Overdue Justice

by M A Comley

  As soon as the door closed behind them, their father stood, leaned on the table with one hand and swiped first Claire around the face and then Kathryn. Her sister yelped out in pain. Claire refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her.

  “Show me up eating like that again, and you’ll both be sorry. You hear me?”

  They both nodded and then flinched when he yelled in their faces.

  “I said, do you hear me?”

  “Yes, Father,” Claire mumbled.

  Kathryn followed suit.

  “Right, what do you know about Denis and Larry, anything?”

  Claire shook her head. “No, Father, it’s dreadful news. Sorry about your friends.”

  “Whatever. Makes no odds to me. Now clear this mess up and then clean yourselves up. You have work to do this evening.”

  “What work?” Claire asked, the words slipping out before she had a chance to engage her brain.

  Her father wiggled his eyebrows, and an evil grin appeared on his ageing face.

  Claire shook her head. “No, Father. We won’t do it. Not any more, we’re grown women. You can’t force us to sleep with these men.”

  “Watch your mouth, bitch. While you’re under my roof, you’ll do as you’re effing well told.”

  Kathryn gripped Claire’s hand tightly. “Please, Father. I don’t want to do it, don’t make us.”

  His eyes seemed to change colour, becoming blacker as his gaze intensified. “Let’s put it this way: we’re a long way from home—either you spread your legs for those two in there or you both walk back to London tomorrow, you got that? Oh, and if you think you’ve been dealt a poor hand, just think of all the depraved individuals out there who are stalking the motorways, waiting to pounce on innocent girls like you, hitching a bloody ride. Are you getting my drift?”

  Kathryn sobbed loudly.

  Claire squeezed her hand, imploring her not to show how upset she was, realising what the consequences would be. “Yes, Father. We understand, don’t we, Kathryn? Come on, we’ll go and get ready.”

  Her wide-eyed sister looked up and stared at her. Claire tugged at her hand, encouraging her to go with her. Once they were alone in the tiny bedroom, Claire held her sister by the shoulders and shook her slightly.

  “Kathryn, you’re breaking my heart. We have to do what he says and sleep with these men. Just lie back and think of England. Once we’re back in London, I’ll punish them all, and we’ll take the money and run. Just play along with me on this one for now.”

  The tears dripped down her sister’s cheeks. “I can’t do it any more, Claire. I’m tired of being treated like, and living like, a whore. We deserve better than this. When is it all going to end?”

  Claire held her close and hugged her tightly. “I know, love. It won’t be for long. I have a plan but I need to slot things into position before it can be fulfilled. Are you with me?”

  Her sister swallowed hard and nodded.

  Claire pushed her gently away from her and wiped Kathryn’s eyes with her fingers. “Remember how much I love you. Do as they say, and we’ll be okay. If you rebel now, there’s no telling what they’re likely to do to us up here.” As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted saying them.

  “Don’t say that, Claire, I’m scared enough as it is. Why do these men do these despicable things to us?”

  “If only I could answer that for you. The truth is, I can’t. This has nothing to do with us, remember that. We’re caught in a vile trap; however, if you’re prepared to trust me, then I’ll get us out of this mess. I’ve had enough of being—for want of a better word—a prostitute, lining father’s pockets. It’s time we stood up for ourselves. We can’t do that until we have more funds behind us. Father pulled a fast one on us today by springing this trip on us. All it means is that our departure has been put on hold for a few days. Stay strong, love.”

  Kathryn stared at her, her eyes dead of all emotion. She hugged her again. They parted swiftly when their father’s fist pounded on the door.

  “Are you ready yet?”

  “Nearly, Father.”

  “Get a bloody move on.”

  Claire made her father’s breakfast of bacon, sausage and fried eggs, which Wayne and Don had brought with them. If it had been up to their father to supply their basic needs, all of them would have starved to death by now. Claire and Kathryn each nibbled on a slice of toast and butter, staring at their father’s plate with resentment.

