Riot

by Heather Atkinson

  “Don’t talk to her like that,” spat back Ryan while Jules looked down at the floor, Jez’s words only adding to the guilt she already carried. “That’s not fair. She’s doing a great job.”

  “Oh yeah, I bet her family didn’t get attacked.”

  “Actually they did,” retorted Jules, her fight returning. “Luckily the boys had already left to stay at Jackson’s and Cindy’s and me and Ryan were there to stop them.”

  “Oh I see. So you’re just dandy. It’s my kids who were put through a trauma and my wife who’s critically ill in hospital. Why didn’t you send them all away Jules?”

  “Because you never told me to.”

  “I shouldn’t have to tell you, you should already know. Christ, you’ve gone through enough wars to realise.”

  “This wasn’t a war,” she countered, red-faced.

  “It is now,” he thundered. “I want them all dead, do you hear me? Fucking dead.”

  “Keep your voice down,” said Ryan. “Do you want the world to know our business?”

  Jez grunted with frustration and turned his back on them, fighting with himself. “Who did it?” he said.

  “It’s best you don’t know,” replied Ryan.

  Jez whipped back round. “Why not bruv? Is the man who tried to kill my wife and kids connected to someone in here? He is, isn’t he?” He regarded them both questioningly. “Who? If you don’t tell me I’ll shake down every fucking scrote in this dump.”

  “John South,” said Jules.

  His eyes glimmered. “That bastard’s on my landing. I’ll fucking have him for this.”

  “Wait,” said Ryan. “If you hurt anyone in here you aren’t getting out. The evidence against you is circumstantial at best and no sane court will find you guilty. But if you kill someone then the only time you’ll see Cathy and the kids is during visiting hours.”

  “Damn it,” he yelled, slamming his fists against the wall.

  There was the sound of the door hastily being unlocked and the screw appeared. “Take it easy Jez,” he said not unsympathetically, making Jez guess the staff had known about the attack on his wife before he did. “You don’t want to go down to seg, trust me.”

  “He’s calm thank you,” said Ryan. Although he held a deep contempt for the prison system he knew from experience that some screws were actually decent blokes who did their best to appease volatile situations and tried to show the prisoners some respect. Life was just easier that way. From the look of him this particular screw fell into that category.

  “I’m good thank you Mr Wilson,” said Jez, although the look on his face belied this statement.

  The screw nodded before vanishing again, locking the door behind him.

  “I want to see her,” announced Jez.

  “You need to speak to the screws about that,” said Ryan. “They’ll pass along your request. Your solicitor’s on standby, ready to intervene should they refuse. I don’t think they will, although you never know what Dwyer has up his sleeve.”

  Jez leaned forward to whisper in Jules’s ear. “You smuggle in one of your hot shots and I’ll see to the rest.”

  She nodded. “Make sure to inject it straight into a major vein,” she whispered back. “Preferably the neck. They might see the puncture mark but they’ll find nothing in his system. It’ll look like a heart attack.”

  Jez nodded and straightened up. With a hard look at them both he banged on the door, which was opened by Mr Wilson. “I want to visit my wife in hospital,” he announced in a tone that indicated a refusal would not go down very well.

  He nodded. “Come on, let’s sort out your request.”

  After he was led away, Jules and Ryan were escorted to the visits centre to see Mikey.

  “Jules,” he grinned when she walked in, sweeping her to him for a kiss.

  Jules clung onto him, delighted by the reunion.

  “Alright, that’s long enough,” said one of the screws.

  “Sadly it’s not,” Mikey smiled down at her. “Ryan, thanks for coming. It’s good to see you,” he said, shaking his hand.

  They took their seats and Mikey regarded them gravely. “Alright, what’s happened? Jules?” he added when she looked distraught.

  Recalling how she could not show any weakness, especially with every con in the room keeping an eye on them, she lifted her head confidently, hiding her pain deep inside herself. Her voice was steady as she explained what had happened to Cathy, despite the gnawing knowledge that her error had almost cost one of her best friends her life.

