by Woods, Karen
Helen stood up from the chair and grabbed another cig. “I’m just going in the garden. I won’t be a minute.” Helen left the fraud investigators and walked through the kitchen to the back door. Hands held over her mouth she struggled to keep the laughter inside. Her belly was wobbling as she chuckled to herself.
Helen sat back down in the living room. Carol had more questions to ask her and began straight away. “Can we have a quick look around Helen?”
She nodded and acted daft. “Yeah, what are you looking for?”
James shot her a look and spoke in a sarcastic tone. “We’re just checking for any signs of a man living here. It’s just procedure. No doubt we won’t find anything.”
Helen sank her head. The bastard was onto her. Waving her hand towards them she guided them upstairs. “Yeah, feel free. Do what you have to do.”
The sound of cupboards doors opening and closing could be heard upstairs. Helen held her ears to the ceiling and listened carefully. They were coming downstairs now. Sitting straight in her seat she watched the door eagerly. Carol smiled at her as she came into the living room. “Right Helen we’re nearly finished now, just the last few questions.”
“Yeah, no problem,” Helen muttered.
James was on her like a rash. Reading from his notes he reeled off a few more questions. Helen kept her cool and answered them in a confident manner. They had fuck all on her. She began to relax and made it quite obvious that she wanted them both out of her house as soon as possible. Watching them both stand, Helen stood up beside them. Looking at Carol she shook her head. “Can you not give me any information of the grassing bastard who phoned you, because when I find out who’s been chatting shit about me they’re gonna get a piece of my mind. The interfering, jealous cunts.”
Carol shook her head. “As I said before Helen, it was an anonymous phone call. We don’t hold any information, we just investigate the calls.”
Helen walked behind them to the front door. “So is that it. What happens now?”
James turned to face her and interrupted Carol. “We will look at the evidence we have, and then we’ll get back to you if we need to know any more information.”
Helen raised her eyes to the ceiling and huffed. James was arrogant and if he wasn’t there investigating her, she would have given him a piece of her mind. Helen watched them leave. Stood at the front doorstep she could she her mother approaching with the kids.
The car drove off and Helen sighed. “Thank fuck for that,” she mumbled.
Her mother was coming up the garden path. Her face looked strained as she pushed the pram. “Have they gone now or what?”
“Yeah come on, get inside, and wait until I tell you what I’ve had to say.”
Her mother grinned. “Orr what have you done now. You little bleeder?” Helen dragged the pram into the house. Yanking her kid with one arm from the pushchair she led him into the front room.
Helen covered her face as she began to speak. Her mother parked her arse on the sofa and sat opened- mouthed as her daughter began to tell her what she’d said to the benefit agency. “Orr Mike’s gonna go mad mam, but I had no other option. I just sat there with a poker face and said Mike was gay.” Her mother covered her mouth and you couldn’t tell if she was angry or if she was about to break into fits of laughter. Helen continued. “I told them I caught him in bed with another man.”
Laughter filled the room; Helen’s mother was rolling about the sofa. “Orr Helen I’m gonna piss myself. No way did you tell em that?”
Helen chuckled. “Yeah Mam, I had to, they were like the fucking Gestapo.”
“What’s Mike gonna say? Are you going to tell him what you’ve said or what?”
Helen struggled for breath as she tried to get her words out. “Yeah course I am. It’s his punishment for being a lazy fucker.”
“He’s going to go berserk, Helen!”
“I’m not arsed,” she giggled.
Helen sat up straight, pulling at her t-shirt, she huffed. “Someone grassed me up, yanno. The woman told me.”
“Who would do something like that?”
Helen looked serious and gritted her teeth. “Fucking Susie, that’s who mother. It’s just got her stamp all over it. Remember last year when we had words and she said she was going to grass me up to the social.”
Helen’s mother shook her head. “No love, she wouldn’t do owt like that. She’s not that low.”
Helen nodded her head slowly. “Mam, it’s her alright and I’ll make sure I pay her back in full, just watch this space.”
