‘Well, it went better than I expected, so maybe ... just maybe.’ Raising her lips to his, Francesca gave him a quick peck and walked down the hallway. She stopped short when she heard Tony and shook her head in dismay.
‘Yes!’’ he’d shouted to the driveway and punched the air!
Francesca looked round to see Tony grinning and swaying back and forth in some form of jig. Shaking her head, she couldn’t help laughing, and looked down the hallway towards Elle, who just gave her one of those exasperated looks.
‘Boys will always be boys, Francesca, no matter how you dress them up.’
CHAPTER 15
DIANA’S TURMOIL
‘Oh, God, Di, do me a favour and take this to Mr High-and-Mighty inspector, Terry the fat pervert.’ Taking the teabag out of yet another mug, Vicki rolled her eyes.
‘Why don’t they get it from the canteen like all of the others? This tiny cupboard stinks. It has a hundred dirty mugs and a sink. Anyway, surely taking the inspector’s tea gets you noticed?’
The two young police officers stood side by side in the poky kitchenette off the incident room. It was small, airless and a total disgrace. ‘Oh, yes, it gets me noticed, alright. A young blonde police officer, still on probation, accidentally getting her arse felt by the inspector. Who am I going to complain to? Please, Di, you take it.’
Diana looked down at the trays of tea-stained mugs. ‘Okay, I’ll do it. But if he touches my arse, you owe me one. What are they working on, anyway? There’s loads of them in the incident room and they just ignore you like you’re invisible.’
‘Oh, I don’t know, Di, some big drugs raid or something. Now, instructions. Knock once and if he doesn’t answer go in and put the mug on his desk, then get out of there as quick as you can.’ They both burst out laughing.
Diana Gold straightened her hat and brushed down her uniform, then picked up the tray, ready to leave.
‘Hey, don’t forget the randy old sod’s biscuits.’
Diana put the biscuits on the tray and left the room.
This was not what Diana had hoped for. She patrolled the streets at night, looking after the drunks and the druggies, then made tea all day for the officers and cleaned up after them. Her instructions had been clear. After knocking on the door, she waited. No answer. So she opened the door and set the mug on the desk full of folders and paperwork. As she’d looked for a space to put the cup down amongst the paperwork, something had caught her eye. There was a folder at the side of the computer and ‘Lambrianu’ was written at the top of it. She looked around to see if anyone was coming in after her. Moving the folder aside, she saw there was another very thick folder underneath, headed ‘Ralph Gold’. She almost felt sick. There was obviously something in these folders that all those officers in the incident room were working on. Puzzled, she was just about to open the folder out of curiosity, when she heard a cough behind her.
‘Morning. Is that my tea?’ Vicki had been right. The dishevelled inspector behind her was indeed fat. He had more chins than a Chinese telephone book.
‘Yes, sir. And some biscuits.’ Diana felt herself blush and looked down at the floor. She couldn’t wait to get out of there.
‘Well, off you go then.’ Picking up a biscuit, the inspector dipped it in his mug of tea then put it in his mouth. Diana made a hasty exit. Once outside she breathed a sigh of relief. She was glad to be out of there. But why did the drug and fraud squad have folders on Tony and her father? As far as she knew they had never been involved in anything like that. But then she didn’t know everything. She was puzzled and confused. The day seemed to carry on in a dream. This was the conflict of interest she had been warned about. She knew what she had to do, but she was afraid.
‘Mum, can we talk? Preferably not on the telephone and the house is too far.’ Diana had called Julie from one of the few telephone boxes left in the city. Now everyone had mobile phones they seemed obsolete. But red telephone boxes seemed part of London’s heritage and so there was the odd one scattered here and there.
‘You sound nervous, Diana, are you okay?’ There was a pause on the end of the telephone that Julie didn’t like. Her instincts were usually right. Something was wrong. ‘Where do you want to meet?’
‘The library in Streatham. And don’t come all dressed up. I don’t want people to recognise you. It will be nice and quiet there. I won’t be in uniform. Don’t call me back, I’m using a public phone.’ With that, Diana put the telephone down. She knew it would take Julie around two hours to get there and that would lead up to her lunch break. That would be enough time to do what she was compelled to do.
