The Traitor

by Kimberley Chambers

  Larry shook his head. ‘I don’t think I can wangle that one. I can go and see her myself and tell her for you if you want.’

  ‘No, I have to see her myself. Please Larry, this is important to me.’

  Larry picked up his phone. ‘OK, I’ll do my best.’

  Back in Rainham, Jimmy O’Hara was climbing the walls. Years ago, when he was in his prime, he’d been one violent son-of-a-bitch, but splitting up with Alice that time had changed him as a person. To win back his beloved wife, he’d sold his Rolls-Royce, lost his flashness and settled for the quiet life. Today, however, Jimmy felt differently. His favourite grandson had just been brutally murdered and, when he found out who was responsible, he would personally rip their fucking throats out.

  ‘Jimmy, please sit down. You’re making my nerves bad,’ Alice pleaded.

  Jimmy stormed out into the kitchen and urged Billy, Sammy and Jed to do the same. The police had popped round that morning to inform them that they had arrested two men in connection with Lukey boy’s murder. They wouldn’t say who they were, said they had been told not to release any names until the suspects were formally charged.

  Seeing Jed break down again, Jimmy held his son in his arms. ‘Where did Sally go?’ he asked.

  ‘She went home with her dad. I think he made her,’ Jed wept.

  Jimmy led Jed out the back and sat him down on the step. ‘Listen, boy, you’ve gotta be strong for Georgie and Harry’s sake. Them chavvies of yours have barely said a word since yesterday. They saw what happened, remember, they were standing near Luke. You need to comfort ’em, let ’em know everything’s gonna be all right. Harry ate some cornflakes this morning, but Georgie girl still ain’t touched a morsel. You need to be there for ’em, Jed. I know how much you loved Luke, but you’ve got another two that need you as well.’

  Jed nodded and stood up. ‘I’ll go and talk to ’em now, but before I do, can you promise me something?’

  ‘Go on,’ Jimmy said.

  ‘I know you’ve spoken to Pat Murphy and he reckons what happened is fuck-all to do with Eddie Mitchell, but deep down I know it is. When the gavvers tell us who did it, if there’s a link with Eddie, will you help me kill him?’

  Jimmy stood up and put an arm around Jed. ‘With pleasure, son.’

  Larry had had no joy in allowing Eddie to speak to Frankie. Instead it was DI Blyth who came up trumps.

  ‘I can’t leave the pair of you alone, but I’ll stand a few feet away and cover my ears with my hands,’ Blyth said kindly. She liked Frankie, felt sorry for the girl because of the family she’d been born into and the life she’d subsequently endured.

  Eddie felt nervous as Blyth led him towards the cells. He’d never liked the Old Bill – there were too many bent bastards among them – but he had to give credit where it was due.

  ‘Thanks for this. I appreciate it,’ he said awkwardly.

  ‘Frankie’s along there on the right. I’ll leave yous two to it, but you’ve only got five minutes,’ Blyth replied.

  Frankie was gobsmacked to see her father standing a foot away from her. She knew that he would turn up at court and she also knew that he was paying for Larry to represent her, but she hadn’t been in close contact or spoken to him since that night in the restaurant when she’d found out about Gina.

  As stubborn as ever, Frankie glared at him. ‘What do you want?’

  Eddie took a deep breath. He wasn’t good at explanations, and over the years, when it came to the twins, he’d always left that duty to Jessica.

  ‘Look, I know you’re still pissed off about Gina, but I’ve only got five minutes and you need to listen to me, Frankie. Jed’s got Georgie and Harry – he’s had them since you got banged up. Sammy turned up . . .’

  Frankie interrupted him by laughing. ‘And you thought I didn’t already know that? I ain’t stupid, I worked that out last week when I kept ringing Kerry and Joey asking to speak to them and they wasn’t there. Is that all you’ve come to tell me?’

  ‘No, there’s more. Listen, I ain’t good with speeches, so I’m just gonna say this bluntly. Did you hear that Jed’s brother Mark got killed in a road accident?’

