by Corby, Linda
Paul knew that Zaneen wouldn’t have been surprised by virtually anything, and curiosity came out in his voice as he spoke.
“All right Zaneen, you’d better tell me the full story I know there must be something odd for you to be in the least bit surprised by anything at all. You may as well get it off your chest and let me have the details.”
Zaneen gave a half-hearted snigger, looking at Paul’s face she realized; that for once in her life she had been shocked she had thought she was a rarity and had not considered that any other woman especially one like Stephanie could do a thing like that.
“I’m not sure how to put this but she simply castrated him with her bare hands. It might sound odd but I find it hard to think of her doing that, can you imagine Stephanie attacking anyone’s testicles and ripping them off, or is it just me going soft?”
Paul was not amused at the thought of any human being dying in that way and even though he knew Zaneen had done some killings in that way regardless of what the person may have done, well maybe a child molester. He knew Mick had been a funny bloke, but he did have a wife and three children but Stephanie wouldn’t have known that. He knew all of Zaneen’s past deeds and no matter how she had disposed of anyone it had always been what they had asked for in the first place, he was well aware of why it had shocked her.
Even though Zaneen didn’t admit to it she was basically soft inside and would find it very hard not to mother the underdog even if they were a thoroughly bad lot, unless they had done something really obnoxious she wouldn’t have it in her to be vicious and she had always managed to get out of things without leaving any really bad scenes behind her.
“I don’t think it’s up to me to pass judgement on anyone Zaneen, let’s just say I don’t exactly approve of handling things like that, but as we weren’t there at the time we cannot condemn her for her actions, she could well have not had any choice in the matter. Sooner or later we’ll hear her story for ourselves, we’ll have to wait and see what she has to say about it then.”
Zaneen relaxed on Byrento at least she could get away from it all when riding out, she looked at Byrento’s lovely floppy ears wobbling about as they walked and was glad her own conscience was clear as she chatted to Paul.
“Oh, I expect she had her reasons, I’ll show her a couple of clean ways to dispose of people when I see her, we don’t really want our family getting a reputation for doing that sort of thing unless the person had done something equally bad in the first place or there’s a damned good reason for it, do we?”
Paul agreed and reminded Zaneen that as she was supposed to be giving all the dangerous side of things up, he would rather they got someone else to show Stephanie a few things than for her to take too much interest and start getting any irritation that he wouldn’t want her to scratch. She knew exactly what Paul meant and had to admit he was more than likely right.
By the time they had got back to the yard Zaneen felt totally relaxed apart from making love strolling out on her horse was the only thing that could banish the anxiety’s from her head, she always felt totally free on horseback as though no one could reach into the private world that she found there, not even to know that it existed in the first place, but Zaneen knew it was her own hubby hole untouched by all others.
Ray broke the news of Stephanie’s episode as delicately as he could to Lora. He was amazed at the calm way in which Lora spoke about it as she answered his statement.
“I am not really shocked, Ray, when Stephanie was thirteen she was raped by five lads at her school. It was a revolting affair and I had them disposed of, Stephanie made the decision herself and insisted on taking part in their disposal she was always very forward for her age and knew a lot of what went on between the families even then. Since that time apart from Antony Williams she hasn’t really shown any real interest in anyone. I think she saw too much of her father’s behaviour towards me and it left her with a rather strange outlook on life in general. I wouldn’t like to be in the shoes of anyone who upset her too much; she’s got her father’s hardness when it comes to self-prevention that to my mind can be cold and bloodedly sadistic.”
Ray thought it odd that Lora didn’t seem perturbed in any way but then it must have made her hard, living with Rustle Preston had obviously left its mark on all of then, it did make him wonder what other repercussions would show though from that section of Lora’s past and affect their relationship, he made sure to keep his suspicions out of his voice hoping that Lora wouldn’t detect how he felt about the matter.
