All was quiet. ERNEST BECKINGRIDGE was still awake. It was only ten thirty but he and his partner Evelyn were taking the jet on an early commission to Luen in the next morning. A well earned break Ernest agreed. The office had kept him busy lately.
“Maybe we could just go to Luen and stay there,” the financial CEO had jested that afternoon as they sat at their usual table in Delphine – a fine dining restaurant in the wealthy town of FILTON.
“Now how would they ever function without you?” Evelyn put to him.
Ernest knew they would manage just fine. If it weren’t for his name and Gramps’ insistence, Ernest would have been the last person chosen to lead the financial powerhouse based at BECKINGRIDGE TOWER. His novelist sister, Elizabeth, would have been a better fit but his own dreams and aspirations came second to the expectations others had of him holding such a powerful family name.
It was a well earned break though because Ernest worked really hard keeping the board happy. They pulled the strings, he danced, he sang and they laughed as money filled their bellies.
Up and coming high fliers MR AND MRS HEATH had managed to gain an audience with Lynette Fullerton of Fullerton Construction and Joshua Coby of Coby Games. In a joint effort to fund a program to revitalise the SHANTIES.
It was a late hour for a meeting but the Heaths had managed to hold them down before making their way to a party being held in the Penthouse for clients and staff. Lynette Fullerton was an old money name in Coldford. Joshua Coby was new money. The young man was overwhelmed when his software development business became an overnight success with its game LONESOME NIGHTS.
“We’re going to have a bit of a chit chat with them before heading upstairs,” Mr Heath explained confidently that afternoon.
Ernest left them to it. The Heaths were hungry. It was they who had managed to convince Joshua that his money would be safest in the hands of BECKINGRIDGE FIRM.
Ernest had just began to doze off when his phone rang.
“Ernie,” Evelyn shook him. “Ernie, baby, answer the phone.”
Ernest fumbled for his spectacles and lifted the phone. The caller I.D. showed the smiling face of his secretary Bernadette.
“Hello, Bern …
Before Ernest could finish his greeting he was met with sobbing. Ernest sat up properly. Evelyn stirred beside him.
“Bernadette? What’s happened? What’s wrong?”
“They fell!” she wailed. “They fell from the roof.”
Ernest’s heart began to beat harder. He could feel his breath deepen.
“Who fell?” he asked.
Bernadette managed to compose herself enough to speak. “I just stepped out to the court yard for some air and a group of them were on the balcony. They jumped!”
Her voice quietened as she pulled away from the phone. “Is that more?” she asked someone beside her. “No!” she screamed. “Stop them!”
More screams erupted. Ernest could hear every note of fear in the voices of the stragglers, smokers and interested onlookers who had crossed the street from the WEIR HOTEL out of morbid curiosity.
“It’s still happening. That was more of them. I can’t get inside the building.”
“I’ll be there in half an hour. Stay where you are,” Ernest ordered.
He climbed out of bed and pulled a green, woolen pull over from the dresser. He slipped into it without removing the blue cotton pajamas he wore to bed.
“What’s happened?” Evelyn asked.
“I don’t know exactly. There’s been some trouble at the tower. People are jumping from the roof.”
“Oh no!” Evelyn gasped climbing out of bed. “Are you going down there?”
Ernest was now pulling a pair of faded blue jeans over his pajama trousers.
“I have to,” he said.
He tried to bend over to finish dressing. His glasses slipped off. Evelyn crossed the room, lifted his spectacles and affixed them back onto his face for him.
“I’ll come with you,” she stated.
Ernest shook his head. Now he was finally looking a bit more put together.
“I need you to stay here in case the police call.”
By the time Ernest Beckingridge got to the tower that bore his name it was over. The fallen 59 they called them. Clients and staff of the firm, Mr and Mrs Heath included. it would take a lot of cleaning up. Not just the blood, bodies or despair that littered the court yard where the statue of Jeffrey Beckingridge stood.
It was a long way down from the top.
Ernest is called to give evidence in the trial of KNOCK KNOCK Boss Lady, Tabitha. Giving an account of an event known as the Free Fall Massacre.
Click HERE to read Knock Knock Episode 17:
The rest of the series is free to read HERE on Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.
That’s not the only trouble at Beckingridge Manor. Ernest’s son, George, has been a complete handful lately. Enlisted to help is handsome, talented music teacher VINCENT BAINES in the hope that music lessons can give the little boy something more positive to focus on.
Click HERE to read Vivika Widow’s hit novella MAESTRO.
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When you are the biggest financial institution in the Shady City it makes you a target for those who look to gain by any means necessary.
It’s easy to find yourself lost in the offices of the Beckingridge Firm.
Ernest Beckingridge didn’t want any of it. He wanted to be a magician but Gramps scoffed at the idea so he was shackled into a suit, a power tie wrapped around his neck and locked in the dungeon that was the penthouse office of Beckingridge Tower.
Ernest Beckingridge: CEO of Beckingridge Financial Empire
Standing as one of the tallest buildings in the city, Beckingridge Tower is home to the wealth of the most powerful families of Coldford including WEIR, OWEN, and DOYLE. It takes a pretty big place to hold that kind of responsibility.
Mr and Mrs Heath are two HIGH FLIERS from the Beckingridge Firm
The financial industry in Coldford is often called the Shark Tank and you need pretty sharp teeth to swim the waters successfully. This was something poor Ernest couldn’t cope with. The final nail in his meek coffin came when the firm came under attack and fifty nine clients and staff were pushed from the Tower’s top floor in an event known as the Free Fall Massacre.
Ernest Beckingridge describes a phone call in the middle of the night that alerted him to the Free Fall Massacre.
With the firm leadership in contention the richest powerhouse in Coldford could either fall to Ernest’s sister ELIZABETH, better known as the Dragon Lady for her eccentricity and her temper or his son GEORGE, famous for being kidnapped by his music teacher, having a body count by age eight and last seen pledging KAPPA SO.
As a grown up George still keeps the stuffed animal he named Cecil close.
Whilst I digested the information that I was uncovering and as the city readied itself for the trial of the KNOCK KNOCK BOSS LADY, the lady herself was still in custody at Coldford City Police Department. She wouldn’t be transferred to the MONTEFORT women’s correctional facility until after she had been served justice. The Montefort had homed such women as the Confessions Killer, Tracey Campbell, who murdered half of her anatomy class in a series of brutal killings throughout her second year at Filton Medical School. It was also where RUTH BROWING still resided. Ruth had slaughtered her daughter, born of incest to her father, and fed her body through a wood chipper. Tabitha was set to make home among such women and I dare say she would fit right in, but as always other plans were in motion.
She looked around her four bare walls and grumbled. She was angry, thirsty and loathed that they had taken her signature red dress from her. She noticed something small, black at her feet. She flicked it with the toe of the most hideous shoes they could ever find for her. It was the body of a roach. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and unnecessarily stepped on it, listening to the sound of it crunch underneath her foot. The door began to unlock.
“You gotta visitor Tabitha,” he announced free from expression.
“About fucking time too,” she groaned.
Hickes led her along a corridor. She was surprisingly quiet.
“Just five minutes, mind,” Hickes warned as he opened the door. “I’m taking a huge risk as it is.”
Inside the room sat a middle-aged woman with greying black hair and a stern expression on an otherwise attractive face. She was Agnes Wilde, the Broker and co-owner of the club, lover of the old Baroness and, to Tabitha, Aunt Aggy.
Tabitha smiled excitedly but she kept her movements slow and easy. She didn’t want to give any excuse to pull her away. Hickes stepped outside and left them alone.
“You took your sweet time,” complained Tabitha.
Agnes pursed her lips. “Believe it or not, no one in this city is willing to defend you. The LAW MAKERS are shutting down and revoking licences of anyone who even considers trying. This is a fine mess you’re in. They are appointing someone of their own choosing.”
“So, who have they got?” she asked.
“I’ve only heard through the grapevine but RONNIE OWEN seems to be the top contender.”
Tabitha gasped. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! An Owen? The last time an Owen came anywhere near me I just about cut his cock off.” She could see Agnes’ expression was not changing. “They think they’ve got me backed into a corner but when have you ever known me to not come out fighting.”
Agnes softened. Her eyes glazed. She tried to remain strong but seeing Tabitha in her current predicament wasn’t easy. “They could put you away for a long time Tabs. They are looking to bring back the death penalty.”
Tabitha shrugged. “They don’t frighten me,” she said with some childish impetuousness.
“Tabs!” Agnes shot her a warning glare.
Tabitha raised her eyebrows. “I’m not afraid of those fuckers,” she maintained.
Agnes’ frustration began to show. “Then maybe you should give some thought to those who are frightened for you. Do you think I like seeing you like this? What about Tawn?”
At the mention of the Baroness Tabitha’s usual self-confident air clouded over.
“How is Aunt Tee?” She asked.
