Kirsty helped her have a shower and it felt wonderful. “I’m fed up being in bed, I want to sit in the arm chair.” Kirsty helped her to the chair and then went and made them both a cup of tea. When she returned she just sat staring at Jo, waiting for her to talk.
“I was bored and found a website where punters can find prostitutes who are local and working, he had a room booked and I said I’d meet him, I can’t even remember his fucking name. I went to the room and as soon as the door closed he punched me. I woke up confused and in agony. I somehow made my way downstairs and you know the rest.”
“Why did you go to the hotel? I don’t understand.”
“For the life of me I don’t really know, maybe it was for the danger, maybe for some other reason, I don’t fucking know why I went there.” Jo said, her voice rising and tears starting to well. Kirsty just stared at her, trying to understand.
“The manager said they tried to call an ambulance but you kept saying to call me and get you a taxi.”
Jo just nodded, not really remembering. “Sorry.”
“You’ve nothing to be sorry for. Bill kept saying to take you to the hospital but before you passed out again, you said no. I didn’t know what to do but knew you really didn’t want to go, so Bill agreed to stay with me and help me look after you; he took Tuesday off sick and stayed for two nights. He looked up what to do on the internet, so we woke you every hour and Bill also took your pulse to see if you were bleeding internally, do you remember?”
Jo shook her head, tears starting to fall. Kirsty held her tight. Eventually she continued.
“As well as punching you in the head we think he kicked you in the belly and assaulted you down below, both sides, Bill said the bruising is so bad, he must have used an object or a big stick or something. The fucking cunt.”
Jo nearly laughed; Kirsty’s recount was so matter of fact that ‘the fucking cunt’ almost seemed out of place. She was grateful for Bill’s help but was a bit uneasy about it at the same time.
“I’m really glad Bill helped you look after me, but it seems a bit strange to help so much.”
“I know what you mean but I really needed his help and he didn’t seem creepy or anything, I think he’s alright.”
Jo nodded, not wanting to argue, but wasn’t so sure.
“I was talking to him on the phone before and he’s popping round later to see how we’re getting on.”
Jo just nodded.
“Also I took your phone and phoned all your regulars, told them you were ill.”
Jo smiled and nodded again.
Bill arrived and seemed very cheery. Kirsty showed him into the living room.
“How you doing Jo? You look a little brighter.”
“I’m getting there, still sore and a bit woozy, but better than I was.”
“Great, great.”
“Did you fall asleep during your classes?” Kirsty asked him with a smile on her face, “You looked pretty tired leaving here this morning.”
“No, I was fine, dozed off in the staff room at lunch time though.” He smiled, “Some of the other staff ribbed me about it, saying, ‘she must have been pretty good to keep you awake all night’. I just smiled and nodded.”
“Thanks for helping Kirsty and for helping me, I really appreciate it.”
“You’re very welcome; it’s what any decent person would do.”
“I don’t think so; I think most would’ve run a mile what with the state I was in and what I’d been up too.”
“Doesn’t matter what you’ve been up too, nobody deserves the hiding and assault you got.”
They all sat silently for a short while, thinking, before Bill continued, “I visited the hotel and got the name and address of the bastard that hit you.”
“You had no fucking right, it’s none of your fucking business.” Jo flared up, seething; only the dull ache in her head stopping her from shouting louder.
“I know, I know, it’s just that I’m so fucking angry at what he did to you and that he might get away with it, I just had to do something.”
“It’s none of your business, you don’t even know me. What’s your game, do you get off on helping fallen women, or hanging around with prostitutes or something?”
Bill sat looking at both the women, knowing that he was wrong but knowing he meant no harm and was trying to help. He hoped Kirsty might say something but her head was down, looking at the floor. Finally he managed.
“I’m sorry; I know I overstepped the mark. As for the other things, I don’t think I’ve ever met any prostitutes or fallen women.” As he said it he couldn’t help but smile at the old fashioned term and Jo herself even smirked, knowing it sounded ridiculous.
“Look, it’s like this; I’ve known Kirsty for just over six months, she doesn’t find college easy but she tries really hard, she’s always smiling and saying hello to people. All her lecturers are fond of her and when I saw her in a state the other day I didn’t hesitate to help. My classes had finished for the day so it was easy for me.”
Kirsty lifted her head, a weak smile on her face.
