A Gangster's Grip: The Riverhill Trilogy: Book 2

by Heather Burnside

  “What will you do then?” asked Julie.

  “I’ve already done it. Well, the only thing I could do under the circumstances. I’ve put the ball back in her court. Her and Carl are more frightened of Leroy than anything. If he finds out Carl’s been mixing drugs, he’ll go ballistic; apparently it’s a complete no no as far as the Buckthorns are concerned.

  “So, I’ve told her to call Carl’s bluff. She’s to tell him that unless he stops skimming, she’ll make sure Leroy finds out. I told her I won’t do her dirty work for her but, to make her threat to Carl sound convincing, she can mention my name if she likes. She can tell him that I already know, and that I’ll tell Leroy about him mixing drugs if he doesn’t stop.”

  “Do you think she’ll do it? I thought you said he might knock her about a bit.”

  “Oh, he definitely does. You should have seen the state of her face. She told me how he knocked her about for throwing some of the mix down the loo, when she found out about the death.”

  “So she’s not all bad then?”

  “No, just bloody stupid, same as she’s always been. But I’ve tried to convince her that if she can stand up to him once, she can do it again. He’s a typical coward. I think that once he’s threatened with Leroy, he might see sense. And once she’s got something over him, he might stop being so handy with his fists too. I’ve also told her to get herself down to the doctors to see what help she can get with her drug problem. Whether she will, I don’t know, but what else can I do?”

  “Not a lot. It’s like you say, Rita, you’re in a no win situation. But what will you do if Carl turns nasty on you.”

  “I’d like to see him bloody try! It’ll take more than that little wimp to frighten me off. I’ve told you, he’s a coward. The only reason he knocks Debby about is because he thinks he can get away with it. She wants to get off the bleedin’ drugs, then she’ll have no reason to stay with him. See how the little shit copes then, once she pisses him off. I just wish I could stop him dealing in drugs altogether, but I can’t. At least if I can stop him mixing, though, it might save a few lives. The little bastard! Honestly, it makes my blood boil.”

  Julie stayed silent. She knew better than to interrupt Rita when she was riled.

  Chapter 26

  Wednesday 29th May 1991 - afternoon

  While Debby had been unburdening herself to Rita, Carl was busy visiting Leroy to carry out some damage limitation. There was nothing he could do about the victim who had already died, but Carl’s worry was whether anyone would find out that he was responsible.

  He had to make sure Leroy had someone else in his sights who he could blame. Carl knew that he and Winston were the only two people dealing drugs in that part of Longsight, and that it was just a matter of time before the exact location was revealed. He had an advantage over Winston, because Leroy trusted him more, and Carl had decided to play to that advantage.

  “Who d’you think sold the dodgy drugs?” he asked Leroy.

  “Search me, I ain’t got a clue. You any ideas?”

  “Yeah, between you and me, I think it’s Winston. You said yourself you couldn’t trust him to do owt. I’ve always thought he was a sly bastard. Think about it, Leroy; there’s only him it can be, unless there’s another crew operating in Longsight. I’ve had my eyes peeled, though, and I’ve not spotted anyone; not near where we deal anyway. I never thought he’d stoop to this though.”

  Carl had kept his own name out of the list of possibilities; it was a calculated move to make Leroy focus on Winston as his primary suspect. He watched Leroy’s reaction to his speech, hoping that he had convinced him, but his facial expression gave nothing away. Leroy took a few agonising seconds before responding.

  “Maybe … it might be Winston. Leave it with me. I’ll have a think about it. If he has been up to summat, then he needs to be taught a lesson.”

  Carl was careful not to show his relief. Once the precise location where the drugs were sold had been established, Leroy would know that it had to be Carl or Winston who had sold the dodgy drugs. Carl therefore needed to pin the blame on Winston before it came back to him. He felt bad about it, but he reasoned with himself that it couldn’t be helped. Either he or Winston had to take the rap, and he wasn’t going to run any risks to save Winston’s skin.

