Rival

by Jacqui Rose

  As she got into the blacked-out car, she didn’t see the people in the back seat until it was too late, until she felt the gag being put over her mouth.

  50

  In the block of flats just by St Anne’s Court, Vaughn made his way slowly up the rubbish-strewn stairs, smelling the stench of alcohol and seeing the all-round dirt. There were discarded bloody needles along with empty bottles of vodka scattered everywhere. A heavy aroma of urine sat in the air and the communal walls were adorned with graffiti.

  Making a mental note that he would sort out a nice place for Milly, Vaughn arrived at the top landing, pausing as he heard voices coming from her bedsit. He could see the door was slightly ajar and, wanting to take absolute precaution, he slipped the gun from his pocket and held it close to his body.

  He stood by the door for a couple of moments then he kicked it wide open, springing inside. And he froze. Shocked. Staring. There, standing in the middle of the bedsit, were Franny and Detective Carter.

  He glared at Franny. ‘What the fuck are you doing here?’

  Franny grinned. But it was a cold, hard grin. ‘I could say the same about you.’

  ‘This is Milly’s place,’ Vaughn said, staring at her hard.

  Franny stared back just as coldly. ‘And there’s me thinking that this was the Holiday Inn.’

  Fuming, Vaughn turned to his one-time friend. ‘You’re keeping some kind of company these days, ain’t you?’

  Carter stared at the gun that Vaughn was holding. ‘I could say the same for you. I take it you’ve got a new job in the Flying Squad because why else would you be carrying around a weapon?’

  Slipping it back into his jacket, Vaughn held Carter’s gaze. ‘So what … oh wait, you’re just about to tell me you’re going to nick me?’

  Carter shook his head. ‘I should do, but no, not today anyway. But I’m curious too. Why are you here?’

  ‘Why wouldn’t I be here? I know Harry, and well, Milly’s Harry’s girl. I’m just checking up on her for him.’

  ‘What?’ Franny’s expression turned to shock. She sat down on the bed and Vaughn watched as Carter gently put his hand on her back.

  ‘You all right?’ Carter said as Vaughn began to shake his head and clap.

  ‘Oh please, oh please don’t tell me that you and her have got it on?’

  Franny looked up at him, her expression now one of anger.

  ‘You have, haven’t you? Seriously, Carter, of all the women you had to choose from, you chose the black widow who eats her prey. Fuck me, she tried to have me killed but there’s you, the Old Bill, shagging her like she’s some princess. Turns you on, does it, sleeping with a gangster? Though I would’ve thought you had better taste.’

  ‘Watch your mouth, Vaughn,’ Carter snarled.

  ‘Oh save the heroics. Don’t let them big long lashes and those fluttering eyes fool you, she don’t need a guy standing up for her. She’s man enough all by herself, ain’t you, darlin’?’

  ‘What is your problem, Vaughn?’ Franny said.

  He shrugged. ‘Does Alfie know?’

  It was the first sign of her tough exterior falling, hearing Alfie’s name. She flinched and not only did Vaughn see it but Carter did as well. ‘What I do or don’t do has nothing to do with Alfie. He and I ain’t together. Spain’s a long way from here.’

  Vaughn winked. ‘Well that’s settled then – you won’t mind me telling him the next time I have a chat with him, will you?’

  Not rising to it, Franny just held a steady stare. ‘Why don’t you just piss off back to Harry? You two deserve each other.’

  ‘No more than you and Wan.’

  ‘Enough!’ Carter said. ‘You sound like a couple of school kids. But she’s right, you better turn around and walk away, and if you don’t, I will nick you for possession of a firearm. Your choice.’

  ‘All I’m doing is waiting for Milly. That ain’t a crime.’

  Franny stood up, anger rushing through her, and for the first time in a long while she wasn’t able to keep her temper in check. She flew at Vaughn, grabbing him by his jacket, pushing him back against the kitchen units. ‘No, that ain’t a crime but what Harry’s involved in is. But then, you’d know all about that wouldn’t you? You’d know that the scum likes to mess about with young girls and I will not let you be Harry’s bitch and come here trying to frighten Milly off!’

  Vaughn pushed her back, just as angry, just as hostile. ‘Get the fuck off me, Franny, cos whether you’ve got lover boy here or not, I’ll kill you if you put your hands on me again.’

