Chapter Eleven

Colby and Shaun were on the train heading back to Blackpool. They’d already found somewhere to stay up there. The new phone was already set up and ready to take calls. The lads they knew from years before had helped them sort it out and everything was set when they arrived.

Colby had stolen Ged’s drugs from the flat. Once Ged found out he knew he would be a dead man. The sound of the train moving along was peaceful and Shaun closed his eyes as he touched the pebble in his pocket. His friend beside him looked a lot older. His once big afro hairdo was now shaven to the bone. Colby had lost a fair amount of weight and Shaun had asked on several occasions if he’d been dabbling in smack. Colby was angry and sat at the side of him waving his arms in his face defending himself.

“You cheeky cunt. What ya saying? That I look like a bag-head?” Shaun smiled and knew he’d hurt his feelings.

“Nar, I just thought I’d ask that’s all. Come on let’s face it. You’ve lost pure weight though.” Colby pulled his sleeves up and looked at his arms. They did look thin and he admitted that he’d not been eating properly for a while. His face looked distressed as he spoke.

“It’s all the shit that’s gone on with you and Ged. I’ve lost my appetite ya know. Fucking hell I still can’t get a grip of what he did to Lauren.” Mention of her name plunged Shaun into sorrow. He patted Colby’s leg.

“Ged’s a twat and as I’ve told him, he’ll be paid back for what he did to her. I don’t know how and I don’t know when but believe me, the twat will pay.” Colby listened to his words and nodded. He was now paranoid over his weight and pulled his jeans up looking at his scrawny legs.

Once they arrived in Blackpool, the lads ordered a taxi to take them to the house where they were staying. The sun was shining and lots of holiday-makers were out and about. As they passed the funfair they could hear the screams of people enjoying themselves. Shaun remembered the few family holidays he’d had as a child and smiled as he remembered his mam running up the beach away from the sea water. Colby didn’t have good memories of Blackpool and as soon as he got off the train the vision of Shaky and the things he’d done to him in the past came flooding back. He never spoke about how he felt inside and sometimes he’d even thought about ending his life because he still felt dirty inside.

Pulling up outside the house Shaun paid the taxi fare. They both picked up their bags containing their clothes and stood rapping at the door. A blonde girl opened it and looked at them with a smile.

“Oh you must be Shaun and Colby. The guys are expecting you. Come in.” They both walked into the house and headed into the front room. A few familiar faces were present and Shaun nodded his head at them. Within minutes the drugs Colby had brought with him were on the table and the lads were bagging it up. The mobile phone was ringing constantly and the dealers were taking orders before they were bagged.

The night went on and the blonde woman from earlier had taken a shine to Shaun. He’d checked her history out with the lads and she seemed a nice girl. She wasn’t a junkie and she didn’t do drugs they told him. He found it hard to believe because she was staying at the house. Shaun sat by her side and started to find out for himself.

“What’s ya name then?” As she looked at him she smiled and said.

“Becky. What do ya want to know for?” He started to tickle her side and loved her dry sense of humour.

“I want to know because I think you’re sexy and I wouldn’t mind ragging ya fanny about, that’s why.” She giggled and fluttered her eyelashes at him.

“Well think again. I’m not dirty. I’m a good girl.” Shaun could see she was a bit hurt by his words and tried to make amends.

“I’m only joking, mard arse. I just wanted to start a conversation with you that’s all.” Becky smiled and introduced herself. She was twenty and had long blonde hair. Her figure was fantastic. Her big tits made Shaun’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets. Shaun carried on talking to her and asked her about her background. Becky told him she was a lap dancer in a club in the city centre. She also told him a little about her past and how she’d run away from home at the age of fifteen. His eyes were hypnotised by her and he watched her mouth moving as she spoke.

“It’s been hard you know. I’ve lived everywhere. The job I’m doing is alright, but there are too many perverts out there now. When I was sixteen I used to get the odd punter having a feel of me every now and then but these days they’re all over you like flies round shit.”

Shaun laughed and carried on finding out more about her. She asked him to come into the nightclub where she was dancing tonight and he agreed. He was buzzing with her and told Colby about the arrangement for the night. He asked him to come along with him but Colby was unsure of what he wanted to do.

