The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “SHUT UP YOU STUPID BITCH!” Martin screamed, the whites of his eyes bulging in pure terror.

  Seth looked at Jane with interest. “What do you think, baby? Will that make up the shortfall?”

  Folding the wedges of cash over in her hands, Jane looked thoughtful. “Oh, I don’t know. Depends how much coke there is.” She glanced at the wad of money. “There’s a fair bit missing here.”

  “YOU SILLY FUCKING SLAG!” the man screamed to the red-head, watching her pull a large plastic bag from behind the sofa cushion. He looked towards the other man for assistance, but this was a pointless exercise as he was still out cold.

  The red-head held the bag towards Jane. “Just take it will you and then fuck off and leave us alone.”

  “No need to be rude!” Jane smirked, taking the bag. “I’ll just check it. It could be flour for all we know.”

  “We’re hardly going to put fucking flour down the back of the sofa are we, you silly cow!” The man tried to break away from Seth and move towards Jane. “You can’t have that. I haven’t paid for it yet. I’ll get fucking killed!”

  Turning the gun round, Seth swiftly whacked the man in the temple with the butt. “Don’t be rude to my wife, you cunt!” His eyes narrowed as he squatted closer to the man who’d collapsed to his knees. “I don’t give a fuck if you’ve paid for it or not. That’s your problem.”

  “Ok, Ok. I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” he gibbered. “But please don’t take the coke. They’ll kill me!” His voice rose to an almost ear-splitting crescendo. “The money’s all there too. I’m sure of it.”

  Seth shook his head and tutted. “Dear oh dear. Are you calling my wife a liar as well?”

  “No. NO! I-I didn’t mean it like that!” he stuttered and glanced at the red-head who looked like she was going to pass out.

  Jane dipped her finger in the bag and rubbed some white powder onto her gums. She nodded at Seth. It was coke alright. Pure, uncut Columbian. What a total fucking result. There was at least two kilos there.

  “You don’t want to be playing games.” Seth whispered, watching the man attempt to pull himself unsteadily to his feet. He smiled as he pulled the trigger and ridded him of his left kneecap.

  The red-head began screaming all over again as Seth stepped over the writhing man. “See you later,” he growled taking Jane’s hand.

  Shutting the door of the flat behind them, the engine of the Stag roared back into life bang on time.

  PULLING INTO A GROTTY housing estate a mile away, Seth shoved the gun under the driver’s seat and counted the money in the brown envelope, finding the full twenty grand inside as expected.

  Smiling, he put his two grand cut safely in his inside pocket and chopped a fat line from the bag of coke. “Fuck me, this stuff is top notch!” he exclaimed as the familiar sour taste reached his throat.

  Jane grinned and set up two further lines. After all, it was only right they should test it out properly themselves before thinking about selling any of it on wasn’t it?

  Besides, they wouldn’t be mentioning this to anyone. It wasn’t part of the job after all and so therefore it was all theirs.

  DIGGER PULLED HIS BIKE into the well-concealed layby down the country lane arranged for the meet. Turning the engine off, he walked the bike backwards until it was half-hidden under the heavy foliage.

  Removing his crash helmet, he hung it over the handlebars and unzipped his leather jacket, pulling his fags out of the inside pocket. Seeing lights appear, he looked at his watch and sat alert as the Stag pulled into the layby.

  Once Digger had departed, Seth and Jane turned down a path into the woods and found a clearing.

  Seth grinned mischievously and took her hand. “Let’s move. I’m far too wired to drive and I need to feel you come around me.”

  Grasping her hips, already aching to feel himself inside her, he hoisted Jane over his right shoulder and she screamed with amusement as he ran off into the woods.

  While police sirens wailed in the distance, Seth set Jane down at the base of a large old oak tree and swiftly unbuttoned her jeans.

  Plunging himself deep into her as she leant against a tree for support, he smiled.

  They worked far too well together.

  TWENTY FOUR

  ZED HAD ALMOST GIVEN Maggie a heart attack when she’d returned to the caravan. She gripped both hands around the cheap white wine he’d given her that he’d found when getting his giro.

