by Woods, Karen
As Gordon paced the floor he continually checked the small window. The top part of it was smashed and the glass was missing. Gordon crept towards it, trying to see if he could make out a figure in the nearby car park.
Meanwhile Tigger remained frozen as he watched. He tried to calm his breathing but continued to pant like a dog that had just come in from the heat. At one stage he had to cover his mouth thinking that Gordon could hear him. The warehouse had lots of places to hide away in it and anybody could have hidden there unnoticed.
Tom also had taken his place in the warehouse. His brother had thought he was so off his head that he hadn’t heard his plans, but unknown to him Tom had heard everything and wanted to see for his own eyes what Gordon had planned. The hate for his brother seeped through his blood and he wanted to end his brother’s life there and then. All his life he had bullied him and now he had taken the one thing that he was willing to die for. Francesca had been his world as had Rico and now he was home everything had gone. Tom had thought about his brother’s behaviour quite a lot lately and realised he’d got him hooked on heroin again so he could rule his life once more. Tom curled up into a little ball and looked at Gordon through the small opening he had made. His blood boiled as he watched him and he wished him dead. He had wanted him to die a slow painful death and feel all the pain he felt when he craved the drug he’d got him hooked on. Tom lay still and waited eagerly in a cloak of darkness, to see if Gordon was as evil as he really thought.
The sound of a car door slamming caused Gordon to run to the window. The night had settled in and visibility was poor. Gordon listened near the window and heard footsteps. Sweat poured from him and he ran one way then the other trying to get into the best position to capture Dominic.
Tigger sat up and tried to see more clearly, and at one point, he nearly blew his cover as a rat crawled over his leg. He too was nervous and he wanted Gordon to get his come-uppance right in front of his eyes. Gordon had been a top lad when he was his pad mate but now he knew him for what he really was and hated him with a vengeance. Francesca was nearly his now and all that kept them apart was the beast he saw in front of him. Tigger had a clear view of the stage Gordon had set, and the torch he had placed on the wall gave off enough light for him to see everything.
Gordon listened as he heard the footsteps coming up the stairs and he could hear someone shouting.
“Hello is anyone there?” the voice shouted. Gordon could see a light coming to the top of the stairs and he realised Dominic was holding a torch. Dominic could be heard mumbling under his breath as he reached the top of the stairs and he froze like a statue behind the door waiting for him to enter. Years of torment were now coming to an end and Gordon could sense his revenge was only moments away. He hid behind the door and as soon as Dominic entered, he pounced on him like a lioness hunting her prey.
Gordon whacked him over the head several times with a piece of wood and watched as he fell to the ground. His blood was boiling now and he knew he had to be quick. He dragged him to the chair and used all his strength to turn Dominic on his side so he could bind his hands together. Gordon had seen this on the television weeks before and knew exactly how to make sure his prisoner was his for the taking. Dominic now started to moan and he lifted him up and bound him to the chair as he came round.
Gordon was shaking uncontrollably and he lit a cig hoping to calm his nerves. He watched Dominic closely and knew the games would begin any moment now. Dominic had grown up quite a lot since he’d last seen him and he looked like he’d looked after himself. He was wearing a smart black suit with a white shirt underneath and a pink tie. As Gordon looked at him, he realised that Dominic had done very well for himself. Jealousy now set in, and he remembered how he lost the love of his life to him and he kicked Dominic’s legs trying to make him come round.
Dominic could hardly see as his eyes began to open. His head was throbbing and he could feel blood travelling from his head onto his face. The blood excited Gordon and he knew his plan was working. Dominic tried to focus, but was struggling as he opened his eyes. All he could see was the shadow of someone stood in front of him and he knew he could no longer move his hands or feet.
Gordon spoke with a chuckle.
“Didn’t think you would see me again, did ya sonny boy?”
Dominic made no reply and Gordon got frustrated wanting him to know that his worst nightmare had begun. Gordon went behind the wooden chair and pulled Dominic’s hair from behind. He yanked it with all his might and pulled his head back until their eyes met.
“It’s payback time mate and I hope you can get what I want, otherwise the night is going to be a long one for you.”
Dominic looked up and thought he recognised the face in front of him but it didn’t click until Gordon walked in front of him again. His heart leapt about in his chest when he realised who it was and he tried to break free from the ropes that held him to the chair. Gordon moved the torch onto a smaller wall and shone it directly into Dominic’s face. To look at the scene you would have thought it was an old prisoner of war film and that a prisoner was about to be interrogated.
“What the fuck do you want with me? Why have you done this to me? Are you fucking up it or what?”
Gordon sat on a small brick wall to the side of him and looked at Dominic knowing he feared for his life. Dominic continued to speak as Gordon listened. He loved the power he held over him and knew he could kill him at any moment if he chose too.
Finally, Gordon had heard enough of Dominic’s pleas and decided to put him in the picture. He lit another cig and he walked up and down in front of him as he spoke.
“I want my money back. Your slut of a wife stole money from me several years ago, and now I want what’s mine. Did you both think I would let it go by and let you two bastards have the time of your life on my money?”
