by Dani Oakley
He’d been dripping poison into Trevor’s ear about Dave for a while now, but he didn’t want to move too fast. His whole plan relied on gently turning Trevor.
As Trevor was at home tonight, Gary couldn’t work on him, but he could make progress in other ways.
He smiled, checked his watch and picked up his coat again as he headed back outside.
Gary had an important meeting to attend. If his plan worked out, Trevor might not be as crucial to his strategy as he first thought.
Ten minutes later, Gary Carter stepped inside The Lamb.
He glanced around the pub and quickly realised the man he was supposed to be meeting wasn’t present yet.
He made his way to the bar, ordered a pint, and said hello to a couple of the regular faces he recognised, but then he carried his pint to a table so he could sit alone.
That attracted some attention. Gary was known for being gregarious and usually liked to be the centre of attention, but today, he had a good reason for not wanting anyone close by. The conversation he wanted to have tonight needed to be held privately, or as private as it could be in a busy public house.
Gary had made his way through a third of his pint when the pub’s doors opened, and Mark Morrison walked in. Gary nodded in greeting, and Mark headed straight for the bar.
Once he’d ordered drinks, Mark walked over to Gary’s table and put a fresh pint down beside Gary’s elbow before slipping into the seat opposite him.
“All right, Gary.”
Before replying to Mark, Gary glanced quickly at the other punters to make sure nobody noticed anything amiss, but no one was paying them any attention.
There was no reason why anyone should.
Mark Morrison was one of Dave Carter’s lower tier workers, and everyone knew Gary was involved in Dave’s business, so most would assume they were having a business meeting, and it was, of sorts.
Gary nodded at Mark. “How are things going?”
Mark looked a little pensive. He chewed on his lip and then shrugged. “Not too bad.”
“Really?”
Gary had it on good authority that Mark had recently got into a fight with one of the Brewerton brothers’ cohorts, and it’d caused a bit of aggro. Dave hadn’t been happy.
Mark chewed on a fingernail and then said, “This is about me getting into that brawl again, isn’t it? I’m sorry Gary. I really am. I tried to explain to Dave how it happened. The bastard was mouthing off, and I couldn’t just let things lie.”
Gary watched him silently, and Mark became more uncomfortable. “Jesus. I’m still in the boss’s bad books, aren’t I? What happens now? Do I get another punishment?”
Gary took a long sip of his pint and then put the glass back on the table. “Dave is not happy with you.”
Mark hung his head in shame. “I know, I messed up. It will never happen again. You’ll tell him that, won’t you?”
“Look,” Gary said, making sure his tone was friendly. “We all make silly mistakes sometimes. If I tell you something, do you promise it won’t go any further?”
Mark’s eyes widened, and he nodded eagerly.
“To be honest,” Gary said, leaning forward conspiratorially and lowering his voice, “I think Dave’s been a bit harsh on you. I bet he’d have done exactly the same in your position.”
For a moment, Mark looked shocked, and then he nodded. “Exactly. Most men would have done the same in my situation. It wasn’t all my fault.”
“Well, I think Dave is feeling the stress after his wife passing.”
Mark’s face screwed up in sympathy. “Yes, that was a terrible business.”
“There’s been some mutterings that he’s not quite up to the job anymore. Some people are saying it might be better if we had someone else at the top of the chain.”
Mark had been about to take a sip of his pint, but now his mouth dropped open, and he set his glass down. “You what?”
Gary felt his mouth grow dry. He’d always prided himself on being a good judge of character, but right now he was beginning to suspect he may have misjudged Mark.
“Have you heard any whispers?” Gary asked.
Mark shook his head emphatically. “No, absolutely not. And if I did, well, let’s just say I’d be in trouble for another brawl.”
Gary gave a tight smile and said, “That’s good to hear.”
Mark let out a long breath and then chuckled. “You were just testing me, weren’t you? To make sure I was still loyal?”