  Enraged at the comment, Franny swung her fist and made direct contact with Vaughn’s lip. Pain and rage ran through him and he went for the gun in his pocket but suddenly he found himself being pushed down, his arm twisting behind his back as Carter slammed his body down onto the floor.

  Breathing hard, Carter sat on top of him, keeping Vaughn in a firm arm grapple. ‘Listen to me, Vaughn, if you make one more move, I’m taking you down to the station and you’ll be looking at a long time behind bars, so if I were you, I wouldn’t make a move. Do you understand?’

  Feeling like his shoulder was going to pop out of the socket, Vaughn nodded as Carter gestured to Franny to pick up the gun.

  ‘Right, I’m going to let you go now, but don’t be stupid. Don’t let your ego get the better of you.’

  ‘Okay! Okay!’

  Slowly Carter got up off Vaughn who, although looking furious, got up off the floor just as slowly. He rubbed his shoulder and stared at Franny. He growled at her through gritted teeth. ‘Whatever our differences are, and we have a fuck of a lot of them, you know me better than to think that I’d come here and try to scare some teenage kid.’

  Franny regarded Vaughn, feeling nothing but hatred. But he did have a point: there were some things that she would go to her grave believing and one of those things was that Vaughn would never hurt someone like Milly. ‘Firstly, let me get one thing clear. Me and Carter, well there is no me and Carter. Ain’t that right?’

  Carter nodded. Although he knew that Franny was trouble, inappropriate and downright wrong for him, she held a fascination for him that had always and probably would always get under his skin. He could see why over the years Alfie couldn’t let her go. And last night, well, even though he tried to put it in the box of just a one-night stand – which he’d had hundreds of – he couldn’t do it, because the stupid thing was, he actually wanted her more now than ever. He actually felt something for her. But that thought would stay locked in his head. Some things were just better left unsaid.

  ‘You mean he ain’t now you’ve chewed him up and spat him out,’ Vaughn replied.

  ‘Whatever, Vaughn, think what you like, cos what you think is irrelevant to me … The point is, regardless of what I just said, I actually do know that you wouldn’t do anything to a kid. So that begs the question: why are you here? Cos I know how Harry treated Milly, so he wouldn’t be sending you around to bring a pot of soup. She was in hiding from him, in fact, so how come you know where she is?’ Franny said, puzzled.

  Vaughn sighed. ‘What is this, The Sweeney? Anyone tell you that you sound like the Old Bill, and you two playing good cop, bad cop is a bit too fucking surreal for my liking.’ He stopped and a thought ran through his head. ‘What did you mean by frighten Milly off?’

  Franny shrugged. ‘She was scared of him – that’s all I meant.’

  ‘No. Just like you know me, I know you. There was more to it than that. What’s going on?’

  ‘You’re not here to question me, Vaughn, not until I know what you want with Milly.’

  Taking another deep breath, Vaughn said, ‘I came for Tia. That’s how I know she’s here. Tia’s been paying for this place behind Harry’s back, but she can’t get through to her daughter so I said I’d come and see if Milly was okay … Where is she anyway?’ Vaughn suddenly said.

  Franny shook her head. ‘I dunno.’

  Uncharacteristically, Vaughn began to feel panicke
d. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I saw her yesterday and I wanted to bring Carter to speak to her.’

  Vaughn looked at Carter and then back at Franny. ‘Why? Why would you need Milly to speak to him?’ He stopped and turned to look at Carter. ‘Has this got something to do with what you spoke to me about? About Wan and the girls?’

  ‘Yes and like I say, I’m determined to bring him down, more so than ever, and if you have something to say about Harry, it won’t go any further,’ Carter replied.

  Wide-eyed, Vaughn stared back at Franny. ‘Is Milly in trouble? I mean do you think something’s happened to her?’

  ‘I hope not, but what she told me about Wan was really disturbing and I think she was trying to stop him hurting her friend.’

  Vaughn’s words tumbled out. ‘What, no, no, no, what the fuck? No, tell me you’re bullshitting me, tell me that ain’t true. Franny please, please, don’t wind me up, tell me Milly isn’t doing that.’

