‘I’m OK. Listen, I can’t stay on long, as Stanley’s in the garden and I don’t want him to know I’ve been in contact with you. Raymond said you wanted to meet me for a chat. What about next Friday? I’ve got to pop to Romford to pick up some curtains. Can you meet me there?’
‘What time? And where?’
‘Is twelve o’clock OK? I can meet you in the Bull pub. I often pop in there for a crafty tipple when I’m out shopping on a market day.’
‘That sounds fine, Joycie. We can also have a bite to eat, if you like. Thanks for calling, I truly appreciate it.’
Hearing the back door open and close, Joyce quickly put the phone down. Meeting up with Eddie might prove to be a big mistake, but she had to see him again, even if it was only to discuss a certain subject that had been playing on her mind.
Frankie left Joey’s house and immediately rang Kerry. ‘I’ll do a deal with ya,’ she said.
‘What?’ Kerry replied.
‘I’ll hide the tape recorder in Jed’s Shogun if you come to that restaurant with me tonight.’
Kerry didn’t feel much like going out. She was still too wound up over Sammy to enjoy herself. ‘Oh, do I have to, Frankie? I’ve got no money and I feel like shit.’
‘Please, come with me. You don’t need no money, my brothers are paying for everything. I really don’t wanna go on my own, Kerry. I don’t see much of my dad’s family and for all I know they might blame me for him getting locked up. Raymond’s gonna be there, you know, my uncle who you fancied at the barbecue round my nan’s.’
‘OK, you’ve twisted me arm. How did you get on with Joey? What did he say about our plan?’
‘He said we should go for it. He then threw me out because I’m going out with my dad tonight.’
‘What! He threw you out of his house?’
‘Sort of. I’ll tell you all about it later. Get to mine for six. Gary and Ricky are picking us up at half past.’
Frankie ended the call and drove towards home deep in thought. She couldn’t wait to catch up with her dad properly, but was dreading the big family meal. She wasn’t overly keen on her dad’s family, especially his brothers, Ronny and Paulie. Ronny was always drunk and had glared at her in court, and Paulie had always ignored her since she was a child.
Thinking of Kerry, Frankie smiled. They were like the terrible twosome when they socialised together and they were bound to have a laugh tonight, whoever was there.
Gina studied herself in the mirror. She had treated herself to a sleeveless, long, red pencil dress, but was now worried that it was a bit over the top for the occasion. ‘Eddie, come here a minute,’ she shouted.
Eddie walked into the room in a dark grey suit, crisp white shirt and tan leather shoes. ‘Wow, you look amazing,’ he said.
Gina smiled at him. ‘It’s not too much, is it? I don’t want to feel like a fish out of water.’
Guessing that Gina was nervous, Eddie took her hands in his. ‘You look sensational, honest you do. Don’t worry about tonight, everything will be fine. Jessica never had much to do with my family, so there’ll be no animosity. I don’t want to make you feel awkward, so I’ll just introduce you as a friend, if you like. Gary, Ricky, Raymondo and me Auntie Joan all know the score and we’ll just leave the rest to wonder, eh?’
Gina put her arms around Eddie’s neck. ‘You’re such a gentleman. I can’t wait to become your wife.’
Laughing, Eddie grabbed the cheeks of her arse and thrust himself towards her. ‘I’m having ungentlemanly thoughts. Get that dress off and let’s have a quickie before we leave, eh?’
Unable to resist the man she had fallen head over heels for, Gina stripped naked within seconds.
Frankie and Kerry giggled as Gary handed them both a cocktail.
‘I know I shouldn’t really be drinking, but after all the shit I’ve had to put up with this month, I think I deserve a few, don’t you?’ said Frankie.
Kerry nodded. ‘I had a drink through both of my pregnancies. As long as you don’t go too mad, it’s fine.’
‘So, do you still fancy Raymond?’ Frankie sniggered.
‘Not really. He is gorgeous, but he’s far too old for me. So, who’s who then? Who’s that loud bloke in the wheelchair?’
Frankie raised her eyes. ‘That’s my uncle Ronny. He’s an alcoholic, so if he gets lairy, it’s because he’s pissed. The bloke next to him on the left is my dad’s other brother Paulie, and the one on the right is my dad’s uncle Reg.’
‘Who’s that over there, talking to your brother?’
