The Goldsworth Series Box Set

by Davie J Toothill

  When the officers left, she would be alone in the flat that had once been crowded with her children. Trent and Jessie were gone. Troy was in prison, and now it looked like Tyrese was heading that way too.

  The police had said he was being charged with murder. Keskia thought of Tyrese’s promise not to retaliate for Trent’s death, that he was going straight and would not land himself in any more trouble.

  He had lied to her, and Keskia felt like a fool for believing him. She had raised a thug, incapable of being honest or cleaning up his act.

  Now she had two killers for sons.

  The kettle boiled but she made no effort to reach for it. She broke down in tears, leaning against the kitchen counter for support. She put her hands over her face and cried.

  * * *

  Sanjay rejected another call from Fernanda and looked at his brother.

  “You saw Jayden’s body?” he asked, shaking his head. This had not been part of the plan. “Did the police talk to you? What was going on when you got there?”

  Amal shrugged, and Sanjay saw that his brother looked tired. Perhaps they had all had a sleepless night. Naz had bags under his eyes and nursed his coffee in his hands.

  “They didn’t say anything, but Scarlett answered their questions before I got there,” Amal said. “Shontelle spoke to her when we got home. She saw the body, but she didn’t see anything else.”

  “Are you sure?” Naz asked, anxious, leaning forward.

  Sanjay shot him a warning look. His cousin’s jittery behaviour was starting to piss him off.

  “Yeah, she’s upset, but she didn’t see anything,” Amal reassured them. “Just the body.”

  “That’s something at least,” Sanjay muttered.

  “Brandy was there too,” Amal said. “Talking to the police.”

  “Brandy Mason?” Sanjay groaned. “Shit.”

  “Was that part of your plan too?” Amal asked. Naz looked up, eyes widening.

  “You trusted her with something like this?” Naz gasped, panicking.

  “Don’t be stupid,” Sanjay snapped at him, and Naz looked down at the table, “She helped me out, that’s all. She got us Tyrese’s phone and kept him busy.”

  “Shit,” Amal groaned. “She’s a lot of things, but she’s not stupid. She’ll figure it out, if she hasn’t already.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” Sanjay said, his mind racing. “She won’t say anything. If anyone has a grudge against the Banks brothers, it’s her.”

  “She stabbed her own boyfriend in the back and grassed him up,” Amal pointed out, looking worried now. “She won’t think twice about grassing you up.”

  “Tyrese got arrested earlier this morning,” Sanjay told them. He saw the surprise on both of their faces. “If she’d grassed us up, the police wouldn’t have gone after Tyrese.”

  His phone began to ring, and everyone jumped. He groaned, rejecting a call from Fernanda. She had been calling all morning, but he could not handle a conversation with her. He did not want her involved in all of this. He could explain it all later, when the situation had cooled down.

  “There’s no need to worry,” Sanjay said, looking from Amal to Naz. “Jayden is dead. Tyrese has been arrested. We couldn’t have planned it any better.”

  He smiled at them, but neither of them smiled back at him.

  * * *

  Scarlett could not shake the image of the body lying on the playground floor.

  When she closed her eyes, his face appeared out of the darkness, eyes closed, the dark hole in his forehead, black blood congealing around the wound, trickling down the sides of his face and thickening at his hairline.

  “Do you want another orange juice?” Shontelle asked, sticking her head around the bedroom door. Scarlett shook her head, ignoring the concern on her sister’s face.

  She had barely had a moment to herself since Shontelle and Amal had brought her back home last night. She appreciated her sister’s concern, but it was fast becoming smothering. Scarlett wanted things to go back to normal, to forget what she had seen, and her sister was not helping.

  When their dad had left for work this morning, Shontelle had promised him she would keep a close eye on her, and Scarlett wished that she had not taken the promise so seriously. Whenever she felt herself beginning to relax, Shontelle burst in and reminded her that she was in shock.

  Shontelle reluctantly retreated from the doorway, and Scarlett leant back against the pillows on her bed. She picked up her phone and messaged Kojo.