A very different Julie walked into Streatham library. Totally unrecognisable. Even Diana wasn’t sure if it was her. Wearing old jeans, trainers and a fleecy jacket, without make-up and with her hair tied back, Julie waltzed in and sat at one of the tables.
‘So, I take it this must be bad, Diana. You’re not in uniform and this is all very cloak-and-dagger. Well, it had better be good and not some argument you have had with a boyfriend. Bloody hell, I haven’t been without make-up in years.’ Julie was trying to make light of it, but could see how nervous and troubled her daughter looked.
‘I really don’t know where to start. Maybe you can make sense of it.’ Diana went on to tell a silent Julie the whole story, then stopped. Julie’s face never moved. She listened intently to what her daughter was saying. Half of her felt sad that her daughter, who was very pleased with her career choice, was compromising herself like this.
‘Well, that’s a revelation.’ Reaching over and squeezing Diana’s hand, Julie smiled to reassure her.
‘What do you intend to do? Are Dad and Uncle Tony involved in drugs? I mean, I know there was all that stuff at the club, but is it true?’ They both spoke in whispers.
Pondering on Diana’s words, Julie paused. Just how much should she tell Diana? ‘You’re right, Diana. You need honesty and that is what you’re going to get. I and your father have suspicions about Sharon. The police suspect your father and Tony of embezzlement at the casino in Paris and possibly here ... or something. You know Sharon and Jake haven’t been getting along lately; well, I know she has a lover. A younger man. It seems whatever her gripe is, she wants us all to suffer. For the moment, Diana, that is really all I know.’
As much as Julie wanted to scream and shout, she knew this wasn’t the place. ‘Thank you, Diana. I know this must be very hard for you. You have made your career choice and, let’s be honest, while we’re laying our cards on the table.’ Julie sat back and spread her hands. ‘It wasn’t a very clever one, was it, given the facts. You need to pack up your things and move out. Distance yourself from us completely, that way you’re not involved in this. You know what your father and the boys are. Don’t play the innocent. They are gangland bosses. They rob, they lie and, yes … they have even murdered. Your father has more blood on his hands than the local butcher. This goes way back to his younger days, to when he was involved with those Irish terrorists he grew up with. If they drag all that up we’re well and truly fucked. Thank God they have abolished hanging because your father and Tony would be dangling in the air now.’ Julie watched the shocked expression on Diana’s face. This wasn’t the time to play games. Diana had shown where her loyalties lay and Julie felt there was nothing else but to be honest, whatever the cost. ‘Why don’t you share a house with some other penniless constables for the time being? You can’t show them you can afford a flat in London on your wages! Stay away from the club, the family and definitely me and your father. You’re very clever, Diana. You used a public phone. If you ever need anything, that is the way to do it. If it’s dire, you can always contact Elle. No one would suspect you for having a coffee with an old lady in some greasy spoon somewhere. Distance yourself from us completely. You chose the shiny buttons, but now I’m glad you did. Thank you, Diana. I’m sure you understand this is for the best. Give it a few months to die down, love. I’ll sort it. You have a good career in front of y
ou. You made your choice and I won’t spoil it for you. God knows, if I’d had the choice, I might have done things differently, but that’s a different story. I’m going now. Leave about half an hour after me.’ With that, Julie stood up. She could see the tears welling up in her daughter’s eyes and didn’t want to prolong their goodbye.
‘Mum. Does that mean you never want to see me again? That we can’t be friends, ever?’
‘Don’t be ridiculous, Diana. It means I am protecting you. I don’t want you dragged into any of this scandal. Let the dust settle and keep your nose clean, you have done enough.’ With that, Julie walked away, leaving a very forlorn Diana in her wake.
Julie had caught the bus to Streatham and arranged to meet her car back in the city of London. After all, who could be trusted? This information had to be kept very close indeed.
Holding her mobile, Julie shouted down it, angry that it had gone straight to answerphone. ‘Ralph. No arguments and no excuses. Get yourself home, now.’ Julie knew he was in a meeting, but that once he got that message he would come straight away, and she was right.
