Visitors

by Woods, Karen

  “Thanks for telling me about Tim. I hope he sorts it all out. I’m going to be worrying all night now. I’ll try ringing his mobile phone when I get in bed, hopefully it will be switched on.” Helen didn’t say much more. Walking down the garden path she said goodnight.

  Susie lay in her bed. The quilt was stuck under her chin and she was cold. Checking her mobile again she sat worrying where Ashley was. He’d changed so much lately. He hardly ever rang her anymore and she was sure he was losing interest in her. Part of her was glad but the other part craved his attention. Switching the TV on Susie sat staring at the screen trying to watch a programme about giving birth. Her face went white as her hand felt the lower part of her stomach. Jumping from the bed she searched for a calendar. Flicking the white sheet over to the month before, she could see the date she had her last period. She’d drawn a ring around it. Her fingers touched every date as she counted the days. She was over two weeks late for her period. Sinking to the floor with the calendar in her hands she counted the days over and over again to make sure it was right. Susie was definitely late with her period.

  The sound of something being thrown at the window could be heard. Someone was throwing stones at it. Diving up from the floor she could see Ashley stood in the back garden. He was waving his hands at her frantically. Grabbing a jumper from the side of the bed she threw it on and went downstairs to let him in.

  “Where the fuck have you been? I’ve been ringing you for ages. You’re not gonna believe what’s happened.”

  Ashley barged past her and came inside the house. “I’ve been busy. I’ve not had chance to fart. Why what’s up?”

  “Come on let’s get in bed and I’ll tell you all about it. It’s fucking freezing down here.”

  Ashley told her to go upstairs without him. He was moaning telling her he was starving and needed something to eat. Opening the fridge door he started moaning. “Fucking hell Susie, it’s bare in here. When was the last time you went shopping?”

  Susie was shouting as she went up the stairs to bed. “Come on stop moaning. We’ll phone a Pizza from the takeaway if you’re hungry.”

  Ashley slammed the fridge door shut and followed her up. Susie told Ashley about what Helen had told her. He looked shocked. “So are you saying Tim’s having problems with Dom Jones in jail?”

  “That’s what Helen told me.”

  “Why the fuck is he involving me. When is the visit booked for?”

  “I haven’t booked a visit yet, but I’ll do it for you tomorrow if you want?”

  Ashley stripped off and jumped into the bed next to her. “Yeah book it for tomorrow. I’m gonna tell the prick once and for all. I’m sick of fighting his battles for him. I’ve got my own shit to deal with.”

  Susie could see his nostrils flaring at the side of her. Caressing his chest with her fingers she spoke in a low voice. “Ashley, I think I’m pregnant. I’m two weeks late for my period.”

  He bolted up from the bed. His eyes were staring at her and she looked scared. “Oh that’s all I fucking need. If you are you’d better be getting rid of it. I don’t want any bin-lids. I’m too young to be a dad.”

  Susie looked at him. Tears were forming in her eyes. She was definitely hormonal. Never in a million years would she have been feeling like this unless she was pregnant. She looked weak as she spoke. “Why are you being so nasty to me?”

  His head touched hers and he opened fire on her. “Nasty? Fucking hell, I only said, get rid of it. Don’t tell me you wanna keep it?”

  Susie knew she had to pull herself together and retaliated. “No I don’t want it either, but it would have been nice for you to show some fucking support. Don’t you give a fuck about me anymore?”

  Ashley turned away from her and pulled the blankets over his head. “Stop fucking pecking my head will you? I’m tired, I’m going to sleep.” Susie lay staring about the room. Her life was falling apart right in front of her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Vicky sat on the chair re-reading Blake’s prison letter. She’d written to him weeks before telling him it was over, but he was having none of it. He’d been phoning her constantly threatening to kill her if she didn’t have him back. Blake meant every word he said. She looked pale and she feared for her life. Vicky’s hands were shaking as she turned the white pages of his long letter. She was chewing on her fingernails. Blake told her his appeal was coming up soon and if he won it, he’d be back on the out. His solicitor was confident he would win his case and in each line of the letter he was telling her she was making the biggest mistake of her life. He was a crank.