  If anyone could help her relax, it was him.

  * * *

  “Where were you last night?” the officer asked. His hands were resting on the table, at ease, and Tyrese wished he could be so calm.

  “I’ve already told you,” he said, his frustration growing. “I was with Brandy.”

  The officer sighed, shaking his head, as if disappointed with the answer.

  Tyrese had spent all morning in the hot, windowless interview room. He had answered their questions, but he was getting nowhere. He had hoped this would all be cleared up fast, that they would let him go with an apology. Apparently not.

  “We’ve spoken to Brandy Mason,” the officer said. “Now, I’ll ask you again, Mr Banks. Where were you?”

  “If you’ve spoken to her, then you should know already,” Tyrese snapped.

  “You weren’t with her,” the officer said. “Should I tell you what I think?”

  Tyrese rolled his eyes.

  “I think you had a few drinks after your brother’s funeral,” the officer said, leaning forward now. “You messaged Jayden Healy and told him to meet you. We’ve checked his phone, so we’ve seen your message.”

  Tyrese sat up straighter, muscles tensing.

  “I lost my phone yesterday,” he said.

  “How convenient,” the officer said, almost amused. “You messaged Jayden and arranged a meeting. You waited in the playground for him, and you shot him.”

  “No, I didn’t kill him -”

  “You wanted payback for your brother’s shooting, didn’t you?” the officer pressed him. He was talking fast now, as if trying to catch Tyrese off guard, provoke a confession. “You and Jayden Healy have history, don’t you? All that history, all the anger and resentment. Trent’s shooting was the final straw. It’s a lot for anyone to take. You snapped. It happens. Lying won’t help you now, will it, Tyrese?”

  Tyrese sensed the net closing in. Whoever had killed Jayden had worked hard to make sure he was firmly in the frame for the shooting. All he needed was Brandy to tell the truth, and he would be cleared. Perhaps she was scared. He could not blame her, but he had to speak to her, to persuade her to give him an alibi.

  “Come on, Tyrese,” the officer pushed him. “We can keep this simple. Let’s drop the act. When you went to meet Jayden Healy, did you intend to kill him?”

  Tyrese closed his eyes, willing the officer to stop talking. He knew this was hopeless. The police had made up their minds that he was guilty. That was exactly what whoever had killed Jayden had wanted.

  “I want a lawyer,” Tyrese said.

  The officer sighed.

  “That’s your right,” he shrugged. “We’ll talk soon, Mr Banks.”

  He terminated the interview and left the room. Alone, Tyrese put his head in his hands.

  He wanted this over with. He would get his lawyer to have a word with Brandy, and then this would all be done with. He tried not to think about what would happen if Brandy refused to back up his story.

  * * *

  Brandy felt her hands shaking as she opened the front door for the police officers. The two officers stepped out of the flat.

  “Thank you for your assistance,” one of the officers said, offering a smile. “If you think of anything else, you have our number. Stay safe, Miss Mason.”

  Brandy nodded and closed the door to their retreating backs. Letting out a deep breath, she tried to compose herself. She had answered their questions again, and she hoped that she wo
uld not have another visit from the police.

  Letting go of the door, she steadied herself and turned to find Aunt Bo fixing her with a scrutinising look.

  “What was that about?” she asked. “What trouble have you got yourself into now? First that boyfriend of yours, then that business with the courts. Are you being sent back to prison, Brandy, is that what this is?”

  “No, don’t be stupid,” Brandy groaned.

  “I thought you might have learnt from your mistakes,” Aunt Bo sighed, shaking her head. “I hoped perhaps prison would straighten you out, or at least having a son would, but you just can’t stay out of trouble, can you girl?”

  “It’s not like that,” Brandy snapped. “I’m not going back to prison.”

  Even as she said it, she wondered what the police would do if they realised she had lied in her statement. They had asked about Tyrese. He had told them that he was with her, and she had denied it. If they found out she had lied, what trouble would she face? She tried not to think about it.