“I know this isn’t easy for you, but I need you to sign these,” said the Broker.
She was surprised when Tabitha gave little resistance. If there was anything in the world precious to her other than Tawny, it was the club. That was how Agnes knew what she had to say next was not going to be received well. She waited until the signature – a curly, childish scrawl – was on the page.
“I’m thinking of selling the club,” she said.
Tabitha’s eyes widened. “Over my dead fucking body!”
Agnes returned the tension. “Yeah? Well carry on the way you are, lady, and that might just be exactly what happens. I’m not having that on my conscience. Enough is enough. I’m ending this.”
Tabitha folded her arms across her chest and pouted. She growled but her eyes pleaded in a way that was rarely seen.
“I’m stuck in here with those fuckers trying to do everything they can to get to me and you’re pissing your granny panties?”
Agnes shook her head. “I’m being cautious. We’ve already lost enough.”
Hickes interrupted. “Time’s up,” he announced.
Tabitha was still frustrated. “There’s no way that was five minutes, you bald sack of shit.”
Hickes refused to let himself be drawn in. “It’s as long as you’re getting.”
Agnes stood. “I wish I could convince you to be cautious,” said Agnes.
Tabitha returned her self-confident smile. “Just don’t sell my fucking club.”
Agnes stopped by the door and raised an eyebrow. “It’s our club, remember.”
Tabitha shrugged. She thought about it then she asked of The Broker, “talk to that reporter, Sam. If anyone is going to help, it will be him.”
She had a lot of faith in me. I just wanted to get to the truth. I wasn’t sure that would leave Tabitha in the best of lights.
Leaving, Agnes said to Hickes, “look after her. Please.”
When half the city wanted to throne her and the other half wanted to throttle her that would be no easy task.
“Oh, and Hicksey,” she called down the hall after them. “Call the exterminators. You’ve got a bug problem in here and it’s fucking disgusting.”
***
AGNES had been at the Knock Knock Club since its founding. It was she and Tawny who opened it initially. So, to me she was a person of great interest. With the gagging order issued by Judge Doyle’s office I was holding back on pressing her for an interview. Therefore, it came as a shock to me when she contacted me first on an unknown number. With Tabitha expressing an interest in opening up to me I couldn’t resist the opportunity in spite of the danger of the Law Makers.
There were a few topics she demanded stayed off the record. One was Tawny and another was the whereabouts of the mayor. “I don’t know where he is and I don’t much care,” she said over the phone. “If you can’t agree to those terms, I have nothing to say to you.”
She was tough. I couldn’t expect anything less from someone who brought a place like the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB to life. Tabitha claimed she had reasons behind her madness. My main objective was finding out what they were and if there was any truth to her claims.
I had been waiting in Bobby’s Lunchbox for about fifteen minutes. I decided to arrive early so that if any Law Makers surveillance were on me it would seem natural. I was watching through the window and sipping a cup of coffee when a middle-aged woman with greying, dark hair entered. She had a pretty face, vacant of expression.
***
The Seaton area in the Mid East of the city seemed a whole world away from the rest. It was quiet, untouched like it had no idea what had just happened down in the Shanties. The people there didn’t care that the Knock Knock Club had been burned out. Why should they care about a filthy cabaret club in a part of the city that was home to drug addicts, car thieves and whores? Perhaps if they read about it in the newspapers they would sigh a ‘that’s a shame’ when they learned that Jack, the old compère, had died along with several of the dancer girls. They might shrug a shoulder of pity if they read that many of the MACK workers from the DISTILLERY had perished in the fire. The dead included Orla Mack – cousin to the then head of the Mack clan, Brendan. That was, of course, if the papers printed the story – the proper story. The DAILY sure as Hell wouldn’t. None of them would tell that those dancer girls were gunned down on the stage. They wouldn’t tell that Jack – dear old Jack – caught a bullet in his right temple as he rushed to protect them. That was when the petrol bombs were thrown in.
‘KAPPA fucking SO,’ Agnes thought to herself bitterly. They were responsible but no one would ever know. She couldn’t tell anyone. She had already lost too much. She remembered screaming at TAWNY to get off the stage as bullets rained in from expert marksmen. The BARONESS was holding a dead dancer girl in her arms, refusing to move as the carnage intensified.
Now it was quiet. Apart from the occasional steps of The Fleet (a group from Bellfield led by the Macks), who had accompanied her to her Seaton apartment, it was silent. She had been sat on the sofa, trying to ward off a migraine when the phone rang. She sat up with a start and lifted the phone from the floor. The sofa and the phone were the only pieces of furniture there. The apartment was being leased out whilst she and Tawny lived at Knock, Knock. It took a little persuading from Agnes but luckily the tenant was able to vacate at short notice.
“Yes?” She answered. “Hello?”
She had only given the number to a few. She swallowed to contain her nerves. She was met by an automated voice.
“You have an interior call from HARBOUR HOUSE. Do you accept?”
“Yes,” Agnes declared. “Yes,” she added again for extra clarification. Holding the phone in one hand she reached up to her forehead with the other to continue easing her headache.
“Hello?” Came the musical tones of a HATHFIELD accent. “I can’t hear anything on this bloody thing,” Tawny complained to someone beside her.
“I’m here Tawn,” Agnes spoke up.
“Oh, thank God,” she declared. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I’m just a little shaken up. Some of the Macks are with me.”
“Listen, I need you to go and fetch Tabby,” she requested.
Tawny calls from Harbour House.
“I’ve tried to reach her,” said Agnes. “Rob wouldn’t allow her to come to the phone.”
“No,” Tawny said urgently. “I mean I need you to go and fetch her. You have to bring her to you.”
Agnes shook her head. “After what happened the last time you took her away from that house…”
There were three things important in the life of the Baroness. One was Agnes, who she would give her life for, the second was the wretched club that she adored, and the third was her niece, Tabitha, who she saw as the most precious thing in the world. Agnes learned quickly that Tabitha was a handful. She was strong-willed, foul-mouthed and with all the makings of a sociopath, but one thing was clear; her aunts were everything to her. Through this, Agnes came to see a loving side of the would-be Boss Lady that not many others did. Whilst she couldn’t condone her behaviour, they grew close through their mutual love of Tawny and the damned club. Because it couldn’t be denied, Agnes’ blood flowed through Knock Knock too. Where most people only saw a seedy cabaret club, to her it was life.
“Rob and Linda are never going to let me take her away,” Agnes tried to explain.
Tawny was sounding much better, much more like herself but she still wasn’t seeing the practicalities. Her worry intensified. “Please,” she cried. “You have to get her away from them. They will kill her. Offer them money if that’s all they really want.”
Agnes sighed. “They aren’t going to murder her Tawn.”
“You don’t know that. If those filthy Owens want to silence her, they will.”
Agnes had grown used to Tawny being on the eccentric side. It was part of her charm. The BROKER was the sensible counter balance but given the lives lost already, it wasn’t complete paranoia that was speaking. It wasn’t outlandish to consider that something unfortunate could happen to the little girl.
“I’ll go and speak to her and her parents,” Agnes offered.
“When you see my brother, tell him I’m going to string him up by the balls,” stated the Baroness.
Agnes laughed. “I’ll be sure to let him know.”
“As soon as I know you and Tabby are safe, they can do whatever they like to me in here. They can stick an electrode up ma arse or plug me into the national grid if they like.”
Agnes found herself shaking her head but with a smile on her lips. “They aren’t going to give you electro shock.”
“They think I’m off ma rocker,” replied Tawny.
“You are,” Agnes teased.
Tawny laughed. It was a comforting, melodic sound. “Maybe a little.”
A bleeping sound signalled the call was to end. “Oh, come on now,” said Tawny away from the receiver. “It looks like I have to go,” she added, her voice coming back clearer.
“It’s so good to hear your voice.” Agnes’ migraine was starting to ease off.
“Recorded for quality and training purposes,” Tawny imitated the automated voice. The phone bleeped again. “Alright. I hear ye,” she said to it.
“I’ll be in to see you soon,” said Agnes.
“Bring Tabby with you,” requested Tawny.
Agnes’ heart began beating a little faster. “I’ll do the best I can.” It was all she could promise.
***
Agnes had been raised in Filton. She returned to visit her brother, Henry, often but it never felt like home anymore. The beautiful mansion homes were like fairy tale castles. But fairy tale castles could be oppressive, even to foul-mouthed, uncontrollable little princesses like Tabitha. It didn’t matter what trouble she had gotten into, Agnes wanted to at least discuss with Rob letting Tabs visit her aunt in Harbour House. But Rob was an unreasonable man from what Agnes could deduce – completely different from his sister. Agnes had brokered some tough deals over the years but this was going to be the most difficult. There was so much to ask for and so much at stake. Things were becoming worse for Tawny. Sometimes she would call and she would laugh and joke as though nothing had happened, other times she would sound so subdued and slurred from the medicine they were giving her to keep her calm, other times she would just weep.
