by Jacqui Rose
Dave muttered under his breath. ‘Give me strength.’
‘Robert … Robert?’
‘Shut it!’
Just as Sheila was about to speak, a small yell was heard.
‘Dani, are you okay?’ Jay’s voice was full of concern as he pushed past Sheila to the pregnant woman.
‘Dani! Dan. You okay?’
The woman turned her head. She whispered to him.
‘How did you know my name?’
‘I … I …’
‘I said, how did you know my name?’
Stuck for words, Jay abruptly put his hand under Dani’s arm, moving her carefully forward to make sure they still had the light of his father’s torchlight.
‘I said …’
‘Okay, but let’s walk and talk. I want to get out of here.’
As Jay helped Dani along, Sheila Gibson found herself alone at the back. She’d felt happier being squashed between the masked gunman and the pregnant woman, and now she was at the back she didn’t like it at all.
She had no idea where Robert had got to but there was no way she was going to go back to look for him. All that was behind her was a dank black hole full of strange sounds and she was quite certain wherever the old man actually was it wasn’t to the sanctuary of safety.
She shuddered. The others were getting away in front and the narrowing pathway of the sewer made it difficult to walk along.
Panting, she tried to pick up her speed; she could just about make out the heads of Jay and that woman he’d gone to talk to, leaving her at the back.
Sheila froze. Terrified. She was certain she’d heard something. Perhaps it was only the sound of the passing sewers, echoing along the eerie black tunnels, or she hoped it was. She listened again, though she couldn’t hear anything now and as much as she was sure that it was all her imagination, she had a terrible sinking feeling inside her stomach.
The other man glared at the fat woman who was leaning her colossal weight on the wall. He could feel his anger towards her and he smiled as he felt her fear. He heard her anxious breathing. She was only a few feet away, she couldn’t see him, but he could see her and almost touch her.
‘Hello Sheila.’
The sound of the words nearly knocked Sheila Gibson over; made her freeze in horror even though she wanted to run. She needed to move, but there was only one way and the voice was so near. So close.
Sheila trundled forward, tripping and slipping as she held on to the slimy walls, trying to make her escape; trying to catch up with the others, desperate to get away from whoever was there. In the distance she saw the torchlight. She was going to be okay. She was going to get back to her daughter Laura and this was all just going to be an awful nightmare.
‘Where are you going Sheila? Surely you’re not trying to get away are you? You’ve only just arrived.’
Sheila tried to scream but the sound just seemed to stick in her throat.
‘Sheila, I’m talking to you.’
The voice was getting louder but she couldn’t see anything in the dark.
‘I’m over here.’ The voice in the darkness hissed out. She’d never felt terror like it, never felt the overwhelming sense of powerlessness as she did now.
‘Please … please. Leave me alone … Help! Help!’
‘Welcome to my home.’
He watched her; watched her looking like she was going to be sick. His black eyes, accustomed to the dark saw her scrambling along the wall, sinking her hand into the slimy walls, but he didn’t need to do anything else. She was going to do it all. He smiled as he saw her tumble forward, smashing her head on the concrete floor. He sighed contentedly the sight of the blood. A moment later he hurried forward, pulling her body into the darkness.
11.31 a.m.
‘What the fuck do you mean they ain’t behind us? I told you to keep an eye on them. Jesus. Do I have to do everything my fucking self? Bunch of muppets.’ Dave Cole snarled at Mike and Jay. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He looked at his watch under the torchlight. They were supposed to have been up above ground by now, but somehow, and he hated to admit this, somehow they were lost.
He couldn’t hear anything, so he supposed that was a good thing; at least the police weren’t after them. Not yet anyway. By the time they got out of wherever they were it might be a different story.
‘They were behind us a minute ago.’
‘A minute ago ain’t now is it Mike?’
‘Do you want me to go back to look for them?’
Dave slapped Mike on the chest. ‘And what frigging good will that do? It will slow us down more than we are already. Just let me think for a minute. Shit!’