  “Are the pigs gone?” Deanna asked, opening her bedroom door a crack and peering out. Reassured that they had, she opened the door wider. She glared at Brandy. “Bringing those bastards here, to my home. Are you stupid?”

  “I didn’t exactly invite them round for a cuppa,” Brandy replied.

  “You keep your head down,” Deanna said, ignoring her. “I don’t want them round here again, you hear me? What will the fucking neighbours think?”

  She shook her head and went into the kitchen, muttering under her breath.

  “I need a drink after all that,” Deanna said, as bottles clinked. “Look what you’ve driven me to. It’s not even midday and I’m having to have a vodka.”

  Brandy rolled her eyes and ignored her.

  “What kind of example are you setting for your son?” Aunt Bo asked, resuming her lecture now that Deanna was preoccupied. “Brandy, you need to take some responsibility. You can’t live your life this way, it’s not right.”

  Brandy went into her bedroom and closed the door, blocking out the sound of her aunt’s voice. Music started up from the kitchen, drowning out the lecture.

  * * *

  Troy tried to keep his resolve.

  He sat in the canteen and watched Goldie from across the room. He would pay him back, he was certain of that much. He just needed to wait for the right time.

  His body still ached and reminded him of the humiliation that he had been subjected to. He would not stand for it. He was Troy Banks. He would not be weak anymore. He picked at his lunch, his appetite gone.

  Goldie glanced over his shoulder, catching his eye, and sniggered, his mates laughing along with him. Troy felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment. They found it so hilarious, he thought, but he would wipe the laughter from their faces.

  He dropped his plastic fork to the tray, giving up on trying to eat anything. He could not stomach much today.

  Picking up his tray, he crossed the canteen, avoiding looking over at Goldie. He wondered how many people knew about his ordeal, if everyone in the room was laughing at him behind his back.

  Tossing his tray, Troy left the canteen, thinking over how he would get his revenge and wipe the smug look of Goldie’s face.

  * * *

  Kojo knocked on the front door and frowned when Shontelle answered.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, unwelcoming, blocking his entrance.

  “Scarlett invited me over,” Kojo said, feeling a flash of irritation that he had to explain himself to her. “She told me about last night.”

  “Then you should know she needs rest,” Shontelle said. “You can see her another time.”

  Kojo swallowed down his growing frustration. Who did she think she was?

  “Maybe we should ask Scarlett,” he said, making no move to leave. Shontelle crossed her arms, lips thinning.

  “You should leave,” she said. “My sister doesn’t need you.”

  “Why did she text me then?”

  “She doesn’t know what’s good for her right now,” Shontelle said.

  “And you do?” Kojo snorted, shaking his head. He took a step forward. “I’m seeing Scarlett. Today. Right now.”

  Shontelle’s eyes narrowed at the tone of his voice.

  “Is that a threat?” she asked. She did not sound intimidated.

  “Only if you don’t get out of my way,” Kojo said, his temper rising. She made to close the door, but he stuck his foot in the way. Shontelle glanced down at his trainer blocking it.

  Kojo pushed hard with his shoulder and the door bounced open. Shontelle was caught off balance and cursed as he stepped into the hallway. She grabbed at him, but Kojo shrugged out of her clasp, wincing as one of her fingernails caught his hand, drawing blood.

  “I told you to get out,” Shontelle was shouting, following him down the corridor. “If you don’t leave, I’ll -”

  “Shut up,” Kojo snapped, “You won’t do shit.”

  Scarlett’s bedroom door opened, and she joined them in the hallway, surprised by the commotion. She looked at her sister and scowled.

  “What are you playing at?” Scarlett asked.

  “I tried to stop him,” Shontelle said, exasperated. “He pushed me, and -”

  “I invited him over,” Scarlett said. She looked at Kojo apologetically, and he shrugged. She saw the blood on his hand and gasped. “What happened?” She turned on her sister. “Did you do this?”

  Shontelle glanced at Kojo’s hand, frowning.

  “It was an accident,” she dismissed her. She glared at Kojo. “You need to leave.”

  Kojo bit his tongue, his body shaking with anger.

