[Wordsmiff]

CHAPTER 24


Rebecca took out her phone and dialled a number. “Meels,” she said into the phone, “Bring up the other pair of handcuffs.” She rang off without another word.

“Handcuffs?” Gemma said.

“It’s okay,” Rebecca said, “They’re not for you.”

A few moments later they heard footsteps on the stairs and Amelia walked into the bedroom carrying the other pair of handcuffs, the ones she’d brought round earlier. She gave them to Rebecca.

“Thanks,” Rebecca said to her sister, “Now get the little one’s ready.”

Gemma bit her lip. “What are you doing?”

“Be quiet,” Rebecca said. She waited until Amelia had left the room and then she un-cuffed James.

James had a relieved look on his face as he rubbed his wrists back to life.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” Rebecca said to him. “You won’t be loose for long. Lie on the bed. Dead centre.”

James climbed onto the bed and lay down.

Rebecca clipped one of the handcuffs to his left wrist and then pulled on it, jerking James’ arm back. She secured the other end of the cuff to the bed frame.

Then she casually walked round to the other side of the bed, gripped James’ right arm and secured the other pair of handcuffs to his right wrist and then to the other side of the bed frame so that James was manacled to the bed.

“Okay,” Rebecca said, turning to Gemma, “Take your clothes off.”

Gemma quickly stripped off the uniform she was wearing. She wasn’t keen on being naked but somehow it felt better than wearing school uniform on a Saturday.

As soon as Gemma was naked, Rebecca picked up the clothes and took them out of the room. A few moments later, she returned empty-handed. “You won’t be needing those again,” she said to Gemma.

“What now?” Gemma asked.

“Now,” Rebecca said, “You wait.”

They waited. And waited.

There was the sound of footsteps on the stairs and Amelia appeared once more.

“All done?” Rebecca asked her sister.

“All done,” Amelia confirmed.

“Okay,” Rebecca said, turning to Gemma. “Get your dad’s laptop.”

“I don’t know where it is,” Gemma said, “He never...”

“It’s on top of the wardrobe,” Rebecca said, “Underneath the box files.”

“Oh.” Gemma went over to the wardrobe. Before she got there, she paused, mid-step, and turned round again. “How do you know where it is?”

“Ah,” Rebecca said, “Looks like you caught me out.”

“What do you mean?” Gemma said.

“Let’s just say your dad has invited me round a few times when you and your mom were out and Tiff and Jess were asleep. “We... got to know each other quite well.”

Gemma racked her brain trying to think of the times when she and her mother were out and her dad was home. “Monday, Thursday and Saturday evenings?” she said, finally. “When mom and me went to visit Nan?”

“Could be,” Rebecca said.

“But you would have been...”

“Fifteen.” Rebecca finished Gemma’s sentence. “He used to call me round and we’d have a bit of fun in bed or sometimes watch porn on his laptop.” She smiled at Gemma. “Under the box files, if you can reach it.”

Gemma knew that the times Rebecca was talking about were two years ago, when her grandmother was ill in hospital. Gemma used to go with her mother while her father stayed at home with Tiff and Jess. Her father used to visit on other evenings, taking Tiff and Jess with him.

The visits went on for about six months until Gemma’s grandmother died.

Gemma looked at Rebecca. “You’re saying that...” She bit her lip and felt a tear trickle down her cheek.

“That he used to screw me?” Rebecca said, “Yes.”

“I feel sick,” Gemma said.

“Don’t do it here,” Rebecca said, “You’ll only have to clean it up.”

“Bastard!” Gemma said.

“Just go and get the fucking computer,” Rebecca said, “Or I’ll smack Tiff so hard she’ll...”

“Okay,” Gemma said, “Leave Tiff alone.” She went over to the wardrobe, stood on a footstool and moved the box files. Sure enough, the laptop was there. She lifted it down and took it over to Rebecca.

“Put it on the desk,” Rebecca said, indicating the desk in the corner of the room. “Meels, set it up.”

Gemma put the laptop down on the desk and Amelia went over to set it up.

“You know what to do, Meels,” Rebecca said, “I have other things to do.”

“You do exactly as Amelia says,” Rebecca told Gemma, “Or Tiff and Jess get it.” Rebecca left the room and made her way downstairs.


To be continued...