A spirited team from the Hathfield Bay Islands, their competitive edge is always trumped by the enjoyment of the game. Their love of the game and the enjoyment of their fans will always be more important than any trophy. What is best known about them is their friendly spirit and the welcoming atmosphere of their stadium. Given the beach side setting, travelling fans often make their visit a holiday.
Known for the standard age of their fans being older than the rest of the league the Islanders are always well treated at away matches. Trouble doesn’t suit Hathfield so when the fans of BELLFIELD caused trouble and damage to the stadium after a disappointing result, the public were shocked.
Supporting the team and supporting each other is important to the islanders. The sponsors – Moray Marina – is the location of the ‘FEED HATHFIELD’ program and has been running since the first great recession almost closed the bay down.
Our most notable Shady City fan of Hathfield is TAWNY, affectionately known as the Baroness. An islander herself she is best known for being the aunt of KNOCK KNOCK boss lady TABITHA. Tawny, like her favoured team is spirited, friendly and willing to enter the thick of the action when the moment calls.
Enjoy this? Why not pay a visit to the Baroness’ old club?
Immerse yourself in the Shady City with the hit Knock Knock graphic novel series which is free to read here at Vivika Widow Online. You can also download for kindle by clcking below.
COMING 2021
A mysterious illness and a desperate phone call sends Cult Deprogrammer Reynolds’ sights on the Wigan faith of Hathfield Bay island. Time to face the past.
Bring me your sick. Bring me your troubled. Bring me those that society can no longer cope with. They will always have a home here at Harbour House.
Will the Baroness recover? Check out Vivika Widow’s latest thriller.
LYDIA kept her eyes peeled. The girl, Emily, she met at her AUDITION was stretching in the corner. Emily wasn’t in the ballet any more. When the recession hit, Coldford City Ballet reduced their performances to half of their normal schedule and let half of their dancers go too. It was a last resort but work as a KNOCK KNOCK GIRL was all she could get. Still Emily stretched her ballerina legs like it mattered.
Lydia couldn’t let herself become too distracted by the plight of the other girls. The KNOCK KNOCK club kept them safe as they could be in that part of the Shady City. Sensible men knew better than to touch them without invitation.
There were a few things that surprised Lydia when she managed to get on the inside. The first was how well the girls were treated. They were the back bone of the club. Comedians, magicians, drag acts and singers all graced the stage but it was the scantily clad girls that drew the customers in and the adult entertainment that kept them there. That had always been the way of the club, ever since it was founded. Over the years it had become a cover of something much more sinister. That was what brought Lydia there. She was to observe and report but only engage if necessary.
“All right girls! Let’s get a move on, shall we?” screeched Bette from the doorway. “And Grace, get that fucking leotard washed. You look like a hobbo we’ve dragged in off the street.”
The girl named Grace, a slim, toned girl with sharply cut blonde hair picked at her costume. Some of the sequins had fallen off and her tights had laddered.
Bette was a middle aged woman with a severely angled face, dark hair and penciled eyebrows. She was no stranger to the ways of the club. She had been a Knock Knock girl herself back in her younger days. She was a feather dancer who had shared the stage with the old Baroness. She had been where they had been and she knew all too well how the city treated young women trying to make their way in the world. She still held some of the glamour of her life as a dancer with painted red lips and heavy made eyes.
The door opened and a girl in her early twenties came stumbling in. She was bleary eyed and dropped a bag that was hanging on her shoulder, almost tripping on it. She stumbled over to Bette and clutched onto her. Bette grabbed her face and stared deep into her eyes.
“Are you fucking junked?” she asked, moving the girl’s head from side to side.
The girl’s lips puckered under Bette’s grasp. “No, I’m fine,” she said.
Bette released her. “Like Hell you are. Do you think I was born yesterday? I know someone junked up on needles when I see them. Go to the bar and have Lisa give you a pick me up. We open in a few hours and if you come back in here looking bright and fuckable don’t come back at all.” The girl stumbled towards the bar where Lisa, the bar maid, was setting up. “If I find out who is selling her needles I’ll hang them from a fucking lamp post,” Bette growled to herself.
She was a tough mistress. She run a tight ship with the responsibility she had but Lydia’s eyes were on a bigger prize. Rumours were rife of extortion, murder and a connection to explosions across the city. Lydia had to be patient. She had to play her part, dance and flirt her way through. That night she was to share a stage with the BOSS LADY herself.
Knock Knock Volume 1 is free to read here at Vivika Widow Online or you can download for Kindle. Free on Kindle Unlimited.
Priding themselves on a small community spirit, Jamestown will never forget their roots. They may often find themselves fighting relegation at the bottom of the NPL but they don’t let that dissuade them. Fans of Jamestown are not in it for the glory of trophies. They generally believe in the local struggles and supporting one another no matter how difficult it gets.
A small suburb of Coldford, Jamestown manage to keep themselves free from the drama of the big city until they are brought into the thick of the action against a rivalling, richer team like Coldford City or even Athletic.
Our Shady City Thriller’s most notable fan of Jamestown is our reporter, Sam Crusow. His father’s garage sponsors the team and it is where Sam learned the importance of people coming together. Going to the games as a boy is one of Sam’s fondest memories and it was over this mutual love of the sport that he and his father Samuel (or Sam Snr) bonded most.
Unfortunately as the big city threatens to swallow up their little suburb they can’t hide forever. It will be up to the likes of Sam to expose the truth for the good of the people and even the villains of Coldford are no match for such an strong spirit.
See Sam in action as a reporter in the hit Knock Knock graphic novel series.
Volume 1 is free to read here at Vivika Widow Online or you can download for kindle by clicking HERE.
“And I had to ask, what had I gotten myself into?”
Name: Sam Crusow
Age: 36
Occupation: Reporter
Sam was never shy of a story. A hard hitting reporter with a good heart he is always trying to get to the truth of the matter. The trouble is, in the Shady City that truth can be messy and digging around in the background of those in charge can lead to disaster.
He is honest to a fault and caring but when challenged he will stand up against even the most dangerous of villains. Sam is loved and hated in equal measure. Those who he has helped reveal the truth and those he has brought down with his journalism.
Nothing will stop Sam getting to the truth of the story. Even a night at the Knock Knock Club.
Originally from the Jamestown area – a quiet little suburb – he has adapted to life in Coldfold. His work for the COLDFORD DAILY was seeing him and his wife Theresa through the recession.
The story will be chased to some of the shadiest places in the Shady City.
He has chased the story on an explosion in the WEIR HOTEL, he has pushed CONFESSIONS KILLER Tracey Campbell for an interview and he was one of the first to report when Alice Beckingridge of the BECKINGRIDGE FINANCIAL FIRM was accused of murder. Of all these stories none compared to when he was led to the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB in search of the missing Mayor. That was when the true dirty face of the city began to reveal itself.
