The Graft

by Karen Woods

  “Wow, fuck me. Calm down will you. I was only asking.”

  Lizzy sparked a cig up and opened the window slightly to blow the smoke out. She looked over at the driver and examined him in more detail. She’d always sat in the back of the car before and she never took much interest in her driver. “I met a guy when I was sixteen. He told me he loved me, and I believed him.” Jordan didn’t know what to say so he remained silent as she continued. “He never loved me. It was just part of his plan to get me mixed up in this sick twisted world we live in. He groomed me, he got me ready for all them dirty bastards.”

  Jordan was gobsmacked and felt a chill run down the back of his neck. “I don’t know what to say Lizzy,” he said.

  “You don’t have to say anything; it was my own fault for being so thick. He used to take me out, buy me clothes, everything a girl my age was looking for. I thought he was the real deal.”

  “So, what changed?”

  “Every time we went out for a drink, he was always making sure I had a skin-full, drink after drink he brought over to me. I was only used to the odd glass of wine back then.”

  “Lightweight, aren’t you,” he smirked.

  Lizzy was starting to relax and she seemed to be warming to Jordan. “Each morning I woke up in bed and I couldn’t remember a thing about the night before. My boyfriend said it was because I’d drank too much but I knew then something wasn’t right. So, the next time we went out I pretended that I was drinking my drinks as normal and acted like I was pissed out of my head.”

  Jordan was involved now and he was hanging on her every word, eager for her to continue. Her eyes closed as she told him the rest of her story. Her emotions were running high as he could see a teardrop rolling down the side of her cheek. “He thought I was drunk. He took me in the car to a house full of Asian men. Once I was inside, he just flung me on the bed and each of them had sex with me. I tried screaming, but nobody could hear me, or nobody cared. He came back for me a few hours later and took me back to his flat and put me in bed. He never said a word.”

  “Fucking hell, what an arse-hole he is. The dirty bastard.”

  “Tell me about it. I’d run away from home to be with him and he’d promised me the world. I can never go back home now, not now, not ever. I’ve caused my family so much pain.”

  “So, you’re still with the guy?” She dropped her head low and her lips quivered.

  “No, he’s moved onto the next girl. I have to work to live in the house. That’s what he’s told me. I have nowhere else to go, so I’ve got to carry on doing what I’m doing.”

  Jordan was annoyed. “You can come and get your head down at my gaff if you want. Nobody should have to go through that just because they have nowhere to live.”

  Lizzy reached over and stroked his arm. “That’s nice of you, but I’m stuck where I am for now. I have been stashing a bit of money each week and when I have enough, I’ll just get my belongings and leave. There are other girls there too, about three more. He’s done the same to all of them. He drugs them and takes them to punters, the prick.”

  Jordan blew a laboured breath. This was some sick twisted shit. The guy should have had his bollocks cut off for what he was doing to these young girls. “The offer is still there if you change your mind, just bear it in mind for the future. I’m here if you ever need me. I’ll give you my number before you leave.”

  Lizzy looked at him and just stared for a few seconds. “You’re nice. Nobody has ever given me the time of day, never mind tried to help me. It means a lot to me, more than you know.” Jordan’s good deed was done for the day and he felt better about himself. “So how long have you worked for Jimmy then?” Lizzy asked.

  “I don’t work for that nob. I work for myself. I owe him some money, and this is how I have to pay it back. All because I got done over and lost a lot of money.”

  “They all piss in the same pot, they have no values. I found that out a long time ago”

  “You’re right there. Once I’ve paid what I owe, he won’t see me for dust. I’ll set up on my own and fuck him right off.”

  “Good luck with that. I’ve heard he’s a head the ball, a lunatic.”

  “Yes, he is. Why do you think I’m driving you girls about? He said he was coming through my mam’s front door if I didn’t sort out the dough that I owed him. I can’t have that can I? I had no other option.”

  “No, your family are precious. I realise that now.” Lizzy pulled a small jacket over her body. Her eyes were closing, she was completely knackered. She drifted off to sleep.

