by Edie Baylis
Taking a swig out of the vodka from the glove box, Jane laughed.
“I’D SAY HE’S PRETTY much back to normal.” Digger said. “Well, as normal as he ever was.”
Handing Digger a pint, Phil grinned. “She’s staring at you.”
“Who?” Turning to meet Maggie’s bloodshot eyes, Digger smiled. Just who he wanted to have a word with. He’d been beginning to think she’d emigrated. “Bear with me a moment mate.”
Maggie thought she would pass out when Digger beckoned her over and was astounded her legs were still holding her upright as she followed him outside.
“I think you owe me an explanation?” Digger’s eyes drilled into hers.
Maggie stared at him and leant shakily against the wall. She’d got enough problems as it was and more than bitterly regretted allowing Jake to buy her far too many drinks. In fact, there wasn’t much of her life right now that she didn’t regret.
Digger sighed and folded his arms. Maggie’s shrinking violet act was getting on his tits. “Stop playing the Virgin Queen will you,” he scowled. “I was asked to warn Ian off which I did, but you decided to fuck him again, right?”
Maggie went cold. How did he know? Who asked him to warn Ian off? Jane... Oh shit. Jesus fucking Christ. Shit!
Digger studied the emotions running across Maggie’s face and slowly blew the smoke from his cigarette over her. “Except,” he bent lower, speaking quietly into her ear. “Ian took umbrage at me sticking my nose in.”
Maggie hardly dared move, let alone look at Digger.
“Especially when he thought you were taking him back.”
She started shaking involuntarily. “I... I....”
“AND he and his stupid fucking mate tried to kill me!” Digger hissed, his eyes vicious slits.
Maggie felt like she was going to choke on her own tongue as realisation dawned. “You? It was you...?”
Placing a large arm either side of her, trapping her against the wall, Digger smiled nastily. “It was me what...?”
Maggie said nothing, the words sticking in her throat.
Digger glared at her and pushed himself away. “You need to have a good look at yourself, love. Shafting people who stick their necks out for you never has good consequences.” He gave her a long look. “For anyone....”
Turning on his heels, he walked back into the bar leaving Maggie to heave into the gutter.
“SHH,” JANE WHISPERED. “Don’t talk. Just fuck me. Hard.”
No problem, Seth thought and checked the video camera balanced on the shelf behind them. Holding both of Jane’s arms over her head, he bit one nipple viciously. Hearing her gasp in pain, he smiled.
Quickly parting her thighs with his knee, he slammed deep into her, silencing her cries with his mouth. She wanted it rough did she?
Biting her bottom lip and tasting blood as his teeth cut into her flesh, Seth held Jane firm and thrust hard. “Keep still!” he growled, pulling himself onto his knees and dragging her with him. Rolling his hips, he upped the pace, but on hearing Jane’s breathing quicken, he stopped. “Oh no, not yet you’re not!”
Smacking Jane’s hand away as she traced a hard line down his chest with her nail, Seth pulled out and flipped her over, pushing her face down into the mattress. He delivered a stinging slap across her buttocks, his fingers bruising her hips as he gripped her and slammed hard into her from behind.
Jane hadn’t chance to take a full breath before her arms were twisted painfully behind her back whilst Seth slowed his pace, drawing each stroke out with precision.
Her body shuddered with the need for release and as the eye of the camera behind them filmed, she turned her head to the side and watched Clint die silently for the second time on the small television Seth had rigged up next to the bed.
Grabbing Jane around the throat, Seth threw her onto her back then crashed his mouth onto hers. It only turned him on further when she smacked him hard around the face and clawed his back, drawing blood.
His thumb circled her, his fingers probing deep and she groaned, trying to pull him into her, but resisting, he held her down.
Jane’s hips tried to escape Seth’s teasing fingers, but he mercilessly continued. Feeling her body shaking, he smiled and pushed her legs up towards her shoulders, burying his mouth in her wetness. Tasting her need for him, he flicked his tongue hard.
“Oh God, Seth!” she cried, as he sucked and probed faster.
