‘Am I going to school?’
‘Not today.’
‘Mum won’t like that.’
‘We shouldn’t tell her then.’
‘Where are we going, Dad?’
‘You are going to spend the day with me.’
Samantha’s smile nearly consumed her entire face. ‘I like this plan.’
Travis laughed.
***
The smile was already on his face when he awoke. Fiona was sleeping peacefully beside him. Her face was just a hair’s length from his. Danny pressed his lips against hers. It was a soft and gentle kiss. It was a sweet and loving kiss. The touch was so light that she didn’t even stir. Fiona was his only friend in the world. There was no going back now. He had to follow the plan through. Elizabeth would be the first one of the inner circle to go. One by one they would fall. The last piece of the puzzle would be his mother. She would pay for what she did to his father. This whole damn city would pay. His grin spread across his entire face. It was a grin that screamed of fear and madness.
***
Hot water consumed him, as he submerged beneath the bubbles. Tension escaped like rats from a sinking ship. Marcus allowed his mind to enjoy this moment of stillness. It would be the only time today that he would get to experience such a feeling. The shit was well and truly about to hit the fan. His wife was gone, and good ridden to her. His father and mother were now his enemies. His younger brother was a thorn in his side playing a game of power by hijacking the airport. He had finances to sort out, press conferences to deal with, contracts to sign, business transactions to conclude and a million and one meetings with various people from across North City. In the back of his mind, he was also aware of the movements of Jasmine Murdock and the eleven families. And the religious town that acted as a separate nation on the west side of the city. There was so much to do, and if he actually stopped to think about it he might drown under the sheer magnitude of it all, but he wasn’t alone. No. He wasn’t alone. Melissa was with him. He still had his sister. His sister was all he needed. Together they could do this. Together they would create a new world. Nobody will have to feel frightened or alone anymore.
***
Heavy bags hung under her eyes. Her breath smelt. The babysitter seemed to look worse and worse by the day. Everything within Chelsea’s body was screaming at her not to do this, but what choice did she have? She had to go to work. The laughter of children could be heard from within the house. Two men were sitting at the kitchen table, smoking.
‘Who are they?’ asked Chelsea.
The babysitter glanced back at the men.
‘My brothers,’ she attempted to disarm Chelsea with a smile.
Something didn’t feel right.
This did not feel like a safe place.
Maternal alarms were screaming within her mind.
‘Hey, beautiful,’ said the babysitter, as she looked down into the baby-carrier. She held out a hand for the baby’s bag. Chelsea recoiled slightly. She didn’t want to do this. This was no place for her child, but what choice did she have? They didn’t allow children at the hotel. The fact that she had to do this was making her feel physically sick.
***
She awoke to the sound of raised voices.
‘Huh?’ Jillian sat upright and surveyed the room. She was lying naked in the centre of the bed. She pulled the bed sheet over her exposed breasts and glanced towards the voices. A voice she did not know sounded stressed and full of panic. Her feet were moving before she even gave such an order to move. Slowly, she approached the open doorway and looked out into the corridor. JR was standing arse naked in the middle of the corridor. His handgun hung heavy in his right hand, anchoring his arm to his thigh. JR’s two henchmen and one henchwoman were stood there. One man was speaking so loud and fast that his words almost blended together. The other two were stood back trying to look detached from the conversation.
‘Will you calm down?’ asked JR.
‘They are going to kill us?’ argued the man.
‘We have reinforcements arriving on Friday. They won’t do anything.’
‘I don’t want to die. You never said I would die.’
‘You know what you signed up for.’
‘Tell him!’ The man turned to the other two. Unconsciously, they stepped back and refused to make eye contact. Jillian hugged the doorway and tried to stay out of sight. It was almost like the other two knew something, but deep down Jillian knew what was about to happen. She could sense it in the air. It was the type of sixth sense that makes wild animals aware when a predator is close by. ‘They feel the same way. We aren’t getting out of this one alive. Your brother is too smart...’ a single gunshot rang out. Blood, brain and gore sprayed upon the white wall. The man’s body dropped with a heavy thump on the floor.
‘How do you two feel about our current situation?’
‘We got your back, boss,’ said one.
‘He was weak,’ said the other.
‘Good. Friday will be our day of victory. We will be famous. The three of us took on North City, and we won,’ he released a deep sigh. ‘Throw this piece of shit out of the window for the media to see, strip him naked, and let them think it is one of the hostages.’
***
She surveyed the landscape. Her eyes were as wide as saucers. Kerry could feel her heart thumping in her chest. This street screamed danger. Crowds of people gathered around burning dustbins. The people looked dirty, disgusting and dangerous. This was a known area for drugs, prostitution and crime. She kept her head low, as she quickstepped across the road. Her hood was up in an attempt to hide her face, but she could already feel eyes upon her. Delicate fingers gripped the butcher’s knife stuffed into the interior of her jacket.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she reached the other side of the road.
It was a case of so far, so good.
