Parking up behind Longsight’s Dickenson Road market now, Daz pulled his hood up to shield his face in case people were already looking out for him and made the rest of his way on foot. Billi’s flat was above a launderette and the only access was a door at the top of a steep flight of metal steps around the back. There was no lighting around there so it was always pitch black at night – and only marginally less so in the daytime, thanks to the huge factory that backed onto the alleyway behind and blocked out all the natural light.
Daz wasn’t surprised when Billi didn’t answer the door when he knocked, because she’d be well out of it by now. But it was easy enough to get in through the knackered kitchenette window and he was soon making his way to the bedroom – his dick already twitching in anticipation. He didn’t know what it was, but there was something about the look on a bird’s face when she woke up and found you sticking it to her that really did it for him.
The bedroom door squeaked when Daz pushed it open. Billi woke with a jolt, sat up and clutched the quilt to her naked breasts.
‘What d’y want?’ she squawked, squinting into the darkness. ‘My fella and his mates will be here any minute, so you’d best get out while you’ve got a chance.’
Daz shushed her from the shadows and felt his way to the end of the bed.
Realising who it was when he slid his hand under the quilt, Billi’s fear turned to anger. ‘What the fuck do you think you’re doing?’ she hissed, kicking out at him. ‘You can’t go round breaking into people’s gaffs whenever you feel like it!’
‘I knocked,’ Daz told her, as if that excused him. ‘Not my fault you didn’t hear me.’ Stroking his way up her calf now, he stopped when he felt sharp stubble graze the back of his hand. He snapped his head around and frowned when he saw the shape of a covered body lying beside her. ‘Who the fuck’s that?’
‘None of your business,’ Billi said, jerking her leg out of reach. ‘Anyway, get out. You’ve got no right coming round here in the middle of the night and questioning me.’
Daz inhaled deeply as a surge of rage coursed through him. He’d already had Kenny talking down to him like he was some kind of muppet and there was no way he was tolerating more of the same from a bird.
‘Out here, now,’ he growled, getting up and heading for the door.
Billi snatched up her dressing gown and tugged it on. She stomped after him and scowled when she found him sitting in her scabby armchair. ‘Don’t bother making yourself comfortable – you’re not staying.’
‘Oh, I think you’ll find I am,’ Daz informed her through gritted teeth. ‘But he’s not.’ He nodded towards the bedroom. ‘So do him a favour and get him out before I put him out.’
‘Are you for real?’ Billi demanded indignantly. ‘I invited him here. He’s going nowhere.’
‘Sorry – did I make that sound like I was asking?’ Daz said quietly.
‘No way.’ Standing her ground, Billi raised her chin in defiance. ‘This is my flat, and I decide who comes in, not you. Anyhow, what’s the deal with all this jealousy shit? We’ve only had a few shags – we’re not a couple or anything.’
It was true but Daz wasn’t in the mood to be reasonable. ‘Last warning.’ He cracked his knuckles as if he was getting ready for a fight. ‘Get rid of him, or I’ll do it myself.’
A light clicked on in Billi’s head and she gave Daz a knowing look. ‘You’re on the run, aren’t you? So come on, what have you done? ’Cos I’m telling you now, I’ve got enough shit of my own to deal with without getting mixed up in any of yours.’
‘You won’t get mixed up in nothing,’ Daz told her. ‘So long as you do what you’re told. And you’ve got about thirty seconds to get on with it ’cos I’m running out of patience.’
Billi had never seen him like this before. As she’d just reminded him, they’d only hooked up a few times, which hardly made them an item. But they’d always had a laugh and she’d thought he was all right, so it was unnerving to see him like this. Daz was like a completely different person and she realised that she didn’t really know him at all. He’d already broken in and crept up on her in her bedroom, so God only knew what else he was capable of.
Deciding that it was probably safer to do as he asked for now and get rid of him when he’d calmed down, she went back to the bedroom and woke the lad, telling him that her boyfriend had come home unexpectedly, pissed and spoiling for a fight. She hustled him out when he’d dressed hurriedly and heard him curse as he missed his footing on the steps. Hoping that she wasn’t going to find him lying at the bottom with a broken leg in the morning, she went back to Daz.