Feeling hair rip from his scalp as Jane yanked and twisted it painfully as she arched her back beneath him, Seth’s arousal was now unbearable. He raised himself up to look at her and his cock felt like it was going to explode when she pulled her hand hard down his length.
Dropping Jane’s legs, Seth quickly rammed himself back inside her up to the hilt and ramped up the pace to a breakneck speed.
Sweat poured down his face as Jane writhed underneath him crying out for release. He knew he was about to blow. “I’m going to make you come now,” he growled, changing his stroke slightly.
Jane couldn’t do anything apart from scream Seth’s name as she came hard around him.
Riding the wave of orgasm as long as possible, Seth finally exploded into her and collapsed heavily on top of her, kissing her softly. She tensed her most intimate muscles hard around him, making him groan loudly as the final drops were squeezed out of him. Licking the sweat from his face Jane clutched onto Seth, her breath ragged.
“We should have come round earlier, Digger!” Phil grinned as they stood watching from the bedroom doorway.
FORTY FIVE
PAUL DIDN’T LIKE THE Oak Apple, but Debbie had been insistent they meet there rather than the Black Eagle. When she’d offered to buy the drinks, he’d been amazed. It was usually him that forked out.
He watched her leaning casually against the wooden bar, her short top exposing part of her flabby back and cringed. Why he’d shagged her last week he didn’t know - apart from that he’d had too many and finally succumbed to her persistent advances.
Debbie had been really cut up over Ian’s death and so he’d tried to help her drown her sorrows, but one thing had led to another and now she was acting as if they were a couple.
Hearing Debbie’s nasal voice resonate loudly around the large open-plan room, Paul blanched realising why she’d offered to go up the bar.
“I’m telling you,” Debbie spoke to the group standing next to her. “I’ve been in a right state. My poor brother butchered by that murdering bastard.”
Paul glanced from left to right watching more people’s ears prick up. Shit!
“Everyone knows Seth Wright did it. I even told the police it was him. They know what he’s like - as do we all. Let’s face it, he wanted to get me back after what I did...”
Paul quickly pulled himself out of his seat, aware that several pairs of eyes were now on him. What the hell was the stupid bitch doing?
“And that’s not the worst of it. Paul watched him leave Ian’s flat that night. He’d been planning to surprise me when I got back from work, but when there wasn’t any answer he left and when I got back, I found them.”
Paul watched Debbie lean dramatically over the bar and sob loudly. He knew she was putting it on. Frowning, he stumbled haphazardly through the crowd towards the bar with panic etched on his face. Why had she said he saw Seth leaving? He hadn’t seen anything! He’d get shit for this.
Pulling herself upright Debbie made a show of composing herself. “Only a couple of days ago the psycho threatened me, saying he’d kill both of us if we breathed a word, but I’m not scared of Seth and neither is Paul. This time we’ll make sure he gets locked up for what he’s done.”
Reaching the bar, Paul grabbed Debbie’s arm. “What the fuck are you doing? No one’s said anything to you,” he hissed into her ear.
Before Paul could say anything further Debbie flung her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately. Pulling away, she smiled widely. “I’d also like to announce that we’re getting married!�
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Paul stopped trying to rectify his smudged makeup and stared at Debbie in horror. This was getting ridiculous.
SETH WATCHED LEE TOP up the gin in the bong. “I need to move the stuff. It’ll be ok at your mate’s, yeah? I need to keep things clean here a while longer.”
“Don’t see why not. He’s safe. Besides, you’ve got to shift it somewhere.”
Seth nodded. Setting the bong going, he took a deep pull and held the thick smoke in his lungs. “Phil said Dodge was flapping his gums down the King’s.”
Lee raised his eyebrows and poured himself a shot of rum. That was the last thing Seth and Jane needed. He’d been worried about Seth, but thankfully it seemed he was getting himself back together again. On the outside at least. “Things ok now?”
“Yeah, we’re ok,” Seth answered dismissively and fiddled with the brightly-coloured bong pipe, hoping his expression hadn’t been noted. They were far from alright if truth be known, but he wasn’t discussing his feelings with anyone. Even himself.