  Vicky held her body and rubbed her arms. Small goose pimples were appearing on them. This man was dangerous and she knew if he ever found out she’d been unfaithful he would slice her up. He’d told her so many times in the past, and she knew without any shadow of doubt that he would stick to his word. Blake was not to be messed with. If he couldn’t get to her, she knew he’d get somebody to sort her out on his behalf. In the past Blake’s mates had shaved the hair from some girl’s head because she was fucking about with her boyfriend’s head whilst he was in jail. Vicky knew they wouldn’t think twice about doing the same thing to her. She gripped her hair and sighed.

  Vicky was doing well now and she was the one organising all the drops inside the jail. The people she’d got involved with didn’t seem to mind taking drugs into the nick. They were desperate people just like she was and they’d do anything just to earn an extra few quid. Vicky always made sure she paid them the going rate and never took them for granted. She was supplying most of Strangeways with drugs now and her life seemed to be on the up.

  Vicky’s appearance had changed completely. She looked amazing. Her hair was always neat and tidy and she even applied make-up to her face. Tim was in love with her. He’d told her so, the last time she’d visited him. If she was true to herself she loved him too. He made her heart race every time she looked at him. Vicky hadn’t seen Susie for weeks. She was dreading bumping into her and knew the day would come pretty soon when she’d have to face her demons. Vicky was involved with Pippa and Joan. She’d been to the brass gaff lots of times and she got on well with both the women. Tim had phoned Joan and told her the script regarding Vicky. She loved it and enjoyed every moment of Susie’s pain. Joan was no longer the underdog that Susie could walk all over. They all loved that she was getting a taste of her own medicine.

  Vicky sat in the brothel. She was watching everything that was going on around her. Pippa was in the corner of the room and she could see her sat with her legs crossed talking on her mobile. Tapping her finger on the side of the table she could tell this woman was up to something. Sneaking over to where she sat, she hid away behind some boxes and listened to her conversation. With one ear held towards her, Vicky looked shocked and covered her mouth with both her hands. She could hear the conversation coming to an end and tiptoed back to her original seat. Pippa strolled back towards her. She could be seen smiling from cheek to cheek. “What are you so happy about?” Vicky giggled.

  Pippa threw her hair back from her face and smirked. “I think I’m in love yanno.”

  Vicky screwed her face up. “Who with?” she sniggered. “You don’t even have a fella?”

  Pippa tapped the side of her nose with her long fingernail and chuckled. “Well that’s where you’re wrong sweetheart, Just because you don’t see me with anyone in here, it doesn’t mean I’m a loner.”

  “Yeah I know that but,” Vicky mumbled.

  “But nothing love, I do have a life outside these four walls you know.” Pippa nodded her head at Vicky and continued. “I’ve been going strong with my man now for over a month.”

  Vicky knew her secret and was waiting for the right moment to tell her she was onto her. She sat upright and got herself ready to knock the smile right from Pippa’s face. Vicky coughed and cleared her throat. “It’s Ashley innit?”

  Pippa nearly dropped down dea
d on the spot. Her face was white and she looked flustered. She gave a nervous laugh. “Ashley, you mean Tim’s mate?”

  Vicky nodded her head. “Yeah, you know exactly who I mean.”

  Vicky sat up and grabbed at Pippa’s hand. She made sure no one was listening. “Listen love. I’m not arsed who you’re sleeping with. Who am I to talk,” she held her hands out in front of her. “I’m with Tim aren’t I?”

  Pippa was desperate to tell someone her secret and sat closer to Vicky. “You’re right. I am with Ashley, but nobody’s knows yet, so I need you to keep quiet until he tells his girlfriend.”

  Vicky chuckled and played with her hair. “Who do you mean, Susie?”

  Pippa’s eyes nearly popped out her head. She was gobsmacked. “How do you fucking know about her? Ashley said nobody knows.”

  Vicky moved closer to her. She was a conniving bitch. “Susie told me,” she whispered.

  Pippa looked blank. “How? When?” she gasped. Vicky told her all about how she met Susie and how she’d ripped her off. Pippa was hanging onto her every word. She knew Vicky was seeing Tim but she’d never asked any questions about how they first met. Tim had always had women when he was on the out and she just thought Vicky was one of his knock-offs. Pippa sat back in her chair and blew her breath. “Right I’m with you now, you’ve only just started seeing Tim. I thought you were seeing him before he got nicked.”