  He ate his breakfast with a smug look on his face, letting out a satisfactory moan now and then just to wind them up.

  The past two days had been hellish for the girls. Although the men had conversed with them over the dinner table and explained that they’d told their respective wives this was a fishing trip, it turned out to be nothing of the sort.

  Claire and Kathryn had been forced to ‘service’ the men and care for their every need while they, in return, fed them. This was their final day. Her poor sister had complained only an hour before that ‘down below’ felt like it was on fire. Claire feared her sister had picked up one of those damned infections. If she wasn’t angry before about the situation they’d been forced into, she damn well was now. Now she had a new plan festering. London could wait. This new plan couldn’t.

  “Are you girls packed?”

  “Yes, I just have your bag to do. I need to fill the car up with petrol for the journey, too. I’ll nip out when the boys leave. Kathryn, will you be a love and pack Father’s bag while I’m gone?”

  Kathryn nodded, thankfully not giving away anything in her expression in their father’s presence.

  “Good idea. Once we’re on the road, I don’t intend stopping,” her father said, his mouth full of bacon and sausage.

  Claire excused herself from the table and slipped on her shoes and her light jacket.

  “Don’t be long,” he bellowed behind her.

  She closed the door and gave him an imaginary finger.

  Outside the cabin, she acted shyly in the men’s company. “Are you ready to set off?”

  “We are. No chance of a quickie this morning, is there?” Wayne joked, placing a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him.

  “Maybe. Not here. I have to nip out for petrol. We could stop down the road for half an hour if you like? No, wait, we’d better not. We have a long trip ahead of us.”

  “No, I think you’re right, a quick one will set us up for the long journey. What do you say, Don? Are you up for it?”

  Don rubbed his hands together in glee. “And some. It’s just what the doctor ordered, I reckon.”

  Wayne laughed. “Whatever. We’re ready to get on the road now. We’ll just say cheerio to your father and Kathryn first.”

  “I’ll wait in the car.” She smiled shyly at the two men and raced towards the vehicle.

  During her time in the kitchenette that morning, her father had been distracted with an article in the paper the other men had left behind in their cabin. Claire had removed a large knife from the block on the worktop. She stored it in the glove box and started the engine. After turning the car around, she waited for the two men to place their bags in the boot of their vehicle and follow her.

  Claire’s heart was pounding like an express train, and the adrenaline pumped through her system at what was to come. If a career advisor had told her years ago that she would become a serial killer, she wouldn’t have believed them. She hated the thought of giving herself such a tag, especially in the circumstances. She saw herself as more of a ‘retribution seeker’, fighting for justice for her and her sister after these men had abused them non-stop for years. She hadn’t thought about how wrong her actions were because all she cared about was rescuing her sister, giving Kathryn, and herself, for that matter, the life they deserved. One that didn’t involve having sex against their wills with often fat, balding men, whom her father had done a deal with.

  ‘Dealing with the Devil’, that was how she’d referred to it at one time w
hen speaking about their predicament with Kathryn. She had agreed. Well, the Devil’s days were numbered. The pain between her legs from the past few days enforced the feelings of hatred she had for her father. How could he? What man would do that to his own children? All right, he hadn’t had sex with them for years himself, he’d become impotent many moons ago, but it hadn’t prevented him from pimping them out to his friends.

  The men put the last bag in the car and drove past her. She followed them to the petrol station a couple of miles up the road. While she filled up the car, Wayne came to speak to her. Don was inside, paying for the petrol.

  “Did you see that lane up the road?” she asked, a false smile set firmly in place.

  “No, I must have missed it. We’ll follow you. Can’t wait to give you a special farewell gift,” he said, reaching down and rubbing the crotch of his trousers.

  “What I have planned will be super special, I guarantee it,” she teased, shyly looking away from him.

  He ran a hand down her cheek. “If only I wasn’t married. I’d take you home with me and treat you well. Feed you up for a start, you’re too thin.”

