The Traitor

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘What you smiling at, sister?’ Marion asked, walking towards her.

  ‘Mind your own business,’ Frankie replied bravely.

  Kissing her teeth, Marion shook her head and turned to Jackie and Liz. ‘I getting sick of this shit. We try to be nice to our sister, Frankie, but she keep showing us lack of respect. I think we need to teach her some. What do you think?’

  Jackie and Liz both felt sorry for Frankie. The poor girl was over four months pregnant, but they were too frightened of Marion to stick up for their new cellmate. Marion – or Killer as she preferred to be called – had a reputation for being one of the best fighters in Holloway and no one dared disagree with her in case she turned on them.

  ‘Yeah, teach her some,’ Jackie said solemnly.

  ‘It’s what she deserves,’ Liz unwillingly chipped in.

  Yesterday, when Marion had attacked her, Frankie had felt fearless afterwards. The embarrassment of her ordeal had given her courage and she had gone as far as threatening to kill her cellmates if they ever touched her again. Now, as Marion flashed her an evil grin that showed off two gold teeth, Frankie was suddenly petrified. She didn’t belong in prison – these women were animals.

  ‘Please don’t hurt me. I’m sorry if I haven’t felt like talking much, but it’s only because I’m missing my children.’

  Getting off on Frankie’s fear, Marion grabbed her long, dark hair and yanked her off the bed. ‘For showing Killer lack of respect, I want you to kiss my feet and beg my forgiveness.’

  Remembering Larry’s promise to get her bail, Frankie decided she might as well make her short stay in Holloway as easy as possible.

  Marion laughed as Frankie knelt down, bowed her head and made contact with her Adidas trainers. ‘Now, say the words, “I sorry for being a bitch. I beg you to forgive me, Killer.”’

  With tears in her eyes, Frankie bit her lip and repeated her tormentor’s order.

  Jed O’Hara winced as he propped himself up in his hospital bed. The painkillers the nurse had given him were fantastic and he was in much less agony than the previous day.

  ‘How’s Mum? Is she with you?’ Jed asked, as his father walked in with Georgie and Harry in tow.

  Jimmy shook his head. Marky’s death had sucked the life out of all of them, none more so than Alice, who was in a terrible state. ‘Your mother’s inconsolable, boy. I left her indoors with Billy and Shannon. She ain’t in no fit state to look after the chavvies – that’s why I brought ’em with me. What about you, are you still in pain? Did the doctor come and see you this morning?’

  Unusally, Jed wasn’t in the mood to talk about himself. He was more worried about his mum and Marky’s wife and sons. ‘The doc said I’ll be fine, and the painkillers they’ve given me are shit-hot. Don’t worry about me – what about Tina and the boys? Have you been to see her yet?’

  Jimmy shook his head. Tina was Marky’s wife of eleven years and it had been Jimmy who had broken the news to her on the phone yesterday. The poor girl’s screams of anguish would live with him for ever.

  ‘Her and the boys have gone down to Suffolk to stay with her mother. Her father picked her up last night. I rang her again this morning, but she didn’t really wanna speak to me. The only thing she did say was that she wanted me to sort out all the funeral arrangements. She said she ain’t up to it.’

  Jed remembered his grandfather’s funeral as though it were yesterday. He’d only been young at the time and it had upset him immensely to watch Butch’s trailer go up in smoke with him inside it. ‘Will Marky be burnt in his trailer like me grandad was?’

  ‘No, that’s an old tradition. Your grandfather always insisted he wanted that kind of send-off, so I chose to grant him his final wish. Marky will have a proper funeral. I spoke to your mother about it this morning and she wants him to be laid to rest in Upminster, so she can visit him every day.’

  Aware that his children had barely said a word since they’d walked in, Jed smiled at them. ‘How about giving your dad a cuddle?’

  Georgie clasped her brother’s hand and led him over to the bed.

  ‘Have you missed me?’ Jed asked.

  Georgie nodded. ‘Dad, can we see Mummy today? Me and Harry have missed her, too.’

  About to gently explain that Mummy was on a long vacation at Her Majesty’s pleasure, Jed was stopped from doing so by the door opening.

  ‘Surprise!’ Sammy shouted, as Lukey boy ran into the side ward, followed by Sally.

  ‘Daddy,’ Luke screamed as he spotted Jed, then lunged at him.

  Georgie and Harry stared at the intruder, glanced at each other and burst out crying.

