by Edie Baylis
She turned into a small street leading to a market place. Seeing a café that looked still to be open, she smiled. She’d just grab a quick drink. Her mouth was parched and she needed to rest her feet for a couple of minutes. Surely she was allowed a break?
She pushed open the door and gratefully flopped into an empty plastic chair. Ordering a diet coke, she glanced around the café. She smiled watching two women over the opposite side attempting to hold down a conversation in between having Playmobil figures shoved in their faces for the thousandth time that day.
Selena glanced at the girl sitting at the next table, noticing she was also looking at the two women and inwardly smiling in sympathy. As their eyes met, Selena smiled shyly. It would be so nice to have friends like a normal person her age, but of course that was impossible.
“Rather them than me....” the girl muttered.
Selena grinned. “I agree! Have you just finished work?”
The girl smiled back. “Just about to start actually.” Seeing the confusion on the young girl’s face, she laughed. “I’m a cleaner. I start at half five.”
“Have you been doing that long?”
“A few months. I quite like it actually. It’s at the book shop down the road. Hadley’s. Do you know it?”
Selena shook her head. “No I don’t.” Remembering she had to maintain a story when talking to others she got her brain in gear, swallowing down the resentment that she could never be herself. “I’m not from around here. I’ve been to visit my cousin.” She nodded her thanks as the waitress deposited her drink on the table.
“I’m Jennie by the way,” the girl said.
Selena smiled. “I’m Jill,” she lied. “My cousin’s friend has gone missing. She fell out with her folks and took off a couple of weeks ago. No one’s seen her since.” She bit her lip in fake concern. “Her mother’s going crazy. It’s a nightmare.”
Jennie raised her hand to her mouth. “What’s she going to do?”
“I have no idea. Hey, I don’t suppose you’ve seen her have you?” Selena said. It was a long shot but worth a try....
Jennie smiled. “I doubt it. I don’t see or know many people.”
Selena fished out the photograph of Lacey from her handbag. “The least I can do is ask. My cousin’s going spare worrying about her.”
Jennie took the photograph and glanced at it. Was that Lacey? The girl in the picture had different hair and was wearing heavy blue eye makeup, but still looked very similar. “Oh my God! I think I do know her!”
“You do?” Selena nearly choked in surprise. “Where is she?”
“What’s this girl’s name?” Jennie asked flabbergasted.
“Her name’s Lacey, but she could be calling herself something else being as she took off. She’s supposed to be starting a scholarship at that sixth form college – you know – Sacred Hearts – in a few weeks and now she’s throwing it all away over a silly argument.”
Jennie stared. Sacred Hearts? That was the very expensive private college and the fees there were extortionate. So Lacey wasn’t who she made out herself to be? She’d thought she’d been vague when they’d shared their histories. That was because Lacey’s had all been lies.
Jennie felt winded with hurt and humiliation. How stupid she’d been. She’d been brutally honest about the shit life she’d had, whilst Lacey had been pretending she’d had a tough time when really she’d had a privileged upbringing. And she’d taken up a place at the hostel, the selfish bitch?
Anger radiated from Jennie. “Yes, I know her. Well, I don’t know her much at all,” she snapped. That was quite obvious. “She works in the shop where I clean.”
“Do you know where she lives?” Selena asked hurriedly.
Jennie got up from the table, not in the mood to answer further questions. The sense of betrayal she felt towards the girl she’d begun to think of as a good friend was painful. “I need to go. I’m going to be late.”
“But can you ju...”
“Look, I don’t know anything else alright?” Without looking back, Jennie quickly left the café.
JANE HAD PICKED UP everything she’d needed from the shops so began making her way back to the car, stopping momentarily to buy a newspaper. Standing in the shop she quickly flicked through the pages, pleased to see the photographs she and Seth had posed for taking prominent positions.
