Vinny was still livid when he popped into his mother’s house.
‘You won’t believe what our Michael has gone and done, Mum. He’s heading for a good fucking hiding, I’m telling ya.’ Aware that Lenny and his son were both ear-wigging, he handed his cousin a crisp pound note. ‘Take Little Vinny round the shops, Champ, and get yourselves some of them Jamboree Bags, eh? I need to talk to your Auntie Queenie about a few things.’
When Lenny and his son had left the house, Vinny explained to his mum about Michael’s secret relationship.
‘Well, it ain’t ideal, but I don’t think you should worry too much, Vinny. That unfortunate incident with Dave Phillips happened years ago, and if that Nancy’s brother was ever going to retract his original statement and blab, he’d have done it long before now. You know what our Michael is like for chopping and changing his birds. Give it a month, it will have fizzled out with Nancy and he’ll be onto his next victim,’ Queenie chuckled.
‘Well, I really ain’t happy about it, Mum. That family fled the area because of what happened and I just don’t want them to be reminded of it. If the brother finds out that Nancy is involved with Michael, I bet he fucking tells her and his parents the truth. The police re-opening the murder case is grief I really don’t need.’
‘’Ere, before I forget, I’ve been meaning to tell you, Roy is organizing a surprise engagement party for Colleen and secretly inviting all her family over from Ireland. You’re gonna have to make your one just for Brenda and Dean. Roy will be furious if it’s a joint do, I know he will.’
‘The party is just a small family celebration, and if Roy wants to organize another big bash later in the year, then he can. There ain’t even fifty people going, Mum. It’s just us and a few friends, that’s it.’
‘OK, but if Roy isn’t happy, don’t say I didn’t warn you. As for Michael, you gonna confront him with your findings?’
‘No, I’ve got a better idea than that.’
‘What?’
Vinny grinned. ‘I’m gonna pay his ex-bird a visit to get her to pretend she is pregnant and it’s Michael’s. If that don’t make Nancy Walker run a mile, then nothing will. It will also teach Michael a lesson for dipping his wick so often. Don’t worry, it’s just a bit of fun, Mum. As soon as Nancy has scarpered, Michael will see sense anyway.’
Queenie raised her eyebrows. Her Vinny was as sharp as a razor, only he could think that one up. ‘You need to sort that Terry Smart out an’ all, boy. He’s gone and glassed Dean now. It doesn’t look good on us as a family if he isn’t dealt with. We don’t want people to think they can take liberties with us and get away with it, do we?’
‘We can’t be seen to be doing anything too rash, but Terry will be dealt with good and proper this time. Smart by name that prick is, but obviously not by nature,’ Vinny replied.
Knowing that dealt with good and proper meant dead, Queenie smiled at her son. She had never liked that Terry Smart anyway.
Johnny Preston was not in the best of moods. The engine of the van he and Graeme had purchased had blown up this morning, so they were now back to square one. Part of Johnny just wanted to risk shooting Vinny, then driving back to Dagenham on the bike, but he had to think of his kids’ welfare if he got a life sentence. He knew that he stood far more chance of getting away with his crime if he put the bike in the back of the van and made his escape that way, so as Graeme had insisted earlier, they just needed to be patient.
‘Right, I’m gonna pop out and see my daughter for a couple of hours,’ Graeme informed his pal.
Johnny nodded miserably. He wanted to get the job over with, then get back to his kids. He decided to call home. ‘Hello darling. What you been up to? I hope you’re looking after your mum for me while I’m away?’ Johnny asked his daughter.
‘You’ve got some front. I know your dirty little secret,’ Joanna hissed, her voice full of anger.
Johnny immediately felt his pulse start to race. ‘What?’
‘I’m talking about having sex with women behind my mum’s back.’
‘I wouldn’t do that to your mum, Jo. If someone has told you that, they are telling you lies.’
‘No, they aren’t. That lady whose house you stayed around last week is my mate Georgia’s mum. I haven’t told Mum, it will break her heart, but I really hate you, and I never want to speak to you again.’
When his daughter slammed the phone down on him, Johnny put his messed-up head in his hands. Sod the bloody van. The quicker he killed Vinny Butler and got back to Tiptree to sort out this terrible mess, the better.