  Back in Whitechapel, Ed, Gary and Ricky were polishing off the rest of Auntie Joan’s rock cakes. The plan had already been discussed and all of them were happy that it would work.

  Feeling bloated, Gary pushed his plate away. ‘I had Ronny on the phone late last night, Dad. He was pissed out of his head and calling you every cunt under the sun. I was in bed with some little bird at the time, so I pretended I had a bad reception and cut him off.’

  Eddie laughed. ‘I know why he rang you. I had Paulie on the phone again the other day, begging me to let him and Ronny come back to the firm. They’re both skint, I know they are, but they won’t admit it. I told Paulie I’d give ’em money if they needed it. I also told him in no uncertain terms that I’d never work with him or Ronny again. We don’t even need anyone at the moment and Stuart’s joining up with us when he gets out of nick at Christmas.’

  ‘How is Stu?’ Ricky asked.

  ‘He’s good. He seems to have got over that old slapper of a bird of his, and he’s doing buttons to join the firm. He’s gonna fit in well with us – he’ll be a big asset,’ Ed replied.

  ‘How’s Gina?’ Gary asked.

  Eddie grinned. ‘Yeah, good. We’re gonna get married next year, all being well. I had a little chat with her last night about giving up her job. It’s too dangerous for a woman to be doing what she does for a living.’

  Knowing how chauvinist his father could be when it came to women and work, Ricky smirked. ‘What did she say when you told her to retire?’

  ‘She was all right about it. She ain’t exactly agreed yet, but she will do. If she don’t, I’ll have to give her an ultimatum – it’s me or the job,’ Ed said, chuckling.

  ‘Have you heard from Frankie, Dad?’ Ricky asked.

  ‘No, but Joey’s spoken to her and so has her mate, that Kerry bird. They said she sounds OK in there. She’s sharing a cell with three other girls, by all accounts. Joey said she was desperate to speak to the kids, but him and Kerry did a good job of lying, like I told ’em to.’

  ‘My heart goes out to Georgie and Harry. They must miss Frankie something chronic and I bet they’re getting pushed from pillar to post with them pikey cunts,’ Gary said.

  Ed’s expression darkened. ‘Right, enough chitchat let’s go over this plan again. Gal, you repeat it back to me.’

  ‘We’re all at the restaurant celebrating Joanie’s birthday. She’s had too much to drink and takes a tumble. Me and Gal pick her up and insist on taking her home. When we get back here, we make a right old racket, including Joanie, who’s gonna have a little singalong up the path. If her neighbours show their faces, all well and good. If they don’t, both me and Rick make a point of knocking on a few doors and making ’em laugh about Joan’s antics. Once inside the house, I get changed, jump over the back fence into the alleyway, leap on the motorbike and head off to Upminster to do the deed. Approximately three-quarters of an hour later, Ricky changes into my outfit, puts my checked cap on and makes sure he’s seen outside in the street. Once clocked, he comes back inside, changes into his own clobber and knocks at Irene’s next door. He tells Irene that Joanie’s fine, we’ve put her to bed, but asks if she can keep an eye on her when we have to leave in a couple of hours. In the meantime, I’ve interrupted Marky’s funeral and disposed of Jed. Then, I leave the bike leathers and helmet at the salvage yard
, pick up the van, then drive back to Joanie’s, leaving the van in the same spot where I picked the bike up. That’s it, I think. Job done.’

  Eddie smiled proudly. Gary hadn’t left out one single detail, probably because he’d been taught by the best.

  ‘I’ll tell you something what we haven’t accounted for,’ Ricky said.

  Gary and Eddie turned to him. ‘Go on,’ Ed urged.

  ‘There’s a good chance that Georgie and Harry will be at the funeral with Jed. Surely we can’t shoot their father in front of ’em.’

  Eddie shrugged. ‘I’d already thought of that and yes, it would be unfortunate if that were the case. It can’t be helped, though. Frankie’s trial is the following day, we’ve the perfect alibi, and it’s our only hope of getting her the kids back. Georgie and Harry are only nippers – they’ll soon get over their father’s death, especially once they’re back with Frankie.’

  Gary glanced at his brother. Killing Jed was one thing, but doing it in front of Georgie and Harry was another.

  Clocking his son’s apprehension, Eddie stood up and slammed his fist on the table. ‘I am head of this family, I make the rules and what I say fucking goes. Now, do we understand one another?’

