The Betrayal

by Linda Tweedie

  “Paddy, it’s your imagination. Mother fell outside and she’s a bit bruised and battered.”

  Bridget was interrupted by the next door neighbour. “It’s Sean, Paddy, he’s hitting Lizzie,” blurted out Theresa. “I don’t care if none of you talk to me again. I can’t stand back and let my friend get beaten up by that big bully.”

  Paddy said nothing, but the expression on his face said it all.

  Bridget barred his way to Sean’s room, “No, Paddy. This is exactly why we didn’t tell you. You have to let us deal with it.”

  Paddy’s voice was cold and quiet, “I’ll kill him.”

  But his mother was having none of it. “Paddy, if you harm a hair on his head, I will never, and I mean never, speak to you for the rest of my life. And if you harm your brother it won’t be a long one.”

  “You mean you’re going to let him get away with this? Michael, are you telling me you would stand by and let him beat up a seventy-five-year-old woman, your own mother?”

  “Of course not, Paddy. I only just found out what’s been going on half an hour ago. Bridget’s right, this is exactly why they didn’t tell us. He needs treatment. He needs help and it’s the after-effects of the attack that’s made him like this.”

  “Rubbish, he’s been an evil bastard since the day he was born. I told you before what he was like, but you wouldn’t have it. Oh no! You said he’d be alright. Well, he’s not. So what the fuck do we do?”

  “We look after him as we would look after any of the family, until he’s better,” said his mother.

  That’ll be shining bright, thought Paddy. That fucker will pay dearly for what he’d put their ma through, that and for the young lad too.

  But Paddy wasn’t the only one planning Sean’s demise.

  The Trip

  Bobby spied Diane driving along the front. Where in God’s name had she been this early in the morning?

  The cafés and restaurants were only just opening their shutters and his mother was most definitely not a morning lady. Christ, he hoped she had no suspicions about his plans for the day. She was no fool, his mother. No, she was driving on past, presumably on her way home. He breathed a sigh of relief. It was a beautiful morning, as always in Marbella, just the weather for a day’s cruising with friends.

  As far as anyone was concerned, especially those in authority, this was simply a pleasure cruise to commemorate his late father’s birthday. Being a long term resident and co-owner of the most prestigious club in Marbella, it was highly unlikely that his movements would draw suspicion, but should that happen he was well covered.

  The plan was to make a quick trip across the straits to spend the day in Tangiers, collect his consignment and return home just before nightfall. His previous trips had been uneventful, but until the package was delivered and paid for Bobby would remain on tenterhooks.

  His father had made this trip successfully, countless times, for years. Pete had established an exclusive clique including the glitterati of Marbella, the chief of police, the mayor and various other town dignitaries. That elite had given him immunity on the few occasions the trip had been interrupted; the embarrassment of a dignitary on board securing a clean bill of health.

  The canon had introduced Bobby to his father’s contacts and re-established the excursions. However, it was the beautiful people Bobby cultivated, not the influential friends of his father, which increased the risk level somewhat.

  The trip was glorious; the champagne flowed and for some time they were accompanied by a school of dolphins, much to the entertainment of the guests on board. The pod of magnificent creatures performed their acrobatics to the delight of their audience.

  His guests were free to explore the old souk whilst Bobby went off to complete his transaction. He had decided that for the time being this would be his last trip. The profits from the deals were fantastic, but not enough for the risk involved, he fancied. It was only his determination to deal with the Coyles that had tempted him.

  Drugs had never been his thing and he was loathe to become involved. However, clubs and drugs went hand in hand and he knew that no matter what his opinion was, they would be dealt. Therefore, the scene was better under his control than some other greedy dealers, cutting the coke with who knew what. After this trip he would hand the enterprise over to his two partners. Frank would have to be involved, but he’d make sure the old coyote played his part. The days of him sitting back with his hand out were long gone. If he wanted an ‘earn’ he’d have to get off his old, wrinkly backside and get his hands dirty.

