by Kitty Neale
‘No … no,’ she whimpered, ‘please … don't—’ Her words were cut off as sticky tape was stuck roughly across her mouth.
She was then hauled onto one of the long seats, one man next to her, and the other opposite. All she could see was his flint-like grey eyes, boring into hers. She looked away, petrified, but then the man next to her reached out to grip her thigh with his rough hand. Pet had never known such gut-wrenching terror – terror that caused her bladder to release.
‘Fuck me, she's wet herself.’
‘What do you expect, she's just a kid.’
‘Yeah, but I can see why he wants her – she's a bit tasty. When she's cleaned up, I wouldn't mind a sample myself.’
‘He'd kill you.’
Pet felt strange, giddy, her head buzzing. Her vision dimmed, pinpricks of lights floating before her eyes – and then she knew no more.
‘She's passed out.’
‘We're nearly there. He wants her in the basement.’
‘Then what's he gonna do with her? Is he going to put her on the game?’
‘She's been snatched as a warning to the Drapers. After that, I've got no idea, but I guess we'll find out soon enough.’
Yvonne had just taken off her coat when there was a knock on her door. She had been to the doctor's and was still in shock. But she was also surprised by her mother-in-law walking in. Joan rarely left the house now, leaving Pet to do all the shopping whilst she took care of Dan.
‘Pet's late home from school. It isn't like her and I'm getting worried.’
‘Perhaps she went to a friend's house,’ Yvonne suggested.
‘No, she wouldn't do that. She always comes straight home. Look, I've got to get back to Dan. Can you let the boys know and maybe they'll have a scout around to see if they can find her?’
‘All right, I'll ring the yard.’
‘Thanks, love,’ Joan said.
Bob answered Yvonne's call. ‘Is Danny around, Bob?’
‘Er, no.’
‘Do you know where he is?’
‘I think he's out doing a bit of business.’
‘What about Chris?’
‘He's with Danny, but what's wrong? It ain't like you to ring the yard. Is there a problem? Is my dad all right?’
‘Yes, but your mum's worried about Pet. She hasn't arrived home from school.’
‘What! But it's gone five. Hang on, it's Paul's birthday and Sue has laid on a bit of a spread. Perhaps Pet's at my place.’
‘I'll pop down there, but I don't think it's likely.’
‘Have a look anyway. If she's not there, give me another ring.’
Yvonne replaced the receiver and then ran along to Sue's house. She rapped on the letter box before going inside to find that the birthday tea was over. The boys were playing on the rug in front of the fire, but Paul jumped to his feet when he saw her.
‘Look what I've got,’ he cried, running over to show her a fire engine.
Sue came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a tea towel. ‘Yes, and it was your auntie who gave it to you, so say thank you.’
‘Fanks, Auntie.’
‘It's from your Uncle Danny too, but I'm glad you like it. What else did you get for your birthday?’
Paul ran back to the rug, and bending down he picked up a car. ‘I got this from Petula.’
‘He's car mad and we got him that,’ Sue said as she nodded towards a big yellow dumper truck on the rug. ‘Norma and Maurice gave him a puzzle, and his gran, practical as ever, gave him a new woolly hat, scarf and gloves.’
‘Have you seen Petula?’
‘Not since she dropped Paul's present off before she went to school.’ Sue's head cocked to one side. ‘Why, is there a problem?’
‘She hasn't come home yet and Joan's worried.’
‘Flaming hell, it's only just after five. What's all the fuss about?’
‘She should have been home by now.’
‘Huh, so she's a bit late, and to be honest, I don't blame her. When she ain't at school she's stuck indoors cooking and cleaning. It's no life for a girl who's coming up fifteen. If you ask me it's about time she was let off the apron strings.’
‘Sue, I couldn't agree more, but the fact is, Petula always comes straight home. This is unlike her and you can't blame Joan for being worried.’
‘She's probably just rebelling a bit, and it's about time too. If Joan would let us all give her a hand, Pet could have a bit more freedom.’
‘Mum, tell Robby, he's nicked my car.’
‘Robby, give it back to him.’
Yvonne said hastily, ‘I'd best get back.’
