6

Kaleen had just finished work and had come out of the mall and was heading back home over the car park. Sandman stood waiting, standing next to his bike, smiling. She returned the smile walking towards him wondering why he looked so cheerful, unaware that her day was about to get a lot worse, not better.

He pecked her on the check. Still smiling, an evil presence arose.

‘What’s up Sandman?’

‘Your worries are over.’

‘What are you on?’

‘You aint got to worry about your step mother it’s all sorted.’

‘What you talking about.’

‘We won’t have to see the witch again she’s dead!’

‘What!’ Kaleen said, trying to take in what he’d just said. ‘Adriana aint dead I only saw her a few hours ago.’

‘She is I killed her.’ He replied still smiling.

‘Don’t trip on me!’

His smile shortened a frown grew across his face one eyebrow raised, the other lying dormant. ‘It’s true I went round there to tell her we were moving in together.’

‘Wait a minute I never said.’ She started as he interrupted.

‘Let me finish.’

She stood still trying not to shake.

He continued. ‘She went spear I walked away I was calm until she told me I was scum and I’m sorry but I lost it Kay.’ He said grabbing her hands. ‘She said she’d never let us be together and I just couldn’t let that happen I pushed her she banged her head off the stairs I only meant to scare her Kay I didn’t mean to kill her you got to believe me.’

She pulled her hands away. ‘Shut up! Just shut up!’ she said placing her hands on her ears. ‘I’m not listening.’

‘This can’t be happening it’s all a dream, it aint happening he’s messing with me just to see how I’d react, and he’s got the reaction that he wanted.’

‘It’s shit you aint like that.’

Sandman prized Kaleen’s hands away from her ears. ‘Aren’t you listening to a word I said? I killed your step mom.’

‘No!’ she screeched loudly.

He looked at her shocked.

‘You’re joking right! It’s all just a big joke.’

His frown grew wider and narrower ‘Don’t you believe me?’

She stood there trying to take it all in. Had he really killed Adriana, if he had why was he standing there? And why was she still there with him if he had done what he said he had.

‘Come on I’ll take you home, then maybe you’ll believe me.’ He said leaping on his bike.

‘What!’ She screamed. ‘He can’t be serious; he can’t really expect me to get on that thing after what he’s just done. Why’s he doing this to me? Does he take pleasure out of hurting people? Seeing their pain?’

He did.

‘Come on.’ He said impatiently, grabbing her hand pulling her towards the bike. ‘Jump on I’ll prove you wrong.’

She hesitated, but could see he weren’t going anywhere without her. She jumped on the back of the bike reluctantly. He revved the bike up then sped off with Kaleen gripping tightly to his tee-shirt. She could feel the force of the wind on her face as it whooshed round her. She felt as if she was going to be sick with all of that g-force hitting her face. She had an urge to just jump, she looked at the road it flashed passed she resumed her thoughts of jumping she’d rather live than die even though it couldn’t be any worse than what lay install for her.

They arrived back at the house the paramedics were attending to Adriana.

Kaleen jumped off the bike and headed towards the house.

‘She’s still breathing let’s get her into the ambulance to resuscitate her.’ One of the paramedics said. They walked passed Kaleen with Adriana on the stretcher pulling it up into the ambulance Kaleen stopped dead at the door leading into the house.

Candice was standing still, shaking.

‘What happened?’ Kaleen said rapping her arms round Candice.

‘I heard raised voices so I came out of the bedroom to see what was happening, I saw mom just lying there, and they said she must’ve slipped on the wooden surface.’ Candice explained with tears rolling down her face.

‘I’m sorry. I really am.’ Kaleen said, dropping her arms from round Candice.

The paramedic walked over to them. ‘I’m so sorry we tried, but we couldn’t save her, we’ll take the body to the morgue.’

‘Thanks.’ Candice replied.

The paramedics left in the ambulance.

‘Shit, Sandman! Shit I forgot about him!’ Kaleen thought, looking round to see his arm round Candice. ‘Come on I’ll take you in.’

‘Okay.’

He looked at Kaleen, smiling as he walked passed. A shiver went through her body as she closed the door behind her. ‘What’s he up too? He killed Adriana now he’s latching onto my sister! I can’t believe it. I feel sick’

Kaleen walked head held high into the lounge. Sandman’s arm placed gently round Candice as she sobbed on his shoulder, he looked up smiled, and Kaleen looked at him dead eyed disgusted, counted to ten in her head and calmly said. ‘Anyone want a drink?’

Candice looked up. ‘No thanks I’ll just go to bed. I know I won’t sleep, but I need to be alone.’

‘Sure sis.’

Sandman dropped his arm from round Candice, she pulled herself up.

‘See you in the morning.’

‘Yeah night.’

Sandman caught her eye, as she walked passed he gave her half a smile. She smiled quickly going out of the room as fast as she could, running up the stairs. Music pounded down the stairs.

‘She looks sad.’

‘What do you expect? Her mom’s dead!’ Kaleen replied vexed.

‘I’m sorry I never meant to hurt anyone.’ Sandman said showing no emotion, his face almost expressionless, apart from the permanent grin he wore on it since he’d met Kaleen out of work which was making her physically sick and was bugging her.

‘Stop smiling there’s nothing to smile about!’ She snapped angrily.

His smile faded. ‘What’s up babe?’

‘What’s up? What’s up! You killed Adriana now you’re trying to latch onto my sister.’

‘I like her, but not half as much as I like you!’

‘You’re sick just sick.’ She replied feeling as if she was going to burst a blood vessel.

‘Sit down, let’s talk.’

‘No! I’m goanna talk to the police tell them everything.’ She snapped.

‘You’re in this with me.’ He said, grabbing her hand, pulling her making her sit beside him.