CHAPTER TEN
Susie stood in the brothel. She was on her mobile phone and looked like she didn’t want anyone to hear the conversation she was having. She was stood huddled in the shadows at the corner of the room out of sight. “Yeah that’s all I want Jenkins,” she whispered. “I know where you live, so don’t be playing any games with me.” Susie listened on the phone for a minute and finished the call. She looked relieved as she headed back to the reception area.
Pippa was sat in the waiting area looking her up and down. Susie lifted her head up and shot her a look “What are you gawping at?”
Pippa licked her top teeth. “I don’t know, but it’s looking back, love.”
Susie made her way to the front of the room. Stood with one arm on her hip she opened fire. “Listen Pippa, I’m not in the mood for any of your games tonight. So say what you’ve got to say and get it off ya chest.”
The whore jerked her head back and laughed. “Take a chill pill will ya. If I’ve got anything to say, you’ll be the first to know about it.”
Susie’s nostrils flared. Her eyes were burning into the tart and you could see her fist clenched at the side of her. Susie walked back behind the reception desk. She could feel Pippa’s eyes on her. Dipping her head she started counting the money from the takings the night before. She looked confused. The cash wasn’t adding up.
“Where’s Ashley?” Pippa piped up again, “Is he not making a show tonight or what?”
“Why, what’s it to you?” Susie snarled.
“Just asking that’s all. He’s a darling; I wouldn’t mind a piece of him.” Susie tried to ignore her comments but the woman was drilling into her and making her blood boil. “Is he calling here later then?”
Susie snapped and her face turned red. “Yeah he is. Not that’s it’s any of your fucking business. Ashley has a girlfriend you know, so back off.”
Pippa stood up and rested her chin in her hands as she spoke again. She was winding her up. “Well he’s not told me about any so called girlfriend. In fact he’s told me we can go out together.”
“Get a grip ya hussy,” Susie snarled. “I know Ashley’s girlfriend and I know he wouldn’t look at a tramp like you.”
Pippa stood her ground. She tapped a long red fingernail on the wooden desk. “Don’t make me laugh Susie. Take your head from your arse and smell the coffee. The man’s a player.” She swung her hair away from her face.
Susie looked gobsmacked. “Ashley is taken, so fuck off will you!”
Pippa stood for a minute thinking. She knew exactly what she was doing and added more fuel to the fire. “Well I’m going to make him my man anyway. I don’t care about any girlfriend. The guy’s gonna be mine.”
Susie knew she couldn’t tell her the truth and ignored her. She heard her heels clicking away in the distance. The till was over eighty pounds down. Susie had checked the figures over and over again and no matter how many times she looked at it, money was missing. Joan was in her office and with a sprint in her step Susie went down the corridor to confront her.
The office was quiet and stank of stale cigarettes. A small lamp in the corner barely gave off any light. Susie crept inside and held her breath. She could hear movement in the toilet at the back of the room. Creeping over she made her way to the noise she’d heard. The door was opened a little and she could just about see inside. Susie stretched her neck around the door. Joan was sat on the toilet and sh
e could see her smoking crack. Susie booted the door open with force. Joan fell to the ground and guarded her drugs with her life. Susie ragged at her hair and dragged her up from the floor. “You dirty fucking crack head. I knew you were bang at it, you lying slag!”
Joan looked spaced out. Her eyes were all over the place. Susie gripped her from the toilet. Joan was fighting back now and she wasn’t giving up that easy. “Take you’re fucking hands off me you silly bitch,” she shouted. Susie kicked her high heels from her feet and was ready for war. Joan reached to the small oak table at the side of her and fumbled as she gripped a glass bottle. Her hands come up as she smashed it against the wall. The jagged edge now faced Susie. Joan was wafting it about in front of her face. “Come on then if ya want a piece of me!” Joan screamed at the top of her voice.
Susie looked at the weapon and knew Joan wouldn’t think twice about using it. Scanning the area the only thing she could find was an umbrella. Reaching for it she held it tightly in front of her trying to protect herself. Susie’s chest was rising frantically and her lips looked dry. “Come on then shag-bag. Don’t think you scare me one little bit.”
Joan came forward now with the bottle held out towards her. Her face was sweating and her eyes looked menacing. She seemed on another planet. “Who do you think you are? Everything was running fine here, until you stuck ya nosey beak in.”
