The Girl by the Thames

by Peter Boland

“I don’t want two beatings tonight. I’ve only just got my head around one.”

  Behind the door came the jiggle of a chain and the twist of a lock mechanism. The door opened at an acute angle, the chain stopped it from getting any wider. Through the gap Tanya’s dad’s face appeared.

  “Girls,” he said, “everything okay?” There was just a hint of alcohol on his breath whereas normally it was a flood. His voice was clear, alert and sober.

  “Er, yeah,” said Tanya.

  “Is Greg with you?” he asked.

  “No.”

  He thought for a moment. “Do you want to come in?”

  Both girls nodded.

  The door closed and the chain jiggled, then it re-opened. Tanya’s dad stepped out between the two girls and glanced along the walkway in either direction.

  “Okay, come on in.”

  “Lena needs to shower and change if that’s okay?” Tanya asked, keeping her distance just in case asking deserved a slap.

  “Sure,” he said, locking the door and reattaching the chain. Tanya noticed his hands were shaking and he had a scratch on his head. She didn’t mention it.

  Lena stared at the carpet. “Come on,” said Tanya. “Let’s get you a shower and some new clothes. While Lena changed, Tanya waited in the lounge. Strangely, the TV wasn’t on and her dad stood by the window looking out along the walkway outside. Tanya went to put the TV on.

  “Leave it off,” he said.

  “But I want to see if there’s anything about the whale.”

  “Leave it off,” he said again.

  “Fine.” Something had happened to him she could tell. All he ever did was sleep, drink and watch TV. She’d never known him to be awake without the TV on. She was curious to know what was eating him, but it would have to wait. Tanya had bigger things on her mind, like what to say to the Niners. Her idea had seemed like a good one at the time, and was the right thing to say to calm Lena’s nerves. Whatever happened, she knew this was going to end badly, it was just a matter of how bad.

  Lena emerged from the bathroom, looking better but still worn out. Tanya’s clothes didn’t help and hung off Lena’s small frame like she’d been crash dieting.

  “Ready?” said Tanya.

  “No,” Lena replied.

  “Come on, it’ll be fine,” Tanya lied.

  The two girls walked quickly back to the lock-up with Lena directing the way. Neither of them spoke very much. Tanya was too busy thinking of what to say to the Niners. There would be no easy way to do this. Like a ripping off a plaster that was super-glued to your arm, it had to be done and was probably going to leave a scar, probably several.

  Chapter 18

  “This is it,” said Lena. Her voice seemed like it was far away and would crumble at any second. Tanya looked at the dented metal door of the lock up. They could hear voices inside, at least they were happy ones. “So, are we going in?”

  “Wait,” said Tanya. “Text them first, let them know that we’re outside. Ask them if it’s all right for me to come in.”

  “Okay,” said Lena. She started thumbing away on her mobile phone. Tanya knew that turning up at a gang meeting, especially a secret one, wasn’t cool.

  A second later, the door rose up in a roar and Duff stood there with a big smile on his face. He’d definitely had a bit too much to drink. “There you are, Lena the Hyena and Tanya the …” He looked around for inspiration but couldn’t think of anything, “… something or other. Come and join the party.”

  The two girls looked at each other, Lena swallowed and Tanya gulped down a big breath. Inside, a lot of happy, smiley drunk faces greeted them. Tanya was more worried than she’d been before. This would have been easier if the Niners were sober. She knew from experience how quickly things could go from merry to mental when alcohol was involved.

  “Have a drink,” said Duff. “Want an iphone? We’ve got loads.”

  “Who’s been knocking you around,” asked Vicks, staring at Tanya’s face.

  “Er, no-one,” said Tanya.

  “You tell us who he is and we’ll fuck him up,” Seb slurred.

  “That’s right,” said Duff. “No-one does that to a Niner.”

  “I’m not a Niner yet,” Tanya replied “That’s what I want to talk to you about.” She took Duff by the arm and turned him slightly so he was facing away from the others to give them some privacy. “You know how much me and Lena respect you, don’t you.”

  “Course.”

