The Lipstick Killers

them now?’ she said.
    ‘You owe them money?’ Margaret asked Boy.
    He nodded.
    ‘Can’t pay?’
    He held both hands out palms upwards. ‘Cash flow,’ he said.
    ‘Seems to me you’ve become too fond of your own product.’
    ‘You know what it’s like,’ said Boy, sheepishly.
    ‘OK,’ said Margaret. ‘You two. Wallets.’
    They both pulled wallets from the pockets of their jackets. Margaret looked inside both for ID, then satisfied , she dropped both into her bag. ‘I’m keeping these,’ she said. ‘Now, then boys. Trousers off.’
    ‘Do what?’ said the first man.
    ‘You heard. Trousers off. One at a time. Roxie,’ she said, turning to her. ‘Seems like these boys can’t hear properly.’
    Roxie grinned and steadied her gun. ‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Do what the lady tells you. Slowly.’
    The first man stood awkwardly and lowered his jeans, exposing yellowing Y-fronts. ‘Right off,’ said Margaret.
    He tugged his trousers off and dropped them on the floor.
    ‘Sit down again’, said Margaret. ‘And you should get your mum to do your laundry.’
    He did as he was told. ‘Now you,’ she said to the other man.
    He obeyed. This time it was Union Jack boxers ‘Patriotic,’ said Margaret. ‘The queen must be so proud of people like you. Right, off you go.’
    ‘The car keys,’ said the first man, a look of panic in his face. ‘In my pocket.’
    ‘Forget it,’ said Margaret. ‘There’s a bus stop round the corner. Hope you’ve got change.’
    ‘Have a heart,’ said the second man.
    ‘You beat up this young girl and you’re asking me to have a heart,’ said Margaret. ‘You’re lucky we don’t give you a taste of your own medicine.’
    The two men went to the door. ‘We’ll be back,’ they said.
    ‘Don’t,’ said Margaret. ‘We know who you are, and we are police.’
    The two men left, and Margaret watched them run out of the estate chased by the catcalls of the gang of kids. ‘You’d better make plans for a holiday,’ she said to Boy. ‘A long one. I think we’ve pissed them off.’
    ‘It was time for a move anyway,’ he replied. ‘What do you reckon Glo?’ he said to the black girl.
    ‘Hackney,’ she said. ‘I’ve got people there.’
    ‘Sounds OK,’ said Boy. ‘It was getting old around here anyway.’ Then to Margaret. ‘I owe you one.’
    ‘It’s her you should thank,’ she said, nodding at Roxie. ‘She brought the gun.’
    ‘Course,’ said Boy. ‘Thanks love. I owe you more than one. You da ‘bidness,’ he said in his fake whiteboy patois.
    ‘A pleasure,’ said Roxie. ‘Brightened up a dull day.’
    ‘So can I get you something?’
    ‘That’s what we’re here for.’
    ‘They never got the stash. You got here just in time.’
    ‘Well come on then,’ said Margaret. ‘Get a move on, before those boys find some clothes.’
    Boy went into another room and came out with a big bag of powder. ‘Here you go,’ he said. ‘On the house, and your tab’s clear.’
    ‘Cheers, glad to hear it,’ said Margaret.
    ‘Right,’ said Boy. ‘Come on Glo. We’d better make a move sharpish.’
    ‘Won’t take a minute,’ she said. Then to the sisters. ‘You saved us. I’ll never forget you. Those bastards meant what they said. They were gonna… They were gonna rape me. You should have heard what they were saying before you got here. Thank you,’ she said, her voice full of gratitude.
    ‘Just keep safe,’ said Roxie.
    ‘Keep in touch,’ said Margaret to Boy. ‘You’ve got my mobile.’
    ‘Soon as we’re sorted I’ll give you a bell,’ said Boy. ‘I’d give you a kiss, but…’ he pointed to his lip that was still bleeding, and shook them both by the hand. ‘I mean it. You saved our skins. We won’t forget.’
    ‘See you then,’ said Margaret, and she and Roxie left the flat. They didn’t see either of the men on the way back to the car.
    Once inside, she said. ‘You done good there Rox. Would you have used it?’
    ‘You better believe it,’ said Roxie.
    ‘Christ. Look at us, the lipstick killers. We’re our mother’s daughters, no doubt.’

69
     
     
     
    After a few samples of Boy’s thank-you gift, the two sisters left in Margaret’s car for Kensington at six pm. Roxie had two phones. Her own, and the prepaid that Margaret had bought earlier, now fully-charged, and connected to Margaret’s mobile line. Roxie was dressed to impress. Short skirt, killer heels and a jacket that emphasised her ample chest.