Susie was holding her own and protecting herself. “You’re a thieving cunt. Did you think nobody would ever find out? Tim’s been onto you for a long time ya crack- head.” She was moving towards the door. Joan bent down and quickly picked her bag up. Her eyes never left Susie. A few of the girls had heard the commotion and were gathered in the corridor outside the room.
Pippa flew at Joan with rage. She grabbed the bottle from her hand and twisted her arm up her back. “For fucks sake Joan, what are you playing at? We don’t deal with things like this.”
Joan was yelling out in pain as Pippa overpowered her. Susie looked white and stood frozen for a minute. Once, she saw the broken bottle in Pippa’s hand, she pounced on Joan. “Ya dirty scrubber. Let’s see what you can do without your weapon.” Susie pummelled her fist into Joan’s face. The girls looked on in disbelief. Susie could really fight.
Joan was finally dragged to the exit. She had blood dripping from her mouth and one of her eyes was starting to swell up. Her voice was loud as she struggled to stand to her feet. “You shower of shit. The fucking lot of you. You were all slagging Susie off the other day, and look at you now. You’re like flies round a pile of shit.”
Pippa stood watching and nodded her head slowly as she spoke. “Listen Joan, if you’ve been caught with ya hands in the till, you have nobody to blame, but ya-self.”
Joan yanked the door open. Her hands were trembling. Turning to face them for the last time she held an evil look in her eyes. Lifting her hand up, she pointed her finger at each of the girls, then focused on Susie. “Watch you’re fucking back, because nobody talks to me like that and gets away with it.”
Susie ran for her again but Pippa held her back. “Just leave it love. She’s off her head. She’ll be back tomorrow, begging for her job back.”
Susie huffed. “Not a fucking chance. The slut is out on her arse for good. She’s a thief and a dirty crack- head.” Her voice was loud as she yelled after her. One by one the brasses left the doorway. All that was left now was Pippa and Susie.
Susie wiped the trickle of blood from her face. Joan had scratched her, and the gash was still bleeding. Pippa took her by the arm and led her back upstairs. “Come on let’s get you cleaned up.”
Susie started to walk up the stairs and shook her head. “I can’t believe what has just happened. She tried to bottle me, the bitch!”
“That’s the drugs that love,” Pippa sighed, “I knew she was on summat, but I just kept my nose out of it. I mean it’s got fuck all to do with me, has it?”
Susie squealed as Pippa dabbed antiseptic on her face. Taking a minute to speak she plonked herself on the sofa with a white tissue held closely to her eyes. “It’s just one thing after another in this gaff. I don’t know how Tim has coped with that loony bitch. I think he just did anything for an easy life. That’s why she took the piss.”
Pippa stared at her for a moment; she looked as if she was thinking. “Joan’s alright yanno. It’s just the drugs. She told me a while back that she used to have a bad habit, but she said that was ages ago. I didn’t think for one minute, she was still dabbling”. Susie’s phone went off. Standing to her feet she walked to the other side of the room. Tim’s name flashed on the screen.
Hearing Tim’s voice brought tears to Susie’s eyes. She struggled to talk as she started to tell him about the saga. After a few minutes her face changed and she looked angry. “Yeah I know I haven’t been to see you. Fucking hell Tim don’t you think I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment?” Her ear was glued to the phone as she held her head back and shook her head. “Right I’ll sort it out. Vicky said she wouldn’t do it again, so I think you’re pissing in the wind. Right, right, I’ll ask her to visit you and do a drop.” The phone was still held in her hand and she held it out from her ear looking up to the ceiling. After a few minutes she spoke again. “Right Tim, I love you too. Yeah stop stressing I’ll sort it.” The phone call ended.
Ashley had arrived while Susie was on the phone and quickly took a seat next to Pippa on the sofa. He didn’t know Susie was watching him. She could see his hand resting on the whore’s leg as he looked into her eyes. Susie screwed her face up as she marched towards them like a raging bull. “How long have you been here?”
Ashley’s face looked vacant. “Just this second. Why?”
“Because it’s been like World War Three in here, that’s fucking why.”
