The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “Don’t know about you, but I’m getting pissed off being treated like an idiot,” Matt sneered. “He speaks to us like a pair of kids and it’s getting worse. Just because he’s fucked everything up and lost the lot it’s no reason to take it out on us.”

  Pete nodded. Carter was hard work at the best of times, but since Crystals had got done he’d been even less accommodating than normal. Still, there wasn’t much they could do about it whilst they still needed a job.

  “You do realise we won’t have any work soon?” Matt continued. “He’s pretending he’s on top of things but for fuck’s sake, everyone knows he’s finished.”

  Pete sighed. “Carter doesn’t seem to think that.”

  “That’s because he’s stupid. He knows it. Everyone does and I’m sure everyone’s laughing at us behind our back.”

  Pete sighed once more. He was aggravated about the whole thing too, but Matt’s consistent griping was making things worse. “So do you know what we’re supposed to be doing here?” he asked.

  “God knows. I know as much as you do, but I’m telling you after tonight I’ll be looking for something else. I’ve heard on the grapevine the Millers are looking to move into Carter’s patch being as it’s common fucking knowledge Benson has well and truly taken him out of the game,” Matt sneered. “It might be worth seeing if we can get some work from them.”

  “Or what about Benson?” Pete suggested.

  Matt raised his eyebrows. He had a lot of time for Pete, but his reputation as a thick twat was very much deserved. “Don’t be a cock all your life! You really think Benson will take us on? From Carter’s firm? I think not!”

  “Hmm, maybe, but won’t Benson have something to say about Miller? He’ll be lining up Carter’s patch for himself won’t he?”

  “That’s their problem.” Matt laughed.

  When headlights suddenly turned into the yard, both Matt and Pete sat up in their seats.

  “Here we go. About time.” Matt muttered and got out of the van as Ernie’s Jaguar drew up alongside them.

  “Right, get her out of the boot then,” Ernie growled.

  Matt exchanged glances with Pete. What had Carter done? Walking around, he opened the boot only to be greeted by the sight of Sheila. Blood was running down the side of her face and her shins were cut to ribbons from kicking the inside of the boot during the journey.

  “You fucking wankers!” Sheila screamed.

  “Shut her up!” Ernie yelled.

  Matt shoved his hand over Sheila’s mouth whilst Pete dragged her from the boot.

  Ernie quickly pushed Sheila to the floor. “Being as you can’t behave yourself it appears I’ll have to restrain you.” He bound her hands behind her back with rope and forcing her head back, roughly crammed an old rag into her mouth.

  Sheila made gargling sounds as she thrashed around angrily on the floor and Pete stood uncertainly to one side. This was Benson’s missus. What the hell was Carter doing?

  Matt watched Carter with growing unease. He didn’t want to be involved in shit like this. Benson would kill them and certainly wouldn’t stop to realise they hadn’t been privy to the plan. “Ernie are you sure about this?”

  Ernie turned towards Matt with wild eyes and hungrily palmed his crotch. “Surer than I’ve ever been.”

  Kneeling down, he grabbed Sheila painfully by the hair and she looked up at him with wide frightened eyes. He slammed her head down viciously onto the concrete. “Now then Sheila, let’s see how your husband-to-be feels when he finds out you’ve been shagging his arch-enemy behind his back shall we?”

  As the reality of Ernie’s plan became apparent, Sheila resumed her pointless thrashing, her eyes brimming with tears.

  “Ernie, wait!” Matt moved forward.

  “You can fuck off right now if you don’t like it, you prick,” Ernie glared at Matt. “Now stand back!” Unzipping his flies he pulled his engorged cock from his trousers and began running his hand down it.

  “Turn her over,” Ernie growled to Pete. “Get her on her knees.”

  Pete hesitated. He didn’t want to be involved in this.

  “Do it NOW!” Ernie raged, spittle flying from his mouth. “Before I fuck you as well!”

  Pete leaned over Sheila, hoping his eyes somehow conveyed that he didn’t agree with what was going down, but she starting resisting him when he attempted to turn her over.