  “That would be wonderful. We can all dream of a better life. I know I would have one with you, Wayne.”

  “Say the word, and I’d boot Sandra out tomorrow to have you permanently in my bed.”

  “I couldn’t do that to another woman. Maybe if you feel like that you should divorce her. Once a divorce is finalised, things will be better for us.”

  “I’ll think about that, but I don’t suppose it will take much thinking about, knowing what the outcome will be.”

  “Come on, you two. Time’s getting on,” Don shouted from behind the steering wheel.

  “I’m almost done here. Just need to secure the cap and pay, and I’ll be with you.”

  “Can’t wait,” Wayne whispered, returning to the car.

  Claire resisted the temptation to shudder until she was safely inside the shop. She paid for the petrol and then left. At the side of the car was a dispenser. She tore out a couple of plastic gloves and slipped into the driver’s seat of her father’s car.

  She led the men back to the lane she had spotted half a mile up the road. She indicated and turned down the narrow track, praying that it would widen out a bit farther on. Thankfully, it did. The landscape around her was conducive to what she had planned for the two men. Her mind whirred with what she had in store for them. Wayne would be first, she had decided.

  Finding a pull-in along the lane that was big enough for both cars, she indicated. She slipped the gloves on and hid the knife under her jacket, tucking the blade into the top of her trousers, and prayed the blade didn’t nick her belly. Then she jumped out of the car, placed her hands in her pockets and shouted for Wayne to join her. There was a small track off to the right that led up a slight incline. Wayne, with his beer belly wobbling, ran to catch up with her.

  “Hey,” he yelled, struggling to find his breath after only going a few metres. “Wait up! What are we doing up here?”

  “I thought it would be more intimate for us up here. You don’t want Don watching us, do you? Don’t forget, I have something extra special planned for you.”

  “Okay. I’m all yours. You lead the way, and I’ll follow as long as it’s not too far.”

  “Just up here, behind this mound. Trust me.” She had spotted the mound from the road and earmarked it for good cover for what she had in mind.

  She stood at the top of the hill and glanced back at the two cars. She thanked her lucky stars that Don had remained inside the vehicle. “This is wonderful. The view is spectacular.”

  Wayne’s laboured breath announced his arrival beside her. “It is that.” His gaze ran the length of her body. “Now, where’s this surprise?”

  “Over here. Get your clothes off.”

  “What? It’s far too bloody cold for that.”

  “Okay, we’d better forget all about it then.” She turned in the direction of the cars.

  He yanked on her arm. “No, wait. Okay, we’ll do this your way. Down here, behind this mound.”

  She smiled. He’d pointed out the exact position she was thinking of using.

  They walked the few feet, and Wayne tore off his clothes. She beamed and pretended she was taking pleasure in his striptease. The truth was, she was trying to force back the bile burning her oesophagus. “Get on your knees.” She glanced quickly over her shoulder, ensuring they wouldn’t be seen. “Now, tell me why you want to leave your wife. Isn’t she good enough for you?”

  “What? I don’t want to talk about her. All I want is to make love to you.”

  “Is that what you call it? Making love? I’d call it rape.” She whipped out the knife from her jacket and took two steps forward.

  He shrank back, beads of sweat profusely breaking out on his forehead. “Claire, I’m sorry. I meant what I said, I want to be with you, if you’ll have me?”

  “Why would I want a fat bastard like you in my life, shoving his useless cock up me at all hours of the day?” She plunged the knife into his chest and then stood behind him, placed a hand on his forehead and sliced a large gash in his throat.

  He gurgled, blood spouted from the wound, and his body slouched to the ground.

  She felt nothing. No remorse. No pleasure at seeing him dead. Nothing. She hurriedly wiped her gloves and the knife on his clothes and prepared herself to do it all over again. Claire ran down the hill, this time the knife tucked in the back of her trousers and her gloved hands in her pockets.

  Don got out of the car. “Hey, where’s Wayne?”

