by Martina Cole
Big Lenny Scott was rooted to the floor. He had never in his life seen his son act like this. He saw Lenny’s friends dragging him to the floor, eventually sitting on him to try and contain his anger. He shook his head slowly in abject disbelief at his son’s actions. His boy could have a row, there was no doubting that, but he had never been vicious for the sake of it. And tonight of all fucking nights! Lesley would have his balls for this. He was still feeling thunderstruck when the Old Bill arrived – along with the ambulance.
Chapter Six
‘My Lenny? Are you sure that it was my Lenny?’ The incredulity in Sharon’s voice was clear.
Ivy Conway was standing behind her in the small hallway, in her rollers and a candlewick dressing gown, unable to believe what she was hearing.
‘Well, that’s fucking lovely, that is! Arrested the night before the wedding. Augurs well for the future that does, my girl!’
Sharon wasn’t listening to her mother; she was reeling from the news Big Lenny had delivered. She couldn’t believe it. Her Lenny was a gentle giant – everyone knew that. He was one of the gentlest people she knew. But now her husband-to-be was banged up in Barking nick.
Sharon picked up the phone and dialled a number quickly. It was Jack Johnson’s. She was near to tears as she told him the events of the night.
On the other end of the phone, Jack Johnson was thinking fast. He calmed her down as best he could, then he rang off. But, like the young girl who had called him, he was having trouble believing that any of it was true. He hoped it wasn’t, because uncontrolled violence wasn’t what he was paying that lad for. He could get a thug on any street corner. He had admired the boy’s acumen, his level-headedness – it was the main part of his charm. That was what he paid the little fucker for, not to go round glassing people in his spare time.
Jack sighed heavily, and started to make some phone calls of his own. Wonders would never cease. It was fucking outrageous, that’s what it was, and it meant he might have to have a serious rethink where the lad was concerned.
Chapter Seven
Lenny was sheepish as the wedding party stood in the church waiting for his bride to arrive. He had the hangover from hell, and he was still unable to believe his actions of the night before. He put it down to the drink – that was the only thing it could be. He couldn’t hold it, didn’t even like it. He was deeply ashamed and, even though Keith had refused to press charges and Jack Johnson had somehow managed to get him back out on the pavement, he still felt he had got off too easy. Keith Smith might not have been his favourite person, but he knew the stripper had just been a joke. Normally he would have seen the humour of the situation, but last night it was as if he had been possessed by a devil. As his dad said, that’s why it was called the ‘demon drink’! He felt so embarrassed, and the worst thing of all was he had shown himself up in front of Sharon’s family. Her mum wasn’t exactly his biggest fan as it was – now she would use this against him at every opportunity. He closed his eyes in distress.
The music started and he opened them to see Sharon walking down the aisle towards him. He could sense the fear and disappointment in her lovely blue eyes. Well, that was it now – he wouldn’t be drinking again any time soon, he swore that to everyone in his orbit. As Lionel Richie sang ‘Hello’, Lenny looked into his bride’s face and hoped against hope that she could see the genuine sorrow there.
Chapter Eight
Lesley Scott was eating a small plate of sandwiches and she felt like she was chewing on sawdust. The fact that her son, her Lenny, had been able to inflict that kind of damage on another human being had really hit her hard. As she looked around the Irish club in Ilford, at the young ones dancing, and the older ones settled at tables with large drinks before them, she felt the urge to scream. Oh, Ivy Conway would be loving this! She had not wanted this wedding, but then, neither had Lesley really. But Lenny was besotted with young Sharon, and she was a good girl – she couldn’t take that away from her. Hopefully she would be a steadying influence on her son. Like her husband, Lesley blamed the drink for Lenny’s actions. Lenny was like her: she had never liked alcohol, not the taste nor the feeling of abandonment it gave to a body. Coming from Irish stock, she knew the trouble it could cause if you got a liking for it. It destroyed people’s lives.