  Ernie delivered another sharp punch to the side of Sheila’s head, subduing her enough so Pete could pull her onto all fours. “Don’t worry lads,” Ernie smiled. “This won’t take long!”

  Kneeling down behind Sheila, Ernie hitched her skirt up and pulled her black knickers down over her thighs. “Remember all those years back when you turned me down, Sheila? You’re not turning me down tonight though are you? You’re still a fucking whore and always have been.”

  Muffled sobs escaped from Sheila’s mouth as Ernie forced himself roughly into her.

  “Shut it!” Ernie growled, thrusting hard and fast, his fingers digging painfully into Sheila’s hips ensuring nice telling bruising would remain.

  He knew he’d het himself up too much to drag the act out and furthermore had no reason to. He just wanted Benson to know he’d had her before he moved on to the final part of the plan. Oh yes, this would hit him where it hurt alright.

  FORTY FIVE

  ELIZA SLOPPED WINE over the table as she attempted to top up her glass. Her teeth were aching from where she’d been unconsciously grinding them for the last two hours. For fuck’s sake, they were supposed to be making sure no one could get to her, but not a soul had bothered to check to see if she was still alive today, let alone anything else.

  She eyed her reflection in the mirror, angrily noticing her previously perfectly applied make-up now looked tired and smudged, then she heard the front door slam. Finally!

  “Eliza?” Seth’s voice boomed from the hallway.

  Eliza’s stomach lurched and her heart raced. So Seth had come? She could barely get through a minute without her thoughts turning to him. It was how she’d felt all those years ago, except this time she wasn’t treading on anyone’s toes.

  She leant back in the chair and crossed her legs, pulling the hem of her skirt up just high enough so the top of her stockings were on show.

  Holding her wine glass as steady as possible, she hoped her drunkenness was not as visible as it felt. “I’m in here...” Eliza called in a seductive voice.

  Sticking his head around the door, Seth smiled. “I’ll just grab a beer.”

  When Seth walked off towards the kitchen, Eliza rearranged herself, hoping this pose was more alluring. She shoved her hand down her top and pushed her breasts up in her bra to accentuate the generous amount of cleavage already on show.

  Seth entered the room clutching a can and flopped down in an armchair. “I’ll just have this and then I’ll leave you to it. Everything ok?”

  Eliza’s eyes narrowed. So he was planning on leaving straight away? No acknowledgement that she was blatantly inviting him to fuck her? Nothing. Not even a kiss. Not that he ever kissed her anyway.

  Her temper flared aided by the copious amount of wine she’d put away. “No, no one has been round,” Eliza snapped. “I thought you were coming earlier and now you’re telling me you’re not staying?”

  She pointed to her ample assets. “This not a good enough incentive for you?”

  Seth frowned, not liking where this was going. “You’re being checked on plenty. There’s nothing to worry about.”

  Eliza placed her glass down on the side table. “I’m not worried,” she yelled, her voice rising. “Just thought you might have the decency to come and see me being as you’ve had no problem making yourself at home inside me the last few nights. Where have you been? Are you seeing someone else?”

  Seth tipped the contents of the can down his throat and sighed. Not another one.

  He pushed himself to the edge of the armchair. “Now hang on a minute. I’m keeping an
eye on you, nothing more.” He’d let Digger and Barry handle her in the future.

  “No, you hang on a minute,” Eliza cried, unsteadily pushing herself to her feet. A smug smile appeared across her face. Seth liked forceful women didn’t he?

  “You’ve made it quite obvious you want me, so stop pretending you don’t.” She draped her arms around his neck and leaning over the chair, attempted to kiss him.

  Moving his head, Seth grabbed Eliza’s wrists and peeled her off. “I don’t do relationships, Eliza. I was asked to watch you. Just because we’ve shared a bed once or twice it doesn’t mean anything.”

  Eliza scowled. Was he taking the piss? “You’re kidding right? Not into relationships? Oh come on Seth – aren’t you forgetting? You’ve had pretty full-on relationships before now if I remember correctly!”

  Seth frowned. What did she just call him?

  Eliza realised she’d just dropped herself in it and given the game away, but her drunkenness enabled her to rationalise it was a rectifiable situation. She knew him of old after all.

