by K Leitch
‘Then what happened Kathy,’ Carla prompted gently.
‘He cut me,’ she said simply, her hand going to the long scar on her cheek, ‘then he brought the knife up to my eye and I thought he was going to cut my eyes out so I punched him hard in the balls,’ she gave a smile of satisfaction, ‘he went down like a ton of bricks he did…holding ‘is gonads and groaning. But then Turk starts on me…beating me round the head and then I don’t know what happened…there was a lot of shouting and screaming and the next thing I know Lucy’s dead…big gash in her head.’ Kathy looked up at Carla with tearful eyes, ‘I don’t know how it happened I swear, but Andy must have seen it because he rushes at Nellie beating him and shouting that he’d killed Lucy.’ She stopped then, her eyes roaming over the awful pictures on the table in front of her, ‘I was pretty out of it by then…but I think they took my hall rug and wrapped her up in it…I just remember Nellie saying that they had to get rid of it…her…Lucy I mean…so they just took her,’ she paused again, and sank back in her chair folding her arms over her chest. ‘That was the last I saw of her,’ she finished shaking her head.
‘Thank you Kathy,’ said Carla at last, ‘that must have been hard for you.’
Kathy didn’t say anything, just sat in her chair her head bowed as she took in the enormity of what she had just done.
‘It’ll be Turk that touched her up though,’ she said quietly a moment later.
‘Why do you say that Kathy?’ asked Carla surprised, ‘I got the impression that it was Nellie that liked young girls?’
‘Nah,’ Kathy said with a shake of her head, ‘he only wanted them to make some money…he knew this fella who would buy them from ‘im. Not just girls neither…he was always after the kids…you know pimping them out to this guy. But everybody knew what Turk was like, dirty fucker…he liked then young…and I mean really young.’
‘You don’t know the name of this fella do you, the one you say Nellie was working for?’ asked Frank shaking his head in disgust.
‘Nah,’ Kathy shook her head, ‘he wouldn’t tell me stuff like that would he…but he was always after my Lucy…offering me money for her you know…I never let him take her though,’ she finished almost proudly.
Her face turned fearful again a moment later, ‘You mustn’t let Nellie know I talked to you,’ she pleaded in a low voice, ‘please…you don’t know what he’s like…’
‘He won’t hear it from us Kathy…’ Carla began.
‘And Andy,’ Kathy said urgently, ‘you have to keep him away from Andy…he might try and hurt him. Andy knows you see…Andy saw everything, you must protect him…promise me!’
Carla and Frank did their best to reassure Kathy that Andy was safe from Nellie, despite their own anxieties about that…let’s face it they didn’t have a clue where Nellie was. As Kathy was no longer in the frame for Lucy’s murder she would be charged with the lesser crimes of concealing a crime and withholding information and would in all probability be let out on bail. Although that didn’t seem to be much of a comfort to her…she seemed to feel a lot safer where she was and with Nellie still on the loose Carla could see why.
‘Right well thank you for all your help Kathy…’ Carla said as they rose to leave, ‘and please if you do remember anything else call us, we are doing everything we can to find Nellie and get him off the streets, but we need your help, ok.’
Kathy just raised her eyebrows, they wouldn’t be getting anymore from her Carla knew but what they had learnt today only made her more determined to find Elliot ‘Nellie’ Dentch as soon as they could…the man was a monster and needed to be stopped.
CHAPTER 41
Linda Connelly raised her telescopic lens above the foliage and homed in on her target. She had been following Clive Tutt for a few days now…well maybe not days, she did have a job to go to but as long as she sent in a decent amount of copy each week, her editor wasn’t too fussy on how she spent her days. And let’s face it she reasoned with herself he would be jumping up and down with glee if she managed to get this story.
