The Gang- Chapter 11- Discoverys, phone calls, interagation and anger


Jackie bit her lip and turned back to the computer screen. She shouldn’t be seeing Diablo. But she hadn’t got a chance to buy any at the Black Market, plus she left some tablets at her flat but that was wrecked as well as Kraton’s. She didn’t really mind Diablo, is just when Ivy turned up then things went sour. Same with Comet.
      Jackie shook her head back to reality when she heard the door open and the cheerful murmur of Hellas’ voice come up the stairs. There was pounding up the stairs and the door threw open. Jackie nearly tumbled off the computer seat in shock. A small balding man wearing round glasses beamed at Jackie. The hair that was left was bluish-white with specks of grey and his eyes were bright piercing blue, with a horn on his brow, just further down than Kraton’s.
Jackie squealed and leapt of the chair flinging her arms round the short mans chubby body. Hella looked on amused.
“Papa Riddle!” Jackie cried planting a big kiss on his forehead, leaving a red lip stick mark.
“What have you been up to now ay?” Papa Riddle said, but gently all the same. “If you’re here, then where’s that son of mine?” He looked around as if expecting Kraton to jump out at him. He had to be careful as he was now used to his son jumping out, or flinging soft objects at his fathers balding head.
Hella and Jackie stood awkwardly. Hella stared at Jackie and Jackie glared at her.
“Wha’ d’yer wan’ me to say?” Jackie snapped.
-Maybe that you ran away from your best friend while he was unconscious to save your own skin?- Diablo said pleasantly in her ear.
“Shut up,” Snapped Jackie.
Hella and her father stared at each other as they had just watched Jackie say shut up to her left shoulder. Hella took a deep breath and went to her father.
“Dad, Kra’s been kidnapped,” Hella said softly.
Her father chuckled to their surprise. “Right, I take it he’s been kidnapped by his teachers? Or I bet he’s hiding in the cupboard waiting for me to go down-”
“Nah,” Jackie cut in. “He was beaten up and kidnapped.”
-Just say it to him lightly why don’t you- sighed Diablo folding her arms.
“W-what?” He stuttered. He looked at Hella bewildered. “Is this true? No it can’t be,” he said before anyone could answer. “Kraton’s a good boy. Yes, he’s been in a few scrapes-” Jackie snorted. “-and brawls but he’s a clever boy who’s done no harm to anyone-”
-Apart from murder a few people, cripple some and scar them- Diablo said sarcastically.
Jackie grinned. Papa riddle saw he grin.
“Are you pulling my leg?” He said smiling.
-Say yes, I’ll get you out of this situation- Diablo said smoothly.
“Yeah we are,” Jackie said grinned and Hella’s mouth dropped open. Diablo walked to Papa Riddle unawares apart to Jackie. She put her arms around his shoulders.
-Tell him Kraton’s gone to a lecture in North America- Diablo said. -Remember to say his mobile has been broke for a while. Plus his father need’s to know about the flat. Say it was a freak accident and the lightening came through the roof. That’s another reason why he went to the lecture, to get out of the way of the builders etc-.
Jackie repeated all this more fluently and Papa Riddle took it all in without any questions.
“So Kra’s alright?” Papa Riddle said. “Good. What about you then Jackie?” He pointed to her cuts and bruises. “More fights?”
“Yeah,” Jackie said vaguely. She winked at him. “Can’t keep outta them. Its Kra. He’s encouragin’ me.”
Papa Riddle chuckled then said, “So why are you here?”
-Say your doing some research-
“I’m doin’ some research,” Jackie said. “That’s why I’m in ‘ere.”
“What you doing research on?” Papa Riddle asked.
Jackie panicky looked at Diablo who was standing beside Papa Riddle. She shrugged and looked at her nails.
“This an’ tha’,” Jackie said vaguely. Then she grinned. “It’s a secret.” And she tapped her nose.
Papa Riddle laughed and went out with Hella. Hella threw Jackie a look at if to say, “I’m going to get you for that lie later.”
The door shut and Jackie sighed. She weakly smiled at Diablo.
“God, I would ‘ave died if yer weren’t there,” Jackie said.
-Why? It was you who thought it all-
“True,” Jackie said. “I’m a genius.”