  Having put Winston in the frame, Carl was ready to part company, but Leroy stopped him.

  “Hang on. Where you off?”

  “Thought I’d go for a few bevvies with my mates, and then go and shift some gear later.”

  “Are you off your fuckin’ head, man?”

  “What?”

  “The Pigs are crawling all over the place. You gotta stay low for a couple of weeks.”

  “You’re joking! What am I gonna do for cash?” asked Carl, exasperated.

  “I don’t know, and I don’t fuckin’ care. Do what you did before.”

  Carl knew when he’d pushed it too far with Leroy, and he moderated his tone as he asked, “How long will it be for?”

  “Shouldn’t be long. They have to be seen to be doing summat. But I don’t think they’re really that interested in some low-life junkie. It should only be a couple of weeks. I’ll let you know when it’s sweet again.”

  “Right, OK,” Carl replied, attempting to hide the fury building inside him, as he bid goodbye to his nemesis.

  -------------------

  Thursday 30th May 1991 – late evening

  Carl had arrived home late the previous evening, and strutted into the house. The combination of his cockiness at having convinced Leroy of his innocence, and frustration at having to lie low, because of the heavy police presence in the area, made him intolerable. Debby had listened to his bluster, and wondered why she put up with him. Then the reality of her situation hit her; she put up with him because she had no choice. She was a heroin addict who relied on him for her supplies. He had her exactly where he wanted her. That knowledge both sickened and angered her.

  It was late in the evening, and she was too tired to argue with him, but when she went to bed she decided that tomorrow she would tackle him. Not only that, but she would readdress the balance of power in their relationship.

  By the time Carl got up in the morning, Debby had already tended to the children and had her first fix of the day. She was ready for him.

  “So, tell me what Leroy said then. Are you sure he didn’t suspect you?”

  “Dead right. He doesn’t suspect me, and neither does anyone else,” he bragged.

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “Because he thinks Winston did it.”

  His wicked grin told her all she needed to know.

  “You’ve set Winston up, haven’t you?”

  “Not really; Leroy thought it was him anyway. There was only me and Winston it could be, and Leroy trusts me,” he said.

  “And what if Leroy finds out it’s you? What will happen then?”

  The veiled threat was obvious, even to someone of Carl’s limited intellect.

  “Are you fuckin’ threatening me?”

  As he spoke, he grabbed the front of her clothing, ready to strike out if he wasn’t happy with Debby’s reply, regardless of the children who were playing just a few metres away.

  “I wouldn’t if I were you,” said Debby. “You see, I’m not the only one that knows what you’ve been up to.”

  “What the fuck are you on about?”

  His words were bold, but Debby could detect the shock and fear that they masked.

  “Let go of me, and I’ll tell you.”

  When he released his hold on her, she stepped back in case he reacted when she revealed what she had done.

  “Rita knows. She said she won’t say owt, as long as you stop skimming.” She delighted in the bemused expression on his face as she continued. “She’s not too happy about you knocking me about either, especially in front of the kids. In fact, if you don’t stop skimming and knocking me about, she said she won’t even bother going to the police;
she’ll go straight to Leroy.”

  “How the hell does she know? Did you tell her?”

  “Yeah, I did. I’ve had enough, Carl.”

  His anger was palpable, and she braced herself as he made towards her with his fist drawn back.

  “Just you dare! You lay one finger on me, and I’ll be straight on the phone to Rita.”

  Her words jolted him, and he dropped his arm. He still sought an outlet for his anger, though, which he vented through a stream of invective aimed at both Debby and Rita. When he had exhausted his list of derogatory terms, he kicked at the furniture before stomping out of the house in a rage.

  As soon as he was gone, the children, who had been afraid to react in his presence, now began to whimper. Debby picked up the youngest, “Shshsh, it’s alright,” she cajoled. “Daddie’s just a bit upset, but he’ll be fine when he gets back.”