It’s not easy being a reporter in a city that is tearing itself apart from within. Sam is learning that the hard way.
Marcus is a no nonsense man who knows just what it takes to get a job done. He is fully acquainted with the darker side of the Shady City. With his strong connections to the KNOCK KNOCK CLUB and his auction house holding control of City Main there are enemies gathering around him.
What is most distinctive about Marcus is that he is of a set of triplets. He and his brothers – SIMON and REGGIE – run the Penn Auction House together. Marcus is seen as the Auction House Crown prince, being the eldest by minutes.
The Penn Auction House had been passed down to them through generations. It proudly hold art work from the likes of DAVID FINN as well as other antiquities that most would find difficult to get a hold of.
Marcus can seem emotionless, iron willed and carries that reputation for a reason. Not many would dare tackle him alone. Even fewer would go against him with his brothers by his side.
He is highly intelligent, well read and like his father, REGINALD, a gentleman at heart. He tends to listen more than he speaks. When he does offer words ears had best be pricked because has something important to share. On his good side you will find Marcus a noble protector. On his bad side you will find yourself on the auction block. In Coldford City you had better hope that term is used figuratively.
Enjoy this? Check out these thriller titles available now.
This post will contain some spoilers so if you are not up to speed on volume 1 click HERE to get yourself caught up.
Now that that’s out of the way let’s take a look at ten things you (probably) missed when reading Knock, Knock Volume 1.
1 – Amber’s Journey:
The seventeen year old daughter of the city’s mayor didn’t really have a great start in our opener EP 1 WELCOME TO THE CLUB did she?
Amber faces off!
We all know what happens next (#prayforamber) but what you may have missed is what brought her to that point in the first place. She is an impulsive girl and despite being warned against it by her more sensible elder sister, Amber just couldn’t stay away from the Knock, Knock Club.
Click HERE to follow Amber’s journey in the exclusive mini story MEMBERS EAT FOR FREE.
2 – Chloe’s Cameo:
In EP 3 SLEEP TIGHT SAM our reporter returns to the Knock, Knock club. Before he can get any information from our delightful club manager, Dennis is distracted by a call from a young woman. It is revealed that the girl calls often and she seems a little distraught about something (more details later).
Later in EP 10 CALLING LAST ORDERS we meet the cute but ill Chloe as Dennis tries to make a break for it. What you probably didn’t realise is that Chloe was the young girl who had been frantically calling Dennis. Her sordid relationship with Dennis was revealed in the mini story NO TOYS IN THE ATTIC which you can read by clicking HERE.
3 – City Stadium:
There are a lot of landmarks around the Shady City. Few of them stand out as much as the stadium of Coldford City Football Club (or soccer to people from certain parts of the world).
We met star striker, Andre Luis, in the mini story PLAY THE GAME which you can read by clicking HERE. What eagle eyed readers may have spotted is that Coldford City Stadium sits behind BOBBY’S LUNCH BOX where our reporter met his colleague and friend Madeline to discuss his findings in EP 3 SLEEP TIGHT SAM.
4 – Help Along:
It wouldn’t have been easy for our reporter to navigate his way around Knock, Knock without some help. Thanks to some assistance he was able to retrieve some pretty damnable evidence in EP 6: PICKING UP STRANGE WOMEN
It isn’t until EP 10: CALLING LAST ORDERS that it is finally revealed who has been helping and their reasons. It seems some thunder was brought after all!
5 – Knock, Knock Attacks:
In EP 7 NO KIDS ALLOWED and EP 8 KIDS THESE DAYS we are introduced to the origin of the Knock, Knock club. There is of course plenty more of this to come in Volume 2 but what you may have missed is that the club has been subject to attacks. It has been burnt out by a gang of youths (more on that later) and most of the members died or disappeared. Take note of this folks because there is a war brewing and it is going to escalate.
6 – Judge Not Lest The Be Judged:
In brief references the name Judge Karyn Doyle crept up in the following episodes:
It seems our Knock, Knock boss lady, Tabitha, has a personal resentment towards the elusive Judge but it has not yet been revealed what that is. It is suffice to say though beware of the judge lurking in the background. When the gavel falls it will fall hard.
Prepare yourself and check out our profile on Judge Doyle’s Law Makers by clicking HERE.
7 – Look A Likes:
In EP 9 SHOOTING THE BREEZE we meet sweet little Sarah. She is on the way to the park with her father, it is a beautiful day in the Shady City but like most things it won’t stay that way. Yes I know, #prayforsarah. Anyway, before she is taken towards the end of her part in the story those who are paying close attention may have realised that she has a remarkable resemblance to someone. We met bubbly Knock, Knock barmaid, Lisa, in EP 2 DON’T COME KNOCKIN’ and her connection to little Sarah is revealed in EP 10 CALLING LAST ORDERS.
8 – Olivia’s Whereabouts:
In EP 8: KIDS THESE DAYS in a flashback we have the pleasure of meeting Dennis’ wife, Olivia. She is kind, considerate and honest which seems a rare thing to find in the Shady City. However, by the end of the episode Olivia has left and taken Dennis’ baby son Milo with her.
Olivia still has a lot to say and a part to play in events so we won’t discount her just yet. Her whereabouts are sketchy at best but if you read between the lines it will become clear where she is and why she left in the first place.
9 – Maestro Reference:
The opening events in the series take place at the old building of the Beckingridge Financial firm. The Beckingridge family are the employers or our music teacher, VINCENT. It is through them the events of Maestro take place.
If a suspenseful psychological thriller sounds like your cup of tea then click HERE to read MAESTRO. It is free to download for kindle unlimited users!
10 – This Guy:
The Kappa So banner flies high.
He’s our gunman from EP 9 SHOOTING THE BREEZE but his appearance is so brief you may have glossed over him. Although we can’t confirm his persona just yet (all will be revealed in Volume 2 promise!) we can tell you that he is a member of the elite fraternity KAPPA SO. No one brings anarchy quite like the boys of KSO so we are sure of a blood bath. You can learn more about Kappa SO by clicking HERE. Oh and those youths who burned out the Knock, Knock club? Could they be frat bros? Find out in Volume 2.
So there you have it folks. If you enjoyed the Knock, Knock series please leave your comments. Let us know what you are looking forward to in Volume 2.
Volume 2 is coming soon. In the meantime Volume 1 is free to read on Vivika Widow Online or download for Kindle by clicking HERE.
Amber was thrilled. She had never been anywhere quite like the Knock, Knock club before. She was only seventeen so when the doorman stepped aside to allow her in she was exhilarated.
An invitation had come through the post. Her father was Mayor of the city so he was invited to all sorts of places. She brought the handsome Kevin with her. He was ten years her senior and she was sure Lacey – her elder sister – certainly wouldn’t approve. Lacey wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like the Knock, Knock club. She had aspirations of taking their father’s office one day. Being seen in the Knock, Knock club and with the characters that frequented wouldn’t fit Lacey’s picture. Amber was more daring though. She fell in love with the club instantly. Even with the smell of stale beer and sticky floors. The neon flashing lights and empty stage excited her.
