by Martina Cole
Lenny opened another couple of beers and Reggie smiled to see him carefully binning the used bottles. His old woman had him well trained, and why not? He lived there too.
Lenny settled himself back in his seat and said seriously, ‘Whether you take this job or not, you don’t tell a fucking soul I asked you, OK?’
Reggie nodded impatiently as if that was a given.
‘I have been given a debt that will be difficult to reel in. They are being seriously slippery, but I have tracked the fucker down, and I need someone the person concerned doesn’t know to lure him out and give him the business with me.’
Reggie digested this bit of information before saying quietly, ‘Who is it?’
Lenny grinned mischievously before answering. ‘Jason Prior.’
He saw Reggie’s eyebrows shoot up and understood that this was something he needed to think about. Well, he could wait.
‘Fucking hell, Lenny. He’s a fucking nutter.’
Lenny nodded his agreement. ‘He is also into a friend of Jack’s for forty grand. Jason has it – he is a fucking premier drug dealer, for fuck’s sake – but he is also a gambler. Never liked gambling myself, a fucking mug’s game. Some of the stories my Sharon tells me about the cunts that frequent the betting shop. Anyway, I digress. How do you feel about it?’
‘Shooters?’
Lenny laughed then, a genuine belly laugh. ‘’Course! No one would go near that ponce without being tooled up.’ Lenny sipped his beer daintily before saying, ‘Jack bought the debt for five grand. That means he owes us forty-five smackeroons. Your cut will be about five grand – danger money, if you like. But I understand if you don’t want any part of it. He is, as you say, a fucking nutter.’
Reggie took a deep gulp of his beer before saying, in a sunny manner, ‘Fuck it, that’s good poke. I’m in.’
Lenny grinned and stuck his hand out. ‘Put it there, mate. Now we have to strategise. See how we can lure the fucker out into the open.’
‘I can actually help with that, Lenny. He is knocking off my little sister Geraldine.’ He saw the amazement on Lenny’s face and he laughed then. ‘He’s trying to get her on the bash, I think. This is working out well for us all.’
‘Let’s drink to that.’
And they did.
Chapter Twenty-Five
‘Oh, Mum, will you stop fucking going on!’
It was Saturday night, Lenny was out with the lads, and Sharon’s mum was doing her head in. Anyone would think Lenny was out every night of the week to hear Ivy Conway go on. He rarely went out without her – they had a babysitter and he would take her out for meals or to a nice wine bar. She was pleased he was out with his mates; it made a nice change for her as well. She could watch what she liked on TV instead of bloody Match of the Day, and she could have a relax in a nice bath and catch up on her beauty regime.
Ivy Conway didn’t like it. She was a woman whose own husband had been and done whatever he liked because she had not had the sense to nip it in the bud. She didn’t want Sharon to make the same mistake – that was all she was trying to say. But Sharon was having none of it.
‘I’m sorry to get cross, Mum, but I am a married woman now. I have my own home, a baby. It’s up to me what I think and how I choose to live my life. And Lenny is bloody good to me.’
The problem was, Ivy knew the girl was speaking the truth. Lenny Scott was a wonderful provider, and he adored his wife and his little son. There had never been a hint of scandal about him. It occurred to Ivy that maybe she was a bit jealous of this daughter of hers. Sharon already had more than Ivy had ever hoped for. There was a small part of her that resented this and Ivy felt ashamed.
‘Do you want a glass of wine, Mum? I’m having one as soon as this little sod goes to bed.’
‘That would be lovely, darling.’
She watched her daughter take her grandson from the room and sighed heavily. Sharon had turned the council flat into a palace, all big TV sets and sound systems, wall-to-wall carpets and expensive drapes. It looked like something from a magazine. Well, it had been copied from a magazine! She pushed the thoughts away, but there was no denying that her daughter was certainly a very lucky girl. A very lucky girl indeed. Del thought the sun rose and set on this pair, and he doted on that child. So did she – she loved her grandson. But this feeling that her daughter was getting it all a bit too easy plagued her. No one could be this lucky. Happiness came at a price; everyone with half a brain knew that.