  Frankie shook her head, so Eddie explained what had happened. ‘Well, yesterday at his funeral, Luke, Jed’s son, got murdered. The police reckon the bullet was meant for Jed and, before you ask, it was fuck-all to do with me. I was out with the rest of the family celebrating Auntie Joanie’s seventieth birthday. Then this morning I had Larry turn up at my door informing me that the police have arrested your uncles, Paulie and Ronny. And I’m sorry to have to tell you this, sweetheart, but because of what those two prized pricks have done, I don’t think you’re gonna get bail today.’

  Frankie sat in silence for what seemed like ages.

  ‘Hurry up, Eddie. We have to go soon, otherwise my job will be on the line,’ Blyth shouted out.

  Eddie leaned towards Frankie and urged her to do the same. He grabbed her hand. ‘Make sure you get rid of it,’ he whispered.

  ‘Eddie, we must leave now,’ Blyth ordered, marching down the corridor.

  Winking at Frankie, Ed walked away.

  CHAPTER FIFTY

  Alice saw the police car pull up outside and quickly ushered Georgie and Harry upstairs.

  ‘Jimmy, the gavvers are ’ere again. I don’t wanna see ’em, I can’t handle it,’ Aliced yelled.

  Georgie sat on Alice’s bed and put her arm around Harry. Both children were traumatised over the previous day’s events and Georgie knew, being the oldest, it was up to her to do something about it. ‘Nanny, me and Harry don’t want to live here any more. Can we go home to Mummy?’

  Alice put her head in her hands. Luke and Marky’s deaths had not only broken her heart, but spiralled her back into the depths of depression and she couldn’t take much more. She looked up and stared at Georgie as though she were a complete stranger.

  ‘No, you can’t! You ain’t never gonna see that old shitcunt of a mother of yours again. This is your home now, with me, your dad, and your grandad, so best you fucking get used to it.’

  Downstairs, Jimmy, Sammy, Jed and Billy were standing in the living room opposite the Old Bill.

  ‘For fuck’s sake get to the point. Who’s been charged?’ Jimmy shouted.

  DS Shreeves glanced at his colleague. The whole of the Essex Murder Squad were aware that once the names of Luke’s killers were disclosed, a bloodbath would be sure to follow.

  ‘The two men that we’ve charged are Paul and Ronald Mitchell.’

  Jed immediately went berserk. ‘The fucking cunts! I’m gonna kill ’em. I’ll burn the whole family alive while they beg for mercy!’ he screamed, smashing his fists against the wall.

  Not wanting his son to get himself nicked, Jimmy pushed the coppers out of the room. ‘He don’t mean nothing he says. Jed’s just upset, I’ll keep him in order.’

  Shreeves nodded. He had no intention of arresting Jed. Years ago he’d been attacked by a gang of travellers and had been extremely wary of them ever since.

  ‘If you need to speak to us, or you want some counselling for your family, you know where we are,’ he said, as Jimmy opened the front door.

  Slamming the door behind Shreeves, Jimmy leaned against it and caught his breath. He’d really enjoyed the quiet life. Retiring from the underworld and spending time with Alice had been a blessing in disguise. Now Luke had been murdered, everything was different. Respected in the travelling community, Jimmy was now left with only one option. He had to come out of retirement and get revenge.

  Over at Chelmsford Crown Court, Joyce sat in the gallery next to Joey and Dominic. She and Stanley had had an enormous row earlier over what he’d said to Joey about Eddie and, like a sulky child, her husband had then refused to come to the bail hearing. Joyce was furious over Stanley’s behaviour, but still managed a wave and a smile as Eddie, Raymond, Gary and Ricky walked in. All that mattered today was getting Frankie home where she belonged, Stanley could be dealt with lat
er.

  Eddie sat directly behind Joyce and Joey and put an arm round each of them. He had been hoping to arrive before his son and mother-in-law, so he could speak to her outside but, due to an accident on the A130, and his insistence to speak to Frankie personally, his good intentions had been hampered.

  ‘I’ve got some bad news,’ he whispered.

