‘He comes in here all the time. Billy something-or-other. He’s a builder out of Silvertown. A complete fucking waster, always on the pull – married with a couple of kids, by all accounts. The young girl he’s with started coming in a few weeks ago. She’s jailbait, if you ask me. She’s already been with half the blokes in here from what I’ve seen of her. Anyone who buys her a few drinks is in with a chance!’

Terence Brown frowned at her words. ‘Listen, I need to make a quick phone call. Do me a favour, Janice – will you keep an eye on them for me? I think he owes someone I know a good few quid, the treacherous cunt.’

Janice grinned happily, pleased that Terence Brown was asking her for a favour, happy to be a part of his life however small.

Chapter Eighty-Nine

Chapter Eighty-Nine

Billy Thomas was drunk. It was late, and he knew his wife was going to give him grief for weeks, but he didn’t give a toss. It was worth it. This little beauty was a real find; she was game for anything, as long as he supplied her with a good drink and a few lines. She was very young – younger than she let on – and he didn’t reveal he knew the truth about her. She was fifteen years old at most – a real fucking draw for him; he liked them young and stupid. Treat them like grown-ups and they were so thrilled they would do anything he asked of them. She was his dream date.

He parked his work van neatly outside the flat conversion he was working on in Rainham. Jessie was nearly asleep, lying against his shoulder, and he kissed her gently, before slipping his tongue between her lips, licking the inside of her mouth roughly. She responded eagerly as he knew she would.

‘Come on, mate. I’ve been waiting for this.’

As they got out of the van, Billy Thomas was already hard as a rock; he had been thinking about this all day, and he had planned ahead. He opened the front door quickly and, pushing Jessie inside, he didn’t turn on any lights, just shut the door quietly behind them.

‘Come on.’

He dragged her into the front room which was empty except for an old sofa. Pushing her down on to it, he kissed her roughly before getting up and walking into the kitchen. Jessie could hear him as he poured them both drinks.

She smiled happily. He had really come up trumps. She liked that he had planned – gone out and bought the alcohol, and then brought it here in readiness for the night’s entertainment. The knowledge that he had done all that for her was a real power trip.