Nancy Walker had never stayed in a hotel room in her life before, and she was amazed by how plush it was compared to her poky little bedroom. Soft beige deep-pile carpet, satin bedding, even the lampshades looked like they had cost a fortune. ‘Wow, isn’t it ace, Michael?’
‘Only the best for you, my darling,’ Michael said, truthfully. He usually shagged in the back of his car, or at the club. He had never spent this kind of money on any girl in the past.
Michael looked gorgeous in his dark suit, white shirt and black tie, and when he began kissing her passionately, Nancy felt the first stirrings of unrest. Michael made her feel alive and the thought of spending the whole night in bed with him was exciting, yet frightening at the same time.
Denise Thompson was amazed to see Vinny Butler’s posh motor parked near her house. She was even more amazed when he leapt out and asked to have a quiet word with her. Surely, he hadn’t got wind of her news? She had only found out herself yesterday and, apart from her best friend, had told nobody.
‘How are you, Denise? Are you still working at the telephone exchange?’ Vinny asked, being ultra polite, when Denise got into the car.
‘I’m fine thank you, and yeah, I’m still at the telephone exchange. What do you want? Has Michael sent you?’ Denise’s face was a picture of hope.
‘No, not exactly. I’ve come to see you of my own accord, as I have a little proposition for you.’
‘What?’
‘Well, firstly you have to promise me that this conversation will never be repeated, Denise. You’re a nice girl, which is why I would like you to get back with my brother, and you wouldn’t cross me, would you?’
With his jet-black hair, menacing eyes, and fearsome reputation, Vinny Butler was the last man Denise would ever cross. ‘No, I won’t say a word, I promise.’
Vinny smirked. He had never particularly liked Denise. She was tarty, tawdry, and he knew of at least three other men she had slept with before she had dated his brother. Nevertheless, anyone was better than Nancy Walker, hence his little visit. ‘I don’t know if you are aware, but Michael has a new girlfriend, Denise?’
‘Well, sort of. I’ve heard that he was seeing someone, but no-one’s really seen him about with her. What’s she like?’
‘Not a nice person by all accounts, which is why I’d like you to do me a little favour. It will be in your best interests too, especially if you want Michael back.’
‘What do I have to do?’ Denise asked.
‘Next Monday, I am holding a family party at my club. Michael will be there without his bird. I want you to turn up and tell him and the rest of my family that you are up the spout. A few weeks down the line, you can just pretend you’ve had a miscarriage, can’t you? I’ll pay you for your trouble of course. How does a hundred pounds sound?’ Vinny enquired.
Denise couldn’t help but smirk. She had only found out yesterday that she was actually pregnant with Michael’s baby, so being paid to tell him was just a bonus. Vinny could hardly ask for his money back afterwards, could he? And from what he’d just said, he would probably be thrilled by her real news anyway.
‘Well?’ Vinny asked, impatient.
‘OK, I’ll do it. But, can you pay me the money up front?’
Vinny took his wallet out and chucked five tenners on Denise’s lap. ‘Half now, and half when you’ve done it, OK? Oh, and turn up about ten.’
‘OK,’ Deni
se said, scrambling out of the car.
Vinny grinned as he restarted his ignition. ‘Bye-bye, Nancy Walker,’ he mumbled.
After eating her first ever Chinese meal and thoroughly enjoying it, it was Nancy who suggested they pop into a club on the way back to the hotel.
Watching his girlfriend sway her body seductively to Curtis Mayfield’s ‘Move On Up’, Michael noticed how he wasn’t the only guy unable to take his eyes off her. Nancy’s beauty shone out like a beacon and she looked incredible in her halter-neck catsuit. ‘Shall I get us another drink, babe? Or, shall we make tracks?’ Michael asked.
Grabbing her boyfriend around the neck, Nancy treated him to a big sloppy kiss. So what if he was a Butler? Nancy knew if she lived until she was a hundred, she would never meet another guy who made her feel the way that Michael did. ‘Let’s go and snuggle up in that big bed, shall we?’ she whispered, the alcohol playing a big part in her bravery.
