Broken Dreams

by Nick Quantrill

  ‘He’s seriously bad news’ Derek explained. ‘Always has been, always will be; ever since he got involved around these parts.’

  ‘He ran clubs around here, didn’t he?’

  ‘That’s right. Proper clubs, not the rubbish kids go in for nowadays; more variety clubs, I suppose. The thing is it’s no lie to say they were the best clubs in the city. People would come from miles around. He always had the best bands, the best compares, everything.’

  ‘Bit weird, though, wasn’t it? Salford would have been around thirty when he started the clubs? Bit young for that kind of thing?’

  Derek nodded. ‘Sounds about right. You’d have to ask him. I think he just liked the entertainment. And it was somewhere quiet to drink, where he’d get no bother or hassle.’

  It made sense. Salford was the kind of man who didn’t like attracting attention, so working mens clubs were a safe bet.

  ‘It was his father’s influence, I reckon. His dad had owned a pub in the area. The young Salford used to hang around with his mates. A right bunch of tearaways, they were; always in trouble.’

  ‘They used his dad’s pub as a base?’

  Derek nodded. ‘We’re sat in it.’

  Small world, I thought. ‘Did you have any dealings with him?’

  ‘Not at first. He was just a young lad, making his way in the world. Once he had some power, I avoided him best I could.’

  ‘What were his clubs like?’

  ‘He ran a tight ship. Nobody stepped out of line, because you knew what happened if you did. But for all of that, you knew you’d get a good night from him. There was never any funny business when he was there.’

  ‘Ever see anything with your own eyes?’

  ‘Once or twice. It was always him and his side-kick.’

  ‘Dave Johnson?’

  ‘That’s him.’

  ‘Did they run their businesses from the clubs?’

  Derek nodded. ‘Drugs.’

  ‘Drugs.’ I nodded and thought about his nephew but didn’t ask. ‘What did you think about it?’

  ‘I hate drugs, but what can you do? Salford controlled the area and the people. If you had a problem, you went to Salford and he sorted it out. He was more effective than the police. Things only changed when he got too big for his own good. Before that you knew if you kept your nose clean and didn’t cause any trouble, you’d be alright. Once he lost interest and the kids started running wild, the area was done for.’

  ‘Ever had any dealings with him?’ I asked. ‘Other than the other night.’

  ‘One or two. Years ago, now.’ He turned away from me.

  ‘I want to take him down’ I said.

  Derek turned to me. ‘Don’t be stupid.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because you don’t take people like Salford down.’

  ‘I think he’s killed someone.’

  Derek laughed. ‘Wouldn’t surprise me.’

  ‘Have you been reading about Jennifer Murdoch? She was murdered in her house.’

  ‘I’ve been following it in the paper.’

  ‘I think Salford killed her.’

  ‘Why would he kill her?’

  I explained his involvement in the area’s regeneration and how it tied in to her husband, the man I was acting for.

  Derek put his drink down and paused.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ I asked.

  Derek composed himself and smiled. ‘It’s starting to make some sense to me.’

  ‘What is?’

  He stared at me. ‘Some of the things which have been happening around here.’

  I took the hint he wanted another drink.

  The pub was all but empty and I took the liberty of signalling to the barman we wanted a refill.

  ‘Go on’ I said to Derek.

  ‘I run the Neighbourhood Watch and a while back I had people coming to me, telling me they’d received offers on their houses.’ He turned to face me. ‘The area’s run-down and crime’s high, so those who accepted offers sold up and got out, and fair play to them. It used to be a great place to live. The houses were tightly packed in together, in sort of mazes, I suppose, but it was fine. Everyone knew each other and kept an eye out. We were a community within the city because, one way or the other, we all worked in the fishing industry. Those were the good old days and no mistake.’ He picked his drink up. ‘Times change, I suppose.’

  I agreed with him. ‘What happened to those who turned down offers to buy their houses?’

