Eddie laughed. ‘You wasn’t a Mitchell though, was you?’
Eddie went upstairs and spoke to the kids, calmly, but firmly. ‘Now, I want to know where you’ve been hanging out. And what you’ve been doing. And don’t lie to me, because I will find out the truth.’
Frankie nudged Joey. ‘We’ve been changing out of our school uniform and going to the café in Dagenham,’ Joey mumbled.
‘And sometimes we sit in the park,’ Frankie added.
‘Well, from now on you’re going to school every day. And you’re both grounded until New Year,’ Eddie told them. He was sure they were telling the truth. He could see it in their eyes.
‘Oh, but Dad. What about our Christmas disco?’ Frankie whinged.
Eddie winked at her. ‘You should have thought of that before you played hookey. Now, get your devious little arses downstairs. I’m starving and I wanna order some dinner.’
Jessica wasn’t quite as forgiving as her husband and she ignored the twins as they sat down to eat.
‘Would you like some more rice, Mum?’ Frankie asked her.
‘No, eat it yourself,’ Jessica replied angrily.
At nine o’clock the twins both yawned. ‘We’re going to bed now,’ they said.
They knew they had got off lightly and they didn’t want to push their luck.
Once her deceitful offspring were out of her sight, Jessica began to relax a bit. ‘Shall we have another glass of wine?’ she asked Eddie.
Eddie stood up to fetch another bottle and was interrupted by the phone ringing. ‘All right, Doug? How’s tricks?’
‘OK, mate. I want you and Jess to come round for dinner on Saturday night. It’s Vicki’s birthday and I’ve got a surprise planned for her. She’ll definitely want your Jess to be there, I know that,’ Dougie said.
‘Yeah, that’s fine. What time do you want us round?’ Eddie enquired.
‘About eight.’
‘So, what you got planned then?’ Eddie asked, intrigued.
Dougie lowered his voice. ‘I’m gonna propose and, as long as she says yes, I’ve booked a holiday for us to go on next week. It’s in the Caribbean, I’ve arranged for us to get married out there. I’m not gonna tell her till we get there. I thought I’d be spontaneous and shock her, for once.’
Eddie laughed. ‘You’re a fucking boy, you are.’
‘’Ere, talking of shocks, you heard about Jimmy O’Hara?’ Dougie asked.
‘I know the old man popped his clogs,’ Eddie replied.
‘Yeah, that’s right, and Jimmy’s got back with his old woman. Moved back in yesterday, Alice did, with his youngest kid, Jed.’
‘Fuck me, that’s a turn-up for the books. You can tell me more on Saturday,’ Eddie said, gutted that Alice had forgiven the bastard.
Eddie ended the call, poured the wine and snuggled up next to his wife.
‘Put the news on, Ed. I still haven’t seen anything about that fire,’ Jessica said.
As Ed switched channels, he was shocked to see a picture of Dickie Pearce flash up on the screen.
‘A man has been found dead in a gangland-style shooting in Birmingham. Fifty-one-year-old Richard Pearce, a father of two, was found in the early hours of this morning. Police are appealing for witnesses.’
‘Poor man. How awful for his children,’ Jessica said sadly.
Eddie felt like bursting out laughing, but instead put on his most solemn voice. ‘I don’t know what this world’s coming to, Jess – my life, I don’t!’
NINETEEN
As Christmas approached, Jessica was like a dog with two tails. The festive season was her favourite time of year and she always went to town with it.
‘You’re a fucking girl, you are,’ Ed had told her only last week, as she’d arrived home with yet more lights and decorations.
Jessica sighed. When the kids were young, they had got into the Christmas spirit with her. Now they were fifteen, they had no interest in it whatsoever. They didn’t even want presents any more, they just wanted money. Frankie and Joey had both been spoilt and were more interested in receiving rather than giving and Jessica blamed herself for that. Ever since they were toddlers, she had always given them anything they asked for, and now she was older and wiser, she wished she had been stricter with them.
‘Right, I’m off now, babe. Are you sure you don’t fancy coming with me?’
Jessica shook her head. Eddie was going to visit his family to drop their presents off and she’d managed to wangle her way out of going with him. ‘Honestly, Ed, I would have loved to have come, but I’ve got far too much to do. Mum and Dad are coming at three and I haven’t even tidied the guest room yet. I’ve got to cook that big lump of ham, vac, polish, prepare dinner and –’
Ed stopped her mid-sentence. ‘OK, I get the message. You do what you’ve got to do and I’ll see you when I get back. I’ll probably pop in the Flag for a Christmas tipple with me dad and brothers this afternoon, but I won’t be late home.’