-I’m you, but don’t push it and get on the pc. You still need to find out about that big gang. You need a way to get in without being caught-
Jackie sat back down on the computer and frowned. She couldn’t be bothered now and looked around before Diablo could nag at her. Diablo had gone again. Jackie grinned and looked at the programs on the screen. Jackie was about to play a game when she saw an email account. Out of curiosity, Jackie went onto Papa Riddles email. Two new emails popped up. One from Kraton’s mother and another from a place called Lelows. Jackie didn’t really get on with Kraton’s mother so she pulled a face and clicked open the one that said Lelows and read:

Dear Mr.P.Riddle,
We are writing on behalf of your brother Turbony Riddle.
He has put you as an emergency financial back up.
We hope you will pay this money soon, as Mr.T.Riddle has not paid the money yet for:
Michelle Meow on December the 7th.
Connie Claws on December the 7th.
And Hilary Hiss on December the 7th also.
If you do not know this, but these three girls come in a three and you need to pay $300 for each one of them.
We hope you will respond with the money soon.
Yours faithfully,
Lelows.

Jackie raised an eyebrow and clicked on the website that was placed underneath the name Lelows. Both of Jackie’s eyebrows nearly disappeared into her red hair. The page was bright and full of women in underwear and prices sparkling next to them. They were prostitutes of all ages. Right from the age of 13 and upwards. Jackie felt sick.
She clicked on a page which said number one clients.
-Bingo- Diablo said softly in her ear. -You found him-
“Found who?” cried Jackie. Diablo placed her finger softly on the name Mr.P.Mcguire. “That is?”
-The boss of the big gang you are after-
“How on Earth d’yer know tha’?” asked Jackie.
-Pyro told me. Sexist he is like, but I got a load of information from him-
“Who’s Pyro?”
-One of Jet Ai’s schizophrenia friends-
“How am I gonna ge’ to this boss like?” Jackie said. She turned round to face an amused  Diablo. “An’ what’s with you an’ disappearin’ and appearin’?”
-I keep doing that because you are becoming docile every time I leave- Diablo said nastily. -I’m only coming back to poke, well more like punch, you in the right direction. So then- Diablo put her hands on her hips. -You tell me how we are going to get into the gangs head quarters?-
“I’ll ‘ave to ge’ into it with a disguise won’t I?” Jackie said tapping the desk impatiently. “I take it, Mr.P ma bobby uses this site to ge’ his prostitutes all the time?”
-Correct…well?-
“I’ll ‘ave to just go in disguised as one of ‘em,” Jackie said. She jumped when Diablo clapped her hands. “Wha’?!”
-You are clever after all! Just one teeny weenie problem you can over come if you swallow your pride- Diablo said carefully.
“An’ tha’ is?” Jackie said raising an eyebrow.
-Your too well known- Diablo said. -They all know what you look like-
“Please don’t tell me I ‘ave to go an’ ge’ Willow an’ Shy’s help?” Jackie groaned.
-Correct. They look more ordinary looking than you and will easily slip in-
“How will I ge’ in?” snapped Jackie.
-You have to hand yourself over, make a scene in order for them to slip in, get changed and act the part-
Jackie groaned and her forehead hit the desk with a loud thud.

It had turned into night and Shy peered down at Willow who was dozing on the floor. Shy bit her lip and sat up feeling uneasy in Willow’s pyjamas and feeling as if she didn’t really belong in this house. Tay sat upright asleep against the door to prevent them from both escaping without him. Shy shivered despite the house being too warm, and reached out to Willow and gently prodded her cheek. Willow snuffled slightly then opened one green eye which seem to be glued down with sleep.
“What?” she mumbled.
“I have a seriously bad feeling,” Shy said.
“You woke me up to tell me that?” Willow snapped leaning up on her elbows.
“But it’s a really funny feeling in my chest-”
“Indigestion,” Willow said dismissively.
“No!” Shy cried startling Willow. Tay did not wake up. “Look Willow, I know its too early, in fact its not to early-”
“Get to it-”
“We haven’t even started researching on the gang!” Shy groaned. “What if Jackie knows more than us?”
“Its not a competition Shy to get the others,” Willow said. “And Jackie knowing something? I seriously doubt-”
She stopped speaking at the phone blared noisily through the quiet house. Tay woke with a start and leapt up. He looked at the girls who were staring at him bemused. Willow’s mothers angry muttering was heard as she walked to the phone in the landing.