“You folks are looking a little lost.”
Amber felt a long arm slip around her shoulders. The sleeve of the man’s well tailored suit brushed against her.
“We’re new,” Amber said lowering her head so the man wouldn’t notice how young she was. She and Kevin we led to a table for two close to the stage.
“Since you’re first timers you can have be best seat in the house.”
Kevin seated himself first. The club manager pulled Amber’s chair out for her, swinging it slightly so she could have a better view of the stage.
“My name is Dennis,” he announced. “I’ll send someone to take care of you but if you need anything give me a shout.” He said this directly to Amber.
Amber smiled, forgetting her caution under the lower lights. Dennis held her gaze. The manager role slipped momentarily and a brief flash of concern raised on his face. Dennis was older than Kevin but much better looking.
“Times must be tough in this city if this dump is the place to bring a pretty girl,” Dennis jested.
Amber giggled. Kevin was not amused.
“Enjoy the show.”
The lights dimmed further. An in house band called the Knock, Knockers gathered at their instruments.
A woman walked onto stage. The chatter quietened.
“Good evening,” the woman introduced. She walked across the stage with all the ease she would have in her own home. “I see a lot of familiar faces out there,” she continued in a husky voice. “You would you would be sick of our lousy food by now but we love having you,”
The audience reacted in good cheer.
“You didn’t come to listen to me spill my guts so let’s get started.”
She moved back from the edge of the stage in dance steps. The music fired up. The ground began to vibrate. The performer erupted into song.
A scantily clad serving girl brought them a watered down whiskey each and some meat and gravy. It wasn’t much but since the financial recession had hit the Shady City it was better than most people had that night. Kevin moved his meat around his plate with a disapproving sneer.
Amber was too busy watching the performance to eat. She was too busy enjoying herself to consider that her father – the mayor – had been responsible for the desperation so many people found themselves in. It was fine for Amber to enjoy the Knock, Knock when afterwords she could return to the large house she lived in in the Upper West. So many of the city didn’t have homes to go to.
When the performance finally ended the band changed their music to something a little more down key. The lights brightened, informing the patrons that it was time to leave. The performer came from backstage to mingle. She was wearing the same red dress but had tied her hair back from her pretty face. She stood at the bar with Dennis holding a gin and tonic, poured in a square glass. Kevin was impatient to leave but Amber wanted to meet the woman.
Her back was turned. She was in deep conversation with Dennis when Amber approached shyly. The manager notified her of Amber’s presence with a flick of his head. The performer turned. She greeted Amber with a grin. There was a large gap between her front teeth that offered her a girlish quality.
“It was my first time here,” Amber said. Under the woman’s gaze she found herself quite nervous. “I really enjoyed your performance.”
“Thank you,” replied the performer with genuine gratitude. She took the girl’s hand tight. “My name is Tabitha,” she introduced.
“I would love to be just like you,” Amber blurted with childish awe.
Tabitha laughed. Dennis remained stoic.
“Oh honey, there will only ever be one of me.” She pulled Amber closer to her. “Amber Feltz, right?” The Mayor’s youngest daughter?”
Amber tried to pull away but Tabitha kept a tight grip on her arm.
“I should go,” Amber tried pulling away again.
The club was clearing quickly and none of the patrons seemed to notice she was being held.
“So soon?” Tabitha asked. Her crimson nails started to dig into Amber’s flesh. “Join me for a drink won’t you?”
Amber was pushed onto a bar stool. Tabitha stared at her closely.
“It’ll have to be water for you though. You are too young for the hard liquor from what I read.”
Amber sobbed. Tabitha’s grin widened.
“Don’t worry.” Tabitha put her hand to her mouth as though speaking secretly. “Who am I to judge?” She turned to Dennis. “You like them young, don’t you?”
Dennis shook his head.
“I have to go,” Amber said. “Kevin is waiting.”
It wasn’t until then the mayor’s daughter realised Kevin had gone for their coats quite some time ago and hadn’t returned.
The door man closed the door on the last of the customers and left without a word. The club was now empty but for the manager, the performer and the mayor’s daughter.
“Please! I have to go,” Amber pleaded once more.
These were the situations she had been warned of. These people were the reason Lacey would never come to places like the Knock, Knock club.
“People will be looking for me.”
Amber could try to run but she would feel silly for doing so. She was a silly teenager. A silly girl indeed. Suddenly the club that was so fascinating at first was intimidating with its echo, it’s filthy, empty hall.
Tabitha leaned in close to her.
“Honey,” she said. “If you expect anyone to give a rat’s ass where you are right now you have come to the wrong club.
***
“She was missing for three weeks!” Sam Crusow gasped. He held a pad of yellow paper on his lap with a pen poised over it. “The police never said anything. When the mayor disappeared did no one thing to say, ‘Oh and his daughter has been gone a few weeks too.”
Eric Waddle, editor of the Coldford Daily crossed his arms over his chest. He glared at his best reporter.
“I’m warning you Sammy.” he said. “None of these details will be printed in my paper. If I see them elsewhere I will hold you responsible.”
Sam nodded hesitantly. He hated when his boss called him Sammy.
Eric went on. “I only tell you this because I’m a friend of the family and I want you to tread carefully. Mrs Feltz is speaking to no one else.
“How am I to cover the story when I can’t publish all the facts. How could no one care about a seventeen year old girl missing?
Eric ignored his first comment. “Amber always was an impulsive girl,” he replied to the second. “She was seeing some older guy. She’s probably sunning herself on a beach somewhere.”
“Do you believe that?” Sam put to the editor.
He didn’t.
And so began our reporters journey.
The entire Knock, Knock is free to read right here at Vivika Widow Online
Across the city, detective Hicks of the Coldford City Police Department was surveying his case. Excitement was building around the station. Never had so much time and resources been spent on one case but finally it was proving fruitful. They had been chasing this for a long time.
“It’s been a while agent,” he said. “You’ve been to Hell and back for this but it looks like we’ve finally done it.”
Hell doesn’t even begin to describe it,” replied Lydia Lowe of the Inter City Task Force. “All that time undercover and it was that reporter who did the heavy lifting in the end.”
Hicks patted her shoulder affectionately. “I’m glad you got to him. He would probably have been dead now otherwise and we never would have gotten to her. When he was taken from here I thought for sure he was a goner.”
Lydia smiled. Hicks was pleased to see working undercover at the Knock Knock Club hadn’t dulled her humour.
“The last time I saw him he was leaving with Lisa’s girl. He was delivering her back to her home and then coming here. I look forward to chatting to him when he comes in. I had to let him go. I couldn’t risk the kid getting hurt,” Lydia explained.
Lisa, the bubbly Knock Knock bar maid would arrive at the club later that afternoon to learn of the tragedy that had occurred.
