by Alex Kane
‘I think you two will get on.’ Roxanne peered at Eddie as he sat down on one of the salon chairs. ‘Aye, he likes those… oh what are they called again?’ She raised her eyes and glanced up at Jake. ‘Nissan GT-Rs. Got one in the garage back at the house. It’s an old rust bucket but he likes it.’
Eddie laughed loudly as did Jake. ‘An old rust bucket? You’re clearly not into your classic cars then. What year is it?’ He directed the question at Jake.
Arabella rolled her eyes. ‘Car chat? Really? How boring.’
‘Two thousand and one, mate. Love a GT-R,’ Jake said. He pulled two beers from a bag on the counter to his left and handed one to Eddie. ‘Bud?’
‘Thanks,’ Eddie said, taking the bottle in his hand and twisting off the cap.
Roxanne and Arabella looked as though they were pretending to listen but Eddie knew that Arabella would want to go out to a club later and that was fine. He didn’t mind going out and getting smashed with her. And even though he didn’t know Roxanne and Jake, it might be a laugh to go out with another couple. He couldn’t deny too that part of him was attracted by their criminal links, wondering if this might bring him the buzz he’d been missing.
The four sat chatting for a few hours. Roxanne and Arabella spoke a little of their time together at Kirktonhill and Roxanne explained why she had ended up there for ten years. Eddie was surprised at how open she was being, and how brutal her crime had been. She had a classy look about her and certainly didn’t appear as though she would be so violent. He supposed that was the kind of trait a gangster needed in order to operate: charm and class. Being female would also work in her favour.
‘So, what’s changed?’ Eddie asked her, taking a drink from his bottle.
‘Not much. I’d do it again if I had to. I don’t let folk get away with something like that, Eddie. He owed me money, took the piss out of me for long enough. It’s a shame I got caught, but then I wouldn’t have met Arabella here if I hadn’t.’
Arabella’s eyes fell onto Eddie and he saw her shift in her seat.
‘That’s true,’ Arabella replied. ‘And our friendship has nothing to do with either of our pasts. Right?’
‘Definitely,’ Roxanne smiled and raised her glass.
The evening continued and the girls danced and chatted while Jake showed Eddie some classic cars on the internet that he was interested in. Eddie spoke about his van business and how he’d love nothing more than to be able to get his hands on a GT-R and do some work on one.
‘You’re a mechanic by trade?’ Jake asked.
‘Aye, although I mainly just sit behind a desk now. It’s boring as hell running your own business, but I wouldn’t have the bank balance I do if I was still just a mechanic.’
Jake laughed and Eddie smiled.
‘Why don’t I bring you my GT-R? It needs a new exhaust system fitted. I’ve got it sitting in the garage ready to go but I’ve not got around to booking it in yet,’ Jake said.
‘That would be brilliant. I’d love to see how she handles. But to be honest, I wouldn’t want to touch her. You’d be better taking her to a specialist, Jake.’
‘Fair enough. We’ll give her a run once I get her fixed up?’
‘Aye,’ Eddie said. ‘Sounds like a plan.’
Just as Eddie was about to crack open another beer, Arabella and Roxanne announced that they wanted to go to the new club that was opening in the Merchant City. Just as Eddie had suspected.
‘Oh come on, it’ll be a laugh. I’ve not been to a club in years,’ Roxanne said.
‘Actually, I know the owner,’ Jake said. ‘He told me he expects the place to be bursting at the seams on opening weekend. Why don’t I give him a bell and see if he can get us on the VIP list?’
Eddie smiled as Arabella did a little happy dance.
‘Jake, that would be amazing. I can’t believe you know the guy who owns that club. Who is he?’
Eddie swallowed hard at that one. What was the difference between owning a club and owning a van hire company? A business was a business. He couldn’t let it bother him that Arabella was impressed.
‘Just an old business associate. Give me two minutes and I’ll phone him now.’
* * *
A little over two hours later, Eddie and Jake were sitting in a VIP booth in Club Silver, while Arabella and Roxanne were up dancing. They’d been up on the dance floor for the best part of an hour, since they’d arrived. Eddie knew he wasn’t going to get Arabella’s dancing shoes off anytime soon, so he left her to it while he chatted some more with Jake about cars. This guy seemed all right and by the sounds of it had a bit of wealth behind him.