  Chapter 27

  Thursday 6th June 1991 – early afternoon

  It was the day of Rita and Yansis’s follow up appointment, and they had been hanging around the house for the last half hour. They were both aware that their window of opportunity was closing in. They needed to have intercourse between two and four hours before their hospital appointment, and time was running out. The problem was that Julie was working in her home office, and Yansis felt uncomfortable going upstairs while she was in the house.

  “Yansis, we’ll have to go upstairs sooner or later,” Rita said.

  “But what if she hears? The bed might bump and creak. It will be so embarrassing.”

  Just at that moment, Julie walked into the living room. “What will be embarrassing?” she asked.

  “Oh nothing. It’s just a situation Yansis has at home,” Rita improvised, trying to spare his blushes.

  “I just popped in to find out what time your appointment is, and to wish you luck,” said Julie.

  As soon as she had spoken the words, she realised what was troubling Yansis, and his quick exit from the room confirmed her suspicions.

  “Oh shit,” she whispered to Rita. “I forgot about you having to do the business. Is that what he’s embarrassed about?”

  “Yeah, the daft sod. I told him you wouldn’t bother, but he feels really embarrassed about us getting it on in broad daylight when you’re in the house.”

  “Sorry, Rita, I didn’t think. Listen, if it makes him feel any better, I’ll make myself scarce for a bit. I’ve got to nip out and get some shopping anyway.”

  “You don’t need to do that, Julie.”

  “It’s no trouble, Rita. Like I say, I was going out anyway. Let me switch the computer off and get my coat and shoes, and I’ll be out of your hair.”

  Five minutes later, she was gone and Rita went to find Yansis. She guessed that he was in the bedroom waiting for her. “Hey, lover boy,” she shouted up the stairs, giggling, “It’s time to make babies.”

  They’d left themselves little time to spare, so it was more of a quick routine task than a moment of passion. Still, at least the job was done, and they could go to the hospital ready for their next set of tests.

  Where Rita hadn’t been nervous for her first hospital appointment, on this occasion she was. It hit her in the car on the way there, and the time spent in the hospital waiting room added to her anxiety.

  She thought that her apprehension may be because they might find something out today. During their last visit, the doctor had carried out various tests, so they were expecting to hear some results. Rita had also brought along the temperature chart for the doctor to check.

  After an interminable wait, their names were called, and Rita stood up and took a deep breath, before following the nurse into the doctor’s surgery.

  “Hello Mr and Mrs Christos. Please take a seat,” said the doctor.

  Rita tried to read something into the doctor’s speech and body language, but he was giving nothing away. It was a different doctor from last time. This one was older, about mid-fifties, she guessed, and slim with greying hair. She handed him the temperature chart, and she and Yansis watched him analyse it.

  “Ah yes, let me see … um … aah … yes.”

  A couple of minutes later, he passed the chart back to Rita, and wrote something in his notes. She rolled her eyes at Yansis as they waited for the doctor to speak. Once he had finished writing, he put his pen down, but instead of turning to speak to them, he stared at the wall for several seconds. Then the doctor cupped his chin in his hand and tapped on his nose with his forefinger, as though lost in thought.

  “Have you had intercourse before your appointment today?” he asked, without making eye contact.

  “Yes,” Rita and Yansis both answered at once.

  “What time was that?”

  Rita remembered when it had been, because they had been so preoccupied with getting to the hospital on time, so she answered for both of them.

  “I’d like to examine you, Mrs Christos,” said the doctor. “Mr Christos, if you would like to return to the waiting room, we will call you shortly to discuss the results of the various tests.”

  Yansis’s face was full of concern as he looked at Rita, before leaving the room, and she couldn’t help thinking how this doctor’s approach differed from the one they had seen previously. He was far too aloof for her liking. Strangely, that made the examination less difficult to cope with than the first time around. Rita found it easier to detach herself when she was dealing with someone who was so impassive himself.