As the day went on Shaun took care of business. He got in touch with his suppliers and sorted out the arrangement for getting more drugs on the streets. The main supplier was called Bobby and he knew him from years before. Bobby was just a runner to start with but now he looked like he was doing well for himself. He drove a silver BMW and wore all the smart clobber. He’d even opened a few sunbed shops in the area. Shaun looked at him and knew one day he wanted the life Bobby lived. The deal was done and Shaun headed back home to get ready to go and watch Becky dance at the club.

Shaun had so many ideas in his head. He was thinking of other ways to make some money. As he entered the house Colby greeted him. His face looked wrecked and he could tell he’d been smoking weed again. Shaun shook his head and sat on the arm of the chair.

“What the fuck are ya smoking weed for again. I thought you’d given it up.” Colby shook his head.

“Nar mate. I need it to get through the day. It chills me out.” Looking around the front room Shaun noticed a young lad around fourteen years of age sat in the corner. His eyes looked dark underneath and his skin looked grey. His knees were pulled up to his chest and his jumper was pulled over his knees as if he was cold. Shaun looked at him more closely and asked Colby in a whispering voice who the lad was. Colby told him and didn’t care his voice was pretty loud.

“He’s a fucking rent boy man. Jerry’s just told me. I couldn’t believe it either.” Jerry was nearby and heard the conversation. As Shaun looked over to him he nodded and made a funny gay gesture with his hand. Shaun huffed.

“Fuck me he’s only a baby. What’s he doing here anyway?” Colby passed the lad a bag of heroin and took the money from his hand. Shaun felt sick inside. The lad walked past him and nodded. Once they heard the door slam behind him Jerry couldn’t wait to dish the dirt on him.

“Yeah he’s a fucking rent boy. He’s been on gear since he was twelve. Tell ya what though he earns pure cash because he’s always here for brown at least three or four times a day. You should hear some of the stories he has to tell you. He’s had a fucking hard life.”

Colby was sat up in the chair as he puffed on his spliff. He looked at Shaun and screwed his face up at Jerry.

“Go on then, don’t tell us half a story. What do ya know about him?” Jerry kept on mixing the drugs on the table and began to tell them what he knew about Lenny.

“I believe his mam was a baghead and when he was ten or summat like that she started to let her punters have a feel of him for extra cash.” Shaun’s mouth dropped as he listened further. “She was a prostitute herself and didn’t give a fuck about him most of the time. Anyway, ” he paused as he sat back in his seat, “she started to sell his arse to get the money she needed for gear”

“Fuck off!” Shaun shouted. “No way am I having that. I mean what kind of mother would sell their son’s body for money.” Jerry looked at him and rolled his eyes.

“Mate, we’re talking about addicts now. They will do owt for a fix. Fucking hell, when ya gonna wake up and smell the coffee.” Colby was pissing himself laughing at the side of him and Shaun felt daft. He defended himself.

“Fucking hell what ya laughing at? How the fuck am I supposed to know every fucker’s background?”

Colby lay back in his chair and his face changed. He looked sad as the words came from his mouth.

“There are some sick bastards out there Shaun. Everyone has a story to tell. You don’t have to be a baghead to have shit happen to you” Shaun knew exactly what he meant and took the conversation back to Jerry.

“So what happened to Lenny’s mam, surely she got arrested or summat?” Jerry chewed on his lips and hunched his shoulders.

“She’s still on brown mate. We serve her up sometimes. I know she got time for whatever happened to Lenny, but she denies it all if you ask her.” Shaun wanted to know more.

“So did he get put in care and all that or what?” Jerry stood up and stretched his arms over his head.

“Yeah mate course, but he just got lost in the system and ended up running away. He’s told us bits about himself, but only when he’s off his head.” Jerry lit a cig and plonked his arse back down on the chair. Blowing the smoke from his mouth he sighed. “I remember one night in here when he broke down crying and poured his heart out. Fucking pulled right on my heartstrings he did.”

Shaun felt Lenny’s pain and wished he could help him. As he closed his eyes he could still see his sad face looking at him. He promised himself that the next time he was at the house he would have a talk with him and see if he could help him in any way.

Running upstairs Shaun started to run himself a bath. The bath was disgusting and he poured some bleach around the side to try and clean it. The whole house was dirty and he’d already decided the following day he would clean it up and try and make it look half decent.