Every time he mentioned the wedding, Jane would change the subject and he was worried she was getting cold feet. He knew she took his lack of motivation to move away to be because he couldn’t be arsed, but that was far from the truth. The truth was it was taking all his power to maintain a façade of being sorted, when really he was still drowning.
Seth’s brow knitted together and he took another pull on the bong feeling the effects creeping into his brain. Turn it down.... Turn it off... He didn’t want to feel. Feeling was dangerous.
Lee interrupted Seth from his thoughts. “You sharing that or what?”
Pushing the bong across the table, Seth frowned. Maybe they should just go? It was probably the right thing to do, but he wasn’t sure whether he could take it at the moment.
He took a deep breath. He’d speak to Jane again about it later and make a final decision before they got too drunk.
TIPPING A FEW PILLS into her mouth, Jane washed them down with a mouthful of lager. “I’m telling you it was him!”
Eliza sipped from her pint of cider. “Are you sure? I mean, would he really do that after what Seth did to him?”
“Look, Whippet confirmed my steering was tampered with,” Jane seethed. “It had to be that cunt and yes, he’s that fucking thick he’d do it regardless of Seth.”
Maggie picked at her chewed fingernails. She still hadn’t broached the conversation with Jane about Ian. She needed to say something soon, although the tap room of the Black Eagle wasn’t exactly the best place to ask her friend about her part in her ex-boyfriend’s murder. Wiping her face with the back of her hand she reached for a cigarette and turned her lager round nervously on the table.
“AND,” Jane continued watching Eliza raise her eyebrows. “I reckon he set us up for that raid.”
“I’ve told Seth over and over, but he won’t have it.” Jane necked the rest of her pint. “He’ll have to listen about the car though. I’ll have that bastard if it’s the last thing I do. With or without Seth!” She felt like she was going to blow a gasket and all she wanted now was to get pissed. “Another?”
Jane watched Maggie sidle up to the bar fiddling with her hair. “You alright, Mags?”
No she wasn’t. She wasn’t alright at all. Maggie’s eyes tracked over to Eliza who was now giggling with a wizened gap-toothed geriatric. She had to say something before she lost her nerve or before Eliza followed. “Just wondered if I could speak to you about something?” she muttered, following Jane’s eyes as Paul shuffled through the pub door. “Jane?”
Great. The one opportunity she’d had all day to speak to Jane alone and now it looked like she was going to flip out.
The usual chant kicked off from a group of men at the far end of the tap room. “Alice. Alice. Who the fuck is Alice?”
Jane stared at Paul. She hadn’t seen him for ages and by Christ, he looked even worse than before. She watched him spot her then hastily retreat the way he’d come in. Only after the heavy wooden door had closed behind him did she pick up her fresh pint from the beer towel. “What did you say, Mags?”
“I need to speak to you,” Maggie whispered.
Jane raised an eyebrow and took a large swig of her pint. “I’m listening.”
Maggie glanced around. “Not here. I meant somewhere on our own.”
“Ok. Come to the flat.” Jane sighed.
Maggie lingered at the bar whilst Jane walked back to the table to hand Eliza a fresh pint of cider and tried to ignore the leering man next to her who smelt strongly of horse shit.
She wrung her hands in desperation. What if Digger was there? Seth would undoubtedly be, so how the hell was she supposed to speak to Jane in front of them?
“DON’T BE SO FUCKING stupid!” Seth snarled. He leant back in the armchair and blew a long stream of cigarette smoke out up towards the ceiling.
“I’m telling you that Stuart tampered with my fucking motor,” Jane snapped, standing in front of him with her arms folded. “It’s a fact.”
Rolling his eyes, Seth laughed. “What, because Whippet said so? Come on, he’d say anything so he could fix it!”
“The guy’s a bloody mechanic! Are you saying there’s nothing wrong with the steering?” Jane temper rose when Seth smirked at Digger. She was sick of being made out to be melodramatic. Why couldn’t he see the wanker had tried to kill them?
