Crystal was just about to walk out of The Rose and Crown when Gilly shouted to her.
‘Hang on! I’m coming with you tonight.’
She turned back and smiled at him, the clown-like lipstick giving colour to her pale features. ‘Ah, cheers, Gilly,’ she said.
They walked out of the pub and turned down one of the dingy backstreets behind Piccadilly. Their surroundings were a depressing sepia image and a sharp contrast to the vibrant shops, bars and restaurants on the main streets, which were a neon, multicoloured billboard of delights for both locals and visitors.
Crystal led the way as they passed industrial-sized bins overflowing with refuse, and the steel back doors of shops, daubed in graffiti and decorated with torn fly posters. Gilly noticed how quickly Crystal made her way through the streets. Anyone would think she was looking forward to it, or was it a chemical high that was driving her? He assumed the latter. After all, it wasn’t unusual for street girls to take something before they went to work. It helped give them the courage to get through the night.
Crystal was addicted to heroin and crack. Now in her early twenties, she’d had her first experience of drugs when she was just fourteen. Gilly often paid her in drugs rather than in cash as they were a bigger incentive for her to keep selling her body to the many clients who used her each night.
While he walked behind Crystal, Gilly took in her appearance from the rear. Her skinny, pale legs. The sores on the backs of her feet. The small tear in the back of her leather-look jacket. Her lurid, red hair, which stuck up haphazardly in all directions. And as he made his critical observation, Gilly realised that what he felt for Crystal wasn’t just indifference replacing his previous attraction. It was more than that. In Crystal he saw a reflection of his own failure in life and it left him with a bitter resentment.
Gilly didn’t try to keep pace with Crystal. He preferred to stay a few steps behind. It was rare to see them walking anywhere together at all, let alone side by side. Normally Gilly only dealt with Crystal in a work capacity or when he needed her to satisfy his own sexual needs. In the case of the latter, they’d usually get a taxi back to her place when they were both high from drink and drugs. It wasn’t what Gilly would have termed a relationship, despite what Crystal seemed to think.
Eventually they emerged from the dim back streets and alleyways, and stepped onto the pavement bordering London Road, one of the main routes into the city, dominated by Piccadilly station. Here the crowds jostled for space as they rushed towards the popular bars and restaurants.
Crystal stepped onto the busy road, dodging the buses and cars, whose drivers tooted their horns. For the first time, Gilly rushed to catch up with her, and grabbed her by the arm.
‘Steady. You’ll get yourself fuckin’ killed!’ he said.
Crystal didn’t say anything; she just looked at Gilly, her dull eyes full of love, and a slight smile of appreciation shaping her lips. He kept a tight hold of her until they had reached Aytoun Street, where the cars and trams competed for prominence. Once he had her safely across the road, Gilly let her go, saying a few words before he did so.
‘Don’t forget what I told you last time. Any cars that stop, you send them to another girl unless it’s him. We’re here for one reason and that’s to get the bastard who did that to you,’ he said, nodding at her face, which still showed some faded bruising round the eye sockets.
As soon as they arrived at Minshull Street, Gilly faded into the shadow of the buildings while Crystal hung about at the roadside along with the other working girls. He lit up a cigarette and prepared to watch till he got a sign from Crystal.
Almost an hour later Gilly was becoming impatient. Car after car had stopped and been urged on by Crystal. The only time that Gilly had almost stepped out of his hiding place was when one of the drivers had hurled abuse at Crystal for refusing to do business, his disappointment evident in the foul words that had streamed from his mouth. But he’d soon moved on when he’d realised he was wasting his time.
It was the third time Gilly had gone with Crystal to search for the man. As Crystal repeatedly turned customers away, and Gilly thought about how much money they were losing, he became annoyed. They weren’t only losing out from Crystal’s earnings, but he was also having to sub her from his own money to pay for her drugs and other things she needed.
Even before Crystal gave him the sign, Gilly spotted the red Toyota Avensis pulling over. He dashed across the pavement and, while Crystal stepped into the front passenger seat, Gilly jumped into the back. He half expected to see the bald, scrawny man behind the driving wheel again but instead he was rewarded by the sight of a big, dark man.
He couldn’t see the man’s face from behind but a quick nod from Crystal told him they’d got the right guy. Gilly quickly withdrew the hunting knife that he had secreted inside his hoody, and jabbed it into the back of the man’s neck.
‘What the fuck’s going on?’ asked the man, his voice filled with panic.
‘Just get fuckin’ driving or this knife will be across your throat!’ Gilly ordered.
The man put the car clumsily into gear and stepped onto the accelerator. As the Toyota sped away from the pavement, Gilly checked round to make sure no one had seen him with the knife. To his relief, although there were plenty of people around, no one was looking at them. To be on the safe side, Gilly pulled the sleeve of his hoody down till the knife was obscured from view and he sidled up behind the driver so it looked as though he were just giving him directions.
‘Where are we going?’ asked the driver, his voice now trembling.
Gilly felt a buzz of adrenaline. ‘Just keep fuckin’ driving till we’re out of the city,’ he demanded. ‘Then I’ll tell you where.’
*
It was a few nights since Aaron had taken Maddy to the Hawksmoor restaurant, and she was on the phone to Clare. As she regaled her friend with details of her last date with Aaron, she was unable to contain her excitement.
‘I’ve seen him twice already and I’m seeing him again on Saturday. I think we might be going back to the Midland.’
‘The Midland? You mean the Midland hotel?’
‘Yes, that’s where he’s staying.’
Maddy had also rung Clare after her first date with Aaron and had told her all about him being between homes, but it was the first time she’d mentioned where he was staying.
‘Bloody hell! That’s a bit expensive, isn’t it?’ asked Clare.
Maddy could hear the surprise in Clare’s voice at the mention of the Midland, a luxury hotel in the heart of the city centre.
‘I don’t think he’s short of money,’ said Maddy. ‘From what he told me, his business in Yorkshire is doing really well. That’s why he’s looking to set up another warehouse in Manchester.’
‘It sounds like you’ve landed on your feet,’ said Clare. ‘But don’t let him rush you into anything. He’s bound to want you to sleep with him if he takes you back to the hotel.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’ asked Maddy, giggling.
‘You’ve only seen him twice, Maddy. Don’t you think it’s a bit soon?’ asked her friend.
‘No. I don’t. He’s bloody gorgeous, Clare. So why shouldn’t I? We’re both free agents when all’s said and done!’ Then her voice took on a dreamy note as she said, ‘I think I’ll make arrangements for Becky to stay at her dad’s on Saturday so I don’t have to rush home.’
Clare didn’t reply straight away so Maddy filled in the silence. ‘It feels right, Clare!’
‘OK, well, as long as you know what you’re doing. I’m pleased for you, Maddy. It’s about time you found some happiness. I just don’t want to see a repeat of what happened with Rob, that’s all.’
‘You won’t,’ said Maddy. ‘He’s completely different from him.’
When Maddy eventually finished the call she sat still for a few moments, deep in thought. Clare’s comments niggled her a bit. Anyone would think she didn’t want her to be happy.
But Clare’s words had also sown a seed of doubt in her mind. What if he was too good to be true? Seeking reassurance, she went over their last two dates in her mind. The way he’d acted and the things he’d said brought her to the rapid conclusion that Clare was overreacting. After all, Clare wasn’t the one who was seeing him. So how could she possibly be expected to know just how wonderful he was?