‘That’s my dad’s uncle Albert and the three women are his aunt Joan, aunt Vi and Sylvie. Sylvie used to go out with my grandad, Harry. He was the one I told you about, the one that got murdered.’
‘Yeah, that was awful. Have they still not caught the people that did it?’
Frankie shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. My dad will catch ’em one day, though. He won’t let it rest, he’s not the type.’
Kerry smiled. She had heard so much about Frankie’s dad and was looking forward to meeting him. ‘What time’s your dad getting here?’
About to answer, Frankie was tapped on the shoulder by Auntie Vi.
‘Hello, darling. How are you?’
Frankie stood up and gave the old lady a kiss. ‘I’m fine, thanks. How are you?’
Vi looked her up and down. As Joan approached, she nudged her and smiled at Frankie.
‘You getting fat or you pregnant again?’
‘Pregnant,’ Frankie said embarrassed. She wasn’t even that far gone and obviously looked enormous already.
‘How many’s that now?’ Joan asked.
‘This will be my third,’ Frankie replied.
‘You still with that pikey lad?’ Vi asked.
‘Yeah, I’m still with Jed.’
Joan and Vi both laughed. ‘They know how to knock ’em out, them pikeys, don’t they, Joanie?’ Vi quipped.
Joan agreed. ‘They’re the same as the blacks and the Indians, ain’t they? Bang ’em out one after the other – none of ’em know when to bleedin’ well stop.’
As the two old women wandered off, Frankie sat down, red-faced. ‘Nosy, racist old cows,’ she whispered to Kerry.
John, the ex-guvnor of the Flag in Canning Town had been invited and was standing by the window waiting for Eddie to arrive.
‘This is him. Oh, sorry, no it ain’t,’ he shouted.
Kerry laughed. ‘Is the restaurant open to the public tonight or is it just us?’ she asked Frankie.
‘I think it’s just us. The owner, that man over there in the black suit, was a friend of my grandad’s. He’s known my dad since he was a little boy, so he offered to shut it so we could have some privacy. My uncles have organised a bit of a party back at the Flag later. Gary reckons my dad won’t wanna go, but we can go if you like.’
‘Yeah, why not. My sister’s looking after the boys, so I can stay at yours. What time do you reckon Jed and Sammy will be back tomorrow?’
‘About lunchtime, I suppose. Don’t worry, you’ll be long gone by the time Sammy comes back.’
‘Eddie’s here and he’s got a woman with him,’ John shouted.
Gary and Ricky looked at one another. Neither had thought to ask their dad if he was bringing Gina. Because it was a family do, they’d sort of surmised that he wasn’t.
‘Shit, what we gonna do about Frankie? Dad don’t know she’s here, does he?’ Gary whispered.
Ricky shrugged his shoulders. ‘It’s a bit late to worry about that now, ain’t it?’
Frankie sat with bated breath, waiting for the door to open. John must have been seeing things. Her dad had only been out of prison for a matter of days, so there was no way he could have met a woman.
‘Are you OK?’ Kerry asked.
‘Yeah. Don’t take no notice of John, my dad still loves my mum, he’s probably got a female relation with him or something.’
As the door flung open and her dad strolled in with his
arm around an attractive, dark-haired woman, Frankie felt the bile rise at the back of her throat. She turned to Ricky.
‘Who the fucking hell is that?’
‘I dunno. Dad’s friend, I think.’
Fuming, Frankie stood up and marched over to her father. ‘Who’s she?’ she shouted.
Eddie felt the colour drain from his face. He would never have brought Gina with him if he had known Frankie was going to be here.
‘Hello, darling. This is Gina, she’s a friend of mine. Gina, this is my daughter, Frankie.’
Gina held her hand out, but Frankie pushed it away. She turned to her father. ‘How could you, Dad? You’ve only been out five poxy days and you’re shagging some old tart already. You make me sick, you’re a fucking disgrace.’
Eddie hated being spoken down to in public by anyone. ‘Watch your mouth, Frankie. What kind of talk is that, eh? You ain’t mixing with the pikeys now, love, so show some bloody respect. Gina’s a friend of mine and I want you to apologise to her this minute.’
The restaurant fell silent apart from Vi, Joanie and Ronny’s voices.
‘Attractive, ain’t she, Joanie? He didn’t hang about, did he?’ Vi said.
