The island was lush, green, expansive, a jewel in a sparkling blue sea.
Sarah Hodges lay on the chaise lounge by the pool, the sun browning her young, coltish limbs. Even with eyes closed, she could feel the appreciative glances of the men — important, distinguished — as they sauntered past. It was her third day here. Everything felt vast, open, the future full of promise.
“All right, darling?”
Sarah opened her eyes and smiled at the older woman who had just spoken. “It’s all just super, Miz Marshall — I mean, Janet. I feel like — like I’ve died and gone to Heaven.”
The brunette on the other chaise lounge smiled, her eyes unreadable behind smoky sunglasses. “Well, you deserve it just as much as anyone, darling. God, I love the sun, don’t you? So much nicer here than rainy old England. D’you think I’m tanning nicely? Here, rub some sunscreen into my back for me, will you?”
Casually pulling her bikini top down, the woman turned over and lay on her stomach. Sarah sat beside her and squeezed a dab of sunscreen into her palms.
She felt her face getting a little warm as she massaged Janet’s back with the cream. Touching this sophisticated woman like this felt strangely intimate. It was all more than a little overwhelming, if she was being honest.
This was the kind of lifestyle you read about in novels or saw on the telly. This was how really rich and posh people lived. Not like the stifling little village she had been born and brought up in. In fact, Sarah had never even been outside of Sullington, unless you counted that one trip with the family to Benidorm, and that had been awful. Squalling kids and drunken yobs all over the place. The less said about that, the better.
“Janet?”
“Mmm-hmm? A little lower, dear. Yes, that’s the spot. Mmm. Have you done this before? You have, haven’t you?”
Sarah blushed. “Um, er — not really, no. I just wanted to say thanks for this — for this opportunity. Honest, I feel incredibly lucky. I keep remembering that day —“
“One sec. Juan! Be a dear and get us another drink, would you.”
“Si, Miz Marshall.”
“Sorry about that, darling. Can’t get good help these days. You were saying?”
Sarah started again. “I was just thinking about how you showed up in our lives. Me and Mum in that little cafe and talking about how difficult things have been since Dad left us. Mum saying there isn’t enough money to get me a proper education, you know — not really. That I’d have to work, maybe get a job in the chip shop working for my cousin Dave, and he’s a right prick — I’m sorry —“
“Oh babes. Did your cousin give you a hard time?”
“He’s a bit of a lech. You know. Hands everywhere…”
Janet snorted. “I know the type. I’d have told him to boil it in the chip fat.”
Sarah laughed. “Well, anyway, there you were, sitting at the next table, and you introduced yourself and said you couldn’t help overhearing, and that you ran a little modelling agency and that with my looks and a little training I could be a top model. And that if we were interested, you could take me under your wing, mentor me —“
“So I did, darling.”
”— And you helped with everything, even choosing out new clothes and all —“
“Well. That is my job.”
“Yes, s’pose it is, and I just wanted to say I’m so grateful, don’t think I’m not because I am. I know I’m just fifteen but I can recognise a good person when I see one, and you’re a wonderful and kind person.”
The older woman turned over. For a moment there was something not quite readable in the brown eyes, and then it was gone. “Now look here, sweetheart. You must never feel you’re less than anyone. Rich people have feelings and needs just like anyone else. Learn what people like, learn how to give it to them, and the world’s your oyster. You have a lovely face and a very nice body. That’ll take you a very long way in this world.”
“I — s’pose so, Janet. Do you think I could call Mum now? She’ll want to know I’ve arrived safe, and all —“
Again that fleeting look. “Of course, of course. Now listen. J and D want to meet you. I’ve told them so much about you. You must make them happy. They’re very important men and can introduce you to all the right people.”
Sarah said uncertainly, “What do I have to do?”
“Don’t worry darling. J’s a lamb. Come along now, mustn’t keep them waiting.”
———-
That night, Sarah lay trembling with pain and terror, trying to block out the memory of the two men violating her repeatedly while Janet sat by and watched. Her privates ached terribly. A chain tethered her leg to the bed. Where could she run to? The world had suddenly contracted to this little room, her pain, her fear.
For Sarah Hodges, as for dozens of young girls like her, the nightmare that was Epstein’s Island was just beginning.
