Heroes and Villains
1.
The sun beat down onto the sand in the front yard as me and my father as we worked on the new PFS bikes in the garage. It was August fourth 1979; the time was 8:35am.
"It shouldn't be this hot in the morning, Pa," I moaned, wiping my forehead with the back of my hand.
"It would be worse if you were in leathers, Mackey," My father never stopped telling me how much worse things would be in the police force.
My father – John MacArthur – is a police chief. They called him Mackey so I sort of inherited the nickname. But I don't understand why my brother didn't get the nickname, he's in the police. Well to be honest Edward – my brother – isn't the manliest of men. Still it shouldn't go to his sister.
The sound of sirens broke my trail of thought; once again they were chasing some crazed man in a car. But this time it was more dangerous, there were pieces of debris and smashed cars everywhere. My father looked at me and ran to the hook where he kept his police uniform.
"Can I come with you this time?" I asked as he ran into the kitchen to get to the car.
"No it's dangerous!" My father rummaged through draws to get the keys.
"But Pa, you always say that, come on just this one time," I pleaded.
"No Bennie, you saw how manic it was out there, you can't get caught up in that," my father yelled as he ran out to the car.
I followed him out, "Pa come on please you know I'll be ok,"
"No and that's final," He said as he closed the door and sped off.
Walking back into the house Robert – my other brother – asked me, "What are you gonna do now"?
"Follow him," I determinedly said.
My mother sighed but there was nothing she could say that would stop me.
"There's too much of your father in her," she said to my brother as I walked into the garage.
I knew exactly where Pa kept the spare motorbike clothes. Lucky too as they were in my size. Sitting on the bike I kicked the stand and revved the engine, I'd loved bikes ever since I was little, now this was the tie to show all I knew.
"If it doesn't work now it'll never work," I whispered to myself as I set in pursuit of my father.
As I got out onto the highway more police pursuit cars came up behind me as well as a couple of bikes.
"Damn it," I muttered as a couple rode past me.
It wasn't long until I was able to catch up with my father and the rest of the squad. Debris and car parts flew in every direction; cars were skidding off into the fields. It was insane. The rush in my body was incredible, I wanted to slow down but my heart kept the accelerator going. It was risky as I had to dodge broken cars and smashed trucks. Finally I was behind my father's car, this wasn't safe as he would definitely find out it was me. But I didn't have long to think as a bike came speeding behind me. I hadn't realized what had happened till I hit the tarmac and skidded to the wire fence. I let out a gasp. My back arched as the pain in my left leg over powered my body. Ignoring the pain I got up and limped over to the bike that had crashed into me.
"You son of a bitch can't you control the damn bike!" I yelled as I ripped my helmet and his helmet off.
"More than I can say for you why the hell were you going so fast!" He shouted back.
I grinned at the other biker and he grinned back at me.
"It's good to see you again Jason," I laughed as I helped him up off the floor.
"Good to see you as well Bennie," Jason patted my back as we looked on at the damaged bike in the settling dust.
"How bad is it?"
"I don't know but I think my pa's gonna kill me," I sighed as I limped across the road to inspect the damage. "These weren't even supposed to be running until next month. God I'm gonna die." I put my head in my hands and slouched next to the bike.
"Which do you think chief's gonna be more upset about, the damage on you or the bike." Jason joked.
I looked at him with disapproval.
"Are you ok?" He asked looking at my leg. His face went pale even looking at it.
"Yeah only a little cut," I waved him away.
A herd of motorcycles and interceptors pulled up behind Jason.
"What the hell have you done!" Pa shouted as he slammed the door of his car.
Jason immediately stood up and went to the other officers.
"Look I'm sorry Pa, but I can fix the bike," I smiled weakly.
"I'm not bothered about the bike what about you?" He pointed to my leg. The blood seeped through the holes in my shredded leathers.
"I'm fine really nothing I can't deal with," I tried to act tough but it didn't work, I buried my head in my pa's shoulder. He cautiously patted my head.
"Right, Jinxsy take Bennie back to the Rail yard, Jason, Gould and Red radio for recovery and help me get the bikes up." Pa ordered.
I limped over to Jinx who was stood at the door of his car. Jinx was only about two years older than I was; he had blonde hair, suntanned skin. My father calls him Jinxsy but I didn't like the nickname so I changed it to Jinx.
"Nice to see you again Bennie," He said as I fell into the passenger seat of his car.
"Yeah it's nice to see you too Jinx," I winced as I touched my leg.
