by Jacqui Rose
Getting to Jessie’s cell, Christine nodded to two of the women who stood outside and kept guard. She stomped inside as Franny caught up just in time to see a surprised Jessie looking at Christine with her eyes filled with fear.
Seeing the terror in Jessie, Christine grinned, chuckling as she spoke. ‘Howay, pet, why so nervous? You’re amongst friends here.’
‘I … I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all.’
Christine frowned. ‘Oh come on, you knew I’d be wanting what was mine.’
Jessie shook her head. The scars on her forehead and cheek were still red and angry from the last encounter she’d had with Christine and her voice trembled as she spoke. ‘I haven’t got it. I need more time.’
Plonking herself down on Jessie’s bed, Christine ran her hands up and down Jessie’s leg.
‘Well that’s the problem, pet, you haven’t got any more time. I think you’ve had more than enough, don’t you? Howay, you were supposed to give it to me a couple of weeks ago.’
Jessie, unable to look at Christine, just shrugged. ‘I’m sorry … I’m sorry.’
‘It’s too late for sorries, pet. The problem I have now, Jessie, is what are we going to do about it?’ Taking a razor out of her sock, Christine smiled before licking the tip of it. ‘Have you any ideas, Franny?’
Christine, who now had a drop of blood on her tongue, stared at Franny who was standing back watching.
Coolly, and not giving away any kind of emotion, Franny said, ‘I don’t even know what’s going on.’
Christine winked. ‘Well your friend here, she owes me money.’
Suddenly Franny remembered the piece of paper that had been stuffed inside Jessie’s mouth. ‘Oh, and shoving notes down her throat is the way to get your money, is it?’
Christine sniffed. ‘If that’s what it takes, then yeah. But unfortunately for Jessie she didn’t take the hint.’
Franny nodded, as she recalled the numbers that she’d seen written on the paper. ‘Not that it’s any of my business, but why exactly does Jessie owe you?’
Christine, still holding the razor, got up from the bed and walked over to Franny, her body wobbling with fat. ‘Does there have to be a reason?’
Franny frowned. She looked at Christine directly in the eye. Her voice was full of hostility.
‘I reckon most people need one.’
Christine spread her arms out, gesturing around her. ‘Have you not noticed where we are? In here, outside rules don’t count unless I say they do. And I say, fuck the rules, I’ll do what I like.’ She stopped and turned to look at Jessie. ‘So come on, I might as well ask you.’
Jessie felt the tension as her gaze darted from Christine to Franny then back to Christine. ‘Ask … ask me what?’
‘Ask you how you want to die.’
Immediately, Jessie scrambled up onto her knees, then bounded off the bed towards Franny, but before she got to her, one of Christine’s cronies grabbed her by the waist, holding her back. She started to beg. ‘Please, please, I swear my family are trying to get the money together for you. But it’s hard, trying to get five thousand together isn’t easy.’
Amused at the sheer terror in Jessie, Christine laughed. ‘Then they should’ve tried harder because from where I’m standing it’s clear they don’t give a shit about what happens to you.’
‘That’s not true! That’s not true!’
Christine turned her head to one side. ‘Feisty little one, aren’t we?’ And with that Christine head-butted Jessie. Blood sprayed the walls as Christine’s cronies, who’d been standing in the cell watching, began to beat down on Jessie, kicking and throwing punches as Jessie screamed in pain and terror.
As her scream sounded out, one of the women slammed her hand across Jessie’s mouth. Franny, not being able to stand by and watch, leapt forward to try to protect Jessie but as she did her hair was grabbed and her head flicked backwards as the women tried to stop her.
From outside the cell Christine’s other two followers piled in before more women on the landing, hearing the commotion, came running in.
Punches were thrown and Christine drew back her foot and kicked Franny hard in the ribs, causing her to fall forwards into a woman she hadn’t seen before. That woman turned around and pushed her onto the ground, where Christine launched another attack on her.
Scrambling up in the melee of women and with blood pouring from her head, Franny threw herself at two women punching Jessie.
