by Woods, Karen
Within weeks, Tom looked gaunt and his complexion looked grey. His weight loss was almost instant and Francesca put it down to the stress of him losing her. Never in a million years had she thought he would go back to drugs and if she found out, she would have been so disappointed in him.
Tigger and Francesca were in love and couldn’t wait to spend every minute with each other. While Tom was addicted to heroin, Tigger was addicted to Francesca and he now needed a fix of her every day. They had spoken about being together properly and no matter how much they discussed it, one thing always stood in their way. Tigger could have dealt with Gordon no problem but Francesca didn’t want it that way. If they were together, she wanted her and Gordon to end it properly and amicably. She knew things would never be that easy, and she prayed that he would come home one day and tell her that he’d met somebody else and leave her for good. Gordon’s fist had been back in action recently and it was normal for her to have a black eye every week or so. Tigger would cringe when he would saw her bruises and many a time he threatened to kill him for the pain he was causing her. Tom had also heard Francesca’s screams from her beatings during the night and hid his face under the duvet to escape the cries of the woman he still loved. He too had wanted to end Francesca’s torment, but he remained lifeless, as the heroin he’d taken left him unable to move.
14
Tigger had been working his magic for months and the plan he and Gordon had put together was now taking shape. Gordon’s nerves were as bad as ever and he struggled to keep himself from shaking most days. The doctor had told him that he needed to learn how to relax and offered him a bit of therapy but he told him to shove it up his arse and left the surgery with just his tablets.
Tigger had earned Dominic’s father’s trust over the past year. Tigger felt slightly guilty about what he was setting up for his son but the thought of Gordon getting his money back and fucking off leaving him with Francesca soften it in his mind. Tigger had met Dominic a few times when he’d done business with his dad and he had seemed like a really great bloke. The property deal Tigger had set up was to take place in an old mill in Ancoats and once the final touches had been done the meeting would be set up ready for the following week.
Gordon had rehearsed this meeting in his mind for years and he knew exactly what he wanted out of it. Misty owed him big time and she was the one that had sent him to prison, so he knew she would pay. Dominic had never really hurt Gordon but if this plan was to work, he had to be involved in it. Gordon had seen Misty a few times previously and she’d looked so happy. Her daughter was beautiful and he had wished he could have been the one who had made her so happy. When he saw her, he hid from her view and admired her from a distance. She was still attractive and he still fancied her like mad even after all these years. She was wearing a short red jacket and jeans with knee high boots and her hair still shone like it had when he’d first met her. Gordon had tried to look at her daughter to see if there was any resemblance to Misty but the child didn’t keep still long enough for him to focus.
Tigger had set him up with the perfect plan to seek revenge. Now Tigger handed him a gun saying that was it, he wanted no more to do with it. Tigger had known the time and place of the meeting and passed it to Gordon, telling him to think about everything properly before he carried it out. Gordon had listened to him, but his mind had been made up a long time ago and to back off now would be like admitting defeat. Gordon wasn’t that kind of person. He was a fighter and knew this was his chance of a new life.
*
Misty kissed Dominic as he left for work as usual. He told her he had a business meeting that night and not to expect him home until late. She was used to this and never batted an eyelid, knowing he would be home when he’d finished.
Misty’s first job was to take Charlotte to school. Charlotte was so old headed and Misty loved the relationship they had together. Charlotte was like her wingman and each morning they would sit in the car on the way to school and Charlotte would sing her head off. Charlotte knew a lot of the old songs and she would sing along to Shirley Bassey’s “Hey Big Spender”. Misty would laugh at her because of the faces she pulled as she sang. Charlotte was like a mini me of Misty. They both dressed trendy and their personalities were so a like. Even the teachers in school couldn’t believe Charlotte’s talent for singing and because of this she would get all the main parts in the school plays. Lisa had said Misty had been like that as a child too and perhaps if her life had turned out differently, she could have made a career out of singing.
Once Charlotte was in school Misty made her way to the refuge. Misty and Sue had planned a girly day with all the women at the refuge and she was looking forward to it. A local beautician who Misty knew had said she would come in free of charge and teach the women how to apply make- up properly. The women in the refuge loved days like these and Misty tried to bring someone in who could teach them something to make the most of themselves each week. Previously Misty had brought her cousin Lindsay into the refuge who was a high street hairdresser and she’d cut and styled a lot of the women’s hair for no fee. The women had tried to pay her and she told them that her only payment was to see them looking good.
Sue had turned her life around now and she was back on track. John had tried to win her back but it all had come much too late and she knocked him back, telling him their time together was over. She owned her own house and herself and Bethany were living a stress free life. Bethany still went to see her father but most of the time he had left her in the pub with her nana and pissed off somewhere. Sue had learnt from her mistakes and promised she wouldn’t be anyone’s doormat again. She’d already had a few dates since splitting with John and she’d enjoyed their company but for now she chose to stick with her Anne Summers rabbit. She had laughed and told Misty it was the best thing that she had ever bought. She told her it didn’t answer back and you didn’t have to feed it - what more could a woman ask for, she laughed as she continued to tell Misty about the magic ears she discovered on the end of her new vibrator.