Minutes passed and Jinx decided to break the silence,
"I saw you riding, your quite good actually I was surprised, your father isn't the best at riding though, is he," Jinx said as we set off back to the rail yard.
"He's not that bad, he taught me how to ride," I laughed.
"Why'd he teach you and not Ed or Robbie?" Jinx turned to me.
"Have you seen them before, they're as girlie as they come. Anyway Rob refuses to go near any motor and Ed doesn't have any skill."
Something rattled around my feet. I bent over to pick it up.
"Jinx seriously why the hell are you leaving the remains of your food in a bag," I held the bag between my thumb and my middle finger.
"It's just in case I get hungry," He laughed.
"Ew," I dropped the bag back down beneath my feet.
"I'm only joking I get rid of them when I get back to the rail yard, every night," he turned into the lot at the rail yard.
"You eat all this in one day, it's a miracle you're not fat," I opened the door and almost fell out.
"Careful! Are you drunk as well as injured?" Jinx came running round and picked me up off the floor.
He put his arm around my waist and I put mine over his shoulder. We were almost at the door when Jinx said,
"Bet you'd still think of me even if I was fat,"
It took me a while to figure out what he meant,
"What gives you the impression I think of you anyway?" I retorted as he lifted me up onto his desk.
"I'm not stupid, I know you do," Jinx teased.
He touched my bad leg and I flinched,
"Come on take them off and I'll clean your leg," Jinx pointed to my leather trousers.
"What! No way," I shouted.
"Fine let your leg get infected and go green and disgusting," He started to walk towards the door.
"Ok, ok, fine just give me a minute," I struggled with the button on them but finally pulled them off.
"You wore shorts. That's clever,"
"Too bad they're ruined these were my favourite," I sighed as I unzipped my jacket till it was to my rib cage. "Jeez it's warm"
"You're telling me," Jinx said looking at the ground. "Anyway let's have a look at your leg,"
"I thought you were a cop not a doctor?" I sneered.
I grimaced when Jinx wiped away the blood to leave a gaping gash in my thigh. I lifted my long coffee coloured hair out of my face to take a closer look.
"Oh that looks horrible," I turned away, I felt ill just looking at the wound.
"Nonsense, I'll just wash it and put a bandage round it and you'll be fine,"
"Is that it?" To be honest I was expecting something more dramatic.
"Oh would you like me to kiss it better," He joked.
I looked around for something to throw at him when I saw a towel hanging in a bucket full of water. Quietly I picked it up and threw it straight at Jinx. He turned to me in shock, laughing of course. Jinx walked round me, picked the bucket up and tipped the whole thing over my head. I squealed and recoiled.
"Jinx!" I shouted.
"Yes my lady," He said pretending to bow.
"You complete ass!" I laughed throwing the towel at him again
"If you two have finished playing, my daughter's leg needs attention," My father's voice echoed around the empty room.
Jinx tried to keep a straight face and stand to attention but he couldn't help but snigger, which over course set me off laughing.
"Give it here," Pa snatched the bandage off of Jinx and wrapped it around my thigh.
"Get in the car and I'll drive you home," My father told me as I uneasily hopped off the desk.
"I could take her home if you'd like chief," Jinx said to Pa.
"Like I'd let you take care of my daughter Jinxsy. I leave you alone for ten minutes and she's soaked in water," My father replied.
I looked at Jinx, "Well Jinx, did you really do that bad of a job?"
Jinx didn't answer.
"I'll see you around Jinx," I waved goodbye and hobbled over to my pa's car.
As I waited I heard the other cops mimicking me,
"I'll see you around Jinx," They mimicked in high pitched voices.
My father walked out, "Idiots," He muttered under his breath.
The drive home was quiet, I wanted to start a conversation with Pa but I didn't know what to say, finally I decided to say,
"If you give me enough time I could get those Kawasaki's working again." Damn, wrong thing to say.
"You're not going to fix the bikes Bennie," Pa had a calm voice.
"But please I'll pay for it myself," I pleaded.
"You're not going to fix the bikes. I saw you out there today, you rode better than any of the others, so if they don't mind I'm going to let you join the PFS," He sounded unsure that he was doing the right thing.
"Really! Oh thank you thank you thank you!" I smiled, "But wait, will they let me on, I mean with me being a girl and everything,"
"It shouldn't matter," My father said pulling off the highway and into our drive.
"Not a word to your mother about the job," Pa warned.
I pretended to zip my lips.
About an hour later my mom still hadn't calmed down about my leg,
"What the hell were you thinking?" She kept repeating.
I eventually got bored, "Right, I'm off to work," I said standing up and walking away from the couch.
