The Girl Across the Street

by Vikki Patis

  ‘Doesn’t know what?’

  The sound of Jake’s voice freezes the words in my throat.

  Forty-Three

  Isla

  I turn to see Jake standing in the doorway, the door pushed open a crack. How much did he hear? How much does he know?

  He pushes the door wide, leans up against the frame, arms crossed. He could almost look casual, if not for his blazing eyes.

  ‘Well, isn’t this cosy?’ he says, his lips curling into a tight smile. ‘Please, don’t let me interrupt you. Carry on.’

  I risk a glance at Beth and, seeing my own fear mirrored in her eyes, feel a shiver run down my spine. Jake lets out a low laugh. ‘Come on, don’t you have lots to talk about? Lots to plan?’

  He knows. The realisation hits me like a fist. He knows everything.

  ‘Well, I fear I may have scuppered your plans, dear wife.’ He spits the words at me, and I recoil involuntarily. ‘Did you really think I was that stupid?’ His voice has risen now, his face turning red. I remain silent.

  ‘Listen, Jake—’ Beth begins.

  ‘Shut up!’ Jake barks, and she jumps. I get to my feet, the fear replaced by fury as I stare into his eyes.

  ‘We need to talk,’ I say, putting myself between him and Beth.

  ‘Yes, we do,’ he snarls, and turns slowly. ‘All of us.’ I turn back to look at Beth, whose cheeks are flaming. She stands, and we follow Jake down the stairs.

  ‘What the fuck are you playing at?’ he hisses as he throws himself on to the sofa, spreading his arms wide across the back. ‘I knew you two were up to something, all those private chats upstairs.’

  I don’t say anything; I simply stand in the middle of the room, hands behind my back, like a child being reprimanded by the head teacher. I sense Beth shift her weight beside me, but I keep my eyes trained on the wall above Jake’s head.

  ‘Whatever you’re planning, Isla,’ he spits, ‘it isn’t fucking happening. Do you hear me?’

  I look into his eyes then, hatred burning in my stomach. ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ I say, trying to keep my voice even, but my words are tinged with anger. ‘You can’t stop us.’

  Jake raises an eyebrow. I haven’t spoken to him like this in years. I haven’t demanded anything of him, haven’t dared. But a kind of recklessness is taking me over; I can feel it pulsing through my veins. It’s like all the time I’ve spent with Beth – so different to me, so carefree, so wild – has made me a stronger person.

  ‘You’re an utter bastard, do you know that?’ I say. Jake’s eyes widen. ‘You’ve treated me like shit for years, and yeah, fine, I knew what I was signing up for when I married you, but what the fuck do you think you’re doing treating Beth the same way?’ I feel Beth’s eyes on me as the words tear through the air. I can’t seem to stop them. ‘She’s done nothing to you, nothing. She came to us, to me, because she needed help.’

  To my surprise, Jake lets out a laugh. ‘Is that what you truly believe?’ I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. ‘Is that what she’s told you?’

  I look at Beth then, take in her ashen face, her hands twisting in front of her.

  Jake flies out of his seat and is on me in an instant, his hands tangled in my hair. I hear Beth let out a yelp as he brings his face close to mine.

  ‘I think you need to shut the fuck up,’ he says through gritted teeth. I reach up and grip his hands with my uninjured one, try to dig my fingernails into his skin, but he jerks my head back, exposing my throat. I let out a gasp. ‘You don’t want to go down this road. Does she, Beth?’

  ‘Let her go,’ Beth says, her voice trembling. ‘It’s me you want.’ What? I try to look at her, try to ask her what she’s talking about, but Jake tugs at my hair. The pain is searing; my eyes fill with water. My breathing is ragged, uneven. ‘Come on,’ she says, moving into my line of vision. ‘Let’s talk about this, okay?’ I see her spread her hands wide.

  Suddenly Jake lets me go, almost throwing me away from him, and I fall to the floor, gasping. I feel Beth’s hand on my shoulder as I get shakily to my feet.

  ‘Yes, let’s talk about this,’ Jake says, smiling widely. ‘Let’s tell Isla all about it, shall we? I’ve got nothing more to lose, after all; she thinks she’s leaving anyway. But do you think she’ll still want to leave with you? Not likely.’

  I turn to Beth then, catch her eye. ‘What is he talking about?’ My voice is barely a whisper. Her eyes move from mine and I feel fear run through me. ‘Beth?’

