‘No, nothing like that,’ said Guptar. ‘They’re always doing it. They come in and buy their beer, then sit out back drinking it. And when they start getting drunk, they think it’s funny to knock on the back door and shout things. You know what kids are like. It’s not serious.’
‘Shouting things?’
‘You know, the usual. “Piss off back to Paki-land”, “Paki bastards” – the usual rubbish.’
‘So they’ve never threatened you or your family? Never said anything that worried or annoyed you?’
Guptar snorted. ‘If I got wound up by every piece of white trash that called us names, I’d be in an early grave!’
‘Like your uncle?’ said Jackson quietly.
‘Is this some kind of a joke?’ Guptar demanded. ‘You think my uncle was shot through the head by some kid, just because they called us names and we chased them away? They were always doing it! Don’t you think they’d have shot him before now if they were capable of that?’
‘Depends how angry they were about being chased away that particular time,’ Jackson countered.
‘They weren’t angry,’ another voice said. ‘They were laughing, as they usually were at the climax of their night. They knew what would happen, just as it did every other time. It was a game to them. Cat and mouse.’
Jackson hadn’t heard Ranjit come in. He acknowledged him with a nod, waiting until he’d put down the boxes he was carrying before asking, ‘I believe you were also here when this gang was arguing with your uncle? Is there anything you can add? Your brother doesn’t think it was in any way related to the murder a few hours later.’
‘Neither do I,’ said Ranjit, wiping his hands on a small towel. ‘They’re just kids who got a kick out of winding my uncle up, that’s all.’
Jackson pulled the print of the two girls together from the folder and held it out towards Ranjit. ‘Do you recognize either of these girls?’
‘Yes, both of them.’ Ranjit nodded. ‘The blonde’s part of the gang we were just talking about, and the other’s a regular customer. Why? What have they got to do with anything?’
‘Do you know their names, or where they live?’
‘The blonde’s called Elaine,’ Ranjit told him. ‘She lives with one of the lads in the gang. Tommy, I think his name is, but I’m not sure. They’ve got a flat in Trent Court, the flats across the way. You don’t think she had anything to do with this, do you?’
‘What about the other girl?’ Jackson asked, ignoring the question.
‘Em, Susan, or Suzanne, something like that,’ Ranjit said. ‘She lives somewhere over that side.’ He pointed through the back wall in the direction of the Crescents. ‘Nice girl, very polite.’ He handed the print back. ‘But I still don’t understand why you’re interested in them.’
‘I’m not, not specifically,’ said Jackson guardedly. ‘I’m just trying to fit some pieces together.’
‘Yeah! Adding one and one and coming up with five, instead of chasing the people responsible!’ Guptar butted in angrily.
‘I assure you we’re doing everything we can to trace whoever murdered your uncle, Mr Singh,’ Jackson snapped at him. ‘And in doing so, we have to follow up every lead, however small.’
‘And you’re saying one of those leads has led you to investigate these girls?’ Ranjit interjected, eager to clarify the matter in his own mind – and shut his excitable brother up at the same time.
Jackson pushed himself to his feet. ‘No, Mr Singh. I’m not saying we’re investigating them. I’m saying it’s been drawn to my attention that one of them was involved in an argument with your uncle on the night he was murdered. To eliminate her, I need to question her. Nothing more sinister than that. I’m hoping she may be able to tell us if she saw anyone suspicious hanging about at the time.’
The explanation was plausible and both Guptar and Ranjit settled visibly as they accepted it. Jackson was relieved. The last thing he wanted was for the family to think they were accusing the girls. That could be very tricky. He knew they’d be out for revenge when they found out who it was, and it was his job to keep such information from them until they had their suspect – or suspects – safely locked up.
‘Well, I won’t take up any more of your time, gentlemen,’ he said at last. ‘I’ll be in touch as soon as we have anything to tell you, and please don’t hesitate to contact me if you hear anything. Good afternoon.’
He inclined his head to the men and walked towards the door. Reaching for the handle, he stopped and turned back.
‘Oh, by the way – just out of interest, where did you say your other shop was?’