‘Get off her! Get off her!’ she yelled as she pulled one of the women off Jessie, getting her in a headlock before throwing her hard against the wall. In the chaos and screaming, Franny charged at the other woman, throwing a hard uppercut punch to knock her sideward. Franny was vaguely aware of the wing alarm going off somewhere in the distance and as a tall Asian woman went to hit her, what seemed like a dozen officers came running into the tiny space.
Holding batons and riot shields the officers yelled and screamed instructions to the women, pushing them against the wall, forcing them to put their hands behind their backs as they fought to regain control.
As calmness descended on the cell, Officer Brown strolled in, staring at Franny and Christine and the rest of the women in total contempt. She looked around and spat out her words. ‘Why doesn’t this surprise me? Why doesn’t it surprise me that it’s always the same culprits, the same troublemakers? Lucas, it’s always you, isn’t it?’
Christine winked. ‘Well I wouldn’t want to disappoint you, miss, would I?’
Officer Brown’s face turned red as she yelled, ‘This isn’t funny! You’re animals the lot of you. Look at the state of all of you. You look like you’ve gone ten rounds with Tyson Fury. I’ve got a good mind to send you all down to seg.’ She then stopped to stare at Franny.
‘I’m shocked, Doyle, that you haven’t learnt yet: there’s only ever going to be one winner in this place and that’s me … And, Jess, I’m surprised and disappointed in you, but then this is what happens when you hang around with troublemakers.’
Lucas wolf-whistled. ‘I think Officer Brown’s got a crush on Jessie. She never calls us by our first name. Teacher’s pet!’
The other women roared with laughter as Brown scowled. ‘Shut it, Lucas, and the same can go for the rest of you.’
‘She didn’t do anything!’ Franny spoke up above the laughter.
Annoyed, Officer Brown strode towards Doyle. ‘I beg your pardon?’
‘Jess. She didn’t do anything.’
‘Oh, so now you’re speaking for her as well, are you?’
Franny sighed. ‘If I have to.’
For a moment Officer Brown fell silent before she said, ‘Come with me, Doyle … And you, Jess.’
Furiously Officer Brown marched out of the cell with Franny following and Jessie running to catch up a few feet behind her.
At the end of the corridor Officer Brown unlocked the corner cell. She gave Franny a cold stare. ‘As we’re short-staffed and we haven’t got time to play nursemaid, seeing as you like to babysit everyone so much, this can be your new cell.’
Franny glanced in and shook her head. ‘I don’t think so, and besides there’s only supposed to be two women to a cell.’
‘Then my suggestion is to snuggle up … Now get in there. I’ll see you on Monday morning … Enjoy.’ And with that, Officer Brown pushed Franny and Jessie inside, locking the door behind them and leaving them staring at Emma Balantyne who was shaking and vomiting in the corner of the cell.
35
Shannon stood in the pouring rain just a few feet from the front door of Vaughn’s block of flats. Her hands were trembling as she smoked the cigarette, inhaling deeply as she fought the desire to go and look for some drugs.
For the past couple of days she’d spent most of her time sleeping on the couch whilst her uncle had either been watching and masturbating to porn on her iPad or mauling her or demanding food.
Worse still, Vaughn was due back any minute and her uncle still hadn
’t gone, although he’d kept promising her that he would.
Her nerves were now so frazzled, the only thing she could think of was smoking some crack and forgetting everything. That’s all she wanted to do: to get high and forget.
Throwing the cigarette down on the ground, Shannon suddenly made up her mind, and taking a deep breath made her way across to Gerrard Street. After all, how much harm could one rock of crack do? But as she hurried along the street, she didn’t see Alfie beginning to follow her.
Gerrard Street in Chinatown was busy and milling with tourists, the restaurants buzzing with life as Shannon made her way down towards the basement of one of the Chinese restaurants. She could feel her heart racing as she looked around quickly. As she got to the bottom stair, she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket.
Pulling it out and seeing that the caller was Vaughn, Shannon sighed, not wanting to speak to him. But as it continued to ring she decided it was probably best to answer it. Trying to sound chirpy, Shannon spoke, her words tumbling out, ‘Hey, Vaughn, is everything okay? How’s Mia? How was your trip? What time are you back?’