‘Mum …’
Yvonne scooted out to the sound of Paul's wail, leaving Sue to sort out her sons. She rang the yard and then went to her mother-in-law's. ‘Bob and Maurice are locking up. They'll be here soon.’
‘What about Danny and Chris?’
‘They weren't there.’
Dan's good arm was waving as he made strange sounds without forming any coherent words. ‘I think he's worried about Petula too,’ Joan said, walking across to stroke his hair. ‘Don't fret, love.’
It was awful to see Dan's distress, and Yvonne was touched by Joan's tenderness. He may not be able to communicate, but this proved he knew exactly what was going on around him. Petula might be nearly fifteen, but she hadn't had the sense to warn her mother that she might be late home. Dan was so upset and Yvonne couldn't help feeling annoyed at the girl's thoughtlessness.
By eleven that night, there was still no sign of Petula. The boys had been out for hours, Danny and Chris looking in one direction, Maurice and Bob in the other.
When they returned to Drapers Alley, Yvonne came flying out of number one. ‘Did you find her?’
‘Does it look like it?’ Danny said.
‘Your dad's been in such a state that your mum had to call the doctor. He's been sedated now, but if he wakes up to find that Petula is still missing, I dread to think what will happen.’
‘Do you think I don't know that?’
‘Where did you look?’
‘Everywhere, and before you ask, yes, we tried all the hospitals.’
‘Maybe we should tell the police.’
‘Leave it out, Yvonne.’
‘Danny, think about it. The police have got resources that we haven't.’
‘Yvonne's got a point,’ Maurice said, and though it was freezing, sweat beaded his brow.
Danny was struggling to hold himself together. He'd hoped his suspicions were unfounded, but the longer Pet was missing, the more his guts churned. When his mother appeared, he couldn't meet her eyes.
‘Oh, Danny, where is she?’
‘I don't know, but don't worry, we'll find her.’
‘Mum, you look awful,’ Chris said, ‘and it's freezing out here.’
‘Yes, come on, let's get you inside,’ Yvonne urged.
‘You won't stop looking?’
‘Of course we won't,’ Danny said, a hard knot of worry like a rock in his stomach. He had wanted to stir Garston up, to force his hand, but hadn't expected the bastard to strike out at his family.
He waited until Yvonne and his mother had returned inside before voicing his thoughts to his brothers. ‘I think Garston's got her.’
‘I've been thinking the same,’ Chris said. ‘But if that was the case, surely he'd have been in touch?’
‘Maybe he wants to make us sweat for a while.’
‘I told you we should pack it in but none of you would have it. Now look what's happened. If he's got Pet, fuck knows what he'll do to her.’
Danny glared at Maurice. ‘I'm in charge so this is down to me, but if the bastard so much as lays a finger on her – he's dead.’
‘Yeah, you're in charge, but you should have listened to me – made Chris and Bob listen to me. But no, Danny, you had to stir things up, had to act Mr Big and now look what's happened.’
‘Look, this isn't achieving anything,’ said Chris. ‘We need to concentrate
on finding Pet. Have you any idea where Garston might be holding her?’
Danny shook his head. ‘Do you think I'd be standing here if I did?’
Maurice moved to lean against the wall, his breathing tortured, and it was Bob who said, ‘You look awful, Maurice. Go home and leave this to us.’
Maurice nodded. ‘All right, but if Pet hasn't turned up by morning, I'm coming out with you again.’
As Maurice went into his house, Bob said, ‘What are we going to do now, Danny?’
‘We'll just have to wait for Garston to get in touch.’
‘Until we know for sure that he's got her, we should keep looking,’ Chris urged.
‘Yes, all right,’ Danny agreed, but his guts were telling him it would be a waste of time. Garston had his sister. Pet's innocent face swam before his eyes. The thought of Garston touching her sickened him. I'll kill him, his mind screamed, his anger the only thing that was holding him together.
