The Girl in the Rug

by K Leitch

  Raza Patel turned on her angrily, ‘Well if you won’t fucking do anything about it, then I will…I’m not going to fucking let them get away with this…’

  ‘That would be a really stupid move Mr Patel…like I said we are doing everything that we can and we will be questioning everybody that we think may be involved today…’ Carla put her hand on his arm sympathetically, ‘for now you need to take care of you Aunt, she is the one that needs your help…please…and let us do our job.’

  Raza was anything but pacified, but he recognised that his Aunt was struggling and so he led her away muttering his threats of retribution as he did so.

  Irene Watkins had sent through an address for Andy and Lucy Hunt so that was where Carla and Frank went next.

  The so called ‘Buttercup’ estate stood a few miles to the south of Redbank. Built in the 70’s the blocks of flats and houses that made up the sprawling estate, had been made almost entirely out of yellowish coloured bricks hence the nickname. It had at one time been held up as a piece of architectural genius, now its buildings were in a sad state of repair, and the elderly and the vulnerable lived cheek by jowl with the drug dealers and the pimps.

  The incongruously named ‘Mayfair House’ was situated in the centre of the estate, only a stone’s throw away from Amish Patel’s supermarket. Andy and Lucy Hunt lived at number 14, with their mother Kathy. Kathy Hunt was well known to the local police as a prostitute and drunk with a nasty temper. Carla and Frank climbed stairs littered with old condoms and needles, there was a strong smell of urine and stale alcohol in the air near the stairwells, and piles of rubbish in every corner.

  No one answered their knock on the door, but when Carla looked through the letter box she could clearly see a woman lying on the sofa in the living room. They knocked again louder and again until the woman got up groaning and moaning and finally pulled the door open.

  Kathy Hunt was barely conscious, and from the foul smell of alcohol on her breath it didn’t take a genius to see why. A small woman with frazzled blond hair, she looked a lot older than her thirty one years. Deep lines marked her face around her eyes and mouth giving her an almost permanent frown and her skin had an unhealthy yellow tinge to it. She peered through heavy lids at Carla and Frank barely able to see straight.

  ‘Whatcha doing banging on my fucking door…’ she slurred, ‘you got no right waking me up like that…just trying to have a little sleep I was…fucking banging, who the hell do you think you are?’ she shouted at them hanging onto the front door for support.

  ‘Mrs Hunt?’ asked Carla ignoring her tirade, ‘I’m DI Carla Right and this is DS Frank Hill, we’d like to talk to you about Andy and Lucy…can we come in?’

  ‘What…what the fuck do you want wiv ‘em? They’re not here anyhow…at school ain’t they. We don’t need you…fucking coming up here waking me…what do you want ‘em for?’ Kathy was almost sliding down the door so Carla took advantage and gently squeezed passed her.

  ‘Oy…where the fuck are you going…they’re not here I told you,’ shouted Kathy following Carla into the living room. Frank followed behind trying not to breath in too deeply, the place was disgusting, he peered into the kitchen on his left as he went through…dirty pots and dishes were piled high in the sink with huge bluebottles buzzing around them. On the table were a couple of bread rolls already turning mouldy on the edges…the air was foul. The living room was no better, empty vodka bottles and glasses littered every surface, a huge ashtray stood on the coffee table piled high with cigarette butts. Kathy Hunt had slumped back down onto the sofa and was lighting up yet another cigarette with shaking hands, she squinted up through the smoke at them.

  ‘Whatcha want,’ she slurred, ‘I ain’t done nuffin…and my kids ain’t done nuffin.’

  ‘Mrs Hunt we are investigating the robbery at the local supermarket, owned by a Mr Amish Patel…’

  ‘Fuck…did Amish get done over…fuck,’ Kathy said with a nasty smirk on her face.

  ‘Did you know Mr Patel?’ asked Frank.

  ‘Nah…not really, he was a right moody bastard…always looking down his nose at me. Fucking no mark…who does he think he is…lets the kids buy my voddy though…bet he didn’t tell you that did he?’ she finished with a spiteful curl of the lip.

  ‘He couldn’t tell us anything Mrs Hunt,’ said Carla coolly. ‘He’s dead, he was shot last night by whoever raided his shop…Andy and Lucy were in the shop at the time of the raid and…’

  ‘They ain’t done nuffin…they was here wiv me all night…’ Kathy interrupted.