She fell back onto the sofa. He took both her hands. ‘Remember what we talked about? Us running away together, let’s do it lets get out of this joint.’

‘You can’t be serious!’

‘Deadly.’

She looked at him blank. ‘No! You killed my step mom now you’re expecting me to runaway with you.’

‘Yeah. Why not, we’ll make a fresh start, forget any of this ever happened.’

‘I can’t I need to be here, Candice needs me.’ She replied trying to get out of it.

‘Please Kay. I want us to be together.’

‘No I’ve got to tell the police.’

He laughed.

‘What are you laughing at?’ she said angrily, nothing she’d said was funny she was being serious.

‘Like I told you we’re in this together. I’ve got proof that you wanted her dead.’ He said smirking.

‘Bull shit!’

He pulled a sheet of paper out of his jacket pocket, unfolded it. ‘Let’s see.’ He said scanning it closely. ‘Argh yes. ‘I hate my step mom I wish she were dead! So I’d never have to see her again.’ He said, folding it up.

‘Where did you get that from?’

He smiled evilly. As if to say ‘Don’t ask such stupid questions.’

‘You looked in my diary!’

‘Shouldn’t leave it lying round should you? You never know who’s goanna pick it up.’

‘You creep I trusted you.’

‘Don’t you listen to anyone Kay never to trust anyone, not even your shadow!’

‘Give it back!’ she screamed, thinking, ‘Shit he planned it, all of it just to get to me.’

‘Argh-Argh-Argh.’ He said holding it higher out of her reach. ‘This is what keeps us together. If you grass me up I’ll just show the cops this.’ He said waving it in front of her face boasting

‘You can’t possibly think that they’re going to take any notice of a piece of paper do you? It doesn’t prove anything.’

‘Everyone knows how much you hated her.’

‘That daint mean that I wanted her dead, not really dead.’

‘You’re my ticket out of here.’

‘What do you want from me?’

‘Cash will do nicely.’

‘How much?’

‘Five grand to start.’

‘What do you mean to start?’

‘Nothing, you won’t see me after that ever again.’

‘Ever?’

‘Promise.’ He replied, disappointedly

‘Okay.’ She sighed. ‘I’ll get it for you tomorrow.’

‘Good.’ He replied shoving the sheet of paper into his inside pocket. ‘I’ll just keep it here for safe keeping so we don’t ever go back on our deal.’

‘Deal call this a deal! More like black male on my life!’

He draped his arm round her. ‘How’s about a kiss.’

‘What!’ She snapped. ‘You.’

‘Shh.’ He said placing his finger firmly on her lips. ‘I love you.’ He replaced his finger with his lips.

They felt so cool like he’d got no regrets. Her lips quivered with guilt this was a perfect opportunity to grab the sheet of paper out of his pocket, and destroy it so he’d got nothing on her and she’d no longer need to help him.

She returned his kiss, slipping her hand under his jacket. He quickly grabbed her hand, squeezing it pulling his lips away from hers. ‘Agh-Agh-Agh.’ He said shaking his head. ‘Mine now, so get used to it and don’t ever try anything stupid like that again.’ He leaned forward, placing his lips back on hers slipping his tongue down her throat making her even more sick than she already felt.

He moved away, losing her hand. ‘I’ll see you in the morning about nine thirty in the park.’

‘Okay.’

He pulled himself up moving his arm from round her. ‘No funny business, get the money and meet me after okay!’

‘Okay.’

‘See you tomorrow, love you.’ He said, walking out of the door.

She didn’t reply the door echoed as he closed it. She curled up on the sofa crying.

The following day wasn’t going to be easy for Kaleen. She knew that Sandman was going to be waiting for her and what if she couldn’t get him the money would he kill her too?

The bank clerk looked at her through her pointed glassed, held on a string or something. ‘Five thousand pounds.’ She said bluntly, looking at the cheque. Keeping one eye on Kaleen which made her feel nervous.

‘Yeah, it’s for a new TV.’

‘Couldn’t you just put it on your card?’

‘I like to pay cash.’

‘Okay then’ The clerk said, stamping it. ‘Go over there to collect it.’ She said handing it back to Kaleen who took it of her with a sigh of relief.

Kaleen walked over to the next counter. She gave the clerk the cheque. He studied it and smiled. ‘Shopping spree.’

‘New TV.’ She replied. ‘Boy I’m getting better at this.’ She thought. ‘Don’t let your mind wonder soon he’ll be out of your life forever!’

‘Nice.’ The clerk said.’ ‘How would you like it?’

‘Twenties please.’

He counted the money, placing it in an envelope, he passed it over the counter, Kaleen picked it up putting it into her pocket.

‘Hope you find the TV you want.’

‘I already have. It’s a fifty inch plasma cinema surround sound and DVD the works.’

She replied. ‘Calm down.’

He smiled. ‘Bye.’

‘See ya.’ She replied.

Kaleen walked out of the bank and headed to the park. She met Sandman at exactly half past nine in the park sitting on the bench, she sat besides him.

He turned to face her. ‘Got it?’

‘Yeah.’ She replied, pulling the envelop out of her pocket. ‘Here.’

He snatched the envelop off her, stuffing it into his inside pocket. ‘Cheers.’

‘Aint you goanna check it?’

‘Nagh, I trust you, any way if it aint all there I’ll come looking for you.’ He said, pulling himself up. ‘Well I guess this is goodbye.’

‘I guess.’ Kaleen said emotionless, glad that she’d never have to see him again.

He leaned forward and pecked her o the check. Whispering in her ear. ‘You know you could always come with me, my offer still stands.’

He moved away. ‘Think about it.’

He walked away walking out of the park, Kaleen sat there glad she’d never have to see him again.