Family Betrayal (21 page)

‘No, she ain't to be touched.’

‘Unless you tell him, he ain't likely to find out. Come on, let's have a bit of fun.’

Pet screamed, trying to scramble away as the man grabbed her.

‘He probably wants a virgin, have you thought of that?’

‘Fuck, she stinks to high heaven.’

‘If you touch her, he'll kill you.’

‘Keep your hair on. With her stinking of piss I don't fancy her anyway. Shame, though; cleaned up she'd be a bit of all right.’

‘Yes, she is rather nice,’ a voice said.

Both men spun around, the man who had grabbed Pet holding up his hands as though in surrender. ‘We didn't touch her, honest.’

‘Yes, but from what I heard, it's thanks to Tony.’

Pet was still shaking as she looked at the third man to enter the room. He was short, tubby and
wearing a three-piece suit. Unlike the other two, his face wasn't covered, and, as he looked at her, his smile was kindly.

‘Are you all right, my dear?’

‘Please … I want to go home.’

‘Well, that's up to your brothers.’

‘My … my brothers?’

‘Don't look so surprised. Surely you know what your brothers have been up to?’

‘N-no.’

‘Really? Well, maybe I should put you in the picture.’ He laughed. ‘Oh, pardon the pun, but then again, looking at you, perhaps I
should
feature you in one of my films.’

Pet stared at the man. He didn't look menacing and he was talking about films, but what did that have to do with her brothers? ‘I … I don't understand. My family supply building materials. They don't make films.’

The man's demeanour changed, his voice a snarl. ‘Bring her upstairs.’

Before Pet could react she was dragged off the bed, each man taking an arm and pulling her towards a narrow wooden staircase. She was so afraid that her legs could barely support her.

Oh God, help me
.

She was hauled upstairs, barely taking in the opulent hall before she was dragged into another room.

‘Sit her down,’ the fat man said, ‘and then set up the projector.’

Pet was forced onto a plush sofa, cowering as the fat man sat next to her. ‘Now, my dear,’ he said, his demeanour once again benign, ‘the films that I'm going to show you were made by your brothers, and are the reason why you're here.’

‘Ready, boss.’

‘Good,’ he said, his voice once again hardening as he snapped, ‘Turn off the lights and roll it.’

The room was plunged into darkness and then almost immediately a film was showing on a screen in front of Pet. At first, confused, she couldn't understand what was happening, but then as it unfolded she watched it in horror. A woman was thrown onto a bed, her wrists tied to the posts. She struggled, screaming as a man began to do things to her that made the bile rise in Pet's throat. She didn't know much about the sex act, only what her friends had told her, but this – this was awful. He was raping her! Oh God, it was terrible! Unable to watch any more, she turned her head away.

The fat man tittered. ‘Don't worry, my dear, I'm sure they're only acting.’ His voice then changed as he snapped, ‘Run the next one.’

‘No…no…’ Pet whimpered as the film unfolded. This time it was a child being raped, the little girl crying out for her mother in terror. No – no, she couldn't watch it. ‘Oh, please, please, turn it off.’

‘Yes, I think that's enough, and anyway, my dear, I can't stand the smell of you for much longer.’

‘She pissed herself.’

‘Yes, Gary, I think that's obvious. Now then, Miss Draper, as I said, the films were made by your brothers.’

‘No … no, I don't believe you.’

‘Oh, I can assure you it's true. I've known about their operation for some time – in fact since they started production. It was fine when they stuck to making nice little soft-porn films – something that holds no interest for me – but, you see, they became greedy.’

Pet shook her head against his words. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't.

His voice droned on. ‘I tried to warn them off, but it seems that scarring your brother's cheek wasn't enough.’

‘You! You did that to Chris.’

‘Ah, I see I've got your attention at last. My, you are a pretty little thing,’ he mused. ‘It would be a shame if I had to hand you back, but then again, I don't really have to.’

Pet cringed in fear as his pudgy hand reached out to stroke her leg. He then snapped, ‘Tony, get her cleaned up and then for now, take her back to the basement.’

‘What do you want me to do, boss?’ the other man asked.

‘I haven't forgotten what I heard downstairs. Get out of my sight and I'll deal with you later.’

‘Come on, on your feet,’ she was ordered as the other man grabbed her arm.

‘Leave me alone.’