The music blared around them, the light sequences flashing in time with the beat. Jake had been right, the place was packed. People kept waving hello at Jake and Roxanne as they passed.
‘So, you got a GT-R yourself?’ Jake asked Eddie, calling over the music.
‘I wish. Never quite found the right one though. Either the price or the timing wasn’t right,’ Eddie replied, keeping one eye on Arabella.
‘Or maybe buying a salon for your girlfriend got in the way,’ Jake remarked with a smile on his face.
‘Had to mate, I didn’t want her coming out of that shit hole to nothing. It was bad enough she had to serve time in the first place. I had to make sure that she had something to keep her focus.’
Jake seemed surprised. Not that Eddie blamed him. Buying a business for a convicted partner didn’t seem like the everyday scenario.
‘What I mean is, I wanted her to be able to support herself so that she didn’t fall back into her old ways.’
‘And what were those?’
Eddie sighed. Did he really want to talk about that with this guy? He was a stranger, someone he’d only known for a couple of hours. And anyway, if he wanted to know, then surely Roxanne would fill him in. She would be in the know if she’d spent ten months with Arabella.
‘It doesn’t matter now. It’s in the past, hopefully,’ Eddie said, hoping that Jake would sense his tone and end this line of conversation.
‘Jakey Boy!’
Eddie looked up in response to the loud, London accent. A man stood by the booth, holding an ice bucket with a bottle of Grey Goose inside. Eddie could tell this guy thought a lot of himself. His stance, the way he loomed over the top of them told Eddie all he needed to know. He was the type who thought he was better than everyone, from how he dressed to how much money he had in the bank. The guy seemed like an arsehole.
‘Cole. What are you doing here?’ Jake replied, getting to his feet. Eddie saw how Jake gritted his teeth but tried to disguise it as a smile.
‘Fancied a night on the town. Can’t come to Glasgow and not try out the newest club on launch night, can I? I know the owner.’
Jake nodded and Eddie got up from his seat. ‘Aw’right mate.’
‘Cole,’ Jake said. ‘This is Eddie. Eddie, Cole.’
Cole put the ice bucket on the table and held out his hand. ‘Good to meet you, Eddie. Mind if I join you? All my mates are back in London, you know how it is. My only mucker up here is Jakey Boy, ain’t that right?’
Jake nodded and moved aside. Cole slid into the booth and the men all sat down. Eddie glanced over at Arabella again, but she wasn’t paying attention. Roxanne, however, was staring over at the booth. Eddie detected a hint of concern in her expression and just as he did, she stopped dancing and headed towards them. Whatever the reason, it was clear both Roxanne and Jake were wary of this Cole character.
‘Your missus don’t look too happy, bud,’ Cole said, taking the Grey Goose out of the bucket and placing it on the table.
Roxanne reached the table and smiled at Eddie before her eyes rested on Cole. ‘Didn’t expect to see you here, Cole.’
‘Nah, I was just telling Jakey Boy and Eddie that I fancied a night out in Glasgow. Plus, I know the owner of Club Silver, so how could I miss launch night?’
Was this guy trying to impress, Eddie thought but he was
distracted by Arabella as she danced her way over to the table and sat down on his lap.
‘Let’s get another drink,’ she said. ‘Oh, I’ve not met you before, have I?’
Cole’s eyes fell upon Arabella and his smile lit up his face. ‘Cole. And you must be Arabella. Roxanne has said a lot of good things about you.’
Roxanne’s expression was soft, but her eyes gave away the lie. It seemed she wasn’t happy about Cole’s presence.
‘Girls, why don’t you get stuck into that vodka and I’ll get us another from the bar,’ Cole said.
Getting up, he squeezed out from the booth and disappeared into the crowd that was lining the bar. Roxanne glared at Jake, who said nothing.
‘How’d you two meet then?’ Eddie asked Jake.
‘I worked with him for a bit down in London when Rox was inside.’