  ‘Well no, they weren’t…’ went on Carla, ‘they were at the shop. I actually spoke to them but before I could ask them any questions they ran away…so I need to speak to them okay? Did they not tell you about what had happened when they got home?’

  Kathy had the grace to look shamefaced, ‘Um…no well I was asleep when they came home so…’

  ‘Ok well what time do they usually get home from school…do you collect them?’ said Frank with a knowing look.

  ‘Nah…Andy he’s a good boy he is, sensible you know…he brings Lucy home wiv him…they should be home soon. I don’t fink they will be able to help you though, they probably didn’t see nuffin.’

  Andy and Lucy ran all the way home after school in the hope that they could get in before either Nellie or the police spotted them. Andy heaved a sigh of relief as he walked into the hallway of his flat only to turn tail and try and run the other way when he saw who was waiting in the living room for them. He was caught before he made it outside and marched back into the living room. The kind police woman from the previous night was in there…so was Mum who had fixed her eyes upon him, giving him a look that promised nothing good if he so much as told the police his shoe size.

  ‘Hello Andy,’ said Carla with a smile, ‘remember me?’

  Andy nodded, but then put his head down.

  ‘I told you last night Andy that we needed to speak to you again about what you may have seen or heard at Mr Patel’s shop…’

  ‘They don’t know nuffin…do you Andy?’ shouted Kathy before Andy had a chance to reply. Lucy was standing behind Andy as if to hide herself from her mother, she had visibly flinched when Kathy had raised her voice.

  Carla went round and knelt in front of the little girl. ‘Hi Lucy, where did you two run off two last night…you were very clever, we looked and looked but we couldn’t find you, you must have had a really good hiding place.’

  Lucy smiled, ‘We was behind the big bins…I was really cold though but Andy said…’ she stopped when she caught her brother’s eye.

  ‘Well you outfoxed us anyway,’ went on Carla, ‘have you remembered anything more about the men you saw last night Lucy?’ Lucy shook her head looking nervously from Andy to her mum.

  ‘What about you Andy?’ said Frank hunkering down in front of the boy trying to get him to look him in the eye. Andy seemed to have gone dumb again though, just shaking his head in response to Frank.

  ‘What about their voices…were they loud…did they shout a lot?’ tried Carla.

  ‘Did you recognise their voices…have you heard them before…or since maybe?’

  Lucy gave a gasp and looked at Andy, but Andy just kept his head lowered and his mouth shut.

  ‘You do recognise them don’t you Lucy…where have you heard that voice before. Is it someone that scares you maybe…?’

  Lucy’s eyes filled with tears her bottom lip trembled…she looked again at Andy…he said nothing.

  They were getting nowhere; these two kids were scared out of their wits. Carla decided to leave it for the moment.

  ‘Ok…well we’ll leave it there for today, but I may have to speak to the children down at the station Mrs Hunt, show them some pictures, maybe that’ll trigger their memories…’

  ‘Look you just leave ‘em alone…they ain’t seen or heard nuffin…they’re good kids…just leave it ok,’ said Kathy Hunt pointing her finger in Carla’s face.

&nbs
p; ‘I’m afraid I can’t leave it Mrs Hunt, a man was killed yesterday and I believe your children were witnesses to that killing. If you are too scared to talk to us then we can give you some protection…’

  ‘Oh don’t make me laugh,’ Kathy spat out. ‘Protection…you fucking coppers have no fucking idea do you…you’ve already brought trouble ‘ere…just by knocking on my fucking door…protection…what a joke.’

  ‘Mrs Hunt how can we protect you if no one will tell us anything…we need names then we can make arrests and these thugs will be taken off the streets…’ Frank tried.

  ‘LOOK…WE AIN’T SAYING NUFFIN…OK? MY KIDS DIDN’T SEE NUFFIN…THEY DIDN’T HEAR NUFFIN, GOT THAT!’ shouted Kathy aggressively.

  Carla and Frank made their way to the front door, but before they left Carla turned and gave Andy her card.

  ‘Andy this has my number on it…if you ever need to call me about anything ok?’

  The little boy took the card and just looked at it.

  ‘Sorry we couldn’t help you Missus,’ he said before putting the card in his pocket.