  Joey turned to face him with a startled expression. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘I don’t think Frankie is going to get bail today. Did you hear about the murder in Upminster yesterday?’

  Joyce nodded. ‘We saw it on the news. Joey said the kid was Jed’s.’

  Eddie nodded. ‘Well, it turns out that my stupid fucking brothers did it.’

  ‘What, Uncle Paulie and Ronny?’ Joey asked dumbly. His dad only had two brothers, therefore it couldn’t be anybody else.

  ‘What’s that got to do with Frankie?’ Joyce whispered.

  ‘The family link, I suppose. She might still get bail, but because of those two imbeciles, it now looks extremely doubtful,’ Ed explained.

  ‘Does Frankie know all this? I spoke to her a couple of nights ago and she was upbeat about coming home,’ Joey asked.

  ‘Yes, I was allowed to have five minutes with her in the cell. She also knows that Jed has got the kids. There’s no point in lying any more if she can’t get bail.’

  Joyce put her head in her hands. Frankie having to stay in prison was awful, but having to admit to Stanley that the murder had a link to Eddie was even worse.

  Frankie had a manic expression on her face as she was led into the dock. She looked into the gallery and glared at her family. Locking eyes with Joey, she quickly averted her own. As for Kerry, she couldn’t even look at her.

  While her bail application was addressed, Frankie stared at the floor. There was no point in taking much interest when she’d already been told the outcome. Listening to her legal team drone on, Frankie clenched her fists. If she was heading back to Holloway, smashing Killer’s face in was her first port of call.

  When the words, ‘Application for bail rejected,’ were shouted, Frankie immediately started to laugh.

  ‘Wankers! You’re all a bunch of wankers,’ she screamed.

  The judge was appalled. ‘Control your language, Miss Mitchell. This is a courtroom, please.’

  Frankie ignored his obvious warning and continued shouting. ‘I want everybody to know that I’m glad Jed’s son got murdered. I’ve already lost my babies and now that bastard knows what it feels like to lose one as well. Jed is evil – he’s a fucking traitor.’

  The judge was disgusted by Frankie’s behaviour. Red in the face, he turned to his colleagues. ‘Take her down,’ he bellowed.

  When the officials tried to restrain her, Frankie let out a blood-curdling scream and DI Blyth jumped out of her seat. ‘Be gentle with her, she’s eighteen weeks pregnant and she isn’t well,’ she said, voicing her concern.

  ‘Oh, my gawd! She’s gone off her rocker, Eddie. Do something,’ Joyce pleaded as Frankie was bundled off.

  Eddie gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. ‘She’ll be fine, Joycie, I know she will.’

  Joey was in tears and being consoled by Dominic and Kerry. ‘I love you, Frankie. Please ring me as soon as you get a chance. I’m sorry for not telling you about Georgie and Harry, so is Kerry. We’re sorry for everything,’ he cried.

  When Frankie disappeared out of sight, Eddie led his family outside the court.

  ‘I don’t think she’s gonna cope, Dad,’ Gary said bluntly.

  Ricky and Raymond both agreed, but Eddie saw things differently.

  ‘My Frankie’s made of strong stuff. She has the Mitchell temperament and my blood running through her veins. Of course she’ll cope,’ he insisted.

  Ricky tapped his father on the shoulder. ‘Dad, Larry wants a word with you.’

  Eddie walked towards him. ‘What’s up?’ he asked, as he saw the bleak expression on Larry’s face.

  ‘I’ve just had another phone call. Your not-so-bright brothers have also just been charged with killing Jimmy O’Hara’s son, Mark.’

  ‘What?’ Eddie said in absolute astonishment.

  ‘A witness came forward, Ed. Ronny and Paulie apparently used the same car to run Mark O’Hara off the road as they used when they shot Luke.’

  Eddie crouched down with his head in his hands. Luke being murdered by Paulie and Ronny was bad enough, but Mark being topped by them as well was going to cause the type of repercussions he’d never had to deal with before. This would create the feud of all bloody feuds.

  Seeing their father crouched down, Gary and Ricky ran over to him. ‘What’s wrong?’