  “The boys are safe,” Jules told him. “They’re with Jackson and Cindy. Riley’s people are watching over them.”

  “Nice one babe,” he said, taking her hand.

  “Oy Maguire,” said one of the screws. “No touching.”

  He sighed and retracted his hand.

  Once the officer had passed by, Jules leaned in to whisper, “Jez wants me to smuggle in a hot shot for John South.”

  Mikey nodded. “I’ll make sure it’s done with no comeback on us.”

  “You’re not going to stop him?” said Ryan.

  “You’ve seen how he is lately. Nothing’s capable of that. It’ll be more productive if I make sure it’s done cleanly.”

  “What do you mean by how he is lately?”

  “He’s changed. Since the disaster that was our wedding reception he’s been harder and colder. Giving the difficult orders has been much easier for him.”

  Ryan looked to Jules. “Is this true?”

  She nodded.

  “Why didn’t you say anything?”

  “If you hadn’t noticed we’ve been a bit busy.”

  “Now I’m worried what’s happened to Cathy will make it even worse,” said Mikey.

  “Has he ever gone too far?” said Ryan.

  “Not yet but one day he might.”

  “I need to speak to him again, warn him to keep himself under control or he might find himself stuck in here for life.”

  “I’ll do my best to make sure that doesn’t happen but we’re in separate cells. At least we’re on the same landing.”

  “I was on K wing too,” said Ryan. “It’s the toughest.”

  “Could be worse. It could be seg or healthcare, down with the nonces and the dafties who enjoy smearing themselves in their own shite.”

  “You get the smearing on K wing too,” said Ryan.

  Mikey looked appalled. He was very particular about hygiene.

  “We’ve given a warning to the relatives of everyone in here who could give you trouble,” said Jules. “Obviously we were too late with some of them.”

  Mikey nodded, not wanting to discuss it any further with so many prison officers lurking about. “Me and Jez have put in bail applications. Hopefully this time we’ll be successful.”

  “I’m not so sure,” said Jules. “It seems The Coalition’s back.”

  “I thought so when I saw the look that passed between the judge and Dwyer in court. I get the feeling we’ll get lumbered with the same bastard judge.”

  “It’s worth a go though.”

  He nodded. “If I don’t get out of here soon I’m going to go fucking nuts.”

  “You will babe,” said Jules. “We’re working on it.”

  He flashed her his charming grin. “I know. I’ve got two bode fide geniuses on my side. Listen, I hate to say this but could you top up my spends account? Christ it’s like being a kid again and asking for pocket money, not that my cow of a mum ever gave me any. All my share went to her precious Jake.” He frowned when Jules went rigid, her eyes flaring. “What’s wrong babe?”

  For a moment she couldn’t speak. All she could think of was all the shit life had thrown at Mikey over the years - a bitch of a mother who hated him and treated his twisted psycho of an older brother like a prince, being set up for his brother’s sick crimes and spending years in a mental institution for something he didn’t do, being shot twice at their own wedding then attacked by a deranged copper and n
ow this. She hated what he’d been through, what he was still going through and wanted to burn the world for it.

  Ryan didn’t need Jules to explain what she was thinking. He felt exactly the same way about the terrible things Rachel had endured.

  “Sorry,” she said, snapping herself out of it and giving her husband a reassuring smile. “I just miss you so much babe and I want you home.”

  Ryan decided to give them some time alone together, so he discreetly left.

  “When I get home,” Mikey told Jules when Ryan had gone. “I’m shagging you senseless in every room in the house. You hear me lady?”

  “Loud and clear,” she purred. “I hate our bed without you, it’s so cold and empty.”

  “I keep thinking about you in the gladiator outfit.”

  “That really had an effect on you, didn’t it?”

