by Jacqui Rose
60
Shannon stared at Balantyne as he lay on the bed in his room. Occasionally he let out a grunt and his eyes kept flickering open, but his breathing was heavy and she could see he was well and truly out of it.
Letting out a sigh and loathing every moment, Shannon began to undress him with shaking hands; first taking off his shirt, then his trousers before finally she took off his pants.
She shuddered at his nakedness and in the cream and peach bedroom she walked over to the dressing table, which was opposite, and placed her phone on the side, pointing it at the bed as she set up the self-timer camera.
Slowly and hating Franny and hating Charlie and hating herself and hating having to do it, Shannon unbuttoned her top and began undressing herself out of the camera’s viewpoint. Then, closing her eyes for a moment, she let out another long sigh and walked across and got up on the bed.
Following Franny’s instructions she bent down and kissed Balantyne on his lips, making it look real, making it look like Balantyne was participating in the whole affair, getting the photos that Franny had told her to.
And as Shannon continued to do what Franny had told her to, she turned her face from the camera, not wanting it to capture her tears.
The early morning sun was just beginning to rise and Franny lay on her bed staring at the photos that had just beeped in on her phone. ‘Hey, wake up, sleepy head … look at this.’
Yawning and seeing Jessie gently snoring on the top bunk, Emma got up and walked across to where Franny was lying.
Getting on the bed to lie next to Franny, Emma stared at the phone screen at the photographs. ‘Oh my God, you’re a genius.’
Franny turned her head to look at Emma and nodded. ‘They’re pretty good, aren’t they? Really clear. It looks real; you’d think they were a proper couple. And when he wakes up, he won’t even know it happened. The Rohypnol will wipe away his memory and he won’t remember a thing. He might not even recall Shannon arranging to meet him, so he’ll get a shock when they see these photos. The shit will hit the fan. He won’t be able to wriggle out of it … There’s no escaping from the fact that that’s Detective Balantyne’s dick!’
Emma burst into laughter, but then her face became serious. ‘I hate him and he had this coming – I want to see him punished – but I’m worried about Shannon. Will she be all right? I mean, they’re pretty explicit, aren’t they, and well my husband is hardly a catch for a young girl.’
Franny’s tone hardened. ‘She’ll be fine. It’s what she does, and let’s face it, I ain’t going to start feeling sorry for her seeing it was her who put me in here in the first place, am I? She had a choice.’
Emma sounded doubtful. ‘Did she? From what you’ve told me about her, it doesn’t sound like she’s ever had one in her life.’
Franny shrugged, knowing that she couldn’t start being sentimental and not even sure if she was capable of it anymore in any case. ‘Don’t pity her too much, Em. She gets what she wants now.’
‘What’s that?’
Franny yawned. ‘Well, I ain’t going to say anything to Vaughn. Mia’s safe so I don’t need to mess with her life anymore. She’s done what I told her to, so she can do her happy ever after with him, for now anyway … For all I am, Em, I keep my word.’
Emma gave a small smile. ‘So what’s going to happen now?’
Franny let out a long sigh of relief and for the first time since being locked up, she allowed herself to have a bit of hope. ‘Now? Well I’m going to send these to my solicitor and hopefully I’ll be walking out of here pretty soon. Your husband sleeping with one of the people who gave evidence against me compromises the whole case. Once my solicitor gets these in front of the CPS, I’m bound to be able to get bail sooner rather than later, and more than likely the whole case will collapse.’
‘I’ll miss you.’
Franny lay on her side as she looked at Emma. ‘What do you mean?’
‘When you leave here. I know you said that we’re not friends, but you’re the nearest person to a friend I’ve had in a long time.’
Suddenly embarrassed, Franny smiled. ‘Thank you, Em, and you know I couldn’t have done this without your help. Not like this anyway. And I’m sure that it won’t be too long before you get out. These photos will help you too.’
‘I doubt it, Fran. It won’t change the fact that he says it was me driving.’ She fell silent as she watched Franny ping the photos through to her solicitor.
‘Is that it then? Is it all done?’
Surprising herself, Franny placed a gentle kiss on Emma’s lips, and then she shook her head. ‘Oh no, Em, it’s only just begun.’