  The ex-man-of-the cloth had been back on his case about Erin and the kid. Bobby knew he was right and in order to put his plan into action they would have to be in Spain. Thankfully, his mother seemed to be on the ball. Having really taken to the boy, and being a grandma, she talked about him constantly and was forever buying gifts for him. A nursery was even starting to take shape in one of the guest rooms.

  The trip to Tangiers went off without a hitch and the two pool cleaners, Bobby’s partners in his first venture, were now two of the main suppliers in town.

  Bobby now had the financial means to carry out his revenge and his first task would be to get his son within his grasp.

  Compromise

  On the days that Sean went out with Gerry, Paddy would visit his mother. He couldn’t trust himself to be around his brother, it was better they were apart. Lizzie was looking much more like her old self and, despite all her threats, she and Theresa were back to normal. The old biddy appreciated that it was concern for her that had made her pal spill the beans.

  “I’m no grass, Lizzie, but there was no way I could stand by and let this go on. If it were the other way round what would you have done?”

  “Well, if it was your Peter, I’d just have taken the poker to him and sorted him once and for all.”

  “Aye, but look at the size of Sean. Joking aside, I take it things are okay? He’s behaving himself?”

  “Good as gold and when he’s with Gerry I get a bit of peace, except for nosey neighbours, that is,” laughed Lizzie.

  This was a joy to her old friend, who’d not heard her laugh for a long, long time.

  “Here’s your Paddy. I’ll get myself off and see you later.” Theresa made for the door.

  “Hello, son, how are things?” Both Paddy and Theresa knew exactly what things she was talking about.

  “Seems to be fine, Theresa, but you keep a watch for me.” Peeling a twenty pound note from his wallet, he handed the money to her. “Here, go and buy his nibs a drink to make up for us disturbing him.”

  “Don’t be daft, Paddy, he moans about everything,” Theresa offered him the money back.

  “Take it, Theresa. I’ll be offended if you don’t.”

  “In that case, then,” she quickly pocketed the money. “You take care now, son.”

  “Well, Ma, how is he behaving? No more trouble, I hope?”

  “No, son, he’s fine, but I think he’s regressed a bit. He hardly ever comes out of his room, and that’s only when he goes out with Gerry. I swear to God, I thank the day you took him on, Paddy. He’s good to Sean. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”

  “Well, as long as it doesn’t interfere with Gerry’s work, I don’t mind.”

  “Michael’s good, but he doesn’t spend much time with him and Sean senses that Michael can’t wait to get away.”

  “I’m not surprised. Michael feels the same way as me. It’s hard for a man to stand by and see his mother beaten, especially by one of her own. So Michael’s doing better than I am.”

  “How long is Erin away for? I fair miss that wee boy.”

  “I’ve no idea, no beggar tells me anything. She could be away for months for all I know, but I do miss the lad, he’s a smart wee chav.”

  “Don’t tell me you and Bridget have fallen out again? What the hell’s wrong with you both?”

  “No, we haven’t fallen out, Ma. You need to speak to have an argument and we hardly pass
the time of day with one another.”

  “There’s nobody else is there? I won’t stand for it, Patrick, and neither will she a second time around.”

  “No, there’s no-one else. There never really has been, but I’m a lodger in my own house. And as for my daughter, well! She flew off to Spain without a by-your-leave. I’ve not heard a cheep from her. I don’t know if she’s alive or not. She’s probably living it large with the McClellands, her new family.”

  “Don’t be bloody stupid, Paddy. If there was anything amiss we would know, and whether you like it or not, they are Ryan’s family too. Hey, I can’t get over the mayor of Marbella sitting in this room, drinking tea as nice as you like. It was like having royalty here,” his mother grinned. “It certainly gave the Catholic Mothers something to chew on.”

  Happy Families

  “This is your Captain speaking, welcome aboard Flight BA345 to Malaga. We are now cruising at 50,000 feet and the outside temperature is minus 40 degrees. Our estimated time of arrival is 12.08 . . .”