  “You and all the Niners. You’re the dons around here, total dons. No one respects the Niners as much as me and Lena. Thing is, we’re not ready for it just yet, gang life that is. We’re still little kids and you guys, well you’re like giants to us. So we were wondering if we could, maybe put off joining for a bit, until we’re a bit older.”

  “Yeah, that’s fine,” Duff said, waving his hand as if it was nothing.

  “It is?”

  “Yeah, no problem. We still got your back, though.” Duff beckoned Lena over. She obeyed, looking worried. He put his arm around her. “It’s okay, Lena we’re cool. You’re a good girl. You know you can run with us anytime, okay.”

  The worry drained from Lena’s face to be replaced by complete and total relief.

  “Are you sure that’s okay?” she said.

  “Yeah, course, you did well tonight.”

  “Thanks, Duff, I appreciate it.”

  “Be safe you two.”

  The two girls turned to walk out of the lock-up when Duff’s voice halted them.

  “Just one thing before you go, we’ll need that money back. You know, the cash from the robbery you and Gem did. As you’re not in the Niners anymore it don’t belong to you.”

  A needle of fear hit Lena’s skull, taking her breath away. She didn’t say anything, and just stared at Duff, unable to break away from his gaze.

  “Well?” he said.

  “Er, I ain’t got it,” Lena mumbled.

  “Say again.” There was anger in Duff’s voice. He’d heard her properly the first time, he just wanted to make sure.

  “It’s gone.”

  “What? You can’t have spent it already,” he said. This time his voice was playful, much to Tanya’s relief.

  “I burnt it.”

  Tanya wished she could have caught the words as they came out of Lena’s mouth. If she’d said anything but that they might have stood a chance - lost the money, maybe; got mugged, possibly. But burned their money, that was unforgivable. Worse, it was an insult.

  Duff’s eyes became wild. “You did what?”

  Everyone looked at Lena. “I burnt it …”

  Tanya took over to try and prevent Lena making things worse, “It was an accident.”

  “How can you burn money by accident,” Duff said, turning those fearsome eyes on Tanya.

  “We were standing by the burning car, and then she pulled the cash out, all excited and lost her grip and they fell into the flames.”

  “Bullshit,” said Duff. It was a rubbish lie and Tanya knew it, but it was the best she could come up with on the spur of the moment. “You must think I’m a mug.”

  “It’s okay, Tan,” said Lena stepping in front of Tanya. “That’s not how it happened. I got scared after the riot. I ran off because I was freaked out. After seeing that guy get shot, I couldn’t hold onto that money. It wasn’t right, so I threw it in the burning car.”

  “It don’t change anything. You pay the money back, then you and your friend can walk out of here.”

  “I haven’t got that sort of money. I haven’t got anything,” Lena pleaded.

  “We’ll pay it back, bit by bit,” Tanya said. “We’ll pay it all back, plus interest.”

  Duff prodded Tanya in the chest with his index finger. “Not good enough,” he said. “I want it all. Now.”

  “We haven’t got it,” said Lena.

  “Then you’ve got a problem.” Duff turned and rubbed his chin. “You need to pay your way out of this gang.”

 
; “What about a beating?” Vicks volunteered.

  “Nah,” Duff shook his head “That would be too easy. Anyway, I think Lena and Tanya know how to take a beating. We need payback in another way. Something that costs them.”

  Duff looked around the room, then smiled. “Gem, get over here.”

  Gem instantly obeyed, leaping off some boxes he’d been perched on. He approached Duff, his head held low.

  “I’ve got a little job for you,” said Duff. Gem’s face dropped. “Hey, don’t look like that. This is something nice, in fact everyone’s going to have a go, but you get to go first, okay.”

  “What is it?” Gem asked, playing with his hands nervously.

  Duff turned and announced his plan to the crowd like a cheap game show host. “Gem here, is going to show these two lovely ladies what he’s made of, and we’re going to watch.”

  Whoops and cheers and shouts of ‘phwoar’ erupted all around them. Tanya twigged what was going to happen.

  “No, no, no,” she screamed. “Please Duff, there must be another way.”

  “What, what is it?” Lena shouted.

  “They’re gonna gang rape us.”