61
Exhausted, Shannon made her way into Vaughn’s flat. She was tired and worried because it was only a matter of time before Balantyne realised what she’d done. She knew the Rohypnol would stop him remembering anything but – although she wasn’t sure how Franny was going to use the photographs – she knew that he would see them eventually. And when he did, she was scared what he might do.
And if Vaughn saw them, which she knew in her heart he would, she was afraid that he might think that she didn’t care about him anymore and that she was just some cheap tart. But perhaps, if she stuck to the story Franny had told her to – that Balantyne forced her, gave her no choice, took advantage of her – Vaughn wouldn’t think the worst of her.
And then there was her uncle to think of. She was sure that the smell of his body would be beginning to creep into the flat, and terrified and taking a deep breath, she opened the door but was surprised to be greeted by Vaughn.
Vaughn smiled at her; in truth he was relieved to see her after the other night. He’d felt bad and he’d talked over the situation with one of the women in the club, explaining about the feelings that Shannon had for him and how uncomfortable that had made him.
And boy, she’d put him straight. Told him that he was being an idiot, a fool, and that he should treat her with kindness, be himself and not try to push her away, because the last thing she needed in her life was somebody else rejecting her and being cruel.
‘Hey, Shan, how are you, baby?’
Shannon looked at Vaughn strangely. He’d been so cold with her the other night yet here he was smiling at her and being so friendly. It just made her feel worse about everything she’d done: about the crack, about Charlie, about Franny, about Balantyne. Before she could say anything, she burst into tears.
‘Oh fuck, Shan, come here, darlin’. I’ve been a right wanker, ain’t I? Will you ever forgive me? Shan, I’m so sorry.’
Crying hysterically, Shannon sobbed as Vaughn held her in a tight embrace. ‘I hate my life, I hate it.’
‘Oh Jesus, don’t say that, girl. I can’t bear it. I’ve let you down, ain’t I?’
Shannon shook her head. ‘It’s me who’s let you down. If only you knew.’
‘Knew what, baby?’
Again, Shannon just shook her head. ‘I wish I could say.’
Vaughn pulled away from Shannon and gently lifted her head up towards him. Gazing at her now he was shocked to see how terrible she looked. Maybe she was feeling guilty over the money she’d taken. Not that he gave a damn about that anymore – all that mattered was that she was safe and cared for, something he didn’t think he was doing very well of late.
‘Whatever it is, you can tell me. But there ain’t any rush … Anyway, I had an idea when you were out. How about you and I get away for a bit? Go on a little holiday. There’s a lovely hotel in Scotland I know; top notch, it’s up by Loch Ness. Who knows, maybe we’ll spot a monster. What do you say?’
Shannon was not sure what to say because she never could’ve imagined that she’d ever have a moment in her life like this. She never could’ve imagined that she would go on holiday, let alone have anyone ask her, let alone it be the person she loved. And then she smiled, a huge wide smile, displaying the few teeth that Charlie hadn’t knocked out or the crack hadn’t caused to drop out.
Vaughn laughed, delighted at the happiness in her face. ‘I take that as a yes then. So go on, pack your bags, get all your gear together.’
Shannon’s face dropped. ‘I have to pack a bag?’
Vaughn looked at her oddly. ‘Yes, you’ve got to take some clothes. Shan, what’s wrong?’
‘I just don’t think I need any.’
Vaughn frowned. ‘Shan, everyone needs a change of clothes. I don’t understand. Do you want me to help you pack, is that it?’
Shannon walked down the hallway and turned and stared at her bedroom door. She began to shake. Fear rushed through her body. She didn’t want to go in there. She couldn’t go in there. She couldn’t go and see Charlie lying there, rotting, smelling, decomposing. She’d tried to push it out of her head; she’d tried to pretend to herself it hadn’t happened. That’s why she’d hit the crack so hard, but who was she kidding? Everything was falling apart.
‘Do you not want to go? You don’t have to. If you’d rather stay here, we can go on holiday another time.’
Shannon shook her head. Her voice was breathless. ‘No, no I want to go … I’m just so shocked you’d do this for me. Sorry … Of course, I need clothes.’