  Gary and Ricky looked at each other, turned back to their father, smiled and spoke in unison. ‘Yes, Dad.’

  CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

  Alice O’Hara washed her hands and took off her apron. Jimmy had wanted to get the caterers in to do the food for Marky’s funeral, but Alice had been insistent on preparing it herself.

  ‘Sally’s offered to help me and I need to keep meself busy. Marky loved my cooking and he’d want me to do the food, I know he would.’

  Pleased that his wife seemed to be functioning again, Jimmy had left her to it.

  Alice glanced at the clock. Marky’s funeral service wasn’t until three o’clock, but all the family were coming over this morning. ‘Jed, Sally, it’s gone seven. Start getting yourselves ready, ’cause Billy and Shannon’ll be here soon,’ she shouted.

  Sally got up and helped Jed out of bed. Against the doctors’ advice, Jed had discharged himself from hospital a couple of days ago.

  ‘Thanks for all you’ve done, but I have to go home, my mum needs me,’ Jed explained.

  ‘I understand that you’ve been through a traumatic time, but you must remember to exercise every day and use the wheelchair if you go out,’ the doc had insisted.

  Jed had left the wheelchair in reception. ‘If you think I’m being pushed about in one of them like some old grunter, you can think again,’ he’d told Sally.

  As Luke woke up and hugged his father, Sally smiled. ‘Will Georgie and Harry play with me today, Daddy?’

  Jed gingerly lifted his son onto his lap. Georgie and Harry had both blanked Luke for the past two days – in fact, they’d barely said a word to anybody. He turned to Sally. ‘I’m gonna tell the kids the truth today. I’ll sit ’em down and explain everything gently.’

  ‘Has Georgie or Harry asked why Luke keeps calling you, “Dad”?’ Sally asked.

  Jed nodded. ‘Georgie has. I told her that Luke doesn’t have a dad of his own, so he’s borrowing hers. I also think today would be a good time to tell Mum you’re pregnant again. Saying farewell to Marky’s gonna destroy her, and it might help her get through it if she knows she has another grandchild on the way.’

  ‘That’s a great idea, but if I was you, I’d tell both your mum and the kids after the funeral. Today should just be about your brother, not us.’

  Jed shrugged. ‘OK, I’ll tell ’em this evening.’

  Out in rural Essex, Gina and Eddie were eating their breakfast.

  ‘Why are we having your aunt’s birthday lunch today if she’s not seventy until Saturday? Wouldn’t it have been more sensible to organise something at the weekend for her?’ Gina asked.

  Ed shook his head. ‘This was the only day all the family could make it. Anyway, Joanie’s got something arranged at the weekend with all her old pals from the bingo hall,’ he lied.

  As Ed began munching on another bacon sandwich, Gina eyed him with suspicion. Before she’d become a private detective, she’d taken a psychology course and instinct told her that something was amiss. Guessing it must be to do with Frankie, Gina decided to probe. ‘Have you spoken to Frankie at all this week?’

  Eddie threw his sandwich on the plate and gave a sarcastic chuckle. ‘I ain’t spoken to her since that night she found out about me and you. Frankie can be a stubborn fucker; she gets it from me. I know she’s OK, though. She’s spoken to Joey and Larry’s been up to visit her a couple of times.’

  ‘Ed, promise me something.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘If by any chance Frankie doesn’t get bail, and the kids have to stay with Jed, promise me you won’t do anything stupid.’

  Eddie smiled, held Gina’s hands and stared sincerely into her eyes. ‘I promise I won’t do nothing stupid. You have my word, babe.’

  Alice broke down as soon as the flowers, family and friends started to arrive. Jimmy felt like crying himself but, as a man, it was his duty to be strong.

  Due to the few glasses of alcohol he’d already consumed, Jed was unable to be around his mother’s heartbreak. Feeling emotional, he hobbled out the back and sat on a chair. He smiled as he watched all the kids running around. Spotting Georgie and Harry sitting alone on the grass, he called them over. His mum had vented her concerns earlier. She had told him that neither child was eating properly, especially Georgie, who had barely swallowed a morsel for the past three days.

  Holding Harry’s hand, Georgie led him over to their father.

  ‘Why don’t Daddy get you both a sandwich? Your nan said you didn’t eat breakfast this morning.’

  About to agree, just to please her dad, Georgie changed her mind as Luke ran over and clung to her father’s legs. ‘Not hungry,’ she said sulkily.