Rob’s home in Filton was a two-story building in a quiet corner. It wasn’t as elaborate as some of the mansion houses. She didn’t want to arrive unannounced with some Fleet in tow. It would only be met with aggression and deals aren’t made easily with angry people. This required a sweetened approach. So, she asked the boys to stay nearby. It was likely the Owens were watching.
The last time Tawny had been at the house to check on Tabby, Rob and Linda had called the police. It was all Agnes could do to stop Tawny from going back and physically removing the girl with as many of the Fleet as she could when the official notice from JUDGE DOYLE came through stating her petition for custody had been denied. It also stated that any investigations into the claims of a paedophile ring involving Jerry Owen were closed and wouldn’t be taken any further.
Trouble or not, no little girl deserved to be sold like property to sleazy old men as far as Agnes was concerned. Tabs was no angel but she was like a daughter to Tawny, and for that Agnes loved her too and would do anything she could to remove her from such a home life.
As beautiful as the homes in the northern town of Filton were, it was in the grotty little cabaret club that Tabitha was safest and most at home. If things had been different for Tabitha she would never have been without the love and support a troubled little girl sorely needed. As it happened, Doyle’s refusal of the custody petition had been the beginning.
She rang the bell but someone had left the door open having pulled it closed behind without locking. It likely hit off the lock and bounced back open without them noticing. Filton was a safe area. People rarely locked their doors but Agnes felt it a little strange to be left ajar. She didn’t know if Rob and Linda had staff. Most Filton people did but from what Tawny had said they were merely playing posh. That could have been a little bitterness talking. Linda had lived in Filton her whole life. Her father was a driver for the Owens. The father was handsomely paid and led the team of drivers required to carry the family from point A to point B. Linda had even made friends with some of them. It was how Rob and Linda had come to know Jerry.
Filton life suited Rob McKinney. According to his sister, to be hob-nobbing with the rich folk was all he ever wanted. When he and Tawny first came to the city from the Hathfield Bay island they parted on bad terms. She went south to the Shanties busking for her supper and he north, glass collecting in some of Filton’s most exclusive restaurants until opportunity presented itself with Linda and her family as they dined in Delphine – the finest Luen cuisine in the city. They didn’t speak again until an early morning call came to the club from Rob to tell her she had become an aunt. As Linda’s family flocked around, he must have realised his sister was all he had.
Agnes pressed the bell again. Its knell echoed inside the bell of the large house. A breeze charging through pushed the door open further.
“Rob? Linda?” Agnes announced her presence with a light knock on the door. “Agnes Wilde. I’ve been trying to call.”
She stepped inside a long, dark hallway listening for voices or life within. There was none.
“Tabs?” called Agnes up the large, open staircase for the Baroness’s niece.
She first made her way to the Den. A television had been left on pause. The remote control was discarded on the floor. The cushions from the sofa had been cast across the room. Agnes’ heart started to race.
“Tabs?” she called out again. “Rob? Linda? I don’t want to cause trouble. I just want to take her to visit her aunt. I will bring her straight home.” Agnes attempted but there was no response.
In the kitchen a drawer had been pulled free of its resting place. A clutter of cutlery lay discarded on a shining, freshly mopped floor.
Agnes clamped her hand to her mouth. Something had happened. The cold house had the ache of death about it.
In Linda’s dressing room the wardrobe of expensive dresses had been left open. Some had been pulled from the hangers and they lay discarded on the floor. Tabitha was nowhere to be found
Now Agnes was really concerned.
The door of the master bedroom was open. There were three bodies. The slim, toned, naked frame of Linda lay across the bed. Her ear had been ripped off. The bulky frame of Rob with a knife wound in his ribs had fallen on the floor. There was a third Agnes didn’t recognise. She had a knife wound in her chest.
Without thinking, Agnes, called the Fleet in. They helped her dispose of the bodies and clean the scene to make it look as though Rob and Linda had gone on a trip.
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
Coldford Veterinary clinic was the busiest new recruit Alex Ferrald had ever known it. Fresh out of Vet School Alex found himself thrown in the deep end. He had just sent Mrs Rowsely home with her boxer dog in a fresh cast. The appropriately named Fussy just couldn’t stay out of oncoming traffic. Luckily it had been a bike that had hit him this time and not a car. “You really should keep him on a leash,” Alex warned her. As he leaned over to check the cast Fussy licked him. He could feel Mrs Rowsely’s stare so he kept his head down. When she was gone Alex gave a sigh of relief and dropped himself into the plastic clinic room chair. He looked at the clock. Appointments had been cleared for the next couple of hours but just as he began to contemplate the tuna fish sandwich he had packed into his bag the vet nurse Kayleigh opened the door. “We’ve got an emergency, Mr Ferrald. All the other vets are busy. Can you take it?” The girl in his room made him bashful – more reluctant than under the glare of Mrs Rowsely. “The name?” “Penn,” she explained. “Penn? As in the PENN AUCTION HOUSE? Is it Rita?” He asked. The family were well known. Rita being the mother and her triplet sons being the main rulers of City Main. “Reggie,” Kayleigh confirmed. “One of the triplets.” “I … errr … “ stammered Alex. “What’s the animal?” “Rats. Two of them. He’s already filled in the paperwork. “You better send them in then,” Alex resolved taking a deep breath. “I’ll have a look.” Just as Kayleigh cleared the entrance her petite frame and braces, laced smile was replaced by a much larger, looming presence with a mop of blonde hair, dressed all in black. The Penn triplets had a reputation. Most people in the Shady City knew them. Violent, wild, respected. Their reputation had been passed down from their father – Reginald – the so called King of City Main. So when Reggie pushed a carrier holding two fat rats into Alex’s arms the mild mannered vet was taken aback. “Can you help them doctor?” He asked. “Some low life fucker has given them poison.” Alex was thinking vets aren’t generally titled doctor but who was he to correct one of the triplets? He opened the carry case. One was darker than the other. One was still on it’s feet, sniffing the air. The other lay down breathing harshly. Both were clean. “Are they pets?” REGGIE frowned. “What else would they be?” Alex focused on the sicker of the two rodents. “I just mean … erm … where would they have come into contact with poison? Do you know what kind of poison it was?” “Some fucking scumbag playing silly beggars. I keep them at the warehouse normally. It was broken into. They only got as far as those two. Sick fuck …” Alex handled the sick rat softly. He turned it in his freshly gloved hands. “Do you have some time to wait? I’ll put them on an IV and I can give them a transfusion and see how it goes.” Reggie was smiling but to the rat rather than the vet. He looked up and when he noticed Alex was watching him he confirmed. “That one’s name is Smash.” “After the lonesome nights character?” Alex responded without thinking. Lonesome Nights was an online video game his artist friend, David Finn, had introduced him to. It involved hunting prostitutes and stealing cars. Whilst Alex found the idea of theft and prostitution distasteful there was something quite therapeutic about wandering aimlessly around the virtual city. The latest release from Coby Games had made it look a lot like Coldford. “You play?” Reggie asked as he anxiously watched Alex take blood from Smash and lay him gently in a cage. “A little,” Alex replied as he opened the carrier for the second rodent. The second rat still had the energy to run and made a break for it the moment the door was opened. SLAM! Reggie’s palm clashed on the table catching the rat by the tail. He pulled it back and clutched it by the body. “This one is Jacket. You see how his fur is a little darker around the top of his body? It looks like he’s wearing a jacket. I never used to name them. It was easier when they didn’t have names.” “Uh Huh,” Alex replied, unsettled. He took the more boisterous rat and extracted blood as quickly as he could. “I’ll have the bloods checked so we can know what type of poison it was. I’ll put them on a drip in the meantime and see how the fair.” “Thanks doctor,” Reggie replied with genuine gratitude. “Errr,” Alex averted his gaze. “I’ll have to give them a few hours at least. I can call you when I know more.” Alex felt a tremble as Reggie brushed the mass of blonde curls back from his face and looked behind him with a cool stare. “Take care of them. The girl at the desk has my number.” He drew his phone from his back pocket and busied himself with a text message as he left the room. When alone with the rats Alex gave another sigh. This time it wasn’t relief. Jacket seemed fine. Alex was confident with some treatment he could go home. Smash on the other hand was sniffing very closely to that eternal rat trap. Could timid Alex really be the one to tell one of the Penn triplets he had lost their precious pet under his care?
