she walked the length of the bar, wrinkling her nose up at the strong sour smell that filled the air.
Nathan rolled his eyes. Kelly never had been one to hide her true feelings, and in typical Woods style she had no qualms about saying it how it was. His sister clearly couldn’t see the wood for the trees – once the decorators had been in this place would be transformed.
‘Are you sure you know what you’re doing taking this place on?’ Kelly asked. Boozers like this place were ten a penny. From the way Nathan had been talking last night Kelly had been under the illusion that her brother had bought a swanky wine bar. But this, well, it was anything but. Nathan must be losing it.
‘It does have potential,’ Evie offered, seeing disappointment flash across Nathan’s face. ‘Can I go and have a nose around?’
‘Go for it.’ Then, turning back to his churlish sister, Nathan glared. ‘Oi, I’m doing you a favour, don’t forget.’ Kelly was an ungrateful mare turning her nose up at the place, and his patience with her was starting to wear thin. ‘Don’t let how it looks now fool you. Trust me, after a lick of paint and a bit of TLC this place is going to be a gold mine. You won’t even recognise it.’
‘I should hope so too. I don’t mean to sound rude, Nathan, but even you must be able to see that this place is bloody rank.’ Kelly was unconvinced by her brother’s optimism and as her eyes swept over the dated floral curtains and matching wallpaper that violently clashed with the garish carpet, she couldn’t help but think that the place looked like a psychedelic throwback from the sixties. Retro might be making a comeback
, but this place was beyond a revival.
Nathan bit his tongue. He knew Kelly was just stressed out. Terry doing a runner had set the girl on edge, and if what the police had said last night about what Terry had done to that hospital porter was true, then he couldn’t blame her for being so het up. ‘Are you okay?’ he asked.
It had been a tough night. He, Raymond and Christopher had driven around for hours looking for him, but to no avail. They’d asked about too, but no-one had seen or heard anything of Terry. It was like the bloke had just disappeared completely off the radar. It had been almost 3 a.m. by the time Nathan had finally got into bed. Caught up in it all, he hadn’t even had a chance to call Cassie.
‘Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just knackered, that’s all.’ Unable to stifle the yawn that escaped as she spoke, Kelly covered her mouth. ‘I just couldn’t sleep.’
She was hung-over and exhausted. Everything seemed to be happening all at once. Back in the fold of the family, she had thoroughly enjoyed the evening up until they’d gone back to her dad’s and that bent copper had turned up.
Hearing about Terry had knocked her for six. The police had no sympathy towards her either. They’d all but interrogated her.
Kelly had spent hours just lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling once they’d gone. Her mobile phone hadn’t left her hand, she was that desperate to hear that he was all right.
Terry had only made his situation worse. He was so far in the shit now that he had practically buried himself in it. Kelly couldn’t stop thinking about that poor man that the police said Terry attacked. Terry could be looking at attempted murder on top of everything else, and if the porter didn’t pull through then . . . Well, Kelly just couldn’t even contemplate it.
By running, Terry not only made himself look more guilty, but he had gone and made everything a million times worse.
Hung-over and knackered, the enthusiasm that she had felt last night when Nathan had asked her if she would like to manage their new spangly wine bar had long since dwindled. She knew that she was being a bitch to Nathan, and he didn’t deserve it.
She was trying to put on a front. Trying to hold herself together.
‘Eww. Can you smell that?’ Changing the subject, she decided that she’d rather sound like a moody cow than look like an emotional wreck. Kelly, feeling the bile rising at the back of her throat, bent down and helped herself to a bottle of Coke from the fridge underneath the bar. Taking a swig, she tried to suppress the nauseated feeling that had swept over her, as the much needed sugar and caffeine hit kicked in.
Nathan shrugged. There was a strong chemical smell about the place.
‘I think it’s bleach or something?’ Evie offered, as she came back through to the bar and caught Kelly’s comment. ‘I think someone must have cleaned the cellar. I opened the door, but the smell was so strong that it made me gag. Shame that whoever had the OCD cleaning frenzy down there stopped when it came to the rest of the place, eh? The place is filthy.’
‘Can’t bloody win with you two, can I? One minute the place is too dirty, next it smells too clean.’ Fed up with his sisters’ incessant moaning, Nathan opened one of the windows to let some air in. ‘Look, I know this place is old, and yes it bloody stinks. The decorating firm will be here soon and once they get started this place is going to look the nuts. This place needs some hard graft. And I need your help. But if you ain’t interested in taking me up on my offer, Kelly, then you just let me know. Cos there are loads of people that would bite my bleeding arm off to work somewhere like this. Especially if it means they get to live upstairs rent free as part of the privilege.’ Taking out the notepad from his pocket, Nathan busied himself making notes. He was bored with trying to convince the pair of them of the pub’s potential.
‘Rent free?’ Kelly’s ears pricked up as she worked out how much money she would save herself and Terry each month without forking out for living expenses. A bloody fortune, that was how much. ‘I’m sorry, Nath, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. Really I don’t.’ Kelly sniffed as she realised her brother was fast losing his patience with her. ‘It’s just, what with Terry and all that, my head is all over the place.’