Pet couldn't stop shaking. The tape had been ripped from her mouth and then she'd been shoved into a back room and onto a bare bed, the mattress filthy and stained. She had been so cold, but then seeing a dirty quilt on the floor she had snatched it up, sitting with it wrapped around her whilst the smell of her own urine assailed her nostrils. In despair she had frantically looked for a way to escape, but the only window was barred. Hours passed. She didn't know why she'd been snatched, but terrifying thoughts assailed her mind. Oh God, what were they going to do to her?
She swallowed, her throat parched. In the next room she could hear the occasional sound of muffled voices, but so far she had been left alone.
When the door opened, Pet stiffened in fear as a man walked towards her, menacing in his balaclava. She cowered, but his voice was surprisingly gentle.
‘Here, I've brought you a drink.’
As he held out a mug, Pet snatched it, gulping down the water as though it were nectar.
‘Why … why am I here?’
‘You'll find out soon enough.’
‘Please … please let me go.’
‘Sorry, I can't do that.’
Pet frowned, sure that she had heard his voice before. ‘Do … do I know you?’
He shook his head, glancing behind him as another man entered the room.
‘What's this?’ he snapped. ‘Having a taster, are you?’
‘No, I just gave her a drink, that's all.’
‘Good, 'cos I'm first.’
‘No, she ain't to be touched.’
‘Unless you tell him, he ain't likely to find out. Come on, let's have a bit of fun.’
Pet screamed, trying to scramble away as the man grabbed her.
‘He probably wants a virgin, have you thought of that?’
‘Fuck, she stinks to high heaven.’
‘If you touch her, he'll kill you.’
‘Keep your hair on. With her stinking of piss I don't fancy her anyway. Shame, though; cleaned up she'd be a bit of all right.’
‘Yes, she is rather nice,’ a voice said.
Both men spun around, the man who had grabbed Pet holding up his hands as though in surrender. ‘We didn't touch her, honest.’
‘Yes, but from what I heard, it's thanks to Tony.’
Pet was still shaking as she looked at the third man to enter the room. He was short, tubby and wearing a three-piece suit. Unlike the other two, his face wasn't covered, and, as he looked at her, his smile was kindly.
‘Are you all right, my dear?’
‘Please … I want to go home.’
‘Well, that's up to your brothers.’
‘My … my brothers?’
‘Don't look so surprised. Surely you know what your brothers have been up to?’
‘N-no.’
‘Really? Well, maybe I should put you in the picture.’ He laughed. ‘Oh, pardon the pun, but then again, looking at you, perhaps I should feature you in one of my films.’
Pet stared at the man. He didn't look menacing and he was talking about films, but what did that have to do with her brothers? ‘I … I don't understand. My family supply building materials. They don't make films.’
The man's demeanour changed, his voice a snarl. ‘Bring her upstairs.’
Before Pet could react she was dragged off the bed, each man taking an arm and pulling her towards a narrow wooden staircase. She was so afraid that her legs could barely support her.
Oh God, help me.
She was hauled upstairs, barely taking in the opulent hall before she was dragged into another room.
‘Sit her down,’ the fat man said, ‘and then set up the projector.’
Pet was forced onto a plush sofa, cowering as the fat man sat next to her. ‘Now, my dear,’ he said, his demeanour once again benign, ‘the films that I'm going to show you were made by your brothers, and are the reason why you're here.’
‘Ready, boss.’
‘Good,’ he said, his voice once again hardening as he snapped, ‘Turn off the lights and roll it.’
The room was plunged into darkness and then almost immediately a film was showing on a screen in front of Pet. At first, confused, she couldn't understand what was happening, but then as it unfolded she watched it in horror. A woman was thrown onto a bed, her wrists tied to the posts. She struggled, screaming as a man began to do things to her that made the bile rise in Pet's throat. She didn't know much about the sex act, only what her friends had told her, but this – this was awful. He was raping her! Oh God, it was terrible! Unable to watch any more, she turned her head away.
The fat man tittered. ‘Don't worry, my dear, I'm sure they're only acting.’ His voice then changed as he snapped, ‘Run the next one.’
‘No…no…’ Pet whimpered as the film unfolded. This time it was a child being raped, the little girl crying out for her mother in terror. No – no, she couldn't watch it. ‘Oh, please, please, turn it off.’