  When the examination was over, the doctor sent her back to the waiting room, and told her she and her husband would be called in together. Thankfully, it wasn’t much longer before they were back at his desk. His face was still expressionless as he spoke to them.

  “We have the results from all of the tests we have taken,” he said. “We’ll start with the tests carried out on Mrs Christos. The results indicate that there are no problems. However, in order to be 100% certain, we would have to run further tests. It is usual to do so because, in cases of infertility, it is easier to pinpoint problems with the female. Therefore, even if initial tests indicate that the problem may lie with the male, we would rule out any possible problems with the female first.

  “With regard to the tests carried out on Mr Christos,” he continued, “the results of the seminalysis indicate a very low sperm count. We have also run a postcoital test to analyse the activity of spermatozoa in the vagina following sexual intercourse. Unfortunately, we could not find any spermatozoa present.”

  Rita looked at him, puzzled, and was about to speak, when he held up his hand and bowed his head, to silence her.

  “The combined results of these two tests suggest possible male infertility. However, this is not necessarily the case. A low sperm count will not necessarily preclude conception. This is why we have to rule out potential problems with the female since …”

  “Hang on a minute,” Rita interrupted. “I’m having a job taking all this in. Can you speak to us in English please, instead of quoting a medical encyclopaedia? My husband is Greek, and if I can’t understand you, then what chance has he got?”

  “Very well, Mrs Christos, but I am simply quoting the correct medical terminology,” he said.

  “Well, we aren’t qualified doctors, so I’d rather you spoke in words we can understand. And, for your information, the ‘female’ is called Rita, or Mrs Christos if you prefer, and the ‘male’ is Mr Christos.

  “Very well,” said the doctor, who tried to retain an air of superiority while he explained the results in laymen’s terms. Rita had got the general gist of it, but she could sense Yansis’s confusion. She knew that what the doctor had to impart would be a blow for Yansis, and she gripped onto his hand while the doctor explained.

  The upshot of it was that the problem most likely lay with Yansis. His low sperm count, added to the fact that the sperm weren’t reaching the vagina, indicated that he may well be infertile. That wasn’t conclusive, though, but it was difficult to pinpoint what exactly was causing the problems,
without carrying out a whole range of tests on Yansis. The doctor explained that those tests could take months, and that while they were carrying them out, they would also run further tests on Rita to make sure that everything was functioning normally.

  “So what happens now?” asked Rita.

  “I will need to take a complete medical history of Mr Christos, first of all. Although we have already asked several questions, I will need to go more in-depth. I will also need to take a blood sample from Mr Christos, and carry out another seminalysis before you go home. That is the test in which we find out the sperm count. If the results still show a low sperm count, then we will refer Mr Christos for further tests.”

  Rita looked across at Yansis. Although he had stayed quiet throughout, she could tell he was upset. Without giving him chance to recover from the bad news, the doctor opened his notebook, ready to start asking questions.

  He addressed Rita, “Would you like to sit in the waiting room?”

  “Do you want me to stay with you?” she asked Yansis.

  He only shrugged, so she decided to stay knowing that, if she didn’t, the doctor would baffle him with medical terminology. Besides, she wanted to be there to support him.

  Rita was glad she had stayed when the doctor showered Yansis with a deluge of questions. Had his testes been slow to descend in childhood? Had he had any venereal diseases? Had he ever fathered a child? The questions seemed to go on relentlessly, and Rita felt sorry for poor Yansis who gave lacklustre, monosyllabic responses. The expression on his face showed a whole gamut of emotions; sadness, disappointment, embarrassment and discomfort.

  It was a relief for Rita when the questions were over, but for Yansis there was still the blood test and the seminalysis to go. Once Yansis had given a blood sample, he took the container from the nurse and left the room, with his shoulders hunched and his eyes cast downwards.