‘I’m good, and Mia’s good, if you call crying most of the way back good. Remind me next time to take you with me. Anyway, I was just checking on you. I’ve just got back ten minutes ago. I knocked on your door and you weren’t there. Don’t worry, this time I haven’t kicked the door in!’ He laughed at his own joke as Shannon bristled, a cold sweat and apprehension pricking at her.
Unable to help her voice coming across as strained, Shannon said, ‘Sorry, I was just having a cigarette then I suddenly fancied a Maccy D’s. You want me to get you one?’
‘Thanks, but I like my stomach the way it is. Anyway, as long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters. I’m going to catch an early night. I’m exhausted … so I’ll see you tomorrow … Oh and, Shan, whilst I was away, it got me thinking and I realised that I don’t say this often enough, but I’m really proud of you. You know, the way you’ve turned your life around. You’re a superstar … Goodnight, babe.’
The call finished and the phone sat in Shannon’s hand like a burning piece of coal. The guilt rushed over her and she closed her eyes but as she did, an image of Charlie came into her mind. An image of his fat, naked body on top of hers. Gasping, she quickly opened her eyes and shivered.
She was never going to be free of Charlie, no matter what she did. And the truth was she couldn’t cope with it, she just couldn’t cope, and as much as she loved Vaughn – and she did – even the thought of him couldn’t make the misery of living with Charlie any easier.
She was afraid that he would never go until he’d either pushed her to the limits or Vaughn found out. Though at this point she feared it would probably be the former as her uncle seemed not only to be relishing tormenting her, but he was also comfortable in her room and no doubt he didn’t want Vaughn to find out either. He was on to too much of a good thing.
Her anxiety was through the roof and her nerves shot to pieces. The only thing that would take the edge off, that would make it easier was what was being sold at the basement of this restaurant. And with that thought, Shannon took a deep breath and knocked on the steel door.
The basement of the restaurant was filled with smoke and small tables were spread around with groups of men drinking and playing poker. The floor was sticky from spilt drinks that had never been wiped up and a group of young girls, who Shannon knew were prostitutes, sat on a broken-down couch waiting to be picked up by the various men in the room.
Pushing all thoughts of Vaughn and Mia out of her mind, Shannon squeezed her way through the room, feeling the heat of the place.
At the back there was a door, and taking a quick glance around, Shannon quickly knocked on it. A few seconds later she heard the bolts being unlocked before it was opened by a small, skinny man in his fifties.
As she stepped inside the room, she heard a familiar voice coming from the corner.
‘We haven’t seen you for a while. Couldn’t keep away?’
Shannon stared at Mr Huang and his men, who sat playing a game of poker with thousands of pounds sitting in front of them.
Fighting back the tears, Shannon said, ‘It ain’t like that.’
Huang smiled as he reached for a bag full of wrapped crack cocaine in front of him. ‘It never is … Your usual?’ Huang held out a piece of crack, which Shannon stared at.
‘What’s the matter? It’s not going to bite.’
Shannon snapped, ‘I know that, I’m just …’
Huang got up and walked slowly towards Shannon. ‘How’s your uncle? I haven’t seen him about either. He used to be a good customer of mine.’
Not wanting to think about Charlie and certainly not wanting to let Huang know anything about what was going on, Shannon shrugged. ‘I dunno, I don’t see him anymore.’
Huang smirked. ‘I suppose that’s not a bad thing; it just means that you don’t have to share this with anyone.’
He pushed the piece of crack he held in his hands at Shannon. Suddenly she began to cry and shook her head. She ran for the door but as she did, the small, skinny man grabbed her, spinning her around so she was facing Huang.
Huang’s voice was calm and velvety. ‘What’s the matter, Shannon?’
Streams of tears ran down her face as she suddenly realised what she was doing. She thought of Vaughn and how much he believed in her. ‘I don’t want it! I don’t want it! I shouldn’t have come here. I’ve made a mistake!’
‘But you did, Shannon. You did come here.’
‘Please, let me go home. I’ve changed my mind! I just want to go now.’
Huang cracked his knuckles before he walked over to her and stroked her face. ‘The thing is, Shannon, you can say you don’t want it, but the fact that you’ve come here in the first place speaks volumes. Perhaps you just need a little bit more encouragement.’