“She’s ran amok in this city for far too long,” Hicks said bitterly. Lydia wholeheartedly agreed. “I’ll call Judge Doyle at the Court House and let her know there is some solid evidence coming her way.”
***
Meanwhile, after divulging his story to me Dennis decided he was no longer safe at the Knock, Knock club. Either I was coming for him with everything I had or Tabitha was. He had backed himself into a corner leaving himself with few options. Men like Dennis have a way of working out of tight spots though.
He came to a familiar door. He knocked twice in an almost musical rhythm. A gaunt, skinny young girl answered.
“Chloe!” Dennis cheered. “I am so glad to see you.”
Chloe lowered her head. Her eyes fixed pitifully on the ground. “I can’t let you in,” she said meekly. “Please go away.”
She tried to close the door but Dennis stopped her.
“What do you mean? Come on, you have to let me in.”
He flashed a handsome, charming smile.
Chloe shook her head, still not looking him in the eye. It seemed like tears were close.
“Come on kid,” Dennis pressed. “Please let me in. I’m in a lot of trouble here. People are going to be after me. Do you want me to get hurt?”
Chloe finally looked up. “I can’t Dennis,” she insisted. “Just go away.”
“Don’t you love me anymore?” he asked. His large, brown eyes pleaded with her.
Tears did spill from Chloe then.
“Of course I do,” she sobbed. “More than the whole world.”
Dennis kept his expression soft. “Then let me in.”
He reached out to push the door open but someone else did it for him.
Dennis was greeted by the tall, imposing frame of Marcus.
“By all means Dennis,” he said. “Come in.”
Dennis dropped his head. He had no choice. Running would be no use. If Marcus was waiting on him chances were the other triplets would be somewhere nearby. The door locked behind him.
***
Over at the Knock, Knock club I was beginning to regain consciousness.
“You’re not a morning person are you?” Tabitha teased. “You look like shit.”
Everything that had happened came flooding back. The little girl lying dead in the street with a bullet wound in her head.
“What did you do to that kid!?” I roared
Tabitha raised an eyebrow. “What did I do?” she returned. “I was keeping her safe you stupid prick and you delivered her straight to the enemy.”
My stomach lurched. My vision was still a little blurry from the knock to the head I had received.
“There I was, standing there, carrying a bowl of ice cream, looking like a total fucking amateur and she was gone.”
“I thought …” I began but Tabitha didn’t let me finish.
“I know what you thought,” she said. “You know for a reporter you have no fucking clue. How long have you been in this city? Open your eyes to what is going on around you. Speaking of fuck wit reporters … “
“A friend of yours came looking for you.”
“You remember Madeline, right? Sure you do. All the men like Madeline,” Tabitha said.
Madeline growled. I hadn’t even noticed her being so focused on Tabitha, bleary eyed and possibly concussed.
“Would you listen to yourself?” Maddy snarled. “Do you ever shut up?”
Tabitha ignored her.
“Let us out of here you crazy bitch!” I yelled.
“I’m actually hurt that you still think I’m the bad guy here,” Tabitha laughed. I couldn’t tell if she was being ironic or if she truly meant what she said. “There are much worse things in this city than little old me. I do what I can to fight against it. Do you have any idea what would go down if I didn’t keep a check on things? I’m like a fucking super hero. Some might even be grateful.”
She kicked a knife at her feet between her captives.
“Here’s a little lesson for you. I’m going to close that door and you are both going to fight it out. Let’s see how moral you are when your lives are on the line. Maybe then you will have some idea of the shit I’ve had to deal with.”
Either of us could have grabbed that knife and killed her then but we wouldn’t have gotten much farther after that. Tabitha strode with confidence. Inside the Knock, Knock club she had nothing to fear.
“That’s why you’re both in your undies by the way,” she said as a matter of fact. “It’s less of a mess to clean up that way. It would be even easier if you were naked but I’m not that sick.” She laughed at her own joke. “When one of you are dead I pinky promise to open back up again. One less God damn reporter in the world. In the meantime, I have a little kid to bury and it’s not even noon. Thanks for that by the way. Toodles!”
At that she was out of the door. Maddy and I were sealed inside the Knock, Knock club’s hold. I ran to the door and cried through it.
“Let us out!” I called hammering my fists against the door as though it would do any good.
“It’s no use,” Madeline said behind me.
“We’ll get out of here,” I insisted.
“It’s over Sam,” Madeline said. “I’m sorry.”
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
Tabitha climbed aboard the night bus that would take her into the city. The driver gave her a suspicious look but she turned and waved to a random woman on the platform. The woman – looking a little confused – waved back. Luckily the driver assumed she was a relative come to see Tabitha off and was drunk instead of confused. She paid for her ticket using Ma’s cash and sat herself at the back. The driver asked no questions.
When the bus arrived in Coldford she wasted no time. She dashed off to the Shanties where the Knock Knock Club lay.
When she finally reached the club the sky was starting to show early signs of dawn. The club was empty. It had been burned out. She stood in silent shock watching what was once her haven now reduced to an empty shell. She had had no idea something had gone down there.
The Knock, Knock club had been where her true family lived. Her aunt, Tawny, being the headliner. The feather dancing girls loved Tabitha too. They all kissed their fingers and tapped her forehead as the lined up to go on stage like Tabitha was their lucky charm. Tawny looked to her watching from the wings of the stage as she sang. Tabitha adored the sound of the cheering audience. She once peeked out from behind the curtain. The audience cheered for her too when they saw the young girl’s beaming face. She waved to them. They applauded in return. Tawny turned, laughed.
“My niece ladies and gents. Isn’t she a beauty?”
Tabitha was pulled back by Agnes, the stage producer.
“Stay behind the curtain,” she warned.
Agnes was also Tawny’s girlfriend and the most level headed person Tabitha had ever known. She was the sensible driving force in a wonderful flurry of sequins, music and performance.
True to this Agnes always looked out for Tabitha. She came back stage one evening to find Tawny offering her niece a cigarette.
“You can’t give her that!” Agnes warned, pulling the cigarette away.
Tawny shrugged. “It’s just a ciggy.”
“She’s too young and it’s a filthy habit. Do you really want her picking that up? Jesus Christ Tawn!”
Tawny grinned and pulled the packet off the table. “Well if you’re going to get religious about it.”
“I’ll crucify you if you’re not upstairs in five minutes. Jack is just finishing up.”
“Well I mustn’t disappoint. See you in a bit Trouble.” She kissed Tabitha’s head and took Agnes’ arm. “Madame Dictator, lead the way.”
She looked back at her niece and winked.
Agnes smiled at Tabitha too. “We’ll be back soon.”
But would they? It was all gone. Jack the pianist, the feather girls, the stern but loving Agnes, Aunt Tawny who they all called The Baroness. Someone had deliberately destroyed the club and Tabitha – still with the blood of her parents motivating her – would find out who.