“Great, I bet you it will be my Nana on speaker phone,” Willow groaned. “We can’t get the speaker off you see,” Willow explained to a confused Shy. “Listen-”
But to their surprise it wasn’t a old woman’s voice but a young woman’s, with an extremely all too familiar accent and it was much to loud.
“Hey, is Willow there?”
Shy and Willow stared at each other. It was Jackie.
“Speaking of the bloody devil,” Shy gasped. “Well she does look like the Devil-”
Willow leapt out of bed and yanked open the door. Her mother stood there arms crossed.
“No, Willow’s in bed-” Her mother started.
“Well ge’ her ass outta bed, I need to speak with ‘er,” Jackie demanded down the phone. Willow’s mouth dropped open as well as her mothers. “’Ello? OI!”
“Excuse me!” yelled Willow’s mother. “You will not speak to me like that young madam-”
“Look, save me the lecture an’ ge’ her outta bed, its urgent-”
“Urgent enough to-”
“Ge’ out of bed! YES! GE’ WILLOW YER ASSHOLE!”
Willow snatched the phone off her mother and yelled, “Jackie! What do you think your doing!”
“Ah! Yer awake now. Can yer come to the Riddle Mansion now?”
“Jackie I can’t!” Willow looked desperately at her mother who was hanging on to every word Jackie was saying. Shy but her lip and Tay looked ecstatic.  “Please Jackie, call me on my mobile-”
“No I’m friggin well no’,” Jackie cried. “I spent ages breakin’ in to Kraton’s flat to ge’ yer number. His flats well nice now. They did it up. We’ll ‘ave to tell him when we ge’ him. He’ll be well chuffed. I thought it would be rude to knock at yours late at night-”
“Jackie, its rude to ring in the middle of the night and to shout at my mother!” Willow snarled.
“Yeah, bu’ seriously this is urgent-”
“I thought you didn’t want to see me again-”
“I bloody well don’t wanna, bu’ I need you and Shy to ge’ into the Headquarters-”
“Headquarters?” Willow’s mother said puzzled. “Willow you best not being getting up to any pranks in school.”
“Wha’ yer say?” Jackie said puzzled. “Anyway, I know where the gang is an’ how to ge’ in-”
“Jackie! Shut up!” hissed Willow.
Jackie ignored her and carried on. “I found the boss on a prostitute site - long story. I’ll explain when I see yers. An’-”
“Jackie! I need to go-” Willow said hurriedly.
“Fine. I’m comin’ round to yours then-”
“Jackie! Don’t!” cried Willow.
But Jackie had already hung up. Willow felt like crying.

     Nightshade was asleep when she was yanked up by her sore arm and mouth covered. Three demons had got hold of her and a few humans stood anxiously by the door. Kraton rolled over onto his back with a loud snore and his arms threw across the foam bed. Eric was not in the cell any more. Nightshade limped to the door without any noise and obediently followed them out.
     Her eyes scanned everywhere. Any place for a quick escape. None. Nightshade had even wondered if the others were going to bother getting them. Maybe Willow and Shy could live on without them, but Jackie needed Kraton as much as he needed her. And Geirmund, well she hadn’t a clue about him. Probably off in the plane by to Brazil by now. As for Jet. Meh. Didn’t matter.
    Nightshade was pushed roughly into a room and strapped to a hard backed wooden chair. In front of her was a desk with nothing on but a file. The room itself looked like it was relatively new in occupation. Nightshade glared at the demons as they walked out. The door shut softly and hands took away the makeshift mouth piece that had silenced her. Two fat fingers ran across her flawless cheek and Nightshade held her breath. Magda’s father stood before her in a sharp pin striped suit. He was chubby looking around the face but looked wealthy and sure of himself.
“I’m going to ask you a few questions and your going to answer me,” he said softly. “In return I will give you a shower and good food.” Nightshade pulled at the straps on her wrists. “You won’t get out. I’ve designed them so that the strongest demon, like my little Nova, can’t get out.” He looked her up and down. “Shall I get started?”
“Doesn’t look like I’ve got a choice does it?” Nightshade said in a voice softer than his but even so more deadly.
He smiled nastily and asked, “Where were you on the night of August the 17th?”
“Probably battering Jackie,” Nightshade said moodily. “I do it every day, but thanks to all of you, you took me out of my routine.”
“Enough with the jokes,” he said. “Now tell me.”
“Its not a joke,” Nightshade said. “Look. I can’t remember what I did on the bloody day.”