  Lena didn’t say anything she just looked at the floor, accepting her fate as punishment for the murdered boy. Gem looked just as worried as Tanya. Duff wanted to humiliate him just as much as he wanted to humiliate Tanya and Lena.

  Seb and Mack held the two girls while Duff secured their hands behind their backs with plastic zip ties. Everyone cleared a space in the middle of the lock up. Then Seb and Mack pushed Tanya and Lena onto their knees.

  “Don’t do this,” Tanya pleaded. “Please, we’ll find some other way.”

  “Too late now,” said Duff. “I’ve promised the crowd a show.”

  Tanya wriggled and struggled to get to her feet but Mack just shoved her back down. Duff pushed Gem in front of them.

  “Well, get to it then,” said Duff, but Gem just stood there and shook his head slowly.

  “I can’t do it,” he said, “not with you all watching.”

  “I’ll do it,” said Mack stepping forward, undoing his flies.

  “No,” said Duff. “It has to be Gem.”

  “Why Gem?” Mack asked.

  “Because I said so. Don’t worry, you’ll all get to have a go, even the girls if they want.” Vicks laughed but Liz looked uncomfortable. Duff pulled the gun out of his pocket and aimed it at Gem’s head. “Don’t make me shoot you. You know how much Lena hates shootings. Now get to it.”

  “No, don’t,” said Gem, holding his hands up, his eyes pleading. “I want to, honest, but I can’t when people are watching, you know like going for a piss.”

  Everyone laughed.

  “I’ve got an idea.” The voice belonged to Tanya, to everyone’s surprise.

  “Fuck me, now this I’ve got to hear.” Duff turned to face her, folding his arms.

  “Why don’t you film it.” Tanya spoke quickly, the desperation spilling out of her mouth. “Gem can do us alone and you guys can watch it back when he’s finished.”

  Duff smiled. “You know, Tanya, it’s a damn shame you don’t want to join our gang. Lena said you were smart.”

  “We’ll join the gang,” said Tanya. “We’ve changed our mind, haven’t we, Lena?”

  Lena didn’t say anything.

  “Well, not that smart,” said Duff. “Too late now. Offer’s closed. Nice try, though. Filming’s a good idea. Now you’ve got no excuses, Gem,” Duff said, slapping him on the back. “Okay, everyone. Get those shiny new phones out and point them into the middle. They all did as they were told, propping their phones up on boxes so they faced Lena and Tanya. “We’re gonna have us some multi-angle porn.”

  When all the phones were in place and recording, Duff pushed everyone out. Just before he pulled the door down he turned to Gem, “Well, get to it, I want some good stuff we can stick on Youtube.” He laughed and then slammed the door down behind him.

  Gem looked at all the cameras around him and let his shoulders slump.

  He sighed heavily, “Let’s get this over with.” His eyes darted to Tanya and then back to Lena.

  “Do her first,” said Tanya.

  “What!” Lena suddenly found her voice again, “Thanks very much. Some friend you are.”

  “Both you bitches, shut up.”

  “What’s a matter, Gem? Can’t get it up?” said Tanya.

  “I said shut the fuck up.”

  “I reckon he’s gay.”

  The back of Gem’s hand caught Tanya across the face. “Say that again, and next time it’ll be a bottle.”

  Gem searched the lock up, rummaging in boxes until he found a roll of grubby gaffer tape. He pulled off a length and taped up Tanya’s mouth and then did the same with Lena’s.

  “That’s better,” he said, “I think slapping you’s got me a bit horny.” As he said it he turned and slapped Lena in the face, “Yeah, I’m definitely getting horny now.”

  Gem undid his flies and stood over Lena trying to get hard.

  Lena’s face was vague and her eyes were glassy like a china doll’s. She’d already given up.

  “Now, ain’t this a turn around,” Gem said, “I think I’m going to enjoy this, but you’re not. Time for a bit of payback doggy style.” Gem grabbed Lena by her shoulders and flipped her over so she was face down with her backside in the air. Then he got down behind her and attempted to pull her jeans down.