‘Good luck to him. Can’t bring the other one back to life, can he? He’s a good boy, is Eddie, he deserves a bit of happiness,’ Joan replied.
‘Maybe I should do my fucking Sharon in. It’ll be worth it if I end up with a bit of crumpet like that,’ Ronny joked.
Eddie’s eyes were blazing as Frankie spat at his feet and walked away. ‘I told you to apologise to Gina,’ he shouted.
Frankie picked up her handbag and grabbed Kerry by the arm. She stormed over to the door.
‘Where do you think you’re going, young lady?’ Eddie asked her.
‘Home. I ain’t sitting ’ere watching you fawning over that old slapper all night. I bet poor mum’s turning in her grave right this minute. Don’t you ever contact me again, Dad. You’re now dead as far as I’m concerned.’
And on that parting note, Frankie flung open the door and slammed it so hard that it could be heard in nearby Bow.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Eddie woke up the next morning with a splitting headache. The previous evening had been a disaster from start to finish.
After Frankie had stormed out of the restaurant, Eddie had had a proper scream up at Gary and Ricky.
‘You stupid pair of pricks! Why didn’t you tell me Frankie was coming? I wouldn’t have brought Gina with me if I’d have known.’
‘You never said you were bringing Gina with you. Frankie wanted it to be a surprise for you,’ Gary said, glancing at Ricky for support.
‘Oh, it was a fucking surprise all right. I told you I’d moved in with Gina, so surely it was obvious that she would be coming with me. If yous two had a brain, you’d be fucking dangerous.’
‘It ain’t our fault, Dad. We only did what Frankie asked us to,’ Ricky said abruptly.
‘I don’t want yous two anywhere near me tonight. Just keep out of my way,’ Eddie shouted.
The evening had then gone from bad to worse. Ronny had got paralytic and kept talking about Jessica’s murder and then, at half-past nine, he fell head-first out of his wheelchair, cut his head open and had to be taken to hospital in an ambulance.
Paulie wasn’t much better. He also had far too many drinks and spent the evening chewing Eddie’s ears off about working alongside him once again. In the end, Eddie had no choice but to give it to him straight.
‘It ain’t gonna work, Paulie, me and you grafting together. Listen, if you’ve hit a rough patch and you need a few quid to tide you over, just ask me. You ain’t gotta pay me back, it’s a gift.’
Paulie had thrown Eddie’s kind offer straight back in his face. ‘I don’t want your fucking charity. You’ve always thought you were something special, ain’t ya? We were partners once and all I wanted was for us to be that again. I bet Dad’s turning in his grave as we speak. You know, our wonderful dad that cut me and Ronny out of the will and gave you all his fucking money.’
Embarrassed that Paulie had kicked off in front of Gina, Eddie had dragged him out to the bogs. ‘Don’t you dare bring Dad into this. You walked, remember? You was the one who wanted to go it alone with Ironside. Well, it ain’t my fault if things have gone tits-up for ya. You made your choice, Paulie, so it’s up to you to fucking well live with it.’
Paulie had left shortly after and gone to the Flag. Ed was appalled to learn that his brothers had planned a party there for him.
‘I didn’t go inside for robbing a bank or emigrating with a load of gold bullion. I went in there for killing me own wife, who I happened to have loved dearly. It’s hardly cause for a coming-out celebration, is it, Reg? My brothers must be the thickest pair of cunts I know,’ he’d said to his uncle.
‘You OK, Ed?’
Eddie rolled over and smiled at Gina. On the journey home, she’d insisted that she had enjoyed herself. ‘I got on famously with both of your aunts and Sylvie,’ she’d said brightly, not mentioning any of the other shit that had happened.
Eddie kissed her. ‘I’m all right. I was just thinking about Frankie. I’ll have to go and see her at some point, won’t I?’
Gina smiled. ‘She’ll come round. She’s only a young girl and, having lost her mum, it must be hard for her to see her dad with another woman.’
‘Let’s hope you’re right. She’s a stubborn little fucker, is Frankie. Takes after me, she does.’
‘She’s a very pretty girl and she looks like you. She’s got your eyes and mouth.’
Eddie laughed. ‘She’s got my temper as well, unfortunately.’