“I was really shocked by the state you were in, I think we both were. I thought we should call an ambulance but Kirsty convinced me otherwise. To be honest I was also worried that as well as you getting sicker we might be guilty of something for not taking you to the hospital. We were able to wake you and you seemed reasonably coherent, so we were able to relax a bit. We thought we’d take it in turns to get some sleep but we were both wired and ended up chatting most of the night.”
Jo was looking at both of them, her anger subsiding, he continued.
“I told Kirsty a bit about myself, silly stuff really, how I like old movies, computers, soccer and beer, not necessarily in that order.” He said this with a goofy smile, Jo found herself warming to him a bit, although she didn’t want to.
“Kirsty told me about herself, what she use to do and how she met you. She talked about a few different things, but mainly she talked about you.”
Kirsty moved to the arm of Jo’s chair, trying to cuddle her without falling on top of her, which got them all laughing.
“Kirsty thinks’ you’re very special and after listening to her for half the night, so do I.” Jo thought she saw him blush a little as he said this. “She told me some of the things you get up to here and said she thought you worked on their brains as much as you did on their bodies.” He paused, his face reddening, “That’s why it makes me so fucking mad that some animal would do this to you.”
Jo was still annoyed at him but her anger was settling, he seemed genuine and sincere.
“I know I shouldn’t have gone to the hotel but I knew you wouldn’t go to the police and I just think we have to do something about this fucker, hurt him back and stop him hurting anyone else.”
“So are you going to go round and beat him up?” Jo asked, almost mockingly.
“I can handle myself but I’m not really the fighting type, although it would be easy to make an exception for this arsehole. Do you know anyone who would kick his head in and maybe cut off his bollocks?”
“I think I’d do the cutting off myself.” Said Jo. “And me.” Said Kirsty.
After a while Kirsty said, “Seriously, we should do something to at least stop him, if not hurt him.”
“There’s a bit of me wants to forget all about it, pretend it never happened.” Jo said as tears started to fall, Kirsty trying to squeeze her tighter and finally loosing balance.
When they had all stopped laughing and Jo had stopped laughing, groaning in pain and crying, Bill said, “I do have one idea of something we could do, but it’s very illegal.”
“So is nearly beating someone to death.” Jo Said. “What’s your idea?’
“Have you seen the movie ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo?” Bill asked.
Kirsty said no but Jo nodded, wheels and cogs turning in her head as she realized where this might be going.
“Well the main character gets viciously raped.” Bill continued “and she gets her own back by, amongst other things, hacking into his computer and fucking up his life.”
“Oh shame, I thought you were gonna say we’d kidnap him and tattoo rapist and fucking cunt into his chest.” Jo said with a wicked smile. Kirsty looked on, a bit bemused.
“Maybe we could do that as well, but I’m sure I could hack him. I’ve never done it before, always thinking it was very wrong, but if you want me too, I will.”
Jo sat thinking, trying to come to a decision. “What do we do once you’ve hacked him?”
“I’m not sure, find out all we can about him I suppose.”
“And will he know he’s been hacked and by whom?”
“I don’t think he’ll know, unless we want him to. If we just use my computer I think he won’t know who’s doing it.”
Jo was torn, wanting revenge but equally still traumatized and wanting to forget.
“I don’t suppose it’ll do any harm to know some more about him.” Kirsty said.
“If you want I can just look at his social media and such, see what I can find there. You don’t need to look at it if you don’t want to.”
“Do that.” Jo said, starting to shake and Kirsty cuddling her tighter.
Fifteen minutes later Bill said, “His name is Jonathon Cross.” Jo just nodded, not recognizing the name.
“It looks like he’s married to Sheila, has two young daughters and works as some sort of tax consultant. I could tell you what school he went to and what his favourite TV program is, but I’m guessing you’re not interested.”
“What sort of bastard has a wife and two daughters and then does this to another woman?” Kirsty said, the anger rising within her.
“A sick and dangerous bastard.” Bill said.
Jo was silent, anger and determination galvanizing in her mind; comparing his normal profile and his normal life with the things he had done to her, “I want to hurt this bastard.” She finally said.
They discussed what they would or could do to him, Bill convincing them that attacking him electronically could be more effective and more damaging to him than just beating the shit out of him. “We can really fuck with his mind.” He told them. They decided they would try not to hurt his wife or kids, just freak him out.