‘Yeah,’ Roxanne said as she sat down next to Jake. Taking a sip from Jake’s beer bottle, she said, ‘he’s got some business coming his way up here and he’s asked us if we want in on it.’
‘Oh, that’s exciting,’ Arabella squealed, wriggling on Eddie’s knee before leaning across the table and reaching for the vodka. ‘Babe, pass me that bottle would you?’
Eddie handed the bottle to Arabella and watched as she held it close to her. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Why don’t we take this back to our place? We could all go, grab some food on the way home and carry the party on there? I can’t really chat to Rox in here with the noise and to be honest, I’m pissed and my feet are killing me. Not used to wearing heels.’
Roxanne nodded. ‘Yeah, let’s go.’
‘Aye, clubbing’s not really my thing these days. Rox will tell you, I can’t dance to save myself,’ Jake said.
Soon, they were all standing on the street outside and Arabella had put the vodka inside her jacket. They stood waiting for a taxi and Eddie was beginning to feel pissed himself. He’d not had a lot but then he hadn’t eaten anything, with the garage being so busy today.
‘Oi!’ Cole shouted. ‘Where you lot off to then?’
They turned and Roxanne muttered something Eddie didn’t quite catch.
‘Calling it a night, mate. We’re all a bit old for this now,’ Eddie said, sensing that whatever it was that Roxanne had said, she didn’t want Cole with them.
‘Right then, where we off to?’
‘We haven’t decided yet.’ Roxanne said. ‘But you’d be a spare part, tagging along with us couples.’ Her sarcasm was hard to miss.
‘Tagging along? Nice. Seems as though the only thing tagging along here is that bottle of vodka I paid for that your mate here seems to have nicked.’ Cole nodded in Arabella’s direction and raised a brow. ‘So, like I asked, where we off to?’
Eddie stood still next to Arabella, straightened his back and glared at Cole. Who did this guy think he was, speaking about his girlfriend as if he wasn’t there?
‘Oi, she didn’t nick it. You left it on the table and said you were going to get another. It was fair game,’ Eddie replied.
‘Right,’ Jake interjected and Eddie could tell he didn’t want things to kick off. ‘Why don’t we head to the casino?’
Cole’s eyes lit up and the suggestion seemed to tear him from the brewing fight Eddie was ready for.
‘Yes. Excellent idea, Jake, just excellent. Although, is the casino a place for the ladies here?’
‘Well, prison is no place for a lady and we both managed to get through that fine. So I think we’ll manage,’ Arabella sneered, holding the bottle of vodka at arm’s length and staring Cole dead in the eye.
Roxanne laughed loudly and linked arms with Arabella. ‘Since we’re just little women who can’t do anything without you men, why don’t you get us a taxi and we’ll wait to be told what to do next.’
Eddie couldn’t help but smile. He felt proud that Arabella had stuck up for herself. Yet he knew just by the look of him that Cole was bad news, a dodgy character. And the only way to keep an eye on those types was to stay close.
Chapter Thirty
Charlene needed a break from the sun and had gone inside to get herself a drink. When she did, she’d heard Jez on the phone, and from what she’d listened in on, it seemed that he was planning on leaving Spain on business. She wanted to quiz him, ask him where he was going. Who with? When? Of course, in reality it was likely that Charlene would keep her mouth shut and say nothing. It was easier to remain silent than to start an argument with a husband who was only just hanging on by a thread. She knew the only reason he was still there was because of the boys and they were getting to the age now where they didn’t really need their parents to be together. It was only a matter of time before Jez left her. Or maybe he’d tell her to leave. The house was his. The businesses belonged to him. Yes, they were married and in normal circumstances a divorce meant everything split down the middle, but most women weren’t married to millionaire gangsters who could make their life a living hell if they felt it necessary.
Being pregnant with his first son was the only reason they’d stayed together. She hadn’t wanted to raise her child as a single mum, but choosing to stay with Jez purely for that reason was one of the worst decisions she’d ever made. She should have left him long ago. The boys were adults now, they didn’t need their parents to stay together just for them.