  “He’s admiring the view. Told me he’d take a walk while I give you your surprise. Do you want to join him or stay here with me?” She fluttered her eyelashes.

  “Nope, it’s too cold out there for me. It’s nice and toasty in the car. My little man is ready for you.” He glanced down at the bulge in his trousers.

  “In the back then,” she ordered, grinning broadly.

  He grappled with the car door, his eagerness getting in the way of his brain functioning properly by the way he threw himself into the back seat.

  “Get undressed, there’s not much room in there to move otherwise.”

  He enthusiastically tore off his clothes. Claire smiled down at him. At least he had a trimmer figure than Wayne. Her mind raced. It was true, there wasn’t much room in the back of the car. Doubts if she was doing the right thing swarmed her head.

  “I’m ready,” he said, playfully thrusting his hips in her direction, making his cock wave at her.

  Claire battled the urge to vomit. Her mind on what she had to do, she slid into the car and grabbed his penis in her hand. Don immediately closed his eyes, anticipating what she was about to do next. He was wrong. She moaned and took the knife out; her aim was spot on. One swipe, and she was holding his member in her hand. His eyes flew open in horror.

  “What the fuck?” he screamed.

  She stabbed him in the stomach, slashing at his hands if they got in her way. “Call it revenge for all the times you’ve raped me and my sister. You disgust me. You’re sick in the head. May you rot in Hell along with all the other depraved individuals down there. You’ve raped for the final time, scumbag. The world will be a better place without you in it.”

  “I…I…I’m sorry…” They were his final words as the light faded from his eyes and his head lolled to the side.

  Her heart racing, she wiped the knife on his clothes piled up in the footwell and left the car. Claire took the weapon and the gloves back to her father’s car and shoved them in the glove box. There were patches of blood on the base of her jumper. She slipped it off and hurled it in the boot of the car. Then she drove up the lane and found another pull-in. It took her six attempts to turn the car around. She should have dragged his body out of the car and up the track to avoid a stranger stumbling across it, but in truth, all she wanted to do was get back to see if Kathryn was okay. This had been the longest she’d left her alone with
her father while he was awake. Her sister wasn’t as strong as Claire; she was liable to come under attack if her father caught her sniffling or crying.

  She arrived back at the cabin within five minutes. Her sister was standing on the front porch, tears in her eyes. She ran and hugged her. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes. My God, what have you done?”

  “What?” she asked, confused. She studied her sleeves and hands. There was nothing there.

  “Your face. Is that blood?”

  “Crap, help me to wipe it off, Kathryn. If father sees it, he’ll kill me.”

  Together they cleaned her up just in time.

  Her father stepped onto the porch moments later. “What’s going on out here? Load the car up, and we’ll set off.”

  “Yes, Father,” Claire replied, grabbing her sister’s hand and rushing through the door to the bedroom.

  “Claire, what did you do?” Kathryn demanded in a hushed voice the second the door closed behind them.

  “I punished them. They won’t be raping any more women, I can assure you.”

  Her sister gasped and buried her head in her hands. “No, you didn’t! That makes you as bad as them. I can’t cope with this. When will it all end?”

  “Soon. Please, don’t judge me, Kathryn. I did it for you.”

  Her sister’s hands dropped to reveal a startled expression. “Don’t put this on me, Claire. You have money back at the house. All we had to do was collect that and escape. Why kill them?”

  “There’s not enough money to live on, not yet. I had to kill them. Please, don’t hate me.”

  Kathryn stared at her. “I could never hate you. All you’ve tried to do in this world is protect me. I’ll be forever in your debt for that, Claire.”

  Their father thumped on the door. “Come on. It’s time to go. Get out here, you two.”

  Claire kissed her sister on the cheek. “Are you ready? Let’s get this journey over and done with, then we can make more plans when we get home. I have a major one brewing.”

  “What about the two men? Where are their bodies?” Kathryn whispered.