  Jordan had reached his destination. He pulled up outside the house and turned the engine off. It was time to wake Lizzy up. But, how could he send her back into the house knowing what lay behind those walls. He sat thinking for a few seconds and sighed shaking his head. This wasn’t his problem, he had enough of his own. It was just a crying shame that Lizzy had nobody in her life to help her get away from the world she was involved in. He reached over and gently patted her shoulder. “Lizzy, we’re here. Come on, wake up.”

  The young girl began to stir, her eyes opening slowly. She looked bewildered as she fully opened her eyes and took a few seconds before finding her bearings. She looked out of the window into the darkness and swallowed hard. “Thank you, not just for driving me home but for listening to me. I don’t talk to anyone about what I do and it was nice to have a friendly face, who sort of understands me.”

  Jordan was involved again. She was pulling at his heart strings. How could he let her go back in the house now that he knew what was happening to her? She was selling her body, and those dirty bastards were touching her in places she didn’t want to be touched. He swallowed a large mouthful of air and sucked on his bottom lip. “Come home with me. I’ll tell them that you weren’t at the house when I came to pick you up. I care about you and I don’t want you putting yourself in danger. I don’t want anything in return, no money, no sex, fuck all, just to know you are safe.”

  Lizzy gasped, she was having a panic attack. Her eyes flicked one way then another, she squeezed her fingers into tight balls and bit down on one. “No, I have to go back. They’ll hunt high and low for me. They’ve told me that before, when I was late home one night. One of the girls who went missing never returned and the story is that they found her and did her in. I don’t want to die.”

  Jordan banged his palm on the steering wheel and his voice got louder. “Nobody will find you. I can hide you away until you’re ready to leave. You don’t need anything. Just come with me and sort your head out for a bit. After a few days you’ll feel better and everything will look different.”

  Lizzy was shaking from head to toe and she wasn’t making sense anymore. She gripped the car door and fumbled to open it. “I’m not ready yet. This is the only home I’ve known. I can’t go back to my family. How could I when I’ve been selling my body? My parents would never forgive me. I’m broken now, lost.”

  Jordan reached over and grabbed the back of her skimpy dress. “You can do what you want. Just get back in the car and let me take you to safety.”

  Lizzy wriggled free; she was frantic to get away. “Stop being so nice to me! Just go home. I’ll be fine. Thank you for caring, it means a lot to me. But just leave me be.” Lizzy disappeared and he could hear her heels clip up the long path towards the house. She turned back to look at him one last time. He punched his fist into the dashboard and dropped his head. At least he’d tried, what else could he have done?

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Tony was working today but he was distracted, always looking over his shoulder. His head looked one way, then the other. What was he searching for? The weather was fine so there was no reason for him to be sat in the small wooden shed at the bottom of the garden skiving. Peeping out from the small window his eyes squeezed together. He nodded his head and rubbed his hands as he spotted Sue pulling up in her car. The corners of his mouth started to rise and he stood up to straighten his clothes. He quickly rubbed some soil
on his cheeks and smeared some of the dark brown grit across his forehead. He grabbed a metal spade in his hands and stepped outside and started digging a patch of turf. Here he was getting paid to sit on his arse all day doing nothing. What a piss-taker.

  Sue twisted her head and spotted him from the corner of her eye. “Shall I make us a nice cuppa Tony?” she shouted across the garden. She didn’t need to ask him twice. He downed tools and he was already on his way over to her. “What a lovely day it is, spring is surely on the way. We’ll start planting some flowers soon, in time for the summer. I’ve already started to plan the colours. I can have red and pink carnations over there, and maybe some yellow and cream ones on the higher ground. What do you think?”

  Tony was caught off guard and stuttered. “Yes, but let the weather settle first. I’ve been weeding today. I’ve yanked loads of them up from the back of the fence. And, yes, we can start planting some flowers in the next few weeks. Just let’s do the groundwork first.”