  ‘Some of them were attacked until they agreed to leave. Their lives were made a misery, and once one house goes to ruin, it doesn’t take the rest of the street long to follow. It’s a vicious circle.’

  ‘You think Salford was behind it?’

  ‘If you’re telling me he’s been busy buying up houses in the area, it makes sense. This area used to be bursting with pride, but now there’s nothing left. I’ve got no problems with the rebuilding. In fact I welcome it; anything to make the place better. But what I can’t stomach is people taking advantage. We need all the help we can get. We don’t need them ripping off their own.’

  ‘No proof though?’

  Derek shook his head. ‘None at all.’

  I was starting to get a bad feeling and I knew it wasn’t going to go away this time. I needed another drink, but I pushed the urge aside.

  ‘Spit it out.’

  ‘Spit what out?’ I asked.

  ‘Whatever’s on your mind.’

  I had to tell him. ‘If we’d found out something about Donna, would you want to know?’

  Derek put his drink down and nodded. ‘I don’t know if Maria’s strong enough. All she’s got left in her life is hope, and I don’t want to take it away from her.’

  I nodded. I understood what he was saying.

  ‘What do you know?’ he asked me.

  ‘I know Donna’s alive.’

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  ‘I want to see him’ I said to Jane. ‘It can’t wait.’

  ‘It’ll have to. He’s in a meeting with the council.’

  I paced around Murdoch’s office. ‘He’s not returned my calls.’

  ‘He’s very busy today.’

  I stood still. ‘Glad to hear it. Has he forgotten why I’m working for him?’

  ‘Joe.’ Jane stopped what she was doing. ‘I’m sure he appreciates all you’re doing for us.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘He appreciates your hard work.’ She looked flustered.

  I shook my head. ‘In the boardroom, is he?’ I set off in that direction.

  Jane followed me. ‘You can’t go in there.’

  I walked straight in. Murdoch was at the head of the table. Next to him were three middle-aged men in suits. I didn’t care who they were or what they did.

  ‘Joe’ Murdoch said, as he stood up. ‘I’m a little busy at the moment. Perhaps Jane could look after you in the reception area until we’re finished.’

  Jane stood next to me, looking embarrassed. ‘I did tell him you were unavailable.’

  He switched on the politician’s smile. ‘I’m sure you did, Jane. Perhaps if you could escort him out of here, please?’

  I shook my head. ‘Meeting’s over, gentlemen. I’m sure Mr Murdoch will be in touch with you all in the very near future.’

  ‘What the fuck are you playing at, Joe?’ The room had been cleared and Murdoch was in my face.

  ‘That was a very important meeting. You can’t charge in and make me look like an idiot in front of my clients.’

  He was a man in denial and had seemingly forgotten the police were closing in on him. ‘You won’t have any clients soon.’

  Murdoch paused before sitting down. ‘Thanks for that.’

  ‘Why did you lie to me?’

  ‘What about?’

  I laughed. It summed the man up. ‘Your alibi for starters.’

  Murdoch said nothing. I walked around the room and sat down next to him. ‘Why did you lie to me?’


  ‘I was working for most of the night, like I told the police.’

  ‘That’s not what they say.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘So why the fuck are you lying to me?’ I stood up and walked over to the window, this time not looking at the amazing view of the marina. ‘I thought I’d made it perfectly clear to you about my position.’

  ‘You have.’

  ‘So what’s the problem?’

  ‘I was with Jane.’

  I turned around and shrugged. ‘I know about the affair.’

  ‘Her husband doesn’t.’

  I sat back down and processed the information. ‘You lied to me about your alibi because of Jane?’

  Murdoch said nothing and looked away. I stood up and walked to the door. ‘Fuck you.’ I’d had enough this time. Don had been right. It was a waste of time.

  ‘Sit down, Joe.’

  I turned back. ‘I was told I shouldn’t be working for you, but I wouldn’t listen.’

  ‘I need your help.’

  ‘I can’t help you anymore.’

  ‘Yes you can.’