***
“They back doctor?” Reggie Penn came bounding in the following morning. For the third time Alex resisted the urge to correct the towering presence of the youngest triplet. He had called the clinic three times the previous afternoon to check up on his rats. He finally gave up when he spoke to Alex himself who explained he was going to keep them overnight for further observation but both (thankfully Smash took a turn for the better) were fine and looking well. Alex laid the carrier on the examination table. Both rats were squeaking with delight. The vet was glad to have them off his hands. He thought Reggie would have taken the carrier but instead he opened it up and plunged his long fingers and drew the rat out. He sat Jacket on his shoulder and held Smash out in front of him. “I thought you were a goner,” he cheered, tickling the rats twitching nose. When he noticed Alex was watching him the vet averted his gaze. “Luckily the rodenticide used was slow acting. I gave a few transfusions for Smash to flush out the poison and one for Jacket to be safe,” explained the vet. “Slow acting, huh?” Reggie kept his focus on the rats. “I’ll give you some Vitamin K1. Keep giving them that for the next month and they should be fine.” Reggie put them back in their carrier. His phone bleeped again. He pulled it from the back pocket of his black jeans, checked it and stored it away again. “I really owe you.” Alex’s eyes widened. “It’s just my job. No worries.” He took a deep breath. “Happy to help.” The last thing. He wanted was to have a Penn indebted to him.
Lonesome Nights is the most popular game in Coldford.
***
By the time Alex got home he was looking forward to washing off the day. “Alex! Wait up!” Alex turned. His chest tightened as he caught sight of blonde hair. Luckily it wasn’t a Penn. It was the unkempt bleached hair of his friend, DAVID FINN. “Thank God it’s you,” Alex gasped. David narrowed his gaze. “Who else would it be?” I had one of the Penns in my clinic today. David asked, “which one?” “Reggie. The one with all the rats.” “I bet that was an experience,” David jested as they slowly started to climb the steps. The Penn Auction House had shown some interest in David’s work. The sent one of their acquisitions agents to liaise with the Harper Dalway gallery that held most of David’s pieces but he hadn’t met the triplets personally. “Luckily I managed to save the rats.” David laughed. “That’s good. You might have ended up in one of the cages.” He stuck his tongue out and made a comical imitation of a man dying. Alex punched his arm good naturedly. “It’s not funny,” he said but he was now laughing too. His phone beeped so he stopped on the steps to check it. It was a notification from the Lonesome Nights game. REG3 SENT YOU A FRIEND REQUEST. “Fuck!” Alex exclaimed. He showed David. David shrugged. “You better not ignore it. Do you want to have rats put up your arse?” Alex stared at him in horror. “True story, man,” the artist confirmed with a shrug. Alex accepted the request. Just has he made to store his phone away it beeped again. REG3 SENT YOU 5000 COINS Alex had been given a generous amount of credit to use within the game. A message followed. THANKS AGAIN DOCTOR. HAVE A GOOD QUALITY PROSTITUTE ON ME. David laughed more heartily when Alex showed him the new development. “Can you believe this?” Alex exclaimed. David grinned. “You should ask him for real money or a real prostitute.” The both continued joshing until entered Alex’s apartment. Alex’s mind turned back to why the rats had been poisoned in the first place. “Why would someone do that?” Alex wondered. David picked up the copy of the Coldford Daily the downstairs neighbour put through the door as she did every day when she had finished reading. “Those guys have enemies. People out there are sick.” Alex dropped into the sofa. “Well I hope it doesn’t happen again. I don’t think I’m cut out to be Reggie Penn’s personal vet.” David had been flicking through to the sports pages for the latest news on the Coldford Athletic football team when he stumbled on an article from Sam Crusow. “Well I don’t think they’ll be doing it again anyway.” He showed Alex the headline that caught his attention. MAN FOUND DEAD IN A NORTH SIDE LOCK UP. Coroner’s report confirms death by rat poison. Coincidence? Not very likely.
Alex Ferrald is a kind soul. No matter what people tell him about his friend, David Finn, who is descending into drugs he always stands by him. He knows the truth behind David’s addiction.
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The Shady City can be a great place for those wanting to make a name for themselves. But if you do want to cause a stir you best be ready for who’s watching.
In a city filled to the brim with corruption those in power will stop at nothing to make sure things run their way.
The law is the law and it stops for no man, not even moral reporters who just want to get to the heart of the truth. That truth Is damn ugly Sam, just to you know.
He went knocking on the doors of the KNOCK KNOCK club in search of answers to the whereabouts of the missing mayor. That was one Hell of a can of worms. It’s not often reporters get on the inside.
Volume 1 of the hit graphic novel series is free to readHERE on Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clickingHERE.
In the largest office of the Law Makers, adjacent to the COURT HOUSE, dwelled a figurehead that loomed over the city like a great vengeful deity. JUDGE KARYN DOYLE. She began her career as the youngest district court judge in Coldford history and the first woman to sit on the Children’s Services Committee. She was a pioneer in a lot of ways. Justice was always her objective but what did that mean? On the face of it, that meant wrongdoers were put behind bars. People like TABITHA and the HEADLINERS wouldn’t be tolerated in her city and she would stop at nothing until satisfactory justice had been served. Justice is a set of scales though. They had to weigh up and balance. Therefore, justice was also seeing families made homeless because of unpaid rent. Justice was tearing families apart because fathers didn’t have work permits. Justice was punishing someone for fighting to protect him or herself. Justice was having a young girl’s underwear on display because some depraved rapist took advantage of her. Justice could see a rich, powerful family using their influence to protect them from slander. After everything I’ve seen in the Shady City, nothing surprised me. Justice, however, was supposed to be blind. Cold facts and evidence were supposed to be the deciding factors. Tabitha had committed some horrendous crimes and she would pay for them, but how would those scales of justice weigh up against her? Would justice even listen to the truth or would the sight of the red dress and an unrelenting attitude blind them? Tabitha wouldn’t break easily. What worried me was the extent the LAW MAKERS, who had her in their grasp, would go to in order to make sure that she did. Justice loved breaking down those who would not follow her laws. She fed on it. Tabitha deserved punishment but who else would come to harm in the process? For the time being she still had two well-polished fingers held up at them and she taunted. “You know where to find me. Come and get me.” There was nothing they could do. There were rules to follow and what was justice without rules? But as AGENT LYDIA, relieved of her under cover duties at the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB and her supervising partner AGENT KIM climbed the steps of the Law Makers office the rules were about to change.
The agents stood before the large desk. The Law Maker symbols on the pillar behind her felt like the eyes of Gods watching. Judge Doyle remained silent until Buddy had cleared the room.
“Congratulations on your success,” the Judge broke the heavy silence. “I hear she is now in custody.” She referred to Tabitha, Boss Lady of the Knock Knock Club.
Kim responded, “Yes, Your Honour. We have also taken the Penn triplets into custody.”
“A job well done then,” stated Doyle coldly. The mother of the triplets, Rita Penn, didn’t take much to do with the running of things ever since the father of the triplets, Reginald, left them the Auction House. It was their chance to bring order to both the Shanties, home of the Knock Knock Club, and City Main, the area that housed the Penn Empire.
“Agent Lowe,” the judge turned her attention to Lydia. “I will expect a full report by tomorrow. We need to move things along quickly whilst we can.”
Lydia nodded in agreement. “Yes, ma’am.” Lydia knew better than most how much of a slippery fish Tabitha could be so time was of the essence.
“The Bailiffs will take it from here but I do have a specific request for you, agent.”
Lydia looked to Kim first then back at the Judge to wait for her instructions. “I have issued a gagging order on the reporter, Sam Crusow. I can’t have him talking to anyone about what happened until trial is fixed. Am I correct in saying you formed something of a bond with him? You were the first to recover him from the club and you testified to his innocence in the death of his colleague, MADELINE LOWER.”
“I had a little chance to talk to him. Getting him on the inside is the thing that gave us what we needed to bring Tabitha in. She pitted his colleague against him and he defended himself. He’s a good man.” Lydia spoke warmly on my behalf. Doyle pursed his lips. “Good man or not, reporters are dangerous. There will be enough fuss to shut out from the press because of this and I can’t have someone with his insight at large. He is a key witness and as such I want you to stay close to him. For his own protection of course and to make sure he does not under any circumstances violate my order. You have a rapport with him. Keep him calm and keep him safe.”
Lydia agreed, “Yes ma’am.”
So the agent was tasked with being by my side. As trial was set and events continued to spill out I would be glad to have her close by me.
As they stepped outside the Court House into the warm afternoon air Lydia felt ill at ease.
Lydia expressed her concern to her mentor.
“Something is a bit off about this,” she said. Her instincts were telling her something was wrong but until more motives revealed themselves she couldn’t quite put her finger on what that was.
Kim agreed. “I know, pet. Just keep your eyes open.”
“Tabitha will use any trick she has to get away,” added Lydia. She had seen some of the extents the Boss Lady had been willing to go to to get her way.
Kim shook her head. “Then let’s hope we’ve delivered her to the one person in the city who can put her away for a very long time.”
Judge Doyle was already aware of the questions that were formulating in my head. For example, where did this bad blood between the Boss Lady and The Judge first begin?
