The Downfall Series Box Set

by Edie Baylis

  “I’m leaving. Stay if you like, but I’m not listening to any more of your shit.” Getting up, he pulled out his wallet and threw a handful of twenties on the table before walking away.

  JANE COULD HARDLY BELIEVE what she was hearing and her heart crashed at a crazy pace in her chest. She felt light-headed and was glad she was sitting down. “Are you serious?”

  Smiling, Seth grabbed Jane’s hand and squeezed it. He couldn’t quite believe it himself and thought he’d done a sterling job of keeping it to himself all the way to the restaurant. It was only when he’d managed to bag their favourite table – a private one in a secluded alcove had he filled Jane in with the news. “I’m deadly serious. Our daughter’s fine and living in St Ives.”

  Jane was gobsmacked. She hadn’t been in the mood to go for dinner because she’d been out most of the day asking questions to anybody and everybody who may possibly have seen Lacey, but had drawn a complete blank.

  When Seth had returned saying they were going out, her initial reaction was to refuse, however he’d been insistent so she’d given in. Now she was very glad she had.

  A warm glow filled Jane to the brim and she felt almost drunk on happiness rather than from the two bottles of champagne they’d shared. “Oh Seth,” she exclaimed. “This is absolutely wonderful news. Are you sure?”

  Seth smiled at his beaming wife. He would love to photograph the expression on her face. The joy radiating from her was intense. “I’m completely sure. I knew Mulligan had some info, but I wanted to know what that was before I said anything. I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case it was a dead end. There’s been loads remember?”

  It was true – they’d both been on tenterhooks so many times over the last year and a half with promises of information and leads which had come to nothing. She’d started to believe they’d never find their daughter, but now they had. “Oh my God, this is just so perfect. But St Ives.... That’s miles away!” Jane cried.

  “It doesn’t matter. She’s safe and we know where she is.”

  Jane grabbed Seth’s hand. “When can we go? Tomorrow?”

  “We can’t just turn up!”

  “Why not?” Jane snapped. Grace was their daughter. They had every right to go and see her.

  “We need to do this properly,” Seth said getting up from his seat and moving to sit next to Jane on the high-backed padded settle. He kissed her softly on the lips and then smiled. “We can start the ball rolling with the courts now. Now finish your champagne. I’m taking you home.”

  TWENTY ONE

  STEVE LOMOND COULD FEEL his erection straining painfully against his trousers when he backhanded the girl for the third time, his chunky sovereign ring imprinting on her face.

  His narrow squinty eyes stared at the frightened girl. “You’d best not be about to cry on me you little bitch. I know you love the rough play really don’t you?”

  Selena stood naked in front of the fully-dressed fat manager and tried to smile. “Yes.” She’d overheard him being discussed several times by some of the other girls and they all said the same thing. Get doped up before going with him. It hurts less.

  She had to do it straight. There was no way she’d get herself on that gear.

  “Did you say you enjoyed it?” Lomond growled, flecks of spit spraying from his mouth as he relished the girl’s cheekbone already blackening. “It don’t look much like it to me!”

  “No, I love it. I really do!” Selena said dully, wincing as the grotesque man groped roughly between her legs, painfully shoving two of his thick calloused fingers inside her.

  “Good, good....” he murmured, jabbing his fingers as deep as he could. They needed it rough these tarts. With their tight cunts and their pathetic faces. Pretending not to like it when they did. Oh yes, they loved it – they all wanted cock. With his spare hand, he reached out and twisted the girl’s nipple painfully.

  “OW!” Selina screeched. She hadn’t expected that too. “You’re hurting me!”

  Lomond’s eyes narrowed, his anger at this ungrateful bitch intensifying. “You said you liked it!” he growled, unzipping his flies. He needed to release his cock. It would burst trapped in there.

  He irritably struggled to free his engorged member from his trousers. “Turn around!” he snarled, running his hand down his length.