  She laughed. “Don’t tell me you genuinely don’t know it’s me!” She pointed at herself. “You know full well who I am! Eliza! E-L-I-Z-A!”

  Staring carefully at the woman in front of him, Seth pushed himself to his feet as the penny dropped. Shit! How could he not have realised?

  Eliza grabbed at his shirt. “What’s the big deal? It’s not like Jane’s on the scene to give you grief anymore is it? Not that she deserved you!” she laughed. “It was a bit of a shock to see you again, considering I’d been told you were dead, but I think I’ve held it together quite well!”

  Spinning around, Seth ripped his shirt away from Eliza’s grasp and pushed her forcibly back on to the chair. “Don’t you mention Jane, do you hear? Do not utter her fucking name, Eliza!”

  Feeling her blood heat further with desire, Eliza smiled seductively. “Now, no need to be shy. All I was saying was she can’t have a problem with this now can she? Get real!”

  “Just leave her out of it!” Seth screamed, his face reddening with anger.

  “Now you’re no longer taken, I don’t see a problem with you continuing to put your cock in me,” Eliza spat. “Besides, we’re good together.”

  Seth backhanded Eliza hard around the face. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, you stupid slag. Now if you know what’s good for you you’ll keep your fucking mouth shut and say no more.”

  He leant down as Eliza raised her hand to her stinging face in shock. “If it gets out as to who I am, I’ll know where it came from won’t I?”

  Eliza stared in stunned silence as Seth left the room and slammed the front door noisily behind him.

  BILL SMILED AS HE PULLED up on his driveway and looked at the house in front of him, realising he wouldn’t miss the place one jot.

  He stared up at the large ornate building and wondered why there were no lights on. Sheila must be in the back lounge. She’d only left just over an hour ago, so she wouldn’t have been back long anyway.

  Locking the car, he walked up the wide stone steps towards the front door and was fumbling with his key in the lock when he heard a faint noise. What was that? It sounded like a kitten.

  Bill glanced in the direction of the sound and spotted a lump to one side of a bush in his large front garden. Trying to adjust his eyes to make out what it was in the near pitch black of the night, he was about to continue into the house when he saw the shape move. Not very much, but enough for to it to be distinct. And there was that noise again. What on earth?

  Feeling a slight tinge of unease, Bill traced his footsteps back down the steps and left the path to walk over the grass. As he neared the object and realising it was a body, his heart began to race. Oh no! Dear God, NO!

  “GO FASTER!” JANE SNAPPED, willing the taxi driver to hurry. She’d been about the leave the Glint when Bill’s office phone had rung. She’d answered it with trepidation. Virtually no one had Bill’s direct line.

  It had taken her a couple of seconds to work out who the garbled, almost unintelligible voice at the other end had belonged to. She didn’t know what had happened, but due to the fact Bill wasn’t able to even speak coherently, she knew whatever was going on wasn’t good.

  Pulling up at the end of the driveway, Jane shoved a handful of notes into the drivers’ hand and quickly leapt from the car, running as fast as she could up the gravelled path.

  By the time she’d got to the bottom of the steps, Bill opened the front door looking like he’d been ten rounds with Mike Tyson.

  Bill’s jacket was off and his shirt covered in blood. His hands were caked in blood, his hair unkempt and his face poured with sweat. His eyes were wide and utterly panic-stricken. “Marie... I didn’t know what to do... Or who to call...”

  Jane grabbed his arm as she followed him into the house. “What’s going on?” Shutting the door behind her she turned to see Bill drop to his knees on the floor in the hallway.

  Seeing Sheila’s body behind where Bill knelt, Jane stifled the urge to scream and hurried over. “Oh no! Shit! Sheila! Is she ok?”

  As she drew level she could see quite clearly Sheila was far from ok. Her skirt and knickers were missing and she had dark purple bruising covering the insides of her thighs and dotted over her hips. Her neck had been cut, but the blood was no longer flowing from the small wound in her throat and her eyes stared lifelessly up towards the ceiling.

  Jane dropped to her knees next to Bill and pointlessly tried to feel for a pulse.