  ‘Beth?’ Jake mimics, folding his arms across his chest and leaning against the wall. ‘Oh, poor, stupid, naïve Isla.’ I glare at him, but he ignores me, his mouth still stretched into a smirk. ‘Do you want to tell her, or should I?’

  Beth meets my gaze then, and I see the tears in her eyes. ‘I’m so sorry, Isla,’ she whispers. ‘It wasn’t meant to be this way.’

  Then

  Forty-Four

  Beth

  The music pounded in her ears, the constant beat giving her a headache. The smoke from Steve’s joint floated into the back of the car, making her cough. Beth reached across the writhing couple beside her to open the window, glad of the darkness that hid their activities.

  Grimacing, she turned back and checked on the woman slumped on her other side, her head against the window, her eyes closed. Is she still alive? Beth wondered, feeling anxiety flow through her veins. She pressed two fingers against the woman’s neck, trying to find a pulse, relieved when there was one, however faint.

  ‘Steve, Steve!’ She leaned through the gap between the front seats, tapping Steve on the shoulder. ‘Emily isn’t well, there’s something wrong with her.’

  ‘What?’ Steve shouted back over the music, looking at her in the rear-view mirror.

  ‘There’s something wrong with Emily,’ Beth repeated, frustration growing. Why did Kyle convince me to do this?

  ‘That’d be all that cocaine she snorted in the bathroom,’ the man in the passenger seat said, lighting a cigarette and placing it between Beth’s lips. She jerked her head back, almost knocking the cigarette to the floor. The man smiled. ‘Careful now.’ His eyes glittered as he took her in, her unwashed hair slicked back into a bun, her shirt stained with ketchup after the manager made her fill all the bottles during a quiet period. He had come in with clients, one of whom was sitting beside her now, his hand up her colleague Laura’s top. Beth heard Laura giggle, felt her squirm in his lap. She pulled a face, taking a deep drag on the cigarette. The man smiled.

  ‘Who are you again?’ she said, arching an eyebrow at him. ‘How much do you owe Steve?’

  The man’s eyes flashed with anger. He reached out and grabbed her hand, pressing it firmly. ‘I’m Jake,’ he said, pulling her closer. ‘And I think you’ll find that it’s Steve who owes me.’

  Steve let out a laugh; too loud, false. Beth ripped her hand free and sat back, glaring at Jake until he turned round. Prick.

  Emily stirred beside her. Beth threw her cigarette butt out the window and turned to the girl, pushing her gently back against the seat. ‘Are you okay?’ she whispered, trying to open Emily’s eyes, but Emily batted her away, murmuring. Beth sighed. This was the last thing she needed. Fucking Kyle and his stupid fucking ideas.

  Jake turned in his seat again. His eyes flicked over Emily, distaste flashing across his face, before he turned his attention back to Beth. She showed her teeth in what could barely be called a smile. Jake reached out and ran a hand up her leg, and the memory from earlier that night flashed through her mind: his fingers trailing up her thigh, the woman in the silk dress looking away. His wife, no doubt used to his wandering hands. A wave of nausea passed over her as she moved away, crossing her legs. Jake smiled again.

  ‘Hey, Beth!’ Steve shouted. ‘You got any more?’

  ‘I told you, I quit that shit.’ Beth glared at him in the rear-view mirror. ‘Ain’t you the fucking drug dealer round here?’

  The man next to her laughed, deep
and low, looking up from Laura’s chest to grin at Beth. ‘I’ll take whatever you’ve got,’ he said, reaching out to grope her breast. Beth knocked his hand away.

  ‘Think you’ve got your hands full already, mate,’ she said, turning away from him. Emily had curled herself into a ball, her head bobbing as the car raced through town. Where were they going, anyway? What did Kyle even want her to do here?

  Just go along, play nice, make some friends. It might turn out well for us.

  Make some friends. What the fuck did that mean? Beth swallowed hard as she felt the man’s fingers on her arm, heard Laura giggle again. No, not that. Never that. Fuck you, Kyle. Ripping her arm from his grip, she sat forward again, pushing her head through the gap in the seats.

  ‘What you got?’ she asked Steve, who laughed.

  ‘Thought you quit that shit?’

  She punched his arm.

  ‘Ow.’ Steve let go of the steering wheel to pull a small packet of pills out of his jacket.

  ‘Watch the road, dickhead!’ Beth shouted as the car drifted into the other lane.

