Written in the Scars (The Estate Series Book 4)

by Mel Sherratt

  ‘Let me in, Donna,’ she heard him say. ‘I only want to talk.’

  ‘So you can attack me again?’ she shouted. ‘Go away and leave me alone.’

  ‘I need to clear up the misunderstanding.’

  His voice was so calm that something inside Donna snapped and she went into the kitchen. Before she opened the back door, she reached for her mum’s old walking stick that was standing up in the corner. She grabbed her keys too and went outside, locking up behind her. Then she hid them under a plant pot. If Owen did get the better of her, he wouldn’t be able to get inside the house.

  Her heart pounding in her chest, Donna opened the side gate and walked along the path. As she got near to the corner of the house, she propped up the stick by the side of the wall, so that Owen wouldn’t be able to see it.

  He was knocking on the door again as she came into his view. Just looking at him made her want to throw up. She swallowed down bile as she faced him.

  ‘This is private property,’ she said, hoping she sounded sharp and unafraid. ‘I don’t want you here.’

  ‘Relax.’ Owen turned to her with a smile. ‘I only wanted to see you because you’re clearly ignoring my phone messages.’

  ‘That’s because I don’t want anything to do with you anymore.’

  ‘Don’t be like that.’ His smirk never faltered.

  Somehow as Owen walked towards her, Donna managed to stay her ground. She glanced around the street quickly, not seeing anyone in particular, but noticing a few front doors and windows open due to the heat made her realise she could scream if she had to.

  As he came closer still, images of Mary being pulled out of the chair by Denise came into her mind. She’d been a bully, too. Remembering, also, how angry she’d felt when Owen had threatened to harm Keera, she stood tall. What he’d done was wrong, and if she let him win, Donna knew she would be a victim forever.

  ‘What do you really want?’ she challenged as he stood in front of her.

  ‘You, of course!’ His smile was snide. ‘As if. I’m still not certain that you’ll keep your mouth shut about our little… get-together.’

  Channelling her anger yet hiding behind a mask of fear, she pretended to look afraid to let him think he had her attention. He thought he had power over her? He shouldn’t have. No one should.

  Her arm reached out to her side. ‘Get away from my house or I will call the police.’

  A dark shadow passed across Owen’s face as he drew level with her. ‘You’re in no position to threaten me.’

  Donna’s fingers clasped around the curved handle of the stick. With all her force, she brought it up in the air and hit out at him, aiming for his bicep, hoping to deaden the strength of the muscle.

  ‘You might think you had the better of me when I was tied to a bed, but I won’t be a victim for you now,’ she hissed. ‘You raped me and I won’t let you get away with it.’

  ‘You mad bitch!’ Owen’s facial expression was one of surprise.

  Donna raised the stick again. Owen grabbed it, pulled it out of her hands and threw it across the garden, out of reach.

  He was on her in seconds, pressing her up against the wall. Her arms flailed as she struggled.

  He grabbed her chin roughly. ‘You think the police will believe anything you say? I’d only have to play back the phone conversation that we had to let them doubt your word. I recorded it, you see. And you remember, the saucy fun we had the other night, the night in the woods too? I can tell them about that – then how would things look?’ Spittle flew over Donna’s face as he spoke. ‘I’ll deny anything you say. It will be your word against mine, and you’ll have to look over your shoulder for the rest of your life – because I can disappear easily and quickly, but you’ll never know when I might return.’

  ’I have photos too, of the injuries you caused,’ said Donna. He was staring in her eyes as if he was going to attack her again, but she had to fight back. ‘I have evidence of us at the hotel. I’ve spoken to the security guard who saw how upset I was.’

  ‘That doesn’t prove anything. We had a lover’s tiff.’ He sneered. ‘Not that I would ever love anyone as desperate as you.’

  A tear dripped down Donna’s cheek. ‘Why did you pick me?’

  ‘You were an easy target.’

  ‘This is my life you’re messing with!’ she sobbed, her bravery of a few minutes earlier deserting her completely.

  ‘Don’t worry, I might set my sights on a younger woman now I’ve had my fun with you. I’ve been keeping an eye on that daughter of yours. Quite a little minx you have there.’