Jessica hugged him. ‘Don’t rush back. You enjoy yourself, I’m sure I can manage to entertain Mum, Dad and the kids without you.’
Eddie kissed her on the forehead. ‘Oh, you’ve just reminded me, the kids want to go out tonight. It’s only round a mate’s house. It’s OK with me if it’s OK with you.’
Jessica was dubious. ‘I’m not sure, Ed. I want to have a drink tonight and I’m not drinking and driving. Anyway, I’m not sure I trust them any more.’
Eddie disagreed. ‘They’ll be fine. I’ll give ’em the money to get a cab. They’ve been stuck in for nearly six weeks, Jess, we can’t keep ’em locked up forever. We’ll tell ’em they’ve got to be back by eleven.’
Reluctantly, Jessica agreed. Ever since her trip to the school, Frankie and Joey had attended regularly and worked very hard. She had been in touch with Mr Redknapp, their headmaster, and he had organised a homework rota to enable them to catch up for their exams. They were still way behind their classmates, but Jessica couldn’t fault their efforts. They’d worked tirelessly most evenings, so a little break might do them good.
The roads weren’t as busy as Eddie expected them to be and it didn’t take him long to get to his aunt’s house.
‘How’s my favourite nephew? Come inside and warm yourself up by the fire. Bleedin’ taters out there, ain’t it? I’ve made you a nice bread pudding – it’s just cooling down,’ Auntie Joan said, thrilled to see him.
Eddie made himself comfortable. ‘What you doing tomorrow? You off to your friend’s, as usual?’
Auntie Joan spent every Christmas and Boxing Day at her friend Ada’s house. ‘Yep, Ada’s son is picking me up this evening. I’ve got me little case packed. What about you? Have you and Jess got a house full this year?’
‘Not really, no. Jessica’s parents are coming to stay and that’s about it. Gary and Ricky have sodded off to Tenerife and Raymondo is spending Christmas Day round his new girlfriend’s house. We’ll probably have a house full Boxing Day. Our friends Dougie and Vicki are coming over. They’re the ones that I told you about, the ones that have just got married abroad and I think Raymondo is bringing his posh bit of skirt round to meet us.’
Auntie Joan laughed. ‘I’ll go and pour you a nice cuppa. The bread pudding should be cool enough to cut now.’
Eddie smiled as she handed him a plate and put his tea on the table.
‘What’s your dad and brothers doing?’ Joan asked him.
‘Dad’s going round to Paulie’s for dinner and I’m not sure, but I think Ronny and Sharon are going as well. Reg is going round Uncle Albert’s, I know that. You’re always welcome to come over to mine, Auntie Joan. I know I’m wasting me breath, ’cause I’ve asked you a thousand times, but the offer’s always there. I can pick you up Boxing Day and drop you back home whenever.’
Auntie Joan shook her head. ‘It’s nice of you to ask, love, but you know how set in me ways I am. I like me East London, I don’t do Essex, I’m afraid.’
Eddie smiled.
When they made his aunt, they broke the bloody mould.
‘There is something you can do for me though, boy. You remember old Molly? Lives in the flat over the back here. Molly Jenkins – little woman with grey hair, walks with a limp.’
Eddie nodded. ‘I know who you mean.’
‘Well, I’m really worried about her. Michael, her son, is a bastard to her. Got a drink and drug problem he has, and he keeps turning up at her door asking for money. Poor old Molly only lives on a pension and she’s petrified of him. Twice he’s clumped her now and it’s not on, Eddie. He drinks in the Grave Maurice, always in there, he is. He’ll definitely be in there now. Somebody needs to have a little chat with him, if you know what I mean.’
Eddie knew exactly what she meant. ‘Leave it with me,’ he told her.
An hour later, Eddie stood up. Fishing in his jacket pocket, he pulled out an envelope and handed it to Auntie Joan. ‘I want you to treat yourself to something nice, Auntie,’ he told her.
Embarrassed, Joan flapped her arms about. ‘I don’t want your bleedin’ money. What do I need money for at my age?’
