Run

by Mandasue Heller

  ‘Spoilsport,’ he chuckled, kissing her on the cheek before letting her go. ‘I’ll try not to be too long.’

  Leanne nodded and waved goodbye over her shoulder as she made her way into the bathroom. If she knew him, he’d be out for hours. But that was okay. Unlike Jake, who’d had no problem sleeping on the flight and had stepped off the plane as fresh as a daisy, she hadn’t slept a wink, so this would give her a chance to get her head down for a few undisturbed hours.

  *

  Jake’s first port of call was the office from where he ran his security business. Situated above a launderette in Longsight, it was actually a poky flat, the front room of which he used as the reception-cum-meeting room, while the bedroom was his private office.

  It had been all he could afford when he’d first set up in Manchester but, lately, he’d been thinking about relocating to somewhere better. Not only because it would look more professional – which would inevitably bring in more clients in need of top-class, reputable security – but also because he’d decided to get serious with the property side of things.

  The run-down flats and houses he picked up at auction to rent out or sell on at a slight profit had been a good starting point, but it was time to expand into the higher end of the market, where the real money was made. And if he hoped to stand a chance of making his mark amongst the established city-centre developers, he needed a base as flash as theirs to operate from – preferably on the Quays, which was fast becoming Manchester’s equivalent of London’s Canary Wharf in terms of big business.

  He’d allowed himself to become a little complacent before the holiday, and had been happy to let the businesses coast along in the middle lane. But the break had revitalized his ambitious streak and he was now ready to move up into the next league.

  Ben was sitting behind the desk in the front room when Jake walked in, a deep frown on his face as he pored over a pile of paperwork.

  ‘Oi, oi!’ Jake said, creeping up on him and making him jump.

  ‘Bloody idiot!’ Ben croaked, his eyes bugging. ‘You almost gave me a heart attack!’

  Taking in the deep hollows beneath his friend’s usually bright eyes, Jake said, ‘What’s up with you? You look terrible. It’s not been that hard, has it?’

  ‘Didn’t you get my message?’ Ben asked.

  ‘No, my phone’s been off,’ said Jake, reaching into his pocket for it. The moment he switched it on, numerous message and missed-call notifications filled the screen. Scrolling through them, he shrugged. ‘Which one? There’s loads.’

  ‘The one marked urgent,’ said Ben. Then, flapping his hand dismissively, he said, ‘Forget it, you’re here now, so I can tell you.’

  ‘Tell me what?’ Jake frowned, sensing from Ben’s nervous expression that he wasn’t going to like what he was about to hear. ‘I hope you haven’t screwed anything up, mate? Everything was running smoothly when I left, and I don’t need any problems fucking my day up.’

  ‘Sorry, but this is going to fuck up more than your day,’ Ben said ominously. ‘It’s bad, man. Really bad.’

  *

  Leanne was feeling a little brighter after her shower. No longer sleepy, she rooted through her handbag for her phone as she towel-dried her hair. She’d call her mum first, she decided, and make sure she was okay. Then she’d call Chrissie, who would probably be at work, and leave a message to let her know that she was home.

  Her mum wasn’t in, so Leanne left a message on the answering machine, telling her that she would call round to see her in the morning. Pleasantly surprised when she then rang Chrissie and it didn’t go to voicemail, she said, ‘Hello, you! I’m back!’

  ‘Where are you?’ Chrissie asked, not sounding as pleased as Leanne would have expected. ‘Is Jake with you?’

  ‘I’m at home, and no, he’s not,’ Leanne replied warily. ‘What’s up, babe? You don’t sound too good. Is everything all right?’

  ‘No, it’s not,’ Chrissie said flatly. ‘Can you come over?’

  ‘What, now?’ Leanne frowned. ‘I’ve not long come out of the shower and I haven’t even unpacked yet. Can’t you tell me on the phone?’

  ‘No, I need to see you,’ Chrissie insisted.

  Feeling suddenly apprehensive, Leanne said, ‘Babe, you’re scaring me. Please, tell me what’s going on. It’s not Dylan, is it?’

  Sighing at her end, Chrissie said, ‘No, he’s fine. This has got nothing to do with him.’ She paused for a moment, then said, ‘I didn’t want to tell you like this, but you need to know, and it’s probably better that you hear it before Jake comes home, so you can decide what you’re going to do.’