A few hours later Ralph turned up and threw his case down in the hallway, then walked into the drawing room. He didn’t know what to expect but he knew Julie wouldn’t summon him unless it was urgent.
‘What is it, Julie? You call me back from a meeting without explanation. What is it?’
‘Pour yourself a drink, Ralph. No, pour us both one, and then I’ll tell you.’
Ralph did as he was told then held a glass out to Julie and sat opposite her. ‘Well? I’m waiting.’
After taking a large drink, Julie poured out the whole story of her meeting with Diana. His first reaction was anger. Anger that Diana had joined the police force and anger that Julie had told her everything.
‘Just be bloody glad she has, Ralph. Did you know they had folders on you and Tony? No. I didn’t think so. Neither did I. I never realised it was this big. A huge incident room discussing all your antics. Bloody hell, no wonder the files are so big. All those police friends of yours will run a mile with an investigation like this. This has all been kept very hush-hush. They have all had their fingers in the till, but now you’re on your own. God knows, Ralph, she has put everything on the line for you and don’t you forget it.’ Julie was angry that all Ralph could think of at a time like this was Diana joining the police force. Or ‘going over to the dark side’, as he put it. Silly old fool.
‘Sorry, Julie. You’re right, of course.’ Taking another drink, Ralph nodded. He didn’t want his daughter dragged into this mess and even he realised it would have cost him a lot of money to obtain this kind of information from some informer. ‘What does Diana know about me? Does she despise me?’
‘Don’t be silly, Ralph. And stop being in denial. She knows more than you think, without the details.’ Julie put her arms around him and hugged him. She was touched that, no matter what Ralph had to face, it was what Diana thought about him that bothered him more. ‘Well, you know I’m right.’ Julie stood up and poured herself another drink. She was angry and started shouting.’ The thing is, Ralph, now that you have this information, what are you going to do with it?’
‘Jesus. I don’t know yet.’ Ralph sat back on the sofa. This had really knocked the wind out of his sails. All of this was getting out of hand and he knew it. ‘Well, Julie, you have had all day to think about this. So, what have you come up with? I know that little brain of yours. Come on, out with it.’
‘I’ve told Diana to distance herself from the family. Don’t you go contacting her.’ Julie waved her finger in his face. ‘She knows how to contact us if need be. What did Tony say in Paris?’
‘You’ve told Diana she is no part of this family anymore? For God’s sake, Julie, you can’t do that.’ Ralph was amazed and shocked that Julie could even suggest not seeing his daughter.
‘I swear, Ralph, you’re not right in the head sometimes. Of course she has to distance herself from this. A bent copper is not the stripes she wants! Now. Tell me about Tony.’
‘Well, he’s gutted, of course. Sharon, Jake and he were all kids together. Jake is in the middle of it. No one knows just how much he has told Sharon, or what she is mouthing off about. But there she was, as plain as day on the recordings. He couldn’t argue with the facts. Sharon must go and Jake has to prove his loyalty and be the one to sort it. After all, it’s his bloody fault.’
‘No, it isn’t, Ralph love. They have trusted each other for decades. Why would he think she would be a spiteful cow now? In a way I feel sorry for him. He loves Sharon and, let’s be honest, it isn’t the first time she has made a fool of him, is it? My feeling is that she only married him again so that she had a babysitter for Jack! We have to have a closed meeting. This needs nipping in the bud, now. Today.’
‘I’ll put the casino on the market. We need to distance ourselves from that, too. Embezzlement and fraud is a long prison sentence.’
‘Good. I don’t care if you burn it to the ground. We don’t need it. I do believe Sharon is involved a lot deeper than we know on this. I don’t know if she is in league with the police to save her own skin or what. In the meantime, find out anything you can from those police friends of yours. They must know something. Life must go on as normal.’
‘You paid that inspector well to drop the drugs hint to Tony. He would never have suspected anything like that about Sharon. A lover? Pinching money for her boyfriend? Yes, to all the above. But drugs? No. Tony would never have let you accuse Sharon of drugs. Just as well you brought up the commissioner and his party and, thankfully Tony’s mind is working overtime. One of you had to suggest it to keep the wolves at bay. Thankfully it was Tony.’
