Tennison

by Lynda La Plante

  ‘I just wanted to warn you to be careful, that’s all.’

  ‘I am. Besides, if the rozzers are all busy looking for a murderer over on the Kingsmead they ain’t gonna be sniffin’ around here so much and that’s better for us, isn’t it?’

  ‘Suppose so. You know that old big-mouth Ma Phillips?’

  ‘Mum’s friend, what about her?’

  ‘She was in the street earlier, screaming her head off and accusing some detectives of murdering her grandson Eddie. She wants to form a protest group outside the nick.’

  ‘She’s always liked the sound of her own voice,’ John said, jumping into the van.

  He turned the engine on and moved the van forward six feet before getting out with the padlock and key.

  ‘Did you get the Kango?’ David asked.

  ‘Yeah, bloody thing weighed a fuckin’ ton,’ John replied as he replaced the padlock on the garage door.

  ‘Should have asked me – I’d have helped carry it in.’

  ‘I was out early cos I had to drive out through the Blackwall Tunnel to a dealer in Kent for a cash buy. He assured me it’s untraceable, but he was a nasty sod and didn’t even help me lift it.’

  ‘Maybe it might be better to take it back and exchange it for two smaller ones,’ David suggested.

  ‘Are you havin’ a laugh or just bleedin’ plain stupid?’ he asked scathingly as he secured the padlock.

  ‘No, stands to reason they’d be lighter and do the same job, only a bit slower, but if you are using two together then—’

  ‘Shut up.’

  ‘You got the cutting gear organized?’

  John glared at his brother and whispered through gritted teeth, ‘Keep your mouth shut – you wanna telegraph what we’re workin’ on?’

  ‘There’s nobody about, and I was only askin’.’

  ‘I don’t want to use the same fence for everything on the job, it’s too risky. So I’m goin’ even further afield for that – believe me I’m lookin’ out for you and me. By the way are you comin’ to visit Dad this afternoon?’

  ‘Yeah, of course I am. Gimme a ride back to Mum’s wiv you?’

  John got into the driving seat and his brother moved round to the passenger side. It never ceased to infuriate David, the way he had to lean heavily on his walking stick to swing his gammy leg onto the foot-panel of John’s van to get in. His strength was in his upper body, which he demonstrated when he was able to lift his body weight by gripping onto the side of the door. He plonked himself down on the passenger seat. He was glad the garage was only a short distance from the flat as he hated using his wheelchair. Some days, though, he had no choice, particularly as he couldn’t walk far or stand up for long.

  John drove from the rented garage onto a side road that skirted the Pembridge Estate. Passing Edgar House he suddenly slammed on the brakes causing David to lurch forward and nearly hit his head on the dashboard as the van came to a halt.

  ‘What was it, a cat?’ David asked as there was no other traffic and no one crossing the road.

  John banged the palm of his hand on the steering wheel. ‘How many times have I asked her to stay away from those old cows? All they do is gossip and yak about nothing.’

  At first David wondered who his brother was talking about, but looking up and across the road he could see their mother, her hair in rollers, and wearing her wraparound apron and carpet slippers. She was standing with her arms folded and nodding her head as she talked to a group of women standing next to a police ‘Appeal for Information’ notice about the Julie Ann Collins murder. They were all gossiping and giving a mouthful to a group of kids who were playing and shouting abuse at each other.

  ‘She misses doin’ her cleaning and having someone to chat to,’ David said in her defence.

  ‘You know why I stopped that. To top it all the stupid bitch came home with a fuckin’ policewoman the other day. I can’t wait to find another place and get out of this dump. When I’m gone she can go to her bingo and do whatever she friggin’ wants. But until it’s over she stays put, and you are supposed to be keepin’ an eye on her while I’m out graftin’.’

  ‘Lemme go and get her,’ David said as he pulled the door-handle.

  ‘No, just leave it. The old man says we should put her in a nursing home, and if she’s any more trouble that’s where she’s bloody well going.’

  ‘You can’t do that to her – she’s our mother.’

  ‘Yeah, but if she screws this up for us I’ll break her soddin’ neck.’

