The Know

by Martina Cole

  Back inside, he ran to the source of all the noise. A woman was cowering in her booth, a large man bending over her. He had her by the hair. She was nearly naked and he was without trousers or underpants. He was a big old boy, all hanging belly and hairy legs.

  Jon Jon grabbed him by the hair and forced him on to the ground. Letting go of the girl, the man started swearing and shouting.

  ‘What you fucking doing, man? What you beating on the girl for?’ Jon Jon roared.

  The man was on his knees now and it was uncomfortable.

  ‘Let me fucking go, you little bastard!’

  Jon Jon kicked him in the gut as he let go of his hair. By the time the man had lumbered to his feet Jon Jon had the Stanley knife in his hand. He was not taking any chances.

  ‘You lairy old fucker, what’s your problem?’

  The girl was outside the cubicle now, surrounded by the other brasses.

  ‘She owes me! Tell him, you ugly bitch. Go on then, fucking tell him!’

  The girl was crying and Jon Jon felt a moment’s sorrow for her.

  ‘No, big boy. You tell me.’

  ‘She owes me money. I work for a debt collector and this is how she pays the debt off.’

  ‘Not any more she don’t.’

  This from Ginger.

  ‘You are making a fucking meal of this two hundred quid. She’s repaid it ten times over. You’re never out of this fucking place.’

  Jon Jon picked up the man’s trousers and threw them at him.

  ‘Get dressed and fuck off. The debt is paid.’

  ‘Oh, no, it ain’t!’

  Jon Jon squared up to him.

  ‘Are you up for a real row then? Me and you?’

  There was something in Jon Jon’s voice that alerted everyone to danger. His eyes were like slits and his mouth was set in a grim line. His stance was solid. Jon Jon was up for a row. A serious row.

  The big man was not up for anything and it showed. He was a coward and he had proved it by picking on the girl in the first place. He put his trousers on and left but as he walked out he spat in the girl’s face.

  Jon Jon took him down then full force. The Stanley knife opened up the man’s head, and as he grabbed at it the blade was pulled once more across his fingers. Then Jon Jon kicked and pummelled him until he was spent. Finally he half pulled and half dragged the man out the back of the building and left him in the car park behind the parade of shops.

  He locked the door once he was inside, washed his hands, and the blade and then said to Ginger, ‘If he comes back, you ring me, right?’

  She nodded.

  ‘You’re a good boy, Jon Jon.’

  ‘Who’s he work for?’

  ‘Jesmond.’

  Jon Jon laughed.

  ‘I can expect a call from him then, can’t I?’

  Ginger laughed.

  ‘You’re not even bothered, are you?’

  He shrugged with the arrogance of youth.

  ‘Well, you should be. He’s a hard nut to crack.’

  Jon Jon winked at her.

  ‘Ah, Ginger, but so am I.’

  He walked from the building and as he got into the car Earl said, ‘Your phone has been going like the clappers.’

  ‘Why don’t you answer it?’

  Earl shrugged.

  ‘It was flashing up Mum. So it wasn’t a work call.’

  As they pulled away from the kerb a police car passed them and Earl cut it up by the traffic lights. He was laughing as the filth pulled them over.

  ‘You stupid prick!’

  Earl was not laughing now he realised what he had done. Jon Jon was not in the mood for any more aggravation, especially as he had over forty grand sitting under the passenger seat. He’d have to ring his mother back later.

  Joanie was worried. She had not seen hide nor hair of Kira all afternoon. As she walked up to Tommy’s, she smiled. Kira was still so entranced with the painting of the Barbie room she was probably sitting there now discussing it.

  Tommy opened the door and looked surprised to see Joanie there. He was in a dressing gown and had obviously just had a bath.

  ‘Hello, Joanie.’

  He didn’t invite her in and she felt awkward for a second.

  ‘I just got out of the bath.’

  She nodded at his explanation.

  ‘It wouldn’t take Einstein to work that out, Tommy. Have you seen Kira, by any chance?’

  He was immediately concerned.

  ‘No. She was supposed to pop up but I haven’t seen her yet.’

  He was pulling the dressing gown around him, no mean feat since it was two sizes too small.

  ‘Did she say she was going anywhere to you at all?’

  He could hear the fear in Joanie’s voice.

  He shook his head.

  ‘Not a word. Have you tried all her little friends?’

  ‘It’s getting on for seven o’clock, Tommy. She wouldn’t stay that long.’

  He shook his head, looking puzzled.

  ‘Look, Joanie, let me get dressed and I’ll come over, OK?’

  She nodded. He watched her walk away. Then, closing the door, he threw off the dressing gown and struggled into his clothes.