“OK, hack him.” Jo finally said.
Bill was in a world of his own, fully focused on his computer screen. Jo and Kirsty just smiled at each other, amused and a bit impressed. After an hour he lifted his head, a silly, boyish grin on his face. “I think I’m in. he has a laptop and there’s a family PC. I can see what’s going on on both of them. He has a work laptop but that has more protection on it and I can’t get into it, yet. His laptop is synced with his phone, which is handy.”
“Why?”
“Well, whatever he looks up on his phone will show on his laptop also.”
The two women just nodded.
“What are we going to do now, how do we hurt him, how do we punish him?” Jo asked.
“Well it’s up to you but I think we should just watch him for a couple of days, see what he’s up to.”
“And he won’t know we’re watching him?”
“No I don’t think so, we’ll see what websites he visits, who he emails, that sort of thing, I think I’ll even be able to see his passwords for things.”
There’d been a sense of excitement when Bill had first started hacking into Cross’ computer but now they all felt a bit deflated
“So we just wait?” Kirsty said. Jo and Bill nodded.
“I think we should have a drink, Bill what will you have, wine or a beer?” Jo asked.
“A beer would be great; do you think you should drink, what with your concussion?”
“I’ll be fine, and anyway you can wake me every hour and take my pulse.” Jo said, causing them all to smile but also making Bill feel a little uncomfortable as Jo stared at him.
As they had one drink and then another they all started to relax, chatting about anything other than Jo’s assault. Bill could be funny, telling gentle, silly little stories and making them both laugh. He was also a good listener and Jo found herself telling things that she’d shared with very few people, at least not recently, other than Kirsty.
As Bill was drinking his third beer he found himself almost falling asleep, the stress and lack of sleep catching up with him.
“I’ll get a taxi home.”
“No you won’t, you can stay here, can’t he Jo.” Kirsty said, looking at Jo
“Of course he can, in fact I insist.”
Bill was too tired to argue and felt very comfortable with the two women, only feeling concern when he saw them whispering and giggling.
“What?” He asked, smiling himself, their giggling and the drink having an effect.
“Well, we have three bedrooms but one is my ‘work’ room.” Jo said, the two of them giggling like schoolgirls once again.
Bill smiled back, getting the gist of what was being said.
“If you sleep walked you might find yourself tied up in knots or worse.” They were almost hysterical now.
Bill struggled to keep a straight face, “I think I’ll sleep on the sofa, might be safer.” He managed, before joining in with the laughter.
“Will I help Kirsty walk you to your bedroom?”
“I think you’d better, whatever about the bruises, I’m pissed!”
With a mixture of grunts, groans and laughter they managed to get Jo upright, standing either side of her with their hands around her waist. Bill didn’t know whether it was the drink, the concussion or a combination of the two, but Jo seemed to be leaning into him more than she had previously.
“Toilet first!” Jo declared with a giggle just as they reached her bedroom door, causing them to have to turn in the narrow hallway, more giggling ensuing as they attempted this simple task. When they eventually reached her bed Jo became more serious and a little sad.
“Thank you both for helping and looking after me.” She said as she turned to Kirsty, kissing her forehead and caressing her face before cuddling her tightly. Turning she said, “Thank you Bill.” Before cuddling him and nestling her head into his neck. It lasted only few seconds but Bill felt emotion well up in him, struggling not to cry himself.
They laid her down and tucked her in as a team, Kirsty leaning over and kissing her head goodnight as one might a child.
It was 10 the next morning before Jo awoke, managing to get herself out of bed and into the kitchen.
“You should have called me; I would have helped you get up.” Kirsty said.
“Thanks, but I need to start doing things myself. Has Bill left already?”
“Yeah, he left about eight. I tell you what, he’s got a good body when you see him in his boxers.”
“Kirsty!” Jo laughed, “When did you see him?”
“I was making breakfast and he came in and said good morning before going to the bathroom, didn’t notice any morning wood though.”
Jo smiled, this was more like their normal conversations and she needed that. “Anyway I though you said you only fancied women these days.”
“I do, I was thinking more about you.”
“Piss off.”
“Why not, he obviously likes you and you seem to like him.”
“For one, I’m a sex worker, not exactly girlfriend material. For two, I‘ve just been viciously raped and beaten by some fucker and I want to chop all men’s balls off and for three,…well I’m sure there is a three, I just can’t think of it.”