  It seemed a lifetime since the passengers in seats 1A, B and C had last heard that announcement and how their lives had changed in the past year. For starters, Erin had no fears that her father would storm the plane and demand she return home. No, that fear was gone; mainly because she and Paddy were, again, not on speaking terms. He was furious that not only was she taking his six-month-old grandchild out of the country, but that she was also entering that den of vipers.

  His parting shot that morning as she left for the airport had been, “Don’t coming running to me when this all goes tits up. You’ve made your bed, lady. Shame you’ve already lain in it.”

  “Oh, piss off, Dad, and give it a rest. I’m only going for a couple of weeks and it’s only fair they should get to know the baby. Whether you like it or not he is as much a McClelland as he is a Coyle.”

  The door slamming shook the whole house.

  As usual her mother didn’t say a word, but as Erin knew, she ruled the roost and would calm her dad down before the plane had even left the tarmac.

  “God, I can’t believe we’re on our way back,” said her companion nervously. “Are you sure you’re doing the right thing?”

  “It’s a bit late now, we can hardly get off at the next stop,” Erin laughed. “Look, if it all goes belly up, we take the next flight home, it’s that simple.”

  Carol wasn’t quite so confident about their reception in Spain, but once again she was there to cover Erin’s back and give her moral support. Whatever happened, she reasoned, it couldn’t top their last visit: murder, kidnapping and fleeing the country. Not exactly a Thomson’s week in the sun.

  “Hey, listen, I’m not taking shit from either of them, especially the mother. She insists she wants to get to know her grandson, so she better play ball with me. This time I’m calling the shots.”

  “I’m not so sure. Do you think Bobby will be okay? Remember, he’s back on his own turf and you don’t have the infamous Paddy Coyle standing right behind you.”

  “No, but Paddy Coyle is only three hours away and Bobby knows that.”

  “True, but you better not let the boyo find out that Daddy’s in the cream puff with you.”

  “Don’t worry, my dad will be fine. A few days without seeing his precious grandson will soon have him begging for forgiveness. Anyway, Mum won’t let it go on, not after the last time.”

  “What sort of reception can we expect? Do they know we’re arriving today?” Carol asked her.

  “No, they know I’m coming sometime this week, but not exactly when. It sounds a bit batty, but I wanted to be in control from the start, so we’ll get the kids settled and have a bit of us-time before entering the lion’s den.”

  “Don’t say things like that,” shivered Carol. “I can’t stop thinking about the last trip.”

  “Me too, but remember, neither Bobby nor his mother had anything to do with what went on before.”

  “I’m not so sure. I wouldn’t trust either of them as far as I could throw them.”

  “That’s one of the reasons I’ve kept it low-key. They’ll only know we’re here when I choose to tell them. Stop worrying, we’ll have a nice couple of days, top up the tan, and then . . .”

  Just at that precise moment, a stewardess approached the pair, carrying an ice bucket containing a bottle of champagne.

  “Miss Coyle?”

  “Yes,” answered Erin.

  “Compliments of Mr Bobby Mack.”

  The woman expertly opened the bottle, poured out two glasses and handed them to the surprised passengers.

  “They don’t know when we’re arriving? Don’t know what flight we’re on?” Carol sneered.

  “What can I say?” a dumbstruck Erin replied.

  “And you think you’re in control? It’s you calling the shots? Oh, it looks like it. And what does the card say?” Carol grabbed the small note before her friend could.

  “Can’t wait to see you. Meet you at three, everything taken care of. Love, Bobby.” Well, so much for the ‘us-time’,” Carol laughed. “Seriously, you need to be very careful, this guy has a lot of pull here. I just don’t trust him at all.”

  Despite her friend’s warning, Erin was secretly delighted. There was no way she was going to fall for him the way she had before, but he was the father of her baby and of course she had ‘happily-ever-after dreams’, but she wouldn’t be taken in a second time – she had her son to consider.

  Old Pals

  “You’re going the wrong way, it’s next on the left,” Sean corrected Gerry.

  “Who’s the fucking driver?” Gerry snapped back. “I know exactly where I am.”

