Somewhere to Hide (The Estate, Book 1) (13 page)

‘I’m not a down and out,’ muttered Becky.

‘Of course you are. That’s why the likes of Danny Bradley won’t have us. We’re too common. Not that he’d have you anyway. It’s getting more and more obvious that you’re up the duff.’

Becky glanced down at her stomach as she sat down on the bed. Jess was right. She’d noticed that her jeans were getting tighter: she was having problems fastening the zip. Another week and she’d have to abandon them. Keeping her pregnancy a secret was going to become harder still over the next month. But then, she knew if she could get Danny interested again, he wouldn’t be bothered about a bit of weight on her belly. All he’d want is what was between her legs, there for him to take whenever he fancied it. Because she would let him if he wanted to – again and again. One of those times must erase the memories. Surely the more she did it and the more men she did it with, she would finally replace its power.

A car horn beeped and they both rushed to the window. Danny Bradley drove past slowly.

‘Suppose we’d better go out the front way tonight,’ said Jess. They heard the horn again, longer this time. ‘Come on, or else he’ll be on his way without us.’

Giving herself the once over in Jess’s wardrobe mirror, Becky turned sideways and ran a hand over her bump. It wasn’t too noticeable yet but it wouldn’t be long. She pulled down the blue T-shirt just as Jess grabbed her hand.

‘Come on!’

‘Where are you two off to in such a hurry?’ Cathy asked as they whooshed past her in the hallway downstairs after hanging up their keys in the kitchen.

Becky stopped in her tracks. ‘We’re going …’

‘… out for a walk,’ Jess finished off for her.

‘Yeah, for a walk.’

‘Behave yourselves this time. I don’t want any more trouble brought to my doorstep. I’ve had enough grief off the housing association lately over the noise.’

Jess rolled her eyes before disappearing in a clatter of heels.

Cathy watched them both as they ran down the path, Jess nudging Becky and Becky pushing her back as they raced to get to the gate first. She smiled half-heartedly. It was good to see the two of them getting on so well but that in itself was a worry, especially after what had happened to Cheryl recently. Becky was so delicate right now: Jess could either turn out to be a great friend or drag her down a path that she wouldn’t wish anyone to follow. To a certain extent, Cathy had to sit back and let them make their own mistakes. But it was so hard to say nothing.

Becky’s pregnancy hadn’t been discussed again since she’d mentioned it either. Cathy needed to broach the subject before it was too late. And by the look of Becky’s tight clothing, she’d have to do it sooner rather than later.

CHAPTER TWELVE

When the girls got to Danny’s car, Becky would have been annoyed at Danny’s lack of interest if it wasn’t for the youth sitting in the passenger seat. Lush was the perfect word to describe him: tanned skin due to the recent spate of warm weather, brown hair, deep blue eyes and a fashionable amount of stubble. He wore black denims, his light blue T-shirt the only smidgen of colour that she could see. As he turned towards them with a smile that did things to her heart, she noticed a faint scar down the right side of his cheek. It was about two inches in length, serving to add a little bit more to his bad boy image. She wondered how he’d got it.

He winked as he caught her staring. Becky looked away immediately, her skin reddening as she slid along the seat. Tonight Danny was in a different car, another old wreck. Jess said he’d nicked it but she couldn’t understand why as it didn’t seem any better than his own.

 ‘Budge up, Parksy,’ Jess told the youth in the back seat. ‘Make room for two little ones. Hi, I’m Jess.’ She leaned forward to inspect the new arrival, pushing out her chest. ‘And you are?’

‘Austin.’ He looked behind her. ‘And you are?’

‘Becky.’ She smiled shyly.

Danny screeched off and they rode around the estate for a while before heading up towards Stockleigh city centre. But twenty minutes later, Danny pulled the car over to the side of the road. In temper, he banged his hands on the steering wheel. ‘Not again!’

‘What’s up?’ said Jess.

‘Run out of petrol.’

‘What are we going to do?’