Kirsty was smiling, “But apart from those things, what’s the problem.” Jo looked at her for a second before they both burst out laughing.
“Anyway why aren’t you at college?”
“I’m taking the week off to look after you.”
“There’s no need, I’m fine now.”
“No you’re not and there is a need.”
“You’ll drive me fucking mad.”
“I know.” Kirsty said as they both smiled.
Bill phoned later that day and said if they didn’t mind he would go home and sleep that evening as he was knackered, he’d come around tomorrow and tell them about anything he’d found.
Jo opened the door to him just after four on the Friday afternoon. “Great to see that you’re up and about.” He said.
“I feeling much better thanks, what’s in that?” She asked, pointing to a full rucksack on his back.
“Food, I’m cooking dinner for you both; also two bottles of wine and some clean underwear in case I get drunk and you force me to stay again.”
“You should be so lucky.” Jo said, unable to stop herself smiling.
They all sat in the kitchen, chatting, as Bill cooked up a storm. In fairness it was a simple pasta dish but he did it with a flourish, exaggerating everything he did and providing a bit of entertainment. Eventually they got round to the hacking.
“What’s the cunt been up too?” Kirsty asked.
“Is that what we’re calling him from now on?” asked Bill
“Well it’s the worst word I know, so why not?” Bill and Jo both shrugged their shoulders, not disagreeing.
“Not a huge amount; seems like a normal husband and father for the most part, he did look at some dodgy porn on his phone, but nothing too over the top or illegal. Most of it involved rough sex, maybe not surprisingly. However, at three this afternoon he was on the website I think he met you through. He didn’t make contact with anyone, but maybe he’s thinking about it.”
“Fucker.” Jo said. “How can we stop him?”
“We can’t physically but I think it’s time to up the ante a bit.”
“How?”Asked Jo.
“We need to scare him, let him know we’re watching him. By letting him know that we know what he’s been up too, we can threaten to expose him, tell his wife.”
They were all looking at each other, nervous but also a little excited.
“You sure he won’t know who we are or where the messages are coming from?” Jo asked.
“I don’t think he’s that tech savvy but even if he was, or knows someone who is, I don’t think he could trace it back to my computer. From being in contact with you on the website would he know your real name or address?”
Jo shook her head.
“Did you have anything on you that had your address or name on it?” Jo shook her head again. “Then I think we’re safe.”
“Why don’t I compose a text message and show it to you before I send it.” Jo and Kirsty both nodded.
Bill tapped away until finally raising his head with a smile and showing them what he had written.
‘CUNT, WE KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST MONDAY. WHO SHALL WE TELL FIRST, THE POLICE OR YOUR WIFE’
They read it, there was nervous smiles all round, finally Jo said, “Send it.”
Bill could see almost immediately that he had opened it and read it but after ten minutes they had no reply. “Send another one.” Said Jo
‘It would be a shame for Sheila and the kids to know what daddies been up to or what he’s been looking at on the web’ The text also included his address and a list of some of the websites he’d visited and then. ‘reply within 5 minutes or we tell Sheila everything’
Almost immediately they got a message back ‘who is this I don’t know what you’re talking about what do you want’
“Fucking wanker, I hate people who don’t use proper grammar in texts.” Jo said to all around laughter, helping them to relax a bit.
Bill composed another text, ‘Dear Sheila, your husband Jonathon…..’ going on to list all they knew about him. ‘Do you want me to send this to Sheila?’
Jonathon, ‘please don’t what do you want’
“Write that we want him to use grammar.” Jo said to more laughter. Bill sent it
Jonathon, ‘What?’
“That’s better.” Jo laughed.
Bill, ‘We don’t want to hurt Sheila but you’re a RAPIST CUNT who deserves to burn in HELL. Do not watch porn on the internet. Do not contact any escorts or visit any site where you might arrange to meet a woman. Do not lose or change your phone or computer. WE ARE WATCHING YOU!’
After it was sent they sat in silence, almost in shock. Finally Bill said, “Who’s ready for pasta?”
Jonathan texted back a few times; each text becoming increasing more desperate, begging them not to tell Sheila or anyone. They ignored them, letting him stew.
They tried not to talk about it but it kept coming up. Wondering what hurt they should cause to him.