  “Oh yeah. It’s my favourite. The bloke in the cell next to mine offered me some porno mags but I turned them down. I don’t give a shit about other women. None of them compare to my wife, the sexiest woman on earth.”

  “Your arse is going to get such a good spanking when you get home,” she smiled.

  Mikey was relieved that she looked much more her old self. When she’d first come in she’d seemed so down.

  “I found a new contraption for us to enjoy together on that website Dungeons and Dominatrixes,” she said enthusiastically. “How do you fancy tying me upside down?”

  “Upside down?” he frowned.

  Jules scowled at something over his shoulder. “Oy, having a good listen are you big ears?”

  Mikey swivelled in his seat to see a prisoner officer lurking behind him.

  The man turned beetroot and assumed a haughty demeanour. “Just doing the rounds love,” he said as he continued on his way.

  “Someone should offer him some porn,” said Jules, glaring at the screw’s retreating back. “He’s obviously missing out.” She looked back at Mikey, eyes wide. “Did I fuck up not sending more security to Cathy’s and ours?”

  “No babe, you didn’t. We’re not at war. If it had been me I would have done exactly what you did.”

  “That’s what Ryan said but I thought he was just trying to make me feel better.”

  “Ryan’s your acting number two and like all number twos he tells you the truth, not what makes you feel better. You did what any of us would have done, Jez included. He’s just upset. When he calms down he’ll no doubt be apologising.”

  “I hope so,” she said, feeling better just for talking to Mikey about it.

  “At least no one tried to attack our boys.”

  “No. Thankfully they’d already left with Jackson and Cindy when Stuart the fucking slug came visiting.”

  “What?” he yelled.

  “Please babe,” she said when everyone looked at them. “Me and Ryan were there. We caught him and we’re dealing with him.”

  “Who is this Stuart?”

  “Stuart South, John South’s brother. It was his cousin who attacked Cathy.”

  “Where is he?”

  “We’ve got him locked up at The Manor. I’m going to deal with him personally.”

  “His best mate’s on my wing, he was giving me and Jez the evils but he’s too scared to tackle us. You send in two hotshots babe - one for Jez to use and one for me.”

  “No. One heart attack we might get away with but two, no.”

  “Jules…”

  She grabbed his hands and looked deep into his eyes. “I will do nothing that might stop you from getting out of this place, nothing and if that means pissing you off then so be it.”

  “Jesus Jules, he was going to hurt you and the boys.”

  “But he didn’t. He failed miserably, end of story.”

  He nodded, looking troubled. “I feel so fucking useless sitting about here on my arse.”

  “Not for much longer, promise.”

  He forced a smile. “I know.”

  “The Coalition mark two could have someone in the prison service on their side. Keep an eye open.”

  “Will do. I saw on the news what was done to Jimmy.”

  “I thought that would be a good enough warning. I was wrong.”

  “South’s plan was probably already in motion by then. So who did Jimmy?”

  “Me.”

  “His face too?”

  She nodded.

  “Jesus Jules. Don’t put yourself through shit like that.”

  “It was no problem. I’ve done worse.”

  “Not for a long time. It was a good way to assert yourself and shit a lot of people right up but not again, do you hear me lady?”

  “You ordering me now?” she glowered.

  “Yes I am. You’ve made a bold statement but I want my wife in one piece when I get out of here.”

  “It’ll take a lot more than that to break me.”

  They both tutted when the bell rang, indicating visiting was over.

  “This is fucking crap,” she said. “I don’t want to leave you behind.”

  Mikey got to his feet and pulled her into his chest. “I’ll see you soon babe.”

  “Yes you will.”

  They kissed and pressed their foreheads together.

  “This marriage isn’t going how I planned,” said Mikey. “Intensive care on our honeymoon and now prison.”

  “Worth it though,” she smiled.

  He took her face in his hands. “Absolutely.”

  With one final kiss they parted, Mikey’s heart threatening to crack in two as he watched her leave, looking back over her shoulder at him.