21
Even as Suzie was being discussed by the police, her own thoughts were on them – how she’d like nothing better than to walk into the station and tell them exactly what she knew. It would be the ultimate payback for what Mal had done to her. If he’d left it at just the one time with Elaine, she might, in time, have found it in her heart to forgive him. But it had taken all of two days for him to slip back into his old way of talking down to her. And she knew for a fact that the three of them were still at it. Only now, instead of doing it at Mal’s place, they sloped off to Lee’s flat. Did they really think she didn’t know?
There were two major problems with grassing them up. The first was her own involvement. She wasn’t so stupid that she didn’t know that what she’d done in going to collect first the mask, then Lee made her an accessory. She’d be putting herself at a very real risk of going to prison for the part she’d played.
The second was what it would do to Ged and Sam – and then, of course, to Wendy and the kids. She knew she couldn’t do something like that to them. Much as she’d like to go and inform on Mal and Lee, she knew for a fact that they wouldn’t go down without making sure Ged and Sam went with them.
Sam and Ged were upsetting her too at the moment, but not enough to make her grass them up. It was the way they were treating Elaine. She’d thought they hated her as much as she did, but ever since they’d found out that Lee had told her about Pasha, they’d been really nice to her.
‘Oi!’ Mal interrupted her thoughts. ‘I thought I told you to make a brew! Gawd! You’re going fucking deaf, you are!’
Suzie gritted her teeth as Elaine squealed with laughter. She was a permanent fixture now, having ‘moved in’ with Lee – which was a laugh, seeing as he seemed to have moved in with Suzie and Mal! And now she squealed about everything. How much she loved this flat. How she simply couldn’t imagine how she survived before she came here. And how much she loved being Suzie’s ‘bestest friend’!
Yeah! Such a good friend that she laughed every time Mal made a crack like that!
Pushing herself to her feet, Suzie went to put the kettle on – shooting a killer spark of hatred at Elaine on the way. Not that the thick-skinned cow even noticed!
As she prepared the cups, she slipped into a dark fantasy of revenge. She had got to the point of visualizing herself pouring petrol over them all while they slept and striking the match when Mal yelled at her from the living room.
‘Oi! What you doing in there? Sewing the fucking tea bags up, or what?’
Suzie’s nostrils flared. ‘Won’t be a minute,’ she called back, hissing ‘Bastard!’ under her breath.
Pulling the cupboard door open, her hand hovered over the packet of laxative powders she kept at the back. A nasty grin crept across her face as she read the word ‘Flavourless’.
Sam ran his hands through his hair and prepared to be blasted. He’d finally told Wendy about Elaine knowing everything, and she was absolutely furious.
‘How could you be so bloody stupid?’ she screamed at him. ‘Of all the imbecilic, moronic . . . crazy things to do!’
‘It wasn’t me,’ he muttered. ‘It was Lee and Mal.’
‘So why didn’t you stop them?’ she demanded. ‘You must have known they were going to do it? Why didn’t you make sure they kept shtum? Bloody hell! You’re such a goddamned idiot, Sam! And I th
ought Ged had more sense!’
Upstairs, the baby began to wail.
‘Jeezus!’ she hissed. ‘Great timing that brat’s got!’
‘That’s enough, Wendy,’ Sam said, his voice low.
She wheeled on him, her eyes narrowed with disbelief. ‘What did you say?’
Sam looked up at her slowly, and for the first time ever, wanted with all his heart to slap her stupid! He’d had about all he could take. The way she talked down to him was so ingrained by now that it was like second nature to hear it. But it was the way she spoke to and about the baby he couldn’t stomach.
‘I said that’s enough!’ he repeated slowly. ‘Enough of throwing your weight around all the goddamned time, and enough of slagging me off for things that have got nothing to do with me. But especially enough of blaming everyone else for every little thing that happens!’
‘And just what is that supposed to mean?’ she hissed. ‘Do I have to remind you that I was the one who tried to stop you getting involved in this in the first place? Have you forgotten that it was me – me – who got this house sorted out? Not you! And now, because of you—’
Sam jumped to his feet and lunged towards her. Pushing her down on a chair, he towered over her, forcing her to crane her head back as she tried to face him down. Well, not this time.