‘Dani needs to rest.’ Jay spoke to his father, a firmness which wasn’t usually there in his voice.
‘Excuse me?’
‘Dani. She needs to rest.’
Dave Cole was amazed. Here they were in the depths of God knows where and his son was acting the part of Nanny McPhee.
‘This ain’t a frigging health spa.’
Jay, about to speak again, was interrupted.
‘It’s you. Jay? Oh my God it’s you.’ Dani Edwards stared in amazement through the darkness, her voice a mix of shock and anger.
In the torchlight she walked up to Jay, pulling off his balaclava. She took in his handsome face. His brown floppy hair and his upturned nose. Then the sound of a slap was heard as she hit him, hard across his cheek.
‘What the hell was that for?’ Jay held on to his cheek, feeling the sting, but more the humiliation as his father glared at him in the torchlight.
‘What do you think it’s for Jay? You have a guess.’
‘If it’s about not turning up that day.’
Dani shook her head incredulously. ‘Maybe try holding up a bank at gunpoint, holding us hostage, making us come down this … this literal shit hole and yes, if you want you can add the fact you didn’t turn up that day to it.’
‘Listen, I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry? Sorry? Jesus, do you know how pathetic that sounds?’
Dave bellowed at the top of his voice. ‘Enough! What the fuck is going on here? If it hasn’t escaped your notice we’re trying to get out of here once you two lovebirds have quite finished.’
‘I finished with him a long time ago.’ Dani spat out her words at Jay.
‘Dani … please.’
‘Don’t “please” me Jay, you’ve never done it before so why start now?’
Dave stood in the middle of them. His mouth was distorted with anger as he prodded his son in his chest.
‘You’re ripping the frigging piss out of it son. You can talk all the sweet nothings you want once we get out of here, but until then …’ He leaned in menacingly, as was his habit. ‘I don’t want to hear anything else. Do you understand me?’
‘Yeah, okay.’
Dani tutted and Dave whirled round to her. ‘And that goes for you too darlin’.’ I don’t know the ins and outs about you and my son, but I do know women.’
Dani curled up her lips. ‘And I suppose that’s why your wife left you is it, because you know women?’
The moment she’d said it, Dani Edwards regretted it. It wasn’t in her nature to hurt people, and whether she despised Dave Cole or not and the stories she’d heard about his cruelty from Jay, she didn’t feel comfortable watching the flicker of hurt cross over his face.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.’
Dave shot back venomously. ‘No, you shouldn’t, and maybe my son here don’t believe in hitting women, but I don’t have a problem with it.’
‘Leave her alone.’ Jay spoke up.
Dave looked at his son in scorn. Hatred in his eyes. ‘Is that how it is now, son? A woman’s got you pussy whipped?’
‘No, but I want you to leave her alone.’
Dave laughed nastily. ‘Did you hear that, Mike? Jay wants me to leave his bit of stuff alone. Mike? … Mike?’
Dave turned to his right. Mike had gone. G
one with the bag of money.
‘Shit! Fuck! Now look.’ Dave shouted loudly, kicking the wall. He turned to his son, his eyes blazing.
‘You wait here. If I’m not back soon make your own way up. The manhole has to be around here somewhere, we’ve just overrun it.’
‘Where are you going?’
‘I’m going to go and find that goddamn sonofabitch and teach him a frigging lesson.’
‘What about the dark?’
‘What about it?’
‘You can’t leave us here without light.’
‘Try me.’ Dave Cole started to stomp off, pulling back the trigger on his gun.
‘Dad … wait!’
Jay locked eyes with Dave. ‘Be careful.’
11.36 a.m.
Mike edged his way along the tiny passageway. He was certain the access point was this way, but he also had a feeling he’d been this way before. The light on his phone was almost non-existent but it did enable him to see a foot in front of him.
It was on impulse he’d picked up the bag and slunk off, leaving Dave and the others to squabble. He was sick of being pushed around by Dave and sick of being his gofer. He was taking what was his, what he was owed.