Holding her face she showed him her war wounds. Jumping to his feet he was by her side. His knees bent as he came closer to her and he slowly ran his fingers over the deep scratch. Susie was filling him in on the full story.
Pippa sat back watching the pair of them together and the penny dropped. Ashley was in love. Slowly Pippa stood up. She looked at Susie and smiled. “Right I better get back to work, and leave you two love-birds to it.” None of them answered her and she knew she’d hit the nail on the head. Everything made sense now. Susie was definitely screwing Ashley.
Checking her watch Susie reached into her bag for her phone. She needed to set a visit up for Tim. He’d asked for Vicky to come and take the drugs straight to him. Susie wasn’t arsed one little bit. As long as he was off her case, she didn’t have a care in the world.
“Hiya Vicky love, sorry it’s late. Are you alright to talk?”
Ashley left her and made his way to the toilet. Just as he pushed the door open he could feel someone behind him. Turning his head back, he could see Pippa stood there smiling at him. She knew she needed to be quick. Her head was watching the door constantly. “So big boy, are me and you gonna get it on or what.”
He chuckled nervously. Checking no one was about he stretched his arms out and dragged her into the toilets with him. Sinking his lips onto hers he kissed her passionately. His hand slid between her legs and you could see him rubbing at her crotch. “You’re a horny bitch you are,” he whispered into her ear. It was obvious she wanted more.
“Is that it? Is that all you’ve got,” she giggled.
Ashley chewed on his lips. Rubbing at his throbbing member he pressed her up against the wall with his arm hanging over her head. “You’ll see exactly what I’ve got later. Let me get rid of Susie, and I’ll be back for you.” Susie’s voice could be heard shouting his name from outside. He panicked as he placed a finger up to her lips. Straightening his clothes he told Pippa to stay inside the toilet until it was safe for her to come out. With one last kiss he left her gagging for more. “I’m here Susie, what’s up.”
Susie was at the other end of the corridor and quickly trudged back towards him. “That was Tim on the phone. He wants me to sort a visit
out for another drop,” Ashley snarled.
“Well as long as you’re not going anywhere near him, you can do what the fuck you want.” Susie looked at his face and knew to keep schtum. Walking back to the reception Ashley draped his arm over her shoulder. “You look done in love. Do you wanna go home, and I’ll finish off in here for you?”
Susie sank her head into his arm. It had been a stressful day. “Yeah I’ll go home Ash. I don’t think I could stand another minute in this place.” Pushing the door in front of them Ashley turned his head back down the corridor. A cunning smile came across his face as he watched Pippa leaving the toilets. Patting Susie’s arse with the flat palm he giggled to himself.
*
Vicky sat at her laptop. She looked excited as she typed at speed. Tim was talking to her on facebook. He just told her that he’d asked Susie to get in touch with her to sort a visit out. Tim was clever and Vicky loved that she could go and sit with Tim without any fears of anyone seeing her. Her own boyfriend Blake had been shipped out of Strangeways and he was allocated to another jail called Lancaster Farms HMP in Lancaster. He was well out of the picture now and this left her free to try and have a bit of well deserved fun.
The chat between them was getting hot. Tim was talking about sex and you could see Vicky blushing. She knew she should have ended the chat there but she just couldn’t help it. He was like a drug and she was slowly becoming addicted to him. Licking her bottom lip she began to type back on the keyboard. Once she’d finished writing she sat back and searched for her cigs. The notice flashed at the bottom of the chat box that he was writing a message back. Her hands were shaking as she popped a cig in her mouth. Vicky sat up straight as the text appeared. “Fucking hell,” she giggled. She’d asked Tim if he fancied her, and as she read his reply he was more than happy to get her knickers off. Tim stayed online for a few minutes more. He told Vicky he would see her tomorrow. His last comment made her laugh out loud, the cheeky fucker had asked her to wear no knickers on the visit. Vicky told him she couldn’t wait to see him and get to know him better. Four kisses now came back on his last reply. Logging off the computer Vicky’s head was all over the place. Her love for her own boyfriend had completely disappeared. Tim was the one holding all the cards now, he could change her life. With a grin on her face she switched the lights off downstairs and headed upstairs to bed.