They were quite nice. She ran her finger along Seth’s jaw in the image as she scrutinised the pictures. It had been her idea. She’d felt it would be beneficial for Seth if together they publicly laid the speculation about their marriage being in crisis to rest and quashed the domestic violence rumours by posing for a series of pictures.
The photographer had been exceptionally good, capturing exactly what she’d been hoping to convey. One of the pictures showed them relaxing on the sofa: Seth was reclining back with one arm around her laughing and she had her feet up on his lap, staring at him adoringly.
On another, he was standing behind her in the garden, his shirt open at the neck and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His lips were on her neck and his hands caressed her shoulders.
The article had simply stated: ‘It’s plain to see there is nothing whatsoever amiss in the Wright’s marriage’.
Jane smiled. For once the press had done something worthwhile. She hurried along the road, eager to get home so they could get on the road. It would be a long drive.
Passing the large front window of an up-market coffee house Jane saw Jason and Linda Miller sitting at a table. She paused. They were deep in conversation. Probably discussing how they could turn Seth over again...
Anger bubbling, Jane yanked open the door and ignoring the waiter poised to seat newcomers, pushed past leaving him staring after her in confusion.
She strode unhesitatingly through the zig-zag of tables, well aware most eyes were on her. Without a second’s hesitation she walked straight to the Miller’s table and slammed her bag in the centre of it. “I can’t begin to tell you how disappointed I am in you,” she hissed.
Seeing the shock flood Jason’s face, Jane knew she’d caught him off guard. “I find it difficult to understand why you’d believe ludicrous bullshit rumours contrived by sad, jealous bitches over what you know personally to be fact Jason.” Jane shot Linda a pointed look, noticing the woman was unable to raise her eyes from the floor, like it held the embodiment of Christ.
Jason turned a deep shade of red, sensing everyone in the coffee shop was looking at them. Half of them, if not all could hear too. “Jane... this isn’t the time or the place...”
Jane laughed loudly and placed her hands on her hips. “Everywhere is an inappropriate time and place where you’re concerned being as you lack the bollocks to say anything to the people your actions affect! You’d rather send messages through the grapevine.” She glared at Linda again. “I’m surprised being as you usually have no problem with discussing people’s business regardless of whether it’s right or wrong.”
“It was nothing personal. I had to make a decision based on th...”
“You had to make a decision?” Jane interrupted Jason. “How dare you disrespect my husband! By glibly jacking off your association is as good as publicly announcing he’s guilty!”
Jason frowned. “I said nothing of the sort!”
“As good as, Jason. As good as.” Jane interjected, prodding Linda hard in the shoulder. “As for you....”
“Jane,” Linda began in her nasally put on upper-class voice. “You’re blowing this out of proportion bec...”
“Blowing it out of proportion?” Jane shouted. “It’s acceptable to fabricate stories that destroy people is it?” She leant down level with Linda’s ear and lowered her voice. “I strongly suggest you keep your plastic fucking mouth shut and never take it upon yourself to speak shite about my family again.”
Jane enjoyed watching Linda pale with every word she uttered. “I’d quite happily slap those fucking lies from your head if it wasn’t so crowded in he
re, but if I hear one more piece of vicious shit from you,” she turned to Jason, “or you, then rest assured I will!”
She grabbed her bag from the table and turned away from Linda, glad that she could see the woman’s hands shaking. “As far as I’m concerned Jason, any friendship we’ve ever had is done. No one disrespects me, my husband or my family. Do you understand?”
Without waiting for an answer, Jane turned and walked straight out of the coffee house, turning on her flashbulb-worthy smile for the benefit of the host of spectators as she left.
TWENTY EIGHT
JANE KNEW SETH WAS scrutinising her from his position in the hotel bedroom. She could feel his eyes burning into her without even looking. She still wasn’t comfortable with what had been going on.
When he’d come in the other night still drunk, her first instinct had been to start screaming and throw him out and it had got even worse when he’d started suggesting her paranoia was because of Grace.
Paranoia? She wasn’t imagining the things that had been happening. He was trying to make out she was crazy!