Mike stopped suddenly, along with his thoughts. He was sure he’d seen something in front of him. He shook his head, he was being stupid. Christ, he was grown man and he was acting like a girl.
The other man watched Mike holding on to the wall, pretending not to be frightened by the dark. Well he would show him exactly what a welcome was.
Mike began to walk backwards. There was something there in front of him. He grabbed hold of his gun, firing shots into the pitch black of the darkness and then stopped firing as quickly as he started. His blood ran cold. He could feel it on his back. Someone, something had hold of him. Mike turned round just as the knife embedded into his head.
Gunshots. Dave Cole hurried along. He could hear gunshots. Shit, he began to turn back. The police had obviously made their way inside and along the sewers. Mike was a frigging idiot, but there was no way he was going to get collared because of him. He began to pick up his pace, hurrying along, back to where he left Jay.
As Dave forged ahead, he tripped, falling forward; sprawling out on the cold walkway. He turned his head to the side and stared in horror as he realised what he’d stumbled over. Lying face down was the bloodied torso of Sheila. He scrambled up, and span round, holding his torchlight up to the walls. As he did so he held his hand across his mouth. ‘Jesus.’ He backed away slowly, staring at what stuck to the dark, dank walls, feeling as if he was caught up in a nightmare. Putting one foot behind the other, Dave Cole halted as he banged into something behind him.
11.42 a.m.
‘He’s my father, Dani, whether you like it or not. I’m going back for him.’
‘He’s probably out already. He’s been gone ages and there’s no way I’m going to stay here in pitch darkness. It creeps me out. Your dad can look after himself. Come on Jay … Come on.’
‘I dunno.’
‘What don’t you know, Jay? All your life the only person your father’s looked out for is himself. Number one. There’s only one way out of here unless of course he went back to the bank to hand himself in, and both you and I know hell would freeze over before he did that. Face it Jay, he’s left you. Us.’
Jay hesitated. It was true his father was more than capable of looking after himself, and it was also true his father put himself first. But what if Dani was wrong? What if he hadn’t got out? What if …
‘Jay, he’ll be fine. What you’ve told me of your father, he’s probably back at home drinking a six-pack.’
Jay smiled sadly to himself. She was right, what was he even thinking? It was a sewer for Christ’s sake and as much as he loved his dad, he didn’t want to be serving time for anyone.
Setting off again they continued down the slippery pathway.
‘Did you feel that?’ Dani spoke, her voice layered with fear as she clung on to Jay’s hand.
‘What?’
‘Like something warm on my face. Like warm air.’
‘No. Come on scaredy cat.’
They continued to walk, pushing their backs against the wall. They had a lot to talk about; a lot. But it was good to see her, especially as he hadn’t thought he’d see her again. Funny how things turned out.
Jay took careful steps, holding on to the bag and gun in one hand and making sure he held on to Dani tightly. In the darkness he spoke softly. ‘Dan, I’m sorry.’
‘Not now, Jay.’
‘When?’
‘I dunno. Let’s just get out of here.’
Silence fell again, apart from the running sewer hurtling past them. Jay tried again. ‘The baby. Is it …’
‘I said, not now Jay.’
‘Look, there!’ Jay shouted, causing Dani to scream in terror. The scream was followed by Jay’s laughter.
‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘You said, there.’
‘I meant the exit. Look, you can see the light. It’s the access. The manhole. Come on.’
As Jay helped Dani climb up the ladder, all Dave Cole could do was take one last look at his son before the knife sliced deep into his wind pipe, draining the life out of him before he was dragged further into the darkness.
Jay had only just manoeuvred himself up out of the man hole when Dani called back to him. ‘Jay, the Police!’
‘Shit, what we going to do?’
Dani’s face was anxious. She scanned around and saw five approaching police cars. Jay began to run, but Dani grabbed hold of his arm. She looked at him, desperate. ‘Go back. Jay, go. It’s your only chance.’
‘But …’
‘Please Jay. Go.’