  Luke sidled over to Georgie and smiled. He tried to hug her, but Georgie pushed him away roughly and he fell backwards onto the grass.

  Slightly inebriated and sick of all the deception, Jed grabbed both Georgie and Harry roughly by the arm. ‘Kids, I’m burying me brother and I don’t need this shit today. This is Luke and best you start being nice to him, ’cause he’s your fucking brother.’

  In a Canning Town restaurant, Auntie Joan was playing her part in the plan to the full. All the Mitchell clan were well aware of how partial Joan had been to a glass of snowball over the years, so Ed had made her up a big jug of the stuff, and had lied to everyone that it was full of alcohol.

  Eddie locked eyes with Gary and smirked. So far, the pretence was working like a dream. Ed counted the heads at the table. Himself, Gina, Raymond, Polly, Gary, Ricky, Aunt Vi, Reg and Albert were all there. The only ones he was waiting on now were Joey and Dom.

  When the restaurant door opened and his son and Dominic walked in, Eddie winked at Joanie. It was time to put stage two into motion.

  Jimmy O’Hara put a protective arm around his wife. ‘We have to go now, Alice, the undertakers are waiting.’

  Alice threw her arms around his neck. ‘I can’t face it, Jimmy, I really can’t. I’ve got one of me bad feelings. It was seeing that fucking magpie that started me off.’

  Seeing Jed poke his head around the door, Jimmy gesticulated for him to have a word with his mother. Jed nodded and urged his father to leave him to it.

  ‘Mum, you have to come to the funeral. I need you, Dad needs you, so does Billy and Tina and the kids.’

  Alice shook her head. ‘I can’t, I’ve got a bad feeling, Jed, a really bad one. If I go to Marky’s funeral, something is gonna go wrong, I know it is.’

  Jed hugged her. ‘Nothing is gonna go wrong, Mum. Look, I was gonna tell you this later, but I might as well tell you now. Sally’s pregnant again, she’s just over three months gone. You are gonna be a grandma again, sweetheart.’

  Through her tears, Alice managed a smile. ‘That’s wonderful news. If it’s a boy, wil
l you call it Marky for me?’

  ‘Of course I will, but only if you come to the funeral.’

  Alice held her son in her arms. Jed was her youngest, had always been her favourite and, staring at Marky’s flowers earlier, she’d been consumed by guilt for favouring Jed.

  ‘Well?’ Jed asked.

  Alice nodded. ‘Come on then, let’s go.’

  Aunt Vi looked at Eddie in horror. Joanie had just toppled off her chair and landed on her arse. ‘You silly bastard – she’s pissed. Whatever did you put in that fucking snowball you gave her?’

  Excusing himself from Gina, Eddie walked around the other side of the table. He bent down. ‘Are you OK, Auntie?’ he asked.

  ‘Yeah, but I’ve had enough now. When you get to my age, you can’t keep up with the pace any more,’ Joan lied.

  Eddie picked his aunt up and sat her back on her chair. ‘Do you want to go home, Auntie?’

  Joanie nodded. ‘I’ve had a wonderful time, but I need me bed now,’ she slurred.

  Vi stood up. She was absolutely furious with Eddie for getting Joanie so drunk. ‘She could have really hurt herself just then!’ Vi turned to her nephew, ‘We’re no spring chickens, ya know. A man of your intelligence should have known better. We’ve got brittle bones at our age, you could have bastard well killed her.’

  Eddie smiled. ‘Joanie’s fine, Vi. She’s had a fantastic birthday lunch, one she’ll never forget.’

  Vi picked up her handbag. ‘I’m coming home with you, Joanie. I’ll stay there with you tonight. I keep reading these stories in the Sun where people who have had too much to drink are dying in their sleep. Apparently, you can choke on your own vomit.’

  Eddie glanced at Ricky and Gary. Vi being involved was not part of their plan. Gary leaped out of his seat and grabbed Joanie’s arm. ‘Me and Rick will take Auntie home, Dad.’

  Vi picked up her handbag. ‘I’m coming with you, Joanie.’

  Joanie turned to her. ‘No, you bloody well ain’t. Last time you stayed round mine, you drove me up the bleedin’ wall. I’m fine now, honest Vi, I just need a little lie down. The boys can take me home and I’ll see you tomorrow at the bingo. I’ll ring you later this evening.’