  ‘No, please.’ Donna’s voice cracked.

  ‘You don’t know where she’s working, do you?’ Owen’s face lit up. ‘Your little girl shops her wares at The Candy Club. It’s a massage parlour, if you don’t know. I wonder what she does there? Nudge nudge, wink wink.’

  ‘No, she works at—’ Donna stopped. This could be a trick. She wasn’t going to tell him where Keera worked.

  Owen sniggered. ‘That’s how much you know. She does tricks at The Candy Club. She’s seeing some old fella, too. I’ve seen her getting into his taxi lots of times at the end of her shift.’

  ‘You’ve – you’ve been following her?’

  ‘A little bit.’

  ‘You’re lying.’ Donna’s brow furrowed, not wanting to believe what he was saying. ‘She doesn’t work there.’

  Owen shrugged. ‘Ask her, if you don’t believe me. She finishes work most nights at twelve and he picks her up at the bus stop. He lives over in Christopher Avenue, halfway down. Now, if I can see that, I can’t understand why you don’t know anything about it? I reckon she’s ashamed of sucking cock all night, although I don’t see anything wrong with—’

  ‘Everything okay, Donna?’

  Donna had never been so thankful to see Rita Manning peering over the garden hedge.

  ‘Everything’s fine.’ Owen stepped away from Donna and gave Rita a warm smile. ‘We were just – getting acquainted, if you know what I mean.’

  A look of realisation crossed Rita’s face and she grinned. ‘What are you pair like?’

  Owen smiled at them both. Before she could react, he planted a kiss on Donna’s cheek. ‘I’ll see you later.’

  Donna dropped to the ground, her legs refusing to hold her body as Owen walked back down the path. She was sure she didn’t take another breath before she heard his car moving away from the kerb. Relief washed over her and she burst into tears. Oh, God, he was going to keep harassing her if she didn’t do something soon.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Rita was in front of her in seconds.

  ‘I … I …’ Donna struggled to get her words out.

  ‘What the hell was all that about?’ Rita stooped down beside her. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not after the gossip. But he hadn’t come because he was missing you, had he?’

  Donna shook her head. ‘It didn’t take long for me to fuck things up as usual.’

  ‘Do you want to talk? I can come back inside with you, if you like?’

  Donna shook her head. She knew deep down that Rita was really after the gossip. But Donna wouldn’t tell her what had happened because she was still so ashamed. And, despite being brave enough to confront Owen, she hadn’t given him the intended impression that she wasn’t a victim. What might have happened if Rita hadn’t come to her rescue?

  With trembling hands, she let herself back into the house, locking all the doors and windows behind her. Then she tried Keera’s phone but her message went to voicemail.

  She sat down at the kitchen table, head in hands and sobbed. She wouldn’t rest until she saw Keera. She wanted her safe at home. She couldn’t stop wondering if Owen was out there watching her, ready to strike at any time.

  But first she needed to talk to her.

  She needed to know if what Owen had told her was true. And if it was, why was her daughter lying to her? More to the point, what the hell was Keera getting up to?

  Keera was massagi
ng Derek’s back. She’d started her shift two hours ago and was already wishing he was her last client so that she could get him to take her home. She wasn’t sure if she was fed up with The Candy Club and her job, or if she just wanted to spend more time chatting to Derek. Either way, the clock just wasn’t ticking fast enough.

  ‘I can’t believe you get so much tension in the bottom of your back,’ Keera said, pushing her knuckles into the base of his spine.

  ‘It’s sitting in the car for long periods that does it.’ He groaned as she continued. ‘If I didn’t have regular massages, I’d be in even more agony.’

  ‘Well, I can certainly—’

  The commotion downstairs startled them both.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Keera heard footsteps thundering along the corridor. She could hear Ramona yelling and another voice she recognised.

  The handle went down on the door and it was pushed open, slamming into the wall with a loud bang.

  Steve Wilson stood in the doorway, his eyes narrowing as he tried to focus. He took a step forward, staggering slightly.

  ‘What the hell do you think you’re playing at?’ Keera snapped. ‘You can’t just barge in here when I’m working.’

  Derek grabbed for his shirt. ‘You have no right to be in here.’