He looked at Dominic for an answer and pounded his fist into his face feeling the anger that had been there since he had been locked up so many years before. Dominic could only take the blows and his eye started to swell as Gordon’s fist connected with it yet again.
“Have you?” he shouted at Dominic’s face, “Have you got my fucking money, or do I have to continue beating the shit out of your fucking thick head”.
Dominic knew exactly what he was talking about and he knew the money had all been spent years before. Misty had put all the money she had stolen from him into the refuge and he knew she didn’t have a penny left. His brain couldn’t think straight at the moment and after another punch to his chest it affected his breathing,he started to struggle.
“Fucking wanker,” he shouted. “What can I do about your fucking money? Misty put it to a good cause years ago and there’s nothing left. The life we have been living is from my money that I have worked hard for and it’s fuck all to do with the money you had.” Gordon had wanted to end Dominic’s life there and then but he knew he had to hang on because with a bit more persuasion Dominic would have no choice except to get him the money.
The conversation seemed to go away from the money for a while and Dominic noticed a strange look in his eye as he started to speak about Misty.
“How is the love of my life anyway? Is she missing me yet?” Dominic cringed inside and knew he would have to listen to every word Gordon spoke about Misty without being able to do a thing about it. Every comment he made was like another punch in his chest and he wondered if he could take anymore of this torture.
“Does she still suck a mean cock? When we were together she couldn’t get enough of it and loved it stuck in her twenty four seven.” Dominic screamed inside and tried to blank his words from his mind but as he continued his temper erupted and he didn’t care if he lived or died. Gordon now looked serious and spoke directly into Dominic’s face.
“Me and Misty would have been happy if it wasn’t for you. Fucking right little knight in shining armour aren’t ya? We could have worked out our problems and stayed together if you hadn’t poked ya fucking nose in.”
Dominic rocked on his chair as his words flew out. Gordon didn’t seem to remember the years of torment he’d put Misty through and looked at his life with her through rose tinted glasses.
“You ruined it yourself mate. You treated her like shit and fucking beat her whenever it took your fancy. So why blame me for losing her? It’s your own fucking fault.” Gordon walked back to him slowly and laughed in his face. He now produced the pistol and pressed it into his cheek.
“She will always love me ya know. I could have her back at any time but she’s soiled goods now and I don’t like sloppy seconds.”
The gun barrel sunk into his cheek and Dominic wondered why he didn’t shoot him there and then. Gordon removed the gun from his cheek and walked up and down in front of him. He looked like he was in deep thought and pulled at his coat trying to stop the feeling of suffocation he was feeling. The sweat was now visible on his forehead and Dominic thought his life would end at that moment. Gordon sat down and lit up another cig, inhaling it deeply. He knew the plan had gone out of the window and racked his brains trying to find a solution to get his money back. Minutes passed and like a bolt of lightning an idea hit him, he jumped up and nodded his head letting Dominic know he had another plan.
“Where’s ya mobile phone,” he now started to pat Dominic’s pants and hurried him to tell him where it was. Dominic flapped and knew he had to obey and let him know his phone was in the inside of his jacket. Gordon pulled at his jacket and searched for the phone in a panic. Once he had found it, he shoved it in his face and told him to phone Misty. Dominic looked puzzled and asked why, but he dragged his hair back and told him not to ask questions.
Gordon searched the phone with difficulty and finally found the name Misty. He looked at the name several times and told Dominic what he wanted him to say to her.
“Tell her to come here now. Tell her its important, but not to worry.” Dominic told him to fuck off at first but another punch to his face made him follow the instructions.
“Tell her to be here as soon as possible.”
Gordon pressed her name on the keypad and held the phone to Dominic’s ear as he spoke. Misty didn’t answer straight away but when she did she could be heard laughing. Dominic could tell she was still talking to someone and hurried her to listen.
“Misty, Misty will you listen its important.” Misty now said goodbye to whoever she was talking to and gave him her full attention.
“Hi babes, what’s the matter.” Dominic tried not to sound nervous but his voice shook as he told her what he wanted.
“Misty I need you to come to the old Victoria Mill in Ancoats. Please hurry its important.” Misty went into loads of questions asking why, but he raised his voice to let her know it was serious and told her exactly where he would be. He told her to park up at the front of the building and to make her way up the staircase in front of the entrance. Misty’s voice could still be heard asking questions, as Gordon snatched the phone from him and ended the phone call without speaking any further.
They sat in silence as Gordon tried to think of his next move. Suddenly, a noise from the back of the warehouse made them look at each other and Gordon grabbed his torch to investigate further. Gordon felt slightly uneasy as he shone the torch around the nooks and crannies but he couldn’t work out where the noise had came from. After a few minutes, he returned to Dominic and Tigger let out a sigh of relief having avoided being captured. He thanked God that he’d not been spotted. A rat had crawled on his legs again and he couldn’t help but try and shake it off. The noise had nearly blown his cover and lost him his dreams but as he watched Gordon returning to Dominic he realized he was safe and changed position to try and remain as still as possible.