The more she watched Tutt the more she believed that her dad had been on to something big, he was definitely up to something, and whatever it was he was earning big bucks from it. For a council home caretaker he seemed to live pretty well. It hadn’t been too hard for her to find out that his cottage in Whitefield was bought and paid for, so was his car. He took regular holidays to Thailand and was a member of the local golf club. Maybe that was where he met all his illustrious friends Linda thought; she had a whole batch of photos she had taken of him with various councilmen, leading businessmen and even a high court judge. Tonight had been quiet so far; she had followed him back to Marshall Street and was watching him from the garden, he had been mending the swing in the front garden and was now talking to one of the bigger boys…the boy seemed vaguely familiar to Linda so she took a couple of pictures of the two together. They seemed to be deep in discussion about something, the boy was walking up and down flinging his arms about while Tutt seemed to be mocking him somewhat. All of a sudden the boy got angry and started shouting at Tutt…Linda strained to hear what was being said she thought she heard, ‘What if I don’t do it anymore…wouldn’t be laughing then would you…’
This obviously got to Tutt because he reared up in front of the boy and took him angrily by the arm, slapping him round the head.
He was shouting too now something like… ‘You’re in it up to your ears…if I go down, so do you boy.’
Linda snapped away getting as many pictures as she could completely oblivious of anything around her. So when a hand grabbed her round the waist and another covered her mouth she fought like the devil kicking and squirming, until she was dumped down on the ground and she looked up into the laughing face of Frank.
‘What the hell do you think you are doing?’ she hissed, brushing herself down and punching him in the arm. ‘You could have blown the whole thing if he’d heard you.’
‘Well you’d better keep your voice down then hadn’t you,’ Frank whispered laughing at her fury.
Linda couldn’t speak she was so incensed at his lack of consideration.
‘Anyway no harm done,’ went on Frank, ‘no one heard us…look they’re going in.’
Linda looked quickly to where Tutt and the boy were standing and sure enough they were both making their way back inside the house, Linda fought down her frustration.
‘Do you know how long I have been sitting here waiting for him to do something and just when I think something interesting is happening you ambush me…what are you doing here anyway?’
‘Oh I just thought I’d see how you were getting along…offer you my professional advice where needed. For instance why oh why are you carrying that enormous camera around with you, there are some great pocket sized ones available on the market, that will do the job just as well…quite reasonable too some of them,’ Frank said ignoring her look of utter disbelief.
Linda controlled her temper, ‘I have been managing quite well up to now without your professional advice thank you. I am a reporter you know I do know how to follow a story,’ she added conveniently forgetting that she had only been on the crime desk for a few weeks. ‘And as for this camera…well it belonged to my dad, and if it was good enough for him…well enough said.’
Frank nodded and helped her to pack away the camera and lenses, and soon they were walking along Marshall Street to where Linda had parked her car.
‘What have you got so far anyway?’ Frank asked after a while.
‘Oh just a lot of questions really,’ said Linda getting out her keys, ‘like what business does Mr Tutt have with the Mayor of Redbank, or the CEO of Tonbridge Marketing, or even Judge Henry Uckbridge…and how does the same Mr Tutt afford to live mortgage free, in a quaint cottage in Whitefield? Just questions like those really…but something happened before you jumped me…’ she gave Frank a stern look, he smiled blandly back at her, ‘he was having some sort of argument with one of the older boys; funn
ily enough the boy looked sort of familiar to me…’
‘Let’s have a look I might recognise him,’ said Frank, reaching for the camera.
Linda pulled away, ‘No you can’t I’m afraid…I um have to develop the film.’
‘What!’ Frank said with a laugh, ‘no…don’t tell me that’s not a digital camera…oh my god Linda, how the hell do you manage?’
‘Quite well actually,’ said Linda miffed. ‘Dad had a darkroom made in his shed, so I use that…and I’ll have you know that the quality is amazing…well you’ll see when I show you the pictures at Carla’s tomorrow. But if you’ll excuse me now I have some work to do…’
Frank’s mobile started trilling, it was Carla.