Grinning like his Premium Bond numbers had just come up, Michael grabbed Nancy’s hand and whisked her out of the club before she had a change of mind.
Vinny smirked as he scanned his brother’s address book and found the phone number of Colleen’s parents. He and Roy had had words earlier over Ahmed being at the club more often, but Vinny didn’t give a shit what his brother thought any more. Roy should have stayed loyal to him and the business instead of putting birds at the top of his priority list. ‘Hello, is that Mrs O’Connell?’ Vinny asked politely.
The telephone conversation continued for a good few minutes, and when the O’Connells finally agreed to attend their daughter’s engagement party, even though it was at very short notice, Vinny couldn’t help but smirk. Colleen’s family hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting the Butlers yet, and he would make damn sure they never fucking forgot them in a hurry. If his plan worked, not only would Michael be single again, but so would Roy.
Donald Walker was totally incensed. He had warned his wife that he thought his daughter was going to ignore his orders and stay out all night, but Mary had insisted otherwise. ‘Ring that Rhonda, now,’ Donald ordered, his voice booming even louder than usual.
‘I don’t want to wake the girl’s parents up, Donald. It’s gone eleven, for goodness’ sake.’
‘I don’t care if it’s three in the bloody morning. I have every right to know where my daughter is.’
‘Dad’s right, Mum. Nancy could be lying in a ditch somewhere for all we know,’ Christopher added solemnly.
Mary snatched at the phone. Fortunately, it was Rhonda who answered and not her parents. Mary hated people ringing people late at night. She deemed it unthoughtful and rude.
‘Well?’ Donald asked, hands on hips as his wife ended the phonecall.
‘Rhonda said Nancy told her that she is going to their friend Katie’s birthday party and will be home tomorrow teatime.’
A police officer in the making, Christopher was the first to reply. ‘Their friend! Why hasn’t Rhonda gone to this make-believe party as well then? Nancy is pulling the wool over your eyes, Mum. Ever since she went to that fairground she has been acting strangely. I told you not to let her go there, didn’t I?’
‘And I told you that she shouldn’t be allowed to attend such events too. If our daughter is currently shacked up with some rebel in a seedy hotel room somewhere, I will personally hold you responsible, Mary,’ Donald added.
Mary sighed wearily. She needed Nancy disobeying her father’s orders like she needed a bloody hole in the head. She now believed that her daughter was probably with some lad, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Donald and Christopher. They could light a fire without a match or petrol, those two. ‘If our Nancy said she is going to her friend’s party, then that’s where she is. I trust our daughter and there is no way she would lower herself by going to hotel rooms with some bloke, Donald.’
‘Well, I hope you are right, Mary, because if I find out that girl is lying to us, I will not allow her to darken our doorstep any more. She will not bring shame on this family. I am too proud a man.’
Nancy Walker sighed as Michael Butler made some funny noises and rolled off her for the second time that evening. Losing her virginity had had its high and low points. Having Michael on top of her and being so intimate with him had been the high point, but she hadn’t really felt much in a physical way apart from some pain. Rhonda had been telling her on their lunchbreak today that if she did do the deed she was bound to have one of them orgasms that everyone was talking about, but even though Nancy didn’t know exactly what they were, she was sure she hadn’t had one.
‘Are you OK, Nance? I didn’t hurt you too much, did I? Did you enjoy it?’ Michael asked. Nancy had earlier admitted that she was a virgin, so he had done his best to be as gentle as he could.
‘Of course I enjoyed it. I just love being with you.’
Michael grinned, and propped himself up against the pillow with his elbow. ‘Do you know what? That is the first time either of us has ever mentioned that daunting L-word. Do you love me, Nancy? I love you, I am proper sure of that.’
When Nancy nodded shyly, Michael held her in his arms and sighed deeply. He had always been a player ever since he had lost his virginity at thirteen years old, but no girl had ever made him feel the way that Nancy did. Even though he wasn’t positive that he could always remain faithful to her, he was sure she was the girl he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.
‘What’s up? You look very serious all of a sudden,’ Nancy said, laying her head on Michael’s chest.
‘You’re gonna have to tell your parents about us soon, and I’m gonna have to tell my family. It’s the only way forward, Nance.’
