Grace kissed Sandy on the back of the neck as she prepared breakfast. Terry was still fast asleep; Grace had worn him out and she heard Sandy get out of bed and discreetly slipped out of bed to join her in the kitchen.
“You're up early,” whispered Grace and she slid behind the naked girl who pushed her neck back and smiled at her friend.
“Yeah, I was going to go for a walk.”
“Are you OK?” Grace asked and Sandy nodded.
“Yeah, I'm fine.” She turned around and kissed Grace on the cheek. “Terry is lucky, you are beautiful.”
“Can I come with you?” Grace asked as Sandy sat down at the table.
“Sure, I just want a breath of fresh air. I've been thinking.” Grace stared at Sandy for a moment who smiled as she ate her toast. “I think we should settle down and start a business.”
Grace nodded and joined her at the table. “Good.”
“We are just doing nothing at the moment. Having sex for money with fat, overweight men or being felt up in dodgy casinos. I don't want it any more Grace. I want out.”
Grace smiled. “Let's go for that walk, Terry'll be fine in bed.”
The second date was the first day of July, the day after their first. Grace was becoming smitten with the tall gentleman who lavished genuine compliments and attention on her. Grace had suggested that she pick a venue for their second date and with Sandy decided on the ideal place to visit.
“It's a strip joint,” Terry said, looking at the pictures that adjourned the small hall.
“Yes, I know that,” Grace told him and guided him to a front row seat. Grace had not been to this establishment before but Sandy had been taken there and said the girls were very sexy.
They did not have long to wait and as Grace looked around, there was only one other female in the audience. That made her feel a little self-conscious but as she wrapped her arms around Terry he stroked her knee.
The first dancer came on wearing a seductive outfit and Terry got an erection immediately. Grace felt it through his trousers and she resisted the urge to remove the offending garments. She had been warned that it was not unusual for men to masturbate during the show but she wanted to wait for a bit longer yet and hoped Terry could last until they got back to her bedroom.
Terry's breathing became ragged as he watched the middle-aged woman stroke her breasts and throw her clothes off stage. She was sexy but she was soon joined by other girls, many a lot younger.
Terry watched as they would strip to their stockings and then dance in the laps of the patrons who were expected to slip money into their stockings as they grinded their rears in the faces or laps of the gentleman.
Grace encouraged Terry to seek a lap-dance and when he wouldn't she beckoned a girl over and slipped two pound notes into her stocking tops to dance on Terry's lap.
Terry smiled at Grace and kissed her. She had been lacing his drinks all night, she wanted him a little tipsy and intended to give him the night of his life, she just wanted him unbelievably horny and the strip club was the best way to make him so.
They walked along road adjacent to the one that Grace's flat was on and a masked man tore past them, knocking Grace flying into Terry.
“Oi,” Terry yelled but he didn't stop and turned off down a side street.
Grace stumbled back to her feet and scowled towards him. “Idiot,” she mumbled and they crossed the road to turn into their small road where the flat resided.
“Kids probably,” Terry muttered and his thoughts were interrupted by a woman stumbling out of the small patch of wasteland on the corner of the road.
Grace looked at the figure in the darkness. It was Sandy.
“Sandy, what's up?” Grace asked, running towards her friend. Her hair was a mess, her face was bleeding and her clothes torn. “Have you been attacked?”
Sandy focused on her friend, who was nearly with her, and burst into tears. “He raped me.”
Grace threw her arms around her hysterical friend. “Terry, call the Police,” she barked and Terry went running up to the nearest house.
“You're a tom?” the burly policeman asked as he came into the room to join his junior colleague, and Sandy nodded, tears still streaming down her face. It was the same policeman who got a “freebie” from Grace and to whom Sandy refused to give in to, but he did not appear to recognise either of them.
“So what is this rape? Did a punter get his shag and then fuck off without payin'?” He laughed at his own joke but neither Sandy or Grace found it funny.
Grace screwed her hands into fists but Sandy gave her a reassuring touch on the wrist and Grace seethed silently. Sandy knew how Grace could react and she just wanted the two coppers out of her front room.
“So what happens now?” Grace asked coldly and the two policemen looked at each other.
“Nuttin' really. We ain't got his height, weight, hair colour, skin colour or anything. You can't tell us what he looks like, how can we find him?”
“Hey boss, we could say two million men are helping us with our enquiries.”
They both laughed heartily at this but Grace stared at them and was about to shout at them when Terry got in first.
“He was five ten, slightly overweight, ran with a bit of a limp. He was wearing a mask but he was wearing Onitsuka Tiger shoes. A guy at work wears them, he is into Bruce Lee, so I would recognise them anywhere. So there's something for you to go on.”
The police officer screwed his face up. “Can't go arresting every average height guy in London asking to see his shoes, can we?”
Grace sighed angrily. “This is rape. Violent rape. Why don't you catch the bastard?”
“Listen love, this ain't The Sweeney. We ain't gonna catch 'em every time. You just gotta be careful and not go out dressed as hookers.”
Grace seethed but the two officers got up to leave and she took a deep breath. Sandy looked at her as they left. “They are bloody useless,” Grace ranted and Sandy nodded and then put her head on Grace's shoulder. She needed the company and Grace guided her into the bathroom so she could get cleaned up and closed the door.
“You two need to come away from London,” Terry said and Grace nodded.
“I know. But she is just so shaken and scared. I can see it in her eyes.”
Terry took a gulp of water from his glass and rubbed his face. “I'll stay while you need me,” he offered and Grace ran her hands through her hair.
“Thank you, but you don't need to.”
Sandy emerged from the bathroom, and Grace guided her to the small bedroom and climbed into bed with her.
Sure, she wanted to sleep with Terry but the needs of her friend came way before the wishes of her boyfriend. Terry would have to understand.
Chapter VI
Grace woke up on the Sunday, her arms wrapped around Sandy. Her friend had taken a number of hours to get to sleep, and had fidgeted and cried throughout the night.
Sandy opened her eyes the moment Grace stirred and shook herself awake.
“You OK?” Grace asked and Sandy nodded.
“It was Neville,” she said without waiting for a response. “I know it was. It was a warning for me to keep my mouth shut.”
Grace thought back to the balding man. He seemed to be a business man, albeit in an illegal underworld rather than a traditional industry, rather than a gangster, but Sandy worked with him at the casino and knew him better.
“Are you sure?” Grace asked tentatively and Sandy nodded.
“Yeah. I know. The guy smelt of grease and the casino is above a garage.”
Grace took a deep breath and squeezed her hand that was over Sandy's pendulous bosom. “Well if you are sure, let's go and see the police.”