Misty looked puzzled after the phone went dead. Dominic had sounded strange and she wondered what on earth he wanted her to go to the mill for. Moments later, she started to smile and thought she could read Dominic like a book. Christmas was only weeks away and she thought he’d bought her some kind of surprise. He’d done things like this before and he loved to surprise her. Her face lit up and she shouted Charlotte to get her coat.
As Misty placed the seatbelt around Charlotte her excitement took over. What could her surprise be? Then she remembered talking to Dominic earlier that day and she remembered their conversation. He had told her he was going to a business meeting and would be home late tonight. She laughed at Charlotte and began to talk to her as she drove with speed to reach her surprise.
“Daddy thinks mummy’s daft. He doesn’t know that I am on to him. I think he’s got an early Christmas present for mummy and I can’t wait to see what it is.” Misty turned on the radio and her and Charlotte sang along to some Christmas songs. The traffic had been quite bad on the roads and all the Christmas shoppers were out in force. The usual ten-minute journey now took about fifteen minutes and she cursed as she waited.
*
Francesca watched the clock and thought Tom would have been home to watch Rico while she went to make the phone call to the police. After waiting another five minutes, she decided she had no other option than to take him with her. Rico had cried and told her he didn’t want to go back out in the cold, but she finally persuaded him with a trip to the shop on the way.
Francesca nearly dragged him to the lift as they left the flat. She knew if she didn’t hurry, the police wouldn’t catch Gordon and her chance would be gone forever. Francesca walked at speed, and at the end of the road, she had to carry Rico as he was still moaning and walking like a snail.
The phone box was finally in sight and she noticed a few people standing outside it waiting to use it. Quickly she ran to the pub at the end of the road to use the phone there. Rico was now crying, telling her he was freezing, but she didn’t listen and got quite angry with him telling him to hurry up. In the end, she gripped his hood and pulled him towards the pub.
Once inside, she found the phone near the bar. She now took Rico’s hand and pulled him to her as she dialled the number. The voice answered almost instantly and she was asked which service she required. Francesca paused for a moment and quickly said “police please”. The next voice she heard was that of a man asking what the problem was. Francesca sighed and wondered if she was doing the right thing, but as her eyes met Rico’s she knew she’d made the right decision.
“There is a man at Victoria Mill in Ancoats and he’s got a man captive. Please hurry because he’s gonna kill him.” The operator tried to get more information from her, but she panicked and told them to hurry. She placed the receiver down and stood with her back against the wall. Her head was throbbing and her heart pounded. Rico saw her and started to cry. He had never seen his mother like this before and felt scared.
“Mummy what’s wrong. Please don’t die.” Francesca bent down towards him and lifted him into her arms. She squeezed him tightly and started to speak in a soft voice.
“Mummy is not going to die, son. In fact she’s gonna start living.”
Rico couldn’t understand what she said but he knew his mum was okay and started to ask for the sweets she’d promised him from the local shop. Francesca’s breathing settled and she felt like a weight had been lifted from her mind. They slowly walked to the shop without a care in the world. Francesca knew her new start was just around the corner.
*
Misty pulled up at the mill. The light was very poor except for two streets light that lit the whole car park. She looked to where Dominic’s car was parked and walked towards the entrance of the old mill. Charlotte clung to Misty and told her she didn’t like the dark. Misty squeezed her hand and told her not to worry because daddy was inside waiting for them.
Misty pulled open the entrance door and shouted Dominic’s name. She looked at the stairs in front of her and knew she had to make her way up them to meet him. Misty felt uneasy, but had to remain calm for Charlotte’s sake. The staircase was pitch black as she walked up it. The only thing that kept her going was knowing that Dominic would be there waiting for her when sh
e reached the top. Charlotte started to cry and Misty tried to console her telling her they were nearly there. When they reached the top of the staircase, she saw the doors and felt slightly less worried. She shouted Dominic’s name and started to open them.
With the door half open, all that Misty could see was a small window in which a little light from the streetlight shone through. She stepped in and shouted his name again. When she had shouted him, she expected all the lights to go on and Dominic to be there shouting surprise, but she couldn’t have got it more wrong. She stood inside the warehouse and held Charlotte’s hand tightly. She shouted Dominic’s name one last time and a light shone in her face.
As the beam hit her eyes, she struggled to see and placed her hands up to her face to avoid the light. Within seconds, her nightmare began and the voice she heard sent shivers down her spine.
“Hello Misty Sullivan. Long time no see, bet you didn’t think you would see me again did you?” Misty panicked and turned to the door. Gordon ran to the door and stood in front of it as Charlotte screamed.
“Mummy I don’t like him. Please let’s go home.” Gordon laughed in her face and started to speak in an animated voice.
“Mummy has to give me what she owes me first love, and then you can all go home.”
Misty turned and looked for another exit but she couldn’t see a way out in the darkness and stood in exactly the same place. Gordon dragged them both to where Dominic was and shone the light on his face. Misty screamed as she saw him and tried to free him from the chair. Gordon now gripped her and pushed her to the ground. As she fell, she landed in a very large puddle of water and Charlotte screamed at the sight of seeing her father for the first time. Misty jumped to her feet and ran at Gordon with rage.