‘Oh, so you asked me out to find out about Mrs Rawlins?’
‘No, no! It’s just that I’m a one-man firm and I could go broke over this. I’ve ordered a lot of equipment.’
‘If Mrs Rawlins says she’ll pay you, then she will,’ Connie purred, leaning further towards him over the top of the table as her toes did all the walking below.
‘I’d better get you home.’
She looked up at him and giggled again. He was red in the face with embarrassment.
Gloria had taken over the digging as Kathleen heaved the first bag on to the wheelbarrow. ‘You’re stronger than you look, Dolly Rawlins. These weigh a ton.’
Angela pulled the brambles and sticks away from the third hiding place as Gloria stuck in the spade. They were on the brow of a small hill just outside the wooded perimeter of the manor’s land, and could see clearly the signal box below.
‘Who’s at the gates?’ Kathleen pointed.
Dolly looked up. She could see the flashing signal lights, the barred gates, and the builder’s van.
Gloria prodded her in the ribs. ‘Oi, he’s got a lot of hand movement down there. You think he’s givin’ her one or is it just light relief?’
Dolly grimaced. Sometimes Gloria’s crudeness really irritated her but she couldn’t help taking another look and it did seem as if John was having a heavy grope and petting session.
He was. He had Connie’s top undone and was kissing her neck and her breasts as she kept one eye on the signal lights.
‘Train’s coming,’ she whispered into his hot, flushed face.
He moaned, and for a moment she thought he was coming too but then he sat back. ‘I’m sorry.’
She buttoned her blouse and snuggled up to him. ‘Are you married?’
‘No, but I live with someone.’
‘And where does she think you are tonight?’
‘At the gym.’
‘Can I work out with you one day? I love doing weights.’
The train thundered past and the gates slowly opened. ‘Any time you like.’ John put the van into gear and they headed down the narrow lane back towards the manor.
Lennie reversed into a field gateway. He’d already driven past the manor, stopped, had a look at it and decided that the element of surprise would be more beneficial. He was just about to get out when the van passed him. Connie didn’t see him as she was talking to the bloke who was driving. Lennie saw the van drive into the manor and followed on foot, well hidden by the overhanging hedgerow.
They’d loaded the wheelbarrow and were pushing it back towards the manor. Dolly walked ahead, her arm slung around Angela’s shoulder. ‘You know you can join special government courses, get further education, Angela, proper training in something. You should think about it, love, but you’re welcome to stay on here for as long as you like, you know that. Do you like kids?’
‘Oh, yeah, and I’m used to them. I’ve got younger brothers still at school.’
Gloria muttered as she staggered along behind the wheelbarrow with all the guns as Kathleen carried the spades. They were still about a quarter of a mile from the manor.
Connie leaned in to John and gave him a long, lingering kiss. They broke away and then she kissed him again. ‘You’d better check your face before you go in. Lipstick!’ She giggled as he wiped his mouth. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow?’
He watched her wiggle and sashay her way to the front door, turn and do her Marilyn Monroe pout. He blew her a kiss, felt stupid and quickly put the van into reverse. As he drove out, he didn’t notice Lennie.
‘Connie!’
She knew his voice immediately, but in the darkness she couldn’t see him. ‘Lennie?’
He stepped forward and bowed. ‘Surprise, surprise!’
She began to pant with terror. ‘You stay away from me, Lennie. Don’t hurt me!’
He walked towards her, his arms out wide, smiling. ‘I’m not going to hurt you. Why would I do that? I’ve just come to take you home, Connie.’
‘I’m not coming with you, Lennie. You got to leave me alone.’
He came closer and now he wasn’t playing games. ‘You owe me, Connie, and you’re gonna pay it off or work it off. Suit yourself ’
‘I won’t go anywhere with you.’
She screamed and he dived for her but she kicked out, catching him in the groin. He lost his footing, tripping over a plank left by the builders. He swore, cradling his balls and gritting his teeth in fury as he screamed, ‘Connieeeeeeeee! Don’t fuck with me!’
She was running, anywhere, any place to get away from him. He started after her, yelling with rage, and she sobbed and shouted at him to stay away as she ran on, heading up towards the woods.
Dolly was rigid. She hissed at Gloria to keep her mouth shut as they all heard the sobbing and screaming.
Gloria let go of the handles of the wheelbarrow. ‘It’s Connie.’ She ran towards the sound of the crying.
Dolly started to follow and then turned to Kathleen and Angela. ‘You stay put, the pair of you, until I come back and get you.’ She tore after Gloria through the woods, hearing another high-pitched scream.
Gloria had to slap Connie’s face. ‘It’s me, Connie, it’s me, Gloria.’
Connie clung to her. ‘He’s here. Oh, God, Gloria, he’s here and he’s gonna kill me. He was chasing me, he’s going to kill—’
‘Connie, listen to me.’ Gloria whacked her hard again. ‘Nobody is going to touch you, all right? We’re all here.’
Dolly was breathless when she reached them. ‘What’s going on?’
‘It’s that bloke, her pimp. He’s come after her.’
Dolly gripped Connie’s arm. ‘He won’t lay a finger on you. Gloria, go and get the other two. I’ll take Connie back to the house with me.’
A frightened Connie clung to Dolly as they made their way to the house. The grounds were ominously dark and silent. Wherever he was, they felt as if he was watching their every move and they ran the last few yards past the stables and into the safety of the house. Dolly latched the door behind them and Connie sobbed, ‘What if he’s here, in the house?’
Gloria, Kathleen and Angela wheeled the rest of the guns into the stable yard and then carried them inside. Connie was sitting with a large brandy, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, as Julia sat with her head in her hands, so hung-over she could hardly speak.
Gloria held up a shotgun. ‘Right, we got enough of these. If that prick shows his face, I’ll blow it off.’
‘We’ll search the house,’ Dolly said. ‘Some of the windows are out so if he’s here, we’d better find him. We’ll have a good look round, then you, Connie, lock yourself in a room with Angela.’
Connie began to sob again and Dolly was almost irritated with her. ‘Shut up, for God’s sake! And you, Julia, get some coffee down you and sober up.’
Connie wiped her face with the back of her hand. ‘He said he’d take me back.’
Dolly shook her by the shoulders. ‘Nobody will make you do anything you don’t want to do, okay? We’ll sort it, Annie-Get-Your-Gun-Gloria and me.’
Gloria went over the grounds with the shotgun at the ready. She checked the stables, the outhouses and the yard, and even went up to the woods, but an owl hooted which gave her the willies so she scuttled back to the front door of the manor. It was ajar and she pushed it slowly. ‘Anyone here?’