  “Come on, Scarlett,” he said. “If you sister doesn’t want me here, we should go.”

  Shontelle protested, but Scarlett was following Kojo down the corridor to the front door. He threw the door open, almost ripping it off the hinges in his anger. He took Scarlett’s hand in his, leading her away from the flat.

  * * *

  Zoe sat at her kitchen table and stared at the letter she had just opened.

  It was something she had been dreading. She had seen the prison stamp on the envelope and with shaking hands, she had opened it. The letter had proved her worst fears. Dante Cortez must know the truth, must know about Sienna, that she was his daughter. Her heart pounded at the thought that her secret was out.

  Her mind raced as she tried to figure out how he had found out. Somebody must have told him, but she did not know who. Only a few people knew. She had told a few of the girls. She did not know who she could trust now.

  She should have kept her mouth shut and told nobody, Zoe thought, but it was too late for that now. Dante knew the truth, that was the only explanation she could think of for why he would send her a visiting order.

  The thought of visiting him scared her. She could barely remember him from the party. They had both been drunk, and he had not been interested in her, re-joining the party before she had even had time to pull her knickers back up, she remembered.

  She had not told anyone about it, or who Sienna’s father was, because she knew that he would not be interested. When she had seen that he had been arrested for murder, it had just confirmed to her that Sienna was better off without a father.

  Now it was out of her hands. She wondered if Dante wanted a relationship with Sienna, and she knew that she could not allow that to happen. He was a murderer. She could not let Sienna see her father, have him as a role-model.

  Looking at the visiting order, she considered tearing it up and putting it in the bin, refusing to acknowledge it. She did not think it would stop Dante. She could visit him and deny that Sienna was his, but she was a terrible liar. He would see right through it.

  A knock on the door tore through her thoughts.

  “It’s me,” Tamar called through the letter box. “I brought you some lunch.”

  Zoe hastily folded the letter and shoved it into a kitchen drawer with the bills and junk before she
went to let him in, trying to force a smile that she did not feel.

  * * *

  Clint looked at Aurora as she slept, and he gently swept the hair from across her face. Her lips twitched and she rolled over, her breathing soft and low. Beside the bed, Angel slept in her cot. Clint smiled as he looked at his two girls.

  He got off the bed quietly so he would not wake them up. Angel had not slept well last night, and he knew they both needed their rest.

  In his pocket, he felt the jewellery box. He had hoped to propose last night, but it had not been the right time. Aurora had been tired, and Angel’s tantrums had echoed throughout the flat into the early hours. Clint did not want that to be the background to his proposal. He wanted it to be perfect.

  He knew that this was the right thing to do. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with Aurora, and he knew that she felt the same. Still the thought of proposing made him nervous. He had to pick his moment.

  Leaving Aurora and Angel to sleep, Clint closed the bedroom door quietly behind him. Perhaps this evening, he thought, he would find the right time.

  * * *

  “You look surprised to see me,” Brandy said.

  Sanjay’s smile evaporated as he held the front door open for her, and Brandy showed herself into the living room. The house was quiet, and now that she was here, she found that she was unsure what exactly to say.

  “I thought you’d be keeping a low profile,” Sanjay said, as he turned to her, closing the doors. “After your chat with the police last night.”

  Brandy shrugged. She should have known that Amal would report back to his brother that he had seen her at the playground.

  “I didn’t say anything, if that’s what you’re thinking,” Brandy said. Sanjay looked at her closely, and she felt irritated. “At least, nothing about you.”

  “Or our deal?” Sanjay asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Brandy sniggered.

  “Our deal?” she repeated. “I think we need to discuss that part again, don’t you?”

  “Why?” Sanjay asked, eyes flashing.

  “I got you Tyrese’s phone, kept him busy like you said. I didn’t realise it was to frame him for a fucking murder,” Brandy said, her voice low. She hated the panic in it, saw Sanjay noticed it. She ran a hand through her hair, trying to calm herself. “I’ve had the police round this morning, asking questions. Tyrese told them he was with me.”