  David ignored John, got out of the van and, using his walking stick to lean on, limped towards the group of women.

  John leant over and lowered the passenger window. ‘She’s not getting in here, so you can walk her home,’ he shouted as he drove slowly past his brother.

  Watching David walk made John apprehensive about using him on the job. He had mentioned his worries to his dad on a previous prison visit, but his father took the view that families should stick together and that David should be the lookout. His dad had also told him to keep the team numbers to a minimum, and only bring in people they knew they could trust with their lives. John just hoped that David’s lameness wouldn’t be a liability.

  When David and his mother returned to the flat a few minutes later John was sitting in the kitchen working out the finances in a small black notebook. Hearing the front door slam he snapped it closed.

  David walked into the kitchen. ‘Mum said Ma Phillips had to identify her grandson’s body last night. Apparently his face was all black and blue and she reckons the Old Bill done him in and dumped him in the Regent’s Canal.’

  John yawned. ‘Can’t see why they’d bother to take him all the way there when there’s the River Lea right on their doorstep.’

  Renee walked in, picked up the kettle and started to fill it with water. ‘You were out early this morning – do you want a cup of tea?’

  David nodded, but John didn’t even acknowledge his mother.

  ‘John?’ she asked.

  ‘No, and what did I tell you about staying away from them women, Ma?’

  ‘I was, but then the police started knocking on doors looking for Eddie Phillips and asking questions about the murder. A detective even came round here and—’

  John banged the table hard with his fist. ‘You didn’t say I was livin’ here, did ya?’

  ‘No, course not, I said it was just me and David, who was a cripple, and he left. There was so much going on I wanted to find out a bit more so I went to see Nancy Phillips. She lives at the far end of the estate. Her grandson knew the girl who was—’

  ‘I really don’t care,’ John interrupted, wishing she’d shut up.

  ‘Turns out he was the last to see her alive. They arrested him and then he ends up dead and in—’

  ‘The Regent’s Canal. I know already.’

  ‘Did she tell you as well?’

  ‘No!’ John snapped back at her. ‘Shut up, mind yer bloody business and stay indoors. You got a new colour TV now instead of that black-and-white one, so just sit and watch it.’

  ‘Did you want a cup of tea?’

  ‘I said NO! Why can’t you remember from one thing to the next? And listen up, we’re gonna see Dad this afternoon and I can’t take you cos I’ve only room for two in the van and David’s coming with me.’

  ‘Dave and I can go on the bus.’

  ‘No you bloody can’t, so for Chrissake listen to what I tell you. I’m gettin’ sick of repeating myself – you got short-term memory loss, that’s what you got.’

  ‘Leave her alone, John. I’ll have a cuppa with you, Ma,’ David said as John stormed out of the kitchen saying he’d be in his room.

  Renee got out a teapot, opened the caddy and started spooning in the tea leaves. ‘He should be out lookin’ for a job, not being nasty to me all the time. Where did he go this morning? He was out before I got up.’

  ‘He’s sorting some delivery work out, Ma.’

  ‘Well, since he mov
ed back in here he’s been like a bear with a sore head. He should spend more time trying to sort out his marriage to Sandra. She never comes round to visit me no more.’

  ‘That’s his business. Don’t tell him I told ya, but from a letter I saw I think they’re getting a divorce.’

  ‘That’s terrible – no matter how badly your dad treated me I never even considered divorce. I just put up with him. John really needs to sort out his life. It was fine here before he moved back in, you know, when it was just you and me. You want a cup of tea?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, I said I’ll have one. You keep forgetting stuff, Ma, and John worries about how you’ll cope when you’re on yer own.’

  She pointed her finger at him. ‘When am I gonna be on me own? And you listen to me, I coped with you two each time your dad was in the nick. I’ve bloody coped all me life. He’ll be out soon and don’t think I’m looking forward to it. He’s seventy-four and I just hope to God he’s calmed down. Besides, you’ll be here wiv me, won’t cha?’