‘Happy now?’
Daz eyed her as she sat down on the couch. ‘Not really. I’m still thinking about that crack you made about me having no rights.’
‘Look, I’m not being funny,’ Billi said, reaching for her cigarettes. ‘But come on, Daz . . . you know there’s nothing serious going on with us. We’ve only known each other a few months.’
‘So?’ Daz had a nasty edge to his voice. ‘If I’m fucking you I’ve got the right to expect you not to fuck anyone else, haven’t I?’
Billi’s mouth dropped open. ‘This is a joke, right?’ Shaking her head when he carried on looking at her, she said, ‘Don’t you think this is a bit twisted?’
Daz was off his chair and on her in a flash. ‘You taking the piss, you fucking whore?’ he growled, straddling her and pinning her down. ‘Think I’m gonna let a skank like you talk to me like that?’
‘Get off me, you nutter!’ Billi yelled, squeezing her eyes shut when he started slapping her across the face. Screaming when he sank his teeth into her cheek, she said, ‘All right, all right, I’m sorry! Stop it – please!’
Daz peered down at her with a glint of satisfaction in his eyes. ‘You ever mouth off at me like that again and you won’t get off so lightly. D’y hear me?’
‘Okay,’ Billi croaked. ‘Just get off me. You’re on my ribs; I can’t breathe.’
Daz stood up and snatched her cigarettes off the table. ‘I need a drink. What’ve you got?’
‘Nothing,’ Billi muttered, rubbing at the circle of indentations marking her cheek. ‘I do drugs, not booze – remember?’
Daz didn’t like the tone of her voice but when he turned to give her a warning look he saw that her dressing gown had fallen open. His dick sprang back to life when he glimpsed the dark regrowth of her shaved pubic hair.
‘Are you serious?’ Billi gasped when he unzipped his fly and came towards her.
‘What do you think?’ Grinning, Daz slipped his dick out and waggled it in front of her face. ‘Come on – you know how I like it.’
Billi was shocked that he was actually expecting her to have sex with him after he’d attacked her like that. But she wasn’t about to set him off again by refusing, so she took a deep breath and leaned forward. Gagging when he put his hand on the back of her head and rammed himself deep into her throat, she prayed that he would finish as quickly as he usually did.
Daz didn’t disappoint her. Climaxing after a couple of minutes, he waited until the shudders had subsided and then flopped down onto the couch beside her with a smile of satisfaction spread across his face.
‘I’ve got a right thirst on me after that. Got any brewing gear?’
Billi pulled a face as the disgusting froth of his sperm slithered down her throat. ‘I’ll see what I’ve got. But I need to clean up first.’
‘Don’t be long,’ Daz said, reaching for the remote for her portable TV as she headed for the bathroom. ‘And make us a butty while you’re at it.’
He was watching Family Guy when Billi came back after swilling her mouth out. Hoping that he would go when he’d had what he wanted, she made him a cup of tea and a cheese sandwich. But Daz had no intention of leaving just yet, and when he’d finished eating and the programme had ended he wiped his mouth and stood up.
‘Think I’ll hit the sack,’ he said, yawning as he headed into her bedroom.
> Billi stayed on the couch after he’d gone, infuriated that he was acting so normal after being such a beast. Spying his jacket draped over the back of the couch, she cast a furtive glance at the bedroom door before easing her hand into a pocket. She was looking for loose cash or drugs, but when she came across the money bag her eyes widened as she peeped inside and saw the thick bundle of notes.
‘You coming or what?’ Daz called just then.
Jumping as if she’d been electrocuted, Billi stuffed the bag back where she’d found it. ‘Won’t be a minute. Just making sure everything’s switched off.’
She couldn’t take the money there and then because Daz would beat the crap out of her if he caught her. And there was no way she could do a runner with it because he would only chase her and she had no chance of outrunning him. But if he was as set on staying as he seemed to be, it would give her time to figure out a way of getting her hands on it. And if she had to pleasure him to keep him sweet in the meantime, so be it. She’d done worse.
10
Cheryl knocked on Joe’s door at nine-thirty the next morning and Joe immediately felt guilty when he opened it. He’d forgotten that she’d said she was coming round and he’d just made arrangements to go out with Carl to pick up Eddie.
