by Jacqui Rose
She lay back down, curling up again, not wanting Vaughn to find her there.
When Alfie had gone home and made her leave the club, she’d had nowhere to go – not that she’d told Alfie that, but she wasn’t ready to go back to Charlie’s yet, though neither did she want to sleep rough in a park, being hassled by strangers. She knew what that was like. So, she’d walked around and when she’d seen Vaughn’s gold Range Rover parked off Soho Square with him nowhere to be seen, but with the doors unlocked and the engine still warm, she’d taken the opportunity to get in, thinking that she would hide in the back for a couple of hours before shooting off. That had been the plan but within minutes, Vaughn had come back and she’d found herself being thrown about in the boot as he sped along.
Hearing Vaughn get in the car now, Shannon listened with interest to the call he was making.
‘Alfie! Alfie! For fuck’s sake, pick up the phone! I need to talk to you! Call me back as soon as you get this. If you don’t hear otherwise, I’ll meet you at the club. Make sure you call me back!’
16
Looking in her rear-view mirror, Franny caught sight of Vaughn, his car engine blowing out black smoke. She sped up, hoping to lose him altogether as she hit the accelerator at sixty, wanting to go faster but knowing that it was stupid to risk getting pulled over by a bored officer roaming the streets in the early hours of the morning.
Turning left, she drove through the tunnel, all the time keeping an eye out for Vaughn. It looked like she might’ve lost him. She slowed down as she came to Bush Lane, turning a sharp left and jumping the lights.
She glanced over at Mia in her car seat. She’d woken up and now was screaming. She tried to comfort her as well as driving, but found it impossible to do both. The sound of Mia’s cries filled the car as the vision of Bree came into her head.
‘No, no, no, no, no!’ She spoke out loud as she attempted to push all thoughts away. She needed to focus. Just focus. Focus, and get the fuck out.
Coming towards Shaftesbury Avenue, with Mia finally having fallen into a grizzly sleep, Franny turned into Dean Street then turned right into Carlisle Street. She drove clockwise around Soho Square before taking a left down Sutton Row, stopping directly in front of the club.
Checking Vaughn was nowhere to be seen, Franny jumped out of her car, running down the stairs of the club.
A few streets away, Vaughn raced along. He’d kept well back and once he’d seen Franny turn towards Temple Church, he’d decided to hold completely back, following his gut, believing she was heading for the club.
‘Fuck’s sake, mate! Come on! Get out of the way!’ A large lorry was now blocking the entrance to Dean Street, full of sand for the nearby building site. He honked his horn, waving out of the window. ‘Come on! Come on! How long you going to be?’
The lorry driver chewed on his cigarette, staring at Vaughn. He shrugged, looking amused. ‘However long it takes, mate!’
Resisting the temptation to get out and do the builder some serious injury, Vaughn knew he had to get to Franny. Seething, he reversed down the street, pulling into the nearest parking space before jumping out and running down the road.
In the back room of the club, Franny knelt down and began to unlock the safe, quickly turning the combination, hoping and praying that Vaughn hadn’t got around to changing the code. She could break into most safes, certainly the one they had, but the one thing she couldn’t do was buy more time.
Without realising she’d been holding her breath, she let out a sigh of relief as she heard the safe’s lock click and the door spring open.
She could feel the sweat running down her back, and she could see her hand shaking, still stained with Bree’s blood. Taking a short, sharp inhalation of breath, Franny muttered to herself, knowing she had to think of Mia. ‘Come on. Come on, don’t give in now.’ She began to empty the safe. The money. The gun. The passport. The credit cards in different names. Throwing them all into the large canvas rucksack.
Getting up, Franny, feeling agitated and trying not to panic, quickly closed the safe door, glancing up at the clock. It was still early and thankfully the mornings were still very dark. At a rough guess she had a couple of hours before it became light but by then, she’d be well away. Heading to Scotland and from there she could sort out a passage to Norway. Just her and Mia.
The thought of it spurred her on and she began to run through the small corridor and into the staff room door, her heart pounding, but she paused and gave a quick look round, satisfied there wasn’t anything else she needed. She stormed through the door … and straight into Vaughn.
‘Franny, this is becoming a habit.’
‘Get out of my way.’
Vaughn shook his head. ‘Not until Alfie arrives, and then you can explain to him what you’ve been up to.’
‘Just leave him out of it. This has nothing to do with Alfie, you understand?’
Vaughn’s bitter laughter filled the club. ‘Why don’t you let him be the judge of that? What’s that?’ He pointed to the canvas bag that Franny was holding. His face twisted up in anger. ‘Are you robbing from us, again?’
Holding Vaughn’s stare, Franny’s voice was full of hostility as she said, ‘No, I ain’t, because this money’s mine. I worked just as hard for it as you did.’
‘You stupid bitch! I don’t know what’s going on in that head of yours but you’re not fucking normal. You’ve got a screw loose.’
‘Go to hell.’
‘As long as you’re joining me, and I’ve no doubt you will, the shit you’ve done in your life … So come on, whilst we’re waiting, why don’t you tell me exactly what happened to Bree.’
Franny’s voice was small and tight. ‘I’m not telling you anything. Now I’ll ask you again, get out of me way.’
Vaughn leant forward, his tone menacing. ‘What did she do to you, Franny? What did she say to you to make you kill her?’
‘It wasn’t fucking like that! You don’t know anything about it.’
‘I know you’ve got blood on your hands.’
With precious time ticking away, Franny snapped, knowing she couldn’t be there when Alfie arrived. ‘Move! Now!’
Vaughn’s eyes flamed with anger. ‘No, I already told you, I ain’t going anywhere and neither are you.’
Quickly slipping her hand into the canvas bag, Franny pulled out the gun. She pointed it at Vaughn, her eyes flashing with anger. ‘Move!’
Vaughn glanced at the gun, then at Franny. He sneered. ‘You don’t frighten me, Fran. I’ve been around long enough to have a thousand guns stuck in my face and I’m still standing.’
Full of hatred, Franny hissed, ‘Do me a favour, Vaughn, save the trip down memory lane and realise I’m not messing around.’
‘And neither am I.’ Vaughn stepped forward towards Franny, a smirk on his face. ‘You ain’t going to use that.’
It was Franny’s turn to smirk. ‘Isn’t it you who always says the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree? Remember who I am, Vaughn. Don’t make any stupid moves.’
‘Problem is, Fran, I think you’re forgetting who I am!’ He stepped even nearer, not taking his eyes off Franny for a moment.
‘I’ve already told you, stay back!’
Ignoring Franny, Vaughn stepped even nearer. He reached for Franny, grabbing her wrist but she pulled it away and tried to shake him off. Undeterred, he leapt at her again. Suddenly there was a loud sound ringing in her ears, a loud bang echoing in the room, and Franny stood staring, holding the gun as Vaughn dropped to the ground in a pool of blood from the wound just above his chest.
Trying to keep her emotions down, she carefully used her foot to tap him, then leapt back as Vaughn began to speak, his words staggered. ‘You’ll pay for this.’
Glancing around before she crouched down, Franny spoke in a whisper. ‘I don’t think so, Vaughn. Looks like you’re the one who’ll pay for it. You should never have crossed me. If only you’d left it well alone, none of this would’ve h
appened.’
Vaughn, struggling to talk, grimaced in pain. ‘Just wait until Alfie finds out.’
‘But he won’t find out, will he? And even if he does, I’ll be long gone.’
‘I … I … I …’
She stared at Vaughn watching him fall into unconsciousness. She had to think. Think. Think and move. She could hear the sound of her own breathing. Noisy. Filling the air. She had to get out. She had to go. But as she continued to stare at Vaughn, Bree came into her mind and it felt again like she couldn’t move. Once more she was frozen to the spot … But what about Mia? She had to think of Mia. Alfie would be here soon. The thought of that hit Franny hard. He couldn’t find her … and he couldn’t find Mia.
