Born Bad

by Josephine Cox

  He gave a wide smile. ‘I’ve taken the morning off,’ he announced. ‘I called in, told them I’d been awake all night with a stomach upset and would be in later … when I felt a bit better.’

  Making no comment, Judy glanced at him with hatred.

  He gave the bed a vicious kick. ‘Did you hear what I said, bitch? It’s time to get up!’

  Snatching at the eiderdown, he pulled it off her and threw it across the room, leaving her shivering. Just as he was about to grab her by the ankles, she rolled to the other side of the bed and clambered out.

  ‘That’s it,’ he chuckled. ‘Wasn’t all that bad, was it, eh?’

  As she passed by him he took hold of her arm and drew her to him, real close, his face almost touching hers. ‘You haven’t forgotten what you need to do, have you?’

  Unable to look at him, she shook her head.

  ‘Answer me! Have you forgotten what we planned?’

  This time she answered, her voice quiet, filled with loathing. ‘No, I haven’t forgotten.’

  ‘Get on with it then, and make sure you do it properly. Or you know what will happen, don’t you?’

  She stared him out. ‘They should never have let you out of prison.’

  ‘Ah, but they did, and it’s just as well I had somebody watching you. Goodness me! You could have got miles away, if I hadn’t been clever enough to keep tabs on you.’

  When she tried to walk on, he caught her by the face and squeezing his fingers either side of her chin, he forced her mouth open and gave her a long, sickening kiss; then he thrust her aside. ‘You should remember, Judy my love: you belong to me. I would never allow any other man to take what’s mine, especially Harry Blake! That’s why it’s so important that you do the job right today. Understand?’

  When Judy tightened her lips, he bellowed, ‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’ so loudly that she almost leaped out of her skin.

  ‘Yes, I understand.’

  ‘Good girl.’ Turning her about, he raised his boot and kicked her in the small of her back, sending her towards the dresser, which thankfully broke her fall. ‘Oh dear, silly me, I almost forgot.’ Crossing the room, he stood her up and brushed her down. ‘We don’t want to mark you,’ he said mockingly. ‘Mustn’t do anything to make him suspicious.’

  He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. ‘Lazy cow!’ He gave her a disapproving glance. ‘It’s already gone nine. You’ve got a couple of hours to make yourself look good. After that, you’d best get to it. Oh, and in case you’re wondering why I’m taking the morning off work, it’s because I mean to deliver you there safely, to make sure you don’t chicken out. Oh, I’d love to be there to see his face, but I can’t afford to hang about. I don’t want to lose my job, not with you to keep and clothe.’

  He grinned broadly. ‘No matter. I can look forward to hearing all about it when I get home.’

  He followed her into the bathroom. ‘I fancy sausage, mash and mushy peas for my tea … oh, and get the fat sausages, not the thin ones that curl into a ball when you fry them. The fat sausages swell and split.’ He licked his lips. ‘I like it when all the goodness oozes out and clings to the skin.’

  The images made him feel hungry. ‘And I want the peas well mushed, not hard like they were last time. Are you listening to me?’

  Judy had never hated anyone in her life the way she hated him; not even the other one. The one who had ruined her life for ever.

  Sometimes she wished she had the black heart of a murderer, because then she would kill them both.

  Phil Saunders.

  And the other one!

  He watched her bathe, his avaricious eyes following every small, perfect curve of her body. He noted the bruises still covering her back and smiled. She was his woman, and every man should know it.

  The bruises were his mark, his brand; delivered with passion.

  Preening himself, he went to the kitchen where he made tea and afterwards sat sipping it with great delicacy, like some dear old woman savouring the flavour; though he was savouring not the flavour, but the act about to be perfomed by Judy. An act of vengeance to rid him of Harry Blake once and forever.

  As always, Judy took her time bathing. She let the water go cold then she filled the tub again, with water as hot as she could stand it. She soaped and scrubbed every inch of her body with a kind of fever, desperate to rid herself of his smell, his touch, in every crease and crevice he had caressed.