Huang nodded his head to one of his men who walked across to the side and picked up a glass pipe, dropping a small rock of crack in the end of the pipe. He lit it and begun to heat up the crack and holding it carefully in his hands, he walked across to Shannon as Huang said, ‘There you go, it’s all yours.’
Shannon shook her head, pursing her lips tightly closed.
Huang’s tone was cold and menacing. ‘Take some. I said take some.’ He pulled out a jagged knife from his pocket and placed it onto Shannon’s cheek. ‘Do I have to use this? Because I don’t like people coming here and wasting my time.’
With her eyes wide with fear, Shannon trembled and slowly, slowly she opened her mouth as Huang grinned. ‘That’s it. Now take it, taste it … You know you want it.’
And with no other choice, Shannon let Huang put the pipe on her lips and she inhaled the vapours from the crack. Her eyes rolled backwards and an inane grin spread across her face as she felt like she was floating. She heard Huang’s voice as she closed her eyes.
‘That’s it, Shannon – you see I knew you wanted it. And here’s a piece for later; that’s on the house. Enjoy …’
Then the next minute Shannon blacked out.
36
From the darkness Alfie watched two men carry out Shannon from the basement. He saw them dump her in a puddle of water at the corner of Wardour Street, where she lay in a haze on the dirty, rubbish-strewn pavement.
He ran over to her and crouched down, lifting her head up. Realising she was high on drugs, Alfie spoke quietly. All the suspicion towards her being wiped out by worry. ‘Shan, Shan? It’s me, Alfie. For fuck’s sake what have you done to yourself, darlin’? I thought you were off that shit? I know I’m not one to talk but it ain’t going to do you any good.’
Half opening her eyes, Shannon looked at Alfie, slurring her words as she said, ‘Hello, Alf, it’s good to see you.’
Alfie’s voice was filled with sadness. ‘It’s good to see you as well, darlin’, but I’d rather not see you in this state.’
Tears rolled down Shannon’s cheeks. ‘I’m sorry, I’m so sorr
y. I bet you hate me.’
He gave her a hug, smelling the sweet aroma of crack on her. ‘Of course I don’t hate you. Why would I? You’re a good girl, Shan, look at the way you are with … with Mia.’
Shannon gave a stoned smile. ‘You should give her a chance … You’d love her and you’d be a good daddy.’
Alfie bristled. ‘Yeah well we can talk about that another time. I’m more concerned about you.’
‘Everything would’ve been all right if it weren’t for that cow, Franny. I only did it because of her.’
‘Did what, Shan?’ Alfie said frowning.
Almost incoherently, Shannon muttered, ‘Vaughn told me not to tell you. He said you’d hate me and I don’t want you to hate me … I don’t want Vaughn to hate me either, cos I love him … I love him, Alfie, I’d do anything for him.’
Alfie raised his eyebrows not sure if it was the crack talking or it was what Shannon really felt. ‘No one will hate you; but, sweetheart, I don’t know what you’re talking about. What did Vaughn tell you not to say?’
‘About the statements we gave. He wanted me to do it, so I lied. Alfie, I lied. I said Franny had done it, I said she’d killed Bree. And I know that ain’t true.’
As Alfie watched Shannon fall into a drug-fuelled sleep, he pulled his phone out of his pocket, leaving a message for the caller. ‘It’s me, we need to talk.’
Putting his mobile back into his pocket, Alfie stared at Shannon as it began to rain again. It was true, he didn’t hate her. Not even close. She was just a kid who’d been used and abused by various people all through her life. No, the person he hated wasn’t her. It was Vaughn, and now he knew the truth, now he knew that Franny hadn’t been lying, he was going to take Vaughn down in a ball of flames.
At the same time as Alfie was trying to get some coffee down Shannon, Detective Balantyne sat by Claire’s bedside thinking about the Doyle case. The CPS had been putting pressure on him to come up with some more evidence, but there was no one about to start talking. In situations like this, everyone closed ranks. But he would get her. If it was the last thing he did, Doyle was going to rot in prison.