‘Yes, I think that's enough, and anyway, my dear, I can't stand the smell of you for much longer.’
‘She pissed herself.’
‘Yes, Gary, I think that's obvious. Now then, Miss Draper, as I said, the films were made by your brothers.’
‘No … no, I don't believe you.’
‘Oh, I can assure you it's true. I've known about their operation for some time – in fact since they started production. It was fine when they stuck to making nice little soft-porn films – something that holds no interest for me – but, you see, they became greedy.’
Pet shook her head against his words. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't.
His voice droned on. ‘I tried to warn them off, but it seems that scarring your brother's cheek wasn't enough.’
‘You! You did that to Chris.’
‘Ah, I see I've got your attention at last. My, you are a pretty little thing,’ he mused. ‘It would be a shame if I had to hand you back, but then again, I don't really have to.’
Pet cringed in fear as his pudgy hand reached out to stroke her leg. He then snapped, ‘Tony, get her cleaned up and then for now, take her back to the basement.’
‘What do you want me to do, boss?’ the other man asked.
‘I haven't forgotten what I heard downstairs. Get out of my sight and I'll deal with you later.’
‘Come on, on your feet,’ she was ordered as the other man grabbed her arm.
‘Leave me alone.’
‘Ah, that's nice, Tony; she's got a bit of spunk. If the Drapers don't learn their lesson she'll make a nice little addition to my stars, and I've got just the film in mind.’
Pet was dragged out of the room and then upstairs to a bathroom.
‘Go on, get cleaned up.’
He made no move to leave, and arms folded defensively, Pet stammered, ‘Not … not till you go.’
‘All right, but don't try anything. I'll be back with some clean togs.’
As he left, Pet looked frantically around, but there wasn't a window, no means of escape. She sank down onto the cold tiles, sobbing.
; Only minutes later the door opened and clothes were thrown onto the floor beside her.
‘Come on, get a move on, and then get those on.’
Pet was unable to stop the sobs that racked her body. She sank onto her side, curling into a ball.
The man crouched down beside her, his voice surprisingly soft. ‘Come on, your brothers ain't daft. As long as they play ball, you'll be out of here.’
As he reached out to touch her, Pet scrambled away.
There was a soft laugh. ‘Still the innocent, I see. Still just a kid.’
His words sparked a memory. Tony! It was Tony Thorn, the boy she had met at the youth club. With a spark of hope she sat up. ‘I … I know who you are. Please, Tony, please let me go.’
‘I can't. Garston would kill me.’
‘Oh, please, Tony … pleeease.’
‘Look, I've told you, as long as your brothers play ball, you'll be all right.’
‘But they don't make those horrible films.’
‘They do, and they were idiots to take on Garston. Now come on, have a quick wash and get dressed. If I don't get you back to the basement we could both be in trouble.’
Pet was unresisting as Tony hauled her up, but when he didn't leave she just stared at him.
He sighed with exasperation. ‘It ain't me you've got to worry about, but all right, I'll wait outside.’ As he went out of the door he hissed, ‘Get a move on.’
Pet washed. Though she hated the low-cut, tight black dress she'd been given, at least it was preferable to the smelly clothes she discarded. Her mind was racing. Despite refusing at first, surely she could persuade Tony to help her?
When Pet tried the handle she found that the door wasn't locked, but Tony was waiting outside. He urged her forward, down one flight of stairs, and then through a door that led to the basement.
‘Tony, please, you've got to help me.’
‘I've told you, I can't,’ Tony said as he pulled off his balaclava, adding ruefully, ‘Now that you've clocked me, wearing this is a waste of time.’
‘Tony, please, there's been some sort of awful mistake. That man must have got it wrong. My brothers wouldn't be mixed up in … in …’
‘Porn,’ Tony finished for her. ‘Garston's got eyes and ears everywhere and he doesn't make mistakes. As soon as there's a snifter of something, he hears about it. Take your brother Danny, for instance. As soon as he asked about getting hold of kids, Garston heard about it. Oh shit, you ain't gonna faint on me, are you? Look, sit down, bend over and take deep breaths.’
