Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4)

by Mel Sherratt

  ‘How’s your friend doing?’ Derek smiled when he caught her eye. ‘Marley?’

  ‘She’s good, thanks. In fact she might be coming to stay with me soon for a couple of days. Would you like to meet her?’

  ‘What do you think?’

  ‘I think maybe I want to keep you all to myself.’ She giggled. ‘Marley’s going to study again – can you believe that? She’s gone from a beach bum to a study freak.’ Just as quickly, she stopped. ‘I think the attack changed her in more ways than one.’

  ‘Do you wish you’d studied more, Kee?’

  The way he shortened her name made her smile. ‘Sometimes,’ she admitted. ‘But there’s nothing to do around here. That’s why I’m going to Manchester as soon as I can afford to.’

  ‘Shame. I’ll miss you, though.’

  ‘Ah, there will be other girls.’ She grinned, realising how ridiculous the conversation might sound to someone who didn’t know them. From the outside, they must seem an odd couple.

  ‘I won’t miss you just because of your massaging skills!’ he cried.

  ‘I don’t think I have a lot of anything else to offer.’

  ‘You do but you don’t realise it yet.’ Derek slowed down as the traffic lights turned to red. ‘You’re young and have your whole life ahead of you.’

  ‘Don’t go all philosophical on me, now, Mr P,’ she admonished.

  ‘It’s true. Whereas I will always have a massage parlour, I suppose.’

  Keera pondered for a moment before blurting out what was on her mind. ‘Do you find it hard coming to The Candy Club? Because if you do, I could come to see you at home.’

  They were on the estate now, heading up Davy Road. Derek indicated suddenly and pulled the car into the kerb.

  Keera’s brow furrowed as he turned towards her. ‘Sorry, have I overstepped the mark?’

  ‘Of course not.’ It was his turn to pause. ‘You don’t think I’ve been giving you a lift home so that I could ask you that, do you?’

  ‘No! I just thought I’d offer. I know the stigma attached to one of those places.’

  Derek shrugged. ‘I don’t have to go. It’s my choice. But I know this really good masseuse and …’

  Keera playfully slapped the hand he had resting on the side of her seat.

  ‘Do you fancy a coffee at mine before you go home?’

  ‘At your house?’ Derek balked. ‘What about your mum? I don’t think she’d be too pleased.’

  ‘She’s away for the night. Some fancy fella she’s been seeing.’

  Derek shook his head. ‘Better not. The neighbours might talk. I don’t want to get you into any bother.’

  ‘Well, what are your neighbours like?’

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘We could have coffee at yours. Where do you live? I mean, I know you’re on the estate but I don’t know where.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Yes, it’s just coffee. Not a secret code for I want to shag you. You’re my friend, Derek.’

  He paused for a nanosecond before starting the engine again. ‘Okay, coffee and then I’ll take you home.’

  Donna woke with a jolt. The room that she had been so in awe of when she’d first arrived at the hotel was in darkness except for the glow of a bedside light. The curtains had been drawn and despite the heat of the room, she felt a shiver caress her bare skin.

  She tried to get up from the bed but she couldn’t move. How the hell she had managed to fall asleep was beyond her comprehension, but maybe it was her mind’s way of getting her through the trauma.

  Looking to her right, she could see that her hands were still tied to the post of the headboard. Tears fell again and she struggled to cry against the scarf that was still in her mouth. She tried to control the panic for fear of suffocation. She had to stay calm or she would never get out of this room alive. Never see her family again.

  Tentatively, she lifted her head from the pillow and looked around. Over on the wall in front of her, the television had been left on, the volume loud enough not to draw attention. Below the image on the screen, the familiar yellow ticker tape of Sky News alerted her to the latest breaking news. She didn’t want to know that three people had been killed in a crash on the motorway. She narrowed her eyes and concentrated on the small digits of the time: It was 12.30.

  She’d been tied up for over six hours.

  She turned her head to the left to see if the room was completely empty. The door to the bathroom was ajar, the light off.

