Maura's Game

by Martina Cole

  Maura had been decent to her recently and that was going to go out of the window once she heard about this little lot. She picked up her mobile and rang Tommy’s number once more.

  It went straight on to voicemail and Carla left him yet another message telling him to ring as soon as he picked this up because it was very important. She knew he wouldn’t, but still hoped that he would come and take her away from all this trouble and look after her and the baby. If he didn’t ring, then the child would have to be flushed away privately and with the minimum of fuss. That was all she could do because Maura would not want a reminder of Tommy Rifkind running around, that much she was sure of. Carla needed money – and the only way she would see any was to get back into the fold as soon as possible.

  She glanced at the clock. It was gone three in the morning and she knew she was no nearer sleep now than she’d been five hours ago. She had been such a fool to fall for Tommy Rifkind, but he had been so sexy and so dangerous. He had also been hung like a horse. She smiled as she remembered some of his moves. Now she was in the club and not sure what she was going to do.

  She wished she had never met him and that the madness that had overtaken her had never happened either. But it had and she had to deal with it.

  What was it Joey called it? A reality check? Carla was getting the worst reality check she had ever experienced in her life.

  Maura watched as Chief Inspector Billings turned the engine off and sat stiffly waiting for them to come to him. She could see the hatred in him and feel the futility of it because he was not man enough to do anything about the situation he was in.

  Today he was earning his payoffs and nobody pretended it was going to be pleasant.

  ‘Hello, Mr Billings. You were quicker than I thought.’

  Maura’s sarcasm wasn’t lost on him or any of the spectators.

  Garry opened the boot of the policeman’s car and removed a large blanket-covered package. He weighed it in his hands and with a big smile on his face placed it on the floor and uncovered four automatic weapons made specifically for the use of police marksmen.

  ‘They’re clean?’

  Billings nodded.

  ‘Of course.’

  Garry grinned.

  ‘Good. Now you can fuck off.’

  The three prisoners were aware that for them time had finally run out. Maura watched impassively as Vic and Abul were hustled out, kicking and protesting, even though they knew there was no way to avoid the inevitable. She’d told the others to leave her alone with Joe for a moment.

  ‘I still don’t get it,’ she told him. ‘I know Rebekka hated me and maybe she had cause, but you, Joe. We were mates once.’

  He looked frail and hollow-eyed but his voice was surprisingly firm as he told her bitterly, ‘Until you and Michael brought tragedy on my family.’

  Maura was amazed.

  ‘But you ain’t got a family, Joe. You’re the only eighty-year-old playboy I know.’

  He sighed as he told her, ‘Everyone has family. Everyone has roots. You Ryans aren’t the only ones to value theirs. Sammy Goldbaum was my cousin.’

  For a moment she couldn’t meet his eye.

  ‘I never knew that.’

  ‘I never advertised the fact. He was a wastrel, a gambler – I’d have had people after me for his debts. But he was the son of my mother’s favourite sister, the only one on that side of the family to reach England during the war. The rest of them died in Lodz. On my mother’s deathbed I promised I would always look out for my Cousin Sammy, and when he died . . .’

  Joe’s voice faltered for the first time.

  ‘Naturally I helped out his wife and the children. And Rebekka was such a bright little thing, the daughter I never had. A head on her for figures like you wouldn’t believe. She trained as an accountant and came to work for me. Made me millions over the years, had a beautiful home, a son to be proud of. And still she couldn’t forget the way her father died. She hated the Ryans for what they’d done and when she came up with this scheme and begged me to help her – well, what could I do? She was family. You know how it is.’

  There was no need for her to reply. They both knew it was to safeguard her family’s position as top dogs that he was going to his death. Before he went though he extracted a promise from her that the Ryans would not make any moves on his businesses which were to pass to his heir, Rebekka’s son Sammy Kowolski.

  No one dragged Joe from the barn. He walked out with head held high and climbed into the back of the car of his own accord.