“To be honest Lora I think we should keep an eye on Stephanie, I Wouldn’t like to see her going the wrong way. Zaneen suggested that she had some proper training as to how to look after herself and not get a bad name, I’m inclined to agree with her as we don’t want to see her get into any deep water, you never know who you are going to upset when you do things the wrong way do you?”
Lora knew what Ray meant and agreed to have a quiet word with Stephanie when she came over to Satra; hopefully thinking she could talk some sense into her and persuade her to look at things their way.
17 REPERCUSSIONS.
It was just after five o’clock that evening when Antony arrived home. He wasn’t that perturbed by what Stephanie had done, he put it down to the curse he had put on anyone who went to touch Stephanie while he was alive, still he knew she didn’t know about that and with any luck she never would. On the other hand he knew only too well that she wouldn’t look at another man while he was around he‘d seen to that one and was confident of his powers. It did make him feel slightly insecure that she had got a perverted streak and he wasn’t too sure just how sadistic she could turn.
The way Stephanie had described her childhood to him left a lot to be desired and must have left its mark on her, he would have to watch she didn’t get cranky or he might have problems sorting her out. Stephanie found it highly amusing when Antony attacked her long elegant fingernails with the kitchen scissors cutting them as short as he could; she presumed he felt bothered by them after what she had used them for. There was no way she could have known he only did it to make her think he was and really couldn’t care less. He simply did it for the effect. Stephanie called John Wilson into the kitchen to have something to eat, John had a pleasant way about him and Stephanie felt it would be rather rude to leave him hanging about on the doorstep for hours on end and suggested that they could watch the road just as well from the kitchen.
John felt mildly amused when he saw the nail clippings in the ashtray, Stephanie saw the amused expression on his face and it crossed her mind what an attractive man he was, she had her doubts as to whether her feelings would ever be straight forward when it came to men, she felt awkward knowing that she had at last started to look at them as human beings rather than objects, it surprised her to find that some of them actually turned her on. Stephanie put it down to having a steady relationship with Antony, but didn’t want to think any further than that as she might find feelings that she couldn’t control logically.
When Trevor Sutton arrived back at the barn he was filled with repulsion at what he was confronted with, the nauseating sight of Mick’s body made his stomach heavy. He knew the contorted features of Mick’s face would be engraved on his mind for as long as he would live. He felt he was responsible for his death having left him alone with a woman who obviously had no moral feelings at all, he couldn’t stop feeling sick that he hadn’t had the fore-thought as to realize what Stephanie was capable of, after all he had known of Preston’s sadistic streak and should have taken it into account when dealing with his daughter, her pretty appearance shouldn’t have blinded him. He couldn’t bring himself to explain to Frank Draper how his brother had been disposed of, he knew how Frank would feel but he had to contact him and let him know.
Frank went to the barn to meet Trevor, when he saw his brother’s horribly mutilated body, the vomit rushed into his throat and spurted out of his mouth violently. He swore over the body that he would avenge hi
s brother’s sadistic murderer if it was the last thing he did. Trevor noted the ashen colour of Frank’s skin as vomit came oozing out of the barn door still trembling from what he had seen, Trevor could well understand how he felt, feeling bad as he stated that they would have to leave the body were it was, Frank would have to wait a few days before reporting Mick as missing, otherwise there could more than likely be problems arising.
If not Mick would not receive a proper burial and he felt sure Frank wouldn’t want that. Lora contacted Stephanie and insisted that she went to Satra and joined them; bringing Antony along if she wanted to. Stephanie wasn’t in the least surprised as she was sure there was bound to be some rather unpleasant repercussions forming out of the recent events, therefore she agreed to her mother’s request and arranged to meet Philip Long at Rudmin airport the following morning as Zaneen had suggested that they sent her plane over to fetch them. Antony decided to go along with Stephanie as he didn’t see any point in taking any undue chances.