  Selena glanced around frightened, not used to having to turn her back – especially with a psycho like this. No wonder everyone resented Lacey for doing a runner and landing all the others having to take turns with this bastard. However she could hardly blame the girl.

  She didn’t know what had happened with Lacey, but it had caused no end of problems. Eliza and Digger were controlling with what the girls were and weren’t allowed to do, even more now than usual, especially with those cameras which had been put in. They’d all received threatening lectures about what would happen if they even thought about wandering off.

  Selena didn’t have the first clue where Lacey had gone, but hoped she’d continue to evade those two from catching up with her and bringing her back to this sicko.

  Selena flung her hand out as she was suddenly and unexpectedly launched forward over the end of the bed. She gasped with pain as the brass footboard slammed into her hip bones and before she’d even had chance to take stock of what was going on, howled in agony as Steve Lomond forced himself hard into her rear end.

  JANE RECLINED BACK in the lounger and tried to let the lush leafy artificial foliage and tropical ambient temperature of the poolside relax her. It was Maggie’s idea to have an afternoon out with just the two of them at the spa and although she’d been reticent after what she’d learnt this morning, she was glad she’d come because Maggie was a well-practised soundboard for her to get her frustration off her chest.

  Jane readjusted the large crocodile clip holding her wet hair away from her face and repositioned herself slightly on the lounger so that it was easier for her to lean over and reach the drink on the marble-topped table between them.

  Maggie watched Jane slowly sipping from her gin and tonic and absentmindedly swirled the ice around the glass with the gold-coloured mixer. She glanced around at the staff poised around the edges of the pool room ready for the slightest glance or nod from any of the customers so they could rush to take their orders.

  They’d already had four waitresses in the last five minutes asking if there was anything they needed. Or rather, if there was anything Jane needed. She hoped no one else came over for a while because she knew Jane’s irritation level was heightening with each intrusion.

  Maggie knew Jane needed to get whatever was going on off her chest and realised the constant interruption from people wanting to speak to the infamous Mrs Wright wasn’t helping. Of course neither had the paper running that stupid story the other day. It was obvious everyone was trying to work out if the rumours about the abortion were true or not.

  Maggie had to take her hat off to Jane. If it had been her she’d had locked herself away and cried for months, let alone deal with the bombshell she’d been dealt with regarding her daughter.

  “You’re going to have to explain to me what’s going on here Jane, I’m really confused,” Maggie said. The last thing she’d heard when Jane had called her up over the moon the other day was that their daughter had been located. She also knew from what Jane had said, the removal of the child had been illegal and now it was just a case of crossing the ‘T’s’ and dotting the ‘I’s’.

  Jane looked pensive. “I’m worried when it gets to court something we’re not expecting will be dumped on us.”

  Maggie frowned. “The prison stuff is done and dusted isn’t it?” she lowered her voice. “It won’t affect this – they’ve told you that. And both of you have stepped back from the dodgy things... you know, personal involvement with, you know...”

  Jane raised her eyebrows. Yes it was true they were a lot less personally involved with violence these days, but she also knew Seth still rolled his sleeves up a lot more than Mag
gie was clearly aware of. Even she probably didn’t know some of it.

  What with all this hassle brewing with the clubs and the strange events that had happened Jane felt someone was intent on sparking some form of reaction from one or both of them and the way it was going, it probably would. If that happened at this point in time it would surely spell disaster now they were finally able to move forward with getting their daughter back where she belonged.

  Besides, it wasn’t like she could tell Maggie that. Jane had already guessed Dan would have made out they had somehow all morphed into being holier-than-thou because otherwise she’d only fret.

  “I’m sure something will rear its ugly head...” Jane muttered.

  “Grace is your daughter. They have to return her to you!” Maggie exclaimed. “She should never have been taken in the first place!”

  Jane scowled. Did Maggie not think she knew that? The whole thing was ridiculous and in all honesty it was starting to get on top of her. The solicitor had even said the other day during their last phone conversation that having an au pair would not go down well in court. Apparently this was looked upon as equal to not having time to look after the children someone already had without taking on more.