Pa looked worried but then he remembered about my job at Jessie's Bar.
"But you can't go. Not like this," Mom rushed over to me.
"I have to or I don't get paid," I argued.
"What about your sick days?" Mom asked
"Don't have any left used them all to spend time fixing the bikes," I said grabbing the car keys from the side.
My mom just looked at Pa and sighed, "Fine go, but be careful."
"Always am," I replied as I walked out of the kitchen.
I just heard my mom say "Yeah right," and I laughed she never trusted me.
I started the car and the engine roared. It didn't take me long to get to Jessie's bar. When I parked in the lot I noticed a PFS bike.
"Oh great," I mumbled to myself.
But then I heard someone moving behind the bike, I kept quiet and crouched behind my car and watched them unscrew the bolts on the wheels. I couldn't see their faces, if I could just get closer. Damn. They'd heard me and ran away.
"Hey Bennie you actually coming to work or not," A man behind me shouted.
"Sorry Frankie," I apologized and grabbed my apron.
"Table four's order is on the bench," Frankie pointed to a tray full of pints of beer.
I sighed, another night of pointless work. Picking up the tray I saw that table four was a table of cops. Luck was not in my favour tonight.
"Seven pints of beer," I said arranging the drinks on the table.
"Hey Mackey," They all jeered.
"Yeah laugh it up," I sighed and walked off.
"Hey Mackey, come here," A familiar voice shouted. Jinx.
"What do you want Jinx?"
"I want the name and number of that girl on stage," He pointed and laughed.
"Oh you mean Lulu, nah you don't want to sleep with her you'll catch something," I jested.
The others at the table gasped and laughed.
"What we're good friends me and Lulu," I waved to her on stage and she sourly stared at me back. There were so many ways to describe Lulu, some say she looks beautiful, an angel sent from heaven. I described her as a well paid whore. "See best of friends." I walked away to serve another table.
"One more thing," Jinx added.
"What?" I asked impatiently.
"You do still think about me don't you?" He sniggered.
"Ergh, in your dreams Jinx," I said as I finally walked away to stand at the bar.
"You know them?" Frankie asked from behind the bar.
"Yeah they're," I hesitated trying to think what they were, "Friends," I answered rubbing my forehead.
"That blonde one," Frankie pointed to Jinx, "he looks a good man,"
"What Jinx! No way! Not for me," I laughed glancing over and seeing them talk to half naked women.
"Well he seems interested enough,"
"Really?" I said sarcastically as I pointed to him with a waitress sat on his lap.
"Well when he's not drunk I mean." Frankie hesitated, thinking whether or not to tell what he was thinking, "He talks to me about you, when we come in for his dinner." Frankie winked at me as he went into the back to clean some more glasses.
I quickly hobbled after him, "Wait! what did he say about me?"
"Ah so you are interested?"
"No. I just like to know what people say about me behind my back," I said smugly leaning against the door frame.
"He said his misses the time you spend together and wishes he could see you more," Frankie answered slowly, as if trying to remember exactly what Jinx had said.
"Is that it?"Crying in disbelief, not believing that was all he had said.
"Well no there is more,"
"Tell me, tell me," I moved closer to Frankie.
Ignoring me Frankie pointed to the bar, "Looks like you've got a customer,"
I looked behind me and saw a scruffy man with a motorbike helmet and a tatty jacket. "I won't drop this," I warned Frankie as I headed to the bar.
"What can I get you?" I asked
The scruffy man glanced up then took a second time, "You're a bit too pretty to be working in a place like this,"
"Well I don't know," I felt uncomfortable with his flattery.
"Hey boys come have a look at this," He shouted as a group of men wandered over to where I was stood. "Look at her," He pointed his grubby finger at me.
"Excuse me, what do you want?" I asked quite impatiently.
"I wouldn't mind a bit of you," The man's voice was husky and low. His followers all laughed. "Come out from behind the bar,"
"I'd rather not," I became more and more nervous as time went on.
"I won't take no for an answer," He ordered.
"Well you're just going to have to," I raised my voice in anger.
The stranger put his hands tightly round my face, "I should warn you I don't take kindly to rude people." He growled.
In a panic I slowly hobbled round the counter.
"Oh you're injured, here let me help you," He picked me up off the ground. I was too frightened to fight back.
When he sat me down at a corner table, the whole group stared at me. Never in my life have I felt more vulnerable. I swallowed nervously. He must have realized I felt scared.
"There's no reason to be scared, we won't hurt you," He reassured me.
