by Edie Baylis
“You’d never be able to afford me anyhow!” Tina spat, wishing he’d just take his pig ugly face and launch himself in front of the next train.
Having Toby to look after was a nice change. She’d utterly surprised herself with how much she’d enjoyed it. She’d never once had the urge to become a mother, which was probably a good job, but it was a pleasant distraction from the constant cravings and need for a fix that was getting stronger every hour.
She’d managed to eke out what little heroin she had left, but the rations she’d been forced to limit herself to just weren’t touching the sides and she wasn’t sure what she was going to do about it.
She could hardly get any more from Aiden, although in some respects that was a blessing in disguise. Now that he was out of the picture, with any luck that meant so was her humongous debt. This was good because now she wasn’t getting that insurance pay out she had no means to clear it. Ever.
The downside was she had no one on tap to get a fix from and no money to go elsewhere for it either. Regardless of her lack of gear, Tina hoped beyond anything that Aiden would not be returning. From what she’d gathered, it was unlikely that Tina or Digger would trust him to have anything to do with the place again, so she didn’t think she had too much to worry about.
She smiled down at Toby’s chubby little face as he slurped down the last of his bottle. Selena had only bought a small packet of formula powder earlier being as she had to get nappies and some other items too, so he’d need some more before long.
Tina looked at Eliza half-watching a soap on the television whilst painting her nails a garish orange colour. “Eliza, what’s the plan with Toby?”
Eliza looked up, an irritated expression plastered across her face. “That his name is it? Toby?” she sneered. “I don’t know what the plan is - I haven’t thought that far ahead. All I know is we’ll be taking care of him for a least another week.”
Tina felt strangely happy about that. She’d enjoy looking after him for a bit longer. It was a nice change from all the crap she usually had to do around here.
“Why do you ask Tina? Broody are you?” Eliza laughed mockingly. Tina-bloody-Slater – Mother of the Year...
“No I’m not!” Tina said defensively. “I was just thinking he’s going to need some more formula tomorrow.”
“What the fuck’s that?” Eliza frowned.
“Baby milk powder!” Tina laughed.
“Don’t know why you’re laughing! How am I supposed to know?” Eliza snapped. The stupid cow. Taking the piss was she? “What does he need more for? We only got him some earlier. What’s the matter with him?”
“Nothing’s the matter with him! It’s only a tiny packet. They need more than that to last them,” Tina said, trying not to let a smirk appear on her face.
“For God’s sake!” Eliza huffed. This would cost her a fortune at this rate! “Selena can go back out tomorrow for some more then. A different shop though. We don’t want anyone asking questions.”
Tina nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”
Eliza huffed and resumed painting her nails. She glanced at Steve Lomond. She wouldn’t even bother saying anything to that turd. He was the one who’d caused most of this mess in the first place.
At least Digger would be back soon. She’d sent him to check on Aiden and make sure he hadn’t done a runner. In a perfect world it would have made more sense to have got rid of him rather than risk him dropping them in it, but as usual, everything was bad timing.
Eliza glanced back at the television just as the local news interrupted her program. Her ears pricked up hearing Lacey’s name and a wide smile spread across her face seeing the mugshot of Seth Wright appear on the screen. Bingo!
A comfortable warm glow emanated around Eliza’s insides as the newsreader spoke:
‘...a local businessman has today been arrested on the suspicion of the murder and rape of local teenager Lacey Garner. The Police aren’t looking for anyone else in relation to this incident at this present time...’
Eliza blew hard on her bright orange nails to help dry the varnish. Things were taking an upturn. This was good. Everything was getting nicely back on track.
FIFTY ONE
ANNA’S STOMACH LURCHED into her mouth when the sound of smashing glass shattered the silence. Jumping to her feet, she threw herself underneath the sideboard at the far end of the lounge, quickly shuffling into the furthest corner near the wall to keep out of obvious view.