  ‘Do about what?’ Leanne’s mouth had gone bone-dry. ‘For God’s sake, Chrissie, tell me!’

  ‘Jake’s been seeing Sally Walker behind your back,’ Chrissie blurted out. ‘He bought your old house, and he’s been letting her live there . . . with their baby.’

  ‘What . . . ?’ Leanne’s head was spinning, and her stomach felt as if it had fallen through the floor.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Lee, but it’s true,’ Chrissie said regretfully. ‘I went round there after I found out, and she told me everything. And I saw the baby,’ she added quietly. ‘He’s the absolute spit of Jake. There’s no doubt whatsoever that he’s the father.’

  *

  Jake ran a red light and almost knocked a pedestrian over in his haste to get back to the apartment after Ben told him what had happened in his absence.

  He’d tried to call Leanne, but her phone was switched off. He was praying that she simply hadn’t got round to turning it on yet, rather than having turned it off because Chrissie had already got to her and she didn’t want to speak to him.

  He had no clue what he was going to say to Leanne when he got home; all he knew was that he had to act fast if he was to stand any chance of minimizing the damage this revelation was going to cause.

  One thing was for sure: Sally Walker was dead when he got his hands on her. The bitch had been sitting pretty for months, taking advantage of his good nature – and the handsome allowance he’d given her. Well, those days were over, she’d made sure of that; and she was going to rue the day she decided to cross him.

  As was that other back-stabbing, big-mouthed whore, Tina!

  Jake leapt out of his car when he got home and ran all the way up to the apartment.

  ‘Leanne?’ he called nervously, walking into the bedroom. ‘Are you sleeping?’

  She wasn’t in there, and the bed was still made. A wet towel was lying on the floor by her side of the bed. Picking it up, he dropped it into the laundry basket before heading into the living room.

  ‘Leanne . . . ?’

  She wasn’t in there, and she wasn’t in the kitchen or out on the balcony either, although the French doors were open. Frowning, because it wasn’t like Leanne to go out and leave the apartment unsecured, Jake ran his hands through his hair.

  A sudden breeze coming in through the open doors lifted a piece of paper he hadn’t noticed up off the dining table and sent it floating to the floor. Hoping that Leanne might have nipped out to the shop, leaving the note in case he got back before her, Jake reached for it when it landed beneath a chair.

  His hand froze when he noticed the engagement ring lying a few inches from it, and he squeezed his eyes shut and moaned, ‘Noooo . . .’ when his gaze landed on the note.

  I know everything, you bastard!

  37

  Chrissie’s expression was as hard as flint when she answered the door an hour later, and her rigid posture as she stood in the doorway, stiff-backed, arms folded tightly over her chest, told Jake that she wasn’t about to invite him in.

  ‘Took you long enough, didn’t it?’ she sneered.

  ‘I want to see Leanne,’ he replied evenly.

  ‘Well, she’s not here,’ Chrissie snapped. ‘And she doesn’t want to see you, so there’s no point looking for her.’

  Jake narrowed his eyes. ‘I bet you’re fucking loving this, aren’t
you?’

  ‘Are you for real?’ Chrissie snorted, her own eyes sparking with anger. ‘I love that girl like she was my own sister, so, no, I’m not loving it! You’ve broken her heart, you two-timing bastard, and I’ll never forgive you for that, so get lost!’

  She went to slam the door in his face, but Jake shoved it so hard it sent her reeling back against the wall.

  ‘Get out!’ she yelped when he walked in and kicked the door shut behind him. ‘You’re not welcome here, and if you don’t leave right now I’ll call the police!’

  Ignoring her, Jake pushed Chrissie out of the way and stalked into the living room, calling, ‘Leanne . . . ? Where are you? I know you’re here, and I need to talk to you.’

  ‘I’ve just told you she’s not here,’ Chrissie repeated angrily as she followed him. ‘And you’re wasting your breath if you think she’s going to listen to any more of your lies. If you were half the man you claim to be,’ she went on scathingly, ‘you’d do the decent thing and leave her alone. You’ve hurt that girl more than anyone’s ever hurt her before, and you should be ashamed of yourself!’

  ‘Shut your mouth!’ Jake hissed, trying to push past her again to go out into the hall.

  ‘Don’t tell me what to do in my own house,’ she yelled, grabbing his arm to prevent him from getting out of the room. ‘You might think you’re some kind of hotshot out there, but in here you’re nothing but a lowlife piece of shit!’