Sitting in the bath he looked in the cracked mirror. His face looked older than he could last remember. He was twenty-two now and his boyish face had now turned into a man’s. As he shaved he couldn’t stop thinking about Becky. He liked her and knew there had been some kind of connection between them both. Lauren was still in his heart but he only felt anger towards her now.

As he dried his body he flexed his muscles and looked into the mirror. Walking into his bedroom he turned on his CD player and played the only CD he owned. The Smiths started to play and he thought about Lauren again. He wanted to turn it off but the words of the song soothed him in some strange way.

Heading downstairs he popped his head round the door. The lads made comments about the way he was dressed and caused him to check himself over again. He was wearing his black jeans and a tight white t-shirt. He giggled to the lads.

“You two have no dress sense that’s all. I’m a fanny magnet and you both know it!”

Laughter filled the room as Shaun strutted his stuff. As he started doing some sexual movements against the door they all pissed themselves laughing. His arse was swaying to and fro and he pretended to smack his own arse as they watched him in fits of laughter.

“Go on fuck off ya gay twat,” shouted Colby. Shaun smiled and jumped on him and started kissing his head. He laughed loudly as he tickled him.

“I’ll show you who’s a gay twat. Come on get ya mouth round this.” Shaun stood in front of him and tried to push his head down towards his crutch. Colby’s laughter stopped all of a sudden, his mood changed and he broke free. His looked angry. Colby mumbled under his breath as he straightened his clothes.

“I said fucking do one. Ya prick.” Shaun still teased him but could see the distress in his eyes so he left him alone. Shaun looked one last time in the mirror and said goodbye. Colby was still sulking and Shaun blew him a kiss just to see if he would laugh. Colby smirked and shook his head. “Nobhead,” he muttered.

Shaun felt on top of the world and was singing The Smiths song he’d just listened to. The sun was still out as he headed to the bar where he’d arranged to meet Becky. As he walked in the music was pumping. He headed straight to the bar and ordered a bottle of Budweiser. The place was packed and he found it difficult to find Becky. Once he’d got his drink he walked towards the dancefloor and from the corner of his eye he saw her. Waving his hand up in the air he finally got her attention.

Becky looked stunning. Her long blonde hair had been curled and her skin looked fresh. She was wearing a small pair of white shorts that just about covered her crotch. Her heels made her tower over him and he felt quite small stood next to her. He was slavering at the mouth as he gawped at her.

“You look mint,” he whispered into her ear. Becky smiled and took him over to a table at the back end of the pub. As they reached it she started to introduce him to some of the other girls. All the girls were stunners and Shaun thought he’d died and gone to heaven. They had a certain look about them that you knew they were dancers of some kind. Shaun gulped from his bottle and asked Becky if she wanted another beer. She declined.

“No thanks we’re heading over to ‘Bare It’ now.” Becky told him ‘Bare It’ was the club where she worked. As he walked down the busy promenade he felt special. All the men were looking at the girls and you could hear the girls telling gangs of men where they were going. Some of the wives of the gawping men could be seen punching their men in the side and Shaun laughed to himself.

The Blackpool nightlife was buzzing. Lots of hen and stag parties were out in full force. All the parties had themes. The girls who’d just walked past them were all dressed as nurses. Becky saw Shaun looking at them and dragged his arm towards her. She joked.

“Ay dirty balls. Don’t be looking at other girls when you’re with me.” He smiled and pulled her closer for a kiss. Her lips felt warm. As he kissed her he could taste her cherry lipstick. Her eyes focused on him and she carried on walking. She held his arm tight as she pulled him closer.

“I have to tell you now Shaun that the men will be all over me tonight. It’s only a job ya know. Just remember that and don’t be getting the green-eyed monster.” His head fell back and he chuckled.

“Get a grip will ya. For fuck’s sake I know what you do. I’m not the jealous type anyway.” Becky held her head back and laughed.

“Yeah that’s what they all say Shaun. Just let’s see ay.” He held her hand as they walked in the club and the bouncers all let on to her. She introduced Shaun to them and he was made to feel part of the family. Becky showed him where the bar was and told him she was up dancing first so she shouldn’t be long. He kissed her on the cheek and watched her leave. Rubbing his hands together he got a drink and headed to the front of the stage. Lots of men were already there and he watched them as he sat down. He was buzzing.