The docks were close by in the Swantin area so Tabitha made her way there. If something had gone down at the club Aunt Tee would have no doubt returned to the islands where she came from. She hadn’t been waiting long when a man approached her.
“Hey kid, are you lost?” he asked.
Tabitha shrugged and turned away from him. “Not really,” she said.
He stopped and surveyed her. Tabitha’s accent didn’t sound native to the Swantin. “You shouldn’t be out here. This isn’t a safe neighbourhood.”
“I’m waiting for the ferry. I’m going to my aunt.”
He looked out at the docks. “The ferry doesn’t come at this hour,” he said. “There won’t be another one until morning.”
Tabitha became impatient, the image of the burned out club still fresh on her mind.
“What are you? The ferry master?”
He ignored the comment. “Where are your parents?”
“They’re gone. That’s why I’m going to my aunt.”
“What age are you?” he asked.
“Old enough,” Tabitha returned coldly.
“What’s your aunt’s name?” the man pressed. “Maybe I know her. I do a lot of business over on the islands.”
“Do you know the Knock, Knock club?”
He smiled smoothly. He was very well kept and handsome.
“Everyone around here knows the Knock, Knock club. Did she work there?” Tabitha was hesitant to say any more. “Look, I’m going to call my wife, okay? She’s a social worker and she’ll help you get in touch with your aunt.”
He removed a phone from the inside pocket of the tailored suit he wore. He dialled, listened briefly before beginning the conversation.
“Hey Liv. Sorry did I wake you?” he asked. He listened to the response. “I’ve got a girl here. She says she’s trying to get to the islands.” Again he listened. He pulled the phone away from his ear and asked Tabitha, “What’s your name kid?” Tabtiha told him. “She says her name is Tabitha.” He listened to the response once more. “Sure,” he said before passing the phone to Tabitha.
“Hello?” Tabitha said hesitantly.
“Hello Tabitha. My name is Olivia. The man you are with is my husband. His name is Dennis. Are you in any trouble? You just have to say yes or no?”
Tabitha thought about it. “No,” she said.
“That’s good,” Olivia replied genuinely. “The thing is sweetie, where you are isn’t very safe. There are no trains, buses or ferries out of there at this time so Dennis is going to bring you to me. You don’t have to be worried. I’ll be waiting for you and I will help you get in touch with someone. Does that sound okay?”
Tabitha shrugged. “I’ll be fine, really.”
Olivia didn’t press nor did she give up. “Would you at least like a warm drink until transport starts running again?”
Tabitha decided it would be better. She hadn’t heard from Tawny since Pa had forced her from the house.
“What happened to the Knock Knock? Tabitha asked when she climbed into a car beside Dennis.
“I don’t want to worry you but I heard there was some kind of explosion,” he replied. He kept his eyes on the road. “I’m sure your aunt is fine though. You would have heard otherwise, right?”
“Right,” Tabitha agreed. She glanced from the window. Tabitha’s stomach growled. The last thing she ate was Nanny Lynn’s toffees.
“That’s a pretty dress you’re wearing,” Dennis commented. “Were you at a party?”
As the woman on the phone had said she was waiting for them. They pulled into the driveway of a quaint but pretty home in the lower west, not far from where she had met Dennis. Olivia came rushing out to greet them. The headlights caught a heavily pregnant bump.
“Nice to meet you Tabitha,” she said. You aren’t hurt or anything are you?”
“No.”
Tabitha felt a little overwhelmed at the concern from a stranger.
“Make yourself at home kid,” Dennis announced when they stepped inside.
“Are you tired?” Olivia asked.
Tabitha shook her head but she was busy taking in the home. She watched as Olivia closed the door to see how it was locked and bolted. She noticed some social work certificates in the name of Olivia Platt. They were signed by Judge Karyn Doyle.
“Do you know Judge Doyle?” Tabitha asked.
“She handles most of my cases,” Olivia replied. “Were you in her care?”
Tabitha shook her head and dismissed the comment quickly. “Just wondered.”
“What’s your poison?” Dennis asked. Olivia scowled at him. “What?” he laughed. “I meant tea, coffee, cocoa?”
“I’ll have some cereal. I’m kinda hungry,” Tabitha admitted.
“What kind do you like?”
“Queen Corn I guess …” the cereal advert still played on her mind.
Tabitha’s gaze started to take in the baby bump.
“When are you due?” she asked.
“Any day now actually,” Olivia answered proudly.
“Boy or girl?”
“Boy. His name is Milo.”
Tabitha grinned. Olivia tried to hazard a guess at her age.
“Hi Milo!” Tabitha cheered waving at the womb. “I’m Tabby.”
Needless to say, Tabitha didn’t leave the Platt home the following day on the ferry. She tried to call her aunt on the last number she had but it was out of service. She tried Agnes too but with no luck. When Dennis discovered it was The Baroness that Tabitha was related to (a well known figure in the area) he made some enquiries about the Knock Knock Club. From what he found out it was attacked by a group of youths and it was burned out. There was no word of anyone surviving.
Tabitha still wouldn’t discuss where she came from. Whenever Olivia tried to ask her about her home life she became bitter and closed off. Olivia was concerned but Tabitha continued writing letters to her aunt and sending them to any possible place she might be. Olivia fetched clothes for her, put food to her and even involved her in discussions on the imminent arrival of Milo. When the baby was born Tabitha fussed over him. She ran errands and when Olivia was tired offered to take him walks.
“She’s still not heard anything from her aunt,” Dennis said.
“What are we going to do?” Olivia asked as they watched Tabitha play with Milo.
“Well we can’t throw her out on the street, can we? She must have family somewhere. I have people all over looking for The Baroness but nothing yet.”
More time wore on and Tabitha became like one of the family.
Olivia offered to alert Judge Doyle to her plight but Tabitha became angry.
“I like you Liv. You’ve been good to me but if you tell her I’m here I will put Milo in the fucking microwave and make you eat him,” she growled.
Olivia was shocked at the outburst. In all her years of working with troubled young people she had never heard such things.
“I just want to get you home, sweetie,” she managed.
Luckily Tabitha softened.
“I wouldn’t hurt little Milo,” she giggled. “Unless someone made me,” she was careful to add. “Leave the judge out of it. I’ll find my aunt.”
More time passed and the young girl had firmly cemented herself in their home. Milo was growing fast. He adored Tabitha. Every time he saw her he gave a huge grin.
Dennis too seemed oblivious to the intrusion into their home. What began as inviting a young girl to safety became uncomfortable and stifling. Only Olivia seemed to notice this. Dennis enjoyed the young girl’s company and so did Milo.
Olivia was called to a conference in the city one weekend and she would spend the night there. Her intentions were to visit the Court House and find out more about who Tabitha was. Given her reaction to Judge Doyle that was where the answers lay.