It was pointless on the big scale of things, but she had to attempt something. If whoever had smashed the window was an opportunistic burglar, then it was highly likely she wouldn’t be spotted, but if on the other hand it wasn’t, then she knew the house would be turned over with a fine-toothed comb.
Anna’s heart was beating so loudly she was convinced it must be audible. She willed herself to stop shaking before the vibrations dislodged the ornaments placed on the sideboard she was hiding beneath.
Her heart sank seeing two pairs of feet rush into the room, one of which donned black stilettoes. Jane...
“She’s in here,” Jane snarled, spotting Anna’s handbag on the coffee table. “Anna, you may as well come out. We know you’re here!” She walked across the room, her eyes scanning from left to right.
“I’ll check upstairs,” Jason Miller said, running up the hallway.
“ANNA!” Jane shouted. “You’re only making things worse for yourself.” Where was she? She was in here somewhere. She could smell the lies and guilt a mile off.
Spotting a tiny movement in the far corner of the room, Jane’s eyes swung around. She squatted down, clearly able to see someone under the sideboard with their face pressed against the wall in a ridiculous attempt of ‘head in the sand’ philosophy. Gotcha!
Without wasting any time, Jane grabbed Anna by the hair with both hands and roughly dragged her out into the room. “You fucking bitch!” Jane screamed, enjoying the pain on Anna’s face as her hair was half-yanked from her scalp.
Giving Anna a hefty backhander which knocked her flying, Jane jumped on top of her. Gripping her around the neck, it took all of her power not to choke the life out of the girl. She needed answers to questions first and foremost. “Where’s my son?” she roared.
Anna looked up with terrified eyes. “I-I haven’t got him. I swear I haven’t. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” she wailed.
“Fuck sorry!” Jane spat. “Sorry won’t help. Where is Toby?” She wanted to rip the girl’s eyeballs from their sockets. Wanted to knife her clean in the chest and rip her heart out with her bare hands. Maybe then she’d feel the pure agony she’d caused and know the damage she’d done.
“Talk to me!” Jane hissed through gritted teeth. “If you don’t tell me everything you know and I mean everything, then I swear to God I’ll kill you.”
Anna could barely bring herself to look into Jane’s dark eyes which seemed to have the power to stop things in their tracks. She knew she had to talk and talk now. It was the least she owed the woman after the grief she’d caused.
Tears of shame and fright poured down Anna’s cheeks. “I’m sorry Jane. I’m so sorry...”
Jane slapped Anna hard around the face once against, her knees pressing deep into Anna’s chest. “I don’t want to hear your pathetic grovelling apologies, you little bitch, I need you to tell me what you know. Now.”
Hearing the commotion, Jason Miller took the stairs from the top floor three at a time. Jane had located Anna by the sounds of it and he needed to get in there before she lost it like Seth had done, taking Anna out of the equation permanently before they’d got any information.
He rushed into the lounge only to see Jane holding a flick knife against Anna’s nose. “JANE!” he shouted, bolting forwards. “NO!”
Despite Jane’s resistance, he managed to pull her away and held her firmly by the shoulders. He stared into her manic eyes. “Jane you need to keep it together. We need to hear what she’s got to say for herself. Leave this to me.�
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“If she doesn’t tell me all now, then I swear I’m having her,” Jane spat, too wired to listen to reason.
Jason Miller turned to Anna who had not dared move from her prone position on the carpet. “Get up you stupid girl,” he said, watching as she hastily pushed herself up to her knees as best as she could with the arm that wasn’t broken.
He dragged her roughly up by her jacket and threw her unceremoniously onto an armchair. “Now talk!”
OH SURE, ANNA COULDN’T have been more contrite. She’d spewed out everything she’d done no holds barred and Jason Miller had listened to the endless accounts of how she had consistently betrayed Jane and Seth’s trust. He could only commend how Jane managed to keep her temper from exploding. Had it been him he wasn’t entirely sure he would honestly have been able to maintain such self-control.