  David shrugged. ‘Well, you know I got to think about my future, and it’s not easy getting up and down the stairs here any more. I’m livin’ on my disabled handouts and benefits, and you know how Dad likes his space round the flat. Maybe it’s time for me to look for a place.’

  ‘Have you found a girl then?’ she asked, wagging her finger at him.

  ‘No I haven’t, and I’m not likely to, livin’ here. Besides, Dad’s worse than John with his moods. I’ve always been scared to death of him.’

  Renee poured two mugs of tea and sat down. ‘No need to remind me what your dad’s like – I’ve lived with him and his temper for nearly fifty years. But where will you go? I mean you can’t get a proper job, can you? Maybe the council will rehouse you if you complain about the stairs hurting your leg?’

  David spooned sugar into his mug. ‘I’ve always wanted to go to Florida.’

  ‘Florida? You mean in America? How could you ever afford to go there?’

  ‘Might get lucky one day. Where’s the milk?’

  ‘Oh I’m sorry.’ She went to the fridge and brought out a pint bottle, pouring a drop into her own mug before passing the bottle to David.

  ‘You know, what you really need is one of them NHS three-wheeled invalid cars. I’ve seen a bloke doing his grocery shopping in one, scoots along in and out the traffic, and he’s got to be seventy or eighty.’

  ‘Yeah, well, I’m not that handicapped or old yet, and I’m not gonna be holed up here for the rest of my life.’

  Renee got up and opened a kitchen drawer. She pulled out a plastic bag containing David’s medication. ‘You’re not up to somethin’ with John, are you?’ she asked quietly.

  Ignoring her, he tipped out the pill boxes and containers, selecting one pill after another and laying them in a line on the table: antidepressants, painkillers and some for his kidney problems. He was also in constant pain from arthritis in his crippled leg, and his back throbbed like mad after his workouts with his weights.

  Renee watched him and sighed. ‘I’m not stupid, you know, David. Living with your dad I always knew when he was up to no good. He could never sleep, paced round the bedroom, and then going out at all hours with a pocket full of loose change. I knew he was going to the telephone box on the corner. The closer it got to him doing a bit of illegal business the more he’d be snapping at me. That time you fell off the church roof, I said to him don’t take the boys with you and he slapped me one, but I was right. I mean look what happened to you.’

  ‘Don’t start on that again, Ma.’

  She reached out and patted his hand. ‘I wish I could do something, son. You’ve always been the handsome one, and you can still turn a girl’s eye, so there’s got to be a nice young lady out there for you.’

  ‘If I can’t fuck her she ain’t gonna be interested in me, and I’m not going out with some old dog that feels sorry for me. Now go and watch telly and leave me alone.’

  Renee was shocked at his language, but she said nothing and carried her mug into the lounge where she sat cupping it in her hands. She wanted to weep for David. He had always been her favourite and now he was an impotent cripple – all because her husband and his brother took him up onto that church roof.

  Clifford, John and David had all received prison sentences after the botched church job. Living alone while they were all inside was the first time in her life she had found peace: no threats, no arguments, and no fear of the cops knocking on the door was bliss. Eventually, due to his injuries, David had been released early on parole and returned home where she cared for him. Having him dependent on her was not a burden: after all, he was her little boy. Without his father or brother around to influence or pick on him David was placid and they had enjoyed each other’s company.

  Renee sighed, sipping her tea. She was now almost certain something was going on, and that both her boys were involved.

  David washed his mug and placed it on the draining board. He then scooped up his pills, tipping them into the plastic bag before putting it back in the drawer. As he began to feel the effects of the painkillers he decided to go and lie down. He used his stick to steady himself and edged past the folded wheelchair that he hated with a passion. He could hear the TV on loud and saw his mum in the lounge fast asleep, with her eyes closed and her mouth open. On the way to his room he thought he’d see how his brother was and went into the small box room, which contained a single bed, a wardrobe, an old sewing machine and boxes of clothes and junk. John was sitting thumbing through his small black notebook.

  ‘Mum’s asleep,’ David said.

  John looked up and stared at his brother. He realized from the dozy expression on his face he’d recently taken his medication.