One man caught his eye. He looked twice at him because he thought he knew him. As he looked closer the ginger hair made him realise it was Shaky from the care home. “Fuck me!” he whispered. Shaky looked fatter and his ginger wig was in need of a haircut. He was dressed in some grey pants and a white shirt. As he watched him closer he reminded him of a paedophile. Shaun turned his chair the opposite way and hoped he didn’t have to talk to him. He looked uneasy.

The music stopped and the song “Temptation” by Heaven 17 started to play. Shaun’s eyes focused on the stage and there she was in all her glory. Becky was dressed in a red bikini. Her silver shoes caught his eyes and as he watched her take the stage as if she owned it, he looked proud. Shaun watched every move she made as he touched his crotch.

Becky’s hips gyrated to and fro and at one stage she was sat in front of him with her legs spread apart nearly showing all her fur burger. His cock felt hard in his pants and he wanted to part her tash there and then. The men at the side of where he stood were placing money in Becky’s bra. She was like a goddess to them and each of them looked at her with wanting eyes.

As she moved along the platform he could see Shaky searching his pockets. He watched him pull out a note and whistle for her to come over to him. As she walked near him she bent over and looked at him through her legs. She could feel the money being shoved up her arse cheeks and slowly kicked him away with a look of disgust on her face. Shaun wanted to run over and punch his face in but before he knew it Becky was on the other side of the stage still collecting money.

The song seemed to last forever. She finished her last move over near him. Every muscle in her body looked toned and he couldn’t wait to be inside her later. As the song finished she winked at him and left the stage. Shaun turned his head to the right and saw Shaky on his phone. He was curious as what he was up to and followed him outside when he saw him leaving.

Shaun lit a cig and stayed in the doorway out of sight. He watched Shaky pacing up and down the street. He looked like he was waiting for someone as he kept checking his watch. A few minutes later he watched him talking to a younger lad. As he watched more closely he could see Shaky grab the lad’s arm and drag him closer.

“It’s Lenny!” Shaun mumbled.

Taking a deep drag of his cig he followed Shaky round the corner into a dark alleyway. He could hear bits of moaning and didn’t want to go any further. Frozen for a second he knew he had to make sure Lenny was alright.

The alleyway was eerie and as he walked further into it, he could see a shadow. Creeping slowly behind him he could see Shaky’s pants were halfway down his arse. It wasn’t until he got nearer that he could see Lenny bent over the bin with his pants down too. Shaun felt sick and stood on a can that made some noise. He could hear noises in front of him and decided to fuck off back to the club. As he left he was gritting his teeth and clenching his fists. His words were angry as he mumbled under his breath.

“Still the same old Shaky I see. Well you’re another one who will get what’s coming to them. You dirty bent bastard.” Shaun stood in front of the club and lit another cig. His hands were shaking and he was struggling to breathe. “Dirty twat,” he snarled. Becky now came to join him.

“I’ve been looking for you everywhere. I thought you’d fucked off.” Shaun tried to laugh but felt sick in the pit of his stomach. One hundred and one things were going round in his mind and he was already planning Shaky’s downfall inside his head. He put a smile on his face and tried to act normal.

“I just needed to get some fresh air. Your dancing made me all hot and sweaty.” Becky smiled at him and hurried him back inside the club. She was pulling at his arm.

“Come on I’ve got another three dances to do before we can leave.” He followed her back inside but he kept turning his head watching the exit. Becky guided him to a small office at the back of the club. Once they were inside she locked the door and pulled a small bag of white powder from her bra.

“What’s that?” he asked with a soft voice.

“Just a bit of sniff that’s all. Do ya want a line or what?”

Shaun felt uneasy. He’d had stuff in the past but nothing as hard as cocaine. He watched everything she did and followed her lead. Within minutes he felt the rush of the white powder. He was on fire and full of life. Becky pulled him closer and kissed him passionately. He could feel her wanting him as she ground her crotch against him. Within a short space of time he was inside her and riding her like the wind. His cock felt like it had a mind of its own. It felt massive as he slid in and out of her. Becky must have had lots of sex in the past because the things she was doing to him set him on fire. He was screaming with pleasure and never wanted it to end. Becky reached orgasm first and he watched her face as she came. Never in a million years had he thought sex could be this good.