  Gem didn’t know it but he’d fallen right into Tanya’s trap. While he was occupied, she reached into her back pocket and pulled out the multi tool. The Niners may have been tough, but they were still amateurs and hadn’t thought to frisk either of them. The tool’s pincers cut through the zip tie on her hands making a pinging sound. Gem heard it and swivelled around, looking puzzled. Tanya still had her hands behind her back, concealing the tool. His trousers were round his ankles and his cock was standing upright. It was the perfect target. Without warning, Tanya whipped her hand out from behind her back and grabbed the shaft of his cock with the multi-tool. In one clean motion she had his manhood trapped between its serrated metal jaws. He gasped and shuddered, his face contorted with pain. He tried to grab her arms. Tanya squeezed harder. Gem screamed. Outside they mistook it for cries of ecstasy and a big cheer went up followed by laughter, “Go on Gem,” Tanya heard someone shout.

  Tanya tore the gaffer tape off her mouth. “You scream like that again, and I’ll turn you into a fucking girl.” While she held him tightly, Tanya managed to shuffle up into a sitting position.

  “Please, please don’t. I’ll do anything,” Gem pleaded through tears.

  “Damn right you will, you shitty little piss-ant rapist motherfucker. Now bend your head down.”

  “What?” said Gem.

  “Do as I say, now!”

  “Okay, okay.” Gem lowered his head until it was nearly touching the floor. With her free hand Tanya grabbed a nearby bottle of wine. She held it by its neck and then brought it down on Gem’s head, knocking him out.

  Tanya cut the zip ties around Lena’s wrists. Thankfully, Gem hadn’t got any further than undoing her flies. Tanya pulled her up to her feet and hugged her.

  “It’s going to be okay, Lena. We’re getting out of here.”

  Some hope came back into Lena’s eyes, “Are you sure?”

  “Course I am.”

  “That stuff you said about him doing me first …” Lena’s face suddenly turned angry.

  Tanya put her finger to her lips to signal to Lena to be silent. One by one, she went around turning off all the phones that were recording. “That’s better,” said Tanya. “Sorry about that. It was part of the plan to distract him, so was the filming bit. I knew we could handle him if we were alone. Now all we got to do is get past them bastards outside.”

  “How we gonna do that?”

  “Er, I haven’t thought about that.”

  Lena slumped down on a box, letting the hope drain out of her. “So we’re still f
ucked then?” As she said it she accidentally knocked a phone on the floor.

  “I’ve got an idea.” Tanya pulled out her own phone and dialled a number.

  Duff was happy and giggly. The alcohol had boosted the euphoria he felt after pulling off his plan. Not just some small-time petty criminal stuff, but a great big full-fat plan. He felt in control, he’d devised a situation and manipulated a whole crowd of people to do what he wanted. Having that power was better than any drug. The riot he’d created was like writing a symphony and it played out beautifully. This was his applause. The rest of the gang had even more respect for him now. He was a proper player. And he had a gun. Nobody would fuck with him. Especially not after what he’d made Gem do to Tanya and Lena. It was humiliating for all three of them. They’d all watch it back and it’d serve as a reminder to everyone not to cross him.

  This was just the start of the new improved Niners. He’d lead them on to bigger things. No more hanging around some scabby lock-up. They’d go big time and become a proper criminal firm. He thought of the cars he’d have and the money and the influence. He’d be a local don.

  He looked at everyone around him and the joy that was in their faces. He’d created this and it felt good, it felt right. He liked rewarding their hard work and loyalty, and there’d be plenty more where that came from. This was just the start.

  Mack and Seb were looking anxiously at the lock-up door, waiting for Gem to finish so they could have their turn on the girls. He didn’t understand why Lena and Tanya wanted to walk away from all this. They could have had it all. It didn’t matter though. It was a minor setback, and he didn’t really care. Although he wouldn’t mind having a go on Tanya. Even with her bruised up face, she was still a hottie. But with Vicks around that would be suicide. Maybe he’d keep the two girls locked up there for a few days and then come back when Vicks wasn’t around and get up to some mischief. That would teach them not to walk out on the Niners.

  Duff took another slug of beer. As he lowered his bottle he noticed two large shapes moving down the road towards him. It was definitely two blokes but their silhouettes didn’t look right, it was like they’d been inflated. They definitely weren’t police. Whoever they were they would regret strolling down here for the rest of their lives.