  She was alone.

  But she was far from safe.

  Tears trickled down her face and onto the pillow. This was all her fault. She’d often thought that women who went on one-night stands were carefree, did it for the danger element as well as the sex. But she’d been envious too. She’d wanted a bit of fun with a man she hardly knew and look what had happened.

  She closed her eyes but images came rushing at her. After that first slap, there hadn’t been any more to the face. Owen didn’t want anyone to see the marks. So instead, he’d punched her in the ribs, scratched at her stomach until her skin was bleeding and bitten her shoulder until she had writhed enough to knock him off balance.

  How could she have been so stupid - so trusting? She’d screamed when he’d attacked her – oh, how she’d screamed – but with no one to hear her muffled cries he’d been free to ram himself into her over and over.

  When she thought he’d finished and he’d rested his weight on her, she’d laid quietly, fighting to hold back her tears, and hoping he would untie her so she could think of getting out of the room. But he’d waited for a while until he was able to do it again.

  The final time he’d pushed himself into her, he’d punched her thighs open as she’d desperately tried to keep him out. Another punch to the side of her ribs and she’d given in.

  She couldn’t believe how Owen had changed into a monster. Up until now, the way he’d treated her since they’d met had been beyond her wildest dreams. He’d been attentive to her needs, reeling her into his web of lies to gain her trust, make her feel safe; wanted even. He’d given no indication that he would attack her, and in such a brutal way. Donna had thought he was too good to be true. She cursed herself now – she wouldn’t be that lucky. She was never that lucky.

  She was just fucking gullible.

  In desperation, she began to scream again, kick out, pull at the scarves that bound her to the bed. Exhausted after a few seconds, she stopped. She knew it was pointless. No one would hear her. Instead she tried to concentrate on listening, dreading the moment that Owen would return. Every door that opened and closed, every shout. It was Saturday evening, and most people were enjoying themselves.

  She wondered where he was. Had he left her here so that she would be found in the morning by the maid? At least then her ordeal would be over. But her bladder was full. She needed to pee, and pretty soon she wouldn’t be able to hold it in. She couldn’t go yet. She just couldn’t.

  It was almost one a.m. when she heard the door open. Owen switched on the main light, causing her to squint as her eyes adjusted to its harsh brightness after so long in the dim room.

  ‘Hello, my little pumpkin,’ he smiled. ‘I hope I haven’t been too long. It was someone’s thirtieth birthday bash and they ended up asking me to join their party. Well, it seemed rude not to. The food was divine. It’s a shame you missed it.’

  It had been hours since she’d eaten, but Donna felt herself retching at the thought of it. She watched as Owen pulled his T-shirt over his head and stared at her. Then he slid the belt from the loops on his jeans, never once taking his eyes from hers.

  He dropped the belt to the floor. Behind the scarf, Donna screamed as he walked towards her and sat down on the side of the bed. She winced as he ran a hand from the bottom of her stomach and up to her chest, the scratches he’d made earlier sore beneath his touch. As his fingers rested around her neck, she closed her eyes.

  He was going to kill her. Ohmigod, what had s
he done?

  Owen laughed as he moved his hand up her arm towards her wrist. ‘Relax. I did say you’d be safe with me. I’m going to untie you. You promise to stay quiet if I do?’

  Donna nodded vehemently.

  He untied the scarves at her arms and then her legs. Although she was free to kick out, her body went limp and she felt more vulnerable than ever. She was naked too. He knew she wouldn’t run, the bastard.

  When he removed the final scarf from her mouth, his eyes bore down on her, daring her to defy them. She wanted to curl up in a ball and move as far away from him as possible. But she said the first thing she could think of to get away from him.

  ‘Owen,’ she said. ‘I have to pee.’

  ‘Okay.’ He pulled her off the bed, steadying her, gripping her arm as her legs were weak after lying still for so long. She tried to loosen his grip, but it tightened.

  ‘I’ll come with you.’

