Time To Play by KA Richardson (best book club books of all time TXT) 📗

Connor looked up. ‘My dad takes care of her, but it turns out he slipped this morning in the bathroom. He’s at hospital getting checked over, I’ll stay with her until he gets out, don’t worry.’

‘OK, no problem. I just happened to be near the shops. The shop owner told me where your mum lived. There isn’t any job on or anything. Can I suggest, though, that you have a chat with the social? See if they can offer any support?’

‘Yeah, thanks, sarge. I’ll give them a call later when Dad gets back.’

‘OK, son. I’ll leave you to your day.’

As Harry stood to leave, Sheila turned around. ‘Connor, baby, I didn’t realise you were here. Go make your old mum a nice cup of tea will you?’

Connor walked over to his mum, planted a kiss on her head, and sighed before adding, ‘Course I will, Mum. Stay here.’

As he walked Harry to the door, he heard the sergeant’s radio come to life in a burst of static. ‘Yeah, go ahead LV,’ he said to the dispatcher as he gave a wave to Connor and made his way down the path.

Wear Street, Sunderland – 4 November

The van pulled up outside the house on Wear Street. Elvie looked out of the window and shuddered. It looked dilapidated, in need of repair, and just plain dirty. This was where they’d taken Nita? Elvie felt a sense of foreboding as the skinny man opened the door and roughly pulled her out.

The street was by no means busy, but a few people were milling about. Maybe someone will help me. Elvie opened her mouth to scream but gasped instead as she felt the tip of a knife dig into her ribs.

‘Scream and you die,’ hissed Gaz pushing her towards the front door.

The other man pushed open the door and led the way inside.

The same scrawny girl glanced up from her perch in the hallway.

‘Upstairs, second on right. Will send man up when he arrive.’

Her job done, she turned back to picking her nail varnish off with her teeth.

Gaz pushed Elvie up the stairs, pausing at the door on the left not the right.

‘Danny, take her in there,’ he said, nodding his head towards the right-hand side. ‘I’m going to go and pay a visit to my friend in here.’

Elvie watched as he opened the door wide. She saw Nita lying on the bed, her dress torn and ragged, and her friend gazed at her with glazed eyes, not recognising her.

‘Nita?’ she said, pulling Danny towards the door.

‘Trust me, sweetheart, you don’t wanna go in there.’ He pulled at her arm, trying to navigate towards the room where they were supposed to be waiting. But Elvie resisted. The man holding her didn’t scare her, not as much as the other one anyway.

Tugging hard, she entered the room.

She watched as Gaz undid his belt, and realising his intent, she cried out. ‘Noh!’ She pulled hard at Danny’s hand, imploring him to let her go and to help her friend. But he just hung his head in shame.

Elvie tugged again as Nita licked her lips, obviously knowing what was coming. Gaz pulled a needle from his pocket and stabbed it into Nita’s outstretched arm. Elvie saw the moment her friend floated off into another world and pulled at Danny’s arm again.

This time though he was firmer. He pulled her back and shoved her out of the room and into the one opposite.

‘You can’t help her, not now.’

‘Please,’ begged Elvie, pulling back towards the door, forgetting for a moment that she wasn’t supposed to know English. Belatedly, she remembered, and turned back towards Danny with wide eyes. He stood with his head cocked to one side.

‘You understand me, don’t you?’

Elvie paused. If she admitted it, he would no doubt tell on her and she’d end up in trouble. If she didn’t, he might turn nasty and beat her like the other man would.

‘It’s OK, I’m not going to hurt you.’

‘Yes, I speak little. Understand more.’

‘Then listen carefully. There’s a man coming here who wants to take you away. He’s an evil man. He wants to make you his wife and will hurt you. He wants a virgin. Do you know what that is?’

Elvie nodded, fear gnawing at her stomach.

‘Unless you want him to take you home and rape you, then continue to do that for many years then you need to do something. When the man comes in, you need to look like you’re not a virgin. Do you know how you can do that?’

Elvie shook her head, tears pricking her eyes.

‘I don’t want you to get hurt. I won’t hurt you I promise. But if you kiss me when he comes in, then he might leave without you. I’ll take you back to the big house then. I promise I won’t hurt you. I want to help you, but this is the only way I can think to do that. Understand?’

Elvie nodded slowly. I don’t want to kiss him. What if he wants more? Like the other one would? But what if he’s right? She argued with herself until suddenly, footsteps could be heard coming up the wooden staircase outside.

‘Well?’ asked Danny, moving closer to her.

Elvie nodded almost imperceptibly and had to stop herself backing away as his lips met hers. He was gentle, and as the door opened, he whispered against her mouth, ‘Look like you’re enjoying it.’ He pulled the zip on the back of her dress down and slipped one sleeve further down her arm, stopping to protect her modesty.

Nervously, Elvie put her arms around his neck and pushed her body into his, deepening the kiss. It wasn’t like this was her first kiss. Before Noni had died, she’d been