She looked around sadly. Her husband was propping up the bar with Jack Johnson and his other cronies. He had a large Scotch in his hand and he was laughing loudly. It was as if last night had never happened. She was pleased to note her son was drinking a shandy. She had not been looking forward to this day; if she was honest, she didn’t hold out much hope for these two. For all their proclamations of undying love and affection, they were just kids playing at grown-ups, as Ivy Conway had succinctly put it. But Lesley nailed a smile on her face – after last night’s debacle she was determined to front this out. She saw young Sharon slip her arms around her new husband’s waist, and watched as he smiled gently and kissed her, holding her to him tightly. For some reason the sight made Lesley feel tearful. She was a nice lass, young Sharon.
The Irish club was packed by eleven o’clock, and even though he hated the fact, Lenny could see he was being hailed as a hard man for his antics the night before. Keith Smith wasn’t a popular guy – he’d rubbed too many people up the wrong way.
He was relieved that everything had gone off very well, considering. Sharon looked lovely in her white dress; it was simple but it suited her down to the ground. She was a great little dresser, was his Shaz, and she had the figure for anything. The dress, which had been purchased from a stylish new shop in Ilford, fitted her like a glove and, even though there was nothing revealing, she looked sexy. She wasn’t showing yet, but her breasts had filled out nicely. Lenny felt the pull of her, and decided it was time they went back to the flat; he was looking forward to his wedding night. He watched her with her friends, dancing to Wham! and he felt a surge of pride. She was his wife, she was having his baby, and he loved her.
Jack Johnson came up to him and pulled his arm gently. Lenny followed him out into the night air, nervous now.
Jack lit a cigar noisily, and puffed on it for a while before saying harshly, ‘Look, son. I like you, you know that. But last night had better be a fucking one-off. Because I ain’t bailing you out again, do you hear me?’
Lenny had the grace to look sheepish, and this endeared him to Jack all over again.
‘I can’t have loose cannons, son, not in my line of work.’
Lenny nodded; his whole demeanour was contrite, sorry-looking. ‘I know, Jack . . . I mean, Mr Johnson. I can only say again, it was the drink. I ain’t a fucking drinker. I don’t even like it. I could cut me hands off. It is not me, that kind of carry-on . . .’
Jack held his hand up. ‘All right, all right, I get the picture. Some people can’t hack a drink. You are obviously one of them. But this is a warning, OK? I had to lay out some serious fucking bunce last night. Consequently, I ain’t a happy fucking bunny. Do you get my drift?’
Lenny nodded, another wave of shame washing over him. ‘I can’t thank you enough, Mr Johnson . . .’
Jack Johnson sighed. ‘Relax, son. But you need to make me believe you are a changed boy. You’re on a warning, son, OK?’
Lenny nodded. ‘I promise you, I will work my bollocks off.’
Jack smiled then. ‘See that you do. Now, get that wife of yours home. I want you in bright and early tomorrow.’
Lenny nodded gratefully, aware of just how lucky he was.
Chapter Nine
Sharon lay in bed beside her new husband, listening to the sound of his breathing. It was a wonderful feeling being married, and having her own home. But she couldn’t deny that the events of the night before had frightened her. Not that she would ever have not married this man of hers, but it had shown her a side to him she had not known existed. Unsurprisingly, her mum had been very vocal about her feelings; Sharon had just kept her head down and not risen to the bait.
She shive
red suddenly. The old saying of someone walking over your grave came to mind, so she settled into her handsome new husband’s body and, like many a bride before her, wondered at what the future would bring. She loved Lenny Scott with a vengeance, and she would do everything in her power to make sure their marriage worked.
Nevertheless she was unable to sleep. She put it down to being in a new home, in a new bed, with her new husband. But she was still awake as the sun came up and the estate came to life.
Chapter Ten
‘They said you ain’t pursuing charges, Keith, and I can’t thank you enough, mate.’
Looking at Keith, Lenny Scott felt shame washing over him once more. He had really made a mess of this bloke’s face and head.