‘Ah, that's nice, Tony; she's got a bit of spunk. If the Drapers don't learn their lesson she'll make a nice little addition to my stars, and I've got just the film in mind.’

Pet was dragged out of the room and then upstairs to a bathroom.

‘Go on, get cleaned up.’

He made no move to leave, and arms folded defensively, Pet stammered, ‘Not … not till you go.’

‘All right, but don't try anything. I'll be back with some clean togs.’

As he left, Pet looked frantically around, but there wasn't a window, no means of escape. She sank down onto the cold tiles, sobbing.

Only minutes later the door opened and clothes were thrown onto the floor beside her.

‘Come on, get a move on, and then get those on.’

Pet was unable to stop the sobs that racked her body. She sank onto her side, curling into a ball.

The man crouched down beside her, his voice surprisingly soft. ‘Come on, your brothers ain't daft. As long as they play ball, you'll be out of here.’

As he reached out to touch her, Pet scrambled away.

There was a soft laugh. ‘Still the innocent, I see. Still just a kid.’

His words sparked a memory. Tony! It was Tony Thorn, the boy she had met at the youth club. With a spark of hope she sat up. ‘I … I know who you are. Please, Tony, please let me go.’

‘I can't. Garston would kill me.’

‘Oh, please, Tony … pleeease.’

‘Look, I've told you, as long as your brothers play ball, you'll be all right.’

‘But they don't make those horrible films.’

‘They do, and they were idiots to take on Garston. Now come on, have a quick wash and get dressed. If I don't get you back to the basement we could both be in trouble.’

Pet was unresisting as Tony hauled her up, but when he didn't leave she just stared at him.

He sighed with exasperation. ‘It ain't me you've got to worry about, but all right, I'll wait outside.’ As he went out of the door he hissed, ‘Get a move on.’

Pet washed. Though she hated the low-cut, tight black dress she'd been given, at least it was preferable to the smelly clothes she discarded. Her mind was racing. Despite refusing at first, surely she could persuade Tony to help her?

When Pet tried the handle she found that the door wasn't locked, but Tony was waiting outside. He urged her forward, down one flight of stairs, and then through a door that led to the basement.

‘Tony, please, you've got to help me.’

‘I've told you, I can't,’ Tony said as he pulled off his balaclava, adding ruefully, ‘Now that you've clocked me, wearing this is a waste of time.’

‘Tony, please, there's been some sort of awful mistake. That man must have got it wrong. My brothers wouldn't be mixed up in … in …’

‘Porn,’ Tony finished for her. ‘Garston's got eyes and ears everywhere and he doesn't make mistakes. As soon as there's a snifter of something, he hears about it. Take your brother Danny, for instance. As soon as he asked about getting hold of kids, Garston heard about it. Oh shit, you ain't gonna faint on me, are you? Look, sit down, bend over and take deep breaths.’

Her head swimming, Pet staggered to a chair. She had wanted to know what her brothers were involved in, expecting some sort of crime, but she had never in her wildest imaginings thought it would be as horrendous as this. Children – they used children to make those terrible films. It couldn't be true, it just couldn't.

‘Here, drink this,’ Tony urged, holding out a mug of water.

Pet gulped it down, and then at the sound of a door opening, Tony snatched up his balaclava, hastily pulling it on.

‘Is everything all right down here?’ Jack Garston asked as he appeared at the foot of the stairs.

‘Yes, Mr Garston. She's no trouble.’

‘I'm glad to hear it,’ he said, his smile soft as he turned to Pet. ‘Unfortunately, I won't be able to savour your lovely delights tonight, my dear. There's a problem at one of my clubs I have to deal with.’ He turned to Tony again, his manner instantly changing. ‘She should be in the back room. Put her in there and keep your hands to yourself. Do I make myself clear?’

‘Yes, Mr Garston.’

With a sickly leer, Garston focused on Pet again. ‘Good night, my dear, sleep well.’

Tony took Pet's arm, urging her to her feet as the man left. When it was all clear, he ripped off his mask again. ‘At least you're safe for tonight. You'd better try to get some sleep.’

‘Safe! What … what do you mean?’

‘It's best you don't know.’

Garston's words spun in her mind. He wanted to savour her delights. The images she had seen on the film flashed into her mind. Oh, no, surely he wasn't going to rape her! ‘Tony, I'm begging you. Don't let him touch me. Please … let me go.’