  She hoped by holding onto something tightly it would stop the consistent tremoring running through her body. She’d thought Zed might hang around to keep her company, but instead he’d headed straight back to his tent.

  Maggie stared miserably at the bottle, unsure whether her shaking fingers could cope with unscrewing it and didn’t want it to drop it on the floor. She needed something because she’d run out of dope.

  Finally summoning up the courage, she moved her fingers up to the lid.

  What was that? Maggie’s body froze. Holding her breath, she strained her ears. She couldn’t hear anything now. She must be losing it. Swallowing hard, she screwed her eyes up to try and stop the forming tears from falling.

  She couldn’t go on like this, seeing and hearing things all the bloody time. She was convinced someone had been following her for months and was fairly certain who it was.

  Shaking her head slightly, she tried to rid the image of Ian from her mind. A few weeks ago he’d cornered her down the Dragon and grabbed her wrist. He’d whispered he’d be watching her until she came back to him. The mouth she’d once found so attractive had twisted into a nasty sneer and he’d spat that if she didn’t return, he’d kill her.

  Maggie shuddered. Whilst she was feeling brave she twisted the bottle top off. Raising the warm wine to her lips, she slugged down half the bottle in greedy gulps.

  Ian hadn’t killed her yet and surely if he was going to, he’d have done it by now? But what if he was biding his time? She knew what a fucking nutcase he was.

  What had she ever seen in him?

  Desperate for his attention, she knew she’d played down his freakish idiosyncrasies until it had been too late. By that time, he’d got her well and truly in his clutches.

  She knew she was driving everyone crazy with her insistence he was everywhere she went, but she was sure it was him. Maybe she was crazy? Oh God. Stop it. STOP IT!

  Taking another long swig from the bottle, Maggie tried not to retch as the sickly sweet liquid ran down her throat. At least it was Friday and it wouldn’t be long before she went out. That’s if she could pluck up the balls to step out into the darkness.

  She glared at the lantern, sure it was flickering and fumbled in her tapestry bag for her cigarettes. There was that noise again! Or was it just the wind? Enough! She’d go dolally at this rate.

  Glad her fingers had stopped shaking, Maggie finished the wine and placed the bottle on the side. With an edge of confidence, she decided to flirt with Davis later and see where that led.

  Feeling happier, she began sifting through her clothes looking for a sexy number.

  JANE WAS ON A MISSION to get slaughtered and was already struggling to keep her balance. She’d put away a concoction of pills, several pints and had lost track of just how many vodkas she’d had so far, but she couldn’t care less. All she cared about tonight was drinking herself unconscious.

  Leaning against one of the huge speakers on the floor, Jane relished the thumping beat of the music even though she had the mother of all headaches.

  As she glanced at Eliza getting it on with a guy with long blonde hair and a silver-studded leather fringed jacket in the corner, Jane felt Seth’s eyes burning into her from the bar. She wasn’t going to rise to his constant staring. Where the hell did he get off?

  She’d got to work this morning to find the whole building cordoned off and knew straight away it had been Seth’s doing. Struggling to conceal her anger, she’d jumped straight back in the car and driven home like a bat out of hell.

/>   Stalking into the flat, she’d kicked open the bathroom door to find him sitting on the toilet reading the paper. Without saying a word, she’d stormed up to him, ripped the paper from his hands and belted him round the face.

  Eventually Seth had sauntered into the lounge. He’d sat in the opposite armchair, cocking his eyebrow questioningly and had the cheek to ask why she was back from work early. As if he didn’t know?

  After much shouting, he’d finally admitted to a chain-smoking Jane that when she’d mentioned her boss was working late the other night, he’d gone round. Now she now no longer had a job. Thanks Seth. Thanks very fucking much.

  She couldn’t think about this anymore. It had taken all day for her to calm down and that was mainly due to loads of tranquilisers. So much for the heart-to-heart they’d had the other day when Seth agreed the drug stuff was overtaking things and they’d get things back on track. He’d even promised they’d go away at the weekend for a break and also promised to stop dictating to her.