  She could hear him downstairs in the kitchen chuntering to himself, sometimes laughing, sometimes cursing. ‘You’ll never know what’s hit you, Harry Boy!’ he addressed some unseen figure. ‘This is my day; my woman! And it’s the end of your dreams. You’re done, Harry, my old friend, d’you hear me? What makes it all the better is that it’s your old sweetheart who’s teaching you the lesson you so badly need. I don’t even have to lift a finger. Oh yes! You’re done, all right. Once and for all!’

  Raising his dainty cup to his mouth, he took a good long sip.

  Afterwards, his laughter echoed through the house – hard and manic, like the man himself.

  Judy took a while to do as he instructed, and when she finally emerged, her pretty face looking more beautiful than he could ever remember, Phil Saunders was taken aback. ‘Gawd Almighty!’ He gawped her up and down. ‘Judy Saunders, my angel, you look like a million dollars.’

  Then his mood changed and he became black with anger. ‘Why do you never take that kind o’ trouble for me, eh? What the devil are you playing at?’

  Judy stood her ground, secure in the knowledge that if he wanted her to do what had been asked of her, she had to leave this house looking the best she had ever looked. ‘You said to doll myself up, didn’t you?’

  ‘Well, yeah, but I mean … look at you!’ His eyes were popping out of his head. In the black dress with the sweetheart neckline and those pink shoes with the black bow, she looked like a film star. Her fair hair shone like spun silk, falling in waves about her face and neck, and her grey eyes shone like a child’s, clear and innocent. ‘I’ve never seen you like this before.’

  The questions poured out. ‘How much did that bloody dress cost, and where did you learn to do your hair like that? Oh, and the make-up … the shoes. Where did you get the money to pay for all that?’

  Judy calmly explained, ‘The shoes and dress have been in the wardrobe ever since we got married. I never wore them because the only place you ever took me to was the pub. I did my hair myself, and the make-up I copied out of a magazine I found in a neighbour’s rubbish bin. So you see, I didn’t have to spend one single penny.’

  He had no answer for that.

  Instead he pushed past her and went into the bedroom, where he opened a drawer and reached inside. When he came back out, he kept his hands behind his back. ‘Close your eyes,’ he ordered.

  ‘Why?’ Again she was not afraid; he would not hurt her now. He needed her to look good for the awful thing she had to do.

  ‘Stop asking damned questions, and close your eyes!’

  Judy closed her eyes. When she felt his breath on her shoulder, she began to object, thinking he wanted to take her again. ‘No, we can’t,’ she said, cringing in disgust. ‘I’ll be all messed up, and then—’

  ‘Shut your mouth and keep your eyes closed.’

  He struck her from behind, and she spun round, horrified when he brandished a handgun in her face. ‘Oh, my God!’ She had never actually seen a gun before, but there was no mistaking it. ‘What d’you think you’re doing? Where did you get it?’ She backed off; believing this was some kind of crazy game, devised by his warped mind. ‘Put the gun away, Phil.’ She spoke softly. ‘Put it away, please … before you kill somebody.’ In a rush of madness, she hoped it would be her.

  ‘Shut up and sit down!’ he told her, and she did.

  Waving the gun in her face, he then stroked the barrel down her neck, laughing hideously when she flinched.

  ‘If you mean to kill me, then do it!’ she screamed. ‘GO ON!
DO IT, I DON’T CARE!’ At least if he shot her dead she would not have to carry out his wicked plan on Harry.

  ‘Oh dear me, is that what you think?’ he asked with big innocent eyes. ‘You think I’ve got you all dolled up like that so’s I can shoot you dead? Oh no, my little sweet, this is insurance, in case you chicken out on my scheme to be rid of Blake. So, if you’re thinking of backing out, I’ve got this little number to finish him off. I’ll tell the police you did it … that you shot him because he was worrying the life out of you.’

  He rolled his eyes in frustration. ‘Oh, silly me, I forgot. Yes, I’ll tell them you shot him in self-defence, and then you shot yourself. Oh, they’ll believe me. Make no mistake about that.’

  He bent to whisper softly in her ear. ‘Y’see, my pretty, if you don’t do what I ask, that tells me you still have feelings for him. It means you lied to me all along. It means you’ve been seeing him, and that he’s touched you.’

  Straightening up, he concluded, ‘It means you are soiled goods, and I would rather see you dead alongside him, than touch you again.’

  Judy had no doubts but that he would carry out his threat. ‘Where did you get the gun?’ she wanted to know.

  He tapped his nose. ‘That’s for me to know and you to find out,’ he said cunningly. ‘You forget, I know the right people. They’re always about … hiding in the dark with the rats and rubbish. I could have had Blake put away a millon times over, but I didn’t want to do that. D’you know why? Because I’d be far more satisfied if it was you that got rid of him. That way, I know you really don’t care for him; or that you do, but you’re prepared to sacrifice him for me.’ He grinned. ‘I like that idea. It makes me feel good.’

  All the time he was speaking, he waved the gun about, first at himself then at Judy, and now he was holding it straight at her head, looking down the sights at the fear in her eyes.

  ‘Put the gun away, Phil, please?’

  ‘And if I don’t?’

  ‘Then I won’t do what you asked.’

  ‘Ah, but you weren’t listening, were you? I said if you chicken out, I’ve got to finish the job myself, and I won’t be too merciful.’

  He pointed the gun at her legs. ‘First I’ll shoot him in the knees.’ He raised the gun to her middle. ‘Then in the guts … oh, you’d be amazed – blood everywhere!’

  Now he was aiming at her head. ‘It will be a terrible way to go,’ he warned. ‘More painful than you could ever imagine.’

  He came closer, stooping to her level until he was eyeball to eyeball with her. ‘First I’d make him scream for mercy. Then you. But there’s no need for all that. Not when you could be rid of him easily and quietly. So, you will do it, won’t you?’

  She nodded. ‘I’ll do it – not for me, but for him.’ She looked her husband hard in the face. ‘But I’ll never forgive you, not as long as I live.’

  He laughed. ‘Am I supposed to worry about that?’ he sneered. ‘I’ve always known you didn’t love me … not like you loved him. But it doesn’t matter, does it, because I’m the one who put the ring on your finger, I’m the one who snuggles up to you in bed, and I’m the one who makes sure you never stray far away.’

  He seemed to tremble with excitement. ‘And it’ll be me, who one day will bury you deep, bring you flowers and cry over your grave. You see how it is, my sweet. You are my property, and that’s the truth of it.’

  When she made no comment, he merely smiled. ‘You look good enough to eat,’ he said, ogling her. ‘I like the fact that you’ve taken a great deal of trouble with yourself, even if it is to please another man.’ He giggled. ‘You’re like a delicious sweet; we offer it to him, and then we snatch it away. Yes, I like that.’ Chucking her under the chin, he bent forward as though to kiss her, then turned smartly about and walked away.

  He pointed at the clock. ‘Ten minutes past eleven already. My, how time does fly.’ Spinning about, he ordered her, ‘Get your coat on. Time to go!’

  A few moments later they were on their way towards Bedford centre, then on to Jacobs’ Emporium, where Harry was busy clearing his desk, ready for when Len got back and they would begin their rounds.

  ‘What time did Len say he’d be back?’ Harry stopped Amy as she whizzed past his desk.

  Amy looked up at the big wall-clock; it was eleven-thirty. ‘He won’t be back now until the afternoon,’ she informed him. ‘He said if he wasn’t back in the store by eleven-thirty, he wouldn’t be back until half one.’

  ‘He didn’t tell me that. He said to be ready for half past eleven, that we had more customers to sign on.’

  ‘My fault,’ Amy informed him sheepishly. ‘He asked me to let you know and I completely forgot. Jakey wanted me to go into town for some—’

  Harry stopped her. ‘Don’t worry, it’s okay.’ He looked at his clean desk and groaned. ‘Because I thought I’d be going out on the rounds, I’ve filed everything away. I don’t really want to be hanging about for an hour and a half, waiting for Len to turn up.’

  He had an idea. ‘I might as well start the round on my own. I know all the established customers, so I’ll call on them. We can sign up the new ones, after Len catches up with me.’

  Amy tried to discourage him. She was adamant. ‘He would not thank you for it. You know what he’s like if anyone trespasses on his territory.’ She went away chuckling. ‘He wouldn’t want you moving in on any of his special ladies, now would he?’