“Well he’s certainly suffering now. I’ll message him tomorrow afternoon listing all his electronic communications for the day, just so he knows we’re watching. We have him squirming now, let him squirm, let him suffer. We don’t need to rush.”
They did manage to talk about other things, all enjoying the meal and the wine. As they finished the meal Kirsty sat watching Jo and Bill talking. A little smirk crept across her face as she said, “Handsome, charming and you can cook; you’ll be a great catch for some lucky lady. What do you think Jo?”
Jo didn’t answer; just shooting daggers at Kirsty instead. Bill shifted a little uneasily in his chair before Kirsty continued, “Don’t worry Bill I’m not hitting on you, I’m a lesbian. You two go through to the living room and I’ll clear up.”
When Kirsty joined them they were sat side by side on the sofa watching a movie, Kirsty sat down, leaving Jo in the middle. “You started the movie without me, that’s lousy.” Kirsty complained.
“It’s your own fault for being bold and for taking so long to wash up.” Jo said smiling. Kirsty just smiled back and gave Jo a hug, knowing that they knew she had washed up deliberately slowly.
When the movie finished Kirsty said, “It’s only nine o’clock, what shall we do next?”
“There’s another bottle of wine, will I open it?” Bill asked, they both said yes.
When he was gone Jo turned to Kirsty “You’re a bold bitch.” She said in a hushed voice, unable to stop herself smiling as she said it. Kirsty gave her best ‘butter wouldn’t melt’ look, pretending not to know what she was talking about. When Bill returned Jo said “What do you want to watch next, your choice.”
Bill flicked through the streaming service, eventually picking an old black and white movie that neither of the girls had ever heard of. Bill topped up their glasses and sat down, his elbow just touching Jo’s. The movie was a real weepy and Jo wondered if Bill was taking the piss, sort of, ‘look at me, look how sensitive I am’ but as she got more into the movie and found both herself and Kirsty balling and Bill gently weeping, she forgot about it; instead she found herself aware of Bill’s arm occasionally rubbing off hers and aware that she liked it. When it finished Bill was the first to speak, rubbing his eyes dry as he did so. “Well that was a cheery one, sorry about that.” They all laughed, “Who wants a top up?” Bill asked as he lifted the bottle. Jo said yes please but Kirsty stood up quickly, saying she was tired and leaving the room before anyone could protest, saying, “Good night you two.” Blowing kisses as she left.
They both laughed. “She’s not subtle, is she?” Bill said, Jo just shook her head, a happy smile on her face.
“I love that girl; we’re like sisters one minute, mother and daughter the next and an old married couple the next.” Bill nodded, knowing exactly what she meant.
They sat sipping their wine, an uneasy silence between them, neither wanting to be the first to talk. Eventually Jo said, “You know this is madness, don’t you? It can never work.”
“Why?”
“Why’d you think, I’m a prostitute! Whichever way you dress it up, sex worker, tart, it doesn’t matter; I prostitute my body, I give men sexual satisfaction and they pay me. For fuck sake think about it, can you imagine wanting to be with me after I’ve spent all day doing all sorts with my clients?” She was more pleading than shouting, angry and heartbroken at the same time.
“I don’t know.”
“Also I was raped and nearly fucking killed only a few days ago, do you think because I’m a sex worker it doesn’t bother me? I don’t know if I can ever let anyone touch me again, let alone be affectionate with someone.” Jo was shaking as tears rolled down her face, her whole body and soul felt drained.
Bill was scared, every ounce of his being wanted to hold Jo tight and never let her go, but he was afraid. Afraid of upsetting her more, afraid of how she might react. Gently he moved closer, when she didn’t pull away, he held her hands, slowly squeezing harder. Jo’s head was down and she leant into his chest, her body almost collapsing and bucking as he moved his arm around her back and held her close, his right hand gently caressing the back of her neck as he rocked her.
As her shaking settled and her breathing slowed, Bill loosened the cuddle, only for Jo to put her arms around him and squeeze tight, too afraid to let go, too afraid to talk anymore. As they cuddled and held each other, Bill found himself whispering into her ear, “Shh my darling, shh, I’ve got you.”
No one had ever called Jo “My darling” but as Bill soothed her, it felt right.
They looked at each other through bleary, tear filled eyes; neither knowing what to say.