  Monika nearly fainted when she saw Joanie on her doorstep. It didn’t help that she was sober and had just woken up.

  ‘All right, Mon?’

  Joanie sounded friendly so Monika smiled as best she could and invited her in. In her heart she couldn’t wait to make things up. No one else put up with her like Joanie did.

  Joanie meanwhile could smell Monika’s last take-away over the acrid smell of ingrained dirt. She wondered how she had ever let it bother her before. Monika had often let Bethany sleep at hers but Joanie had never once let Kira sleep in this house. It had been a bone of contention once. Now she was getting so worried she wouldn’t care if she found Kira ensconced in Bethany’s bed, filthy sheets included.

  ‘Is Bethany in? Only I’m looking for Kira.’

  Monika blinked a few times before she bellowed out her daughter’s name then shrugged. She walked through to the kitchen with Joanie following her.

  ‘It’s only half-seven, Joanie, she’s probably out with her mates.’ Monika’s voice sounded bored. ‘You worry too fucking much. You should let her have a bit of independence now and again. Do her the world of good.’

  ‘Like you do Bethany, you mean?’

  It was out before Joanie thought what she was saying and Monika turned on her.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  There was belligerence in her voice and her stance.

  Joanie took a deep breath.

  ‘I’m sorry, Mon, but I’m worried.’

  Monika was appeased by the apology.

  ‘Look, kids like a wander. That’s natural. She’s probably playing out and forgot the time. Bethany’s always doing it.’

  Because Bethany knows there is never anyone at home. No one who cares anyway. But Joanie stopped herself from saying that out loud.

  ‘Ain’t she with that Tommy?’

  It was said slyly and Joanie replied quietly, ‘Monika, do me a favour, mate, and don’t wind me up today. I know what you’ve been saying and I really don’t want a row, OK?’

  Monika blew out her lips and sighed.

  ‘There’s something wrong there, Joanie. A grown man with all them dolls . . . it ain’t natural.’

  Her voice was friendly but all-knowing and Joanie decided to go before she lost her temper once and for all.

  ‘If you see your Bethany, ask her to let me know if she has seen Kira, OK?’

  ‘Where are you going?’

  Joanie sighed sadly.

  ‘I’m going to look for my child, Mon. By the way, exactly where is Bethany?’

  Monika didn’t answer her.

  ‘You have no idea, do you? She could be anywhere and you couldn’t give a toss, could you?’

  ‘She can look after herself.’

  It was said flatly
, with no emotion. Joanie stared at her one-time friend and then, looking round the dilapidated room, she answered her caustically: ‘Well, she’s always had to, ain’t she?’

  As she walked down the overgrown path she wondered at her friend’s complete indifference to her own children. Poor Bethany, no wonder she was like she was.

  When Joanie located Kira she was going to give her a telling off she wouldn’t forget in a hurry. Then she was going to get her a bowl of treats and hug her all night long.

  Paulie and Jon Jon were giving out to Earl who was taking it very well.

  ‘I can’t believe you did that, Earl. Are you fucking stupid? If plod had searched the car and found that money, you two would have been banged up by now. How would you have explained it away?’

  Earl didn’t answer.

  Paulie was fuming. This was all he needed today.

  He had had his first letter from Sylvia’s solicitor and the name on the letterhead alone had stunned him. They cost a fortune and he had the feeling he was going to be footing the bill for his own divorce.

  Now he had Wonder Boy sitting here like a brain-dead amoeba after nearly bringing the filth down on them like a ton of bricks.

  ‘The tax man would have been bad enough but how exactly was you going to explain over forty grand in cash to Old Bill?’

  Still Earl didn’t answer. Jon Jon felt sorry for him but he could see Paulie’s point. Earl needed to be brought to book.

  His phone beeped a text and he read it quickly.

  ‘What’s the time?’

  ‘Why? Are we keeping you, Jon Jon? Got a hot date with your bird?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘Me little sister is missing, if you must fucking know.’

  Earl looked at his watch.

  ‘It’s after nine, Jon Jon.’

  He was grateful to have the heat taken off him.

  ‘She’s probably with that fat geezer.’

  Paulie’s voice was dismissive, but Jon Jon was already walking out of the door with Earl following him.

  ‘Sorry, Paulie, I have to go.’

  He got up from his chair.

  ‘What about the rest of the money?’

  ‘I’ll collect it later.’

  Jon Jon was gone and Earl was following him like a lost sheep. Paulie was annoyed but he swallowed. He knew what Jon Jon was like about his sisters.

  Bethany was outside her friend’s block of flats when she heard the news about Kira. It seemed she had been missing since early afternoon. All the mothers were talking about it and she listened as they discussed it.