  I sat back down. ‘Have you any idea of the trouble you’re in? I spoke to Coleman yesterday. They’re looking at you. You’ve got motive and now they think you had the opportunity. I tried to tell them about Salford and Taylor, but they didn’t want to know. It’s you they’ve got a hard-on for.’

  ‘Taylor?’

  ‘I went to his flat and he’d been given a good kicking. He’d gone to the casino to tell Salford he wanted out of your scheme.’

  Murdoch looked like he was going to be sick. ‘And he was beaten?’

  ‘He’s thinking of going to the police.’

  ‘You’ve got to tell him he can’t do it.’

  ‘I’m not going to tell him anything. Coleman’s your problem.’

  Murdoch shook his head. ‘He can’t touch me. I didn’t kill my wife.’

  ‘He’s not going to be looking anywhere else in a hurry.’

  ‘He’s going to have to.’

  ‘Tell him about Jane.’

  ‘I can’t. I promised Jane.’

  ‘It’s gone too far for that.’

  ‘Her partner is a policeman. It’d embarrass him.’

  I shrugged, scarcely believing the reason he’d lied. ‘Not your problem. You’ve got to clear your name. It’s gone too far. If you don’t co-operate with the police, Salford is going to come looking for you, and he won’t be just talking.’

  ‘I can’t go to the police.’

  I told Murdoch about Sam Carver, the casino worker. Doctors were still hopeful the surgery on his eye was successful and no permanent damage had been done. Either way, he had a lot of recuperation ahead of him, and that was before you considered the impact it would have on his life. ‘You’ve got to speak to Coleman.’

  ‘I can’t.’

  I stood up. ‘We’re done, then. I can’t help you.’ Don had been right all along.

  ‘I need your help, Joe. I can’t do it by myself.’

  Ignoring him, I opened the door, ready to leave.

  ‘Joe.’

  I turned back and told him to spit out what he had to say.

  ‘Frank Salford killed your wife, Joe.’

  ‘Hiya, Louise. How it’s going?’ I was stood on my sister-in-laws’s doorstep.

  She sighed and stared at me. ‘Joe. You’re drunk.’

  I shook my head. I’d had a drink, but I wasn’t drunk. ‘Can I come in, please? It’s important.’

  She leant on the door frame. ‘I’m busy.’

  ‘Please.’ I’d headed for the pub after I’d left Murdoch’s office. A double-whiskey had calmed me down, but I was still having difficulty processing the information. I’d tried to think it through, to find some logic in what I’d been told, but I was too emotional to think straight. All I could think about was Debbie.

  Louise relented and let me in. I walked through the hallway and popped my head into the living room. It was empty and tidy, no sign of the children; children I’d barely seen in the last eighteen months. Her house was well maintained, in contrast with Lisa Day’s house, which was less than a five minute walk away. I remembered how Debbie had urged her to move out the area. They could afford to, but it was where her husband grew up and felt comfortable.

  ‘Kitchen’ she said to me.

  We went into the kitchen and I pulled out a chair from under the table. Louise filled the kettle, sat down next to me and asked me how I was doing.

  Quite a question. ‘Some days are better than others.’

  ‘I know.’ She brought the pot of coffee over and poured the drinks.

  ‘Where’s Neil?’ I asked.

  ‘At work.’

  I nodded. ‘The kids?’

  ‘With my mum.’

  I didn’t know where to start. Turning up on her doorstep had unsettled her. We’d agreed I’d call before I visited but it couldn’t wait.

  ‘Busy at work?’ she asked.

  ‘A couple of things on. Busier than we’ve been for a while.’

  ‘That’s good.’

  I sipped my coffee and agreed with her.

  ‘It doesn’t get any easier, does it?’ she eventually said.

  ‘It doesn’t.’ l glanced at the photographs on the sideboard; happy faces and memories.

  Louise turned away from me and started crying. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘It wasn’t your fault.’ That much was true, but every decision we make has consequences.

  ‘It’s all my fault’ she said. ‘All my fault.’