“I’ll get you a duvet and a pillow.” Jo said, rising slowly from the sofa. She placed the bed linen next to him and took his hand, gently kissing the back of it, “Good night Bill.”
“Good night.”
Bill couldn’t sleep, possibilities and scenarios crashing around his brain; struggling to understand and rationalize how he felt. At some point he fell asleep, still not knowing what he would say to Jo.
Jo was exhausted but her mind wouldn’t rest; all the hurt, anger and love she felt fighting it out for dominance. Her rational brain telling her this was stupid and could never work; the long hidden romantic side of brain saying ‘it might work, give it a chance’. She’d always hated the ‘Pretty Woman’ movie.
Kirsty was first up and bright as a button, waking them both for breakfast. As they arrived into the kitchen she announced they were out of bread and milk and she was going to get some. As she left, Bill said, “How long did it take her to come up with that ploy?”
“All of two seconds.” Jo said smiling, “How’d you sleep?”
Bill shrugged his shoulders, a sad half smile on his face.
“Yeah, me neither.” Jo said.
As Jo made coffee Bill looked admiringly at the back of her, his heart aching.
“Thanks, I think we need to talk.” He blurted out as she handed him his cup.
“Not before coffee.” She replied; a delightful, cheeky grin on her face. Bill immediately felt a little brighter.
Jo was the first to speak, “Bill, I think you’re a wonderful man and I have feelings for you that I never expected to have for anyone, but I meant what I said last night. I make no apologies for my life and I think things are far too weird and complicated for me to fall in love with you.”
Bill was a bit taken a back, the ‘fall in love’ bit registering in his mind more than anything else. Eventually he managed, “I know this is a very strange situation. I live in a world where everything makes sense to me; I do things for a certain reason in a certain order.” He took a breath, gathering his thoughts, “I’m confused, I’ve never felt this way about anybody, wanting to be with them, laugh with them, cry with them. I only met you a few days ago and this whole situation is fucking mad but please give me the chance to get to know you.” He took another deep breath. Jo was staring directly into his eyes, he felt like it was into his soul. He took her hands, “This might sound crazy, but I have to say it, I love you.”
Jo didn’t believe in fairy tales but as she looked at Bill she really wanted to. She wanted to cry and she also wanted to laugh and leap about. Struggling to gather her thoughts and open her mouth she said, “Thank you.” and leant forward to kiss him softly on the lips. She broke the kiss and placed her finger on his lip, stopping him from speaking “We’ll take it slowly.” She said, pulling him close and holding him tightly.
Bill was lightheaded with excitement and joy and could hardly stop talking. Jo told him to stop over analyzing it and to go with the flow, her own excitement tempered by a deep down dread and a nagging foreboding that this could never work.
Kirsty returned after an hour. “We thought you’d gone to bake the bread.” Jo smiled.
“Sorry, I had to go to the furthest away supermarket I could think off.”
She sensed that things were ok between Jo and Bill and didn’t ask any questions, contented that she’d done enough for now. She set about cooking what was by now, brunch.
As they finished eating Kirsty said, “What are we going do about the cunt today?”
They both looked at Jo who just shrugged her shoulders.
“I’ll see what’s he’s been up to today.” Bill said as he opened up his laptop. “He’s looked up the weather forecast and he’s booked a family ticket to the zoo.”
“It’s so fucking annoying, this fucking cunt is carrying on like nothing ever happened, like he never did anything wrong.”
“I know.” Bill said, “I have one idea that just occurred to me. Will I just send him a message now just to annoy him, and then I’ll tell you what I’m thinking.”
Kirsty was looking out the window. “Tell him not to forget his umbrella.” She said.
Bill smiled and sent off the text, he then got busy on his laptop. Kirsty and Jo sat drinking another coffee, smiling to each other as they watched him.
He lifted his head, the colour draining from his face “He’s either very stupid or just doesn’t care if he gets caught.”
“What?” They said in unison.
“Well I thought I’d dig into his past, see if there was anything. Ten years ago a man by the same name was in court charged with aggravated sexual assault but found not guilty. I then went back to his computer, after a bit of digging about I found a file with photo’s in.” He stopped, wary of what to say next.
Already guessing at the answer, Jo asked “What’s in the photos?”
“Sorry, there are pictures of women who’ve been beaten up, presumably by him. Some of them even have some time stamps on them.”
“Am I in them?”
“I don’t know, I baulked at looking too closely.”