  Carla and Frank walked back down the stairs despondently, it was obvious the children knew exactly who had killed Amish Patel but they were far too afraid to say anything.

  ‘Right,’ said Carla as they got back into the car, ‘tomorrow we get them down to the station, show them some pictures…that should be fun.’

  No sooner had Carla and Frank left the flat, than Kathy had Andy up against the wall by his throat.

  ‘You fucking little prick…do you know what you’ve done…bringing the fucking police to my door.’ She spat into his face, ’It were Nellie weren’t it…whatcha think he’s going to do when he finds out they’ve been here eh? I’ll tell you what shall I, he’s going to come here and take it out on me that’s what…you stupid,’ slap, ’little,’ slap, ‘wanker,’ slap!

  Lucy started grizzling and Kathy turned on her, ‘Shut the fuck up…you’re as bad as he is…’ She started towards the now cowering Lucy, when she was stopped in her tracks by a loud banging at the door, they all went quiet and looked at each other. Kathy put her fingers to her lips and crept over to the window trying to look through the filthy nets to see who it was. Andy took advantage of the distraction and went over to comfort the crying Lucy.

  Kathy started cursing, ‘Shit…I fucking knew it…it’s fucking Nellie…you stupid little brats bringing this to my door…’

  ‘OPEN THE DOOR KATHY…DON’T MAKE ME WAIT OUT HERE ALL DAY…OPEN UP YOU SLAG,’ shouted Nellie banging on the door again.

  Kathy opened the door with trembling fingers and was nearly pushed to the ground as Nellie, followed by Turk barged into the tiny flat.

  The children looked up at him in terror; and indeed he was a terrifying sight, at six foot four and built like a tank he towered over most people but to Andy and Lucy he looked like a bloodcurdling giant from a children’s tale. This image was enforced by the tattoos on his arms and neck and the scars that crisscrossed his face, one in particular that ran from the corner of one eye right down across his cheek was so deep that it seemed to split his face and gave him a look of pure evil. His sidekick Turk was no less intimidating, despite being shorter and leaner, his reputation as a psycho was well known on the estate and he was feared by most.

  ‘What were the filth doing ‘ere Kath?’ said Nellie to the shrinking Kathy.

  ‘We didn’t tell ‘em nuffin Nell…they was asking ‘bout the shop…you know Amish’s shop…but we didn’t say a fing, did we kids?’ she spluttered.

  ‘So ‘ow did they know to come ‘ere then?’ said Turk grabbing Andy by the arm, ‘you give ‘em your address did you Andy…that was a stupid fing to do wasn’t it?’

  ‘Nnno…’ stammered Andy, ‘I promise I haven’t said a word to anyone…honest…I wouldn’t.’

  ‘Yeh well I hope you haven’t fella…cus I can’t stand a fucking grass, and you know what’s going to happen if you’ve opened your mouth don’t you?’ Andy nodded at him frantically. ‘Yeh, well you see I don’t think you do fella…I think we need to show you exactly why you’d better keep your trap shut, you follow?’ Nellie said grabbing Kathy by the arm. Kathy by this time was squirming and trying to pull away from the beating that she knew was coming her way.

  ‘NO NO PLEASE NELL!…I won’t let ‘em say nuffin…you know I won’t…’ she was silenced with a blow to her head that knocked her to the ground. Andy tried to run to her side but Turk held him fast, Lucy had run into the corner of the room and was curled up into a ball sobbing.

  Nellie lifted Kathy’s head up by her hair and put the tip of a wicked looking knife to her eye, Kathy began squirming and screaming even more desperately.

  ‘NOOO…PLEASE,’ screamed Andy, ‘we won’t tell…please leave her…please.’

  Nellie just looked at him as he dragged the knife down the side of Kathy’s face, a steam of blood followed the knife and his mother’s cheek was laid open almost to the bone, both children were screaming now and Andy was struggling and fighting to get to his whimpering mother.

  With a nasty smile at the children’s terror, Nellie put the knife to her other cheek, but Kathy found some strength from somewhere and brought her fist up punching Nellie hard between his legs, he went down clutching his privates and pandemonium broke out.