‘Well, like I said, Kel, I ain’t forcing you to come on board with this, it’s your decision.’ Nathan chewed his pen as Evie sat on the bar stool next to him. Both staring at Kelly now. Waiting for her answer.
It really was Kelly’s decision now. Solely hers. The way the police had spoken last night, once they caught up with Terry he could be looking at going down for years.
She would be on her own raising the kids.
She needed to think about the bigger picture and pull herself together.
She had nothing left to lose. She’d spent her life waiting for Terry to come up trumps for her and give her the life that she wanted so badly, and the way things were going now she’d be left waiting for all bloody eternity.
Maybe it was time to make her own fortune. This place was huge, and if they did move in here the kids would be able to have their own bedrooms, with their own double beds.
All completely rent free.
It was a life changing opportunity.
It would all be down to her.
Peering down the long wooden bar, Kelly tried her hardest to visualise the place once it had been tarted up. ‘Kelly Stranks, Landlady.’ The title did have a nice ring to it. Nathan wasn’t stupid, he was far from it in fact. She’d be a fool to pass it up.
‘Would I get a say in the décor?’ Kelly asked, as Nathan carried on jotting down his design ideas ready for the decorator’s arrival. Kelly’s brain suddenly went into overdrive.
‘Well, down here is all sorted. But upstairs, that would be totally up to you. If you wanted it . . .’ Nathan smiled, knowing full well that it had been the mention of rent free accommodation that had finally swung it for her. ‘Just say the word, Kel, and I’ll get the decorators to discuss what you want when they get here. We can get the whole place done in one go.’
‘Okay. I’ll do it,’ Kelly shrieked, suddenly feeling excited.
‘Great.’ Nathan smiled. ‘I’m glad you’ve said that, Kel, as I’ve already taken the liberty of booking you on the training course to get your personal licence. Rang them first thing.’
‘I could help out too,’ Evie offered, feeling a bit left out of the conversation. She was happy for her sister of course, but sometimes she felt like she was invisible.
‘We’ll see.’ Evie was desperate to get involved, Nathan could see it in the girl’s face. ‘I don’t want her to lose her bloody licence before she’s even got it, Evie. You’re only sixteen remember.’ Then feeling mean he added, ‘But I’m sure if it’s alright with Kelly, then you could help out collecting the glasses and doing a bit of cleaning around the place every now and again.’
Evie smiled.
‘Well, it’s fine by me, Evie love.’ Kelly smiled. Over the past couple of days her little sister had really started to grow on her. Kelly had thought that Evie would be stuck up; stunningly beautiful and attending a posh private school Kelly had expected her to be full of herself, but in fact she was the complete opposite. Evie was quiet, shy. She seemed happy to blend in to the background and not make a fuss, unlike her and her brothers who were often all fighting for attention. Kelly could see that Evie was genuine too. She wanted to help her, with the kids, with the bar. As much as Kelly wanted to dislike the girl, she couldn’t. Evie was lovely inside and out. ‘Tell you what, why don’t me and you go and have a mosey around town later? We can have a look at some bits and pieces for the flat, take the kids out for lunch too, yeah?’
Evie nodded. She could see that Kelly was desperate for company, and no wonder with her husband disappearing off like that. ‘I’d love to.’
‘Alright, losers.’ Christopher stepped out from the doorway behind the bar, enjoying the fact that he’d just made his siblings jump out of
their skin in fright. ‘Thought I’d use the back entrance, being a gay bar and all that.’
Nathan shook his head and then continued writing, ignoring Christopher’s immature comments, refusing to bite.
‘You must be knackered after last night,’ Kelly asked, noting how tired Christopher looked. ‘You look almost as knackered as I feel. Did the fight take it out of you?’
‘Yeah, something like that.’ Christopher grinned. ‘Here, give us a sip, Kel, I’m gagging for a cold drink. My mouth’s drier than a nun’s fanny.’ Taking Kelly’s bottle from her hand Christopher took a swig. He was dog tired. By the time he’d got rid of his clothes and got into bed it had been almost 7 a.m. He’d only had a couple of hours’ kip and he could have done with at least another eight, but he knew if he didn’t come down here in time for the decorators Nathan would have copped the right hump.
‘Hey,’ Kelly moaned. ‘Get your own.’
‘Alright, moody,’ Christopher said as he bent down to help himself to a drink from the fridge. ‘I take it by the look on your sour moosh that you still haven’t had any word from that wayward husband of yours?’
‘No.’ Kelly flinched at Christopher’s insensitivity; her youngest brother had no tact. ‘Here, and you can make that your last free drink.’ Kelly nodded to the bottle that Christopher held in his hand as he took a seat at the bar. ‘Landlady’s rules!’
‘Have a fucking laugh, Kelly, you dozy cow. Drinks ain’t freebies to us, me and Nathan fucking own them. They’re already bought and paid for.’
‘I could have you barred, you know.’ Kelly grinned.
Christopher was so easy to wind up. Such a stroppy git, he could dish jokes out, but he could never take them, and seeing the frown etched on his disgruntled face, her riling him up about being in charge was clearly working. Christopher hated anyone telling him what to do.
‘What’s the point in having a bar if we ain’t going to get some fucking benefit from it? Free drinks should be standard . . .’ he continued.
Bad Blood Page 14