Jane frowned. Whether she liked it or not it she had to agree that a vendetta over the clubs wouldn’t include the sorts of things she’d had happen, but why had no one else witnessed what she’d experienced? It was all too confusing.
Jane accepted Seth hadn’t been playing away. She’d already felt bad she’d been gullible enough to believe the bullshit that caller had spouted.
Seth had promised he’d get to the bottom of what was going on, but first he’d wanted to take her away. They were going to go and see Grace.
In the car on the long drive down Jane knew Seth had been trying to get her to open up, but she’d been locked inside herself. The elation about seeing her daughter again had been replaced with anxiety. How would she keep herself at a distance when she got the proof she was expecting: that her daughter was unhappy and mistreated? How was she expected to walk away at the end? How would she cope with any of it?
The answer was that she couldn’t. Although Seth had made her promise they wouldn’t approach the girl and needed to do things properly, she wasn’t looking forward to seeing first-hand what horrors her daughter had been exposed to because of them. It would rip her right to the core and she knew it.
Seth watched the expressions passing across Jane’s face in the mirror’s reflection and knew her mind was working overtime. He stared transfixed as Jane eased her loose silky light-blue top over her head. Standing with her back to him, she brushed her long raven hair in the mirror, the matching pale blue bra and knickers setting off her light tan perfectly.
His eyes roamed over her breasts spilling from the silken and lace cups of the bra to the remains of the still visible bruise on her upper arm and another pang of guilt for inadvertently hurting her flooded him.
Trying to distract himself from the erection throbbing mercilessly as he stared at the women he loved so dearly, Seth looked around the room. The hotel he’d booked last minute was very nice indeed with its four-poster bed and sumptuous linen. It had been a long drive to get down to St Ives, but it was something they needed to do – Jane especially. At least she now believed he hadn’t slept with Lacey. The rest he could deal with, but for now, being here and doing what Jane needed was his priority.
Seth’s eyes moved back to his wife. She was the most gorgeous creature on the planet. Unable to help himself he wrapped his hand around his length, desperate to feel some release. “Come here...” he groaned.
Jane turned from the mirror and smiled mischievously.
“Hurry up woman!” Seth growled and kneeled up, his erection proud. “Have you not seen this? Can you not see what you do to me?”
He’d wanted her from the second he’d seen her. Always had and always would. That she could believe he’d ever want anyone other than her physically hurt. There was absolutely nothing to dilute the overwhelming love, lust and utter want he had for this woman. Grabbing Jane’s hand he pulled her onto the bed and peeled off her knickers.
“Seth,” Jane moaned, the physical need for her husband betrayed the anger and hurt of the past few days.
Seth pulled Jane to the edge of the bed. “Now, you stay right there,” he instructed, dropping to the floor. Quickly delving his tongue into her, he probed and sucked, pleased to hear her moan with pleasure.
Jane began pushing herself against Seth’s mouth and groaning, steadily moved her hips.
Seth lapped and sucked, his tongue dancing rhythmically on Jane’s clitoris. He wanted to be inside her. He’d live inside her if it were possible. He increased his speed – loving her taste, loving the way she felt on his tongue and she pulled at his hair, her breathing coming in short, gasping pants.
Bucking her hips, Jane came hard, the waves of her rushing climax consuming her. Whilst she was still contracting with the after throes of orgasm, Seth pulled her closer to the edge of the bed and pushed his fingers into her, making swirling thrusting movements whilst his other hand ran steadily down his rock-hard cock.
Seth watched Jane writhe below him, her eyes half-closed and unable to hold out any longer, entered her. Feeling the effect of her velvety wetness as he pushed into her easily yielding flesh, he moaned as he filled her. Groaning with need, he thrust deep.
“I’m going to come again!” Jane cried, feeling another orgasm rapidly approach.
“Come babe,” Seth growled, feeling her tightening around his cock. “I love you Jane and I’ll make you come hard all night.”