Keith shrugged. He had not been an oil painting to start with, but he now looked like something out of a Hammer Horror film. Jack Johnson had offered to pay for his plastic surgery, but he would be left with a glass eye. It was hard not to hold a grudge, but what could he do? Lenny Scott was an up-and-coming Face, and Keith had to live round here. But it still burned him. Jack Johnson had referred to it as ‘an unfortunate accident’; he had warned Keith off, simple as that. He had slipped him a couple of grand and wished him well. If only Keith could shrug it off so lightly. His whole life was ruined, and there was nothing he could do about it. That was the bugbear.
‘Look, Lenny, it happened. Let’s get over it, eh?’
Lenny Scott knew how hard those words had been for Keith, and he admired his stoicism. He wasn’t sure he could bring himself to be that magnanimous if the boot had been on the other foot. He shook the man’s hand and was glad to get away from him, if truth be told.
Chapter Eleven
At six months pregnant, Sharon Scott had just a tiny bump; but, according to the midwife, the baby was fine and a fair size. Sharon felt she had been short-changed; she hardly even looked in the club. She was full of energy and she looked amazing. Her skin was glowing, and her hair was thick and shining. She had not had any morning sickness after the first two months and she had never felt better in her life.
She and Lenny were building a lovely home for themselves, and she was delighted that they were managing to save as well, thanks to her new job. They both wanted to buy a property – it was their dream. She was working in a small betting office in Green Lane and she loved it. The hours were perfect and she knew most of the clientele now. The owner, an old Jewish man called Isaac Templeton, was a dote. He thought the world of her and he trusted her implicitly. She was good with numbers and could work out a bet in her head – something that had surprised her. She had taken to the job like the proverbial duck to water.
She cashed up the till and locked the money in the safe in the office, then she went through the slips and sorted out who would need to be paid out the following day. This was her kingdom, and she loved it here. It was a good little gig for her; Isaac pretty much left her to her own devices and she enjoyed her days.
She was aware she had been offered the job through Jack Johnson and she was grateful to him. Since that terrible night before the wedding it was clear that Lenny had been doing everything in his power to show Jack that he could be trusted.
She pushed those events from her mind – she hated to think about any of it, and she knew that, without Jack Johnson fighting their corner, Lenny could have gone away for a few years.
Even though she was relieved that the charges had been dropped, she still couldn’t quite get it out of her head. That Lenny was capable of such a brutal attack frightened her. Of course she knew his job was not without violence, but the debt collecting was controlled violence, more about the threat of it really – or so Lenny assured her on a daily basis. She knew he would never hurt her, but it lingered there between them, and that bothered her. She guessed that Lenny sometimes sensed her reticence with him now, and he was heartbroken to have caused that.
She locked up the betting office and made her way home, wondering what to cook for dinner and whether to start painting the bathroom. Anything so she didn’t have to think of the one thing that plagued her at all times of the day and night – especially the nights.
Chapter Twelve
Jack Johnson was over his annoyance with young Lenny Scott’s actions. If anything, his mad half-hour had only enhanced the lad’s reputation. Far from hindering him, it had been a great help. People were mentioning him with a different tone of voice. Jack had even observed some of the older men who worked for him giving the lad his due. No more of the good-natured ribbing – now he was an equal.
Jack had a little job for Lenny and he was interested to see if he was willing to do it. It was a bit out of the ordinary, but he needed it done fast and with the minimum of fuss. Not everyone would take it on, but he had a feeling that Lenny would. He was determined to show willing, bless him. But this was a tricky situation and would need to be handled with great tact and diplomacy. Jack poured himself a large Courvoisier brandy and sipped on it thoughtfully.
Ten minutes later, he heard Lenny’s car pull into the yard, bang on time as always. You could set your watch by this kid. He was a Brahma, there was no doubt about that. Jack sat back in his chair and waited for the lad to come into the offices.