  They headed towards the front door and Tony was holding her shopping bags for her. What a gentleman he was. She must have been on a spending spree, there were lots of clothes and shoes. He would never have done a tap for Elsie, he’d just lie on the sofa and watch her heave all the shopping in on her own, he always turned a blind eye. There was more go in a sick-note. “Can I just nip to the loo?” Tony asked as he held his crotch with desperation in his expression.

  “Yes, of course. Just put my bags down here and I’ll sort them out later.” Tony left the hallway and rushed upstairs. The toilet door was facing him, but he detoured passed it. He was as quiet as a mouse as he entered the bedroom. Tony knew exactly what he was doing and headed straight for the silver jewellery box on the high gloss, white dressing table. Lifting the lid up slowly with the slightest of movements, his hand hovered for a few seconds. Quickly, he clutched a diamond ring and studied it for a few seconds. This was what he was looking for, something that was worth a few quid. He rammed it down the front of his boxers and made sure it was lodged under his ball sack. There was no waiting about, he slammed the lid back down and made sure everything was as he found it. Twisting on his feet he was out of the room as quick as a flash. Tony was sweating, hands clammy, small beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Tony closed the toilet door behind him and sat down on the toilet. His heart was racing and he had to calm down. It was time to examine his stolen goods. His eyes were wide open. This was a beauty and worth a few grand for sure. He turned the ring one way then another. All his worries would be over now, he could pay for the holiday and even have some spending money. This was the life-line he needed, a second chance. He stashed the ring away, inside his sock this time and flushed the toilet behind him. His cheeks were beetroot when he made his way back down the stairs and he looked shifty.

  Sue was sat at the kitchen table and she was waiting for him. “I’ve put you some cake out. Lemon drizzle, it’s one of my favourites. I hope you like it. I’ve put you a large slice out, I know you like anything sweet.” Sue was flirting and he could tell by the way she licked the white fluffy cream from her finger. She slid it in her mouth and sucked it out slowly, making sure he could see her. Tony had no appetite whatsoever and he was nervous in case she’d sussed him. He sat down and reached over for his drink. He swallowed hard. “I’m going to get off early today Sue. The wife is at the doctors and I said I would go with her.”

  Sue rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. I thought we could have spent some time together today. But, not to worry, we’ll catch up another day.” She licked the edge of her rosy red lips and flicked her hair over her shoulders. Tony was agitated as she stood up and ran her fingers through his hair. He could smell her perfume, her sweet floral aroma that drove him mad for her body. “It’s a shame you have to leave, I thought we could have had some time together. You know, special time,” she purred in her sexy voice. Her hand slid down the front of his t-shirt and she bent her head slowly and kissed his neck. He couldn’t turn her down, he was like butter in her hands. The way she smelt, the way her body curved, her long blonde hair, no, he had to have her. He wasn’t thinking straight anymore. The two of them kissed passionately and Tony was lost in the moment. She was dragging his clothes off in a wild frenzy. He only had his boxer shorts on now and his white tennis socks. With a flat palm she pushed him onto the table and lifted his leg up. With her teeth she gripped his foot firmly. Sue was kinky for sure and sucking his toes was a guilty pleasure. Her face changed, as her hand dragged off the sock. Tony flapped about, remembering what was in there, but it was too late. Sue held the diamond ring in her hand and studied it. The shit was going to hit the fan for sure. She lifted her head up and looked at Tony then looked back at the ring. The penny dropped and she moved away from him as if he was diseased.

  “That’s my ring isn’t it?”

  Tony was stuck for words, he had to think quick. “Yes, it is. I was going to buy you a ring to thank you for all you’ve done for me and I needed your ring size. I was going to bring it back to you, honest, I was.”

  I suppose it was a good effort from Tony but she was onto him. Her voice was louder. “No, I don’t believe you. How could you steal from me when I have done so much for you? Move away from me you deceitful bastard.”

  Tony held his hands up and started to get his clothes back on in a panic. “Sue, on my life, that’s the truth. Why would I ruin what we have here? I’m not that kind of guy. Come on, how many times have I been in here and never touched a thing. And, I could have, couldn’t I?”