  Benny watched from a parked car as his friend since childhood was forced into the sterilised Range-Rover at gunpoint. He still wondered why Abul had tucked him up like he had but had lost the urge for revenge now. He knew he had to be on his best behaviour and not rock the boat in any way. He was chewing on his thumbnail, a sure sign of agitation, when he saw his Uncle Garry walking towards him. Benny put a smile on his face even though it hurt like fuck to do so and he wanted nothing more than to lie down and sleep.

  When he realised he was actually going to be told to kill Abul, he was euphoric. He saw it as a fitting end to this whole sorry episode. This was his forgiveness, he knew it. It had to happen eventually but for it to be now and in this way pleased him no end.

  He knew he had to make a good job of it and was determined to do just that. This was going to be his finest hour, he knew it. This would bring him back into the fold, the thing he wanted more than anything in the world.

  Garry opened the car door and said to him gently, ‘Come on, you. Time to sort the men from the boys.’

  Everyone watched as Garry and Benny walked slowly towards the Range Rover.

  Sarah finally got out of bed and sat on the large overstuffed chair by the window. The dawn chorus had started and she listened to it with half an ear. Her chest felt as if it was going to explode. She took more deep breaths and forced herself to stand up.

  Her arm was still dead. She rubbed at it with her good hand, wondering if she had had a stroke even while she told herself she had felt like this before and each time it had been when one or other of her children had died.

  She walked slowly and carefully out of the bedroom and made her way down the stairs. She would not sleep now. She knew she might as well make a nice cuppa and wait for her daughter to come home.

  Her arm was hanging loosely by her side. She held it into her belly with her good arm as she stepped slowly down the staircase.

  She was parched and she was frightened, but of what she had no idea.

  Benny looked into Abul’s face and smiled at him. He was handcuffed the same as the other two and there was no chance of escape.

  ‘Get it fucking over with, Benny,’ Abul said through a mouthful of broken teeth. He’d always been so proud of them, Benny thought. Handsome charming Abul, his best friend.

  Vic started laughing.

  ‘Shoot us, for fuck’s sake, then we can all get some sleep!’

  Vic looked almost diabolical in the dimness of the courtesy lights inside the Range Rover. Benny shot him in the chest and he slumped forward. Joe the Jew fainted and Benny took him out next using a different weapon. Then he stared at Abul. Garry and Maura watched intently, as did everyone else, as Benny was handed a third gun and slowly took aim.

  Abul was staring at his one-time friend and all the arrogance had gone from his face. He too was remembering them both as kids. Remembering the japes they had got up to. Remembering the way he had always been a part of the Ryan family. He had wanted to be top dog, had wanted to be the main man, and this was what it had brought him to.

  ‘I’m sorry, Benny.’

  It was almost a whisper.

  ‘So am I, mate.’

  Benny felt his hands quivering with nerves. He had never cared about violence before, never cared who he hurt, but he really didn’t want to harm his friend. Didn’t want to see Abul dead. Not now, not when he was in front of him looking at him like he used to when they were little kids and Benny had do
ne something mean.

  ‘Come on, Benny, we ain’t got all fucking night.’

  Garry’s voice was low.

  Benny looked at Abul one last time and then he slowly squeezed the trigger. This explosion sounded much louder in his ears than the other two. He felt the ringing start and dropped the rifle to his side as he stared at his friend.

  He did not feel good about what he had done; did not feel good about it at all. The only person he had ever really cared about was gone. As Abul slumped forward across the passenger seat in the front of the Range Rover, Roy walked up behind his son and, turning him around gently, shot him in the heart.

  Benny dropped to the ground, a look of surprise on his face.

  Maura had turned away and Kenny had pulled her face into his chest to try and save her from seeing her nephew die.

  ‘What the fuck was all that about?’

  It was Garry’s voice she could hear.

  ‘You should have waited until he was in the fucking motor like we agreed!’