“Think back,” he said. Nightshade raised an eyebrow. “You honestly don’t know?”
“No.”
“Shall I help you?” he said. Nightshade froze. “By any chance where you on the field outside of the town?”
“That field for dumping bodies?” Nightshade said relaxing. “I don’t go in that field. In fact come to think of it none of us go in that field-”
“Why? Scared?”
“No. Just we don’t dump bodies in a field. We just leave them were they have been killed. We aren’t scared to go running to a field-”
“We go there-”
“Good for you,” Nightshade snapped. “Look I wasn’t bloody there.”
“So you can remember?” He asked.
Nightshade could but it wasn’t exactly anything she could announce without blushing.
“No I can’t remember-”
“Your cheeks are red-”
“And?” Nightshade snapped. “If you must know at was at Kraton’s 18th birthday party. His birthday’s really in July but that was the only date he could get hold of so his mother could get there.”
“Was there anything unusual about that night?”
“Apart from Eric running into the cupboard and Jackie not drunk, no.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked curiously.
“Well Jackie gets drunk at every party and she wasn’t at that one,” Nightshade said. “Plus she came late with Eric.”
“By any chance does Jackie had red hair?”
“Yeah…why?” Nightshade asked nervously.
“Nothing apart from the fact you have just led us to the person we want the most,” he said grinning. Nightshades heart was beating furiously in her chest. As much as she did not get on with Jackie, she had just given him something he needed the most. In fact, where had Jackie been at the night and why was Eric so jumpy that night?
“Can I get a shower now?” Nightshade said frowning. “I smell worse that that cell-”
“Of course.”
“In fact, can the others get one too? They stink as well-”
“No. Only you. They can get there rewards in time.” He leant forward and his fat stomach pressed against her bare one. “But before you leave-” his hand slipped down her underwear. “I need a favour-”
Nightshade went into shock as she stared at his hand moving underneath the fabric. Then she flipped.
“GET THE FUCK OFF ME!” Nightshade yelled thrashing in her straps. He leapt back startled hand ripping away from her.
“Fine,” he said getting away from her quickly. “I would have done more if you wasn’t pregnant. Count yourself lucky that you are.”
Nightshade felt sick and she heard the door open again. She was injected roughly in the arm with some more blood then un-strapped. Nightshade ran at him and punched him hard in the face despite being injured. Blood splattered across the wall from his shattered nose and she was dragged back by four demons.
“In fact!” he yelled. “Just kill her! In fact, its kill them both isn’t it? As she’s pregnant. I want to kill her myself. Leave her to starve in the cell and make sure the others eat in front of her. Then I’ll torture her!”
Flecks of his spit landed on her face. She spat in his.
“That’s for spitting on my face,” she said smoothly.
He yelled and she was dragged back to her cell.

Willow bit her fingers so hard she was sure it was going to come off the joint. Right now she didn’t care. Her mother kept talking to her getting frustrated and wanting to know who ‘that bloody girl’ is. Even worse than nearly biting her finger tips off, getting shouted out was ‘that bloody girl’ was coming round to the house to make situations much worse.
    Eventually her mother stormed out the living room muttering something about tea and her not getting away with something. Shy sat beside Willow and put her arm around Willow’s tanned shoulders.
“Don’t worry-” started Shy.
“Don’t tell me not to worry!” Willow moaned her head falling into her hands. “My life is over once Jackie is here. I might as well say goodbye and never come back!”
Shy didn’t know what to say but she bit her lip. Her lip now had a slight groove in it where she had constantly bit nervously. Tay on the other hand looked extremely excited at the prospect of meeting ‘a proper demon’ as he called it. “So what’s she like?” He kept repeating but getting no answer, so he had just eventually gave up.
“She might not even turn up,” Shy said. “Knowing Jackie she will be still in bed-” There was a jaunty rat-it-tat-tat at the door. Shy rolled her eyes. “I swear she’s bloody psychic.”
“Her secret power is to probably feed off other peoples misery,” Willow moaned getting up wearily. She then rushed to the door knowing her mother would probably hurry to get herself detangled from the kitchen appliances.  She yanked open the door to see Jackie beaming at her. “This had better be good,” Willow growled.
“Oh it is,” Jackie said stepping through the door without being invited in.
“Best had be because you are officially about to wreck my life,” Willow spat.
“I try me best,” Jackie said grinning.