They lay entwined on the floor for a while. Shaun smiled over to her and held her hand. Becky started to get ready and told him she was back on stage again soon. He pulled his pants up and held her by the waist.

“That was great. You’re one top woman.” She tossed her hair back from her face and giggled.

“Ay and that was for free. Imagine if you was paying what you would get.” Shaun was shocked and shot her a look.

“What do you mean? Are ya a prostitute as well?” She screwed her face up and waved a finger in his face.

“Am I fuck. I’ve done some escorting in the past, but not for years now.” He looked relieved as he straightened his t-shirt. Before she opened the door she turned back and kissed him.

“I can see me and you are gonna go far together you know.” Shaun agreed and headed back into the club. As she left his side he could see Shaky sitting back at the table. He wanted so much to run over to him and punch his face in but he knew he would have to wait. The time would come for him and when it did he wanted Colby to be at his side.

The night went on more or less the same and Shaun snorted more and more lines of cocaine. His jaw was swinging by the end of the night and his eyes looked fucked. Becky was at his side and they decided to go back to the house.

As they walked down the streets the midnight air cooled them down. They were both swaying about and looked as pissed as farts. Becky wanted to know more about Shaun and asked him a bit about his background. He told her about Lauren and his baby and she could see the pain in his eyes as he spoke about her. She gripped his hand as they walked and she told him more about her life.

Becky had some big dreams. She told Shaun she was saving her money to go and live abroad. He looked shocked. She could see his face change and laughed.

“What do you think I dance each night for, the fucking fun of it? I’ve worked it out, if I dance for another few months I’ll have enough to go and find somewhere to live and some money to keep me going until I find work” Shaun’s head wobbled as he looked at her. “And what about me? Where do I come into this dream?”

“You can come if you want Shaun. Fucking hell I’ve only just met you and you want to be included in my dreams,” she huffed. His face was blank as he hunched his shoulders.

As they reached the house he searched his pocket for his key. Once he’d found it he struggled to put it in the door.

“Fucking give it here!” Becky giggled. “You’re bobbins.” Sliding the key into the lock she could see Shaun flopped against the wall looking like he was going to be sick. “Come on ya piss head,” she chuckled. The house was silent as they headed straight upstairs to bed.

Both of them fell onto the bed. They remained fully clothed as they lay in each other’s arms. Colby could hear them from the next room and relaxed knowing his friend was back in the house.

*

The following morning Becky rushed to get ready. She had to meet her friend at twelve o’clock. She quickly checked her watch and kissed Shaun on the cheek telling him she would be back later. He tried grabbing her back into bed for a bit more loving but she wriggled free telling him she had to leave. As he listened to the front door closing, the night before came flooding back to him and he remembered seeing Shaky. He tossed and turned and no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t get back to sleep.

Lying wide awake he could see the door opening slowly. Colby dipped his head around the door. Once he knew he was alone he ran and jumped onto the bed.

“Where’s Becky then? Has she gone home or what?” Shaun nodded his head. He looked rough. Looking at Colby’s face he couldn’t decide whether to tell him or not. After a few minutes Colby sprawled on the bed at the side of him.

“So what did ya do last night? Was it a good night or what?” Shaun looked in a world of his own and Colby punched him in the arm to wake him up.

“Are you listening to me or what ya muppet?” Shaun realised he was talking to him and answered.

“Yeah fucking top night mate. You should have come out instead of being a boring twat.” Colby placed his arms behind his head and fell back onto the bed.

“I got stoned and had a good night with Jerry.” Colby made himself comfortable. “So come on what did I miss?” Shaun reached for his pants and grabbed two cigs. He passed one to Colby. Shaun’s face looked serious.

“You missed quite a lot mate.” Colby was intrigued and watched his face change as he carried on. “I was in the club with Becky. Just watching her dance, and all that,” he inhaled deeply on his cig, “as I looked over my shoulder I thought I recognised this bloke who was sat near me.” Colby was sat up now, hanging onto his every word. Shaun licked his dry cracked lips and slowly shook his head. “It took me a while but his hair was a dead giveaway. He looks a lot older than I remembered him but I still knew it was him.” Colby was frustrated.

