by Jacqui Rose
Looking at the time, Alfie saw it was just past midnight and at the end of the track, he turned the engine off. In the pitch-black he spoke to Franny. ‘I’ll go, you stay here.’
Anxiously, Franny said, ‘Are you sure? I don’t mind. I mean, perhaps it’s better for me to deliver the money and get Taylor.’
‘No, I have to do this on my own.’
‘I’m worried that you might blow it. For all you know he might be in there with someone else, and well, if you can’t just get in and out of there without having a conversation, then I’ll do it. Think of Taylor, Alf. See sense.’
Nodding, Alfie contemplated what Franny was saying. ‘I get that, but I have to do this.’
With tension in the air, Franny grabbed hold of Alfie’s arm, her eyes imploring him. ‘But you don’t – you really, really don’t.’
Alfie stared at her. ‘What is it you’re afraid of, Fran?’
‘I’m afraid … I’m afraid you’re going to muck this up, let your emotions get the better of you.’
‘I won’t, I promise. I’ll get Taylor, and that’s all. I’ll just go in and go out, I swear, and I can deal with Barry another time. How about that?’
Knowing there was no way she was going to persuade him not to go, Franny spoke quietly. ‘Okay, okay, but no conversations, Alf, because that’s when, well that’s when it’ll all go wrong.’
‘No conversations, you have my word.’
Franny sighed as she handed Alfie the bag of the remaining money along with a small handgun. ‘Make sure you bring Taylor back safely. Nothing else.’
‘I will do, make no mistake about that. I’ll see you soon.’
Alfie walked through the long grass, using his phone as his torch. He waded through the mud and thick grass, feeling the water go into his shoes as he headed towards the abandoned air shelters and buildings of the World War II airfield.
Standing by the crumbling watchtower, and with his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Alfie looked up the field and saw a light coming from underneath one of the rusted corrugated-iron-roofed air raid shelters. Immediately he knew that was where Barry was.
He closed his eyes, lifting his face to the sky, feeling the rain fall on him as he realised not only was this a chance to get Taylor back, but it was also a chance to face up to his own nightmares. And with that thought, Alfie Jennings began to walk towards the shelter.
Coming up close to the air raid shelter, he could see there was no door, just a thick covering of hanging ivy and evergreen. He pushed the plants to one side, dipping down his body to get in as he forced himself through the knotty and twisted ivy stems.
Inside it seemed colder than out, and the roof leaked, rain dripping down from the rotting ceiling, making puddles on the concrete, which was strewn with weeds.
Alfie raised his eyes to the end and there, looking terrified, shivering as he sat on a plastic crate next to a small, portable spotlight was Taylor and by his side stood Barry Eton.
He stared at Barry, willing his legs to move, willing himself not to turn into that frightened boy he once was.
He strode up to Barry, holding his gaze for a moment, but as he got nearer, Alfie couldn’t look at him anymore, and he glanced away, giving a small smile to Taylor. He spoke gruffly.
‘Barry, they said I’d find you here.’
Barry sniffed loudly, the end of his nose red from the cold. He scratched his stomach, which hung over his belt. ‘Have you got the rest of the cash?’
‘Of course.’ Alfie opened the bag, feeling like he was on automatic pilot. He could see his hands shake as he showed Barry the money. ‘It’s all here, but I’m happy for you to count it.’
Barry shook his head. ‘I don’t know many people who would’ve paid that sort of dough for a kid like this. You must’ve really wanted him.’
Casually, Alfie shrugged, still not holding eye contact. ‘Not really, it was more that I didn’t want Rupert to have him. That man has a lot to answer for.’
Barry laughed. ‘That man has a way of rubbing people up the wrong way. How do you know him?’
‘I don’t. I met him tonight, but that was enough … certainly enough for me.’
Again, Barry laughed, and this time Alfie stared at him, his eyes and his heart full of hatred. His breathing became short and shallow. Without even thinking, Alfie roared, ‘Shut up! Shut the fuck up. None of this is funny, you twisted son of a bitch.’
Barry, shocked, spluttered, ‘What the fuck did you just say to me?’
Alfie stepped in closer. ‘You heard me, but I can repeat it if you like. Shut the fuck up.’