Vaughn grinned. ‘Well go on then, go and pack! Oh and, Shan, we’re only going for a week so you don’t have to pack the kitchen sink. I know what you girls are like!’
And at that point Vaughn walked to his bedroom, leaving Shannon to walk down the hallway to her room.
At the door, she pulled out the key, which she always kept in the back of her mobile phone case. Shaking she put it into the lock and slowly, slowly, she opened the door and, trembling so much her legs were weak, Shannon took a deep breath, preparing herself for what she was going to find.
As she stepped inside her room, she was surprised that the smell of Charlie’s body hadn’t hit her yet, but even more surprised to find his body not there.
She stared, puzzled, afraid, and she tiptoed forward. Suddenly she felt a hand slamming over her mouth. ‘Boo! Hello, Shannon, have you missed me?’
She screamed but no noise came out as Charlie held her mouth shut. He cackled, biting at her ear and whispering, ‘Oh yeah, you thought I was dead didn’t you? Well, hate to disappoint you because I’m still here. Now I’m going to take my hand off your mouth and if you want to scream, go ahead, but then Vaughn’s going to hear you and it’s over.’
As Charlie released his hand, Shannon, hurt and shocked, shook her head. Her eyes were wide open in pain. ‘How could you do this to me? How could you do this, Uncle Charlie? Why do you hate me so much, what did I ever do to you? You’re sick. I was so scared. I thought I’d killed you, and now I wish I had! I wish you were dead.’
He grabbed hold of her hair, yanking it as hard as he could and pulling her towards the bed, throwing her on it. ‘You really thought you could get away from me, didn’t you?’
She moved up the bed away from him. ‘Please don’t do this! Please!’
Charlie’s eyes darkened. ‘Then scream, bitch. Go on, scream – I dare you!’
Shannon looked at the door and then opened her mouth but nothing came out and Charlie laughed, climbing up on the bed towards her. He pushed her down, ripping off her clothes. ‘You can’t do it, can you, Shan? You can’t even call for help, and you know why? It’s because you want me really, don’t you? This is what you want.’
Being crushed by Charlie’s weight Shannon shook her head as Charlie’s face nuzzled into her neck. ‘I don’t want it! I hate you, I hate you!’
He ripped off her knickers and threw them to the side, and she lay naked underneath his own naked body. ‘This is all you’re good for, Shan, you know that? Come on, give me a kiss.’
But before Shannon could say another word she heard a loud banging on the front door. ‘Open up! Police! Open up!’
The next thing she heard was the front door being kicked open.
62
The police charged along the corridor, running into every room, knocking Vaughn out of the way, racing into his bedroom and kitchen and lounge as they tore up the apartment, searching.
Stunned, Vaughn yelled at the top of his voice. ‘What the fuck are you doing?’
A tall officer raced into the flat, flashing the search warrant at Vaughn as he stormed past him. ‘We’ve had information that there’s an illegal weapon in the house, as well as items that are linked to a crime.’
As Vaughn went to speak to him, dozens more police started searching the flat, and Vaughn watched on as two officers with dogs suddenly smashed down Shannon’s door. They froze, and, unsure what they were looking at, Vaughn ran along the hallway to see for himself.
Horrified, he stared in disgust at the sight in front of him. Charlie and Shannon naked in bed together. He could hardly get out the words. ‘What the fuck is going on?’
With Charlie getting off her, Shannon was able to scramble off the bed. ‘I can explain, I can explain. Please let me explain.’
As the police officers stood back, Vaughn stepped into the room. He stared at her. ‘Put some fucking clothes on.’
Grabbing a pair of jeans and top from the floor, Shannon pulled them on as her words tumbled out. ‘It’s not what it looks like. It’s not. It’s not.’
With his face twisted, Vaughn snarled, ‘What it looks like is you’re fucking your uncle in my bedroom, in my flat!’
With a smirk on his face, Charlie shrugged. ‘He’s got a point, Shan.’