‘There's nothing I can do. Garston is a nasty piece of work, as nasty as they come. You cross him at your cost, as your brothers have found out. I can't let you go, Pet. I've told you. He'd kill me.’

‘Why do you work for him?’

‘'Cos I was a mug and didn't know what I was getting into. I only started out as a bouncer at one of
his clubs, but then he started giving me other work to do and you don't say no to Jack Garston. Take tonight, for instance. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I was ordered to snatch you.’

‘Why did you do it then?’

‘Oh, grow up, Pet. I've told you why. When he says jump, you do it, and quickly.’

‘You could leave. You don't have to work for him. Please, Tony, if you can't let me go, at least tell my brothers where I am.’

‘Oh, yeah, and how am I supposed to do that without Garston finding out?’

Pet shook her head in despair. ‘I don't know, but please, you must do something. You can't leave me here for that man to … to rape me.’

‘Look, this is down to your brothers – not me. They shouldn't have crossed into Garston's territory. They should have listened to his warning, but they didn't and now you're paying the price. Now shut up about it and get some sleep.’

On that note, Tony left the room and Pet heard the key turn in the lock. Despair washed over her as she sank back on the bed, sobbing with fear as she clutched the filthy quilt around her.

Chapter Twenty-three

 

The brothers trooped home in the early hours of the morning. A light still shone in number one, but the other houses were in darkness.

‘Do you think knocking up that publican will work, Danny? Do you think he'll pass on our message?’ Chris asked.

‘When I talked to Bert Mills in the pub, the landlord was doing his best to earwig. I saw him making a phone call, so I reckon he's one of Garston's narks. Anyway, trying to get a message to Garston is better than sitting around sweating until he decides to contact us.’

Chris yawned, exhausted, but he doubted he'd be able to sleep.

Yvonne emerged from number one, her face drawn with anxiety.

‘Any luck?’ she asked.

‘No, but come on, we'd better try to get some sleep,’ Danny told her.

Chris looked at the street door, dreading going inside. He knew his mother would be awake and waiting for news, but there was nothing he could say to put her mind at rest. He took a deep breath and walked in.

The room was almost in darkness with just the glow from the fire, aided by the solitary flicker of a single candle on the mantelpiece. Chris saw his mother huddled in a chair with a blanket wrapped around her, and then looking at the day bed, he saw that his father was asleep.

‘You haven't found her?’ his mother whispered.

‘No, but we'll look again in the morning. Why don't you go to bed?’

‘How can I sleep when I don't know what's happened to Petula? Oh, Chris, what if a nutter has got hold of her?’

His father stirred and she looked anxiously towards him. Chris waited until he settled again, then whispered, ‘Don't think the worst, Mum. We'll find her, you'll see.’

‘I hope you're right, son, because if you don't, I think this will just about finish your dad off.’

There was a soft groan and once again she looked towards the day bed, hissing, ‘We don't want to wake him. You'd best get some sleep too.’

Chris was relieved to creep upstairs. Yes, a nutter probably had Pet, a nutter called Jack Garston. Inwardly he cursed Danny, cursed himself for agreeing
to make hard porn. If anything happened to Pet, it would be their fault. Shivering, he undressed and then, flinging back the blankets, he dived into bed, the icy sheets momentarily taking his breath away.

Chris wished he had Phil's body to snuggle up to, but he had to keep it a secret. He was sick of sneaking around, of hiding the truth, and had planned to leave home. He had the money, but one thing after another seemed to stand in his way. His father was still too ill, his mother worn out looking after him, and now to top it all, Pet had been snatched.

Chris rolled onto his side, clutching a pillow. Who was he kidding? If they found out, he'd lose his family – something he just couldn't face. They'd think he was weird, perverted and would never accept it – never!

Danny couldn't sleep. He lay with his back to Yvonne, images of his sister and what might be happening to her haunting his mind. He had never expected Garston to hit out at his family. In doing that, the man had broken the unwritten rules.

Yet as he turned over, flinging an arm around Yvonne, he knew that with Garston's reputation, he should have been prepared. There were no excuses. He'd been the one who had stirred the man up. This was down to him – his pride, his ambition, and his greed.

‘Can't you sleep, Danny?’

‘No, I'm worried about Pet.’

‘Yeah, me too. I still think you should tell the police that she's missing.’