  She walked up to him and drew her hand back and swung it forward with speed. The slap landed right across his cheek and made a loud noise. “Get your belongings and get your stinking rotten, thieving hands out of my property before I ring the police on you. I trusted you. I, I…” she stuttered.

  Just the mention of the old bill sent him into a panic. He went white. “Sue, love, come on. I would never steal anything from you. I love it here, and us,” he was frantic.

  “What about us?” She growled at him and moved away from him. He’d not seen the side of her before, she was no pushover. She was the one calling the shots. “Just go and never come back here. You were a mistake, a daft mistake that I’m already regretting. You’re nothing more than a street rat, a dirty thief, with no respect for nobody.”

  Tony hovered, he dropped his head and his voice was soft. She was right, and he knew it. “Sorry, there are no other words for it. If you think I’m a thief, then there is nothing more to say. I’ll go.” Sue’s eyes burned into him. The sooner he was out of here the better. His feet trudged towards the front door. He was hoping she might have had a change of heart, but she never did. He’d fucked up big time. Tony booted the front gate as he left the property. He could have been the Lord of the Manor here, made for life. But now he was back to square one. What a plonker.

  *

  Tony sat in Mickey’s and he was on a complete downer. He’d just confided in his pal all about his antics with Sue. Yes, he told him about the sex too. Mickey rubbed his hands together. He was amazed and still not sure if Tony was filling his head with shit. But, either way, he loved the story. “Fucking hell, so you were bollocks deep in her? Standard that mate. Ay, I wonder if I knock on and ask if she needs a gardener she’ll take me on? I could do with a good shag. I’ve not emptied my bollocks for years.”

  Tony booted at his leg. “Are you having a laugh or what. I was special. Do you think she’d have your sweaty todger stuck up her when she’s had mine first?”

  Mickey burst out laughing and fell back onto the sofa. “It’s a shame about that ring though mate, I bet it was a right few quid. Trust you to get caught.”

  “Tell me about it. I take two steps forward and three steps back. What am I going to do now? I can’t tell Elsie what happened, she’ll go ballistic. I’ll have to say Sue’s going on holiday for a few weeks, that should get her off my back for a bit.”

  Mickey chewed on his lips. “You’ll have to get your arse back out graftin
g then won’t you, because Elsie will be wanting some cash.”

  Tony was alarmed. No, he was past grafting for drug money, he was off drugs, he was clean. Plus, he didn’t have the nerve for it anymore. What else could he do though? Mickey was right, his missus would be wanting some cash from his work soon. Maybe he could set a job up? One last hit, a big one, a game changer. But he was no big-time gangster, he was just a poxy shoplifter, a house burglar, nothing more. Tony sat thinking and tickled the end of his chin. A plan was hatching in his mind, his eyes opened wide. “I’ll get that ring Mickey; I’ll screw the house over. I know where the alarms are and all the CCTV. Plus, she has other rings, I’ll take the fucking lot. It would serve her right for cheating on her old man.” Tony rubbed his hands together and nodded his head. He was back in the game.

  Mickey was itching at his skin, sweating and he held a cunning look in his eye. It was that time again. He never said a word he just reached over and started to get the stuff ready to smoke the heroin, silver foil and lighter. Tony was struggling and you could see his fingers roll into tight balls at the side of his legs. Don’t be an arse Tony, walk away, you’ve been doing so well, he told himself. But there was another voice in his head that was getting louder and louder, gripping his thoughts. Music played softly in the background as Mickey melted into the chair, his eyes glossed over and every now and then they opened, nothing he was saying was making any sense. Why was Tony still sat here? He should have left and gone home to his family. He bit down hard on his fingernails and chewed at the small piece of skin hanging there. His body rocked and he was moving to the edge of his seat. His hands were shaking as it moved towards the drugs. He stopped and froze. What the hell was he doing?

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Emily lay in her bedroom just staring at the ceiling. She’d only been home a few hours and already she was pining for Mark. She lived and breathed him, he was constantly on her mind, he was well and truly under her skin. Elsie opened the bedroom door and popped her head inside. “Bleeding hell, are you home? I thought you’d moved out.”