Dennis had been speaking to some associates and when he returned he found Tabitha had put Milo to bed and was watching her favourite show. Relishing the quiet he joined her on the sofa.
“Whatcha watching?” he asked playfully.
Tabitha raised an eyebrow. “It’s right there on the screen,” she said.
He drew closer to her and reached an arm behind and rested it on the sofa. He felt giddy. With Olivia gone it was just the two of them.
“It’s fun having the house to ourselves,” he said. “We’ve grown close, haven’t we?”
Tabitha didn’t take her eyes away from the screen.
“Too close. You’re in my space. Move!” she barked.
Dennis ran a hand softly up her leg. “Come on,” he purred. “You and I can have some fun.”
He clasped her hand and pulled it towards his aching crotch. “Come on,” he said again. This time with a little more force.
Tabitha tried to pull her hand away but he had gripped her tightly.
“Get the fuck off me!” she snarled but Dennis paid no attention. He wanted her then and he would have her.
He grabbed her and flipped her over on the sofa. He pushed behind her with a leering grunt.
“You want this,” he said. “You know you do.”
Tabitha snarled. She bit down on his arm and he yelped in pain. She threw her head back catching his nose and bursting it. She climbed onto her feet and when she saw Dennis hadn’t fallen she punched him heavily on the nose causing a satisfying explosion of blood as it burst. Dennis tumbled to the floor.
“I’m sorry,” Dennis whimpered.
Tabitha laughed with a horrid mixture of childish giddiness and grown up scorn.
“Oh you fucking will be,” she said. “For the rest of your life you will remember this moment as the time you fucked up royally.”
She turned to the television. She pushed the button to change the output and on the screen flashed the scene that had just occurred. A concealed camera had recorded everything.
“This will be a little memento in case you forget.”
“You set this up!?” he gasped.
Tabitha shrugged.
“Let’s just say I know creeps like you,” she replied. She watched the screen and laughed again. “You are so fucking screwed!” she cheered with a tune hanging in her voice. “Just not the way you hoped.” She looked closely at her own image. “The camera loves me,” she grinned. “Look at your nose. I really cracked you good.”
The scene was interrupted by Milo crying. Dennis tried to stand to check on him but Tabitha shot him a warning glare.
“You stay here, perv. I’ll check on him.” She skipped across to the steps. “If you ever lay a finger on me telling Liv will be the least of your worries. I will cut your fucking balls off.” She looked back at the screen. “Actually, if I’ve missed my show because of this I may still cut your balls off.” She sighed with amusement at her own jest and finally started climbing the stairs. “Coming Milo,” she called to the crying child.
***
When Olivia returned she sensed something was wrong but Dennis wouldn’t admit it. Tabitha carried on as she always had.
Olivia had been unable to meet with Karyn Doyle. The district court judge and chair of the Child Services Committee had been involved in an explosion too. A car bomb had left her critical in hospital.
“Do you think those two things are related?” Olivia asked Dennis but he didn’t seem to be listening.
“I don’t know do I?” he finally said.
“Maybe one of your associates would know?”
Dennis mostly ran couriers around the city and as such he came into contact with lots of different people. He didn’t ask any more questions about the Knock, Knock club though. Instead he distanced himself from his wife and child. Olivia noticed his being more subdued.
More time passed. Olivia tried to contact the judge when she heard she had made a miraculous recovery. Dennis finally spurred into action.
“Don’t do that!” he grabbed the telephone from her with a shaking hand.
Olivia remembered Tabitha’s threats on Milo but couldn’t believe that she should take them seriously.
“She needs help Dennis. She needs a home,” Olivia protested.
“She doesn’t want the judge to know she is here.” Dennis was almost pleading with his wife.
“Since when does Tabitha make the decisions around here?” Olivia returned with some venom. “It’s what is best for her.”
Given the urgency of Dennis’ plea Olivia left it. The judge would need time to recover from her ordeal anyway.
Time continued to pass. Tabitha grew older. Milo started to grow up. Until one day Dennis returned home to find Tabitha on the sofa with a packed bag at her feet and a coat on. Olivia was gone to places unknown with no intention of returning. She had taken Milo with her.
“Better get packed,” Tabitha said.
“Where are we going?” Dennis asked.
“To rebuild the Knock, Knock club.”
***
I stared at him for a little while after he told me this trying to process what it all meant.
“I’ve made some mistakes in my life but that was by far the worst and I’ve been paying for it ever since.”
Tabitha could handle herself whatever age she had been, that much was clear, but what I couldn’t get out of my mind were other little girls who hadn’t been so lucky. Frightened, trembling as Dennis’ long frame leaned over them. Their chances of first love gone forever in some sleazy hotel room with someone old enough to be their father. I could almost hear their painful screams.
“How long?” I growled.
“What do you mean?”
“How long before you met Tabitha did you have a fondness for little girls?”
Dennis’ eyes widened. There was still some self preservation left in him yet.
“It’s easy to condemn. It is sick, unnatural even, but you can’t fight it until you understand it,” he said.
The human part of me wasn’t interested in his excuses but that human part was shrinking more and more. All that was left was the reporter in me and that reporter was that story. It was something that had to be told to warn others.
When he saw I wasn’t retreating he continued.
“At first I didn’t realise it was happening. There were lots of girls. The foreign ones fresh to the city were the best. They were always so eager to please in the hope you would help them make a home. I loved that vulnerability in them, that submissiveness. I couldn’t get enough so I started seeking them out. The more desperate they were the better. They started to get younger. Teenaged girls that knew what they were doing. After a while that didn’t satisfy me any more. They had to be fresher, easier to control. I didn’t want to feel that way. You have to believe me. It was like an addiction, a compulsion. The opportunity was always there, especially with Liv’s work. The grown ups of Shady City were too busy worrying about themselves. They left their daughters open and free for guys like me. The young girls were all that I lived for. Then Olivia fell pregnant. I began to think about how I would feel if someone did the things I did to those girls with my kid. So it ended. I still felt those impulses, attractions but I controlled it. I concentrated on my wife and I focused on my kid. We had it good. Then, when I saw Tabitha, it all came flooding back. She behaved like an adult but underneath all that make up and bravado she was just as ripe as the rest of them. She knew though, I don’t know how but she did. She knew what her knowing little smiles were doing to me and her touches.”
I had heard enough. My fists curled. I tried to walk away but he pulled me back. I’ve never been a violent man but I swung my fist and caught him a heavy blow on the face. He fell against the bar.
“You sick fuck!” I cried losing all of my usual composure, shaking the pain from my hand.
It wouldn’t be long before Tabitha joined us so I took a deep breath. I was getting out of that place and I was damned if I was going to let another little kid be harmed.
#amreading the #thriller #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
I composed myself. I didn’t want to give any clue that I had seen what happened to Mel. I didn’t trust DENNIS but I knew he was the only one who could shed some light on what was going on. TABITHA had mentioned a war. She had insinuated as much to me too. My goal was to find out what this meant and who exactly they were at war with. It would make it easier for me to decide what to do with the evidence I had.