  He headed back to his cell grim-faced, waiting until he was locked in before sinking onto his bed with his head in his hands and allowing the tears to fall, although he was careful to stifle his sobs. It wouldn’t do his reputation much good if anyone overheard him bawling his eyes out. He’d never been in prison before and he’d always assumed if he was he’d front it out easily, that it wouldn’t be enough to bother him after everything he’d been through. Now he realised just how naïve that thought had been. The noise, the smell, the shit food, being cooped up most of the day, being told what to do by arseholes with a considerably lower IQ than himself, all that he could cope with. It was being separated from his family and friends that was the worst thing. In the visits centre he’d had to fight the desperate urge to cling onto Jules and beg her not to leave him. He would give every penny of his considerable wealth to be back with her in their big bed, to hug his kids, pop round to Jez and Cathy’s for a family dinner. Now he knew why Ryan always said he could never go back to prison, he wouldn’t be able to hack it. Mikey had thought the secure mental unit he’d been locked up in had been hard but back then he’d nothing to lose. All his family had hated him and he’d had no friends, no job, no real home. Now he had his kids, his beautiful home with his gorgeous wife, a fantastic extended family and the business. He had everything to lose.

  The sadness morphed into anger with frightening swiftness. He shot to his feet and slammed his fist against the wall, putting a dent in it. The walls of the tiny room felt to be closing in, the stink of the toilet fuelling his anger. He punched the wall again and again, pain exploding in his hand as he bellowed with rage.

  The observation panel in the door popped open and pair of eyes peered through it at him. “Oy Maguire. You wanting to go on basics?”

  “I couldn’t give a fuck,” he snarled as he continued to punch the wall, which was now smeared with blood.

  The frantic jangle of keys broke through the rage. He’d made a promise to his wife and he needed to keep an eye on Jez. Getting thrown into seg or having a black mark against him in any way would help no one.

  “I’m calm,” he said when the door flew open and the prison officer rushed in.

  “You can clean that up yourself,” said the screw, indicating the wall.

  “Fine,” he sighed.

  “Let’s get you down to healthcare so the nurses can take a look at that hand. We can’t have one o
f our special guests getting an infection and using it to wriggle off the hook.”

  “Why would I want to do that? It’s so nice here.”

  The quip made the screw relax. He knew exactly who Mikey Maguire was. Apart from being a big strong dangerous bugger he was also an ex-boxer of some renown, respected throughout the city for his skills. The last thing he wanted to do was take him on, especially on his pay grade. “Come on then. Let’s get you sorted out. You don’t want to miss your tea. It’s curry tonight.”

  “That’ll make the place smell better,” mumbled Mikey.

  CHAPTER 23

  “So,” said Ryan as they drove away from the prison. “What’s this about Jez?”

  “Just what Mikey said,” replied Jules. “The carnage at the wedding changed him.”

  “Just at work or at home too?”

  “Cathy’s not mentioned anything. He still seems as soppy as ever over her. It just seems to be at work. Violence used to be a last resort for him. Not anymore.”

  “It affected us all. I know you had your own struggles. Rachel is going through the same thing, Battler’s death knocked her sideways. But Jez…he wasn’t badly injured and he didn’t do anything he hasn’t done before.”

  “Maybe it was Estelle’s death that did it?”

  “Perhaps but I wouldn’t have thought it would affect him that way. She’d been dead to us for a long time. Neither did he have to witness her murder.”

  An idea began to occur to Ryan. Jez’s personality change began after the attack at the wedding, when Amber was sent abroad and then killed. He was convinced Mikey was innocent of her death, despite what Ray McGinnis had said but what if he was telling the truth about Jez? He knew McGinnis of old, he wasn’t a rapist or a woman beater. He couldn’t see him attacking Amber and shoving her off a cliff for no reason. What if Jez had given that order and Dwyer had got McGinnis to implicate Mikey too so he could take them both down at the same time?

  “What are you thinking?” said Jules.