  And now this?

  Jane rubbed her temples, attempting to override the banging pain and necked the remains of her vodka. If she could prise Eliza away from that blond guy, she’d get her to go and get refills. She refused to talk to Seth until she had to.

  MAGGIE FELT SUBSTANTIALLY better since the bottle of wine had kicked in. Plus she’d cadged several tokes of a joint from some bloke she’d bumped into. But best of all she’d managed to blag a lift into town.

  Feeling super-confident, she sashayed up the steps to the Ten Barrels and batted her eyelashes coquettishly at Davis and Spooner.

  “Hey, very nice!” Spooner remarked appraisingly, his eyes travelling up and down Maggie’s shapely legs encased in skin-tight shiny black lycra.

  Smiling, she sidled up towards Davis and leaned towards him flirtily, giving him the opportunity for an eyeball down her low-cut pink top. “What do you think Davis?”

  On cue, Davis’ eyes travelled down Maggie’s cleavage and then back to her face. He gently traced his fingers across her jawline. “You look lovely.” Planting a kiss on her cheek, he smiled. “Beautiful!”

  A shiver ran through Maggie’s body as his fingers connected. With any luck he’d take her back to his place, which meant one less night on her own in that van.

  Smiling at him from under her fluttering eyelashes, she continued downstairs.

  DEBBIE SMILED AS SHE walked up the steps to the Barrels. She’d seen the expression on Jane’s face as she’d walked up the street earlier and it wasn’t difficult to guess that her and Seth had been arguing.

  She’d known she wouldn’t have long to wait before the perfect opportunity arose. To make things even better, Ian was due his night with that awful Maggie, so if this went according to plan, it would work out a treat.

  Reaching the top of the steps, Debbie beckoned Davis over and grinned.

  Davis scowled. He desperately needed a woman as it had been far too long. His balls felt like they were going to burst, but he didn’t want this one. “What’s up?”

  Glancing over her shoulder to make sure no one else was listening, Debbie pulled Davis down towards her and whispered in his ear. “Message from Jane. She wants to meet up with you after hours.”

  Davis frowned. Jane? Why on earth would she be sending a message via this thing?

  “We’ve sorted all that old stuff out now.” Debbie garbled, reading his thoughts. “It was less obvious if I told you, rather than one of her usual mates.”

  She glanced around quickly, relieved to see Spooner was taking no interest in their conversation. “She’s having a hard time with Seth and wants some fun.”

  Davis stood back and scrutinised her. Was she serious? This was great!

  He’d always thought Jane might be up for some with him and there was no way he’d miss the opportunity of getting his end away tonight. Especially with her! Feeling his groin beginning to ache, Davis grinned. It would piss on Seth’s chips as well.

  Debbie lowered her voice further. “Don’t mention anything though. Jane said it’s important to just tag along after close, and then you guys can play...”

  Davis winked. “Understood. Leave it with me. Thanks Debbie.”

  Smiling, Debbie continued down the stairs to the bar, hoping the stand-off between Jane and Seth would drag out long enough for this to pull off. In the meantime, she’d go and find Ian.

  TAKING DOWN ANOTHER pint glass from the brass rack above his head, Seth craned his neck and sighed. Where the fuck had Jane gone now?

  There were far too many people in here tonight. He’d only offered to do the Friday shift at last knockings as he hadn’t seen her since she’d walked out first thing and figured if he was working at least he’d see her. He’d spotted her the second she’d come through the doors in her tight red basque, tiny skirt and black lace jacket and his stomach had flipped, reminding him of the strong effect she had on him.

  He’d planned what to say when she came to the bar, but this had been ruined when she’d sent Eliza up to get the drinks and Jane had then ignored him the entire evening so far. Worse still, it was so busy he hadn’t had a second to leave the bar to go and speak to her.

  Holding a pint under the Carling tap, Seth set another one off under the tap next door and quickly tipped his own drink down his throat. He frowned watching Jane lean unsteadily against the side of a bench seat, talking to some bloke. Who the fuck was that then?