  ‘Say what you like, that girl was well taken care of.’

  The other women murmured agreement. They had all joined in the search of the flats and the surrounding streets: husbands, partners and children. But no one had come up with anything. It was nearly eleven at night.

  Bethany had not yet been home and it occurred to her that no one was out looking for her. Her mother would have gone to work without even checking she was at home. She felt a great wave of self-pity wash over her.

  As she cried one of the women said sadly, ‘Come on, Beth love, she’ll turn up.’

  And those words made Bethany cry even more. All the women made a fuss of her but it was no compensation because she knew that Kira was missing because of her.

  ‘I’ve called the police, Jon Jon.’

  He nodded.

  It was gone midnight and still there was no sign of Kira. They had searched everywhere, been to every house and flat and looked in every outhouse and shed on their estate. They had visited the park, the waste ground, and even the pubs round and about. Jon Jon had looked in the rubbish shutes and bins though he didn’t tell his mother that. It was as if Kira had disappeared off the face of the earth.

  Joanie was getting seriously worried now, more so because she knew her youngest wouldn’t voluntarily go missing. She knew not to go anywhere without one or other of them being told where she was.

  There was a knock at the door and Joanie let in a neighbour. Mary Brannagh was a small dumpy woman with straggly grey hair and dark glittering eyes; the gypsy in her was evident. Joanie and Mary had always had a certain rivalry because Mary did Tarot cards as well.

  ‘All right, Joanie?’

  She nodded.

  ‘She’ll turn up, Mary love. And when she does, I am going to muller her.’

  Joanie kept her voice as light as she could.

  Mary answered her ominously.

  ‘She is with someone she knows, Joanie. A dark-haired person.’

  Her voice was hushed and Joanie, even though she knew Mary meant well, wanted to strangle her and sling her out of the front door. Instead she was saved from answering by Jon Jon doing the deed for her.

  ‘Come on, Mary. Out, love. No more of this talk, me mum’s worried enough as it is. We have the filth coming in a minute.’

  He hustled her out of the door and she was not happy about it. But there was nothing she could do.

  When the door closed behind her Joanie looked at her son and said plaintively, ‘Where the fuck is she, Jon Jon?’

  Mary had frightened her now. Joanie believed in the cards and what they said.

  Jon Jon sighed.

  ‘I don’t know, Mum. Now calm down, she’s probably just forgot the time.’

  Joanie was not to be placated.

  ‘She ain’t forgot the time, she can hardly tell the fucking time! She’s gone. But at least she’s with someone she knows. That’s what Mary said, ain’t it? Who does she know who would keep her out this late? Who do we know who’s got dark hair?’

  Jon Jon sat on the sofa with his head in his hands.

  ‘Leave it out, Mum. If you start listening to Mary Brannagh you might as well sign yourself in fucking Runwell and be done with it.’

  ‘Well, where is she then?’

  Joanie was hysterical now, screaming out the words.

  ‘How the fucking hell should I know? You’re the one who let her go up the fucking shops, Muvver, not me!’

  Joanie knew that she was being unfair even as she shouted, ‘Are you blaming me then?’

  Jon Jon tried to hug her. He knew how upset she was and felt powerless because he didn’t know how to make it all better. She threw him away from her.

  ‘Leave off, Jon Jon. I want Kira. Not you or anyone else. I want me fucking baby!’

  Then the crying really started. By the time the police arrived an hour later Joanie was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. She could not stop crying.

  Jon Jon explained everything to the policemen as she sat in a chair chain smoking and drinking tea laced with vodka.

  Tommy was tireless in his searching. Everyone remarked on it. By the time dawn had broken most people had given up to go home for a few hours’ sleep before going to work.

  The whole estate had been out looking. Even Sippy Marvell and his henchmen were driving round searching. Paulie had all of his male workforce on it and Jasper’s cronies were roped in as well.

  Jeanette was devastated. She had arrived at her mother’s at one in the morning, crying her eyes out. Now she sat with Tommy and Joanie as they waited for news. She was warming more and more to Little Tommy, especially when she saw him holding her mother gently as she cried. The pain in his face was raw.

  The police were searching Kira’s room for anything that might give them a clue as to where she had gone. Joanie was getting impatient with them and it showed.

  She lurched over to the room and said loudly, ‘She ain’t run away! How many times do I have to tell you that?’

  The WPC smiled gently.

  ‘Kids often have people in their lives they don’t tell their parents about. We have to make sure she isn’t writing to someone or phoning someone secretly. Does she use a computer at school? Internet cafés?’

  Joanie shook her head.