However unpalatable it had been to listen to, it had at least explained a lot of what had occurred. And to think Anna had become embroiled in this purely because of her sister.
Aside from everything else, there were two crucial parts of which the girl had been unable to help with. She’d confirmed Aiden had taken Toby, but she didn’t know where to. Secondly she had no idea where he worked.
Jason had almost felt sorry for Anna when she’d been forced to recount how Aiden had enjoyed telling her he’d never cared for her. Even she had been cruelly set up and used to get information on the Wrights. She was clearly humiliated, but her pain didn’t touch the sides compared with the damage the stupid cow had caused Jane and Seth.
They may now have got confirmation as to who was part of this intricate vendetta, but they were still no clearer with where the base of this operation was, or where Toby had been taken. And thanks to Seth, the one person with that knowledge was no longer in the picture.
Jason wiped his sweaty brow. Time was undoubtedly of the essence and that was flying past far too quickly.
The way Jane had hovered in the background when he’d grilled Anna had left the girl with no doubt whatsoever that her previous employer was definitely in the frame of mind and certainly had both the ability, as well as the motive to kill her at any given time.
Knowing through experience how people tended to react in situations such as these left Jason with little doubt as to the girl’s sincerity, so he was confident the girl was telling the truth: she didn’t know where Toby was, or who Aiden had been working for. It was very difficult to stage the emotion she had exhibited, especially when shit-scared.
There was one piece of information though which could make a difference – at least in Seth’s present predicament. Anna had explained how she’d been tasked by her sister to lift both a blood-stained shirt of Seth’s, as well as his hair brush. She hadn’t been told what these were required for and she hadn’t questioned it.
The hair brush would explain how Seth’s hair had been found on Lacey Garner and also confirmed Aiden and whoever he’d been working for had been involved in snatching and killing the girl. It also therefore confirmed they were most likely part of the prostitution ring, so it looked like Jane’s theory was right.
But how they were going to find out where the base was as quickly as they needed, eluded him. He knew they had to be careful where they went from here. They had to get the information regarding the hair to the police, but also needed to make sure they were the ones to locate these Digger and Eliza people before the cops did.
The only bonus was Anna didn’t know these people’s names – whereas they did. If Anna genuinely didn’t know, then she couldn’t be tricked into divulging this information when questioned by the police.
SETH PACED UP AND DOWN in his cell. He hadn’t heard a word off anyone for hours and was starting to lose his rag. He’d had the allotted meeting with his brief who, based on the police evidence he had access to, hadn’t any tricks up his sleeve he could use to get Seth released on bail pending charges.
Seth ground his teeth. He’d kill for a whisky right now. Jesus! He’d been done up like a kipper and was livid.
Livid that Digger and that slag Eliza had the audacity to pull this off – and so bloody well to boot. He was also livid that it hadn’t crossed his mind before now that they could be the ones responsible. He’d hardly given them a second thought since he’d walked away two years ago.
He felt stupid. Stupid, humiliated and angry. Digger – his once best mate had betrayed him so many times, but Christ, to pull something off like this... Something this big and detailed took a whole lot of planning and attention to detail and it appeared they’d got all bases covered.
And to concentrate on his children? That was just beyond the pale! Anger rose once more. If he’d have heeded Jane’s advice and finished Digger before, then this wouldn’t have happened. He’d had more than enough reason to do it and he should have. He didn’t think he’d ever forgive himself for that.
Seth slammed his fist against the thick metal of the cell door and screamed with pent-up rage. He was locked up with – from what he’d gathered from the brief – very little chance of getting out any time soon, if at all whilst that two-faced bastard of an ex-friend and his slag of a wife went ahead and adopted his daughter from under his nose. They’d known what would hurt him the most and they’d bloody well succeeded. Furthermore by the looks of it, they also had his son.