  “She’s dead,” Bill muttered, not attempting to hide his pain or tears.

  “Oh God,” Jane repeated, trying to steady her breathing. “What happened, Bill? Where was she?”

  Bill ran a blood-caked hand through his hair and looked around in bewilderment. “We’re moving in together. We’re getting married...”

  Jane stared at him. It was clear he was in shock. “Bill, where did you find her?” she pressed.

  “She was on the lawn...”

  “Here? At your house?”

  “She was alive...”

  “Alive?”

  “I brought her inside. She bled out a couple of minutes later,” Bill choked on a sob. “She told me she loved me.”

  “Who did this? Did she say?” Jane asked, already able to hazard a pretty likely guess.

  “Carter,” Bill spat through clenched teeth. “Fucking Carter that’s who.”

  He started to push himself up, but Jane got up first and quickly grasped his arm. She could tell Bill was no way in any fit state to make judgements or retaliations right now.

  “Come with me.” Jane muttered, leading Bill into a sitting room and sat him on the sofa. Taking a throw she moved back into the hallway and carefully placed it over Sheila’s body, covering her face.

  “I’m sorry, Sheila,” she whispered. “We’ll get the bastards.” She was sure Bill had probably more than noticed, but she didn’t want to underline his pain by pointing out Sheila had been raped as well. It was bad enough she was dead. Beautiful, kind Sheila.

  Hatred welled up inside Jane like a fire, but realising she had to deal with Bill at this particular point in time she hastily returned to the sitting room. “Right, I’m fixing you a drink.”

  “I don’t want a drink,” Bill screamed, standing up.

  He rushed over to where Jane was pouring him a whisky and snatched the bottle from her hand. “I said I don’t want a fucking drink, you stupid bitch!” he screamed and threw the bottle against the wall. “I just want to kill the cunt!”

  Jane remained calm and grabbed Bill’s arms. “You need to calm down now, Bill!” she yelled. “You can’t help Sheila like this can you?”

  “How can I fucking help her? She’s dead...”

  Jane nodded sadly and attempted to guide Bill back to the sofa. She didn’t know about him, but she sure as hell needed a drink.

  “She’s fucking dead!” Bill wailed again. “The bastard. The BASTARD! I’m going to kill him!”<
br />
  Jane sat him down. “Now you listen to me, Bill. You are going to kill him or I will, but not right now. Do you understand? What we’re going to do is first deal with Sheila. She’s our priority and then we’ll deal with Carter. You will have Carter and I’ll do whatever you need to ensure it happens. That’s the way we’re doing it, but I promise you, you’ll have him.” She took both his hands in hers. “The last thing you want is to give him the satisfaction of seeing you like this.”

  Bill nodded slowly, his eyes vacantly staring at the rug. “But what shall I do with Sh..”

  “Leave that to me Bill. I’ll sort it. Now, who do you want me to call?”

  Bill ran his hand through his hair once more. “Jim. Get Jim and Barry.”

  FORTY SIX

  BARRY COULD HAVE DONE without it. He glanced at Jim as they sped along the road. He knew he shouldn’t have answered the bloody phone.

  When it rang he’d been torn between ignoring it and continuing to shut the door he’d been half way through, or actually going back to Bill’s office and picking it up. His loyalty had got the better of him and he’d answered it, but now bitterly regretted the decision.

  He glanced at his watch. Half past two in the morning. Instead of being tucked up in bed with his missus, he was on his way to Bill’s home with Jim.

  The hairs on the back of his neck prickled as he turned the wheel. He’d known something was very wrong when he’d detected the panic, although well hidden, in Marie’s voice on the other end of the line. When she’d asked if he knew where to find Jim, he knew for definite something bad had occurred.

  He’d asked what was going down, but when Marie had said just to get Jim and bring him to Bill’s as soon as possible, he realised he wouldn’t get any further information from her over the telephone.

  A small knot of fear lurked in the pit of Barry’s stomach. There had been too much weird stuff occurring over the last few months and he hoped to God nothing serious had happened. But why would Marie be ringing from Bill’s house if he was ok?