  Franny cocked her head to one side looking at Vaughn with sheer puzzlement, not understanding his obvious panic. Not understanding why he was so worried about Milly when he didn’t even know her. ‘Well that’s what I caught her doing last night; she was in the club and she’d just gone to see Wan to ask him to leave this girl alone.’

  ‘But why, how, why would she think that she could just go up to a complete stranger and do that? Why would she?’

  ‘Oh Wan wasn’t a complete stranger to Milly. Wan is the father of her child. He raped her. Wan raped her.’

  The room felt like it was swimming as Vaughn stared at Franny in horror. He whispered his words. ‘I’m going to kill him. I’m going to kill Wan for raping my daughter.’

  51

  It wasn’t often that Franny was lost for words but all she could do was stare.

  ‘So help me, I am going to make him pay,’ Vaughn yelled.

  ‘We’re all going to make him pay. That’s why I’m here. Franny found evidence from one of the girls’ diaries, which talks a lot about what Wan was up to, but it isn’t enough. We need more. That’s why it’s important to speak to Milly, get a statement,’ Carter said.

  ‘Are you fucking kidding me? You want her to go against the Triads? They’ll slaughter her.’

  ‘It’s the only way to put him away.’

  Vaughn pointed at Carter, his rage evident. ‘I will not let you do that to her. You might as well put a price on her head now.’

  ‘It’s the only way.’

  Vaughn stepped forward. ‘Then you need to think again, cos whether it’s Milly or any of the other girls you are putting them in danger to ask them to do that.’

  ‘I hate to agree with him, but Vaughn’s right – those girls will be sitting targets. Wan will get a powerful barrister, and that makes all the difference … I should know, otherwise I’d still be inside, hey Vaughn!’ Franny said, making a dig at him.

  Once again, Vaughn ignored Franny and directed his question at Carter. ‘What about Harry? How much is he involved?’

  ‘He’s right up to his eyeballs in it. But again, it’s about proof. The most important thing is we stick together on this. Work together.’

  ‘With him?’ Franny said in disgust.

  ‘Feeling’s mutual darlin’,’ Vaughn retorted.

  ‘Look, you two, I’m not saying that you both haven’t got grievances with each other, but are you really telling me that these girls – including Milly – are less important than this war going on between you? Because if it is, you aren’t the people I thought you were. You say you both know each other well and that’s true but I also know both of you, and neither you, Franny, nor you, Vaughn, would want these kids to suffer because of that. Come on, guys, we need to do this together; after all, a common danger unites even the bitterest enemies.’

  Franny let Carter’s words wash over her. She watched Vaughn watching her then slowly she nodded her head. ‘He’s right. I’m willing, for now, to put the fact that you tried to set me up for a murder I didn’t commit to one side to help stop Wan and the likes of Harry once and for all.’

  Vaughn nodded as well. ‘Then I’m willing to put aside the fact that you paid Wan’s brother to put a bullet in my head.’

  ‘Because you set me up. Don’t forget to add that part on the end, Vaughn. I might be putting it to one side for now, but that don’t mean we erase the facts.’

  Carter looked at them both and spoke firmly. ‘And I, whether I like it or not, am willing to put aside the fact that I’ve just heard that you, Vaughn, committed perjury at the highest level, and you, Franny, were part of a plot to have someone murdered. I am going to pretend I didn’t hear any of it, so we can work on putting Wan away together. Right?’

  Before Franny could answer, Carter’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and read it. He raised his eyebrows in surprise and whistled.

  ‘What’s that? Anything of interest?’ Franny said curiously.

  He shook his head and shrugged, slipping the phone back into his pocket. ‘Oh nothing. Nothing of interest.’ But in fact the text had been more than interesting … especially for Franny.

  The three of them sat in Carter’s blue Volvo 4x4, making their way through the West End traffic with the lull of Radio 2 in the background.

  ‘This seems so strange sitting here with you. Old Bill and us, it don’t feel right … Where are we going anyway?’ Franny said as she leant forward from the back seat.

  With Carter not answering her, she sighed and sat back, trying her best to ignore the fact that Vaughn was sitting right next to her, but with curiosity getting the better of her, she turned to him. ‘How long have you known about Milly?’