Gina sat up. ‘I think I’ve got a bit of a hangover. Shall we go out for lunch today? I can’t be bothered to cook.’
Eddie rolled on top of her and pinned her down to the bed. ‘Your wish is my command, my angel.’
Frankie studied the tape recorder. ‘It is small, ain’t it? I didn’t think you could buy ’em this tiny.’
Kerry pressed the record button. ‘Let’s talk for a minute and we’ll play it back. It’s really clear, Frankie, you can hear everything. My mum’s mate said they’re ever so expensive to buy in a shop.’
Frankie had cheered up somewhat since the previous evening. She was still furious with her father, but after stomping out of the restaurant, she and Kerry had gone to a local pub and had a right good laugh. It had done her the world of good and they had even got chatted up by a couple of blokes.
‘Say something, then,’ Kerry urged her.
Giggling, Frankie started to sing Whitney Houston’s ‘I Will Always Love You’. She stopped at the end of the chorus. ‘Jed’s got the country and western version of this. Dolly Parton sings it, I think.’
Kerry stopped the tape and rewound. ‘I bet Dolly Parton sounds a bit better than you do, and she’s got bigger knockers,’ she said as she pressed the play button.
Frankie was surprised by the quality of their recording. ‘Cor, it’s really clear,’ she said, as Kerry turned the volume up.
Kerry grinned. ‘Brilliant, ain’t it? We can find out everything them bastards are up to with this little beauty.’
Frankie agreed. ‘Let’s hope they say they’re working away again soon.’
‘I can’t wait until then. If Jed and Sammy go to work tomorrow, put it in the motor then. They’re bound to talk about what they’ve been up to this weekend when they’re alone.’
‘OK. If I can, I’ll do it tomorrow.’
Kerry stood up. ‘I’d best be going now before Sammy gets back. Hide that somewhere safe, Frankie. Whatever you do, don’t let the kids get hold of it or, worse still, let Jed find it.’
‘I’ll hide it in the top of my wardrobe.’
Kerry hugged her friend. ‘Good luck. Once we find out what the shitbags are really up to, we can both move on, can’t we?’
Over in South Woodham, Harry had had a restless night’s sleep and Joey was worried about him. ‘I don�
��t think we should take him out today. I’m sure he’s got a temperature, and he’s really not himself. Do us a favour Dom, ring Frankie, and if she’s in, take him home for me.’
‘Aren’t you coming with us?’
‘No. I can’t believe she went out last night celebrating with my dad. I don’t want to see her at the moment, she winds me up. I’ll tell you what, if you take Harry home for me, I’ll buy you lunch. Deal?’
Dominic smiled. Joey could be very over-dramatic at times, but he loved him dearly. ‘OK. Deal.’
After making love to Gina, Eddie showered, got dressed, then rang Gary.
‘I’m sorry for shouting at you last night. Apologise to Ricky for me as well. It weren’t yours or his fault, it was just one of them things.’
Gary was very understanding. ‘Don’t worry, Dad, it’s forgotten. You still up for tomorrow? What time are you and Raymond meeting us?’
‘We’ll meet at yours. I’m picking Raymondo up at nine. You’ll have to fill me in on everything that’s been going on, then you can take me round and show me any new clients. I think the best thing to do, Gal, is halve the work and we’ll work in pairs. That way we can expand a bit and get stuff done a lot quicker. You stick with Ricky and me and Raymond’ll pair up. It’ll be like old times, won’t it, boy?’
Gary laughed. ‘The East End’ll be shaking in its boots, Dad.’
‘Now, what shall I do about Frankie? There’s no point me ringing her today, she’ll only put the phone down on me. I think I should pay her a little visit, but I don’t wanna turn up and bump into that pikey cunt. When ain’t he about? And what’s her actual address?’
Gary gave him directions. ‘It’s just like a field, Dad. I think Jed works away a lot of weekends, so you’re probably best turning up then. What I’ll do is ring her next Friday and find out if he’s away. If he is, I’ll let you know and you can turn up there unexpected.’
‘Cheers. I can’t leave things as they are. Me and Frankie were getting along so well and I’m dying to see the grandkids.’
Eddie smiled as he ended the phone call. Gina had just walked into the room in faded tight jeans, a black fitted T-shirt that enhanced her ample breasts, and tan, knee-high leather boots.
The Traitor Page 33