      Jackie walked into the living room and winked at Shy. Shy smiled weakly back. Tay was over whelmed by Jackie. He expected a small demon with pointed ears. Not a demon taller than him, with a tail, horns, pointed ears, tattoos as well as a machine gun strapped to her back and a pistol on her leg. Willow’s mother rushed into the room a empty mug in one hand and a carton of milk in the other. She look flabbergasted when she saw Jackie. Jackie raised an eyebrow as the room was quiet and everyone staring at her.
“Wha’? Do I ‘ave somethin’ on me ‘ed?” Jackie said consciously rubbing her forehead with a thumb. She glanced at the mirror on the wall. “I don’t ‘ave anythin’…right…are yer all gonna stop starin’ at me? Shy is freaky lookin’. Look at ‘er.”
“Oi!” snapped Shy. “No I’m not.”
“Are you the girl on the phone?” Willow’s mother said.
“Wha’ phone?” Jackie said puzzled.
“Jackie you phoned before you idiot,” snapped Willow.
“Oh yeah!” Jackie said grinning. She turned to Willows mother. “I take it yer the person I called an asshole? If it’s a comfort, in person yer don’t look like an asshole.”
“Jackie!” Shy and Willow snapped together.
“Keep your mouth shut!” Willow cried.
“Then ’ow am I meant to tell yer abou’ wha’ I found out?” Jackie said grinning. She sat down on the floor though there was two long sofas available as well as a pouf. “I’ve found a way to ge’ in-”
“Into where?” Willow’s mother said.
“This big fa’ mother fucker’s gang head quarters,” Jackie said pleasantly, opening a pouch by her pistol and un folding a piece of paper that had been folded at least twenty times. She threw the piece of paper to Willow. It was a picture of a ordinary looking night club. “That’s where they are.”
“Jackie,” sighed Willow. “We can’t get in-”
“We can,” Jackie said. She prodded to an alley way shown slightly on the photo. “Can yer see tha’? That’s a door for the bosses special friends to go in-”
“We aren’t his special friends,” Shy cut in. “He’ll know when we-”
“By special friends I mean prostitutes,” Jackie laughed.  “I need you both to ge’ in disguised as prostitutes-”
“I’m not having my daughter do anything like that!” cut in Willow’s appalled mother. “Who-”
“Am I? Jackie Carmelia,” Jackie said grinning at her. “I’ve been Willow’s friend for years- well no’ friend really. More like a business partner…no? Right…”
“Then what are you going to do?” Shy said folding her arms.
“Do somethin’ chivalrous an’ risk bein’ killed,” Jackie said. “I doubt I’ll ge’ killed ‘cause they need me. I’m gonna cause a distraction an’ you  can both slip in tha’ way. Don’t worry. I’ll ge’ back to yers. I won’t let anythin’ ‘appen.” She watched as Willow and Shy exchanged looks. “Honestly. Then after this, yer both will never see me again. Deal?” They both didn’t answer. Silence stretched out and a very ugly look appeared on Jackie’s normally pretty face. “Right. Wha’ a fuckin’ waste of time. I might as well bloody do it myself. You selfish bunch of bitches.”
Jackie stood up and Willow’ mother opened her mouth and shut it when she saw Jackie’s hand go to the machine gun on her back. Tay tensed when he saw this then relaxed when Jackie was only fixing the strap.
“Jackie wait-” Shy started.
“Shut up you stupid dick,” Jackie spat pushing her hard away. “I hope yer ‘ands are still sore-”
“My hands?” Shy looked down at them. They had completely healed themselves to her surprise. Could she heal herself? “They’ve healed.”
“What ever,” Jackie said not fazed. “Hope yer all die.” She turned round and put up two fingers. “I would love to kill you both right now bu’ yanno when yer ge’ tha’ shitty little conscience tha’ nags at yer?” She froze, looked at the kitchen door and yelled. “Boss little plan you ’ad ay Diablo! Kiss my fat ass!”
Then she left slamming the front door and swearing loudly.
“What a vile girl,” Willow’s mother gasped.
“She has anger problems,” Willow said dismissively. Right now she was more interested on why Jackie shouted at the door to someone called Diablo when there was no one there.  
“Now will you explain to me what is going on?” yelled Willow’s mother.
It went quiet then Tay said, “She was hot.”
Silence fell after this and everyone glared at Tay. It was surprising how Willow’s younger siblings still had not woken up.