  Roy was kneeling on the ground, staring at his son’s lifeless body. Maura pulled herself away from Kenny and went to him.

  ‘Oh, Maura, what the fuck have I done, eh?’

  She cuddled him to her as she cried. Benny looked so innocent lying there; he looked like Michael had looked while he slept and she and Marge would sneak into his room and pinch all his change to go up the sweet shop.

  He looked so young and peaceful.

  Garry sighed as Maura and Roy held each other and cried like babies. It had to be done, Roy knew. Benny was a nutter who would only have ended up banged away for the rest of his life, but what mayhem would he have caused before that happened to him? Maura had not needed to know about their plan for him until it was all over. She would see the sense of what they had done, he was sure of that. Her idea to put the others in the motor and leave them had been brilliant, but Roy had decided to place his son there with them and his brother had agreed it was the right thing to do.

  Garry walked over to where Tony Dooley and Gerry Jackson were standing watching the spectacle and rolled his eyes heavenwards, tutting loudly. But then he saw the sadness on their faces and didn’t say anything.

  He glanced at the three dead men in the Range Rover. The police rifles would throw everyone, but as far as he was concerned it wasn’t the first time the filth had executed known criminals, was it? It was getting to be almost a pastime with them. Then they just set up a few faces to take the flak and had their backs slapped for doing such a fine job in solving a terrible crime.

  Well, let them work this one out without breaking into a sweat, that was his attitude. Fuck them, it was about time the filth tasted a bit of their own medicine.

  Maura’s desolate sobs were making even him feel upset now so he walked over to one of the vehicles and took a long gulp of Chivas Regal straight from the bottle. Then he strolled back and placed it in his brother’s hands.

  Roy took it gratefully and drank deeply. He stared into Benny’s surprised face and kissed him one last time on the forehead.

  Then, getting up, he said in a strong voice, ‘Help me get him in the motor, Gal.’

  Thirty minutes later the place was deserted except for the Range Rover and its grisly contents. There was nothing else to say anyone had been near or by the place in the last twenty-four hours. Not even any footprints around the vehicle. That was Garry’s last laugh on the police and he smiled every time he thought of it.

  The rifles were dumped nearby so a passer-by would find them, and the newspapers would be tipped off that they were actually police-issue guns that had never been reported stolen.

  Benny and Abul were as united in death as they had been in life. Benny’s body was slumped beside his old friend and they looked almost like they were holding hands.

  Sarah suddenly felt much better inside herself. She stretched her arms and the pain was gone from her body. She smiled and put the kettle on. She stood at the kitchen window and looked out over Maura’s extensive gardens. The sun was high now and the day was going to be glorious.

  She would go to Mass, she decided. Give thanks for such a wonderful day and for the new lease of life she could feel pulsing through her old body. She heard Maura’s car in the drive and put out another cup and saucer for her. She had a feeling on her that everything was going to be all right now.

  Epilogue

  ‘Come on, Maura, get a move on, will you?’

  She heard Kenny’s voice coming up the stairs and took one last look at herself in the full-length mirror in her bedroom. She looked good, she knew she did, and it was important she looked good today of all days. She picked up a pale pink lipstick and ran it over her mouth. It finished off her toilette and she smiled at herself again.

  Her gaze drifted to the photographs on the windowsill near her. Benny standing with Roy looked out at her with clear blue eyes. She and Michael laughing together in the club, both of them looking young and carefree. There was an old faded black and white of them all when they were kids and she remembered all her brothers, those still alive and those who were gone. Her father and mother looked so proud of their brood that Maura felt a sudden urge to cry.

  She put a smile back on her face. Nothing was going to ruin today, she was determined on that.

  ‘What you doing, Maws, you got another bloke up there?’

  Maura ran down the stairs of her new house, laughing. In her arms was a large teddy bear dressed as a Scotsman, his sporran glittering and shiny.

  ‘Where did you get that?’