Sharon came back into the room with two glasses of ice-cold Chardonnay and, giving one to her mum, she clinked their glasses gently as she said happily, ‘Cheers.’
Ivy sipped her wine, and wondered at how her daughter had developed this habit of drinking wine in the evenings. Honestly, she was like something off Play for Today.
But she drank the wine anyway.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Geraldine Dornan was a very good-looking girl with a spectacular figure, and a mouth like a Tilbury docker. Lenny could certainly see what had attracted Jason Prior, especially if he was looking to rent her out. She had the face of an angel, and the body of a porn queen – a lethal combination by anyone’s standards. She was on the ball though; she was listening intently to her brother as he explained what she had to do, and he respected the fact that she asked how much she would be getting paid for it.
Jason Prior surrounded himself with the lowest of the low. And so even though he might be mob-handed, none of the people with him would put themselves in danger to save his sorry arse. He lived just off the Railton Road in Brixton, in honour of his black roots. He was a mongrel – a bit of Jamaican and a bit of Mexican, with a white mother. He had grown up a troubled boy and he was now a seriously damaged man. Jason was known as a good earner; he could get his hands on literally any pharmaceutical known to man, which he did regularly.
The downside of Jason Prior was that he was a degenerate gambler and, like all true gamblers, he had no conscience. When he lost large amounts, he was not inclined to pay the debt. He would be angry with himself for losing, and with whoever gave him the means to blow said money. He would be granted the honour of writing a chit, promising to pay the poke back within fourteen days, and he would then tip whoever had given him the tick a resounding bollocks. He was fast running out of people to borrow from, even though they knew he was good for it. His failure to pay had caused a lot of bad feeling and resentment. Jason was a man for whom that upset meant absolutely nothing – he genuinely didn’t care. Or, in his words, he didn’t give a flying fuck. If they wanted their money, let them come and get it, simple as that. If they were mug enough to give it to him, then that was their lookout. Jason was a ferocious man, with an even more ferocious temper, so the odds on that happening were slim. He was a bona fide nutter, and that had always been his biggest asset as far as he was concerned. But now he was finally going to pay the price for his bad behaviour and, as the word was coming from Jack Johnson this time, Jason needed to wise up. Jack only asked once.
This was what was going through Lenny’s mind as he saw Geraldine waiting outside Jason’s house. It was a nice drum – with three storeys it had the look of a substantial property. Lenny was waiting over the road, his shotgun hidden by his long overcoat. He nodded towards Reggie who was opposite him. They had agreed it would be best to come at Jason from the front and the back to give him no chance of escape. He was a slippery fucker at the best of times.
As Jason tripped happily down his front steps, smiling widely at Geraldine, both Reggie and Lenny moved into place. Geraldine started running away and Jason stopped short for a few seconds, wondering what the fuck was going on with her. It was then that he saw Lenny Scott and the shotgun. For a few seconds his face registered shock, and then he dropped to his knees, pulling out a weapon of his own. As he took aim, both Lenny and Reggie started blasting him. He didn’t have a chance. No one on the street took any notice – they just moved away as quickly as possible.
While Lenny kept
an eye out and watched the dying man at his feet, Reggie ran into the house and collected all the money he could find. Within ten minutes it was over. The money and the guns were in the boot of the car, and Lenny and Reggie were laughing their heads off; they had pulled it off without a hitch. It was a great feeling. The euphoria was infectious and they were almost hysterical.
When they got back to Jack’s yard they were still high as kites. It was such an adrenaline rush. Neither of them cared that Jason was dead and gone. In truth they were pleased. Jason Prior had been an accident waiting to happen. He had mugged off too many people, laughing while he did it. No one would be mourning him.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘You took a fucking chance there, Len.’
Lenny shrugged; he had expected this from Jack.
‘Reggie is a good bloke, plus his share of the earn is going to pay off some of his mother’s debt. I’d heard good things about him, thought I would give him a try-out.’