  Eddie looked up and shook his head. ‘Everything’s wrong. Fucking everything! We’re in big danger now, boys, all of us are.’

  Unaware that her uncles had also been charged with the murder of Jed’s brother, Frankie was in the back of a meat wagon on her way back to Holloway. Feeling her baby move again, she put her hand on her tummy. When she’d lost her rag in court, her baby had been kicking her good and proper, and she wondered if he or she was going to be a fiery one like she and her dad were.

  Seeing one of the screws looking at her, Frankie poked her tongue out and started to sing. She smiled as the officer looked away. The bloke obviously thought she was loopy, and that was the bloody plan. Her dad handing her that folded-up letter in the cell had not only meant the world to Frankie, but had also given her hope for the future. Obviously, she was gutted that she hadn’t got bail and she was also concerned over Georgie and Harry’s welfare, but knowing Jed had now suffered the same kind of heartbreak that he’d put her and her family through made her feel a whole lot better.

  Finding out that Jed had murdered her grandfather had been the worst moment of Frankie’s life. Even Killer’s brutal assault didn’t match up to that, and what she had shouted in court, Frankie had meant. She was really glad that Luke was dead. It was payback for the evil bastard that had fathered him.

  Thinking of her own dad again, Frankie wondered if she should tell him the truth now. Apart from Kerry, nobody knew the real reason why she’d stabbed Jed, and now she hadn’t got bail and was looking at a long stretch, it might do her a favour to let the cat out of the bag. Her dad would definitely sort things out once he knew the truth, but he might do something rash and she didn’t want to see him get banged up again.

  Seeing the same prison officer glance her way again, Frankie began to giggle. ‘You are a bunch of cunts, doo-dah, doo-dah. You are a bunch of cunts doo-dah, doo-dah day,’ she chanted.

  Hearing the words, ‘Hospital wing,’ whispered, Frankie smiled inwardly. She thought of her father’s letter again. Three times she’d read it before she’d chewed it up and she had memorised every sentence.

  Dear Frankie,

  I am not very good with words, so I thought I’d speak to you by letter instead. I know you were pissed off about me and Gina, and I’m sorry you found out the way you did. I should have been more of a man and told you, but because I know you have a temper like me, I didn’t have the guts. I need you to know that even though Gina is special to me, nobody will ever replace your mother in my eyes. I loved your mum from the day I first met her and I will never love another woman like I loved her.

  Now that’s been said, I have things to say to you, Frankie. From the day you were born you have always been the apple of my eye. You are my only daughter and I love you more than you will ever know. Out of all my children, you are the one that is most similar to me. Don’t get me wrong, I love your brothers just as much, but me and you have that special bond. We always have, and we always will.

  Which brings me to Jed. Do not worry or fret, because your dad will see to things, I promise you that. Georgie and Harry will be fine, trust me, and even though you haven’t got bail today, your QC will get you off with this, I know he will.

  I need you to be strong for me, Frankie. I don’t know who your cellmates are, but if you don’t like the
m, act like a loony and get yourself put in the hospital wing. You’ll be safer in there and so will your baby.

  I think I’ve said everything I need to say for now. Chin up, and I’ll see you soon, darling. Ring me, and send me a visiting order and we can talk more.

  Love always,

  Dad

  PS CHEW THIS PAPER UP AND TRY TO SWALLOW IT. IF YOU CAN’T, MAKE SURE IT’S UNREADABLE.

  Clocking the screw staring at her yet again, Frankie broke into song once more. ‘God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save our Queen. Send her victorious . . .’

  ‘Please shut up,’ the screw said.

  Frankie shook her head and stared at him with a psychotic expression. ‘Happy and glorious, long to reign over us, God save the Queen.’

  As the screw glanced at his female colleague, Frankie smirked. She wasn’t mad – anything but. She was cleverer than most people and so she should be.

  After all, she was Eddie Mitchell’s daughter.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Table of Contents

  About the Author

  Also by Kimberley Chambers

  The Traitor

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Acknowledgements

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen