by Lynda Page
At being reminded of the seriousness of her situation Mandy was visibly shaking, her face a ghostly white, eyes filled with fear. She cried out, ‘I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t! You have to believe me. He made me …’
‘Who made you?’ Jackie demanded.
Her expression turned to one of sheer terror then. ‘I can’t tell you. He told me what he would do to me if I ever told anyone. And I know he will after what he did to me to make me sell stuff for him.’
‘This man … just what did he do to you, Mandy?’ Jackie asked in a gentler tone.
The terrified girl look wildly back at her. It was apparent that memories of whatever he had done were still fresh, frightening and painful. Then Mandy’s rigid shoulders sagged as she issued a deep sigh. It seemed she was actually relieved to be able to unburden herself after such a long time spent keeping the ordeal to herself. In a voice barely above a whisper she uttered, ‘He raped me.’ While the three of them gawped at her in shock, she continued her story.
‘I had just finished my shift. It was early in the season, still dark at night, and I was heading back to my chalet. It was a Wednesday, I remember. Anyway, I was walking past the staff shower block when a man appeared out of nowhere it seemed to me, grabbed my arm and punched me hard in the stomach, warning me that for my own good I’d better not make a sound. He really hurt me and I could hardly breathe for the pain. I couldn’t stop him from dragging me over to the woods by the old farmhouse. Next thing I knew I was on the ground and he was on top of me …’
She abruptly stopped talking to wipe away the flood of tears now pouring down her face, using the sleeve of her cardigan. Then she resumed speaking. ‘When he’d finished he was still lying on top of me. He was heavy and I could hardly breathe. He grabbed my face, squeezing it hard, and held a knife to my cheek, telling me that if I didn’t do what he wanted me to then there’d be worse things ahead of me. Much worse. And he’d get me if I ever dared breathe a word to anyone about what he’d done.’ Mandy gave a violent shudder. ‘His eyes … it was like the devil himself was looking at me. I knew he meant what he said. I was so scared I had to do what he wanted.
‘He would give me a supply of stuff to sell for him. Then he would come to the kiosk every few nights. On the nights I knew he was coming, I had to leave the stockroom door open, which I wasn’t supposed to, so he could slip inside. I was to listen out for him. If I had customers, I had to make an excuse that I needed something from the stockroom and sneak the tin in there with me. He would check what I’d sold and that the money I was giving him was correct, replace anything I was getting low on, then give me a pat on the face, telling me what a good girl I was, before he went out.’
She fixed her attention on Jackie then. ‘You’ve always been so nice to me, I was desperate to warn you about him, what you could be getting yourself into, but then I worried you wouldn’t believe me – or worse still that you were his partner in business too. It seemed safer just to keep quiet.’
Face screwed up in bewilderment, Jackie quizzed her, ‘But why would you want to warn me about this man or think I might be his partner? Are you telling me I know him?’
The shock of Mandy’s reply almost knocked Jackie off her feet then. ‘He’s your boyfriend.’
Both Harold and Ginger were rendered speechless by this shocking revelation.
Jackie’s mind was screaming: This can’t be true! Vic was a good, kind, honest man. She had never once witnessed him lose his temper, let alone attack a woman like Mandy had described.
Jackie shouted at her, ‘You’re lying, using him as a scapegoat to cover up the real identity of the person behind this! How could you do this to a good man like Vic? Now you tell us the truth or I’ll wring it out of you myself.’
Now that she had divulged her abuser’s identity, terror of the possible repercussions filled Mandy. She frenziedly cried, ‘Jackie, please don’t tell him I told you! Please, please, I beg you.’
Every fibre of her being told Jackie that this girl was not putting on an act, she was in terror for her life, but at the same time Jackie just couldn’t believe that Vic was a sadistic violent thug who could use an innocent girl so callously.
‘I don’t doubt you have been badly treated, Mandy, but I’m having trouble believing that Vic is the man you say he is. I need proof. Can you give me that?’
The girl miserably shook her head.
Ginger was praying that this shocking story about Vic wasn’t true, for Jackie’s sake. Her friend had only just got over the devastation of losing Keith to her mother. And now this … what would it do to her? Ginger was also finding it so difficult to believe that the man she knew could be the monster Mandy had described. Yes, they needed proof before they went any further with this. A thought struck her as to how they could obtain it.
‘If he is supplying you with drugs to sell then he’ll have a stash somewhere handy to replace supplies, won’t he?’ she asked Mandy. ‘Have you any idea where Vic keeps it?’
Another shake of the girl’s head.
Harold spoke up then. ‘Close to hand in his chalet, do you think? In a suitcase under his bed perhaps?’ Then old insecurities crept back and he added quickly, ‘Or is that too obvious, do you think, and he will keep his supplies somewhere no one would ever think of?’
Ginger grinned and slapped his arm. ‘You’re a genius, Mr Rose. Why would he need to hide something he doesn’t believe anyone is looking for? If they’re not in his chalet, let’s try the band’s van.’
Desperate to settle this matter one way or another, Jackie dug out the set of master keys she always kept on hand in case of emergency. ‘Yes, that’s where we need to look. He’ll be on-stage right now so this is the ideal opportunity. If Vic is innocent then I will explain to him why we invaded his privacy like this and the man I know will totally understand. But if he’s guilty … well, then it won’t matter what he thinks, will it?’
Mandy wasn’t in a fit state to go anywhere so the other three hurried off to Vic’s chalet, taking the biscuit tin with them. Unlike the other seasonal staff, the outside entertainers were deemed important enough to warrant chalets to themselves. Jackie had spent time in Vic’s chalet before, occasions she had enjoyed, and as she entered it now ahead of the others she had to block these memories from her mind and concentrate on the search.
The chalet was clean and neat, with no clothes lying about but hanging on the rail against the wall between the beds or else folded in the bottom three drawers of the small chest. The bed was made. On the floor beside it stood a transistor radio. Jackie knew Vic constantly had it turned on when he was in, tuned to either BBC Radio One or Radio Luxemburg. His toiletries were all inside a large blue washbag. She momentarily wondered if he’d had a quick tidy round before he left for his session down at Groovy’s tonight, in case she should come back with him later.
While Jackie and Ginger looked on, Harold squatted down in the space between the twin beds and looked under the one Vic used. Amongst a few other things, like shoes, some dirty clothes, and a pile of music industry publications such as Melody Maker and NME, were two suitcases. To Harold’s mind, the smaller case was the most likely to be holding what they were seeking, and he pulled that out first. The women stood watching while he tried to open it, but it was locked. Harold picked it up. From its weight he could tell it had something in it. He shook it. A lot of small items from the sound of it. For Jackie’s sake, Harold had been hoping that Mandy was using Vic as cover for the real culprit, but that hope was rapidly fading.
He got up and put the small case on the bed, saying, ‘I think we have just cause to pry this open.’
Jackie knew that Vic kept a metal bottle opener, the type that had a hook at the end of it, along with other bits and pieces that were useful to him in the top drawer of the small chest. She fetched it and handed it to Harold.
He hooked the end of the bottle opener inside one of the two T-shaped locks on the case and gave it a sharp yank. The lock sprang o
pen. He then proceeded to do the same to the other lock. He opened the lid.
It took Jackie just one glance at the contents to have her doubts about Mandy’s claims quashed.
Spinning on her heel, she fled from the chalet.
Leaving Harold to take charge of the case and its contents, Ginger dashed after her. She found Jackie huddled on her bed in their chalet, miserably sobbing. Having trouble keeping her own emotions in check at seeing her friend in such a state, Ginger went over to her, sat down on the bed next to her and slipped one arm comfortingly around her shoulders.
For a while they sat in silence together, Jackie sobbing, Ginger feeling helpless to ease her suffering. Finally Jackie was cried out enough to lift her head, look at Ginger through tear-blurred eyes and say, ‘You’re going to offer up your usual cure for getting over a broken relationship, I suppose?’
‘Wrong, Jackie, I’m not.’ She then said flippantly, ‘Only ’cos I’m sick of going out dancing at the moment, though. After a couple of nights in, there’s a good chance I will be suggesting it again. Now I’m just here to let you know I’m sorry.’
Jackie managed a wan smile. ‘Thanks, Ginger.’ Silence reigned for several minutes as Jackie sat gently sobbing.
‘I bet it’s already around the staff that my boyfriend was dealing drugs,’ she said finally. ‘Thank God I’d kept the fact that we were going to get married quiet or the gossips would really have had a field day out of that! Terry Jones is going to love it, me walking out on a date with him in favour of a vicious drug dealer.’
‘You won’t stop the gossips, Jackie, so you might as well just grin and bear it. The talk won’t last long. There will always be something else more juicy for the gossips to chew over in a place like this. You know that as well as I do.’
‘Yes, I suppose.’ Jackie heaved a shuddering sigh. ‘I’m wondering now if Vic ever really loved me, Ginger, or just saw me as useful to him in some way. I mean, it was obvious that he was making good money through Jolly’s, which would have ended with the band’s contract at the end of the season, but with a wife working in the camp he would have had an excuse to come and go as he pleased and be able to keep operating his business from the kiosk, terrorising poor girls like Mandy into working for him.’
Ginger heaved a sigh. ‘With a man like that, I don’t think you’ll ever be sure. Look, if it helps, I know you thought you loved him, but it was the act he put on to cover up what he was really like that you fell for. There’s only so long people can keep up an act before their true colours start to show. With your nose for sniffing out things that aren’t quite right, it wouldn’t have been long before you sussed that Vic was up to something. And once he’d found out you were on to him, you would have ended up married to a man you were terrified of. There’s no telling what he would have done to make you keep silent. I think you’ve had one lucky escape myself and should be celebrating the fact, not crying over a man who isn’t worth your tears.’
Ginger’s words set Jackie thinking. ‘Ginger, you’re right, I have had a lucky escape, haven’t I? God, one hell of a lucky escape!’ She threw her arms around her friend and hugged her fiercely. ‘Thank you. You’ve just saved me from wasting goodness knows how long pining over that man, when he’s not worth one second.’
Ginger told her with conviction, ‘I know there’s a good bloke waiting out there for you, Jackie, the right man, one you’ll love and who will love only you, with no hidden agenda.’
Jackie looked at her thoughtfully for a moment then made a sudden grab for her candlewick dressing gown that was lying on the bed beside her, using it to dry her wet face. She then got off the bed and stood up. ‘Well, are you coming?’ she asked.
‘Where?’
‘I like the sound of this man you’ve just described to me, and I’m not going to find him in here, am I?’
The police investigation revealed that Vic was not only plying his despicable trade in Jolly’s through his blackmail of Mandy, but had other terrorised victims dotted about in towns in the Lincolnshire area, selling his wares for him. The other three members of the Upbeats were not spending their share of the earnings from Jolly’s on enjoying themselves, as Vic had told Jackie, but handing most of the money back to Vic to pay for the addictions he was responsible for their developing. Vic’s Wednesday off hadn’t been used to visit family and friends, but to do his rounds of the dealers he supplied in the likes of Lincoln, Scunthorpe and Grimsby, and also visit his own supplier to replenish his stocks. His sideline had made him a great deal of money according to the amounts recorded in several bank books found under the drugs in the small suitcase. But Vic wasn’t going to be spending any for many long years, not where he was going.
With the loss of their drummer, and unable to find a replacement for him at such short notice, the rest of the band had no choice but to pack up and go home, their future thrown into doubt. A decision was made not to find a replacement but to make do with just the DJ providing entertainment for the remainder of the season.
Drina was struck speechless when she was updated the next morning on the news that a drug dealer had been operating from her camp. Nevertheless she appreciated the efforts of her devoted staff in clearing up the matter conclusively. Hopefully Jolly’s good name had been preserved.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Considering all the personal tragedies and catastrophes the management staff of Jolly’s had had to deal with this season on top of their labours to ensure the campers enjoyed a holiday to remember, they were of the opinion that nothing else would happen to throw them into turmoil, for this season at least.
But they were bargaining without the vengeful man who’d been waiting in the wings for his moment to arrive. He had a devious plan laid to claim what he saw was rightfully his. The time had now come for Michael Jolly to act.
It was almost the end of the season, when the last of the campers would be waved off and Jolly’s large iron gates closed for the winter. The camp would once again turn into a ghost town, the only signs of life inside being the handful of permanent staff working away to ensure the success of the new season ahead.
Artie had returned to his job of managing the maintenance crew, while Drina was working hard, aided by Rhonnie, to bring her plans for the development of the business to fruition. After many meetings with official bodies and sleepless nights spent worrying, Drina had one more important meeting to attend. If that proved to be successful she would be in a position to go ahead and put Jackie and Harold out of their misery, announcing to them what their future roles would be in the new venture.
Harold was still making good progress in overcoming his personal insecurities. Through his own hard work, and with the continued support of Jackie, he had at last acquired some new friends and the beginnings of a social life.
To her credit, Jackie had managed to keep the fact that she’d had a lucky escape from Vic’s vile clutches firmly locked away in the recesses of her mind. The wonderful man Ginger had prophesied for her had not yet shown up but she was having fun looking for him meanwhile. What brought her much joy was the fact that finally her dear friend seemed to have found the right man for herself in PC Paul Nuttall. Over the last few weeks, his shifts allowing, the pair saw each other as much as they could and romance had blossomed between them.
The early October morning was a cold one, the sky covered by thick grey cloud, and a sharp wind was blowing off a choppy sea. At this time of year the camp was only half-full, the campers hardy types who did not care what the weather was like; all they were concerned about was the cheaper off-season rates Jolly’s offered. At the moment the campers were enjoying their breakfast in the restaurant, but the majority of them would soon be dressed in thick anoraks and warm woollies, braving the cold to enjoy the outside facilities Jolly’s offered, much to the disdain of the Stripeys overseeing these events, who would have preferred to be doing their job inside in the warmth.
Jackie had just arrived in the office. Olive was already behind
her desk, getting herself ready to begin work. Having come out of his office to greet the two women, Harold was back behind his desk going over the accounts books to ensure they were all up-to-date before handing them to Drina later this morning as she needed to take them to the important business meeting scheduled for eleven.
Jackie looked over at the door leading to the stairs when it opened and saw Ginger coming in carrying a large box and some letters, which she brought across and put on Jackie’s desk. Ginger had stayed out of camp last night in the spare bedroom at Paul’s parents’ house in Sutton-on-Sea, after they had been to the twenty-first birthday party of a friend of his. She had caught the bus to work that morning while Paul set off on his bike. Jackie herself had been out on a date the night before so the two friends had some catching up to do.
‘How did the party go?’ asked Jackie.
A big smile spread across Ginger’s face. ‘It was great! Paul’s friends are really nice.’
‘And his parents?’ Ginger had met them for the first time yesterday.
‘Oh, they’re lovely, Jackie. Made me ever so welcome. I think they liked me.’
‘And why wouldn’t they?’ Jackie responded with conviction. ‘You’d make a smashing daughter-in-law.’
Ginger blushed. ‘It’s a bit early days for that yet, though I am hoping so. But don’t mention it to Paul as I don’t want to scare him off! Anyway, what I want to know is how you got on?’
Jackie pulled a face. ‘He was nice enough, but too full of himself for my liking.’
‘Oh! So no chance of a double date then?’
She shook her head. ‘Not with him, no.’
‘Oh, well, never mind. It was worth setting you up with him. He could have turned out to be the one. Anyway, there was another couple of Paul’s single police colleagues at the party last night, good-looking ones too, so I’ll see what I can do.’
Jackie was actually quite happy to remain single at the moment. She was enjoying doing exactly what she liked without the necessity to consider anyone else, but Ginger was hell-bent on helping her find this perfect man she knew was out there for her friend. Jackie knew she would be wasting her time making any protest. Looking at the box Ginger had brought in with her, she asked, ‘Are you sure this is for the general office? We’re not waiting for anything to be delivered, so far as I remember.’