‘Sorry,’ he said, grimacing. ‘I’m going to have to give it a miss. Something’s come up.’
‘Good.’ Cheryl looked relieved. ‘I was only coming to tell you I couldn’t come – if that makes any sense. I’ve got to go and see Molly. You know she’s in hospital?’
‘No, why?’ Joe asked.
‘She had a fall,’ Cheryl told him. ‘I’m surprised you didn’t hear the ambulance, ’cos Fred next door said it happened yesterday just after I went out and you came in. They had the full sirens going and everything.’
‘I had a headache so I went to bed to sleep it off,’ Joe said. ‘Is she okay?’
‘Broken hip.’ Cheryl sighed. ‘I only heard after I got back from Vee’s so I nipped over last night – to see if she needed a nightie or anything. She was proper upset, poor thing. They’ve told her she might have to stay in for a few weeks, and she was fretting about her cat. But I’ve said I’ll feed it till she gets home.’
‘That’s nice of you.’
‘Couldn’t have left her like that, could I? Anyway, it’s only twice a day so it’s not going to kill me.’
‘I’ve hardly seen her since I moved in,’ Joe said guiltily. ‘Do you think I should get her some flowers or something?’
‘Are you kidding?’ Cheryl smirked. ‘She’ll be telling all the nurses they’re from her toyboy. Maybe you could go in instead, though, ’cos she needs to be told off about leaving her spare key in the plant pot, and she might listen to you. I told her last night. I said it might have been okay to do stuff like that in the olden days – but not nowadays, ’cos anyone could get their hands on it. But she said it makes her feel safer to know that someone can get in if she ever needs help. Stupid, isn’t it?’
‘Not too smart,’ Joe agreed. ‘But my nan was exactly the same, and there was no talking to her.’
‘Mine too,’ Cheryl admitted. ‘Anyway, best go. She asked me to fetch her some juice and biscuits, and I’ve only got a couple of hours before I have to pick Frankie up.’
‘Tell her hello from me and I hope she’s better soon.’
‘Hope who’s better soon?’ Carl asked, coming out of his door in time to catch this.
‘Molly,’ Cheryl said, turning to look at him. ‘The foot of her walker got stuck on one of the broken slabs outside, and she fell over and broke her hip. Didn’t you hear the ambulance either? It happened just after I went out and you two came in.’
‘Nah, I went straight back out. Hope she’s okay.’
‘She will be now she’s got all the nurses fussing over her,’ Cheryl said. ‘Subject of nurses, that’s a hell of a cut you’ve got there. What happened?’
‘Got into a bit of a fight,’ Carl admitted, grinning sheepishly. ‘But if you think this looks bad, you should have seen the other four.’
‘Four?’ Joe raised an eyebrow.
‘All right, three,’ Carl said. ‘But you’d have thought there was four if you’d seen the size of them.’
Cheryl already didn’t believe him. Tutting, she rolled her eyes at Joe. ‘Can’t help himself, can he?’
Joe shook his head and reached back inside for his jacket before pulling the door shut.
‘So, where are you two off to?’ Cheryl asked, linking her arms through theirs as they set off down the stairs. ‘If it’s anywhere near the hospital I wouldn’t say no to a lift.’
‘Sorry, babe, we’re off to Levenshulme,’ Carl told her – walking a bit taller than usual, Joe noticed. ‘He’s just got a job, haven’t you, mate?’
‘Really?’ Cheryl gazed up at Joe. ‘That’s great.’
‘I think so,’ he agreed. ‘And it couldn’t have come at a better time, ’cos my electric bill’s just come in and I didn’t know how I was going to pay it.’
‘Oh, that reminds me . . .’ Carl pulled a twenty out of his pocket. ‘Eddie said to give you this for petrol.’
‘You’re working for Eddie?’ A shadow crossed Cheryl’s eyes. ‘Are you sure that’s wise?’
‘Don’t be daft,’ Carl scoffed. ‘He’s not going to come to any harm.’
‘You reckon?’ Cheryl murmured, pointedly eyeing his forehead.
‘Aw, this was nothing to do with Eddie,’ Carl said dismissively. ‘Not in the way you’re making out, anyway.’