Charlene replayed the scene in her head. Finding out about Jez and Roxanne that night had sent her into a rage she’d never felt before and that rage hadn’t ever gone away. It simmered gently in the background most of the time, but it was always there. She just couldn’t believe that it was Roxanne. Why did it have to be her? Her best friend? Charlene wasn’t just humiliated by Jez, but betrayed by the one person she thought she’d be able to confide in. That in itself she could have got over in time. Old wounds fade. But he’d continued to cheat. Over and over. Of course she’d never actually caught him in the act, but she’d had every reason to suspect him of infidelity. He pulled every trick in the book, out ‘working late’; and coming home smelling of other women’s perfume. She’d confronted him, but his answer was always the same, I work the club scene, Charlene. Of course I’m going to be home late smelling of stuff. Booze, perfume, smoke. You’re being paranoid.
‘I have to go away on business,’ he said, interrupting her thoughts.
Charlene began picking at the skin around her thumb nail and thought about how to respond. What did he expect her to say? Okay darling, but do hurry back because I’ll miss you?
‘I don’t know how long I’ll be gone,’ Jez continued, seemingly unaware of the thoughts going on in her head.
A few moments of silence hovered between them and Charlene could feel his eyes on her. He was expecting an answer.
‘And will I be honoured with the knowledge of the location of your business trip? Or shall I sit here and guess where you’ll be until you get back?’ The words trailed from her lips like the hiss of a snake and Jez rolled his eyes.
‘What’s with the fucking attitude, Charlene?’
‘And what’s with the years of pretending you want me around when you couldn’t give two shits about me? You spend more time talking to the bloody housekeeper than me, your own wife.’
She despised the exaggerated sigh that was forced from his mouth. He always did that when she was making a valid point because he didn’t have a comeback.
‘I’m going to Scotland.’
Charlene’s stomach lurched. Scotland? Why?
‘Don’t look at me like that, Charlene. It’s a business trip.’ Jez turned away and Charlene didn’t know whether to feel relieved or offended that he couldn’t look her in the eye while he lied straight to her face.
As much as it was a long time ago, Charlene couldn’t help but think that if he was going back to Scotland, he might bump into Roxanne. What if their relationship started up again? She hated that she thought this way.
All she could say was, ‘Look at you like what?’
‘You know what. Like you
’re sizing up what I’m going to be doing when I’m there.’
‘And you’re trying to tell me you won’t be catching up with your little bit on the side?’ The words came before she’d even thought about it. He looked as surprised by them as she felt.
‘Jesus, Charlene. It was twenty years ago. Give it a fucking rest, eh? I’ve not looked at another woman since.’
Sighing, Charlene raised a brow. ‘So you say.’
Jez spun around and slammed his fist on the counter, making her jump. ‘Is it any wonder our relationship is fucked when you continually accuse me of having an affair?’
Charlene let out a breathy laugh. ‘That’s because you did.’
‘And you could have walked away,’ he shouted. ‘We had it out, a long-winded discussion about what was best for you and the baby. You said you wanted us to be together and I said I did too. But you’ve never let me live it down, have you? Always picking, always digging about it. I’ve had you in my ear almost every day, and when you’re silent I can tell by that death stare of yours that what happened back then has turned you into a bitter and twisted…’ He stopped, took a breath.
‘Carry on,’ Charlene said, eyeing him with suspicion. She knew that he was going to say she had become a bitter and twisted bitch. With all his infidelities, who could blame her? Staying with him had made her this way, she knew that. But for some reason, she’d never felt the strength to leave.
‘If you really need to know why I’m going to Scotland, it’s because I’m going after someone who has fucked us over.’
‘Who?’ Charlene asked, folding her arms and challenging him to lie to her.
‘Cole Woods. He’s stolen a hundred grand from the club and fucked off with it, as well as my mum’s diamond wedding ring. I swear I’ll fucking kill the bastard.’
Charlene frowned. She almost felt sorry for him. Jez was a hard bastard but when it came to his late mum, he always softened. This might just push him over the edge. ‘But I thought he was one of your best suppliers. Why would he do that?’
‘Because he’s a greedy bastard, Charlene. But I’ll fucking kill him before I let him get away with it. I’m going to pack. I’ve got a flight to catch.’