Lenny entered with his usual sheepish smile, and Jack was reminded just how good-looking he was. Yet he was all loved up with his little wife. Jack had asked around and there was not a hint of scandal about this boy taking up with any strange whatsoever. He was genuinely on a love job, by all accounts.
Lenny placed a Waitrose carrier bag on the desk, filled with money. It was a big drop – over twenty grand. He took out the bundles of notes and then he carefully folded up the carrier bag and put it in his pocket. Jack Johnson watched him, marvelling at the lad’s concise movements. He moved like a boxer, fluid for all his size.
‘A Waitrose carrier bag?’
Lenny laughed as he said, ‘That’s the Fagans for you. No wonder they have to borrow so fucking much. But it’s the wife – she spends money like fucking water. They’ve got the biggest TV Dixons can provide – they could hardly get it in their own front room!’
Jack shrugged, smiling at the boy’s incredulity. It was the Fagans of this world that kept them in bread and butter.
‘What we like to hear in this game.’ He didn’t offer Lenny a drink; he knew he would refuse. ‘Sit down, son. I need a favour from you, a favour you will be handsomely paid for. I will genuinely understand if you refuse and there will be no ill will. But you’re my first port of call.’
Lenny sat down, intrigued.
Jack sipped his brandy before saying quietly, ‘Be honest with me, son. Have you heard anything untoward about Billy Mason?’
He saw Lenny’s face close up. It was what he expected – the lad was loyal to him as well as his co-workers, of that Jack was convinced.
‘In what way, Jack?’ Lenny asked carefully.
Jack smiled then, a nasty smile. ‘Where shall I start, eh? My nose told me he was taking the piss somehow, I just couldn’t work out how. So I had a little bird I know go round to his earns and have a chat. I then found out he was undercutting my loans and giving them loans himself. I deduced this, Sherlock, by how much they were paying him. Less than they would be paying me. Now, I am all for free fucking enterprise – as long as it ain’t taking the food out of my mouth, so to speak.’
Lenny nodded. ‘I thought he was up to something too, I just wasn’t sure what, Jack. I wasn’t about to come running to you until I had sussed it out.’
Jack could see the logic of that, and he liked that the boy hadn’t come telling tales before he had the facts.
‘So, what do you want me to do?’ Lenny asked.
Jack Johnson was thrilled. This kid never disappointed.
‘I want you to take that cunt out, that’s what I want.’
Lenny Scott frowned, weighing up what had been said. ‘Kill him, you mean?’
Jack grinned. ‘No. I just want a really good example set. If we kill him
, he’s won. I want a walking reminder of his folly. I want people to know that he tried to have me over and what the consequences of such behaviour will be should they embark on such a quest. It’s simple really. You fuck me over, I will fuck you over big time.’
Lenny nodded in agreement. ‘Cripple him, or blind him?’
Jack laughed. Lenny was a fucking diamond. ‘Bit of both, son.’
Lenny stood up and said seriously, ‘I know you will reward me handsomely, as you put it, Jack.’
‘’Course, Lenny. And this will enhance your standing with the rest of the workforce. It means you’re my main man. That in itself will make sure the collecting of your debts will be much easier. But it also means you will be the victim of envy and malice. Are you prepared for that?’
Lenny grinned. ‘What do you think, Jack?’
Chapter Thirteen
Sharon had cooked a steak and kidney pie and she was very happy with how it had turned out. The pastry was perfect and it smelled divine. She was really getting good at this cooking lark, and more of a surprise was that she quite enjoyed it. She glanced at the clock and saw it was nearly seven. That meant her Lenny would be in any minute. She still felt a shiver of excitement at his arrival. She loved him so much.
She rushed into the bedroom and brushed her hair and reapplied her make-up. She made sure she always looked nice when he came home from work. Some of the girls on the estate were only a couple of years older than her and already looked like their mothers. She sprayed herself with Blue Grass perfume and she was ready for her husband’s return.
As she started to plate up the meal, she heard his key in the lock and she smiled happily.