Jane abandoned herself to the crescendo of sensations for the second time. There was nothing she could do about all of the ‘what ifs’ of the coming day, so there was little point in worrying about it.
She’d worry about it tomorrow.
TINA TRIED HER BEST to concentrate on what Aiden was talking about, but she was rattling for a hit and wondered when it might be good timing to slip into the conversation about more credit. She tried to stop her teeth from grinding, but knew they would, regardless of what she wanted and in the heavy silence of the small room she hoped he couldn’t hear it.
She was getting more and more pissed off. Eliza still hadn’t delivered on the deal she’d promised in return for information because there was still no Lacey.
It was all really unfair. Without her, Eliza would have jack shit and wouldn’t have been able to achieve half of what she’d managed to pull off so far. To top it all, she’d got that desperate for cash yesterday she’d forced herself to pay her mother another visit to see if she could cadge a loan.
Again, all the old witch had been interested in was asking about Anna. Christ, at this rate the chances of her paying off her debt was disappearing quicker than piss in a festival toilet.
“Well? What do you think?” Aiden said, abruptly jolting Tina from her thoughts.
“Sorry. I was just thinking about something,” Tina muttered quickly.
“I hope it was useful as I haven’t got all day!” Aiden snapped. He wasn’t in the best of moods. Against his better judgement he’d had to service Eliza again this morning and it had been an extremely close call. Only moments after he’d done his flies back up had Digger lumbered into the office. Eliza might not be getting as much attention as she needed from the man, but Aiden valued his prize jewels, which would not remain attached if that man got wind of what was going on.
Aiden had been able to tell by the expression on Eliza’s heavily made-up face that she found this ‘sailing close to the wind’ game they’d been playing lately exciting, but he didn’t. Wasn’t it bad enough that he’d got a call from Anna last night and he’d been less than happy over what he’d learnt. Now this drug-addled bitch Tina was giving him the run around – staring off into space like a fucking zombie. He didn’t have time for this crap.
“What was the question again?” Tina mumbled.
Aiden sighed and slammed his fist down on the desk. “For fuck’s sake! I’ve already told you your fucking sister was questioned and all but threatened by Seth-fucking-Wr
ight. He’d heard she’s got some kind of ‘boyfriend’...” He wiped droplets of spittle that had sprayed from his mouth in rage off his chin. “Everything and I mean everything will go tits up if he puts two and two together. Namely I’ll be fucking DEAD!”
Tina forced herself to recall what he’d said previously. “So she told him you’d been to the house?”
Aiden ran his fingers through his blond hair. “Well not exactly. She told him I’d walked her home. Said I was a friend... Thankfully she had the sense to deny I’d been inside, thank God!”
“Holy shit!” Tina cried. This was all they needed.
“He asked for my name, but Anna gave him a false one,” Aiden added. He’d nearly had a coronary until Anna swore down she hadn’t given Seth Wright his name. It wouldn’t have taken long to be found if that had been the case.
Tina frowned. “I’m surprised Anna had the nous to do that. She doesn’t know you’re involved in any of this does she?”
Aiden shook his head. “Of course not. Do you think I’m stupid? The only reason Anna didn’t shop me was to save her own neck,” he spat. “Boyfriends or visitors aren’t allowed and she doesn’t want her lies discovered.”
“Sounds like she’s finally learning something!” Tina laughed, attempting to joke.
“It was done purely from panic,” Aiden scoffed. “Your sister’s a fucking liability Tina. The only things she knows about is what you’re doing – again all lies, but it won’t be long before she realises you’re involved with me. She’s the sort who’ll start flapping her gums. Can we not bin her off before it’s too late?”
“No!” Tina wailed. “It’s the only way I can get the info so Eliza will pay me. You want your fucking money for my debt don’t you? Without Anna I’d be fucked! And your involvement with her gets you brownie points so what’s the problem? Besides she believes what I’ve been telling her. She won’t risk losing her job or upsetting our mother.”