Deep brown eyes looked up at the shop banners along the street. They were mostly pawn shops, or shops that had naked women standing in the window advertising their services for low prices, or stores that sold knocked off goods ransacked from abandoned houses, or stolen from Eat Easy delivery trucks. The store she was after was directly in front of her. It was a pharmacy. It was a pharmacy that sold cheap out of date medical supplies and the illegal stuff that was highly addictive.
‘No going back,’ she reminded herself.
She swallowed her fears.
The hard part was over.
Kerry stepped in through the front door.
***
‘Is this where you live?’ asked Samantha, as she made her way around the living room.
‘What?’
‘Well, you don’t live with us, Dad,’ she replied.
‘I guess I don’t. This is where I spend most of my time.’
‘Who is she?’ Samantha held up a framed photo of a beautiful blonde woman and a teenage girl. They were both smiling at the camera. ‘Is that your girlfriend?’
‘Sam...’
‘You don’t have to hide it, Dad. I know you don’t love mum.’
‘Well, that is where you are wrong. I do love your mother. She is a good woman.’
Samantha scoffed.
‘Hey!’ Travis warned. ‘You’re mother has done a lot for you. She had probably done more for you than you will ever know. You treat her with respect, do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ replied Samantha in a dismissive manner. ‘So, is she your girlfriend?’
‘That is Anne.’
‘You’re girlfriend?’
‘Yes,’ he agreed, reluctantly.
‘Do I get to meet her?’
‘Do you want to?’
‘Yes.’
He thought about it for a moment.
‘Okay. You can meet her today.’
‘Cool.’
Samantha went back to exploring the room.
***
The cupboard smelt of a combination of bleach and other nostril destroying chemicals. Chelsea sighed
deeply, as she fought with a mop trapped behind various cleaning equipment. She never understood why the evening cleaners buried everything at the back of the cupboard. The bucket was still filled with dirty brown water that stank like it belonged down a toilet. The trolley had gone walkabouts, but knowing the other cleaners it would be out the back of the hotel from where they used it to take the bins out. If that was the case why were there two bin bags stuffed into the cleaning cupboard? It was a pain in the arse. It wasn’t like she could complain to anyone. She was lucky enough to have this job.
‘Chelsea?’ asked the voice of Mr Daniels.
She glanced over her shoulder at the planetoid shaped hotel manager with the big moustache.
‘Yes, Mr Daniels?’
‘Can you come to my office? We need to have a chat.’
That did not sound good.
***
A dark skinned man of Arabic descent was stood behind the store counter. The shelves were all empty, but Kerry could see a mountain of boxes out the back. They evidently kept their stock where no one could get it. She didn’t doubt for a single moment that this man was armed and incredibly dangerous. Beady eyes looked her up and down several times. At first he had curiosity on his face, but now only dirty thoughts roamed his mind. Kerry hugged her coat around her even tighter and double checked that she still had the knife in her pocket.
‘Can I help you?’ he asked.
‘Do you sell this?’ Kerry placed a badly ripped piece of paper on the shop counter.
The shopkeeper picked it up, reviewed it for a moment and then glanced at Kerry.
He showed stained teeth, as he smiled.
‘I have lust dust. I have some out the back if you want to try it.’
Kerry nearly vomited on the spot.
Did this guy think she was a user? Did he think she would use it with him? Kerry couldn’t think of anything more disgusting in her life. This guy was filthy, smelly and revolting in more ways than she could count.
‘I just want some lust dust.’
The door opened, and another customer walked in.
This guy looked as shady as the shopkeeper.
‘Quickly, please,’ insisted Kerry.
She did not want to be here any longer.
***
The car swept into the factory yard, illuminating the run down factory and Elizabeth’s car. Danny killed the engine. For a moment, he sat in silence, lost in thought. The first move had been made, but no one could know where Elizabeth was.
‘I will have to do something about that car.’
***
Marcus surveyed himself in the mirror, as he looped his tie. Last night’s drinking session felt like a kick to the head. He looked tired. He felt tired. Bloodshot eyes were not a good sign when you were attempting to conduct business and prove to people that you are capable of running this city. It is a lesson he quickly filed away within the library of his mind. Appearances spoke volumes. A good night sleep had to be a priority. To be a success, he had to feel a success and to feel a success he had to look a success.
‘I brought you breakfast,’ said Melissa.
He glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
Those beautiful blue eyes were like magnets. He couldn’t stop staring at them.
Did she know how he felt for her?
No.
She could never know.
Melissa brushed her short red hair away from her ear, as she approached him from behind. Her smile was so incredibly beautiful. It was like looking at a work of art. Delicate hands were placed upon his shoulders, as her thumbs were dug into the knots within his back. Slowly, she began to massage him.
‘I have toast and coffee for you. It might dry up the alcohol in your system and kick start your day.’
‘Thank you. Melissa...’ he paused. And then he felt stupid for pausing.
She raised an eyebrow.
Did she know how sexy that was?
She could make such a simple gesture look so hot.
‘Yes?’
‘No. It’s nothing.’
‘It is clearly something, Marcus. What is it?’