  He led her to the bathroom, switched the light on and stood by the open door.

  ‘Can you leave me for a moment, please?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m staying right here.’ He folded his arms.

  Donna lowered her eyes. Her last piece of dignity was being taken from her.

  She relieved herself as he watched, feeling his eyes on her, seeing his lips curl up in a half smile.

  ‘You sound like a horse,’ he laughed as urine poured out of her.

  ‘Well, I’ve been a bit tied up.’ The sarcasm came out before she had time to think.

  But Owen just laughed as she wiped herself and flushed the toilet.

  ‘I need to freshen up,’ she said.

  He took hold of her hand. ‘No need for that. I’m tired, come to bed.’

  As his grip tightened on her again, Donna realised that the only way she would get out of this room in the morning was to go along with what he had in mind. Holding in her tears, she got back into bed, curling up into a foetal position, despite every part of her aching.

  Owen removed the rest of his clothes, climbed in behind her and wrapped his whole body around hers. Ordinarily, she would have relished the thought of his closeness but now it terrified her. If she could wait until he was asleep, maybe she could creep out of the room.

  ‘Donna.’

  She stiffened at the sound of his voice.

  ‘If you’re thinking of telling anyone about this, and you make out that we weren’t two consenting adults having fun, then I’ll go after Keera next.’

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Keera couldn’t believe Derek only lived three streets away from her on the Mitchell Estate. Christopher Avenue was just about on the cusp of the nastier bits. It could hardly be called living on the ‘hell, and it was a walk in the park compared to some streets on the estate. But at least neither of them lived on Stanley Avenue, the worst street of the whole place.

  Derek’s house was the end of a block of four terraced houses. Even in the dark as she walked up the path behind him, she could see how tidy the garden area was, noticed that the hedges had been cut back.

  ‘So how come you haven’t met anyone recently, Kee?’ Derek asked as he poured hot water into two mugs. He turned to her with a smile. ‘A lovely girl like you should have a man she can depend on.’

  ‘I do.’ She stared at him. ‘I have you.’

  ‘You know what I mean. I’m far too old for you.’

  ‘Age is but a number, don’t they say?’

  He looked at her again. She kept her face straight for a few seconds before bursting into laughter. ‘I’m winding you up!’

  Derek pretended to bat the comment away with his hand. ‘But don’t you have interests and hobbies?’

  ‘You disappoint me, Derek. I thought you’d be up for dancing around the room with me, singing One Direction songs at the top of your voice.’

  ‘One who?’ He passed her a mug with a grin. ‘Seriously, what do you really want to do with your life? Besides go to Manchester to be with Marley.’

  Keera sighed loudly as she took it from him. ‘There isn’t much I can do. That’s why we headed out to get some sun rather than mope around here.’

  Derek sat down at the small pine table and Keera followed suit. ‘Now that Marley is going to college in September, maybe you could do that too?’ he suggested. ‘Have you ever wanted to study?’

  ‘Not really.’ She shook her head. ‘I was always one of the thickos at school.’

  ‘I find that hard to believe.’

  ‘I didn’t like school. Come four o’clock, you wouldn’t see me for dust as I ran out of the gates.’

  ‘Perhaps you just messed around, like most kids?’ Derek eyed her. ‘I think a lot of teenagers leave school with regrets that they didn’t knuckle down when they should have, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t try again later. I went back to college and studied law.’

  Keera was just about to take a sip from her mug but she stopped midway, eyes wide. ‘Did you?’

  Derek nodded. ‘I was going to be some hotshot lawyer, but my mum was taken ill. My dad died shortly afterwards and there was only me that could take care of her. My parents meant the world to me so I gave up a chance of a career to look after her.’

  ‘Wow, that’s so kind of you.’ Keera took a sip of her drink before continuing this time. ‘Not a lot of people would do that. I know I couldn’t. My nan lives in sheltered accommodation because my mum doesn’t have the expertise to look after her. Nan needs someone there all the time now, to keep an eye on her, make sure she’s safe. She kept on wandering off when she lived by herself. I think she was lucky to be brought home each time she went missing. Anything could have happened to her.’