“Fucking who? Come on who did you see?” Shaun gulped.

“Shaky.”

Colby’s face changed. He stood from the bed and marched around the room with the cig hanging out of his mouth. As he looked out of the window, Shaun continued telling him what he’d witnessed with Lenny. Colby was livid.

“The dirty, dirty fucker. Why did you walk away? You should have done him in right there and then.” The room was silent as Shaun sat thinking. Colby was now at his side and he wanted to know every last detail about him. Once he knew it all he grabbed Shaun’s arm.

“We need to go and see him. We can get hold of Lenny and find out all we can about him. Lenny will help us. I know he will.”

Shaun agreed, but Colby was scaring him. He told him he wanted to abduct him and slice the fucker up. Shaun wanted revenge but nothing like Colby was saying. He was happy just to beat him up and all that, he never wanted to kill him. Colby was like a man possessed. He reminded Shaun of all the times he’d stood by him in the past and wanted to be sure he would help him seek Shaky out. Shaun gave him his word but dreaded to think what would happen to Shaky when Colby got his hands on him.

A few days passed and there was still no sign of Lenny. Every phone call that was taken went through Colby. He was feeling at an all time low. He looked depressed all day long.

A few days later there was a knock at the door and Shaun answered. Once he’d looked through the spyhole he could see it was Lenny. Half of him wanted to turn him away but the other half remembered the promise he’d made to his best friend. He looked a mess. He had a black eye and was struggling to walk. Shaun let him inside and brought him straight into the front room. As soon as Colby saw him he was all over him like a rash. Shaun had to tell him to leave him alone for a minute while he sorted the kid out.

“Fucking hell man!” Colby moaned as he sat back down on the chair chewing at his finger nails.

Lenny looked tired. As they examined his face they asked him what had happened. His voice was low and he seemed too weak to speak. Shaun spoke to him as he knelt by his side. Grabbing his hand he spoke with a soft caring voice.

“When was the last time you’ve had summat to eat?” Lenny shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. Jerry made his way into the kitchen and started to make a ham butty and a glass of milk. Shaun sat by his side and asked again what had happened to his face. They both listen eagerly as he started to tell them.

“It was a punter. I was with him last night. He wouldn’t pay me, the slimey cunt. So I pulled a blade on him. I sliced his fucking hand, but it never stopped him from beating me.” Colby was sat on the edge of his seat with his body rocking.

Shaun’s heart was beating like an express train in his chest and he felt guilty in case it was Shaky who’d done it to him. He urged him to tell him more details.

“Where did it happen? Can you remember round about what time it was?”

Lenny looked worried and became cagey. Colby had to assure him he wasn’t in any trouble and told him they just wanted to help him. “It was behind that club ‘Bare It’ or summat like that.” Shaun looked over at Colby and nodded his head. Colby bolted from his chair and dragged his hands in his hair.

“It’s him isn’t it?” he shook his head and dropped his chin onto his chest as he closed his eyes. Shaun asked Lenny a lot more questions as Colby paced the front room. He eventually found out a lot more about their old friend Shaky. Apparently he was well-known by all the rent boys. He was known as “The Rammer.” The lads had given him that nickname because whenever they were having anal sex with him he always rammed his cock in. Colby felt sick inside but needed to know more. He was onto it now and began firing questions.

“Where does he drink? Do you see him all the time?”

Lenny was now eating his sandwich and struggled to speak with a full mouth. He nodded his head at them both. “Let him have summat to eat first, then he can speak to us,” Shaun pleaded. Colby sat back down. Kicking his shoes off he brought his feet up beside him.

Lenny eventually told them everything they needed to know about Shaky and within minutes Colby was thinking about setting up a meet with him. He spoke calmly to Lenny. He held a cunning look in his eyes.

“Lenny. I need you to let me know the next time he wants to see you. As soon as he does, give me a ring and I’ll take it from there.” Lenny looked scared. Colby grabbed his hand and reassured him that he wasn’t in any kind of trouble. “We just need you to get him to a certain place for us that’s all. Then you can fuck off.” Lenny wanted to know more and tried to ask questions but Colby shut him up by throwing him a bag of smack.

Shaun sat thinking and knew it was too late to turn back. He would have to see it through. He listened to Colby and agreed with all his plans.