Gary mirrored his grin. “Yeah, you got me. We need to make sure our men are loyal. I like to do a spot check now and then.”
Mark took a long drink and then wiped the foam off his lips with the back of his hand. “It makes sense,” he said. “You know what, you actually had me worried. I thought for a minute you might be talking about sticking the knife in your own brother’s back. I thought you had plans to launch a takeover.”
Mark’s eyes were dancing merrily as he chuckled.
Gary’s eyes were cold as he picked up his drink and said, “That’s ridiculous. I wouldn’t even contemplate it. He’s my brother.”
Chapter 34
The following morning, preparations were under way for Babs’s homecoming, and Tony was getting ready to drive to the prison and collect her.
The family had been waiting for this day for so long. Tony could hardly believe it had finally arrived.
He called in at the Morton family house before going to the prison and found Ruby rushing about, trying to get everything in order before her mother arrived home.
He’d only intended to stick his head in and make sure everything was all right before going to collect Babs, but because Ruby was in such a tizzy, he decided to stay a while.
Yesterday Tony had helped his mother move all her possessions back into her own house a short distance away. She hadn’t been happy to go, and Tony had envisaged a nightmare day, but in the end, she had managed to get settled with the minimum amount of fuss, which was largely thanks to the fact Tony had forked out a fortune for her new three piece suite.
His mother’s presence might have calmed Ruby down, but Tony knew for sure Babs would not appreciate her mother-in-law hanging around on her first day out of prison.
“Everything okay, sweetheart?” Tony asked Ruby.
She ran a hand through her hair. “I think so. Derek should be arriving any minute. He should have been here half an hour ago. I could kill him for being late today. He knows how important it is. I’ve organised a few sandwiches and a sponge cake so we can have tea when Mum gets home. I don’t think I’ve forgotten anything.”
She looked so worried. Tony walked over and put an arm around her shoulders. “Relax. All your mother wants is to get home and see her children. Everything is going to be fine.”
Ruby let out a long breath and then looked up at her uncle. “You’re right. I just want everything to be perfect.”
Tony was pleased to see that Martin wasn’t around. His presence would have sent Ruby’s blood pressure through the roof. His brother was well aware Babs was getting out today, but Tony hoped he’d decided to give Babs a little bit of space before they met again. But knowing Martin, that was probably too much to hope for.
“Well, if there’s nothing you need me to do here, I’d better get down to the prison and pick up your mum.”
Although Tony hadn’t seen Martin that morning, he had seen him last night. He’d been at the club and had been drunk again. They’d exchanged a few angry words, and in the end, Tony had only just managed to walk away without planting a fist in his brother’s face.
Tony was an easy-going man and didn’t have many enemies, but Martin was his complete opposite in every way. He enjoyed goading people, and that included his own brother.
As Tony stepped outside the family home, waved goodbye to Ruby and got into his car, he thought about how different things would be when Babs got home. He was almost as thrilled as Ruby to have her back again. He’d missed her.
&n
bsp; * * *
Ten minutes after Tony left, Derek strolled up Bread Street. He turned right and caught a glimpse of his old house. He let out a long sigh. He wanted to turn around and go back to Southampton, but he had given Ruby his word. He carried on walking slowly, dragging his feet, reluctant to reach his destination.
There was something about the house, the whole of the East End really, that made him feel claustrophobic. He hated it.
When he arrived at the front door, he paused awkwardly, unsure whether he should knock or just let himself in. It didn’t feel like home to him.
But in the end, he didn’t need to make the decision. Ruby had obviously been looking out the window waiting for him because she yanked open the front door and gave a squeal of delight before throwing her arms around his neck.
“Thank goodness,” she said and then pulled back and looked up at him sternly. “You’re cutting it fine. I was starting to worry you wouldn’t turn up.”
Derek raised an eyebrow. Ruby had travelled all the way down to Southampton and ended up blackmailing him, had she really thought he wouldn’t show up?