  He wasn’t in the mood for this. Why was she so upset about the stupid job anyway? Did she really think he’d wait until the gimp had tried to fuck her?

  Well, it was done now and that fat bastard wouldn’t be around anymore, so she’d just have to get over it wouldn’t she?

  TWENTY FIVE

  DAVIS WATCHED JANE as he pretended to do a casual inspection of the busy bar. She looked completely trolleyed. His attention was suddenly diverted when Seth beckoned him over and a familiar rush of anger flooded him. Was he clicking his fingers?

  Davis studied Seth’s face, deciding he’d snap his fucking fingers off if he kept on.

  Making his way over to the bar with difficulty, Davis moved people out of the way so he could squeeze through the crowd and gritted his teeth. This had better be good.

  Scowling as a drunken skinhead spilt a pint down the front of his suit, Davis pushed the man roughly out of the way and tried to hide his rage as he got closer. “What’s up?” he mouthed to Seth.

  Seth smiled as Davis appeared behind the ramp. “Cover for me for five will you?”

  “WHAT?”

  “The others are changing barrels and I really need to do something.” Seth vaulted the bar before Davis could respond and people immediately heckled to be served.

  “New job?”

  “Been demoted Davis? Ha Ha!”

  “COME ON! I haven’t got all day!”

  “Three pints of Carling, mate.”

  Davis stared blankly. He could not believe this was happening. He was not anyone’s mate! Demoted? Did he look like a fucking bar man? He’d kill Seth for this, the cheeky bastard. This was the last fucking straw.

  Don’t worry mate. I’m going to make your woman scream with pleasure tonight, he thought watching as Seth moved through the crowd.

  “DID YOU SEE HIM LOOKING at me, babe?” Maggie screamed down Jane’s ear. “Davis was staring at me. I’m definitely in with him tonight. I really like him, babe.” She pulled at Jane’s lace jacket. “He’s ever so handsome isn’t he? Do you think he likes me?”

  Jane struggled to concentrate, only able to focus on Seth approaching.

  “JANE?”

  “Sorry Mags. Yes, he likes you.”

  As Jane attempted to turn her back on Seth he swung her round to face him. “You going to ignore me all night?”

  Jane scowled. He was acting like nothing had happened. Like it was all one big bloody joke. Well she wasn’t laughing. “Go away, Seth!”

  Seth rolled his eyes. “Come on baby. You’re being stupid!”

 
; “Being stupid?” Jane screamed. “Why don’t you just fuck off! What are you going to do next to try to control me?” Her eyes burnt into his. “Go on, get back behind the bar and stalk someone else. Someone that might be fucking bothered yeah?”

  Seth stared at Jane a moment longer, before turning on his heels and walking away.

  Jane was now even angrier than before. She hated it when it was like this. She’d wanted him to say he’d stepped over the line and kiss her. Then everything would be back to normal, but he hadn’t done that had he? Nor had he even tried.

  She knocked back another drink before she burst out crying and showed to all and sundry how she really felt. That Seth made her feel out of control and made her feel things she didn’t want to feel.

  Like emotion.

  Unable to help herself Jane loved him desperately, regardless of how much she didn’t want to.

  IAN PAINSTAKINGLY FINISHED his drink, savouring every mouthful. It was time.

  He glanced at his sister. She knew what he’d planned and had agreed the stuck-up bitch needed to be taught a lesson. He knew Debbie didn’t understand why he wanted Maggie back and in his opinion he thought she was jealous. She always got funny when he had a girlfriend and she’d never liked any of them, but she hated Maggie the most. She’d even accused him of being too obsessed!

  Ian had to admit Debbie was not the most attractive woman in the world with her pasty skin and buck teeth. He eyed her ample backside straining through her black leggings and thought she could also do with losing a stone or two. Still, for all her faults, it had never put him off.

  He knew a lot of people wouldn’t understand their unconventional relationship, but a woman was a woman right? She obviously didn’t mind either, otherwise she’d have said something over the last ten years he’d been screwing her.

  Besides, he didn’t care what anyone thought. He knew what he wanted. Placing the bottle on the bar, Ian made his way towards the double doors.