  Vicky shook her head. She leant closer towards her and whispered into her ear. “I grassed Susie up to Tim.”

  Pippa tilted her head to the side and twisted her fingers in front of her. Vicky continued. “Susie’s an evil cow. She thought I was a nob-head and that she could have me over. She doesn’t deserve Tim anyway and I’m glad I told him she was shagging his best mate.” Pippa looked at this young girl in more detail. She couldn’t be trusted and she knew she would have to hold her cards close to her chest with her. This girl was out for what she could get and she didn’t care who she hurt in the process.

  Banging noises could be heard at the front door and both girls looked towards the camera. After studying it for a few minutes they realised it was Susie. Vicky swallowed hard and jumped to her feet. She looked frightened. “Where’s Joan,” she yelled. “Find fucking Joan.”

  Pippa sprang to her feet and ran out of the reception. “Joan, Joan,” she was shouting at the top of her voice as she ran down the corridor. Vicky ran to the CCTV and just stared at it. “Fuck, fuck, fuck,” she mumbled under her breath. Pippa bolted into Joan’s office. It was dark and she was struggling to see. “Joan where the fuck are you?” she was screaming at the top of her voice. Pippa kicked hard at the toilet door. She could see Joan leant over the toilet smoking crack. Dragging at her hair she yanked her up from the floor. “Are you fucking right in the head? I thought you were off that shit?” Joan was off her head. She looked on another planet. Pippa dragged her to her feet. She was struggling to hold her up. “Susie’s banging at the front door Joan. What the fuck are we going to do?” Joan was slurring her words and nothing she was saying was making any sense. Pippa dropped to the floor. She stood watching Joan trying to get back on her feet. “You’re a waste of space you are Joan,” she ranted as she ran back to the reception.

  Susie swung the reception door open. Vicky had pressed the button to let her in and she was sat down waiting for all hell to break loose. Susie’s hair was all over the place as she walked in; she looked pissed out of her head. Pippa came back into reception and their eyes locked. You could see Pippa’s chest rising frantically. Susie shot her a look and snarled. Vicky was sat on the sofa at the side of her and she was jerking her knees up and down. Once Susie saw her all hell broke loose. “What the fuck are you doing here? You little skank?” Vicky swallowed hard and you could see her face going red. Susie shouted into her face, and stood over her watching her like a hawk. “I said what are you doing here? Are you fucking deaf or summat?”

  Pippa sprinted over to where Susie stood and nodded her head. Her nostrils were flaring and you could see her clenched fist at the side of her. “She’s come to see me Susie. Have you got a problem with that?”

  Susie spun her head around to face her. “How do you know Vicky? And what’s she seeing you for?”

  Vicky felt intimidated and sprung to her feet. She didn’t need anyone to fight her battles. Her arms were held out swinging about in front of her face. “Ay gob-shite. Don’t ask Pippa about me. I’m sat fucking right here.”

  Vicky’s face was boiling with temper. Susie went nose to nose with her and they were close to fighting. “Who you calling a gob-shite? You fucking trollop.”

  Vicky pounced on Susie. She dug her nails deep into her face. The two women were going for it, but Vicky was fighting a losing battle. Pippa had to jump in to stop her getting hurt. She gripped Susie’s hair and tossed her across the floor. Vicky was bleeding and blood was trickling from her nose. Susie looked shocked and struggled to get back to her feet. When she regained her balance she ran at Pippa with an evil look in her eyes. “Fucking slapper, come on then if you want a piece of me. Bring it on.”

  Pippa stood her ground as Susie ranted into her face. Pippa looked calm. “Listen Susie, if you want to fight me then let’s have it. You don’t scare me one little bit. Vicky’s a fucking kid and you’re taking liberties with her, there’s no need for it. You need to get a grip.” Susie was bouncing about the room. The other working girls were stood at the door watching the goings-on.

  Susie snapped at them. “Right you lot. Get ya fucking stuff sorted out, and get the fuck out of here. As from now on Delia’s is closed. Do you hear me, fucking closed.”