***
“Case file 03300347,” announced the clerk. The room was almost empty. A woman sat at the back holding two boys close to her. Tabitha watched them. One of the boys looked up and managed a small smile. Tabitha returned with a similar gesture. None of the family looked like they had slept much in days. Their black skins were lack lustre and the mum’s eyes were blood shot.
“Case file 03300347. McInney. Step forward,” the clerk ordered.
She faced down Fullerton bulldozers, she faced CPD but she hadn’t yet faced Judge Doyle.
Aunt Tee patted Tabitha’s arm. “Alright honey, it’s now or never.” She shuffled from the pew they were sat in, a few rows in front of the family. Tabitha waited patiently. A cold draught blew around her with her aunt’s curvy frame removed. She had been staying at the Knock Knock Club for the past few weeks. Her parents were of course furious, but they didn’t care enough to retrieve her. TAWNY, the old Baroness of the club swore to her that she didn’t have to go anywhere. Not at least until they had had their day in court. Tawny saw that her niece was nervous that morning so she tried to fill her with confidence.
“It’s all about creating a good impression,” said the aunt. She held a pair of old spectacles to her face. “Business woman,” she pulled them away. “Gal on the go.” She put the glasses to her face again. “Business woman.” She pulled them away. “Party girl!” Tabitha had giggled. Her smile calmed Tawny’s own nerves. Before she faced the Judge she flashed her niece a confident smile. Tabitha could see the fear behind her eyes. There was so much at stake. “Good morning, ma’am,” greeted Tawny keenly. Judge Doyle offered an emotionless stare from behind her desk. She motioned for Tawny to come closer. “I see you have raised a petition for custody,” began the Judge. “The child in question is your niece. Is that correct?”
Tawny answered smoothly. “Yes ma’am. That is correct.” She gave a fleeting glance back at Tabitha as though she was checking she was still there. “Both of her natural parents are still living?”
Tawny agreed. “Yes, ma’am. They reside in FILTON.”
“I see,” Doyle mused. She flicked through some pages of notes that lay on her bench. “You do realise it is never the intention of this court to remove a child from their parents unless there are extenuating circumstances.”
Tawny remained cool but the emotion in her voice wavered a little. “There are circumstances, ma’am, really dire ones.”
Doyle pushed the notes aside. She wanted to address the petitioners directly. She leaned forward a little and fixed her gaze on the Baroness. Her eye and her neck were fine in those days. Her scars non-existent.
“Then why don’t you explain it to me.”
Tawny took a deep breath. She hadn’t wanted to discuss what had happened in such a public forum for Tabitha’s sake but she was left with no choice.
“My brother and my sister-in-law accepted money in exchange for the prostitution of my niece.”
Judge Doyle’s expressionless deportment fell into a severe frown. She reached for her notes and again flicked through them.
“That is a pretty damning accusation,” stated the Judge.
Tawny fidgeted with the blazer she wore in an attempt to seem official. “I was appalled when I heard ma’am. She’s just a little girl.”
The judge gave no clue to her thinking in her expression. “I see no police report here.” Tawny had to admit. “It wasn’t reported.”
As the Judge rested back in her chair to observe Tawny clearer, a shadow cast across her eyes.
“Why ever not? Surely if you found out such a thing it would be your first course of action? A crime of that magnitude against the child should have been reported?”
“My brother has some pretty powerful friends. It wouldn’t have helped. That’s why I wanted to appeal to you directly, ma’am. I was worried it wouldn’t reach the right ears.”
“And you were there? You saw this exchange take place?”
“No,” Tawny had to admit. “But Tabitha told me about it. My sister-in-law’s family have been drivers for the Owen family for years. They were having a party one night and made Tabitha their center focus like she was some kind of prize. Reverend Jerry Owen was the one who organised it. He was the one that gave them the money.”
“I know Reverend Owen personally. He is a very well-respected member of the community, a charitable man. Are you saying he raped her?”
Tawny shook her head. “He didn’t get the chance to. She fought him off like a champ and ran to me.”
“So he never actually touched her?”
Tawny frowned, “What difference does that make?”
Judge Doyle waved for her to be quiet. “Suppose I accept your story and this is true. Are you fully prepared to accept responsibility for your niece?”
Tawny beamed, thinking she was finally getting through the icy exterior. “Of course.”
“Where would she be schooled?” asked the Judge.
“I … errr …” Tawny hesitated. “In the city I guess.”
The Judge leaned over and whispered something to the clerk. He took note.
“And what is it you do?” The Judge asked her.
“I’m a performer. I own a club in the city. The Knock Knock Club.”
Without looking at Tawny, Judge Doyle began taking notes. “I’ve heard of the Knock Knock club. It has quite the reputation. A night club isn’t exactly the appropriate place for a child.”
Tawny replied, “Maybe not ma’am but she has had more love and support there than she ever did at home. Ye have no idea what they’ve put that girl through!” As she became more desperate her Hathfield Bay accent started to creep in.
The judge read from the notes. “I see you have a partner.”
“Yes, a loving woman. Agnes.”
Judge Doyle looked up. Her focus locked on Tawny again. “I notice that she isn’t here with you. Is she also willing to accept responsibility for the child?”
Tawny tried to mask her frustration but it spilled into her words. “She loves Tabitha just as much as I do.”
Judge Doyle abandoned her notes and crossed her arms in front of her. “Tell me something. Is your niece happy at home?”
Tawny frowned – an alien expression on her round, pleasant face. “Of course, she isn’t. Her parents are monsters.”
Judge Doyle returned to her notes once again. A silence washed over them as she read more. Footsteps in the corridor outside broke it. The woman at the back began sobbing silently on the shoulder of her eldest son, still wrapped up in her own drama.
Judge Doyle addressed Aunt Tee again. “I see here you had a mental breakdown – acute anxiety disorder. Is that correct?”
Tawny shook her head. She hadn’t prepared for that coming up. “That was a long time ago,” she explained. “I was overworked, setting things up with the club. I just want to protect my FUCKING NIECE! …” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry ma’am. I just want to protect my niece. She’s just a little girl.”
The gaze of the judge narrowed. “I understand that emotions are running high but you will conduct yourself properly in my court or I will dismiss your case immediately. It is admirable that you want to protect her but let’s not forget that this is a troubled young girl. I see she has been in Jefferson Hall no less than five times. Assault and battery, mostly.”
Jefferson Hall was the juvenile detention center in Coldford for wayward children who were too young to be sent to the Monte Fort or Coldford Correctional.
Tabitha stood up. “You don’t know me!” She screamed, startling the family in the back. “You can’t say that.”
Tawny turned and tried to usher her to sit down. “Tabby, honey,” she said. “It’s fine. Just sit. It’s okay.”
Tabitha clamped her hands on her hips and scowled. “That cunt thinks because she’s sat behind the big desk in her big fucking chair she knows me! Because of a few bits written on a piece of paper.”
Aunt Tee tried again. “Tabby, please just calm down.”
Judge Doyle gathered the notes she had authoritatively tapped together on her desk. Her lip curled and her nostrils flared.
“Young lady, approach my bench,” she spat with venom. Tabitha obliged but she was still furious. When she stood before her The Judge said, “this court will not tolerate that kind of behaviour and for that I am dismissing your case indefinitely.”
“No!” Tawny lost her composure. “You can’t! Please just give us a chance.”
“From what I see, you are not fit to be a guardian.”
Tawny stepped forward. “I’m begging you, ma’am, please. She is not safe in that house. Please just let her come with me.”
Judge Doyle kept an icy stare on the aunt. She passed her notes to her clerk. “I’ve made my decision,” stated she.
Tawny started to sob. “She’s a good girl really. She has had her problems but she’s a good girl. They tried to buy her so she could be passed around society perverts. They stripped her down and put her on display. Please don’t send her back to that. Let her stay with me where she will be safe.”
Doyle’s arm dropped. She looked at Tabitha. The mother at the back pulled her boys closer.
“Given these accusations I have no choice but to raise it with my colleagues at the Child Services Committee. They will investigate. You are to return her to her parents within the next 24 hours until this investigation is complete. If you fail to comply, I will revoke the licence of your club and you will find yourself under charges. Do you understand?”
Tawny pulled Tabitha closer to her.
“This isn’t over,” Tabitha growled.
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
“I love you Dennis.” CHLOE wept. “I love you more than anything. I really do.”
“Sit down,” REGGIE PENN – the youngest of the Penn triplets – shoved her dismissively away. Her thin, little body was unable to hold up against his strength. She fell against the wall and slipped down onto her bottom, weeping. MARCUS – the eldest triplet by minutes – circled DENNIS like a hyena stalking its prey. Dennis should have known. Nowhere in the Shady City was safe from her. He had been so careful in hiding Chloe. One of the clients must have sung.
Chloe wasn’t a KNOCK KNOCK girl though. TABITHA shouldn’t have even known about her. Surely a stern warning for using the club as a venue for prostitution would be called for? A debt to pay for the money he had collected perhaps? Dennis wondered if they had found out he had spoken to me, a reporter. The Penns were only at two-thirds of their strength but the odds were still stacked in their favour.