‘Isn’t it about time you got off that fucking pedestal you’ve built for yourself?’ he spat into her face, punctuating his words with a few vicious prods in the shoulder. ‘Never a day goes by without you reminding me how much you’ve done for me, and how little I give in return! You think you got this house all by yourself, but you seem to forget the council gave it to us. Us, you hear? Because we were having a baby. A baby I helped create, in case you think you did that all by yourself as well? And while we’re on the subject of the baby,’ he went on furiously. ‘Her name is Melissa! Remember? Mel-is-sa! Not “brat”! And if I ever hear you talk to her like that again, so help me, Wendy, I’ll shut your nasty mouth once and for all!’
Wendy sat stock-still, her mouth gaping, as Sam stormed out of the house. How dare he speak to her like that! Of all the ungrateful . . .
Outside, Sam leaped into his car, shaking with rage. It had been a long time coming, but he’d finally got it said – and he’d meant every word. If he had to listen to one more of her diatribes he’d cheerfully strangle her. And if she carried on treating Melissa like a little sack of shit that had been flung on her to blight her life – he’d kill her! Sure, she fed her, bathed her and changed her nappies. But that was all she did. He’d never once since she came home seen Wendy cuddle her, or kiss her. And he’d never heard her call her by the name they’d eventually chosen. At best she said ‘she’ or ‘her’. But today was by no means the first time she’d called her ‘that brat’.
In fact, ever since she’d come home, Wendy had been treating all the kids badly, and if she didn’t stop – and quick! – he’d take them all over to his mum’s and apply for custody.
With this settled in his head, he started the car and roared away from the kerb. He hoped Ged was at Mal’s when he got there. He’d help him put things into perspective. He was the only person in the world who understood how he felt about his kids.
The further Sam got away from the house, the more he felt the tension ease. He let his breath hiss out long and hard between his teeth. He’d never thought it possible to love someone as absolutely as he’d loved Wendy – to adore them, even when they treated you so badly you forgot what it meant to be a man. And he’d certainly never thought it possible for anything to kill that love. But that was starting to happen. Seeing her hold their beautiful, innocent baby at arm’s length as she fed her, refusing to meet the child’s searching eyes, had filled him with such rage, he doubted if he could ever feel the same way about his wife again.
But he knew he’d have to tread carefully now that he’d antagonized her. She had an awful lot of information about his activities on Sunday night. If she wanted to, she could blow him sky-high.
Ged arrived ten minutes before Sam. The second he stepped in, he was almost knocked off his feet by Mal hurtling around the corner, racing Lee to the toilet.
‘What’s going on?’ he asked Suzie. She smiled but didn’t answer.
Elaine greeted him weakly from the couch where she was rocking herself backwards and forwards, clutching at her stomach. Then, looking beyond him to Suzie, her face pained, her voice desperate, she said, ‘Have they finished yet? I don’t think I can hold it much longer.’
‘Well, you’ll just have to!’ Suzie snapped – so sharply that Ged shot an enquiring look at her.
When Suzie turned then and gave him a sweet smile, he wondered if he’d walked onto the set of The Stepford Wives.
Elaine started groaning. ‘Ooohh . . . Aaawwhhh! It’s terrible! Tell ’em to hurry up, Sooze. Please! I’m desperate!’
Suzie rolled her eyes and sat down.
‘What’s wrong with everyone?’ Ged asked.
‘Sumfink we ate!’ Elaine moaned. ‘Oh, gawd! It’s ’orrible!’
Sam arrived just as Mal and Lee limped back into the living room. Elaine barged straight through them, heading for the foul-smelling bathroom at a run. Sam gave Ged a puzzled look.
‘Don’t ask!’ Ged warned him.
Mal, looking very sorry for himself, slumped onto his chair. ‘Ere, doll . . .’ he called to Suzie. ‘Go down the shops and get us something, will you? I feel like shit!’
‘You mean you feel like having a shit!’ Lee joked feebly from the couch. ‘Oh, me poor arse. It feels like it’s on fire!’
‘Thanks, Lee!’ Sam groaned. ‘Just what I wanted to hear!’
‘It does!’ Lee protested. ‘It’s like when you’ve had a biryani and thirty lagers and end up with the raging trots. Only I ain’t had no biryani, just tea. Can you get the shits off tea?’