Vaughn charged at Charlie, pushing him back, knocking him over. ‘If it wasn’t for the fact there’s a dozen or more coppers next door I’d kill you. Now get the fuck out of my house and if I do ever see you again, I will kill you … And that goes for you too, Shannon, get the fuck out!’
Vaughn screamed his words as Shannon ran up to Vaughn clinging on to him. ‘Please, please don’t do this, I wanted to tell you, I swear I did.’
‘Tell me what, Shan? That you two have been shacked up right underneath my nose? It all makes sense now. It all fucking makes sense. That’s why you wanted the door shut wasn’t it? And like a mug I believed it was because you wanted your privacy, when all you really wanted to do was fuck your uncle. Get out! Get out before I do you some damage.’
As Vaughn raged, Charlie took advantage of the distraction and furtively picked up the bag of Bree’s items, slipping them through the slightly opened window down to the gardens below. He smiled to himself. Who knew when they may come in handy? Who knew when somebody or other might pay good money to get them back? And, pleased with himself, he smirked as he watched the tears stream down Shannon’s face as she pleaded with Vaughn.
‘Please, you’ve got to listen to me, I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought if I told you I’d lose you.’
‘Well you’ve done a good job of losing me on your own.’
Shannon held her head, putting her hands across her ears. She screamed, ‘Don’t say that, please don’t say that! He wouldn’t go, he wouldn’t go. I tried everything to make him go and he wouldn’t.’
Charlie chipped in. ‘She’s lying. She invited me to stay. She’s fed me, bathed me … pleasured me. It’s been like home from home.’
Vaughn, raging with anger and disgust, spun around to look at Shannon. ‘What is this, Shan? Is it fucking true?’
‘No, not really, I mean, no … I mean … He wouldn’t go and I had to look after him, I had to otherwise he said he’d tell you. He said he’d ruin everything. I had to look after him.’
‘NO, YOU DIDN’T!’ Vaughn’s bellow seemed to fill the whole room.
‘I was so scared of losing you. I was so scared you wouldn’t believe me.’
Watched by the officers still, Vaughn laughed scornfully. ‘Well you’re right about that – I don’t believe you … because you know what I think? I think that this was one sick game; you and him.’
Racked with sobs, Shannon shook her head furiously. ‘It wasn’t! It wasn’t.’
Before Vaughn could answer, Charlie, having finally put
some clothes on, headed for the door, chuckling to himself. ‘Well it was nice whilst it lasted. Thanks for the hospitality, Vaughn. I’ll make sure I give you a good review on Airbnb.’
Out of the sight of the officers, an enraged Vaughn pushed Charlie into the wall, twisting his arm behind his back. ‘Say one more word, Charlie, and I’m going to snap this arm out of your shoulder, do you understand?’
Knowing at this point, it wasn’t worth literally chancing his arm, Charlie nodded. Vaughn released him and he slunk out of the room, leaving Shannon and Vaughn alone.
‘Now you get out as well.’
Again, Shannon shook her head. ‘I can’t. I can’t leave you.’
‘Then let me help you.’ And with that Vaughn began to drag a screaming Shannon along the corridor, not caring that there was a roomful of police watching on.
He opened the front door to where Charlie was being detained and talking to a police officer. ‘Now get out. Go! Go on, Shannon, get out of my fucking sight.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘Out.’
‘I’m so sorry.’
‘I said out.’
‘I love you.’
He ran at her. A mixture of rage and disgust and hurt rushed through him. ‘You don’t know what love is! You’re sick; you’re twisted. Now go! I said go!’
Shannon dropped to her knees. ‘Please, please, please, don’t make me go, don’t! Please, you’re the only person I’ve ever loved … I lied for you, I lied for you and I did it because I loved you. Don’t you understand?’
Vaughn dragged her up from the floor. ‘No, I don’t understand. I don’t understand how you’ve done what you’ve done.’
‘I’ve got nowhere to go! I’ve got nowhere to go!’
A flicker of empathy ran through Vaughn’s eyes but it was soon replaced by more seething anger. ‘I don’t care, you hear me, Shannon? As long as I never see you again, I don’t fucking care.’
And with that, Vaughn grabbed her, throwing her into the corridor to join Charlie before slamming the front door in her face.