“I’ll pay you half of anything I earned,” Dennis pleaded.
Reggie laughed. Marcus remained stoic. Reggie’s grin was sinister under a mop of blonde hair. Clearly he was high on something.
“Don’t hurt him. I liked doing it,” Chloe called out. “He wanted to make money and I wanted to make him happy.”
Marcus’ lips tightened. Reggie folded his arms. Dennis knew this wasn’t going to be a stern warning. Tabitha was sensitive on certain subjects. He should know that better than most.
Marcus and his brother Reggie show club manager Dennis how serious they are.
“Pack him up for the AUCTION HOUSE,” was Marcus’ decision for Dennis. “The girl will come with us too.” Dennis’ chances of survival were becoming even more limited by the minute.
The room in the Auction House he had been taken to only offered one route of escape. The smell of the perfume Chloe had generously sprayed on (perfume Dennis had given her) masked the odour of damp rot from the old artifacts that would normally be kept there.
“C’mon guys. See sense in this. You’re businessmen. The girl told you she consented to it. She consented to all of it. I kept her safe. I’ll cut you in, all three of you.”
“You talk so much bullshit I can smell it on your breath you slithering cunt,” Reggie grinned. Marcus turned to him and with a gaze – no gesture or words – his brother fell silent.
“You are telling me that she consented to hundreds of men?” Marcus pressed.
“She was given her share,” Dennis replied.
Chloe pleaded, “I did it because I love him and I wanted him to be happy.”
Marcus ignored her. “You are telling me that she consented to being bound, beaten and left bloody?” He kept his steely stare focused on Dennis. Reggie loomed behind him.
“It was what the client wanted,” Dennis explained. Normally a man of silver-tongued words, they were falling flat for the former Knock Knock club manager.
“What about what she wanted? You took that choice away from her.”
Chloe leapt to her feet. “Please don’t hurt him!” She rushed at Reggie, her tiny fists pounded on his chest. He grabbed her narrow wrists.
“Would you look at this?!” he jested, shoving Chloe’s malnourished frame back into the chair again. She dropped her head into her hands and started to weep.
“You took that choice away from her,” Marcus repeated, “just like you took that choice away from all those other little girls.”
Dennis’ eyes widened. ‘Shit!’ he thought. They weren’t really there about prostituting Chloe after all. It was about his taste for young flesh. Underage flesh. Tabitha had been biding her time, torturing him. Finally, she was ready to deliver her punishment. It didn’t make any sense that she would leave it to the triplets though. She made Dennis her whipping boy years ago. Surely she would have wanted to be there for the finale. Without the bitch in the red dress pulling the strings of her triplet marionettes it seemed even more chilling, more uncertain.
“That hasn’t been an issue for a long time. I gave up everything. I gave up my family. Just ask the Boss Lady!”
Marcus flanked his right side. Dennis had a clear view of the doorway. He could take his chances and run for the door, but had he become so heartless and self-preserving that he would leave Chloe in the hands of the Penns? She was a victim as far as they were concerned. But if Dennis fled, who knows what they would do to deliver their own brand of justice.
“I’m giving you a choice. Life or death?” Marcus stated, his voice booming an echo against the old walls of the Auction House.
“Life, Dennis! Live with me,” Chloe screamed.
Reggie clasped her chin. His thick blonde hair concealed some of the spark behind his eyes. “If you don’t shut up and let us do our job, I’m going to cut him open from tit to toe.”
“Reg!”
Reggie looked back at his brother. “She’s really grinding me. Her whining voice got on my last nerve about a half hour ago.”
“Let me go. I’ll go far away. You’ll never have to hear from me again. I’ll disappear,” Dennis put in.
Marcus needed confirmation. “So you are choosing life?”
Dennis hadn’t survived as long as he had without having his wits about him. He was shrewd enough to know that whatever the Penns had planned for him, death would be preferable. But he had his son, MILO, to think about. He hadn’t seen his boy in years. He would be so grown up by now. He wondered if the head of thick, dark hair he had been born with would have lightened or if it was still the same. OLIVIA, his ex wife, had wanted to change the world in her own little way, make it a better place. She thought she had been helping those little girls by bringing them into her home as a social worker. She didn’t know she had been bringing them into the clutches of a predator. Tabitha had been one of those girls. She had been the one to tame that predator, removing his sharp teeth and his appetite along with it.
“Life,” Dennis agreed.
Whatever horrors the triplets had to inflict would be nothing if it meant seeing Milo again. Marcus turned with raised eyebrows to Reggie. Reggie drew a phone from the back pocket of the black jeans he wore. He dialled. There were a few rings that seemed to echo the beat of Dennis’ heart. Ring ring, ring ring.
“We’re going to need Cathie down here. Dinner for two.”
“No!” Dennis cried out. “No, I changed my mind. I choose death. Please! I choose death!”
“Too late,” said Marcus simply.
With a whack Dennis was knocked out cold. When Dennis came to again they had stripped him naked. He tried to run towards Chloe who waited hysterically in the hall. They caught him and dragged him back.
“Reg?” Dennis tried the younger. “Please don’t do this.”
“One thing I’ve learned,” Reggie replied. “People suck. And you are dregs of them all.”
Abandoning reason due to the danger he was in, Dennis did try to run but like a rabbit caught in a trap there was no logic to his escape.
***
An excruciating hour later the security door buzzed. Reggie answered and allowed entry to a skeletally thin man who reached over six foot tall. He was the monster of a man they called Big Cathie. He was so called because of the catheter in his hand attached to a drip he pulled behind him.
He wasn’t long for the world. Cathie was an AIDS patient. He would be dead soon by some disease or other, but in the meantime the Knock Knock Club kept him in a life of luxury because they found him most useful. The HIV virus proved a useful tool in threatening enemies when they refused to cooperate, and when all else failed a way of inflicting a slow and painful death. There were treatments of course but the virus was still enough to elicit fear in the most stubborn.
Cathie was treated like a king on behalf of the HEADLINERS. In return he would oblige their wishes. Tabitha was a good woman as far as Cathie was concerned. Life had dealt him a harsh blow. He had two sons and a wife he would be leaving behind. His wife didn’t want to know him but he could at least provide something for the boys. Tabitha guaranteed that in exchange he would use his horrible virus to infect creeps like Dennis.
Cathie had only met the club manager once but his reputation preceded him.
“Little kids? That’s fucking disgusting,” Cathie had agreed. The Penns saw infection with HIV as something of poetic justice.
“Look guys. This is unnecessary. If the Boss Lady thought I was so dangerous she wouldn’t want me running around when I could infect young girls, would she?” Dennis played the only hand he had left.
“Are you saying that if we do this we won’t be teaching you a lesson?” Reggie put to him.
“It could make me dangerous,” stated Dennis.
Reggie brushed his hair back and grinned. “Who says we were going to let you go?”
Marcus gripped Dennis by the throat. “It’s a terrible thing, taking a young girl before her time. It can be painful for her but it is also damaging in ways that will never heal. Your filthy stench will gnaw at her for the rest of her life. So you are now going to sample at least some of the hurt you inflicted on those innocents. This virus will eat away at you. Just like those little girls now afraid of anyone touching them, you will feel what that is like as disease courses through your veins. When you stole the innocence of those little girls you gave them a life sentence. The virus is going to steal a little part of you away every minute of every day. What will kill you? Measles? Rubella? Common cold? Who knows? Maybe you will have some idea of the torture you have put your victims through. They will never get over what you did to them just as you will never recover and you will never come within sight of your little boy again.”
“C’mon Marcus. This is just a scare tactic. I submit okay. I submit!”
As Reggie spoke, Dennis heard Tabitha’s voice. “No scare tactic this time. So you can drop your pants and bend over or you can take that poisoned cock in your mouth. You see? Choices!”
“I know Tabitha is a spiteful bitch but please …”
Reggie pointed to Cathie’s flaccid penis. “You better get that thing fired up. This one is a wriggler.”
Dennis was laid across the table. Cathie hovered in the corner like the threat of a biblical play. Marcus set about securing Dennis to the spot. Reggie climbed up on the table and sat down.
“You see the game last week Cath?” He asked Cathie.
He was referring to a football match between Coldford City and the western town of Bellfield. The father of the triplets, Reginald, was proud owner of City and the Penn Auction House sponsored them.
“I didn’t watch the second half,” Cathie admitted. “Those Bellfield bastards should never have gotten a penalty.”
Reggie nodded in agreement. “You are right there. Should have put four past them, if it weren’t for their fucking keeper.”
Cathie nodded consolingly. Meanwhile Marcus continued securing Dennis to the table.