  I shook my head and put my mug down. ‘We need to talk about what happened.’

  ‘Not again, Joe.’

  I knew it was difficult for her. ‘It’s important. Tell me again what happened, please.’

  ‘You already know what happened.’

  ‘From the start.’

  Louise shrugged. ‘Debbie offered to babysit, so me and Neil could celebrate our anniversary.’

  I nodded. I was working, so Debbie had gone there by herself. She was going to stay the night.

  ‘We’d gone for a meal and then the theatre before coming home about midnight.’

  I held her hand. ‘It’s alright.’

  She shook her head. ‘The first we knew about the fire was when the taxi couldn’t get down the street for all the fire-engines and ambulances. I can still remember how noisy it was and how much smoke there was. We paid the taxi driver and hurried towards what was going on. You don’t think it’s going to be your house, do you?’

  I nodded and encouraged her to continue.

  ‘The neighbours were all stood outside, trying to see what was going on. Once I realised it was ours, I remember screaming and trying to run to the house. The fire brigade and police had roped it off, so we couldn’t get close. I shouted and shouted and eventually someone took me aside. They told me the kids were alright; Debbie and the neighbours had got them both out.’

  Debbie hadn’t made it, though. The fire brigade had done their best, but the fire had taken hold. The smoke had overwhelmed her and by the time they got in, she’d died.

  ‘I’ll never forget what she did for me and my family. Or forgive myself.’

  I nodded. Time had started to give me some perspective and I was proud of what she’d done that night. ‘It wasn’t your fault. She made sure the kids were safe. You’d have done exactly the same thing if the situation was reversed.’

  ‘I should have been there.’

  ‘You can’t think like that.’

  ‘She never had the chance to have kids.’

  ‘I know’ I said, pushing the thought aside.

  Louise stood up and found us both some tissues. ‘I live with it every day.’

  ‘I know you do’ I said, before changing the subject. ‘What did the police do?’

  ‘Neil dealt with them. I didn’t have the strength for them.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘They investigated but didn’t get anywhere.’


  Coleman, I thought. He’d been part of it and we’d fallen out. The police established the fire was started deliberately, but they never made any real progress. It was the kind of area where nobody talked to the police. The investigation had been quickly scaled back. If there was no likely arrest, they couldn’t afford the resources. It was still officially open, but it had been made clear new evidence would be needed for them to think again.

  ‘Have they been in touch recently?’

  ‘No.’

  I smiled. Of course they hadn’t. Following the fire, I’d done my best. I’d investigated it to the best of my ability, but I hadn’t made any real progress. Coleman and his colleagues had been little help, officially or off the record. They’d told me to leave it to them, the implication being I should mind my own business.

  I took a deep breath and sat upright in my chair. The coffee and our talk had cleared my head. ‘This is important, Louise. Were you ever threatened?’

  She looked confused. ‘Threatened?’

  I nodded. ‘Did anything unusual happen before the fire? Anything you told the police?’

  ‘We’d had a few problems. Some kids were harassing Neil a bit. We’d had some dog mess pushed the letterbox?’

  ‘Did you tell the police?’

  ‘It was just kids messing about.’

  ‘Why would they do that?’

  ‘Neil had told them off. They’d been bothering some of the older people in the area.’

  I nodded and thought about what Derek had told me earlier about the area. ‘Did anyone ever offer to buy your house?’

  ‘How did you know about that?’

  After leaving Louise’s house, I walked to Salford’s casino, only stopping in a near-by pub for a drink to settle my nerves. I now knew Salford was behind my wife’s death, and that I had to do something about it. The only thing that made any sense was seeing Salford. The casino was quiet; only a handful of people stood around the game tables and at the bar. The credit crunch was taking its toll. I ordered a whiskey and waited. I tried to make small talk with the barman, but he ignored me. Word had probably spread about being seen with me. It didn’t take long for my presence to be noted, with Dave Johnson appearing behind me.

  ‘What do you want?’ he asked.

  ‘Salford.’