‘Frank I’ve just heard from the hospital, Turk died earlier this evening…so that’s another murder we can put down to Nellie. Thank goodness you got that statement from him, as long as it holds up in court of course. The other thing,’ she went on, ‘is that Maggie phoned me apparently Tracy was woken by a party at the big house at the rear of her garden the other night…’
‘Oh for god’s sake Carla I know they’re friends of yours but we can’t go knocking on doors just because of a noisy party…’
‘Um…if you’ll just let me finish,’ Carla said with a deep sigh, ‘as I was saying she was woken up in the night and she happened to watch as the party was breaking up…watching them all leave you know. When she saw a group of children being put into the back of a white van that was at the back of the house.’ Frank gasped. ‘She thought they were children belonging to the catering staff,’ Carla went on, ‘but since then she’s been worrying about it so she told me…or rather she told Maggie and Maggie told me.’
‘Wow,’ Frank said, ‘do we know who this house belongs to?’
‘Yes…apparently it is owned by the Robinson building group. And these parties seem to be a regular thing to grease the palms of local businessmen etc…’
‘Bloody hell Carla we need to keep an eye on this house don’t we?’ said Frank, shaking his head at Linda who was mouthing something at him.
‘Well I suppose it could be that they really are just the children of the kitchen staff…but it does seem a bit odd doesn’t it, let’s talk about it tomorrow I might give Linda a ring see if she’s found out anymore…’
‘Well actually I’m with Linda at the moment,’ Frank said blushing for some strange reason.
‘Ooh are you now,’ Carla teased as he had known she would, ‘well can you pass on what I’ve just told you and we’ll talk it through tomorrow…have a good night…don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’
‘Oh, so that just leaves bestiality then does it…’ Frank laughed, ‘although I have seen the way you look at Buster.’
‘Give over…Buster indeed…he’s much too fluffy for me,’ said Carla before she rang off.
Frank was still laughing as he put his phone away, he saw Linda watching him.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘Oh it’s just that I haven’t seen you smile much lately,’ Linda began then realised that maybe that was a bit too personal. ‘Not that I’ve been watching you or anything,’ she added hastily.
Frank smiled again, ‘Well who could blame you if you had,’ he said spreading his arms wide, ‘people would pay good money to look at this I’ll have you know.’
Linda giggled, ‘Ahh sweet, have you been soliciting at the old people’s home again Frank…I thought Carla would have cured you of that, I know you must need the extra money love but surely there’s got to be a better way…’ She broke off giggling and ran behind the car as he came after her.
‘No violence now Frank,’ Linda said teasingly, ‘or I might have to report you.’
Frank stood in front of her with a smile on his face, he put his hands on the car one either side of her effectively imprisoning her against the car.
‘You’ve turned into a bit of a handful since I last knew you Connelly,’ he said looking into her eyes.
‘Oh really,’ Linda said matching his stare, ‘and is that a bad thing would you say?’
Frank slowly looked her up and down, a smile playing round his lips, ‘I haven’t decided yet…why don’t you let me take you to dinner and then I’ll see.’
‘Well that’s an invitation designed to set a girls heart thumping isn’t,’ laughed Linda, ‘so how can I resist…that would be lovely Frank thank you.’ She finished with a sweet smile that sent Frank’s heart racing, much to his surprise and consternation!
CHAPTER 42 - HELEN
Helen set the finishing touches to the enormous spread of food that she had set out on the kitchen table and then stood back and admired her handy work.
‘There,’ she said with satisfaction to Lena who was looking at her as if she had gone mad. ‘I think that’s enough don’t you?’
‘Is more than enough Helen…much much more than enough,’ Lena said with a giggle. ‘I thought you say it is just one boy coming…not whole school,’ she broke into giggles again.
‘Why, do you think I’ve gone over the top a bit then?’ Helen said with a worried frown. ‘I know I can get a bit carried away sometimes…but I just wanted to give him a treat you know. After what Maya has told us about what he’s been through, that poor little boy.’
Lena came and put her arm round Helen, ‘Is lovely Helen…boys, they eat…oh lots, and anyway we will eat too…it is lovely treat.’