Nancy felt fear engulf her stomach. ‘Oh, I can’t do that. Say my dad chucks me out?’
Kissing his girlfriend on her forehead, Michael said the words he thought he would never hear himself say. ‘If your dad chucks you out then we’ll move in together, Nance. In fact, we can even go better than that. We can get married.’
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
Albie Butler hadn’t expected his family to go into meltdown over him supposedly staring death in the face, but he had thought Roy and Michael would have shown a bit more concern. Nearly two weeks it was now since Albie had been invited to dinner at Queenie’s house, and he had not heard hide nor hair from any of his family since.
Counting out the loose change in his pocket, Albie shuffled despondently towards the bar. He only had enough money left for a couple of drinks, and once that had gone he would have to suffer starvation and dehydration until he got his unemployment benefit handout on Thursday.
‘The usual, Albie?’ the barmaid asked.
‘No, just a pint today, love. Times are hard at present, so no more chasers for a while. Big Stan not been in today?’ Albie asked, hoping the man was about. Ever since he had told him that he had cancer, Stan bought him a drink or two virtually every day.
‘No, not seen him today. ’Ere, ain’t that your son just walked in, Albie?’
Albie looked around and was shocked to see Vinny walk towards him. Roy or Michael, he might have expected to pop in and buy him a pint, but not his eldest.
‘Get me dad a chaser. I’ll have a large Scotch on the rocks, and have a drink yourself,’ Vinny ordered the barmaid.
‘Thanks, son. It’s a nice surprise to see you, I must say. Was you local? Or, did you make a special trip to see your old dad?’
Ordering his father to sit down at a table, Vinny sat opposite him and smirked. ‘No, I was local. Popped over the hospital to see a pal of mine, who just happens to be a doctor there. Was worried about your illness, you see. But, you ain’t got one, have you, Dad? I knew when you stuffed two big bowls of Mum’s lamb stew down your gullet there was fuck all wrong with you, and surprise, surprise, the hospital you are supposedly having regular treatment at has never even heard of you. What a devious, wicked old fucker you are, eh?’
Knowing he’d been caught like a kipper, Albie Butler hung his head in sha
me. ‘I’m sorry, Vinny. I just missed yous kids so much, I said it out of pure desperation. I knew none of yous would have agreed to see me unless you thought I was dying. Have you told your brothers and your mother yet? They will hate me more than ever now, I know they will.’
‘Nope, and I might even keep your despicable lie a secret if you do something for me in return.’
‘What? I’ll do anything, boy, anything you want, providing you don’t tell anyone what I did. I will never be able to show my face round ’ere again if you do.’
‘Well, this is the deal. Tonight, I am holding a joint surprise engagement party at the club for Roy and Brenda. Unbeknown to Roy, I’ve invited his fiancée’s family over from Ireland. I want you to have a quiet word in the mother and father’s shell-like. Tell them that Roy is a ladies’ man. Say that he’s never been faithful to any bird in his life, and you have good reason to believe that he’s already cheated on Colleen, blah, blah, blah. You know what to say, being a serial womanizer yourself, eh, Dad?’
Albie didn’t like the sound of his task at all. Roy wasn’t a bad lad, and it was obvious that Vinny wanted to ruin his brother’s relationship for his own selfish means. ‘Can I ask why you don’t want Roy to marry this Colleen?’ Albie asked his son.
‘After what you’ve done, you don’t really have the right to ask me anything, Dad, but I will tell you anyway. I don’t hate Colleen, but Roy has changed so much since he met her. He has little interest in the club, our family, or bettering his life like he once did. If he gets hitched and starts banging out sprogs, then things will just get worse. Apart from a bit of help from Michael, I will have to run the business nigh-on singlehandedly, and I ain’t willing to do that.’
Albie sighed wearily. He hated the thought of ruining his son’s happiness, but what choice did he have? ‘The thing I don’t understand, Vinny, is when Roy and the rest of the family find out what I’ve done, they will hate me anyway. I don’t stand to gain much, do I?’
‘You gain them never knowing what a wicked old con-man you are. I mean, what type of father tells his four children he is dying when he isn’t? As you said earlier, your life is over in the East End if that one ever gets out.’
The Trap Page 20