Suddenly motivated, Franny dropped the gun back in the canvas bag and began to sprint for the door, charging through the entrance hall and up the basement stairs to where her car was parked, to where Mia was still fast asleep.
Opening up the boot, Franny threw the bag in, but her gaze landed on something. A thought rushed through her mind. Yes, yes, that was it …
Looking over her shoulder and checking the small narrow street was still clear, Franny, still breathing hard, grabbed the petrol can from the back of the boot, immediately turning to run back down the stairs of the club, charging into the main dance room where Vaughn was lying.
She ran over to him, bending down before slipping her hands under his, dragging him backwards, using all her strength to pull him, a trail of blood smearing the floor.
Panting, Franny stopped, not knowing if she’d have the strength to pull him into the office but digging deep, she began to pull again, dragging him into the staff room. At the door, she used her foot to roll him inside before running back to the main room to grab the petrol can.
Charging back and listening out for any sound, Franny began to pour the petrol over the whole room, dousing the furniture, dousing the blinds … Dousing Vaughn.
A lighter! Shit! She didn’t have a lighter! Quickly her eyes darted around the room, then her glance landed back on Vaughn. Of course! She bent down, going into his front pocket to pull out a solid gold lighter, a present from her and Alfie two years ago. She shook her head at the irony.
Going over to the other side of the room, Franny flicked open the lighter and stared at the flame, pausing just for a moment before she touched one of the couches with it. Directly, it set on fire; the material and the petrol a combustible mix.
A sudden rush of panic coursed through her. What was she doing? What the hell was she doing? But as she went to try to fan out the flames, she abruptly stopped and thought about Bree again. She thought about Alfie, and of Mia, and she realised there was no going back. This was her chance to get away, to go through with the plan. To take Mia to a place of safety. If she didn’t do this and she let her emotions get the better of her, then everything would’ve been for nothing. Bree’s death would’ve been for nothing.
With that thought in her mind, Franny jumped back into action. Dousing the rest of the furniture and with the fire now well underway, she picked up the can, running back into the main room, throwing the last of the petrol over the velvet chairs in the corner and the electricity box, seeing it spark with flames before she hurled the entire can into the fire.
She turned to run, shutting the door behind her, making her way as quickly as she could out of the club and up the stairs.
‘Franny, what’s going on?’ Alfie stood at the top of the basement stairs, looking down at her from the road. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t think straight. Oh God.
She glanced behind her and breathlessly said, ‘Alfie. You’re here.’
He looked at her oddly. ‘Are you all right?’
She walked towards him, her eyes full of emotion as the fear and panic bubbled below her falsely calm exterior. ‘Alfie. Alfie.’
‘Has something happened? Vaughn called me – it sounded urgent. Franny, what’s going on?’
‘Alfie, listen to me, I should’ve told you. I know I should but then Vaughn …’ She trailed off not knowing what to say.
Alfie rubbed his head as Franny walked up to where he was standing. He felt terrible, his head was pounding so any drama was the last thing he needed, but he spoke quietly, worried about Franny. ‘You’re not making any sense, babe. What about Vaughn? All this shit has to stop between you two.’
‘I can only …’ Horror suddenly crossed Franny’s face. Fear filled her eyes as she stared at her car. The doors were open. She hadn’t left them like that but now they were wide open. She ran around to the passenger seat and let out a scream, loud and full of pain. ‘Mia! Mia! Where’s Mia?’
She turned to stare at Alfie, desperate, and beginning to shake. ‘Where is she, Alfie? Did you take her? Did you?’
Shocked to see Franny in such a state, Alfie shook his head. ‘Who’s Mia? What the fuck are you talking about? You’re frightening me, darlin’.’
Franny charged up to Alfie and began to hit his chest, tears streaming down her face as terror ran through her. ‘Tell me where she is! Please tell me where she is!’
Grabbing hold of Franny’s hands, shaking his head, Alfie’s eyes were full of concern. ‘Sweetheart, I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. None.’
Franny stepped back, the words almost unable to come out. ‘Mia. She’s a baby. She was here, right here. I left her here.’