A man at the back laughed in disbelief. The silence was broken by Lulu finishing her song.
"Remember a man who knows how to ride a motorbike knows how to ride me to the edge of ultimate pleasure." Her voice was so smooth. There was a roar of cheering especially from Jinx's table.
The stranger looked around to the rest of the men and nodded.
"Get up on stage," He ordered.
"What?"
"Get up on stage," His voice was more irritated now.
"But I can't," I cried.
The man flicked his switch blade knife up, "Get up on stage," He cornered me onto the stage. "You stay here as well," He told Lulu.
Grabbing two pairs of handcuffs, the man pushed us both to the pole at the end of the stage. The men in the bar whistled and cheered. Once we were cuffed to the pole the man reached for the button on my jeans,
"What the hell are you doing?" I screamed in confusion. But he just put one finger to my lips and shushed me. I tried to kick but my leg was too weak.
He licked his lips as he pulled my jeans further and further down.
"And now for your jumper," He grabbed a chunk of material and ripped it straight down, leaving me with just my sleeves.
"What are you going to do to me?" Lulu whimpered.
"Nothing," The stranger laughed.
"Then let her go," I spoke up. I didn't know whether it was the right thing to say considering Lulu hated me.
"Excuse me?"
"I said let her go, if you have no intentions for her then let her go," I repeated.
"As you wish," He signaled for the men to let Lulu go. One of the men off Jinx's table ran to grab her off stage. "And now for you my sweet," A bucket of cold water was passed through the crowd.
He laughed devilishly as he tipping the water over my head.
No-one seemed to come help me, where was Frankie? Jinx? Anybody? I began to shiver as I was covered in ice cold water and wearing nothing but a bra two jumper sleeves and some underwear.
"Oh what's the matter are you scared?" He laughed. Then he kissed me, it was a strong kiss but not one I enjoyed, the cheers of the crowd grew louder as he kissed me. Once he had finished he looked me in the eye. The only thing I could think was to spit at him, so I did.
Wiping it away from his face he stepped back. That's when I noticed he was at the edge of the stage. Lifting up my good leg I kicked him off the stage and into the crowd. He landed with a loud thud. Suddenly I remembered there was a small gap between the pole and the stage floor. Bending down I forced the chain of the handcuffs through the gap. Now all I had to do was find a way out of here. And fast, as the stranger had recovered from his fall and was standing up.
Jumping into the crowd I ran as best as I could for the exit, pushing through rowdy men who were still cheering.
Once I got into the lot I realized that Jinx had followed me out,
"Why the hell did you let them do that to you?" He shouted.
"I had no choice he had a knife, but why didn't you help me?"
"I don't know I didn't know what to do," He sounded frustrated.
I looked at the sky in frustration, "Well are you going to help me get out of these then?" I asked showing him I was still in cuffs.
"Yeah sorry," Jinx unlocked the cuffs with a set of keys he had with his.
"God it's cold." I muttered.
"Here," he said taking off his blue police shirt and handing it to me.
"Thanks," I carefully put it on, it just about covered the right places as it was a little big.
"Are you alright?" Jinx tilted his head to look at me.
"Yeah it's just today hasn't been one of my best days," I laughed weakly.
"Come here," He said embracing me in a hug. Jinx's body was warm; his arms were strong and his hug was tight.
"Right I need to go," He said pointing to the bike.
"Yeah sure, I'll see you soon," I waved goodbye as Jinx zipped up his jacket and walked up to the bike.
Then I remembered what I had seen when I first arrived.
"Jinx, wait!"
I shouted trying to run as fast as I could over to him.
"What don't you want me to leave?" He laughed.
"Not on that thing,"
"Why? What's wrong with it?"
I kicked the back wheel and it rolled off into the empty parking lot.
"See,"
Jinx looked stunned. He tried to say something but couldn't find anything to say.
"Looks like you'll be coming home with me," I headed back to my car throwing the keys and then catching them in the opposite hand.
"If I am, you're not driving," He said catching the keys in mid air.
"Fine," I was too tired to argue.
Getting in the car I pulled my legs up to my chest and rested my head on my knees. I had completely forgotten about the cut on my leg. And now I was thinking about it, it began to hurt again. The drive home was long and tiring. I hadn't realized I had fallen asleep until Jinx lifted me from the seat and carried me to the door. Jinx and my father sat down on the couch, and Jinx explained what happened.
I slouched to my bedroom and collapsed on my bed. Grabbing my beloved childhood teddy bear, green bear, I curled up in a ball and it wasn't long till I was sleeping.