  ‘I wanted to see for myself.’ Steve stepped further into the room. ‘So you let him screw you but not me?’

  ‘I’ve done nothing—’

  Ramona had reached the room and stood behind him in the doorway.

  ‘Steve!’ She pushed past her brother to stand in front of him. ‘Just go, will you?’

  Steve didn’t move. ‘You’re nothing but a slut!’ he slurred, pointing a finger at Keera. ‘A fifty pence whore.’

  ‘Oi! Watch your mouth.’ Derek stepped forward now.

  ‘Keep your fucking nose out of my business,’ Steve told him.

  Keera glared at Steve. She had never told anyone at The Candy Club what he’d tried to do to her, but if she could use it now as leverage to get him out of the place, she would.

  ‘Is that why you attacked me?’ she said, pointing a finger back at him.

  ‘What do you mean?’ Ramona swivelled round to face Keera.

  Derek’s face darkened. ‘It was him?’

  Keera nodded, then looked at Ramona. ‘He tried to force me down the side of Albert’s fruit shop. He wanted me to give him a blowjob but I wouldn’t. He’s been watching me ever since.’

  ‘She’s lying,’ Steve said to Ramona, staggering another step to the right.

  But Ramona wasn’t listening. ‘I told you after the last time that if I caught you doing it again, I’d get the management to sort you out. You know I only have to say one word and they’ll come after you. You can’t keep doing this. I’ll lose my job – and then where would your money come from?’

  ‘But she’s my girlfriend,’ Steve slurred.

  ‘In your dreams,’ Keera snorted. ‘I wouldn’t touch you with a barge pole.’

  Derek pulled Keera behind him and turned to Steve. ‘I think you should leave before I call the police.’

  ‘No, please don’t.’ Ramona grabbed her brother’s arm. ‘Come on, Steve. I’ll make you a coffee. Get you sobered up a little.’

  ‘Move out of my way!’ Steve pushed Ramona to the side and lunged at Derek, landing a punch in his mouth.

  Derek thumped Steve in the side of the head. As punches began to flail, the women tried to break them apart.

  ‘Steve, stop!’ cried Ramona, grabbing his arm.

  Keera screamed too. ‘Leave him alone, you bastard!’

  The couch screeched across the room as Derek’s back caught the edge of it, but he dodged Steve’s fist this time. He grabbed Steve around the waist and managed to push him towards the door.

  ‘I said, you need to leave!’ Derek repeated.

  Steve thumped him in the stomach and as Derek bent to catch his breath, Steve brought his elbow down on his back, knocking him to the floor. He drew back his boot as Derek curled up into a ball.

  ‘Stop!’ yelled Ramona, pulling on Steve’s arm again.

  ‘Leave him alone!’ Keera pushed Steve, trying to knock him off balance. ‘He’s a client.’

  ‘So you do screw clients?’

  ‘I told you, no!’

  ‘It’s fucking sick, if you ask me.’

  ‘No one is asking you.’ Keera pushed Steve away. ‘Now, get lost before I call the police.’

  Steve grabbed a handful of Keera’s hair and brought her face within inches of his own. ‘Don’t you fucking threaten me.’

  ‘Hey!’ Derek tried to sit up.

  Keera wrestled with Steve, trying to release his grip on her hair, but he was too strong. He pushed her away roughly, her shoulder hitting the wall with a thud. She groaned but as she turned back, she saw he had a knife in his hand.

  She screamed when he raised his hand in the air above Derek. ‘Don’t hurt him,’ she yelled. ‘Please! I love him!’

  ‘Aww, hear that, old man? She says she loves you.’ Steve bent down, glancing at Keera for a moment. ‘Let’s see how much you fancy him after this.’ He drew the point of the blade down the side of Derek’s face.

  Keera screamed and ran at Steve, disregarding her own safety. ‘Derek!’

  Steve still had the knife in his hand. He turned quickly, waving it around.

  ‘Do you want some of this too?’ he shouted, his dilated pupils bulging from wide eyes.

  ‘Stop it, Steve!’ Ramona was sobbing now. ‘You’ve caused enough damage.’

  Derek stayed on the floor. Keera froze, unsure what to do next.