He swallowed the whiskey in his hand. I observed him for a bit, not giving away my presence too soon. I watched him, gauging his mannerisms and judging how easily he would talk at this point.
“Something getting you down?” I asked as coolly as possible.
“You should be upstairs,” he said. “You don’t want to be down here right now, pal.”
I took the stool at the bar beside him. I said nothing at first, just continuing to watch him for a break in his persona that would make him open up to me.
“Seriously,” he said, becoming frustrated. “You really have to go.”
“I’ve been through a lot lately,” I said finally. “I just want a drink. This is a bar, isn’t it?”
Dennis shook his head. He still wasn’t opening up. For a guy who was very full-on most of the time, I suspected he was a tougher nut to crack than it would seem.
“You look like you need help,” I said, hoping to prompt him.
He gave me a reluctant look then, but I seemed to have sparked something in him. I guess it had been some time since anyone had ever suggested helping him. It sure as Hell didn’t seem likely that Tabitha would.
“There’s no helping me,” he said, but he laughed as he did so. His Knock Knock persona was coming back. I was running out of time.
“Look, let’s just level with each other,” I suggested. “You don’t want to be here and neither do I. We can help each other but I can’t do anything unless you tell me what’s going on.”
Dennis looked behind him. He probably could have sworn he heard the click of those high heeled shoes.
“It’s too late,” he said, but this time he didn’t sound so sure.
“It’s never too late. I have to know what is going on here before anyone else is hurt.”
Dennis lifted his empty glass and spoke into it. “I wish I had never met her.”
He could have been referring to anyone but I felt it was safe to assume he meant Tabitha.
Then, with one final question, he threw all caution to the wind.
“What brought you to the Knock Knock club?”
***
“Tabitha darling, we’re leaving now,” called Mrs McKinney to her daughter. “Come and kiss Pa goodnight.”
The girl had been sat in front of the television in the lounge. An old show played. The comically mismatched couple had found themselves in another scrape as they juggled the babysitting duties of ten small babies.
Tabitha had no interest in Pa. She barely knew the man. She barely knew Ma either. The days they were at home were spent dressing for parties to which Tabitha was never invited. Tabitha learned quickly that neither of her parents were really interested in their daughter. She was dressed in pretty dresses and told to sit quietly, like she was part of the décor of their mansion home in the privileged town of FILTON.
The show ended. The audience were left in excited anticipation for what scenario they would find themselves in next. The screen replaced the show with an advertisement for Queen Corn cereal. A woman was singing and dancing on a beautifully illuminated stage. Her voice was sultry yet fun. The eye-catching leotard she wore underneath the grey gentleman’s blazer sparkled. The way her back-up dancers flocked around her, she looked as though she could rule the world. Tabitha’s heart began to flutter watching her and enjoying the music. The performer gazed at the camera with her smoky eyes, as though addressing the little girl directly.
‘You can have it all,’ her eyes seemed to say.
There was only one person in her life that encouraged her that way. Ma and Pa were strangers to her but her aunt, TAWNY, knew her. She had wanted to take her away from it all.
The week before, she had fallen asleep on the sofa when she felt a soft touch on her face. Her eyes opened to a beaming, round face with a sparkle in her eyes that was almost magical.
“Aunt Tee!” Tabitha cheered, throwing herself into the middle-aged woman’s arms. Her aunt hugged her tightly.
“Hello Trouble, how are you?”
“Good,” Tabitha replied. The house that had felt so empty and cold before was now warm and inviting with Tawny’s larger than life presence.
“Are you staying?” asked the niece.
“I can’t, honey. I just wanted to check on you. Where’s misery one and misery two?”
Tabitha shrugged. “At a party, I guess.”
Tawny shook her head. “They left you alone again?”
“I prefer it when they fuck off.”
Tawny laughed and shook her shoulder playfully. “Language, young lady.”
“Will you stay with me?”
Tawny beamed her wide, affectionate smile. “Of course I will.”
It had been a pleasant evening. They pushed the furniture aside. They danced and sang together across the open floor. They had been having so much fun that Tabitha almost forgot that Ma and Pa would return sooner or later.
Sometime around 2am Pa came charging in like a drunken bull. He pointed at his sister with a great, fat finger.
“You!” he spat. “Get to fuck out of my house.”
Tawny stood. “It’s as much my house as it is yours,” she remarked.
He waved his arms like a frustrated child. “Stay away from my family!”
Tawny laughed. Tabitha felt angry tears build in her eyes.
“Aren’t I family?” she asked.
Ma came tearing in behind Pa. “Just get out,” she ordered.
Pa sneered. A most hateful glare fell onto his fat face. “You are no sister of mine after what you did.”
“What I did?” Tawny reached into the black shirt she wore and produced a handful of instant photographs. “When you did this?” she started to throw them like a magician. “This? And this?”
They fell face down onto the floor, so Tabitha couldn’t see what the photos were of.
Pa grabbed her arm. “Just get out!”
Tawny relented. She raised her arms.
“Fine,” she said. “I’ll go, but Tabby comes with me.”
Pa raged. “Out of the question.”
Tabitha ran to her aunt and wrapped her arms around her full waist.
“Please,” she begged. “Just let me go with her.”
Pa grabbed the child’s arm and threw her aside, spraining her arm and hitting her head against the wall.
Tawny lunged and slapped him.
“How fucking dare you!” she growled. “You don’t give a shit about that kid.”
Ma was screaming, “I’ve had enough of this.” The doorbell rang and she charged to answer it. She returned swiftly, accompanied by two CPD officers.
“I found out about your petition for custody,” Pa growled. His expression changed to a satisfied sneer. “Judge Doyle overruled it today. Tabitha ain’t going anywhere.”
“After what you did to her you both should be in jail!” Tawny screamed.
The police officers clutched the aunt’s arms behind her back to restrain her.
“I now have an order against you. You are never to see Tabitha again,” Pa continued, relishing the pained expression on his sister’s face.
“I love you Tabs.” The aunt gave a painful cry as the officers removed her from the house. “No matter what happens remember I love you and I won’t rest until you are away from those monsters!”
When the scene had quietened Pa threw a cloth at Tabitha.
“Clean your face,” he ordered.
Tabitha soaked up the tears and absorbed the pain in her arm.
“Tabby!” Ma screeched this time.
Tabitha sighed. She switched off the television.
She met Ma in the hallway. She was standing with a sturdy woman in a cloche hat and long coat.
“This is Nanny Lynn. She’s going to stay with you whilst Pa and I are out.”
“I hate her,” Tabitha glared at the nanny. “If she stays here I’m going to rip her fucking face off.”
“Watch your mouth,” Ma warned. She threw her arms in the air. “You’re going to be the death of me. I hope you realise that.”