  Vaughn cut his eyes at Franny, wishing he was anywhere but here. ‘I shouldn’t have said anything.’

  ‘Yeah well you did, so you might as well answer,’ Franny snapped irritably.

  Angry with himself for allowing his emotions to get the better of him, causing him to blurt it out, Vaughn bit back, ‘Look, I know what you’re thinking; you’re thinking this is Alfie’s life, this is what happened with him.’

  ‘No, actually I wasn’t. This is what happens to a lot of people, especially if you’ve put it around.’

  ‘I wasn’t putting it around, not then anyway. Me and Tia, back then we were an item, but I was an idiot.’

  ‘That does surprise me,’ Franny said sarcastically as she watched the number 10 bus go past.

  Rolling his eyes at the dig, Vaughn continued without rising to it. ‘I left her before I knew she was pregnant, and I only found out about Milly last night.’

  Franny turned back and looked at him, surprise showing on her face. ‘Milly’s got your eyes. It’s funny, when I first saw her, her eyes were so striking, reminded me of someone and now it makes sense … Does Harry know?’

  ‘No. He knows that Milly isn’t his, but that’s as far as it goes.’

  ‘Have you texted Tia that she’s missing?’

  Vaughn shook his head. ‘I don’t want to worry her, not yet anyway. For all we know she just went out. I dunno, she could’ve gone to the shops or something …’

  They fell silent for a moment, Vaughn’s words sounding empty, unconvincing, as if he was trying to deny what was glaringly obvious.

  Franny smiled sympathetically and then said, ‘She told me she was terrified of Harry and she hated being in Soho because of the fear of bumping into Wan. She wanted to move away. God, it’s all such a mess. What Wan has been doing to those girls makes me sick. The sooner we can work out what to do the better and the sooner we find Milly …’ She stopped talking, not wanting to think of what might have happened.

  ‘You reckon Wan has her?’ Vaughn asked.

  ‘The truth is, I’m hoping he hasn’t, but my gut is telling me otherwise …’

  52

  Carter, Vaughn and Franny stood by a luxury block of flats but it was Carter who pressed the slim-line buzzer by the glass doors.

  A female voice answered. ‘Hello?’

&n
bsp; ‘It’s Detective Carter.’

  ‘Oh hi, come up to the penthouse apartment.’

  Immediately the door was buzzed open and without saying anything to Vaughn and Franny, Carter walked into the plush, marble reception entrance.

  He pressed the lift button. ‘I want you guys to meet someone.’

  Franny shrugged. ‘What’s with the cloak and dagger routine? You’ve hardly said a word since we left Milly’s place.’

  Stepping into the air-conditioned lift and pressing the button for the penthouse floor, Carter gave a sideward glance to Franny. ‘No reason, I’m just working out stuff. There’s a lot to mull over.’

  ‘Well as long as you’re okay,’ Franny replied warmly.

  As they stepped out into the corridor, Vaughn shook his head and whispered to Franny as they followed Carter towards a black granite door. ‘You really are blind, ain’t you? Can’t you see that this is what you do to people – you fuck them up? Reel them in and then, boom, that’s the end of the line for them. I know Carter, and believe it or not, I reckon he’s hurting.’

  Bemused, Franny hissed back, ‘Turn it in, Vaughn. There’s nothing between us. It was sex, nothing more.’

  ‘Well I hope you told him that.’

  Enraged, Franny stopped and snapped, ‘I did actually.’

  To which Vaughn, without stopping and with his voice dripping with sarcasm said, ‘Well that’s all right then, ain’t it?’

  Knocking on the door, Carter smiled at Franny and Vaughn but neither returned the gesture as they stood moodily next to each other, so instead he waited patiently for the door of the apartment to be opened, which it soon was.

  ‘Hi, Carter, thanks for com—’ Alfie’s unfinished word hung in the air as he stared in shock, surprise, horror and bewilderment at Franny and Vaughn, who stared back at him with equal shock, surprise, horror and bewilderment.

  ‘What the fuck are they … are you … I mean, Franny, shit … hi … Vaughn, what the fuck Carter?’

  Carter smiled again. ‘I think you’ve all met. Shall we?’ He gestured and, without being invited, walked into the apartment where he greeted Rachel with a nod. She stood with her mouth agape.