  ‘Dementia?’ Derek queried.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That’s such a cruel condition.’

  Keera nodded. ‘She hardly remembers me, so I don’t visit often now.’

  ‘Oh, you should,’ Derek encouraged. ‘She might never recognise you again, but just imagine if you went one day and she did. How good would that be? I bet all you feel now is guilt about not going to see her.’

  ‘I guess.’ Keera loved these philosophical talks with Derek. ‘I reckon you’d like my mum. I’d introduce you but she’s just got herself a fella.’

  ‘Oh? What’s he like?’

  Keera shrugged. ‘Haven’t met him yet. It’s early days, she says. I’m not so sure she’s in love or anything.’ She checked the time on her watch. ‘Going back to our original chat, would you like me to come to your house instead of visiting me at The Candy Bar?’

  ‘No, I think I’d prefer to keep that part of things the same, if you don’t mind?’

  She shook her head. ‘Would you like a massage before I go?’

  Derek sighed. ‘There is nothing I would like better.’

  Keera put down her mug.

  ‘But … I’m going to decline.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘I’m knackered. I gave chase to two fare dodgers earlier and I think I pulled my groin.’

  ‘You old timer!’ Keera covered her mouth with her hand as she yawned. ‘You should be careful what you get up to. It’s a jungle out there.’

  ‘Talking of which …’ Derek opened a drawer and took out an envelope. He passed it to Keera. ‘I’ve been thinking whether or not to give you this for ages. Now that you’re here, it seems only right.’

  Keera took it from him. Inside the envelope were a bundle of notes. She looked at Derek in confusion.

  ‘Five hundred pounds,’ said Derek. ‘I thought Ramona could get Steve off her back.’

  ‘But … but I can’t let you do that.’ Keera tried not to blush because she hadn’t told Derek that Steve was still hanging around outside The Candy Club, even though he wasn’t necessarily threatening Ramona.

  ‘Where do I say it’s come from?’ she asked.

  ‘Tell them you’ve borrowed it from your mum or something. Or you raided your piggy bank.’

  ‘That’s a lot more pennies than I’d ever have!’


  ‘Maybe, but no one need know.’ Derek paused. ‘I want to help. I don’t like bullies, I don’t like the thought of him coming back to hurt her – or you – so, well,’ he shrugged, ‘it’s only money.’

  Keera looked at the notes in her hand. Was Derek for real? She couldn’t take his money. It wasn’t fair to get him to bail Ramona out. But if she took the money, Ramona’s problems and her own could be over.

  ‘Take it with you,’ Derek urged as they stood in silence. ‘Sleep on it and decide what to do in the morning.’

  Keera looked at the money again. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I’m sure.’ Derek looked at the clock. ‘I should take you home.’

  ‘No need.’ Keera stuffed the envelope into her bag. ‘I’m only minutes away.’

  ‘And it will take me a minute to get you back there safely.’

  ‘It’s only–’

  The look he gave her made Keera realise that he wasn’t going to take no for an answer. She found that she quite liked it.

  Donna waited for ages before she dared to move. Owen was snoring gently behind her, his body still pressed close to hers, his arm slung territorially over her middle. She felt her legs cramping and stretched a little, hoping that it would make him move. It did the trick and he rolled away, turning his back to her. She lay in the silence, waiting to see if he would settle, or turn to her again.

  Her whole body ached where he had assaulted her, yet she didn’t dare to move in case Owen woke up. The clock illuminated on the television said it was half past two. She had to try to get away.

  Every thirty seconds or so, she lifted the duvet a little more from her and inched across towards the edge of the bed. She tried to recall where her bag was. Her shoes, she remembered, were under the dressing table.

  Several times, she urged herself to sit up but found that she was too scared. Finally, she realised it was now or never. As quietly as she could, she stood up.