‘A baby? Whose baby? What the fuck are you talking about? Fran, I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.’
Franny stared at Alfie. Pale and with waves of nausea rushing through her. Her whole body shaking. ‘She’s … she’s my friend’s baby … I …’ She trailed off again.
‘Fran, I don’t understand. Why was she with you?’
Franny screamed at the top of her voice. ‘I was just helping out, for fuck’s sake. She asked me to look after her for a while … and now she’s gone. Alfie, help me, Mia’s gone!’
She ran around to the driver’s seat, jumping in the car as Alfie slammed down the boot.
‘Where are you going?’
‘To find her – she can’t have gone far.’
She began to reverse, spinning around as the still-open passenger door swung open and closed. ‘Stop! Fran! I’m coming!’ Without hearing Franny’s answer, Alfie jumped in as Franny sped off. And as they drove away, neither of them saw the club bursting into flames.
17
As Shannon sat opposite Charlie and his sister in the club, she felt shaken about the events of the morning, and it hadn’t helped that she hadn’t been able to find any dealers who’d been up to sell her any crack. But as was always the case, the fear she felt from Uncle Charlie and Ma – Auntie Margaret – made everything else fade into obscurity.
Chewing on her thumb, Shannon wished she hadn’t bothered calling her auntie or done what she’d done. At the time it’d seemed like the right thing to do – after all, Ma was Bree’s ex mother-in-law – but as she sat with Auntie Ma, who was staring daggers at her, the right thing to do was certainly turning out not to be the best thing to do.
Charlie sniffed. ‘So come on, Shannon, spit it out – what else do you know about Franny and Bree?’
Sullenly, Shannon said, ‘I don’t know anything else. All I know is what I told you.’
Pointing his fat finger at Shannon, Charlie snarled. ‘Listen, by rights I should give you a good hiding, but Ma here persuaded me not to, for now anyway.’
‘I only saw them together that once I called you about, Ma. That time in Woolwich, but I didn’t know who Franny was until she came into the club. I recognised her as the woman who was with Bree.’
‘And where’s Bree now?’
Shannon shrugged. ‘I dunno. I’ve told you everything.’
Ma Dwyer stood up from behind the table. She wore a green tight jumper and a pair of black leggings, which did nothing to hide her bulging waistline. She struggled to move her grossly obese body as she waddled over to where Shannon was sitting. Shannon star
ed down at her aunt’s oedema-swollen ankles and feet pushed tightly into stained, white canvas trainers. She clipped Shannon hard about the head. ‘Watch your cheek. You’re becoming a stuck-up little cow. If you’re hiding anything …’
‘I’m not, I’m not!’
Ma nodded, her hard, cruel demeanour oozing from her. ‘Don’t get smart!’
Shannon looked up at Ma. She remembered a time when she’d thought that all little girls had aunties like Ma. After her mother had died, she’d gone to live with Ma and her sons in Essex. And quite quickly, the problems that she’d had when she’d been with her mother seemed nothing in comparison to what happened when she was with Ma.
Not that she could really remember her mother – the woman had been in and out of mental institutions all her life – but she did know that she had loved her. There’d certainly been no love for Ma, though, and when she’d had the opportunity to go and work for Charlie, she hadn’t looked back, having very little contact with Ma and none at all with Bree. Though through the odd conversation she’d overheard Uncle Charlie having, she knew Bree had run away. She also knew that something bad had happened to Ma’s sons, but she’d been too afraid to ask. The one thing she’d learnt growing up was never to ask Ma or her uncle their business unless of course you wanted to feel the hard edge of their fist.
But even to her it’d come as a surprise, shocked her to know that Bree had left her husband to be with Alfie. Alfie! Not that she blamed her. Though how he ended up back with Franny, she didn’t know. In fact, there was a lot she didn’t know, but if she had known any of it, she certainly wouldn’t have called Ma.
Alfie had been good to her, and the more she thought about what she had done, the more miserable she felt. It was clear that Ma hated Alfie, but she’d only done what she’d done because of Franny, who’d been mean. But now she wasn’t sure how she was going to put things right.