Shaking her head, Cheryl let go of their arms when they reached the ground floor. ‘I’ve just got to get something from my place,’ she said, giving Joe a hooded look to let him know that she wanted a quick word.
Picking up on it, Joe said, ‘Oh, that reminds me. I didn’t leave my watch here the other day, did I? Could you just have a quick look?’
‘I’ll wait outside,’ Carl said, heading for the door. ‘See you later, babe.’
‘Bye,’ Cheryl said, waving. Turning to Joe when Carl had gone, her smile disappeared and she peered up with concern in her eyes. ‘Please be careful. I know Eddie, and he’s got a way of letting other people take the rap while he stays squeaky clean. I don’t want to see you get into trouble because of him.’
‘Nothing’s going to happen,’ Joe reassured her. ‘I’m only going to be driving.’
‘Yeah, well, I hope it works out like that,’ Cheryl murmured. Then, feeling a bit guilty about putting such a dampener on things because she knew he needed the money, she smiled. ‘Go on, then. Get moving. You don’t want to keep Eddie waiting on your first day.’
Winking at her, Joe went out and joined Carl who was waiting patiently by the car.
‘Did you find your watch?’ Carl asked.
‘Er, no.’ Joe shook his head. ‘Must have left it somewhere else.’
‘Take it it’s not that one?’ Carl nodded towards Joe’s wrist. ‘That’s the kind of stupid thing I’d do,’ he added with a grin. ‘Turn everything upside down looking for it, only to find out I’ve been wearing it all along.’
‘No, it’s not this one,’ Joe told him. ‘But I know what you mean.’
Driving over to Levenshulme now – which turned out to be purely to give Eddie a lift to Clive’s place in Cheetham Hill – Joe thought about what Cheryl had said. But while he was grateful for her concern he was sure that she was worrying about nothing. He was actually really pleased that he’d been given a way into Eddie’s world, because the man intrigued him. Unlike the guys in the younger gangs, who seemed to flash their guns the instant there was even a hint of a dispute, Eddie seemed to keep control without having to resort to that kind of posturing. People spoke about him as if he was some kind of maniac, and yet they also seemed to adore him and would do anything for him. Like his dealers. From what Carl had told him, no matter how many times they got arrested in possession of Eddie’s drugs they never gave him up. But then, they knew that their fines would be pa
id if they were lucky enough not to get time. And if they weren’t lucky, they knew that their jobs would still be there when they got out. It was pure old school but it obviously worked, and Joe was glad that he’d been invited to be a part of it.
‘It’s gonna be a buzz, this,’ Carl said just then, interrupting Joe’s thoughts. ‘Daz was a right selfish git. He was the only one with wheels but he never picked none of us up, and only ever dropped us back at home if he couldn’t get out of it. It’ll be ace coming out of my gaff and hopping straight into the motor.’
‘You’ll get fat,’ Joe warned him.
Lighting the spliff he’d just rolled, Carl twisted his head and pulled a face. ‘Shut up, you woman!’
‘Only saying,’ Joe laughed, enjoying himself already. ‘It’s getting paid I’m looking forward to. Job seekers’ is a joke. I’ve never had so many debts in my life.’
‘That’s what you get for letting that ex of yours keep you for so long,’ Carl scoffed. ‘None of us were lucky enough to find a rich bird. That’s why we’re all a load of dodgy bastards round here, ’cos if we had to survive on the dole the estate would be full of skellybobs. Stoned skellybobs, mind,’ he added with a chuckle. ‘’Cos if it was a toss-up between food and weed, we’d choose weed every time. Suits me, though, ’cos I’d be out of work otherwise.’
‘You never wanted to do a proper job?’ Joe asked.
‘Fancied being a mechanic when I first left school,’ Carl admitted. ‘But I was too thick to get on the course.’
‘You’re not thick.’
‘Yeah, I know that now, but it’s too late to do anything about it. Anyhow, I’m all right working for Eddie. And you will be, too. So long as you don’t mind dropping whatever you’re doing to pick him up or drop him off whenever he calls. ’Cos that’s what’ll happen now he’s got a taxi on the doorstep – you do know that, don’t you?’
The Driver Page 10