  ‘I saw it on Roman Road Market and had to have it. Where is she?’

  ‘Where do you think? She’s looking at the new baby.’

  They walked through the house to the sunny morning room, smiling as they saw little Alicia petting Carla’s new baby boy Michael.

  ‘I love him, Maws. Look, he’s smiling at me!’

  Alicia was thrilled with the baby and adored being able to play with him.

  ‘He loves you and all, Ali, look at that little face beaming at you.’

  Carla looked on, smiling wanly. She was a different woman these days. Happier in some ways, or resigned to her lot anyway. It often took all Maura’s will-power not to knock her to the ground with one fell swoop. But she knew she wouldn’t, couldn’t. Michael was Tommy Rifkind all over again and even that fact didn’t stop her loving every bone in the child’s body.

  Kenny watched her closely. He knew it would be only a matter of time before Carla passed the baby over bag and baggage to her aunt, the way she had been passed over by her own mother. History repeating itself. Carla was already seeing a soot from Deptford, a nice geezer who would give her the earth, and in return Maura would see that he rose to the very top of his profession – though what that profession was no one had as yet established. But certainly if he could sell the skunk as fast as he could smoke it they would all be quids in.

  None of them would ever forgive Carla, or Joey for that matter, but all the time Maura acted like she did her brothers had to swallow.

  Who was it who once said: ‘Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer still’? An astute man whoever he was, Kenny decided.

  Maura looked down at the baby once more and he gripped her finger. He was a strong child, he would be a strong man, and of course he bore the Ryan name.

  The thought made her smile.

  ‘Is that for me?’

  Alicia’s little face was gazing up at Maura longingly.

  ‘Of course he’s yours. I’m too big for teddies, don’t you think?’

  She knelt down and the girl hugged her tightly. The feel of the pudgy little arms around her neck nearly brought tears back to Maura’s eyes.

  ‘Where’s me mum?’ Maura asked.

  Carla grinned.

  ‘Three guesses.’

  ‘Not more tea surely!’

  Even Kenny laughed.

  ‘Tell her to get the champagne out, will you? They’ll all be here in a minute.’

&nb
sp; Maura picked up Alicia and the teddy bear and walked her out into the garden. ‘You look lovely, you do.’

  Alicia preened herself at the praise.

  ‘Will you be my mummy after today?’

  Her voice was full of hope as she asked the question. Kenny listened to them talking and felt as if his heart would explode with love and happiness.

  ‘If you want me to be your mummy then that would make me very happy,’ Maura replied.

  He could see the love she bore his child shining in her eyes.

  ‘I love you, Maura Ryan.’

  She heard the emotion in his voice and laughed softly.

  ‘I’ll be Maura Smith soon.’

  ‘I love you Maura Smith then.’

  She grinned.

  ‘Daddy is silly sometimes.’

  Alicia said the words with all the worldly wisdom of a seven-year-old ancient.

  ‘I know.’

  ‘Can I go and show Nanny Sarah my teddy?’

  ‘’Course you can, sweetie.’

  Alicia ran away clutching the teddy bear.

  ‘Are you happy, Maws?’

  She looked into Kenny’s serious face. Kissing him gently on the lips, she said, ‘Happier than I have ever been in my entire life.’

  He smiled at her then, and she knew how lucky she was to have such a decent man at last. He might not be the handsomest in the world and, as they both joked, thank God little Alicia had taken her looks from her mother, but he had a rugged dependable quality about him and she was proud to be marrying him. She adored him and adored his Alicia.

  ‘I love you, Kenny, more than you will ever know.’

  He was the one for her and they both knew it.

  Eileen Smith and Sarah Ryan were now bosom buddies and this made their children breathe a collective but heartfelt sigh of relief. Sarah loved Kenny because of his strength and dependability and Eileen loved Maura because she was not a nineteen-year-old idiot, the likes of which he used to bring home after Lana died.