Jack Johnson grinned. ‘A nice fella, I admit. Must be hard coming from a shower of shite like that lot.’
Lenny nodded. ‘Thing is, he ain’t been seen around because he was obviously banged up. So I put him nearest to Jason, thinking if he noticed him he wouldn’t click anything, you know? Jason would expect trouble from me, but not from an unknown face. And Reggie looks like butter wouldn’t melt.’
Jack nodded. ‘Good-looking lad, no doubt about that. And your hunch played out.’
Lenny grinned. ‘I think we can use him, Jack. He’s got a bit of savvy. Knows the score. He is willing and all – appreciates the chance we are giving him. We need some new blood. No disrespect, but a lot of the blokes are getting on a bit, and the younger ones ain’t exactly fucking contenders for Mastermind, if you get my drift. We could do with a few team leaders. He is good with people as well, very respectful.’
Jack laughed loudly. ‘Fuck me, when’s the wedding? All right, you’ve convinced me. And, joking aside, you have a point. Time fucking rushes by, son – remember that. Old Sammy is sixty-five this year and still at it. Sounds like a fucking sewing machine when he has to run away. But he’s still game. I wouldn’t fancy my chances with him in a straightener, old as he is.’
Lenny knew Jack spoke the truth. But this was a young man’s game, and the older blokes still thought it was the 1960s. They had no finesse whatsoever. He was wise enough to keep that little gem to himself though – Jack wasn’t exactly a spring chicken either and Lenny knew his place.
‘There was eighty-five grand taken from Jason Prior’s residence. You did good, son. I will make sure you and Reggie get a decent bonus. It will be all over the Smoke now, and that can only be good for business. People will be on the blower, selling off difficult debts, which is just what we want. That’s where the big earn is. I think you and that lad can sort them.’
Lenny nodded his agreement. It was exactly what he had been hoping for.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The pub was packed with men celebrating Lenny Scott’s birthday. The atmosphere was all friendly camaraderie and jokes. Big Lenny looked around and felt pride in this lad of his. He had really made his mark on the world. He watched as the men were respectful to his boy, and saw how respectful Lenny was in return. He always gave people their due. He had a great nature – though, as everyone knew, he wasn’t a man to cross. Now he had taken out Jason Prior and that just added to his mystique.
He was a son to be proud of, in every way – he was a good provider, a wonderful father and he was also a fucking nice man. Big Lenny Scott was thrilled with his boy, and he didn’t care who knew it either.
The drink was flowing and the men were starting to get raucous now. Lenny was still known to not really be a drinker except for a few beers and so he was not offered serious alcohol – everyone remembered the Keith incident too well. But he was happy for everyone else to indulge and he liked a laugh and a joke.
One lag, Freddie Forester, was regaling them with stories of his sexual exploits when he had been a youngster. Freddie had been, by his own admission, a seriously good-looking fucker, and there were still traces left in his old face. He had a magnificent head of hair and, though he was heavy these days, he looked fit for his age.
‘This bird had tits like fucking rugby balls. The face on it wasn’t anything to write home about, but the body . . .’ Freddie rolled his eyes and everyone laughed at him. ‘So, there I am, going at it like fucking no one’s business, and her fucking dad walks into the room. Straight up! I nearly fucking passed out. And she goes – all bored, like – “Your tea’s in the oven.” I nearly missed me fucking stroke! I finished up and was straight out of there, I can tell you!’
The men were roaring with laughter and Lenny joined in although he caught Reggie’s eye and smiled, shaking his head at the way Freddie carried on. Reggie Dornan was laughing hard with everyone else but Lenny could see that, like him, he found the story irritating really. These kinds of tales were outdated now. Nevertheless, Freddie could make a cat laugh and that was his secret: he was a genuinely funny man.
Lenny walked outside to get some air. It was like a sauna in the bar, and he felt the need for a bit of quiet. He had drunk more beer than he usually did and he felt light-headed. Reggie followed him, and they stood round the side of the pub, smoking together.