Becky looked out of the window. On one side there was a row of non-descript terraced houses; on the other, a large area of painted boards showing coloured murals. She wondered what they were hiding: she hadn’t seen them before. In fact, she hadn’t got a clue where they were. They could be miles away as far as she knew.

‘Got any money on you?’

Jess shook her head.

Danny turned to Becky. ‘You?’

‘No.’

He banged his hands on the steering wheel again. Sheepishly, he turned to Austin. ‘I don’t suppose…?’

Austin smirked, knowing he had a twenty in his pocket. ‘I’ve only got a fiver and you’re not having that. You’ll have to get another car and make sure it’s got a full tank this time.’

‘A fiver between us?’ Danny laughed loudly to hide his embarrassment.

They sat in silence while the radio blasted out some dreary tune. Suddenly, Danny opened his door. ‘Come on, you lot!’

Becky and Jess wriggled across the back seat and into the cool night air. Parksy followed. Danny retrieved his crow bar, tucked it inside his jacket and the five of them stood on the pavement.

‘Are you going to do another one?’ Jess asked, wide-eyed with excitement.

Danny nodded and strode off up the road. ‘I’ll have to. I don’t get my giro ’til later in the week so unless I can thieve a bit off the old lady again, my car’s got to stay put.’

They all followed behind. Danny finally spotted a small hatchback parked in the alleyway between two rows of terraced houses. He pointed at it.

‘This’ll do,’ he said. ‘No one will see me if I’m quick.’ He pulled the crow bar out from underneath his jacket. ‘You two carry on walking,’ he told the girls. ‘We’ll meet you around the corner.’

‘Do you think we should be doing this?’ Becky said to Jess as they walked towards the end of the street. ‘Cathy will kill us if she finds out.’

Jess linked her arm. ‘Relax. No one will find out.’

‘It’s not nice, though. To have your car nicked.’

‘Needs must.’

Becky wasn’t sure she liked Jess’s attitude. If they nicked a car, someone would miss it.

‘Danny’s done it lots of times,’ Jess told her. ‘It’s not as simple now though. Most of the modern cars have alarms and immobilisers. That’s why he picks older models. He’ll run this one around for a while and drop us off.’ She grinned. ‘Well, drop you off actually. I’m hoping to stay with him, have me some fun.’

‘That Austin’s a bit of all right,’ said Becky, trying not to blush as she said his name.

‘Isn’t he just! Actually, I might try him out and you can have Danny, if you like.’

‘Jess, I need to tell you –’

Danny screeched to a halt beside them in the stolen car. ‘Get in,’ he said, looking directly at Becky.

‘It’s that easy?’ Becky was shocked.

‘Of course it’s not
that
easy. He just does it all the time.’ Jess made for the door handle first.

‘Not you,’ said Danny. ‘You’re going nowhere. Parksy, you can get out as well. Becky, you can get in.’

‘But I –’

‘Couldn’t you at least drive us home first?’ Parksy pleaded. ‘We’re miles away from the estate.’

Danny leaned over and patted his friend’s stomach. ‘The walk will do you good,’ he grinned. ‘Besides, you might be able to kop off with her, if you’re desperate.’

‘I heard that!’ said Jess.

‘You were meant to. Now come on you lot, get your arse into gear. I’m not in the mood to get caught tonight.’

‘No, just laid, you dirty bastard.’ Parksy glared at Austin. ‘So why does he get to stay? He’s only been around for a few weeks and already you’re –’

The look Austin gave Parksy made him get out of the car.

‘What did he mean about getting laid, Becky?’

Becky tried to shrug it off. Unsure what to do, she waited. Austin ushered her forward with a nod of his head. She climbed back in.

 ‘Becky!’ Jess pointed at Parksy. ‘You can’t leave me with him!’

Becky moved to get out but Danny slammed the door lock down.

‘Oy! Let me out!’ she said. ‘I thought you were joking. I’m not staying without Jess.’

Danny looked at her with a mixture of lust and menace. Then he laughed and after a quick wink at an irate-looking Jess, he screeched off again.