“Misty I nearly collapsed the first time I used it. Believe me, you need to get one. You orgasm in seconds, and if you want to go again there’s no rest period for it, it’s ready when you are. It is the commando of all vibrators I tell you. You need to get one.” Misty listened with excitement and told Sue she would have to get one too and asked her to come with her when she did. She told Sue that Dominic was working late that night and if she wasn’t busy they could go into town after work. Sue agreed, as she wasn’t busy that night and they laughed their heads off saying they would be hopping about in a few days with the effect of the rabbit’s actions.
On the morning of the meeting, Gordon sat on the toilet trying to settle the nerves that had tormented him all night. He had taken some of the tablets but they didn’t seem to calm him one little bit. As he sat there, he heard Tigger enter the flat.
“Won’t be a minute, mate. I’m just on the shitter,” he shouted. Tom took him to the front room until Gordon had finished. Francesca now entered and Tigger grabbed her arse as she walked past. Tom was in a world of his own and didn’t see what was going on, he just sat there staring into space. Once Gordon joined them he gave Francesca the eyes to fuck off and she disappeared knowing they were talking business. Tigger looked at Tom as if to tell him to leave but Gordon gave him the okay to talk knowing that Tom was off his head on smack and wouldn’t care less what they were talking about.
“Right you. It’s all set for tonight at Victoria Mill at seven o’clock. Dominic said he would be there waiting for you. He seems an alright kind of guy, mate and I don’t think you should hurt him because of what Misty has done to you.” Gordon shook his head and told Tigger that he planned to kidnap Dominic and use him to get Misty to bring the money. He also told him that if Misty handed over the money no problem, Dominic wouldn’t get hurt but he needed the gun just to show them that he meant business. Tigger sighed.
“Just hope it goes to plan mate and yo
u don’t end up back in jail. Fucking hell mate, for what you have planned, it carries a big sentence so think on whether it’s worth it or not.” Gordon knew no matter what anyone said he was going through with it. He couldn’t shit himself now because after all, this was the moment he’d dreamed about for so long.
Francesca shook as she crept away from the door. The conversation sent fear through her. Did she hear it right, was Gordon planning to kill Dominic and Misty tonight? She returned to the bedroom and tried to listen but all she heard was Tigger leaving the house. He shouted goodbye to Francesca as he left and she popped her head round the bedroom door shouting goodbye.
Gordon had been wrong about Tom being too spaced out to hear what they were saying and he too feared for Dominic and Misty’s safety. When Gordon returned to the front room, Tom lit a cig and asked Gordon where he was going. Gordon told him he had a bit of business to take care of later that day and told him not be so fucking nosey.
Gordon had already been to the mill over the last week or so and taken everything he needed to make the job a good one. He had even taken a chair for Dominic to be tortured on and a bag to place over his head once he had captured him. A lot of other stuff had been taken to the warehouse and Gordon had a contingency for all scenarios. The last thing he needed to take with him was the gun Tigger had provided. It actually looked like a toy water pistol and Gordon had questioned whether it was real or not. The shotgun he had at the flat was too big for him to carry around and he had hid it back in its usual place behind the boiler so no one could see it.
Gordon started to get ready and he put on a pair of black pants as he shook with nerves. He had bought the pants especially for this job and he wanted to look like a businessman to fit the part. When he came out of the bedroom Francesca asked him where he was going all dressed in black, and he told her an old friend had died and he was going to the funeral. He told her he wouldn’t be home till late as the wake would go on until the early hours and he didn’t want her waiting up all night wondering where he was.
*
When Tigger left the flat, his own little plan started to take shape. If it all plan worked out, Francesca would be his forever and he wouldn’t have to worry about Gordon any longer.
Francesca left the flat with Gordon and she knew he was up to something as he was strangely quiet. She asked him if something was on his mind and he snapped at her telling her to shut the fuck up.
“Fucking hell every time I’m a bit quiet you automatically think something’s wrong with me. Well there’s not, so fuck off and go where you’re going.” Francesca turned and headed off in a different direction. She really hated the ground that he walked on and hoped he would be caught for whatever he had planned. Her mind now started working overtime and a plan grew that would rid her of him once and for all. She knew where he was going and she knew what he was going to do, so all it would take was one phone call to get rid of him.
Francesca headed into town and the money Tigger had given her was going to help take away the mood Gordon had caused her to be in. Tigger was always treating her and she had to hide some of the jewellery he’d bought her in the past. Today she had £200 in her pocket and she was off to treat herself. Gordon had asked where her money was coming from a few times and she told him she had saved it while he was in prison and he seemed to be happy with the answer.
Francesca reached the town centre and got off the bus near the Arndale Market. She loved the market there and couldn’t wait to see what bargains they had. Francesca walked through the food hall first and the smell from the fish stalls made her heave. There were many other food counters there and some of them even sold Chinese food ready to takeaway. Francesca was starving at this point and thought she would grab a quick beef Chow Mein to walk round town with. As she waited to order she watched them make the food right in front of her and her mouth watered waiting for it to be made. Once she got her food, she slowly walked away from the stall scoffing it as quickly as she could. The town centre was busy and the amount of people walking around was untrue. Then she realised that it was only four weeks to Christmas and everyone was shopping like there was no tomorrow, trying to get all their Christmas presents before they sold out.