‘Shut up, will you!’ Mal snapped. ‘I’m trying not to bleedin’ think about it. How long’s that silly cow gonna be in there?’
Lee pushed himself to his feet. ‘I’ll go and ask her.’
‘Oh, God!’ Sam said in disgust. ‘Can’t you just leave her alone for a minute!’
‘She might let me in,’ Lee said hopefully. ‘We could have half the bog each!’
‘You’re such a disgusting little pig!’ Suzie said nastily.
Lee was stunned. He just couldn’t get used to Suzie being nasty to him – and she was still smiling, which unnerved him even more. He slumped back down onto the couch. ‘I’ll just wait, eh?’
Sam exchanged a curious glance with Ged as he sat down beside him. Ged shrugged lightly. Suzie was acting strangely, there was no denying that. These idiots must have pissed her off. Best if he and Sam stayed out of it.
‘I’ve just had a row with Wendy,’ Sam told him quietly. ‘I wanted a bit of advice.’
‘You’ve been upsetting Wendy when she’s only just come home?’ Suzie cut in sharply. ‘Typical!’
Sam looked at her, puzzled by her reaction. ‘I didn’t mean to,’ he protested weakly. ‘But you know what she’s like. I told her something she didn’t want to hear and she completely lost it.’
‘Huh!’ Suzie muttered. ‘I bet!’
‘Oi!’ Mal snapped at her. ‘What the fuck’s got into you lately? You’re being a right sarky little bitch. Now belt up, or I’ll give you what for!’
‘I’m sure she didn’t mean anything,’ Sam said, jumping to her defence.
‘Yeah?’ Mal snarled. ‘Well, I reckon she did! She’s been making cracks for days now.’ He turned to glare at Suzie, saying, ‘And she’d better bleeding stop it, ’cos it’s doing me head in! Oi!’ he yelled at her. ‘Are you bleeding listening?’
‘Sorry? Were you talking to me?’ Suzie looked over at him innocently.
‘What the fuck kind of game are you playing?’ Mal screeched, clutching his stomach. ‘I’m telling you, girl! Push me too far, and I’ll pan your bloody face in!’
Elaine came hobbling back f
rom the bathroom. Immediately, Mal and Lee jumped up and raced for the door, jamming themselves shoulder to shoulder for a second, until Mal got himself free and forced Lee back.
‘Sorry for snapping at you, Sam,’ Suzie said, feeling guilty for making him look sad. None of this was his fault.
‘It’s okay,’ he said. ‘I’ll make a brew, eh?’ Jumping up, he headed for the kitchen to escape the madness, calling over his shoulder: ‘Anyone else want one?’
‘No!’ Elaine moaned.
‘Don’t talk to me about tea!’ Lee said, hobbling back to the couch. ‘It’s running out of me like water!’
When Sam was washing the cups out, he spotted the powder residue at the bottom of one. He peered at it, tipping the cup towards the light, and suddenly realized what was going on. Suzie heard his laugh and smiled to herself. She heard the cupboard door open as Sam looked to confirm his suspicion.
‘Here, Ged!’ he shouted moments later. ‘Come and give us a hand, mate!’
Mal came back just then, his pale face glistening with sweat. ‘Suzie,’ he moaned. ‘Go and get me something, can’t you? We’re supposed to be going to look for Linda, but I can’t go like this. Tell them you need something to stop diarrhoea, and hurry up. I’m dying!’
‘Don’t be such a drama queen!’ Suzie snapped, grabbing her coat and walking out as Mal stared open-mouthed at her retreating back.
Suzie took her time strolling to the shop. When she got there, she walked slowly down the first aisle, picking up items here and there and studying their labels intently. She was determined not to hurry back. She wanted Mal, Lee and Elaine to suffer for a bit longer. She walked up and down each aisle several times, stopping to look at everything, picking up a few bits and pieces along the way. Shampoo, toothpaste, toilet rolls!
She smiled as she popped this into the basket, enjoying the small revenge. Just part payment for what they’d done to her. She only hoped Sam wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag while she was out, or Mal would be doubly bad when he recovered.
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