‘Who the hell are you?’ Barry’s eyes darted around.
‘I’m not the Old Bill if that’s what you think. Why don’t you look closer?’
‘What are you talking about?’
‘Look at me, Barry. Go on, keep looking, who do you see?’
Barry looked at him strangely. ‘The only thing I can see in front of me is a cunt.’
Alfie snarled. He placed his face inches from Barry’s. ‘Wrong answer. Look me in my eyes. You’ve seen me before, and this close as well, remember? Remember what you did to me, Barry?’
Barry shook his head and stepped back, knocking into a small pile of bricks, which clattered to the floor. ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
Alfie’s face flushed red with anger. ‘Don’t you? … Taylor, why don’t you go outside and wait for me? You think you can do that? Just through those plants. I know it’s raining but I won’t be long, and you’ll be okay there, cos I know you’re a good boy.’
Taylor stared at Alfie. He blinked, and a tiny smile came to the corner of his mouth. He spoke with a small lisp. ‘Yes, I’ll wait outside, cos I’m a good boy.’
In that moment, Alfie was crippled with heartache. He felt the pain for Taylor rip through him like a razor. The only consolation was that he knew from now on Taylor would be fine. He watched him trot out, sucking his thumb as he ran, and once he was sure he was safely outside, Alfie turned back to Barry who stared at him.
‘How did you know his name was Taylor?’
‘I know a lot of things. About you, your life, your friends and what you do, but mainly I know you’re a piece of scum, and you like to prey on kids; frighten them, make them hurt in places where they should never hurt, make them have nightmares for the rest of their lives, make them terrified of every sound, make them fear putting the light out, make them wet their bed until they’re well into their teenage years. That’s what you like to do, isn’t it, Barry? You piece of shit – that’s what you do. But I’m not a kid anymore and you’re no longer the monster to me that you once were; you’re just a pathetic, twisted old man.’
Barry tilted his head and gazed into Alfie’s eyes, and it took a minute or so for Barry to say, ‘Fuck me, if it ain’t Alfie Jennings. I wondered when you’d crawl into the proceedings. I’ve heard a lot about you recently but my, my, haven’t you changed. Look at you, you’re built like a brick house now, not like the runt you used to be who’d freeze when I said boo, who’d freeze when I made him give me a kiss … I suppose there’s no chance of one now.’ Barry made kissing sounds then burst into a nasty laugh, prompting Alfie to charge at him, smashing him against the wall, clenching his fist and hitting him hard in the side of his head, causing Barry to stumble and fall, crashing his skull on the pile of bricks.
Standing over him, Alfie could see blood running out of Barry’s ear. He could also see his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he struggled to talk. ‘And … and there’s me thinking … thinking we … we’re going to be …’ Barry trailed off as the life began to slip away from him.
Alfie crouched down by his side. ‘If you’re about to repent your sins, save it. I ain’t a priest and to tell you the truth, I think it’s too late for you.’
Barry, grappling for air, managed to give a crooked smile. ‘Ma said you were an arsehole … You know my daughter don’t you? I understand you’ve had … had a few deali
ngs with her.’
Alfie was puzzled, but he sneered in contempt. ‘Even at the end Barry, you’re talking shit. I’ve no idea what you’re on about.’
‘Ma … Ma Dwyer, she’s my daughter, Charlie’s brother. I thought … I thought he would’ve told you that.’
Alfie reeled, trying to get his head round it. If Ma was his daughter that meant Bree, who’d been married to Ma’s son, Johnny, was in some strange way related. ‘Ma? Ma’s your daughter? Then did you know Bree?’
As he tried to laugh, he began to cough, rasping and wheezing, his nose beginning to bleed from his fractured skull. ‘Not personally, but Ma …’ He stopped, the effort of speaking overwhelming him as his body began to shut down, succumbing to hypoxia as his life dwindled on a thread, but he tried again, sounding confused and disorientated. ‘Mia …’
Barry closed his eyes but hearing the name, Mia, Alfie lifted Barry up by his shoulders and shook him. ‘Don’t fucking die on me now, you bastard. What about Mia? What about her?’