He didn’t believe she would spill the beans to their parents about his little secret, though. Ruby wasn’t a tell-tale.
He followed Ruby inside the house, and as she fussed over him and made a pot of tea, Derek looked around the kitchen.
It seemed so much smaller now than when he’d been a child. The kitchen cupboards and worktops had been redone since they were children, but the underlying layout was the same. It was probably the same in every other house on the street, too.
Derek accepted his tea gratefully.
“I’ve made up the spare room for you,” Ruby said. “Your old room.”
Derek pulled a face. “I’m not staying the night, Ruby. I’m just here to see Mum, and then I need to get back to Southampton.”
He saw the crestfallen look on Ruby’s face and continued, “I’ve got so many things on at the moment. Exams are coming up.”
Ruby looked down at the table. “Right. I should have known you’d be busy.”
“Don’t be like that,” Derek said, feeling guilty.
“Why not? I understand you prefer your life in Southampton, but would it really kill you to spend one night here?”
Her angry glare clashed with his defiant one.
For a while, they just stared at each other and then finally, Ruby sighed. “I miss you. Why can’t you stay?”
Derek shook his head, unable to find the right words. He didn’t want to hurt Ruby, that was the last thing he wanted to do.
“I just… This life isn’t for me, Ruby. We’re different. You’ve always loved the East End, but there’s something about this place… it’s overwhelming. Don’t you ever feel that?”
Ruby frowned. “Well, Dad can be a little overbearing, but you can bring him around to your point of view. It just needs a little bit of give-and-take. He isn’t that bad.”
Derek shook his head. Ruby was missing the point. His father wasn’t the only problem. It was the life around here he didn’t want. People stuck their noses into each other’s business, and everyone was clawing to be top dog. He liked the semi-anonymity of Southampton. He could stroll around, and people he passed on the street didn’t know his last name, let alone what his family name meant in certain circles.
Ruby smiled. “Well, let’s not argue. At least you’re here. That’s the main thing.” She took a sip of tea and then looked up at him slyly. “Besides, I have a feeling you’ll be back before long. I saw the way you handled that blond idiot at the University Halls.”
Derek sneered. “He got what he deserved.”
“You won’t get any argument from me,” Ruby said.
They both heard the front door opening, and Ruby looked up, scrambling out of the kitchen.
Derek stayed where he was, waiting.
“Oh, it’s you.” Derek heard Ruby’s voice from the hallway. “I thought you might have been Uncle Tony with Mum.”
“It’s too early for that,” said a voice Derek recognised well.
He stood up, stepped around the table to get a look at his grandmother, who was shrugging off her coat and hanging it on the peg by the door.
“Grandma Violet,” he said. “It’s nice to see you.”
Violet turned around to survey him steadily.
“I’m glad you made it back, Derek.” It was impossible to miss the sarcastic cutting tone in her voice.
She bustled into the kitchen, and Derek stepped aside to let her pass.
She plonked herself down at the table and said, “Pour me a cup of tea, Ruby, love. My nerves are shot this morning.”
Derek may not have returned to the East End much since his mother had been sent down, but he did remember the arguments between his mother and Grandma Violet.
He walked over to where Ruby was pouring their grandmother a cup of tea and whispered, “Do you think it’s a good idea for her to be here today?”
Unfortunately, he hadn’t lowered his voice quite enough and had underestimated Grandma Violet’s hearing.
“Oi! I can hear every word you are saying. I haven’t gone deaf yet!”
Derek had the decency to look abashed.
But Grandma Violet hadn’t finished yet. “You’ve got a bloody nerve, my boy. Just because you talk like you’ve got a plum in your mouth and stand so straight it looks like you’ve got a broom up your jacksie, that doesn’t mean you’re too old for a clip around the earhole.”
Ruby looked horrified. “Grandma! Derek has only just got here. I don’t want him scared off already. Please, be nice.”