  “Aye, but just five years too late, son. This is now a one way street,” the twin laughed.

  “Fuck!” Gerry made a hasty u-turn. “I still can’t get used to the road changes. Okay, the main roads I understand, but these side roads are just plain stupid.”

  “Where exactly is it you want to go?” Sean asked. Thankfully it was the thirty-year-old persona who was out and about today. The ten-year-old must have been left on the naughty step, mused Gerry.

  To any observer their relationship was bizarre, to say the least. Gerry couldn’t, and wouldn’t, deal with the ten-year-old Sean, knowing it to be a ruse. There was no doubt that Sean still suffered a great deal of memory loss from the attack, but this childish exaggeration was to keep his brothers off his back. If Paddy Coyle knew for certain that this idiot sitting beside him, cheerfully giving him driving instructions, was almost cured, he would beat the evil shit to a pulp. And although Gerry would welcome the justice meted out by one brother to another, he did not want to be deprived of the satisfaction of paying Sean back personally for the wrongs done to his family.

  “I need to drop off keys at the yard and I was sure I could cut across town this way.”

  “It’s second on the left, down to the roundabout and straight across. It’ll take about ten minutes. I don’t think I’ve been in the yard since I got out of hospital. It’s weird, I’ve always felt I had some unfinished business there, but for the life of me it’s gone.”

  “Maybe you stashed some cash there, or weapons?”

  “Seriously, I can’t remember. You never know, being there might trigger something.”

  I hope it’s not my face he remembers, Gerry thought to himself.

  The lads in the yard stopped work as Sean got out of Gerry’s car.

  “Hey, Sean, good to see you, man,” called one.

  “Coming to do a shift?” from another.

  “Michael’s in the office, I’ll bell him.” The gaffer spoke into a radio and informed Michael that he had visitors.

  “Thanks, boys, see you soon, hopefully.” The twosome made their way to the portacabin where Michael stood waiting.

  “Hi, mate,” Sean greeted his twin. “Haven’t seen much of you lately, things okay?”

  Michael shifted about guiltily. He hadn’t seen his brother since the showdown at Lizzie’s.
“You know how it is, mate, busy, busy. And as you know, we’re one down.” He turned to Sean’s companion, “You alright, Gerry?” Michael asked the big man.

  “Fine, boss, fine. Just came by to drop off keys for the mini. I didn’t get round to stripping it last night.”

  “Okay, just put them on the board. Where are you off to now?” Michael felt guilty that he spent no time with Sean and that his brother’s only companion was one paid to be so. They had been close all their lives until now, but Michael couldn’t rationalize the heinous crime this man had committed and his treatment of their mother. This was not the brother he knew and loved. Michael had no desire to spend more time than was absolutely necessary with this stranger. The least violent of the brothers, even Michael couldn’t trust himself not to do his twin harm, real harm.

  “I’ve got a couple of collections over Dumbarton way and that’s me for the day.”

  Michael handed Gerry a fifty pound note, “Here, have a drink.”

  “Thanks, boss.”

  Sean was livid at Michael’s handout to someone he considered to be the hired help, but also at Gerry’s subservience to Michael. Not once had Gerry ever referred to him as boss, or in fact treated him with any real respect. So, it was back to the old regime, back to being the gofer. Well, they could go fuck themselves, those days were over. Maybe it was time for him to get his act together.

  Sean wandered round the yard, hoping that something, anything, would pop into his head, but nothing came to him. Everything about the place was familiar and he recognised right away that one of the cranes had been moved. The bothy, the ramshackle hut used by the workers, had been painted. In his opinion it was purely paint that held it together, but there were no great revelations. The feeling was still there, niggling at him, but he couldn’t solve the mystery.

  Control

  Erin spotted a driver holding a card bearing her name as they weaved their way from passport control and through immigration. As she and Carol struggled with the cases and children, the driver came forward, took control and soon had them settled in the air-conditioned vehicle. Annoyed though she was at Bobby’s interference, she had to admit it was much easier to let someone else take the strain. It was obvious the name Mack opened doors.