From her position in the corner Maggie tried not to look at anyone and hoped she’d blend in with the wall. It was bad enough coming here in the first place, plus Digger hadn’t taken his eyes off her - daring her to look up or move.
She’d done neither, but was fast running out of places to stare and now it looked like Jane and Seth were going to have another row. Maggie closed her eyes trying to control her impending panic and hoped it would all go away, but it didn’t.
“Jane,” Seth laughed. “Do you really think Stuart would dare to pull a stunt like that?” Accidentally dropping his cigarette end on his jeans, he jumped up quickly and flicked it to the floor, causing yet another torrent of stoned laughter from Lee.
“Yes I do!” Jane grabbed the vodka and quickly shoved some more pills into her mouth.
Seth held his hand out towards her. “Come here baby and kiss me. That’s if you don’t crash on the way and blame some conspiracy theory!”
Jane scowled. Oh it was all so funny wasn’t it. Bollocks to him! She wouldn’t get a word of sense out of him tonight he was so stoned.
Taking a final swig out of the vodka, she slammed it down and headed towards the door. “Come on, Mags!”
Seth stood up unsteadily. “Where the fuck are you going?”
“Out!” Jane snapped.
“You’ve only just got back.”
“And what does that tell you?” Jane pushed the lounge door so hard, it slammed against the wall and rebounded back onto Maggie who was following.
“Things definitely going well then I see!” Lee quipped sarcastically as Seth slumped back into the armchair.
FORTY SIX
MAGGIE WAS PLEASED by Jane’s decision to go out of town for a drink. The chances of having an uninterrupted conversation down the Dragon, King’s or Oak Apple were slim, but she hadn’t broached the subject of Ian until they’d been safely ensconced at a wooden farmhouse table in the lounge bar of the village pub.
When she’d blurted it out it hadn’t gone down too well and now she began to wish she hadn’t said anything at all.
“You did what?” Jane roared, ignoring people staring at them from around the bar.
“I was lonely,” Maggie whined, trying to justify why she’d slept with Ian again. “I thought he’d changed. He...”
“Changed? Are you crazy? People like that don’t change!” Jane interrupted, her dark eyes flashing.
Taking a gulp of her pint, she narrowed her eyes, unable to believe Maggie had been so stupid. “You think I don’t get lonely? It’s possible to be around people all the time and still feel on your own you know and ye
s, I did ask Digger to warn Ian off.”
“But...”
“But nothing. What did you want me to do?” Jane’s muscles tensed with anger as Maggie hung her head and shamefully explained what had happened the night she’d let Ian back into her life.
“Well I’m glad Digger finished the pair of bastards.” Jane’s voice dripped with venom as she stood up. “You can’t wonder why he’s cross though, Mag. He did what I asked and then you hop back in with Ian.”
Tugging at Jane’s arm, Maggie pulled her back down. “I know, I know... I’m sorry.”
Jane placed her hand over Maggie’s feeling her flinch. She frowned. There was more to this than Ian. She studied the emotions passing over her friend’s face. “Maggie, what’s going on?”
Maggie looked at the table. That was the problem. She didn’t know. All she knew was that she didn’t want to feel like this.
Jane rolled her eyes. She could do without a fucking pity trip. Had Maggie any idea of the problems she’d caused? “Just tell Digger what Ian did.”
Maggie searched Jane’s face. “NO! I can’t tell him. Don’t tell anyone Jane! I couldn’t bear it!” Her eyes darted around. “You’re the only person I’ve told. I don’t want anyone else to know.”
Jane nodded, “Ok, don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
SETH WAS FAR FROM HAPPY. He’d been round three pubs so far and no one had seen hide nor hair of Jane. He was getting fed up of running around town all night looking for the stupid woman.
‘Chill out!’ Lee muttered, getting fed up. ‘Just let her get on with it. She’s probably gone out of town.”
“She never goes out of town,” Seth seethed, his anger increasing with each minute that passed. “If she’s with someone else I’ll fucking kill her!”
Looking towards the dark night sky, Lee hoped for something to get him away from this. Aliens, perhaps? “Let’s just go and get another drink.”