  ‘And you’re nothing but a poisonous fat slag!’ Jake sneered, his eyes glinting maliciously as he bared his teeth at her. ‘Your pathetic attempt to keep us apart didn’t work the last time,’ he went on quietly. ‘And it ain’t gonna work now.’

  ‘What are you talking about?’ Chrissie gasped, reaching out to steady herself when her knee hit the side of the sofa. ‘You sound like a mad man.’

  ‘Maybe that’s because I am mad,’ he said, walking after her when she backed away. ‘Mad that I didn’t see what you were up to from the start. You never liked me, and I could tell you were jealous when I took Leanne away from you. But, tough! ’Cos I love her, and she loves me, and when we sort this out, I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you never come between us again!’

  ‘You’re crazy!’ Chrissie stuttered, still trying to distance herself. ‘I’ve never tried to come between you. Christ, I was happy when she got with you, ’cos she was happy – and she deserved it after all the shit she’d been through. You can blame me as much as you want,’ she went on as she edged around the coffee table. ‘But this is your fault, not mine. You’re the one who had a fling with Sally and lied to Leanne for months, not me.’

  ‘I never had a fucking fling,’ spat Jake. ‘And this is your fault, ’cos Leanne would be none the wiser if you hadn’t opened your big trap. Bet you were buzzing when that slag of a sister of yours turned up and spilled the beans, weren’t you? See it as your big chance to get Leanne away from me and have her all to yourself, did you?’

  ‘Leanne knows all about what you did to Tina, as well,’ said Chrissie. ‘The drugs you’ve been giving her, the blokes you’ve been pimping her out to – everything.’

  ‘She wouldn’t believe a word that came out of that whore’s mouth,’ Jake sneered.

  ‘Well, I did,’ said Chrissie. ‘And I’m sure the police will, too!’

  Lunging at her when she snatched up the phone, Jake wrenched it out of her hand and, gripping her by the throat, forced her down on to the sofa.

  ‘You’ve been nothing but trouble since the day I clapped eyes on your ugly face,’ he spat, causing her to flinch as his nose grazed hers. ‘Think I’ve forgotten all those times you took the piss out of me when I was a kid? All the dirty looks you gave me, and the sly comments you made whenever I walked past? And don’t think I didn’t know it was you who egged Leanne on to turn me down that time. Just ’cos no lad would touch you with a bargepole, you had to make damn sure your little friend couldn’t have any fun, didn’t you?’

  ‘Fun?’ Chrissie’s croaked, struggling to pull his hand off her. ‘With you? Don’t make me laugh! You were the biggest loser walking!’

  ‘Brave words,’ Jake hissed, his eyes flashing a warning. ‘But I’d zip it, if I was you. Unless you want to end up going the same way as her dad.’

  ‘What?’ Chrissie’s eyes bugged with shock.

  ‘You heard me,’ Jake snarled, tightening his grip. ‘Thought you’d won when you got Leanne to stay here, didn’t you? All week you had her, and you pecked at her head the whole time, chipping away at her bit by bit, trying to make her think she’d be better off without me. But I knew she’d turn to me when she needed a shoulder to cry on, and I was right. Daddy dies, and she comes running straight to me. But you couldn’t stand that, could you? That’s why you couldn’t wait to tell her about Sally.’

  ‘Get off her!’ Leanne cried, running into the room at that exact moment with tears streaming from her swollen, raw eyes. ‘Let her go!’ She tugged on the back of his jacket. ‘Please, Jake . . . she can’t breathe!’

  Releasing Chrissie, Jake turned to Leanne and held out his hands.

  ‘Baby, we need to talk. But not here. She’s already tried to poison you against me, but we can sort this out, I know we can.’

  ‘No, we can’t,’ Leanne replied shakily. ‘It’s over, and nothing you say or do is going to change my mind, so just go. Please.’

  ‘No.’ He shook his head. ‘Not without you. You’re my life.’

  ‘This isn’t your choice,’ she cried. ‘It’s mine, and I don’t want you any more, so forget you ever met me and go and be with Sally and your son.’

  ‘It’s not my kid,’ Jake said through clenched teeth.