  ‘Behave yourself!’ Harry was keeping an eye on Len for that very reason, but Amy seemed to know all about it.

  ‘Take an early lunch,’ she suggested.

  ‘I’m not all that hungry.’ Kathleen was very generous with her fried breakfasts. ‘I can either open the files and get my paperwork out again, or I could give the warehousemen a hand, shifting that new load.’ He patted his stomach. ‘I could do with the exercise.’

  ‘Ah, but then Mr Jacobs wouldn’t like that,’ Amy informed him. ‘He has this policy, each man trained to excel in his own job, and no swapping over.’

  ‘You’re a killjoy, you know that?’

  ‘And you should go for lunch. By the time you get back, Len will be here.’

  Harry was still contemplating what to do, as Phil Saunders drew up at the end of the street. ‘Right! Make sure you do it proper.’ He watched Judy climb out of the car. ‘Don’t let me down.’ He opened the glove compartment to give her a sight of the gun. ‘I meant what I said.’

  Judy nodded. She knew he would not hesitate at murder if necessary.

  Saunders watched her walk down the street. He saw her pause at the entrance to the store, and breathed a sigh of relief when she walked inside. He smiled. ‘Good girl!’

  He waited a moment, then drove slowly by; thrilled to see how she was actually inside the store and heading towards the desk. ‘She’ll do it,’ he gloated. ‘She knows what will happen if she doesn’t.’

  Amy saw her first. Having brought Harry a cup of tea, she put it down on his desk, and looked towards the entrance, at the young woman coming their way. She recognised her as the same young woman who had stood at the back of the store that day, talking to Harry’s friend Kathleen. Today, however, there was something different about her. The last time she was here, she had been quite plain in her appearance. Now, she seemed to be dressed for some special occasion.

  ‘You make a great cup of tea, Amy, I’ll give you that,’ Harry said. Noting the expression on her face, he turned to see who or what had caught her interest.

  He saw the young woman standing halfway down the store, just standing there, looking straight ahead, almost like someone in a dream.

  ‘Judy?’ Her name fell from his lips like something precious. Was it really her?

  When she looked straight at him, with that familiar, wistful smile, he got out of his chair, his heart beating like a crazy thing. ‘Judy!’ The mere act of saying her name gave him comfort.

  Looking on, from one to the other, Amy was in no doubt but that these two wer
e deeply in love. It shone from their faces, lit up their eyes, and she could sense the powerful link, a force-field between them. ‘There’s that couple looking at the carpets,’ she muttered, backing away. ‘I think they were wanting some advice …’

  Approaching Judy, Harry cleared his throat nervously. ‘You look lovelier than ever,’ he said shyly. ‘I really didn’t think to see you again so soon.’

  For a moment Judy looked up at him, drinking in his features, and blossoming in the aura of his tall, confident stance. Oh, how she loved him, had always loved him and would for ever.

  She forgot why she was there. She wanted to throw her arms around him and ask him to take her away from this dark place.

  Yet she knew what would happen if she did that.

  What became of her was of no consequence; in fact, it might be a mercy if Phil were to kill her. Harry though had done nothing to merit such a fate – and what of his child, already without a mother? Little Tom would suffer the same fate as his daddy all over again: he would be orphaned. Judy could not let that happen.

  Then there was Kathleen to consider. It would destroy that old dear friend, if Harry’s life was snuffed out by a madman like Phil Saunders.

  ‘I think we should talk,’ she suggested softly, ‘… but not here. Somewhere quiet, just the two of us.’

  Harry agreed readily. ‘That would be wonderful. I’ll go and tell Amy.’ He smiled. ‘She’s already been nagging at me to take my lunch break.’

  Judy watched him walk up to the desk; she saw the quick exchange between him and Amy, with Amy occasionally peeking at her, and the shame of her errand made her feel like a Judas.

  In a minute he was back, sliding his arm in hers, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. For Judy it was something she had longed for.

  Leading her to the entrance, he beamed down on her and gently squeezed her hand. ‘You’re right,’ he said. ‘We do need to talk. There so much I want to ask you … if that’s all right?’