Helen grasped the old ladies hand and gave it a squeeze, ‘Thanks Lena, and thank you for picking up the kids for me…I’d better make sure Abby is still clean, at least Benji fell asleep so he’ll be in a good mood when Maya gets back…’
She broke off as she heard a key in the front door and Maya came through into the kitchen preceded by a young boy with a very nervous look on his face.
‘Helen, Nonna this is Andy…Andy this is Helen and this is my mother…we call her Nonna.’
Andy was quite small for his age; he was ten years old Maya had said, with a mop of sandy coloured hair and big brown eyes which were looking round nervously at the big kitchen and particularly the huge table which was staggering under the weight of all the food that Helen had prepared. He smiled shyly at each of the women as Maya introduced them and shook hands with them politely.
There was an awkward moment when nobody said anything, but that was soon broken by the sounds of two three year olds rushing past them into the kitchen yelling at the top of their voices.
‘Nonna, Nonna is this food all for us…can I have some twiglets and a wagon wheel?’ shouted Benji who had woken up from his nap hungry.
‘I want some jelly Mummy,’ Abby joined in talking round the thumb in her mouth, ‘Mummy…who’s that boy?’ she asked a minute later pointing at Andy.
‘This is Andy, he’s coming to have some tea with us,’ said Maya giving Andy a smile, which was followed by a tut and a shake of the head as she spotted her son grabbing handfuls of food, from the table. ‘Benji you have to wait until we are sitting up for tea before you take food…no, put those twiglets back you can have them when we all are sitting up.’
Benji threw a little tantrum, shouting loudly about it not being fair etc. and throwing the Twiglets in his hand onto the floor…but before an embarrassed Maya could deal with him, Andy walked over and bent down to talk to him.
‘Hi Benji…can you show me where I should be sitting?’ he said shocking Benji into silence, ‘only I’ve never been to your house before and I don’t know.’
Benji thought for a moment staring back at Andy, ‘You can sit next to me if you like,’ he said pulling on Andy’s hand as he showed him to a chair.
‘Thanks buddy,’ said Andy smiling as Benji clamoured up onto the chair beside him.
Maya had watched this with a smile, she had seen the way that Andy was with the younger children at school and had been impressed…it was one of the reasons she felt drawn to him.
Abby, not to be outdone, climbed up onto the chair on the other side of Andy and soon the children w
ere chatting away ten to the dozen, telling Andy about their day at nursery and their latest toys.
After tea the children dragged Andy upstairs with them and Helen could hear their shrieks of laughter as he chased them around in a game of hide and seek.
‘What a sweet boy,’ Helen said to Maya as they tidied up the kitchen together, ‘it’s amazing that he has stayed so sweet after all that has happened to him.’
‘I know,’ Maya said nodding, ‘it always makes me amazed to see…children, they can be so strong…he has suffered so much, but is better now I hope…he seems better anyway….’ she paused obviously thinking about something that was bothering her.
Helen waited for her to continue and started putting clingfilm over some of the bowls of food left on the table, ‘Flipping heck Lena was right,’ she said laughing, ‘I don’t know what I was thinking, I’ve made enough to feed an army.’
‘He was talking in the car on the way here,’ eventually Maya said what was on her mind, ‘he is so sure that he will be with his mum again…he is talking about it all the time, planning you know?’
‘Well maybe he will be,’ Helen said thoughtfully, ‘let’s face it stranger things have happened. Who knows once his mum is sober, maybe she will get herself back on track and make a home for them both?’
Maya was shaking her head. ‘No I don’t tell Andy yet, but she was released a few days ago…she has not even been to see him. Me, I think he will have his heart broken all over again by that woman,’ she finished in disgust.
‘Well we will just have to try and help him through it, won’t we love,’ said Helen gently.
Maya came and put her arms around her, ‘Thank you Helen…you are kindest person I ever know.’
Helen melted into her embrace, glorying again in the love that she felt for this woman. ‘No sweetheart, YOU are the kind one, I would never have thought of inviting him here…’