‘I knew he would take the bait. I have learnt over the years how his mind works. It’s just as well you saw Sharon in the casino when you went on your shopping spree, Julie. And even better that she never saw you. Us pointing the finger wouldn’t have worked. Tony needed to see it for himself. That way he had no choice but to believe the harsh truth. Sharon is setting us all up for a fall. She is betraying us all. Do you realise what this could mean for us?’
‘No. I am not even thinking about that, because I’m going to make sure we find that bitch first and we will see who has the last laugh. But you were right, Ralph. We have been friends with Francesca, Tony and Jake for years. Elle cooks our meals. They are our family, there was no way you could have sat down and just accused Sharon of all of this. You laid the traps for Tony to find out for himself. He would never have believed us and our friendship would be over. I must admit, though, even I didn’t realise it would be as big as this. Just what has been said and done, eh?’
CHAPTER 16
SHARON
‘Is everything ready?’ Tony, Jake and Ralph walked around the club. All the banners and balloons were in place for a great retirement party.
‘You have done well, considering we didn’t know if he was coming. I didn’t see him until Thursday. How the hell was I supposed to know he was taking a few days’ holiday to sort out his new house?’ Ralph looked around the room. ‘Well done, lads,’ he said. Although he knew this was more down to the staff than Tony and Jake, it looked amazing.
‘Where’s Sharon?’ As he looked around the room, Tony noticed her absence. Normally she would be here, organising things. Sharon’s absence bothered Tony, knowing what he did about her. Normally she would be in the thick of things, making sure everything was under control, but tonight she was missing. That alone made Tony feel nervous. Why is it, he thought, there is a probability of trouble and Sharon is nowhere to be found?
‘I don’t know. It’s not like her to miss something like this,’ said Jake. He called over to the bar staff, ‘Where’s Sharon?’
They shrugged and then one said, ‘Maybe it’s her mum again. She got a call earlier and rushed off.’
‘Oh, God, I hope she’s alright.’ Perturbed, Jake looked at Tony. ‘Her mum has been ill lately and Sharon keeps going to see if she’s ok
ay. Do you think I should give her a ring?’ He wasn’t sure what to do given the circumstances. Would Sharon welcome him interfering?
‘No, leave it. We have things to do and if it’s anything severe like she died or something we’d hear about it. Jack alone would ring you about that.’
‘Maybe that’s the problem, Jake. Maybe she thinks you don’t care about her family. Have you been with her to see her mother?’ Ralph asked.
Jake shook his head. It wasn’t for lack of wanting to support Sharon, it was more the case that he hadn’t been invited. This was something he didn’t want to admit to Ralph.
‘Maybe you should take more interest in Sharon’s visits to her family, especially as her mother is so ill that she needs to be at her side so often.’ Ralph eyed Jake suspiciously.
‘I suppose so, Ralph. But Sharon always tells me not to bother and I and her family are not on the best of terms.’ Jake was loath to admit this to Ralph; he looked at Tony for help.
‘Don’t tell me about in-laws.’ Tony guffawed. ‘We never hear from Francesca’s mum. Francesca still sends cards and gifts, but we never get a call. At least her brothers are okay. They visit often, work permitting, and they all have decent jobs and families of their own now.’ Tony saved the day, although he did feel sad for Francesca. Her mother had completely washed her hands of her. He felt guilty about this but there was nothing he could do. At least she had Elle and Julie.
‘Ah, well, lads, I don’t have that problem. Right then, let’s have a drink before the wives get here and the proceedings start.’ Ralph chinked his glass against theirs.
The evening seemed to be a roaring success. The commissioner was more than delighted with his party.
Ralph had invited everyone, including all his friends from the Masonic Lodge, to give speeches in honour of their valued member. Each in turn had a present for their esteemed member. And, as much as the commissioner played false modesty and told everyone they shouldn’t have bothered buying him a gift, Ralph could see he was bloody glad they had!
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