Muttering inaudibly, Barry’s eyelids twitched, and Alfie was forced to put his ear over Barry’s lips in an attempt to hear what he was trying to say. ‘Ma … Mia … Ma …’
‘Ma had Mia, is that what you’re trying to say? For fuck’s sake, Barry, is it? Is it? Barry! Barry!’ But as Alfie sat up to shake Barry again, he realised he was already dead.
Getting up, Alfie grabbed the bag of money and ran outside to see Taylor crouched down trying to shield himself from the rain.
Alfie smiled at him, picking him up to carry him to the warmth and safety of the car. ‘It’s going to be all right, Taylor, you hear me? Everything’s going to be all right. You’re such a good boy, you know that? And I promise you from now on, you’ll never have to be frightened again.’
And as Alfie hurried to the car with Taylor safe in his arms, everything else faded into insignificance, everything apart from Ma, the person he was about to go and see.
47
‘You can’t, that’s crazy!’ Franny stared at Alfie in horror as Alfie drove at speed, racing along the roads towards the home of Ma Dwyer.
‘Shh, keep your voice down, Taylor’s asleep. You wanted to find Mia, then we need to get there now!’
‘But what exactly did Barry say?’
‘Well he was trying to tell me something about Mia, something about Ma having Mia. I dunno, he wasn’t making sense at the end.’
Panicked, Franny shook her head. ‘Why would he tell you about that?’
‘I don’t know, but he said it, or at least that’s what I think he said.’
‘Well there you go then, you don’t know for certain. Alfie, this is crazy – let’s go home. Please, let’s just go back. It’s been a long day. We can talk about it in the morning.’
Alfie sped around the corner. ‘This is the closest we’ve got to a lead. It might be your opportunity to find out where Mia is. Come on, Franny, it’s worth going to see Ma, even if it’s a dead end. I know you’re scared to get your hopes up about Mia, but we can’t wait till tomorrow. Every second counts.’
Franny spoke urgently, her words rushing out. ‘What about Taylor? He doesn’t need us to be doing this. We need to take him to your friend Claire so she can get him cleaned up and get some food inside him and make sure he has a safe night’s sleep, and like you say, she’ll know the right authorities to contact in the morning. Who knows, as she’s a foster carer she might be able to take him in, but we have to get him there. Come on, Alf, just turn the car around.’
‘No, Fran, say what you like but I ain’t going back. Taylor will be fine – he’s warm and he’s asleep. Christ it’s probably the most peace he’s had in his life; so lying there for another couple of hours ain’t going to hurt him, but what will hurt is missing this chance. If it’s too much for you, I’ll deal with Ma. You can stay in the car, but if it’s the last thing I do, I’m going to help you find Mia.’
Outside the mobile home site of Ma Dwyer, which Alfie knew well from when he’d been there with Bree, he parked the car by the hay barn, pulling out the gun from the bag of money.
‘You stay here with Taylor.’
Franny shook her head, her face stricken and pale. She licked her lips, which were dry, panic running through her. ‘No, I’ll come too.’
‘I think it’s probably best if you wait for me.’
Franny snapped, ‘I’m coming. Mia’s my … my friend’s baby, so if Ma has anything to say, I want to hear it.’
‘What about Taylor?’
Fran stared at Alfie. ‘You were the one who said he’s fine, so just lock the car and put the alarm on. He’ll be all right.’
Without waiting for Alfie to answer, Franny opened the door, jumping out and running towards the north side of the traveller site, hearing Alfie shouting after her. ‘Fran! Fran, where are you going? Fran, you don’t know your way around. Just wait!’
Franny ran frantically through the rain and wind, heading towards Ma’s mobile home, knowing that she had to get to her before Alfie did. She remembered her way from when she’d come before, and she hoped for her sake that Alfie was still well behind.
Seeing the pink door of Ma’s caravan coming into sight, Franny ran faster, charging through the mud, fear and dread crushing her.
At the door she gave a quick check over her shoulder, making sure Alfie wasn’t in sight before she began to hammer on the door and on the sides of the caravan.