  Turk seeing his friend hurt let out a yell of fury and, flinging Andy to one side, rushed over to wreak his revenge on Kathy. He started hitting her round the head, Kathy, who had used up any strength she had had, was flopping around like a rag doll with every punch, her wounded face spraying blood in every direction. Andy had run over after him and was kicking and punching Turk trying desperately to get him off his mum…none of them noticed a panic stricken Lucy picking up the knife that Nellie had dropped, until that is that she plunged it deep into the fleshy part of Nellie’s arm. He howled with pain and back handed Lucy with all his strength…she flew across the room cracking her head on the edge of the coffee table before landing with a thump on the floor.

  Time seemed to stand still for a moment.

  ‘LUCYYYY,’ screamed Andy, ‘LLLUUUCCCYYY …NOOO!’ Andy rushed over to where the lifeless body of his sister lay, her eyes wide open and staring up at him.

  ‘No no…oh no,’ Andy cried over and over hugging Lucy to him, as if he could somehow squeeze the life back into her.

  Kathy was groaning on the floor near the sofa, seemingly completely unaware that her daughter lay dead a few yards away from her. Turk and Nellie were just standing there in shock, they hadn’t anticipated any of this when they had decided to put the frighteners on Kathy and her children earlier this evening. Neither of them said anything, it was like they didn’t know what to do or say.

  Andy felt an awful rage building up inside him, wailing with grief, he threw himself at Nellie punching and kicking.

  ‘You killed her…you fucking killed her…you fucking bastard…I’m going to kill you!’ he screamed.

  Nellie finally came to his senses and grabbed Andy by the hands pushing him away from him.

  ‘It were an accident weren’t it…you saw, she stabbed me…I only pushed her…it were an accident.’ Nellie, big hard Nellie scourge of ‘Buttercup’, seemed to be completely staggered by the death of the little girl.

  ‘Fuck it Nellie, let’s get out of ‘ear,’ said Turk already heading for the door, ‘fucking police get hold of this they’ll throw away the key. I ain’t going down for killing no kid…come on what’s up with you, let’s move…’

  ‘Nah,’ interrupted Nellie, who was still holding the struggling Andy in front of him, ‘we need to sort this…’

  ‘Whatcha mean sort this…she’s dead ain’t she…we can’t sort nuffin…let’s go…’

  Nellie let go of Andy and grabbed Turk by the throat, ‘I said we need to sort this, you follow? We need to get rid of the body, clean this place up…’

  ‘NOOO you leave her alone,’ shouted Andy when he realised what Nellie was suggesting. ‘Don�
��t you touch her, I will tell the police everything…I’ll tell them you killed her…’

  No you fucking won’t boy, ‘Nellie turned on Andy furiously. ‘You fink about it, everybody on the estate knows your mum ‘ere knocks you kids about…looks like she got a bit too heavy handed with the girl…pushed her too hard didn’t she.’ Nellie brought his face close to Andy’s, ‘Na the best fing would be if she just disappeared, gone to stay wiv her auntie…somat like that. That way no one asks any dodgy questions do they? Turk, find me somat we can wrap her in, and stop that slag from making that noise will ya.’

  Kathy had been groaning and whimpering on the floor, her face was covered in blood, she was barely conscious. Turk kicked her, ‘Shut the fuck up will ya,’ he said as he stood and looked around for something with which to wrap Lucy’s body. Out in the hallway lay a once colourful rag rug, a reminder of better times, before Kathy had taken to the bottle to block out the disappointments and betrayals in her life. She had picked it up at a craft fair in Brighton, thinking it would be perfect to brighten up the rather dark hallway of the new flat she’d just been given by the council. Turk’s eyes fell on the now filthy old rag rug; he grabbed it and lay it down next to Lucy.

  Andy, defeated and sobbing, watched helplessly as the two men removed as much physical evidence of their presence in the flat as they could, and then proceeded to carefully wrap Lucy’s tiny body in the old rug. He made one last grab for his sister before they carried her to the door; but was pushed back by Nellie who held on to his arm painfully. All his earlier remorse a distant memory, only his self preservation mattered now as he hissed his threats once again to the devastated young boy.

  ‘We was neva here was we fella…your sister has gone away to stay wiv some relatives you follow? You cross me on this boy and I will come back when you’re not expecting me and I will cut your mum’s eyes out…so you just say what I’ve told you to say…and we’ll say no more about it.’ And with that the two men disappeared out into the night…taking the rug and Andy’s little sister with them.