They all sat quietly, Jo fighting back tears.
“What are we going to do?” Kirsty asked.
“I don’t know, this is bigger than us just fucking with his head, I think we need to tell the police.”
“I don’t want to talk to the police and anyway how will you explain the hacking.”
“I think we could print off the photos, especially those with time stamps. Send them anonymously to the police with a note saying whose computer they came from. They might be able to link him to outstanding investigations and even if they can’t, he’ll have lots of questions to answer.”
Jo nodded, “Don’t send any photo’s of me.” She got up and left the room, going and lying on her bed.
Kirsty set him up on their printer. He convinced her to look at some photo’s that could have been Jo’s body and once they were satisfied that they didn’t have any of her, they printed them off. Bill typed a letter explaining where the photos came from before putting them all in an envelope.
“Now it’s just a case of waiting to see if the police arrest him. I’m going to try and cover my tracks, detach myself from his devices.”
“He’s a fucking psycho, how can you be so calm?”
“Believe me I’m not calm, I’m scared. I’m just trying to stay focused and get this done.”
“I’m going to check on Jo, you staying here or going home?”
“I should go home for a bit, but I’d like to say goodbye to Jo.”
“Maybe she just needs a bit of space. You know that’s she fond of you but things are very fucked up at the moment.”
“I know. Tell her to phone me later if she wants to. Are you going to college Monday?”
“Don’t know yet, probably not.”
“Ok. I’ll phone you later to see how Jo is, phone me anytime.”
Bill went home and tried unsuccessfully to concentrate on marking some student papers. He phoned Kirsty about seven and she said that Jo was still in bed, not sleeping, just staring at the ceiling. She hadn’t asked Jo but maybe he should phone her in a little while. He said he would.
“How you doing Jo?”
“Alright.”
There was a pause as Bill struggled for words to say.
“I can’t begin to imagine how you’re feeling. All I can tell you is that I care about you. And I’m here for you, whatever you need.”
“Thank you.”
“Will I tell you a silly joke?”
“No.”
“I’m glad you said that because I can’t actually think of one at the moment.”
Jo smiled to herself.
“Bill, be patient with me.”
“You know I will.”
“Good night Bill.”
“Good night my special lady.”
It was Tuesday evening before Bill visited the apartment again; excited and nervous to see Jo again even though he had spoken to her on the phone a couple of times each day. He’d picked up the evening paper at the tube station and was excited to show Jo and Kirsty.
“Have you seen this?”
They both shook their heads. Bill showed them the headline, ‘Police Make Breakthrough’ ‘Police today arrested a man in connection with multiple sexual assaults’
“It doesn’t give too many details but from what I’ve read I’m sure it’s him.”
“Do you think the police will come round here?” Jo asked.
“I don’t think so, but even if they did, you’re a victim. If they did me for hacking, so what? At least this scum is off the streets.”
“I don’t want you to be arrested.”
“Nor do I, but I’m not going to worry about it. Now, have you two eaten? What take away do you fancy?”
They decided on Indian and Bill asked should he order the hottest dish on the menu, to prove what a man he was.
“There’s no need, we’ve seen you cry already.” Jo said
“Cheeky!” Bill was secretly delighted as the banter continued and Jo seemed relaxed and happy.
As the night wore on Kirsty left them alone in the living room.
“I better be going soon, I have to be up early for work.”
“Would you like to stay here, with me?”
“Of course I would, but only if you want me to.”
“I do, I need to cuddle you.”
They kissed, cuddled and fumbled on the sofa.
“Did you bring your PJ’s?”
“I left them at home.”
“That’s ok, I’ll wear two pairs, one for both of us.”
As it turned out Jo did wear her PJ’s and Bill kept his boxers on, their cuddling the most beautiful thing either of them had ever experienced. The only awkward moment being when Jo put her leg across him, landing on his obvious erection.
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be, it’s allowed.” Jo said, as she snuggled her head into his chest, a big, contented smile on her face.
Jo never went back to sex work. She wasn’t physically able for a couple of weeks and then just couldn’t face it. Bill never asked her to give it up, never even mentioning it, saying it was her life.
One night she was reading an article about teaching, she read it a couple of times and wondered could she ever do that type of work.
The End.
Source: reddit.com/r/Erotica/comments/lufujy/the_old_main_drag_pt2_adult_romance