With a huff of annoyance Danny rolled onto his back. ‘There's no need to involve the police. We'll find her.’

‘But you've already been searching for hours and she hasn't turned up. What if someone's got hold of her?’

‘All right, don't go on about it. If we don't find her tomorrow, I'll tell the police,’ Danny snapped. He knew it was a lie, but at least it would placate Yvonne for the time being. With any luck Garston would get his message and once he knew they'd agreed to stop production, he'd let Pet go.

‘Do you want me to make you a hot drink? It might help you to sleep.’

Danny ignored the question, breathing heavily to feign sleep. He heard Yvonne's soft sigh and then she flung an arm around him, snuggling close. Danny lay unmoving. If anything happened to Pet, he knew he'd never be able to live with himself. For the first time in his life, Danny found he was taking a look at himself – and not liking what he saw.

Maurice wasn't faring any better. He'd stayed up until his brothers returned again, but on finding that they hadn't found Pet, he sneaked upstairs,
careful not to wake Norma as he climbed into bed. He felt dreadful and fought to control his ragged breathing. What if Danny was right? What if Pet was in Garston's hands? His chest tightened until he was wheezing in pain, his mind plagued by fear. When they first ventured into Garston territory, he'd feared the future, feared for Oliver's safety. Pet had been snatched, but it could just as easily have been his son.

Mentally he assessed his financial situation. Things had been tight after George had nicked the money, and though at first they'd all had to take a pay cut, things had started to look up. Even during the lean time and Norma's nagging, he hadn't dipped into his savings. For years he'd been putting regular amounts in a bank, money for the house he hoped to buy one day, and if Oliver continued to do well at school, he was salting money away for the boy's university expenses. It might be a silly dream to think that the boy would ever attend university, but nevertheless he'd been determined to be prepared.

Maurice didn't want to leave the alley and his family, but he had to put his son's safety first. He had the finances, if necessary, but he just hoped it wouldn't come to that. First things first, though – they were going to look for Pet again in the morning and he had to get some sleep. Asthma attack or not, he was determined to join in the search.

* * *

 

Bob was scowling as he got into bed. Yvonne had waited up, so why couldn't Sue? She was supposed to be fond of Pet, but obviously not enough to keep her awake.

He closed his eyes, but couldn't stop thinking about Petula. He shouldn't have listened to Danny, shouldn't have agreed to upping the ante. If they had stayed out of Garston's territory none of this would have happened.

‘Did you find her?’

‘No,’ he said, wrapping his arms around his wife. ‘I thought you were asleep.’

‘I dozed off for a while, but I can't settle. Do you think she's run away?’

‘No, Pet wouldn't do that.’

‘She's had a rotten life since your father came home, so I wouldn't be so sure. If your mother wasn't so stubborn and had let me help, Pet could have had a bit more freedom.’

‘Don't start now, Sue. I'm knackered and I need some kip.’

‘Yeah, but take tonight, for instance. I went along to see your mum, but as usual she wouldn't let me in. Honestly, Bob, she drives me mad. I only wanted to help … to see if there was anything I can do, but she more or less shut the door in my face. Of course, Yvonne was there, Miss Goody Two-Shoes allowed admittance.’

‘For Gawd's sake, change the record,’ Bob snapped
as he flung himself over onto his back. ‘I ain't listening to any more of this. My sister's missing and I'm worried sick. We're going out looking again in the morning and I've got to get some sleep.’

Thankfully Sue didn't say anything else, just huffed with annoyance as she yanked the blankets over herself. Bob closed his eyes, but it was an hour later before he finally managed to doze into an uneasy sleep.

By five in the morning, only one person in Drapers Alley remained awake. Joan was uncomfortable in the chair, but she was too worried about Dan to go upstairs. He was restless, and occasionally he groaned in his sleep.

She stood up, her knees and hips stiff. She had kept the fire going, and now, as quietly as possible, she picked up the poker to stir the coals. God, she was parched, but she daren't make a cup of tea. With Dan so fidgety, the least bit of noise could wake him.

Joan went into the kitchen, knowing she'd have to be content with a cup of water. It was freezing and she shivered. Was Pet cold too? Was she lying somewhere, injured? Joan returned to the living room where she sat in her chair again, drawing the blanket around her legs. She dreaded the dawn, dreaded how Dan would react when he woke to find that Pet was still missing.