  Just thinking about it made Jane’s hackles rise. They may be busy, but only because they were trying to ensure things could be kept together. Regardless of the amount of time they had, Grace was their daughter and she should be with them.

  “Apparently our child is now called Patty,” Jane spat.

  “Patty?”

  “Her name’s Grace not fucking Patty!” Jane seethed. “That’s her legal name now it seems.” That had really got to her when Seth had showed her what Mulligan had found.

  She hated it. Fucking hated it. She’d named her daughter Grace and was being told that someone, not satisfied with purely taking her daughter, had taken her fucking name as well.

  Seth wasn’t so bothered. Well he wouldn’t be would he? “Seth said it’s just a name and wasn’t that important,” Jane barked angrily. Well her name was important. To her at least.

  “Well, if it’s a case of not getting involved in anything untoward, why don’t you both just step away from the Glint? Or get rid of it?” Maggie said dismissively.

  She was aware Seth was most likely doing a lot more than either Dan or Jane mentioned. Leopards didn’t change every one of their spots after all...

  Jane’s eyebrows shot up. “Are you for real? Get rid of the club? What the hell would we do instead?” She almost laughed. Maggie genuinely didn’t have a clue about real life did she? “I’m sure Dan wouldn’t be best pleased either. I think it would just be you!”

  “Why? Whether you realise it or not, Dan’s job’s very stressful...”

  “Are you having a laugh?” Jane raged, getting irritated. “What the hell would you know about it? What would you do for spending money Maggie if Dan wasn’t bringing in the coin you’ve come to expect so that you can potter around the fucking house all day? Ever thought about that?”

  Maggie refused to rise to Jane’s hurtful remarks. She knew she was angry and stressed and didn’t mean it. If doing something meant Jane getting her daughter back then she’d gladly support her in whichever way she could, even if that meant losing out financially.

  “I was merely making a suggestion,” Maggie said quietly.

  “Oh my God!” Jane yelled. “Have you any idea how irrational you sound you stupid bitch? What the fuck would you know anyway? You haven’t a clue!”

  Maggie reached out and touched Jane’s arm. “I didn’t mean it like that and for the record, I’m sure Seth didn’t mean anything by what he said about Grace’s name not being important either.”

  “I WANT MY DAUGHTER BACK!” Jane shouted, hot tears forming at the back of her eyes.

  Maggie glanced up, noticing everyone was now looking in their direction. “Shh babe. Keep your voice down. You don’t want them all to know what’s going on do you?”

  “What does it fucking matter? Everyone seems to have an opinion whether I like it or not!” Jane yelled and pushed herself up from the lounger. She grabbed her gin and tonic. “LOOK AT ME EVERYONE!” she shouted. “I’m the one who apparently kills babies!”

  “Jane!” Maggie hissed, horrified. What the hell was she playing at?

  “Oh and look! Yes, that’s right. I’m drinking ALCOHOL! Aren’t I dreadful? I don’t deserve to be a mother do I?” Jane screeched. “Fuck you! Fuck the LOT of you!”

  Throwing the glass to the floor, Jane watched it smash over the tiles before stalking away from the poolside to a stunned silence.

  “WHO WAS THAT BIG FAT man?” Emily asked, tugging at Eliza’s skirt as she hurried to keep up with her striding along the corridor.

  Eliza slapped the little hand off her. She didn’t want sticky grubby mitts all over her clobber. “Don’t worry about him,” she snapped. “It’s no one important. Now hurry up. I’ve got things I need to get on with.”

  Eliza irritably pushed her hair away from her face. She’d been planning getting her lips plumped up again today, but then that bloody social worker had called, reminding her about their day with Emily. She’d only gone and forgotten about it hadn’t she.

  Racing back to the house, Eliza had luckily made it back just in time before the kid had showed up and she’d had to lay it on thick about how excited her and Sam were about spending the day with Emily...

  Well no they weren’t. There was too much going on.