When he finished, Reggie cheered. Dennis could feel the dirt and crumbs of the table against his bare stomach. Marcus was seated at the table’s end, watching with an expressionless, cold stare. Reggie was standing beside him. Chloe was still crying hysterically out in the hallway. She couldn’t quite comprehend what was happening. All she could say was, “Special cuddles for Dennis because I love him.”
Big Cathie had his hands clamped around Dennis’ waist.
“I know he’s an ugly cunt,” Reggie commented to Cathie. “Just close your eyes and think of City.”
***
Reggie stepped outside the Auction House where the air was cooler. The interior always seemed so claustrophobic to him despite its high ceilings and open rooms. It was why he preferred the warehouse just on the outskirts of City Main. It was in this warehouse he kept thirty-three cages of rats. Ever since his father gave him a black rat on his thirteenth birthday he’d had a fascination with rodents – rats especially. Next to humans rats were the most successful species on earth, but unlike humans they still operated on an instinctual level. That spoke volumes for them as far as Reggie Penn was concerned. He liked to watch them, observe their behaviour patterns and apply that to human interactions. He guessed he was a scientist at heart. If his mother hadn’t wanted him to take his share of their namesake Auction House he could have been in a lab somewhere, but there he was helping his brothers keep things running smoothly.
Observing the rats he noted there was nothing they wouldn’t do for a little gratification. If you pierced them with electrodes that stimulated an orgasm every time they pushed a button they would keep pressing on that button, forgetting all else until they died of thirst or starvation. Their young followed soon after. In that sense the rats weren’t unlike humans, Reggie decided. We too are always chasing gratification, whether it’s from a partner, alcohol, drugs or sugar. We always chase that feel-good.
Reggie also observed that no matter what he did to the rats they would always see him as master. He could burn their tails, make them watch as he cut off the heads of their young, it didn’t matter because the minute he brought them a food pellet he was a God to them. Humans could be trained in the same way. It just took a bit more time. He even tried it with his brother. Rumour has it he had tried to masturbate Simon to see what would happen. Simon beat him bloody for his troubles, resulting in a hospital trip and their mother being very upset. Not every experiment was a success.
Reggie did love his rats though. Initially he didn’t intend on naming them. It was more scientific that way. He fell in love with them though and they deserved names. Jacket was one of his favourites, named because of the brown pattern on their back looking like a jacket. His other favourite was Smash who derived his name from the Lonesome Nights game.
He put a cigarette between his lips and drew his phone from his pocket. It seemed like an appropriate time to update his social media pages. He couldn’t tell his followers about Cathie – although in Reggie’s mind it was probably the thing they would love to hear about, something hilarious that they would all get a kick out of. But he would play nice. He had already had to set up several new profiles because his previous ones had been shut down due to ‘violation of the rules.’
He was scrolling through pictures of scantily clad young women pressing LIKE (a lot like an orgasm button he supposed) when the phone started to ring. The caller I.D was one of their agents, Jeremy.
Reggie answered. “Yeah?” he enquired.
The agent sounded a little flustered. It wasn’t unlike Jeremy to be uptight but he seemed more so than usual.
“The Boss Lady has been taken in,” he said. “A friend at CPD just told me. They’ve got Simon too”
At first Reggie was unsure he had heard correctly. “What did you say?” The noise of the City Main traffic seemed to drown out the agent’s voice.
“They’ll be coming for you and Marcus. The Boss Lady has been taken in. I’m at CPD now. Simon was taken too.”
The agent’s voice dipped away as he talked to someone. The harsh accent from the part of town west of Coldford suggested it was PADDY MACK of MACK AND SONS. They were both angry.
“The Boss Lady has been taken in. Let Marcus know. He isn’t answering his phone.” At that the agent rang off.
Just as Reggie prepared to head back inside and warn his brother a fleet of CPD cars pulled up. Led by Kim Adams. Before Reggie could move Kim was on him.
“I’m already having one Hell of a day so are you going to test me?”
Reggie grinned and reached his arms up.
“You’re making a mistake,” he warned.
“Yeah, your brother said the same thing.” The CPD officers closed in.
Reggie Penn was taken into custody.
Marcus growled at the noise of the commotion. He sensed what had happened but it was too late to retreat. He hated the idea of being forced into retreat anyway. If they had managed to bring Tabitha in, the Penn dynasty was in immediate danger. Like a house of cards, the pillars of The Shady City were beginning to fall. Kim appeared at the door.
“It’s over,” she said.
“For now,” was Marcus’ cold reply. He came surprisingly quietly.
***
It could have been his imagination but Dennis could already feel himself becoming sick. Was that really the case or was his mind playing tricks on him? He couldn’t know for certain but he certainly felt weaker than he was before. Sure, the Penns hadn’t gone easy on him and Cathie had left him bloody but the disease, the virus was already raging around his body. If it was a placebo effect it was damn good one. Before Dennis had met Tabitha he had always been the man in charge, the go-to guy. She had stripped him of every bit of effervescence he had until he was a shadow of his former self. Was it a fitting punishment for the harm he had caused to little girls or the result of a mad woman’s psychopathic tendencies? It wasn’t my job to judge or to weigh up justice. Tabitha was behind bars and likely would be for a long time. Nothing was going to delete what Dennis had done to those little girls or his turning simpleminded, desperate girls like Chloe to prostitution. What mattered then was how he was going to use what time was left for him.
Trapped in the Auction House he had limited options but a guy like Dennis was never held back completely. He could at least make strides to protect himself.
“Chloe?” he called.
She had never left his side. The Penns weren’t exactly stopping her leaving but it wouldn’t be likely she could walk out of the Auction House so easily. She chose to wait with him. Wait for inevitable death? In the end maybe she would climb into the coffin beside him. It may be difficult to understand but she truly believed she couldn’t live without him.
“You have to go,” he said.
“No!” she squealed. She had been waiting on him asking this of her but it was the one thing she wouldn’t give. “I’m not leaving you.”
“You have to. I need you to find me a doctor. If you ask Marcus, he will allow it. Please. I need you to fetch me a man named DR WINSLOW.” Chloe blinked the tears away that were forming in her eyes. “Marcus will let him come here. He’s the only one who can help me. He’s the only one who stands a chance of helping me live long enough to see an end to all of this.”
“I’ll find the doctor,” cheered Chloe. “I’ll find him and he will make you feel better. I promise. I’ll give Marcus whatever he wants and Reggie too if you like.”
Dennis managed a smile. He shifted on the wooden panelled floor and winced in pain.
“Good. I need you to ask Marcus very nicely to bring me Dr Winslow. Can you do that?” Chloe nodded simply. She looked a little confused and upset still so he needed more confirmation. “Repeat it back to me, kid.”
“I ask for Dr Winslow. I ask Marcus really, really nicely.”
Dennis managed a smile again. She was so glad she could cheer him up.
Speaking more to himself he said, “She thinks she’s got the last laugh. I’m going to fuck her up. If I’m going down, I’m going to make her sorry she ever crossed my path.”
Chloe blinked, perplexed. The bitterness in his voice wasn’t like him. He was normally so calm even under dire circumstances.
The point was moot anyway because CPD had already landed on the Auction House. Marcus was under arrest and as the officers burst into the room where Dennis was being held he and Chloe were separated. It seemed Dennis’ day of beating and questioning was far from over. As manager of the Knock Knock club and willing to talk against his Headliner masters, Dennis was an incredible asset for the Law Makers as the trial was set. Chloe looked up to Kim’s strong and protective face. It reminded her of a lioness she had seen at City Zoo when Dennis took her once to meet a client. The lioness had put herself in front of the cubs and watched the alpha male closely. The alpha male was intimidated. It wouldn’t approach the cubs whilst the lioness was around.
“Are you hurt pet?” she asked softly.
Chloe managed a smile despite herself. “I’m fine.”
Kim reached her hand out and clasped Chloe’s. “I’m going to need you to come with me. It’s going to be okay.” She spoke into her comm device. “I need some women officers in here.”
Thanks to Lydia’s international agency team, Chloe was taken to the safety of CPD.
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
The chill wind the night was bringing whistled. It could have been the adrenaline of the chase finally wearing off but Agent LYDIA LOWE could have sworn the heat wave that had been swarming over the city was finally breaking.
“You swore loyalty to me you rat faced bitch!” Tabitha hissed at her as she was led up the steps of the Coldford Police Department with a firm grip. The same steps I had descended with the Boss Lady just the previous day after my wife, Theresa, had been murdered. Lydia didn’t respond to the vexation the way I assume Tabitha had hoped she would.
The agent remained calm.
“I never swore anything to you,” she replied, pushing her prisoner on, still with a firm grip around her arm. Tabitha of course protested.
“For anyone stepping on my stage, loyalty is a given.”
CPD had cleared of the busyness of the day staff. There were still a few low lights and some detectives working at their desks on cases requiring long hours.