By the time Frank Draper arrived at Antony’s terrace house with his shorn off shot gun the place was deserted. He set light to the property in pure frustration, if he had been able to lay his hands on Stephanie at that precise moment in time he would have her apart piece by piece with the greatest of pleasure. His mind couldn’t fathom out a revolting enough method of disposing of her, he’s thoughts were on the point of insanity as he tried to trace Stephanie’s were about thinking of the ways in which she should die.
Stephanie and Antony were dropped off at Ray Colt’s property with John Wilson in tow; they noticed what a superb property it was with the most incredible sea views over the cliffs that it was built upon. Stephanie had always respected her mother for the way in which she had put up with their old man, but had found it hard to get close to her with him around, his overwhelming presence had throttled them when they had been together, and the subject had been left well alone when he had not been present. The difference in her mother hit her instantly she had always considered her to be as hard as nails and unapproachable in a lot of ways, lacking in emotional behaviour and general warmth. Now she seemed to be bringing over with outgoing loving emotions, obviously very in love and blooming on it in a way that Stephanie had never imagined possible. Ever since she could remember, home had held an atmosphere of hostility and nothing but a bee hive of arguments all the time to boot.
Frank Draper arrived in Satra on the Thursday afternoon with Trevor Sutton and some back up men who had been informed of how Mick Draper had died, knowing it would make it easier for them to face disposing of a woman.
Zaneen and Paul had gone to visit Ray’s home for tea as all the family were meeting there. They were admiring the view out to sea from the conservatory glass sliding doors while Ricky and Reemo swam in the pool behind them, Ray was pouring the drinks out from the wicker bar giving them to Stephanie to pass around as he did so. The white horses in the sea bounced, breaking up white and frothy on the rocks below, Zaneen loved the sea its changing moods appealed to her and even when it was grey and murky she found it fascinating to gaze upon. She played absentmindedly with the silver cross that she had taken to wearing whenever Antony was around it felt more secure to do so. It passed her mind how on edge he seemed when he saw it and tried to put it down to anything but what really played on her mind which of course was some form of black magic, yet she still couldn’t help herself from wondering about him.
The door burst open and Jack Maison tumbled into the room blood spurting out of his arm and spraying onto the tiled floor as he spoke to them.
“Trevor Sutton is outside with Frank Draper and some men. Rim spotted them and the man who tried sneaking up on me he has snapped their back of across his knee. Pull your fingers out before we are surrounded for Christ sake, and watch it, they have got a fucking machine gun they are getting out the back of a van!”
By the time Ray spoke Zaneen had gone out of the sliding door and was making her way round the side of the property and Paul was on the phone to the Police knowing that it wouldn’t be long before the cables were cut and as they were on home ground they would stand a good chance of being put in the right, plus the fact that it sounded like they had more men about than they had and there wasn’t time to phone round for recruits.
‘Okay Jack, Lora will sort out your arm while we sort out that lot, then we’ll…”
Ray’s voice faded off as the sound of the machine gun could be heard at the front door.
Zaneen quietly let Tarbra out of the car and wished she hadn’t got the custom made vehicle there as she didn’t fancy the idea of it being damaged in the least. She spotted Silky bounce to the ground his body jerking spasmodically as Frank Drapers fingers still fed the bullets at him his blood still spiting over the white doors she knew she had to get the gun or they would all be massacred without a chance in hell. Zaneen looked at Tarbra and wished she could think of another way to sort things out but could see no alternative as she eyed up the positions that everyone else had taken and they were obviously waiting for her to make the first move, armed with whatever they had been able to find. She slid into the driver’s side of Ray’s Granada and felt everything go into slow motion as she had to give Tarbra the command to attack Frank Draper to get his gun out of action.