Seth smashed his fist against the cell door once again, grateful for the pain it caused momentarily distracting him from his anguish.
Even on top of all that, he knew he’d have been plastered all over the news as being the only suspect in the murder and rape of a teenage! His reputation would be destroyed beyond measure.
In the meantime he was stuck in a poxy cell when he should be making sure this was rectified and getting his kids back. If any of this could have got any worse, he couldn’t guess at how that could be achieved.
Clenching his already blackening knuckles, he slammed his fist one, two, three, four times in quick succession back into the cell door in a flurry of red anger and scowled when a pair of eyes appeared through the slit of the cell door hatch.
“Oih!” shouted the police officer staring at him through the slit. “Keep it down in there Wright!”
“Why the fuck should I?” Seth raged, resisting the temptation of plunging his thumbs into the man’s eye sockets. “I haven’t done this and I need to get out of here!”
“Well I suggest you pipe down because your brief’s back and wants to see you.”
“What for?” Seth snapped. He’d already said he couldn’t get him out on bail because the hair was his, so what was the point of talking? If his brief couldn’t get him out so he could go and find his son and put a halt to the bastards adopting his daughter, then he might as well not bother.
“How should I know what for? I don’t give a rat’s arse personally, but there you go!” the officer quipped.
Seth scowled. Jumped up prick. Always clever with being fly with their gobs and brave with their stupid comments, but only when it was safe to do so. Like now, when he was safely caged the other side of a set of steel bars or a thick cell door. Fucking cowards.
Hearing the sound of the metal key turning in the cell door, Seth stood back against the far wall and glared at the brief as he was ushered into the cell before the door was quickly locked once more behind him.
“Well?” Seth barked. “What is it you’ve come to tell me?” If he’d just come to tell him he was being moved to prison on remand whilst awaiting trial, then he wouldn’t be happy.
“I’ve some good news,” the brief smiled.
FIFTY TWO
JANE SIGHED HEAVILY, her arms aching with the need to hold her son close, but they were still disturbingly empty. It had been two whole days since Anna had walked voluntarily into the police station, telling them she’d been responsible for passing Seth’s brush to her sister.
She’d said she believed this had been given to someone who her sister was in contact with who harboured a very strong vendetta against the Wrigh
ts.
It had taken Jane and Jason Miller several hours of instilling into Anna what she could and couldn’t say to the police without dropping them all in it or messing up their plans.
It had been a massive gamble. Anna wasn’t used to dealing with anything like this and her mental state was so frightfully fragile, it was a huge risk to hope she kept her nerve and didn’t get coerced into giving away incriminating information. They were trying to get Seth out, not dig him in for the foreseeable future.
At least Anna didn’t know anything about Digger and Eliza, nor where her sister worked, which although was not good from their side of things, it did mean she couldn’t let it slip to the cops. It was imperative that they got there before the cops did.
Anna had also been equally confused as to why she wasn’t to mention any hint of Toby being taken. It had taken ages to get her to see the reasoning behind it. Anna saw things in black and white and couldn’t understand how they didn’t want the cops to be involved with getting their son back. She was so green she struggled to grasp that giving them this information would only open a massive barrel of writhing worms.
They had to do it their way, otherwise everything was dead in the water.
The last person Jane would have chosen to be involved in something so complex would have been Anna – whose level of brushes with the law amounted to the road safety talk kids received from the local constabulary at school, but what choice did she have? Anna held the key to discredit and discount the DNA evidence they had on linking Seth to Lacey.
No, it was far from ideal and to make matters worse, the press were all but camped out on their doorstep, hounding for information and comments over Seth’s arrest. It was getting her down.
Finally nearly forty-eight hours after Anna had voluntarily walked into the police station it seemed, for now at least, that she’d done what they’d asked and Seth had been released.
Ok, so it wasn’t the best news. He hadn’t been officially cleared, but due to the new evidence which had come to light, it did mean he was granted bail pending investigation.