‘I am just being silly,’ he shrugged.
‘You are never silly. Tell me.’
‘Why did you betray father? I know you love him.’
‘I do,’ she replied, without a moment’s hesitation. ‘I just love you more.’
Marcus opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. What did he say to that?
‘You have always been there for me, Marcus. You never had to be. JR and Vince didn’t give a shit about it. I was just another mouth they had to share the food with. You always took care of me. I felt safe in this world because I knew you had my back. I do love father. I would do anything for father. I really would. In many ways I wish things were different, but I made my choice. You have always stood by me, and now I will stand by you.’
‘Thank you, Melissa.’
***
A mouthful of cereal stopped his complaining. Jillian was thankful for the momentary silence. The developments of the day had really put JR in a foul mood. The two of them were sat on the edge of the bed, having a late breakfast, whilst watching the news. Every single network was covering the airport siege. NC news channel was replaying the clip of a naked body being thrown out a window. The people didn’t know it was one of JR’s own men. The headline stated that the hostage takers had started to kill the hostages. Marcus Riggs had already made an emergency statement. He was saying all the right things about how this act of violence could not happen, but was demanding calm from the media, as his men attempted to handle the situation. When pressed if Marcus would move his men in, he refused to comment.
‘They are making me out to look a madman,’ spat JR.
Jillian had no reply to this.
What could she possibly say?
He did look like a madman. He had just killed one of his own men in cold blood.
‘What are you going to do?’ asked Jillian.
‘What can I do?’ he scooped up another mouthful of cereal.
‘Your men are getting restless. They are scared.’
‘I know...’ he sighed, deeply. ‘I just have to wait.’
‘Can you really afford to do nothing and just wait?’
A glare was cast her way, but JR quickly came to the realisation that her words were not intended to taunt or provoke him. She was genuinely attempting to help him. The skin around his eyes relaxed. The glare dissolved.
‘I might have an idea,’ he said.
***
Elizabeth looked at the plate of food in front of her. It consisted of a sandwich and a packet of crisps. A bottle of water was also on the tray. A cold shiver ran down her spine, as the loose sections of the metal roof rattled in the wind. Unconsciously, she wrapped the oil stained blanket around her body. It didn’t do much to fend off the freezing conditions. A portable heater was positioned just out of arms reach. The thing would have been useful in an enclosed place, but the hanger was so open that Elizabeth could hardly appreciate the heat coming from it.
‘Why are you doing this?’ she asked.
Danny was sat on a stool, watching her.
‘I have my reasons.’
‘What wrong did I do you?’
‘You played your part in the downfall of my father.’
‘Is that it? This is some kind of petty revenge?’
‘You might think it is petty, but I loved my father. I know the type of man he was. I know the terrible things that he did, but that changes nothing. He was my father. You, Travis and my mother had no right taking him away from me. We were so close to having peace and returning to South City.’
‘Are you going to kill your mother?’
‘Yes.’
‘I feel sorry for you,’ said Elizabeth, as she picked up the sandwich.
‘No. I feel sorry for you,’ replied Danny.
Elizabeth knew her time in this world was drawing to an end.
***
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Her coat was folded neatly before being placed in the locker. Kerry picked up her belongings one by one, making sure not to miss a single thing, and then secured them away. The last thing to go was her handbag. These days things like theft are not so bad, but a few years ago were an entirely different story. People were desperate, and the pay was poor. If you didn’t secure your things away, then someone was bound to steal them. The majority of the other staff in the locker room were more than happy to leave their coat on a hanger, or shoes under a bench. A couple left their keys and wallet out, too.
‘Morning, Kerry,’ said Katie.
‘Good morning.’
The morning greetings were starting to take place, as people began to file out of the room for the standard briefing that River liked to start the day with. Kerry shared pleasantries with everyone, as she secretly weighted each and every single last one of them up. They were nice people, for the most part, but from this point on they were nothing more than competition for the transfer.
Beautiful brown eyes locked onto Ashley.
The gorgeous young redhead was sorting out her hair on the far side of the room.
She was public enemy number one.
Ashley wanted the promotion and transfer. Kerry knew that she would be able to step up and fulfil the role of the job, too. It really was a two horse race. Either Kerry or Ashley would get the job. The problem was that River liked Ashley. Kerry knew this. She could see how flustered her friend got around the young woman. River would never act on his crush, but there was a slight possibility that his feelings for her could sway his final decision.
Kerry had to stick to the plan.
Tonight she would seduce River.
Tonight she would secure the transfer.
***
Something about the atmosphere in the office wasn’t right. Chelsea sat back in the leather chair and waited. Mr Daniels closed the door, made a clicking sound with the inside of his mouth and sighed. That was never a good sign. Chelsea could feel eyes on her as he made his way towards his chair. Her heart was starting to beat at ninety miles an hour.
Was he going to fire her?
‘We need to talk about all the time you have had off, Chelsea.’
‘Cassie is sick, Mr Daniels.’
‘I appreciate that. I really do.’
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