Francesca joined the crowds and seemed to be pushed along past all the shops. She had to stand still and make her way towards a wall to try and finish her food and try to get her bearings. Once she had eaten her food, she rejoined the crowds and made her way to a couple of her favourite shops. She loved the thought of being able to buy whatever she wanted and walked into the shop as if she was a queen, casting her eyes over the sea of different colours on the rails. Immediately a black dress caught her eye and the silver sequins on it made it a bit special. Francesca held the dress up and pulled it in different directions. This was her dream dress she thought and headed to the till to make her first purchase. Francesca froze as she looked and saw Misty and Sue coming into the store. Misty looked stunning and the smile across her face told her she was happy with life. As she looked at her closer the plans she heard Gordon talk about came to mind. She instantly made a decision as she looked at her again and slowly dipped her head. Despite all that had happened between them, she couldn’t let Gordon hurt her and she tried to think how she could help her.
Tigger had promised to take her out the following week and this dress would be just what she needed to show off her sexy curves and make his cock throb like a sore finger.
Francesca spent the day as she said she would and loved the clothes she’d bought. She had also bought Rico some new jeans and her mood was great until she sat on the bus heading back home. How could she let Gordon get away with what he planned? Misty had been out of his life for so long now, so why did he still have to punish her, she thought as she gazed through the bus window as it travelled up Rochdale Road. Gordon was an out and out bastard and she decided there and then he wasn’t getting away with it.
As she entered the flat she shouted but no one was home. Tom must have gone out she thought and she rehearsed in her mind what she going to say on the phone when she phoned the police. Her stomach churned at the task in front of her and she weighed up all the pros and cons. A life without Gordon would be heaven, she thought, and Rico would be a lot happier. Since Gordon had been released from jail, Rico had changed. He had once been such a happy child but now he would sit alone in his room and keep out of Gordon’s way as much as possible. Francesca remembered a day that had passed and thought of how Gordon had spoken to Rico. Rico had been drawing on his paper at the table, doing a picture of his family, and when Gordon came in, he had kicked all his stuff off the table and told him to go in his room if he wanted to draw. Rico had been heartbroken and looked at Francesca for support and all she could do was help him pick up his papers from the floor and help him to his bedroom. She had wanted to whack the no good bastard right in his face and tell him exactly what she thought of him but as always she held back.
Francesca prepared tea for later, and when she had finished she went to collect Rico from school. Her thoughts were all over the place as she planned the phone call she was going to make. She decided she couldn’t use her mobile phone as the call could have been traced and she looked along the street she was walking, trying to locate a phone box she could use later that night.
Rico came to the classroom door and smiled as the teacher told him his mother was there to collect him. He looked so big these days and she wondered where all the years had gone. His hair was as fair as ever and he still looked the double of Gordon. Francesca felt sadness in her heart and wondered why Gordon had never bonded with him. He was a lovely child and deserved to be loved by his father. Rico handed his mother a picture he had painted in school and told her it was of his family. As she looked at it closer, she noticed it was the two of them together but there was no sign of Gordon in it. She looked at his little face as she held his hand across the road and finally asked where Gordon was. Rico sunk his head and pulled a strange face as he spoke.
&
nbsp; “Mummy there wasn’t enough paint left to paint daddy.”
Francesca smiled but inside it felt like someone had twisted a knife deep inside her heart. Her mind was made up now and any last minute doubts she had over making the phone call disappeared. Gordon had to go and she would do anything in her power to make sure he didn’t upset her son anymore.
*
Six o’clock came and Gordon was already at the warehouse. It was dark and very dimly lit. Gordon pushed the big door at the entrance and had to move some old boxes behind it so he could get in. As he looked through the door, he saw a staircase. The stairs were covered in water that had dripped from the leaking roof and his shoes were wet as he ascended them. He made his way up the three flights of stairs and thought he could see someone else’s footprints in the dry concrete, but as the light was poor so he couldn’t be sure. The stairway was made of old bricks all the way up and the red paint that had been applied years before had peeled off. There was a strange smell that filled the warehouse that reminded Gordon of an old tip he used to play on when he was a small boy. When he reached the top, he pulled open the two double doors in front of him and could see a full view of the place. The warehouse was massive and the concrete floors let him know exactly how cold it was in there. As he walked, he dodged the puddles of water that were scattered about the floor. Gordon turned his torch on and placed it on a small wall behind him. The cold air made him shake more than it was already was and he rubbed his arms trying to get warm. He now got all the stuff he needed ready and he spoke to himself as he placed the chair in the correct position.
“Let’s see your face now Dominic. All the years you and your little slut have laughed at me is going to come back and haunt you. Revenge is sweet my friend, and I want what you both fucking owe me.”
He now plodded about and moved around looking at the set up from different angles. He checked his watch and knew the moment of truth was nearly here. Gordon rubbed his hands together and blew his hot breath onto them hoping they would warm up a little bit but no matter how much he tried his fingers remained cold.