‘I want to stay with you.’
‘And you will, but after they’ve gone. Ain’t no good to this one if his dad’s doing a fifteen year stretch.’
Dani put her hand on her pregnant stomach and grinned. Jay’s eyes opened wide, a look of excited disbelief on his face. He ran up to Dani and kissed her quickly on her lips.
‘Go!’ Dani laughed, pushing him away as the distant sound of sirens as heard.
Jay ran back to the manhole, almost throwing his body back on the ladder. He paused and stared at Dani.
‘I’ll come and find you later. We’ll talk then. Promise. I’ll make it all right.’
‘Okay. I’ll be waiting. Now go!’
Dani Edwards blew a kiss as Jay Cole lowered himself back down into the depths of the sewers. He didn’t see the eyes watching him. Waiting for him. Welcoming him back to his home.
11.55 a.m.
And here’s an exclusive look at Jacqui’s new novel,
Dishonour.
1
BRADFORD
Laila Khan opened her mouth to scream but the sound of the sharp slap across her face shocked her into silence. A tiny red mark appeared on her cheek, turning quickly into an angry raised welt as her Uncle leaned into her face, spitting with rage. ‘You will do what I say child. The time has come.’ Wide eyed with fear, Laila stared at her Uncle.
The aromatic smells from the Palak chicken and rice on the plate in front of her began to overwhelm her senses. Her body jerked as a wave of nausea hit her. Hurriedly she jumped up from her chair, but her path was blocked by the imposing figure of her angry relative. Unable to stop herself, Laila deposited the contents of her stomach all over her Uncle’s brand-new shoes.
Horrified, Mahmood Khan looked down at his feet before throwing Laila back down on the chair. Gripping hold of her hair, he snarled, hatred shining from his eyes. ‘I have been patient with you. Treated you like my own daughter. I allowed you to go to the funeral of your Aunt today, but now my patience has come to an end.’
Trembling, Laila felt a scratch on the palm of her hand and realised she was still clutching onto the reason for her nausea. It was a photograph. Loosening her grip, Laila allowed herself to look at it once more. It was a picture of a ma
n. A man she’d never seen before yet her Uncle had just informed her that in less than a week, she was to become his wife.
Tariq Khan sat across from his sister at the dinner table, noticing how her eyes were red, blotchy and swollen. Reminding him of a bullfrog he’d seen last year in Pakistan.
He’d come in later than the others from the funeral and had been greeted by screaming. When he’d gone to investigate, he’d seen Laila kneeling on the floor at their Uncle’s feet, begging and pleading with him not to force her to marry.
Tariq had watched as their Uncle had called his sister names. A whore. A slut. Accusing her of being nothing short of a disgrace. Spitting at her in disgust, putrid yellow phlegm sliding down Laila’s face. She’d then turned to him. Pulling at his trouser leg and looking up with her big almond shaped eyes. Begging him to do something to help. But what could he do? How could he have helped her? He’d been powerless. So, unable to see the pain in Laila’s eyes, he’d turned his face away from her, leaving her begging on the floor.
She knew what their Uncle was like. Didn’t she understand everything would be easier for her if she didn’t put up such a fight? Couldn’t she see she was making it harder for herself. She knew she had a duty. A duty to their Uncle. A duty to their family.
What did she think her Uncle was going to let her do? Had she really thought her Uncle would let her run around like the other girls in her class? She was sixteen, almost seventeen. Old enough their Uncle had told her, too old nearly.
Gravely, his Uncle had told him word had got back that Laila had been cosying up with some English boy at school. ‘Flaunting herself, making a fool out of our family name.’
He’d tried to persuade his Uncle that no dramatic course of action was needed but his Uncle had just stared at him with hostility. ‘She has brought this on herself. You cannot feel sorry for her Tariq, you cannot show weakness. This sort of behaviour has to be stopped. To be punished. We have our family name to think of. Your family name.’
And then their Uncle had straight away put what was needed to be done into action.