  ‘Chillax,’ Steve laughed. ‘There’s nobody out at this time of night.’

  Beth snatched the bag from Steve’s outstretched hand and ripped it open, tipping two pills into her palm. She paused, feeling Jake’s eyes on her. She took in his smart jacket and crisp shirt, top button undone. The fashionable stubble, the shiny watch, the brilliant white teeth. The guy next to her absolutely reeked of money too. She was exhausted, her feet aching after a ten-hour shift, but she could get something out of tonight, at least.

  ‘Where are we going?’ she said, leaning forward and dropping a pill into Jake’s palm. He grinned at her, throwing his head back and swallowing it dry.

  ‘Anywhere. Nowhere.’ She could smell cigarettes on his breath, alcohol. How wasted was he? What else had he taken? But when she looked into his eyes, she could see that he was still very much in control.

  She shrugged, unbuttoning her dirty shirt and discarding it on the floor of the car. The tank top beneath was clean, freshly washed only yesterday, though she wasn’t sure she could say the same about herself. Had she showered this morning?

  Jake ran his eyes over her, his gaze leaving scorch marks on her skin. He might be attractive, she thought, feeling the pill start to take effect, but he seems fucking dangerous.

  She sat back again, lit another cigarette, ignoring the couple to her left as things heated up between them. Jake glanced at them, then back at her. ‘They look like they’re having fun,’ he said, grinning wolfishly. ‘Why don’t I come back there and join in?’

  Beth shuddered at the idea. ‘There’s no space,’ she said lamely.

  ‘Come over here then.’ She saw Jake pat his lap and narrowed her eyes, disgust enveloping her. What about your wife, the woman in the silk dress that looked like it cost more than I earn in two months? Where is she, at home asleep, believing you’re not far behind? She shook her head, but Jake only smiled wider.

  ‘You’ll never have a better offer.’ He reached into his jacket and pulled out a wad of notes. Beth felt something explode inside her. Was this what Kyle had dreamed up, with this creep? Had he planned this? The complete and utter bastard.

  She leaned forward, cigarette dangling from her lips, her eyes trained on Jake’s. She took a drag and blew the smoke into his face. His jaw tightened, and she smiled. ‘I think it’s time to re-evaluate your life when you have to pay for it,’ she said, her voice dripping with honey. Jake’s face contorted, anger flooding into his eyes, and he reached out, grabbing her wrist. She froze, the cigarette between her fingers. Should she drop it on his lap? She could see something in his eyes, and fear ran up her spine.

  Something beyond the windscreen caught her attention. ‘Steve!’ she snapped, and the car jerked back into its lane as Steve jumped.

  ‘Wh-what?’

  ‘You shouldn’t be fucking driving,’ she hissed, ripping her wrist from Jake’s grip and glaring at him. ‘Pull over.’

  ‘Fuck off,’ Steve said lightly, fumbling in his pocket for a lighter, a cigarette clamped between his lips.

  ‘Steve,’ Beth said again, her voice tight. She could still feel Jake staring at her. She had a feeling he wouldn’t forget this. ‘Would you just fucking—’

  ‘Steve!’ Jake roared as Steve dropped the lighter and the car drifted again. ‘Fucking pay attention. I don’t want to die in this shithole of a car.’ His good mood seemed to have disappeared with Beth’s last remark. She thought of the wad of notes, which he’d put back in his pocket; maybe she could steal it. Maybe he would take more drugs, pass out. She risked a glance at his face and saw that his eyes were dancing, his pupils huge.

  ‘All right, all right. Calm down, mate,’ Steve said, as Beth lit his cigarette, the flame dancing dangerously close to his face.

  ‘I’m not your mate, mate,’ Jake retorted, spittle flying from his mouth. ‘I should never have got into this fucking car. You’re nothing but a piece of shit.’

  ‘Oi,’ Steve said, but his eyes flitted between Jake and the road. ‘Come on now. I didn’t—’

  ‘Just take me home. I knew you wouldn’t deliver.’ Jake folded his arms and leaned back against the seat, staring straight ahead.

  Deliver? Beth shuddered as she remembered Kyle’s words, urging her to go along tonight. She finished her cigarette, throwing it out of the open window. The car raced down the dual carriageway, drifting between lanes on the empty stretch of road.