  ‘Jake, I’ve seen him,’ Leanne sobbed. ‘He’s the image of you, so there’s no point denying it. And I’ve seen the pictures of . . .’ She paused and swallowed deeply as a sickly taste flooded her mouth. ‘You and her, together in bed,’ she managed at last. ‘Or are you going to tell me they’re fakes, as well?’

  ‘She took them before me and you got together,’ said Jake.

  ‘At least you’ve admitted it at last.’ Leanne gave a humourless laugh. ‘All those times I asked you to tell me the truth, and you stood there and lied to my face. God, I’m so stupid.’

  ‘How could I tell you after the way you reacted when she rang me?’ Jake asked. ‘Come on, Lee, this isn’t all my fault. Let’s go home and talk about it.’

  ‘No.’ Leanne shook her head. ‘If it was just that, there might have been a way to get past it. But there’s all the other stuff, too. Those people in Liverpool . . . And Tina.’ Her eyes flashing with disgust now, she said, ‘If what she told Chrissie is true, I think you’re absolutely despicable.’

  ‘That’s not all he’s done,’ Chrissie said, slipping her phone into her pocket after sending the text she’d typed while Jake’s back was turned. ‘Ask him what he just said about your dad.’

  ‘My dad?’ A deep frown creased Leanne’s brow. ‘What about him?’

  ‘Are you going to tell her, or shall I?’ Chrissie glared at Jake.

  ‘You fucking bitch!’ he snarled, spinning round and punching her square in the mouth, knocking her flat on her back.

  ‘JAKE, NO!’ Leanne screamed, frozen to the spot in horror when he aimed a kick at her friend’s ribs. ‘JAAAKKKEEE!’

  *

  Ben’s face was pouring with sweat as he screeched his car to a halt outside Chrissie’s house. Luckily, he’d gone home after Jake ran out of the office, so he hadn’t had far to come when Chrissie’s text came through a few minutes ago, reading: Come quick! Jake’s going off his head!

  Reaching for the monkey-wrench he kept under his seat, he leapt out of the car without bothering to close the door, and ran towards the gate.

  Mrs Ford poked her head outside as he approached. ‘Whatever’s going on in there?’ she asked, her eyes wide with concern. ‘What’s all the screaming about?’

  ‘It’s okay,’ Ben lied, flapping his hand at he
r to go inside. ‘Chrissie’s seen a mouse, that’s all.’

  He could – probably should – have told her to ring the police, he thought as he fumbled his key into the lock. But he didn’t know what was going on yet, and he hoped that he might be able to get Jake to calm down without needing to involve the authorities.

  The screams grew louder as the door popped open. Silently thanking God that Chrissie hadn’t followed through with her threat to change the locks, Ben followed the sound into the living room.

  ‘JAKE! STOP!’ he roared when he saw what was happening. ‘I mean it, man! Back the fuck off!’

  ‘Oh, for fuck’s sake!’ Jake said, his chest heaving as he turned around. A sneer came on to his face when he saw the wrench in Ben’s hand, and he opened his arms wide. ‘Come on, then, fat boy . . . bring it on – if you’ve got the bollocks!’

  ‘Fuck off out of here, or I will,’ said Ben, his gaze flicking down to Chrissie, who was curled in a ball, clutching at her ribs. ‘I mean it, Jake. Go now, before this gets any worse!’

  Narrowing his eyes when Ben re-established his grip on the wrench and started moving towards him with a determined expression on his sweaty face, Jake reached into his pocket and slid his gun out.

  ‘I wouldn’t come any closer, if I was you,’ he warned, pointing it at Ben’s face.

  ‘Oh, God!’ Leanne squawked, holding herself up on the back of the couch as her legs threatened to give way. ‘Jake, put it away, I’m begging you. This has gone far enough.’

  ‘No, it hasn’t,’ he replied coolly, his stare still fixed on Ben.

  ‘Mate, don’t be stupid,’ Ben said, as calmly as he could manage. ‘Mrs Ford’s already called the police,’ he went on, praying as he said it that she’d ignored him and done exactly that. ‘They could be here any minute.’

  Leanne’s heart leapt into her throat. If the police arrived and caught Jake with the gun, somebody was going to end up getting badly hurt, or even killed. But if she could get him out of here before it went any further, she’d be able to talk him down, she was sure.

  She took a hesitant step forward and held out her hand. ‘This has got nothing to do with Ben and Chrissie, Jake; it’s between you and me. You said you wanted to talk, so let’s talk. It’s not too late.’