  ‘Are you all right, Dave?’

  ‘Sure, just going to lie down. Get me up this afternoon when you’re ready to go to Pentonville.’

  ‘OK. Finances are really tight for the job. We still got a lot of stuff to store and need a good walkie-talkie set. The guy in Kent told me they got some at the Army barracks in Woolwich.’

  ‘What, they sellin’ off equipment?’

  ‘No, I’m gonna have to nick ’em unless we can bribe a squaddie.’

  ‘We? Are you taking me with you?’ David asked nervously.

  ‘No, I meant Danny Mitcham. He knows where the barracks is and being an ex-squaddie has a contact so I’ll take him with me to suss it out.’

  ‘Danny? So Danny’s gonna be in on it as well then?’ David frowned.

  John nodded and went back to looking at his notebook.

  ‘Are you sure about him? I mean he was discharged because he’s a head case.’

  ‘Danny whacked a military copper who was asking for it. Besides, he’s reliable and as strong as an ox. He was on bomb disposals and there’s nothin’ he don’t know about electrics. Now you go an’ lie down, and sleep off your painkillers cos you know how Dad hates you lookin’ dozy.’

  David shuffled to his room and awkwardly lowered himself onto the bed. He thought about what his ma had said and wished he’d kept his mouth shut about Florida, but that’s where he’d always dreamed of flying to. Not only for the sun and sea, but also the specialist treatment he’d been reading about. He had been given very little information or medical advice on his badly broken legs either in the hospital or the prison. The doctors and wardens said he deserved what he got for thieving. Whilst he was in prison the plaster cast on his right leg had been cut off and replaced twice due to the agonizing pain it caused. The doctors had attempted to straighten his leg, but it became deformed and twisted along the bone and knee joint. It had been eighteen months of torture until he could stand unaided, but his foot was permanently arched, the leg bent and he was in constant pain.

  David eventually started to work out at a men-only gym, and the trainer encouraged him to concentrate on his upper-body strength. He soon became hooked on the high he got from working out hard and enjoyed the release that the physical exercise gave him from his
daily stress and depression. At home, in the privacy of his bedroom mirror, he would proudly display his six pack and muscular arms to himself, but no amount of pornography lifted his flaccid member.

  David remembered with humiliation the time he’d decided to pay a prostitute, but found himself unable to get an erection. His doctor told him that his inability to have an erection, and his depression, were physically and mentally linked to his accident and lame leg. He had left his local doctor’s surgery refusing to believe he was impotent. Walking home he recognized some of the slags off the estate who he knew were toms that used a squat to do their business with clients. He had foolishly tried again, paying a blonde prostitute upfront, but this time the anger at his inability to perform made him physically abusive towards her. She threatened to report him to the police but he knew she never would, never could, as she was a cheap junkie selling her body for sex.

  Feeling a fresh rush of frustration he thought instead about how he’d like a joint now, so he could dream about Florida. If they pulled the job off, it was going to be a reality – first class all the way. As he slowly drifted off to sleep he thought about the risk of them being caught. He knew that he would never survive another prison sentence. It was a sad comfort, but nevertheless a decision he had made – if they failed he would take his own life.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  On her journey to the station Jane couldn’t stop thinking about Dr Harker’s lecture. Her quiet evening at home with her mother after the wedding rehearsal had ended on a note of amusement when a drunken Pam had returned home, picked up a wedding magazine and started moaning that she was unsure about her choice of wedding dress.

  Mrs Tennison had had to persuade Pam that it was too late now to change her mind.

  ‘It’s gorgeous and you’ve made the right choice. It’s just pre-wedding nerves.’

  Jane had laughed and said to herself, wait until you see the state of my cleavage in my tight bridesmaid dress!

  She had gone to her bedroom, leaving her mother and Pam to discuss the final details, bouquets and veils. For the first time in weeks she had not, as usual, gone straight to sleep. Instead she lay on her bed and thought about how she could use what she had learnt from the Harker lecture on the Julie Ann Collins case, especially as it helped to take her mind off the hideous bridesmaid dress.