  ‘Woo!’ Laura hooted, leaning back and exposing her naked chest. Beth looked away. She wondered how she would meet Laura’s eyes during their next shift together. Luckily, Laura didn’t tend to do weekends. Maybe because she was always out partying.

  ‘Steve, will you fucking wake up?’ Beth heard Jake snap from the front seat. She leaned forward again. ‘I want to get home in one fucking piece, all right?’ Steve nodded, racing through the traffic lights and over the roundabout. ‘You missed it!’ Jake turned to stare out of his window. ‘Go back, for fuck’s sake. You missed my turning.’

  ‘Whoops!’ Steve let out a laugh as the car bombed down the hill. He didn’t slow down as they reached the next roundabout, and Beth slammed into the couple next to her as he sped around it. She realised her hand was on the man’s knee and she pushed herself up, grimacing.

  ‘I can’t believe this,’ Jake was muttering as they crested the hill, the school flashing past on their left.

  ‘So who’s this guy?’ Beth asked him, jerking her head towards the man underneath Laura. Jake turned to her, his eyes blazing.

  ‘A client. Who also needs to get back in one fucking piece.’ Steve laughed again, and Jake leaned across and grabbed the steering wheel. ‘I swear to God, Steve, you really are a useless piece of—’

  A loud bang silenced him; Beth watched in disbelief as something smashed into the windscreen and flew up, over the car. Steve slammed on the brakes and Beth thought she would go flying through the glass. A scream ripped from her throat as she threw out her hands to stop herself.

  ‘Oh fuck,’ Steve said, hands gripping the steering wheel. ‘Oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck.’

  ‘What was that?’ Laura asked, her hair in her eyes. Nobody answered.

  ‘Let’s go!’ Jake roared, bringing his fist down on the dashboard. ‘Get us out of here, Steve!’

  ‘You can’t just fucking leave him!’ Beth cried, punching the back of Steve’s seat. When no one moved, she scrambled over Emily, shoving open the door, and tumbled out into the street.

  ‘Move!’ Jake roared, and Steve accelerated into the night, leaving Beth alone with the body of the man they had just killed.

  Now

  Forty-Five

  Isla

  I stare at Beth, my mind full of the story she has just told. She was in the car. Jake was in the car. When that poor man was run over, they sped off, fled the scene. They killed him. That man, the soldier who was out running. My husband, and Beth.

  I turn my attention
to Jake, almost unable to believe what I’ve just heard. It occurs to me that he thinks this story will paint Beth in a bad light, will show me her true colours, but it is him who is standing out to me. I feel disgust rise in me, threatening to choke me.

  ‘I got out of the car,’ Beth is saying, tears wet on her cheeks. ‘I tried to help, I really did. You saw me, Isla. You saw me!’

  I turn back to her. Yes, I did see her. I saw her on her knees in the middle of the road, phone pressed to her ear, eyes wide with fear. Her hands fluttering over the body like anxious birds. She tried to help him. We both did. Beth wipes her eyes and folds her arms across her chest, staring nervously at me. I cannot speak; my words have dried up. I am shocked into silence.

  ‘That’s not the end of it, is it, Beth?’ Jake says. I look up and see his smirk, one eyebrow raised, and I realise then just how much I hate him.

  ‘Wh-what?’ Beth stammers, her voice weak. Jake tuts.

  ‘Come on now. Tell the rest of the story.’ He pushes himself off the wall, takes a seat on the edge of the sofa, his hands clasped beneath his chin. ‘Why are you here?’

  I stare at him. ‘You know why she’s here,’ I snap, my throat now unfrozen.

  Jake lets out a low laugh. ‘Oh, Isla. Haven’t you been listening? Beth has been lying to you this entire time. And you had no idea!’ He laughs again, as if this is the funniest thing he’s ever heard. I want to slap him. Beth is staring at the floor, her cheeks red. I feel the urge to shake her, to tip her over and pour the truth out of her.

  ‘Beth?’ I say, my voice sharper now. Her head snaps up, her eyes wide with fear. ‘Tell me.’

  ‘Why don’t I tell you?’ Jake says, standing up again. He truly looks like he’s enjoying himself. ‘Our friend Beth has been using you. She’s been trying to extort money out of me this whole time.’ I feel my eyes widen; I whip my gaze from him to find Beth staring at him, open-mouthed. Her eyes move to mine and she starts to shake her head. ‘Come now, the truth, Beth!’ Jake shouts, anger lacing his words.