‘Ma! Ma! Open up! For fuck’s sake, open up!’ Hearing nothing coming from inside, Franny kicked the lock, raising her foot and smashing it down, trying to force the door open. But it didn’t budge and, desperate, she tried again to open it, this time slamming her shoulder against the door. ‘Ma, it’s Franny! Ma, if you’re in there, open up! Please!’
As she raised her foot to kick the door again, it suddenly swung open, and there standing in front of her wearing a flowered blue dressing gown, holding a metal baseball bat, was Ma Dwyer.
Without hesitating, Franny pushed inside, shutting and locking the door quickly behind her. ‘Ma, you’ve got to help me.’
Ma’s bemusement turned into a cackle. ‘Help you? You must’ve lost the fucking plot.’
Franny’s eyes were wide open with fear. She spoke quickly and breathlessly. ‘Please, because any minute now, Alfie will be at that door looking for you. He wants to know about Mia.’
Ma raised her eyebrows. She sniffed and sounded amused. ‘Well that will be an interesting conversation, won’t it? Shall I go and put the kettle on?’
Franny grabbed Ma by her dressing gown. ‘This isn’t funny!’
Ma glared at her, full of hostility. ‘If I were you, I’d let go, especially if you want me to listen to what you have to say.’
Franny dropped her hold and began to pace, talking in an agitated manner. ‘You’ve got to help me. You’ve just got to, and you owe me. You hear me, Ma? You owe me.’
Ma roared with laughter. ‘And how do you make that one out?’
Red with fury, Franny spun on Ma. ‘Because you knew that I was coming for Mia that day. None of this would be happening if it wasn’t for you. I could’ve been gone, I could’ve been out of here, but no, you wanted to play games, even though you knew I was good for the money, you let her go.’
‘You were late!’
Franny’s face curled up in a snarl as she held herself back from attacking Ma. ‘I got here as quick as I could.’
‘Not quick enough though!’
‘Have you any idea how it feels knowing Mia’s out there somewhere? Have you any idea how much that hurts?’
Ma, placing the baseball bat under her arm, shrugged. ‘No, and I don’t care either, but you know what I find really odd about this whole thing? You doing all Bree’s dirty work. I mean, where is she? It’s almost like she disappeared off the face of the earth.’
Franny pushed Ma in her chest. ‘You leave Bree out of this. Why do you think she ain’t here? She can’t cope with it, and she doesn’t want to see you, does she
? She told me how you treated her but not only that, Ma, you sold Mia to someone you didn’t even know the name of! So, don’t ask why Bree’s not here – it’s pretty obvious.’
Ma’s face darkened. ‘I’m in the business to be making money, not making friends. I already told you I’d sell her if you didn’t show up on time, and I don’t need to know names.’
‘Ma! Ma! I want a word! Ma! Come out wherever you are!’ Outside, Alfie’s voice was loud and aggressive as he searched for Ma.
Fighting the tears, Franny began to tremble. She whispered to Ma, ‘Please, you’ve got to help me. He’ll be here in a second, and he can’t find out about Mia and Bree.’
‘I’d say that was your problem, wouldn’t you?’
Ma stepped forward to open the door, but Franny blocked her way. ‘Don’t do it! Ma, please! Listen to me – I’ve got money. There’s some money in the car. I won’t be able to bring it to you until later, but I promise I will. I’ll come back with it.’
Ma narrowed her eyes. ‘How much are we talking?’
‘One hundred grand.’
‘You really are desperate, aren’t you, Franny? Make it one-fifty and we have a deal.’
A hammering on the door made Franny jump, she leant her body against it as Alfie shouted, ‘Open up Ma! Otherwise, I’ll kick the fucking door down!’
Terrified, Franny nodded, whispering in panic, ‘Okay, okay, but he can’t find you here.’
‘You better be good for the money though.’
‘I will be. Now hide! Just hide! I’ll be back later, I promise. Just give me a few hours.’
As Franny watched Ma waddle down the hallway, she waited for a moment before unlocking the door. ‘Alf!’
Alfie frowned, surprised to see Franny standing there.
‘Hi, sorry about that, Alf. I locked the door because I didn’t want anyone coming in.’
‘Is she in there?’
Franny shook her head. ‘No … no, I checked everywhere. It looks like she might’ve gone away.’