  Pippa growled. Her head was spinning round looking in all directions. The girls huffed and one of them stood with one hand on her hip as she spoke directly to Susie. “You can’t close this place. It’s our livelihood. You’re fuck all to do with it anymore. Joan’s running things now. So when she tells us it’s over, that’s when we’ll go.”

  Susie screamed at the top of her voice. Spit hung from the corner of her mouth as she ran at the girls. She dragged the one who was talking and marched her back into the corridor. Susie could be seen pummelling her fist into her face. Vicky looked at Pippa. Her lips were trembling. “Where’s Joan?”

  Pippa held her hands out in front of her and hunched her shoulders. “She’s fucked love; I’ve just left her in the office. She’s been smoking crack again.” Screams could be heard from the corridor and they both ran to see what was going on. Dragging the door open they both looked shocked. Joan had hold off Susie’s hair from behind and she was dragging her all over the place. “You dirty crack-head. Get your fucking hands off me,” Susie screamed. Joan looked demented. She looked like a woman possessed as she ragged Susie’s body all over the place.

  Susie was launched out of Delia’s. It took five of them to get her down the stairs. She was kicking and screaming all the way to the exit. Joan stood tall as they watched Susie get up from the floor. She was livid as she spoke. “You think you’re smart you lot. Just wait until Tim knows what’s happened here. The lot of you will be out on your sorry arses.”

  Joan spat at her and pulled a small silver knife from her side pocket. The blade shone in the night and one girl covered her face as she saw it shining in her hand. Joan walked up to Susie and wafted the blade near her face. Susie backed away slowly as Joan gave her a piece of her mind. “Listen to me Susie. Tim’s asked me to run things now. He doesn’t want you anywhere near here. So deal with it. I swear, if I see you within an inch of this place, I’ll slice you up good and proper. Do you hear me?”

  Susie looked scared and nearly fell as she backed off. Her hair was all over the show and her blouse was ripped to shreds. Walking off into the night she shouted back at them one last time. “This is far from over Joan, mark my words, you’ll get what’s coming to you. You fucking whore.”

  Joan ran for her again, but Pippa held her back. “She’s not worth it love. Just leave her.” Joan was angry and stood
shouting behind her. Susie didn’t look back and kept walking.

  The girls went back inside the brothel. Vicky looked white, she was trembling. She still had tissue hanging from her nose and blood was still pumping from it. Pippa held her arm as they went back upstairs. She looked like she was going to faint. “Are you okay love?”

  Vicky sniffed hard and tears were forming in the corner of her eyes. “Yeah just a bit shocked that’s all. Susie’s off her fucking head. She was like a wild woman.”

  Pippa agreed with her. “Yeah she’s got some serious issues. Good job Joan sorted her out wasn’t it?” Vicky tried to smile but she was in severe pain. Heading into the reception Pippa led her into the bathroom. “Come on let’s get you cleaned up.”

  Joan was pacing reception. She tried Tim on his phone but it was switched off. She was shivering and her lips were blue. Sitting down on a nearby chair she sat cracking her knuckles. “Fucking tart,” she mumbled under her breath. Pippa came into view with Vicky walking slowly behind her. Joan sighed and shook her head. “We’ll have to watch our backs now yanno. I don’t trust Susie one little bit she’s a snidey bitch.”

  Pippa pulled her cigarettes from her pocket and handed them out. As Vicky took one her hand was still shaking. Joan reached for her hand and rubbed at her bony fingers. “Vicky are you okay? I’m sorry I wasn’t there straightaway.”

  Pippa scowled at Joan and coughed loudly. “You need to sort your shit out, you do,” she raised her eyebrows at her as she took a deep drag of her cig. Pippa continued. “If you’re smoking that shit again, I’m off out of here. Do you hear me? I’m gone. Seriously,” she stared at her.

  Joan was fidgeting, she looked edgy. Small droplets of sweat were visible on her forehead. She dropped her head and looked ashamed. “I’m sorry love. I’m trying my best. It’s just when I get stressed out, I can’t help myself.”

  “Like I said, sort it out Joan,” Pippa huffed. She stubbed her cig out in the ashtray and left them both alone.