  With the knife still in his hand, Steve ran from the room.

  Before anyone could speak, Ramona followed after him. ‘I’m not letting him get away with this any longer,’ she muttered.

  Through the open doorway, Keera could see Steve disappearing down the stairs.

  With arms outstretched and a roar in her throat, Ramona pushed him.

  Steve toppled forward, his head hitting the wall as he fell, collapsing in a heap in the hall.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Estelle, who had come out of her room at last, pushed past Ramona and went downstairs. She knelt next to Steve, looking back up the stairs.

  ‘What the hell did you do that for?’ she cried.

  Ramona stood there in astonishment. ‘Do you know what he just did!’ she yelled. ‘He’s just attacked a client. Derek is going to be scarred for life!’

  ‘But if he’s injured, we’ll have the police around,’ Estelle patted Steve’s cheeks to try and wake him, ‘and it’ll be all our jobs on the line!’

  In her room, Keera sat next to Derek. Blood poured through his fingers and down his face.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she sobbed, reaching for a towel. ‘This is all my fault.’

  ‘No, it isn’t.’ Derek sat up and leant against the wall.

  ‘I don’t know where he got the idea that I was his girlfriend,’ Keera went on. ‘I never said anything to make him think that. As if I would go near a creep like him.’

  ‘It’s not your fault, Kee.’ Derek groaned as she pressed the towel to his face.

  ‘But—’

  ‘Pass me my phone. I’ll get someone from the rank to pick us up.’

  ‘Here?’ Keera shook her head. ‘It might not look good for—’

  ‘I’m not ashamed to say that I visit.’

  Keera burst into tears. She needed to know what had happened to Steve after Ramona had pushed him down the stairs. He could have broken something. He might be paralyzed, or worse, dead. Ramona would be in real trouble then and it would all be her fault.

  And what would that mean for her, and Derek?

  Chapter Forty-Six

  Two hours later, Derek and Keera were sitting in a cubicle in the A&E department. Steve had been so drunk that he couldn’t recall anything when he finally came round and Ramona had managed to persuade him that he had fallen down the stairs of his own accord.

&nbs
p; Keera didn’t feel sorry for him after what he had done, but she did feel glad that Ramona wasn’t going to get into trouble for her little bit of mad revenge. Luckily, nothing had gone too wrong – except for the attack on Derek.

  Derek was waiting to be seen by a doctor. Thankfully, the blade of the knife hadn’t penetrated too deeply and the wound was mostly superficial, but it would leave a visible scar for a long time as it healed and faded.

  Keera took Derek’s hand in her own. ‘How are you feeling?’

  ‘A lot better now that the painkillers are kicking in.’ He smiled, then winced in pain. ‘At least it’s not too deep.’

  ‘But you’ll be left with a scar.’ Keera pointed at his face. The cut measured at least three inches, running from the front of Derek’s ear down to his chin.

  ‘Not a prominent one. It will disappear in time.’

  Keera knew he was trying to make her feel better. The fact that he had a scar at all was down to her. ‘If that lunatic hadn’t got the wrong end of the stick, this wouldn’t have happened. I can’t believe he thought I’d touch him after what he did to me. I’ll make him pay once—’

  ‘Kee, what you said earlier,’ Derek cut in. ‘You don’t really love me in that sense, do you?’

  Keera felt her skin redden. What did she think of Derek? She enjoyed his company, looked forward to being taken home by him and she had a good rapport with him. She liked how he made her laugh, and how he called her Kee. But that was all, wasn’t it?

  ‘Thinking about it now?’ Keera shook her head. ‘I know I said it but it’s because sometimes I see how much you care about me and it’s hard not to wonder if this—’

  ‘It can’t happen, you do realise that?’

  ‘Why not?’ She shrugged, embarrassed now that she had admitted it. ‘Lots of people fall in love with older people. It’s okay.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem healthy.’

  ‘I don’t really care as long as the two people are happy about it. That’s all that should matter really.’

  ‘If only it were that simple.’ Derek winced as he moved up the bed a little. ‘Christ, I was lucky he stopped when he did. That mad bastard could have stabbed me next in his frenzied state. He was definitely on something as well as drink.’