Tabitha glared directly at Nanny Lynn who stood in silent shock. “If you stay here I’m going to rip your fucking face off,” she repeated.
Ma stormed off to the kitchen to fetch one of her pills leaving the nanny alone with the child.
“You’re an angry little girl, aren’t you?” the nanny began hopefully. “If you give me the chance though, I’m sure we will become great friends,” she continued in a patronising tone that made Tabitha’s teeth itch. She reached a pack of JOLLY SHOPPER toffees out to her. “Would you like something sweet?”
Tabitha groaned. Sugar wasn’t going to solve anything. She raised her middle finger.
“Here’s what I think of your fucking toffees. Couldn’t even get the decent kind. Fucking cheapo.”
Nanny Lynn’s mouth was agape. A slur on her toffees was apparently worse than the threat of having her face ripped off.
Ma returned from the kitchen.
“You are staying here with Nanny Lynn whether you like it or not. I’m not having you ruin my night again. You are so selfish. Now come say goodnight to Pa.”
Pa was in a cloudy mood. Nanny Lynn fixed his tie. She stepped beside Tabitha and rested her hands on the girl’s shoulders with a gentle squeeze.
“Don’t pout girl,” Ma barked when she noticed the thunderous mood forming on her daughter’s face. “We’ll see you in the morning,” Ma started to explain but Pa snatched her arm and pulled her towards the door.
“Stop fussing,” he groaned. “I don’t want to be late.”
There was no kiss goodnight for Pa anyway. The little girl couldn’t understand why she had been pulled away from her shows just to watch them walk out the door again.
By the time Tabitha returned to the lounge the dancing woman was gone. It was during those lonely times that Tabitha missed her aunt the most. Aunt Tawny was a quirky woman. She had a laugh that always erupted from her stomach. She had a musical accent from the islands where she and Pa had grown up. Pa had lost his accent, striving to fit in amongst Filton society. Tawny wasn’t her aunt’s real name but that didn’t matter. They should have let her go. It wasn’t like they would miss her. Would they even notice she was gone?
That evening Tabitha kept singing and dancing like the woman from the cereal advert. As she did, a memory of Tawny came to her and the reason why her aunt made her smile so. Tawny always had a song on her lips. She wasn’t a graceful mover but there was a skip in her step that was enchanting. She was a cabaret singer and owned a club in the city. The Knock Knock Club sounded like such a magical place then.
“I love you Tabs. No matter what happens remember that.”
Tabitha couldn’t stand it any longer, she and Nanny Lynn alone in the big house, Ma and Pa never there.
“I won’t rest until you are away from those monsters.”
As the evening wore on she kept quiet, sitting in front of the television as Nanny Lynn read a magazine. She pretended to fall asleep on the sofa. Nanny Lynn got up to answer the door sometime after midnight. She heard someone look in on her. Tabitha closed her eyes tightly and pushed some light breathing through her nostrils. The door clicked closed again.
A few minutes later she heard the raised voices of her parents. Their slurred words were heavily laced with gin. Nanny Lynn sounded concerned. Tabitha couldn’t decipher their words but the tones were clear. Pa gave a hearty laugh. It was soon followed by stumbling footsteps up the stairs like a stampeding herd of cows. Ma was giggling.
“You’ll wake the child,” Nanny Lynn warned.
The door along the hall closed. Ma and Pa had gone to bed.
Tabitha waited patiently for an hour. She climbed onto her feet. She danced across the room like the woman from the advert and fetched a knife from the kitchen before creeping back to the bottom of the stairs.
Quietly, she crept along the hall to Ma and Pa’s bedroom. It was the one room in the expansive house that was forbidden to her. That didn’t stop her this night.
She opened the door as quietly as she could. There was movement from the bed. A lot of satisfied moaning filled the air. Pa was sat up. His bare back faced his daughter. Tabitha recited the tune from the cereal advert in her head. It slowed the charge of her heart. No one was paying attention to her. They hadn’t even noticed her come into the room. Ma had a camera phone and was filming Pa mounted onto Nanny Lynn like a breeding dog.
Finally, Ma looked over. She shrieked when she saw her daughter. Tabitha ran at them. She embedded the knife into Pa’s side. He didn’t scream. He emitted a gasp of air as though something heavy had fallen on him.
Ma screamed again as her husband tumbled onto the floor. Tabitha wielded the knife and slashed Ma’s face, leaving a red trace on her milky skin.
Tabitha leapt on top of Nanny Lynn’s naked frame and stabbed into her chest so deeply it was difficult to pull the blade back out.
With one last surge of strength Pa tried to grab at his daughter, but Tabitha curbed his enthusiasm by stabbing him ten more times.
Ma found her strength and charged at her daughter. She grabbed Tabitha around her neck and pulled her. They both fell to the floor.
Tabitha knew then she couldn’t overpower her, and the knife had slipped out of her bloodied hand. She wrapped her lips around Ma’s finger and bit down as hard as she could.
Ma was still locked around her so she reached up to her ear where she had had a recent injury. With an almighty tug Tabitha pulled the stitches and the rest of the ear came with it.
She picked up the knife. Tabitha had to finish the job. She charged at her mother and knocked her on top of Nanny Lynn’s lifeless body. She stabbed her twice. Ma still gasped. Her lips parted slowly. Her lungs had been punctured so she held on for a few moments like a fish out of water. Her last gaze upon her daughter showed she was smiling.
She switched on the lights. The blood-stained sheets were a tangled mess around the occupants of the bed. Tabitha found it quite comical actually. It looked like a sketch from a comedy show. She stifled her giggles.
A young girl wouldn’t get very far on her own. She had to make herself seem older.
She chose Ma’s favourite red dress and took it from the closet. Ma had been quite petite so it was only a little oversized. She pulled Ma’s make-up out of its usual hiding place. It spilled onto the floor. She wiped the blood from her face and sat at the vanity mirror.
The image of her parents and their reluctant lover reflected in the glass. She giggled again. She painted her face with the make-up, a little heavy on the rouge and the red lips but it made Tabitha seem older. With Ma’s clothes and a face of make-up she looked older than she was.
As she made her way to the front door her shoes clicked on the marble floor. This pleased her. She danced along it, singing the cereal song again. With her dress, heels and make up, little Tabitha could easily be the woman from the advert.
With only the cash Ma had in her purse the young girl ventured into the night, not really sure of where she was going yet.
***
“What happened after that?” I asked.
Dennis shook his head. His story had tired him. I wanted to keep him with me though. I needed him to tell me everything he knew so I poured him another whiskey to stop him sobering up.
“From what I heard the never found the bodies but Nanny Lynn’s husband was arrested on suspicion of the murder. They said it was some kind of jealous rage. Tabitha slipped through the system.”
“How did she get into the city?”
“You would be surprised how many people around here are willing to help a young girl dressed like a whore,” he said bluntly.
#amreading the #thriller #graphicnovel #knockknock by @VivikaWidow