Tarbra’s teeth sank into Frank’s arm before he knew what hit him, Zaneen never even heard him scream with shock as she drove Ray’s car and ploughed it into the group of men behind her, mercilessly keeping her foot to the floor to get the most effect, several of them went under the wheels and one smashed straight into the windscreen. Zaneen felt the initial pain as the glass shattered narrowly missing her face and a jagged piece sticking into her arms taking chunks of flesh along the way, she saw Sutton making his way to help Frank Draper with a nasty looking knife in his hand and the shock took away all her sense of pain and she could fell her heartbeat raise as she darted to aid Tarbra springing onto Sutton as he raised his arm to strike out.
Sutton’s face revealed the surprise as he looked into her green eyes, he couldn’t believe anyone would risk their neck for any animal, human or otherwise, he wondered just what type of woman she was to look at her he couldn’t have imagined such guts from someone so feminine and his love of beautiful woman made him fake unconsciousness when she hit out at him. He didn’t know just how lucky his soft spot had made him; it was a sure thing that Zaneen would have finished him off otherwise. Rim stood in the doorway and flattened anyone trying to pass him as though it was an everyday occurrence. Paul had pinned him to the ground with a garden pitch-fork through the hip and his groaning was enough to put you right of your stride, though it didn’t seem to stop anything from carrying on as if he wasn’t even there. Ricky had another against the wall with his hand above his head; Stephanie had a carving knife across the throat of a terrified looking hunk of a man whose eyes bulged
at the motionless bodies surrounding him in a sea of blood, the stab wounds hardly visible behind their oozing scattered wounds.
Zaneen dashed to the aid of Reemo and Lora who were having problems with five heavies by the cliffs edge, she could hear the Police sirens as she sent Tarbra ahead of her seeing Reemo in a nasty predicament. She was panic stricken as she realized how close to the edge they were, she saw red and went completely berserk as Tarbra went straight over with Reemo’s attacker, she showed an incredible display of guts and talented arts going first into the man who was shaking Lora by the hair, unfortunately they both went over the edge, Zaneen being dragged over by the weight of her opposer holding onto her.
When Zaneen came round to conciseness the first thing she saw was Paul’s face looking anxiously down at her she could feel a winding pain as she tried to breath and her body ached all over as though she had been run over by a bus. Her first thought was of Tarbra and the tears flooded down her cheeks in an uncontrollable manner making it barely possible for her to say the name of her beloved pet. Paul could vaguely understand her as she spoke to him.
“Is Ta
rbra still alive or…?”
Paul interrupted her speech before she had time to say anymore knowing what was coming next.
“She is going to be okay Zan, the doctors are operating on her right now, and she’s in the theatre below us. I’ve had some of the best surgeons in the world fly over to look after the family, and Tarbra is one of the family as far as we are all concerned. We did have some trouble with one of the doctors on the hospital board about having Tarbra in with you, but we managed to persuade him it was in their best interest to do so with a donation that they couldn’t resist, therefore he was out voted by the rest of the board.”
The expression of relief on Zaneen’s face was indescribable as she realized that Tarbra was not dead, she looked at Pauls hand holding hers and squeezed it gently with the relief as she talked.
“What about the others, did they all pull through?”
Paul answered quietly pulling a chair up alongside the bed as he did so.
“Silky is dead, shot to pieces the poor bastard didn’t stand an earthly, John Wilson’s leg is shattered in several places, he was very lucky as he was standing right behind Silky at the time and… Silky’s body saved him from certain death. Jack Maison’s arm is broken in three different places through the shoulder blade; they are clean breaks though which is a good thing. Stephanie has four stitches in her left leg. Reemo has had several stitches in her face, Ricky and I got away without a scratch but Ray managed to get two broken ribs. Lora’s a bit knocked about but she’s got off better than most, Antony is in the intensive care unit along with Philip long who is in a coma after being walloped on the head with a metal bar if it hadn’t been for Rim’s intervening he wouldn’t have been around. Rim snapped his opponents arm to release the metal bar, and followed it up by breaking his neck with one hand. But then you know what Rim is capable of when his back is up don’t you?”