Vanishing Point

K arl firmly tied the last of the ropes flung across the overloaded tray, stood back and admired his handiwork. ‘That’s it. All done. Could do with a drink, eh.’

‘Okay, I’ll make you some coffee, or do you want a beer?’

‘Shit, no fuckin’ coffee. Ya mad, after all that work? Git me a beer, then go check the generator’s still got fuel.’ He rolled another cigarette and sprinkled it with powder. He lit it and took a deep inhalation.

Katherine did as she was asked. Tonight, of all nights, she didn’t want to inflame Karl. She checked the generator but added no extra fuel. She thought it would be to her advantage if darkness descended earlier rather than later. On her return to the main building she found Karl relaxed and seated, his chair pushed back and feet on the table.

‘Karl, you’re all packed and ready to go. The time here is over. You won’t want me and two small kids in your way when you leave. So just go and leave me and the kids behind. We’ll wait here for the Benjamin and the cops. It won’t be more than a couple of days.’

‘I ain’t decided what I’m gunna do with ya, bitch, or ya brats.’

‘Look, if you go now, tonight, by the time Benjamin returns you’d be far away. The cops never even know you’d been here.

And I won’t tell them anything, promise.’

‘Think I believe ya, stoopid bitch. Ya’d tell ‘ em everything. Women lie. Ya already lied ta me ‘cause ya told that bastard ‘bout us.’

‘No, I swear. I won’t tell anyone about you. After all, it was Benjamin —’

‘Liar. I know from experience. It’s women’s lies that got me in prison.’

‘I wouldn’t. It’s Benjamin who kidnapped me, not you. He’s the one should go to prison, not you. If you go tonight, now, you’d get a head start.’

Karl leaned forward and looked at Katherine. ‘Hey, ya could give me a head start now, bitch. How ‘bout a bit of head, eh?’

Katherine had no idea what he was talking about, but judging from the snorted laugh realised he had made a joke, one only he could laugh at. She continued. ‘Come on, Karl. The cops don’t even know about you. This place is probably in Benjamin’s name. You could go and no-one would be the wiser.’

‘Yeah, but ya know, an’ being a bitching blabbermouth, would tell ‘em all, like all women, eh.’

‘No, I promise you, I wouldn’t. I just want to get out and forget what has happened here. I want to get back at Benjamin, not you. He was the one that kidnapped us —’

‘Yeah, but mebbe I wanna keep ya for meself. Benjamin stole ya, mebbe I kin do the same.’

‘What? Don’t be silly, Karl. Me and the kids would just be a problem for you.’

‘How long ya bin livin’ ‘ere? Seven years likely, an’ no-one found ya. I could keep ya for ever.’ He took another swig from the beer stubby. ‘It’d be great ta ‘ave me own bitch. She’d ave ta do what I tells ‘er. Help me wif me work, do what I want when I want. A woman, an’ a real looker at that, all to meself.’

Kather

ine looked away. She wasn’t going to let him bait her.

‘How kin I do it?’ Karl started speaking softly. Katherine wasn’t sure if he realised she could hear. ‘Take ‘em all. But I don’ want bloody kids. An’ go where? Hide until the heat blows over, an’ come back ‘ere? Kid’s? I reckon I can take the bitch, leave the kids; no-one’ll know who they are.’

‘No way!’ Katherine couldn’t help her reaction. ‘No way. I’ll never leave my children alone, hoping someone will find them here. You’d have to kill me first. I will not leave my children.’

She moved closer to Carolyn and put her arms protectively around her.

Karl swigged his beer. ‘So how’s ya gunna all fit in the ute, eh? With the dog on the back it’s a fuckin’ tight fit already.’

‘Just leave us here. Go now, before the police come and leave us here. I’ll tell them it was Benjamin and not mention you.’

‘Yeah, well. Mebbe I’ll leave ya all here. An’ then mebbe not. If I does leave ya all here what’s in it for me, eh?’ The power lay in Karl’s hands, and he knew it. He had the muscle, the transport and the gun. ‘Gunna have a bit a fun eh, before I goes?’ He looked directly at Carolyn. ‘Youse two an’ me?’

‘No. Leave Carolyn out of this.’ Katherine stood in front of her daughter. ‘She’s been through and seen enough already.’

‘Mummy?’ Carolyn clutched the back of Katherine’s dress, obviously aware of the question directed at her.

‘It’s okay. You’re going to bed right now. ‘ Katherine picked up her daughter and started out of the room. Karl stood quickly and went to the door, blocking her way.