‘Ciao for now,’ he shouted through the window.

‘Stop!’

Becky looked back as they rode away, this time heading down the main road and away from the city centre. Jess could hardly be seen in the distance.

‘Let me out of the car,’ she cried.

‘Quit whining.’ Danny flashed a glare through the rear view window.

‘I will not. Let me out!’ Becky’s mind started to work overtime. Not only was she stuck with Danny who she knew would expect sex, but there was another man in the car. Someone who none of them knew well at all. If he was nasty, two men could do anything to her. Fear flew through her veins. For a second, she thought about opening the door and flinging herself into the road to escape. Stupid, stupid cow to get herself into this situation.

But then Austin turned and gave her a smile. She wasn’t sure why but its warmth was reassuring. She settled down again. Danny was trying to work the CD player.

Austin held up a ten pound note. ‘Found this in the glove compartment.’

‘Cool!’ Danny took it from him. ‘There’s enough petrol in this one so we can get a few cans.’

Austin snatched the note back. ‘
I’ll
decide what to do with it.’

‘Of course, boss. Whatever you say.’

They stopped off at an off-licence store and Austin went inside. He came back out minutes later with a few cans and they sat outside while she and Austin drank it. For all his hard boy attitude, Danny wouldn’t drink and drive. He’d rather have his freedom.

By this time, Becky had begun to calm down and once the booze was finished, she felt in control of the situation again. She was beginning to have a bit of a laugh until Danny drove off towards the disused track they’d been to before. Once there, he stilled the engine and climbed into the back with her. Austin got out, lit a cigarette and walked a few yards in front.

Danny began to kiss her and for a short while they did nothing else. She became increasingly turned on as he pushed his tongue into her mouth, exploring her deeply. His hand went up the back of her T-shirt, his fingers teasing the bare skin up and down her spine. She followed suit, pulling him towards her so that there was no room between them. He shoved his hand down the front of her jeans. And that was when the panic began to take over. If she let Danny do this, then what would Austin want?

Danny’s hand moved further down, cupping her, trying to get his fingers inside her.

‘No! Stop!’ Becky said breathlessly.

‘Ah, come on, Becks. Don’t do this again. You’ll get a rep as a dick-tease.’ Danny pressed her hand down on to his erection. ‘You know you want it really.’ He sniggered, glancing at Austin who had walked back to the car. ‘You know you want it from both of us.’

Becky suddenly became very sober. ‘Leave me alone.’ She pushed Danny away and with the force of a tornado, she lashed out. She punched; she kicked; she slapped.

Danny grabbed her wrists and held her down. ‘What’s wrong with you? You were quick to give it away the other night. I’m only after a repeat performance.’

‘No, I –’

Before she could protest again, Danny was lifted from her and thrown from the car. He fell to the ground on his back, scraping across the gravel.

‘What the –’

‘Leave her alone.’ Austin stood over him. He flicked open a knife.

‘Whoa!’ Danny retreated a few feet backwards. He held his hands up in surrender. ‘There’s no need for that, mate. She’s my girl, you know. I don’t just shag anyone.’

Austin turned to Becky with a look in his eyes that she would never forget. It was danger personified. She held her breath as he stared at her.

‘Is that right?’ he asked her. ‘Is he your man?’

Becky shrugged slightly, not wanting to admit anything. She flinched as he took a step towards Danny.

‘Yes!’ she cried. ‘Yes, he’s my man.’

Austin stood still for a moment. Then he put the knife away and helped Danny up as if he’d simply tripped over.

‘I suggest you treat your girl with a little more respect.’ He clasped Danny’s shoulder. ‘Take her home. I think she’s had enough for one night. And I need this car for something else later.’

‘You’re home early,’ Cathy said looking up from her magazine as Jess flopped beside her on the settee and folded her arms in a strop. ‘It’s only half past nine. Are you feeling okay?’

‘No. I’ve had a crap night, if you must know.’

‘Where’s Becky?’