Her body was tense as she shot a sideways glance at Derek, as though she were waiting for him to explode in a temper, but instead, he burst out laughing.
He strolled forward. “I’ve missed you, Grandma.” He leant forward to kiss her on the cheek, and Grandma Violet flushed with pleasure.
“Oh, behave yourself. You can’t get around me that easily.”
But he could. From the smile on their grandmother’s face, it was clear she was pleased as punch Derek was back.
Chapter 35
Babs’s hands were shaking when she took back her possessions from the prison officer. She kept expecting someone to burst out from a back room to stop her, yelling it had all been a mistake and she wouldn’t be released today after all.
“Most people look a sight more cheerful than you do when they are going home,” the gnarly-faced prison guard commented to Babs.
She straightened up as if he’d slapped her.
“Just because I’m not grinning like a soppy idiot, doesn’t mean I’m not happy,” Babs snapped.
“Could have fooled me,” the guard said as he turned his attention back to the paperwork.
Babs licked her dry lips. This was it. It was going to happen. Just a few more minutes and she would step outside as a free woman… So why was she so nervous?
Her stomach churned, and she pressed a hand to her chest. She hoped Martin wasn’t waiting outside. She should have put a bit more thought into the day of her release. She was sure Tony would be the one to pick her up if he had the chance, but if Martin put his foot down, Tony would back off.
She hated not being in control. It was unlike her to be so disorganised, but she hadn’t let herself believe she would be getting out. After so many near misses, she hadn’t wanted to tempt fate. Plus the fact, she’d been very distracted with everything that had been going on with Mean Maud and poor old Gertie.
She watched the prison guard fill in another form with his scratchy writing and suppressed an irritated sigh. Why did the release procedure take so long?
Five minutes later, Babs clutched her possessions to her chest and began the long walk across the prison yard towards the large gates.
It wasn’t a very cheerful day. The clouds were grey, and the ground was wet from recent rain, but to Babs, the world had never looked more beautiful.
She gave a haughty look to the guard standing be
side the gates and waited for him to open them. She stepped forward out of the prison and grinned. She was free, at last.
There were several cars parked on the road outside, and it took her a moment to scan them all. She didn’t recognise any of the cars, but she did recognise Tony standing beside a flashy new motor.
She didn’t know the make, but it was some fancy, red car. Very classy, Babs thought approvingly.
The familiar sight of Tony’s tall, well-built frame reassured her a little, but Babs didn’t fully relax until she looked around and made sure Martin wasn’t there. When she realised Tony was alone, she allowed herself to breathe more easily and walked quickly towards him.
She felt a pang of disappointment when she realised Ruby and Derek hadn’t come to meet her. But it didn’t last long as Tony wrapped her in his arms.
“Blimey, it’s good to see you, girl,” Tony said kissing her on the cheek.
All of a sudden, Babs felt completely overwhelmed. The lump in her throat made it difficult to talk, and she tried to blink away her tears.
Tony seemed not to notice, and thankfully, didn’t pepper her with questions. Instead, he escorted her around to the passenger side, took her belongings from her hands, put them on the back seat and waited for her to get inside the car.
As he walked back around to the driver’s side, Babs took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She needed to get a grip. She had so much to do in the next few days. She couldn’t be overwhelmed. She simply didn’t have time.
As Tony slid into the driver’s seat, he put one hand on the wheel and turned to smile at Babs.
“Ready to go home?”
Babs smiled widely. “God, yes. I can’t bloody wait to see my kids. Where are they anyway? I thought they might come with you to pick me up.”
“They’re both at home,” Tony said. “Ruby is making sure the house is polished to perfection before you arrive.” He turned to her and gave her a crooked grin. “She even made a sponge cake. Now, granted, Ruby’s not exactly a talent in the kitchen, but bless her, she tried. The top of the cake might be a little burnt, so consider yourself forewarned.”