  Blathering on about baking and doing jigsaws together, Eliza had breathed a sigh of relief when the social worker had finally left and she’d wasted no time in shoving the kid in the car so she could get back to Elipse to make sure everything was running as it should be. But then she’d been stuck with the kid following her around the whole time and it was getting on her tits.

  Glancing at the child trailing her like a puppy, Eliza ushered her into the office and quickly slammed the door. “Sit over there,” she muttered to Emily whilst glancing at the CCTV monitors.

  “What are they doing?” Emily asked, peering at one of the screens displaying a girl riding a punter hard.

  “Oh, just playing,” Eliza snapped, hastily pressing the ‘off’ button. For fuck’s sake – this was just not working out well at all.

  “Can we do a jigsaw now?” Emily said, her little rosebud mouth pouting.

  Eliza glared at her. The kid was a spit of Jane and it was unnerving. “No we fucking well can’t! Does it look like I do jigsaws?’

  Emily’s mouth formed an ‘O’. “It’s naughty to swear!” she said horrified.

  “Shut up!” Eliza barked, handing the child a copy of The Sun. “Go over there and leave me be so I can think. You’re making my head hurt!”

  Eliza poured herself a large vodka and slugged it down in one. The sooner these formalities were done and dusted the better. Then she could get on with hiring a nanny to look after the bloody kid.

  She just had to remember to make sure the kid understood that if she didn’t want anything ‘horrible’ to happen to anyone she liked, including her poxy doll, then it was very important to tell that nice social worker of hers how much of a wonderful time she’d had at the house today. They hadn’t been here at all either. That was a definite no-no and something the kid needed to get into her thick skull.

  TINA HAD FELT A LITTLE bad when she’d made the first of the phone calls, but by the time she’d completed the third one she didn’t.

  It had been Jane Wright who’d answered the telephone on each occasion. She couldn’t tell how successful she’d been in her quest, but knew she’d at least hit a nerve. Especially with the last call.

  Tina took a gulp straight from the bottle of vodka she’d managed to nick earlier from Tesco and wiped the back of her hand across her mouth.

  “Who is this?” Jane had angrily demanded during the third call. Tina had ensured the first two had remained annoyingly silent.

  “Is your husband there?” Tina had asked. />
  “Who wants to know?”

  Tina had been able to imagine the irritation on Jane Wright’s face. She was one of those people who hated not being in full control of any given situation – that much was obvious.

  “If he’s not there again it may be worth finding out exactly where he is...” Tina had said mysteriously.

  Jane had not responded with any comment, purposely intending not to rise to the bait.

  Tina had been unperturbed. “Maybe you should ask if he knows where Lacey is....” Tina had said slyly, knowing Jane would not have divulged Lacey’s previous presence in their house to anyone. Neither was it common knowledge the girl had gone. Only thanks to Anna was anyone else privy to this inside information, therefore it was a prime subject to use. Eliza had been right. It would get Jane thinking.

  “Who?” Jane has asked after a slight hesitation.

  “Maybe then you’ll find out where your husband goes on his late nights...” Tina had said quickly before replacing the handset.

  She’d left the phone box content she’d done well. She hadn’t needed to say any more. It had been just enough to get that trumped-up snobby bitch’s mind ticking.

  TWENTY TWO

  JASON MILLER STUDIED the frown on Seth’s face as he stared in concentration at the numbers laid out on the desk in front of him and saw a nerve twitch sporadically in his neck. His eyes ran down over Seth’s crisp white shirt which he’d rolled up to the elbows showing his muscled forearms.

  His eyes became fixed on the thick gold wedding band on Seth’s left hand that was splayed over a sheet of paper. Jason frowned seeing bruising and a couple of small cuts on his other hand and he sighed quietly to himself.

  Last night Linda had made sure he’d listened to the latest speculation going around in her circles about Jane’s alleged abortion. Apart from the possibility of the child not being Seth’s, it had been hinted he was becoming fly with his fists on his wife too.