‘I just wanted to say thanks, Lenny. For giving me the chance, like. I needed a fucking job, you know? I was boracic.’
Lenny shrugged. ‘Plenty more where that came from, mate. You did good. Jason Prior wasn’t an easy first. But it did the job in more ways than one, see? Jack is inundated with difficult debts now. That will be me and you sorting the harder ones. You are up for this, I take it?’
Reggie looked into Lenny’s eyes and smiled slowly. ‘What do you fucking think?’
Lenny grinned.
‘My mum’s over the moon, so I had to put the hard word on her. I don’t think I will ever make her exactly respectable, but I told her to sort herself and the fucking kids out. She had them – she has no choice but to take care of them. I was fuming that Gerry – my sister Geraldine – was nearly put on the bash by that cunt Prior. I really gave Mum hell to pay over that. But she is what she is.’ He shook his head.
Lenny knew Reggie was ashamed of his family and he was trying to let Lenny know that he was aware of their status. He was doing everything he could to try and bring some kind of normality into his brothers’ and sisters’ lives. Lenny would have done the same thing. He grabbed the man’s shoulder and squeezed it, saying, ‘You are a good bloke, and now you’re in with us lot you should find it easier to get things done. As for your mother, she is a lost cause, I think. You will have to concentrate on the kids – that’s all you can do.’
Reggie put his hand over Lenny’s and squeezed it gently. ‘I do appreciate this, mate.’
It was said low, and Lenny pulled away quickly. He felt embarrassed suddenly and, laughing, he said loudly, ‘Bit pissed, I think, don’t you?’
Reggie smiled and nodded, and went back inside the pub. Lenny stood there and lit another cigarette. His hands were shaking. He had never felt such a powerful pull towards anyone before in his life. He shook his head, as if trying to clear it. That could not have just happened. But he knew that something had happened and he didn’t know what to do about it. He wasn’t a fucking shirt-lifter. It was the drink – he was never good with alcohol. It was just a misunderstanding. All the same, his mind was asking him why was he sorry that Reggie Dornan had gone back inside the pub? Why did he still want to feel his touch on his skin? What the fuck was wrong with him? He had a wife and a child, that should tell him everything he needed to know.
He went back inside, so shaken he decided to order a large brandy. He noticed that Reggie was nowhere to be seen. Swallowing the burning liquid down quickly, he stood and cheered with the other men as the strippers started their routines. He loved his wife and he was just drunk. That was all it could be.
He kept his eye out f
or Reggie all the same, but he had clearly gone home. Lenny was disappointed, and that bothered him more than anything.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
‘Let me do that, darling. You will have the baby up with this racket!’
Sharon was happy enough to cook her husband a bacon sandwich when he got in. After all, she was his wife, and it meant less clearing up as well! He was one messy fucker, and the place would look like a pikey camp if she didn’t take over.
Lenny sat at the kitchen table and watched as Sharon made his sandwiches and a pot of tea. He loved her; he loved her with all his being. So what had happened to him to make him feel like he had earlier in the evening?
‘Did you have a good night, Len?’
He nodded. ‘Rather have been at home with you, darling.’
She smiled happily at his words.
‘How was the little man?’
Sharon sat at the table. Now she had cleared the kitchen, she could relax. ‘He was as good as gold, Len. We are lucky with him, you know. Some of the horror stories I hear about babies not sleeping!’
He listened to her prattle on, but all the time he was thinking about Reggie Dornan. About his face, his eyes, his physique. Even his hands, feeling the thrill once more as their skin had touched briefly. What he couldn’t understand was why he had not beaten the man to within an inch of his life. Surely that is what he should have done?
Sharon Scott looked at her big, handsome husband and, leaning over, she kissed him softly on his lips. Then, suddenly, without any preamble, Lenny was picking her up bodily and the next thing she knew they were naked and he had her on the kitchen table. The excitement was overwhelming and she enjoyed his attentions, glad that he still had this need of her as powerfully as she did him. She had heard that after a kid men often lost interest in their wives, but this was not the case with her Lenny. She closed her eyes and let the good times roll.