Lydia led Tabitha to the office of DETECTIVE HICKES. “You are going to regret this,” Tabitha was still saying. “I have a lot of sway in this city.” “Oh, you’re something alright,” agreed the agent distractedly, looking for Hickes. “You bet your ass I am. Before I’m done you are going to wish you had stayed in your fucking northern hole.” Lydia – still eagerly awaiting Hickes – replied, “What are you going to do? Pull my hair? Push me in the mud?” Tabitha scoffed. “You’re such a fucking tramp!” she exclaimed to herself. She turned then and looked behind her. “Oh, hi Hickesy,” she said with a grin.
Detective Hickes had arrived in a fluster. He ignored Tabitha and spoke directly to the agent. “Reynolds has been taken to General. I had to sort out the others.” By the ‘others’ he meant Simon Penn, Paddy Mack of the Mack and Sons brewery as well as some of the other Macks that had given them trouble when they raided the Knock Knock Club. “I have holding ready for her,” he explained while brandishing a set of keys. Further into the belly of CPD, Tabitha was shown to what would be her residence for the foreseeable future. “I want to call my lawyer,” Tabitha stated, taking a seat on the bed. “This is barbaric. I haven’t even been processed properly.” Hickes finally acknowledged her. “You are being processed right now,” he told her. To Lydia he said, “I’ll send the paperwork over to Judge Doyle within the hour.” “I need to call my lawyer,”Tabitha piped up again. Hickes became frustrated. “You are a category A prisoner. In the city of Coldford that means we can hold you for at least 48 hours without giving you jack shit. More than that, if you don’t sit on your ass and stop running your mouth. It’s over Tabitha. Stay quiet and don’t make it any more difficult on yourself than it needs to be.” Tabitha leaned back on her elbows. “A take-charge man? When did you grow such big balls?” “Will she be secure enough in here?” Lydia put to Hickes. “She will. I’ll have someone on the door twenty-four hours. Havitz can take the first shift. As soon as she’s tried she will be moved to the Montefort.” Tabitha sat back up again at the mention of the infamous women’s correctional facility. “You sound so sure of yourself. Those big balls of yours must be ready for bursting.” Both the detective and the agent turned to her.
“It’s over Tabitha,” Lydia reminded her again. “The game is over.”
Tabitha rolled her eyes. “Then before you go and break out the parade you may want to take a look in the KNOCK KNOCK holding and help out your little reporter pal.” “SAM?” Lydia looked to Hickes. “He left with that little girl.” “Wrrrrrong!” Tabitha sang. “He tried to leave and made a pretty shitty job of it, too.” “They were just going to open up the hold when I left,” said Hickes. Lydia shook her head. “I better get back over there.” Hickes followed Lydia out. Securely locking the door behind them. Two CPD officers stood on the door with guns ready. “No one caring about little Sarah then? Just me? Mother fuckers!” Tabitha could be heard calling as she was locked in. Tabitha took a look at her surroundings. As someone who had been running amok in the Shady City for so long there was little satisfaction in having her in custody. Perhaps it was because they knew she was dangerous until behind Monte Fort bars. Most people would be beginning to question some of the choices they had made. However, even then, even at that late stage, Tabitha assumed the fight was far from over. It was just that the battlefield was changing. The evidence against her was set.
***
I had heard the commotion spilling in from outside. I had heard gunshots but there was nothing I could do. I assumed someone would come soon but time passed and I began to think Tabitha had fought off whatever attack had come. Still there was no word. Still dressed only in my underwear, I looked again at MADELINE’S lifeless body. I shivered. It was an internal shiver that reached into the core of my body. In the past twenty-four hours I had lost so much pursuing a story on the KNOCK KNOCK Club. If I had known then what was still to come, I don’t think I would have been able to go on but, as I said, the story had to be told. Finally there was an explosion at the door. Tabitha had refused to give up the keys to be difficult and her minions weren’t cooperating either. “Why the fuck should I make it easier for any of them?” she had asked. “They brutalised my staff, wrecked my club and they want me to play nice?” Things couldn’t get any worse for her. Why should she make it easier for anyone else? LYDIA was the first to enter. My mind was still a little hazy from SIMON PENN’S knock out. I was still a little punched drunk, probably concussed too. “She attacked me,” was all I could say. “Madeline was going to kill me.” Lydia took a look at Madeline and had already deduced the story. She pulled me to my feet. “You’ll be alright, Sam,” she said. Her northern BOURNTON accent was warming. Her soft, naturally cheery voice reminded me that I wasn’t alone. Perhaps it was that that gave me the fight to go on. “Tabitha is in custody,” she said and, whilst those should have been the sweetest words to my ears at that point after everything she had done to me, I couldn’t help but feel unsettled. Crossing through the club was like crossing a field in the aftermath of a battle. Chairs were overturned, blood soaked the floors, and men and women beaten into submission cowered in the corners with guns pointed at them. “They came for Tabitha?” I asked of Lydia. Lydia knew where my thinking was leading. “She has a lot of tricks up her sleeve. CPD couldn’t be too careful.” I took note of the club members who were surrendering. Were they innocent? Perhaps not but was it really for the guns of CPD to decide that? They came for Tabitha. They had her. So why were CPD still holding club members?
***
“You could make this easier on yourself,” said Hickes. “Just confess.” Tabitha folded her arms across her chest and sat back on her bench. “Why don’t you tell me what I’m confessing to?” Hickes groaned with impatience. He stood and leaned on the table. “You know what you’re in for,” he said. Tabitha shrugged. “Driving too fast?” Hickes clenched fists. “Damnit Tabitha, make it easier on yourself!” Tabitha laughed. “Look at you all in a rage. The little vein in your head is popping out and everything.” “They’ve been after you for years. They are looking for any excuse,” Hickes reminded her. Now that they have you they will make an example of you.” Tabitha fell silent for a few moments. “I notice you said they and not we. Whose side are you on?” “I’m on the side that doesn’t want to see this city torn apart,” he replied with a sigh. “It’s a pity,” she said, lifting her hand to inspect her fingernails. “What is?” enquired the detective. “What will happen to everyone my club protects. My AUNT TEE used that club to give shelter, food and support to so many. People like your sister for instance and your adorable little nephews. “Eunice was grateful,” Hickes said.
Tabitha puckered her lips. “The HEADLINERS were only too happy to help. I even made sure Stanley paid dearly for what he did to her without you having to get your little detective hands dirty. When you think about it, I’m kinda like a super hero.” Hickes shook himself off. “Let’s not lose track here. You are no hero. Stanley beat Eunice and those kids but what you did to him? No one should… “ Tabitha gave a laugh. “Yeah, it was quite creative, wasn’t it?” “What about the innocent people that died when a floor of the Weir Hotel was blown?” Tabitha shook her head. “If they were staying at the WEIR, trust me they weren’t innocent.” Hickes growled. “You don’t get to make that judgement.” “No? Then who does? Judge fucking cyclops?” Tabitha returned with venom, her reference meaning Judge Doyle of the Law Makers. The very one who had authorised her arrest.
“Helping some people out doesn’t give you the right to murder, steal or destroy this city.” Tabitha didn’t reply at first. Hickes thought he was beginning to get through to her. “I need to speak to someone,” she said. Hickes shook his head. “I told you, no calls.” Tabitha leaned forward. Her expression softened. The bravado still lingered but it was lower than before. “For the sake of Eunice and those kids.” Hickes’ nostrils flared but he too softened. “Who do you need to speak to?” “I need to see my Aunt Agnes.” AGNES WILDE was partner to Tabitha’s Aunt Tawny. They opened the club together and treated the Boss Lady like a daughter. Agnes was still on the board of the club, better known as the Broker. “I can’t…” “Just five minutes…” she hesitated. “Please.”
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
Younger brother to CHARLES ‘CHICK OWEN better known as The Cappy. Ronnie is one of the leading share holders in the corporation of his family name – OWEN INC. Like the rest of his family he has the big personality that comes from the Great States but he is well known to be the most grounded Owen. He is the steady cog in the Owen Corp Machine that is laying waste to the SHADY CITY.
Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Owen answers some difficult questions outside of the Court House.
It’s not difficult being seen as the level head though when you have a nephew like BERNARD ‘BUDDY’ OWEN to contend with. Ronnie served his time in KAPPA SO as all the men in his family have so he is well aware of some of the shenanigans that goes on inside the CHAPTER HOUSE. (Shenanigans is really the only way we could describe it).
Ronnie tries to be the level head of his family.
Ronnie is a defense lawyer so he believes in all cards on the table but when he is given his most difficult client yet to defend in the court of JUDGE DOYLE he has some tough decisions to make. Right or wrong. Guilty or not guilty. Either way it will expose some of the skeletons in his own family closet.
The Knock Knock Boss Lady has made an enemy of the Owen family but she’s ready for that challenge.
Complete series is free to read here at Vivika Widow.com
“I love you Dennis.” 
Lydia led Tabitha to the office of 