Eddie chuckled. They had this same argument every Christmas. ‘Please don’t insult me. If you don’t want it, give it to the fucking dogs’ home or something.’
Auntie Joan hugged him. ‘Me old winter coat’s going home a bit, maybe I’ll treat meself to a new one,’ she told him.
Wishing her a happy Christmas, Eddie jumped into his Land Cruiser and headed towards the pub. The Grave Maurice was literally minutes away on Whitechapel Road. Eddie had no idea who Michael Jenkins was, but he knew Alan, the landlord.
‘Eddie! What a lovely surprise,’ Alan said, shaking his hand.
Eddie accepted his offer of a drink and sat down on a bar stool next to him.
‘What can I do for you, son?’ Alan asked him.
‘I’m looking for a Michael Jenkins. He drinks in here, apparently.’
Alan nodded towards a scruffy-looking geezer who was standing alone at the opposite end of the bar. ‘Local pisshead, he is.’
Eddie nodded. Shame it wasn’t his own fucking money he was getting pissed on, he thought, anger rising inside him. He turned back to Alan. ‘His mother’s a mate of my Auntie Joan. Apparently, the lovely Michael has been knocking her about for his beer money. She’s seventy-odd, his poor old mum, Al. He needs a little wake-up call, don’t you think?’
Alan nodded. ‘Be my guest, Eddie. I don’t like the bloke and he’s a fuckin’ nuisance in here at times.’
Eddie finished his drink. ‘Thanks, Al. I’ll take him outside and speak to him. Take care, mate, and have a nice Christmas.’
Michael Jenkins didn’t like the look of the man who approached him and he certainly didn’t fancy going outside with him.
‘Do as I say, else I’ll break your fucking legs,’ Eddie whispered in his ear.
‘I can’t go anywhere, I’ve gotta meet me mate in a minute,’ Michael pleaded.
Eddie’s eyes clouded over. ‘If you don’t walk outside now and get in the Land Cruiser, I swear I will come back with a gun and blow your fucking brains out.’
Like a lamb being led to the slaughter, Michael Jenkins did as he was told.
Eddie started the engine. ‘Where are you taking me? What am I supposed to have done?’ Michael said nervously.
Eddie said nothing. He knew of a dead-end turning a few streets away that was always deserted. Reaching his destination, Eddie opened both doors. ‘Get out,’he ordered Michael.
Petrified, Michael started to flinch. ‘What am I meant to have done? You’ve got the wrong person. I swear it’s not me. You’re Eddie Mitchell, aren’t you?’
Eddie dragged Michael into the alleyway. Pulling a knife out of his pocket, he pointed it at him. ‘You are one piece of fucking shit. And if I ever find out you’ve laid one finger on your mother again, I will personally fucking kill you. You leave her be, you keep away from her. Do you get my meaning, cunt?’
‘I promise I won’t go near her again. She offered me money, she gave it to me,’ Michael said sobbing.
Despite his odd fib to Jessica, Eddie hated liars. Unable to control his temper, he threw Michael to the floor and stood on his wrist. ‘You lying fucking scumbag,’ he said, as he positioned the knife on his thumb. Hacking away, Ed realised that the job wasn’t complete and the thumb was hanging on by a thread of skin. Determined to chop the bastard thing off, he brought the knife down once again.
Eddie kicked the thumb down the alleyway. Smiling, he left Michael screaming and wriggling and walked back to his motor. ‘You say one word or mention my name to anyone, then I’ll come back and chop your cock off,’ he shouted to his victim.
Reversing out of the dead end, Eddie rang his dad. Reg, Ronny and Paulie were all in the Flag with him and Ed was pleased, as it meant he could kill four birds with one stone.
Turning on the radio, Eddie smirked as he heard the song being played. ‘Little Lies’ by Fleetwood Mac was very appropriate for poor Michael. Eddie smiled as he thought of what he’d just done to him. Years ago when he was a little boy, his dad used to take him to the fishmonger’s. Eddie was obsessed with the live eels wriggling about in the big bowls of water and he loved watching the man chop them up alive. Eddie grinned. That’s what Michael Jenkins’ thumb had reminded him of today, a live fucking eel. Laughing out loud, Eddie put his foot on the accelerator and sped off.
‘Joey, Frankie, your nan and grandad are here,’ Jessica shouted up the stairs.
Thrilled that their mother had agreed to them going out later, the twins bounded down stairs with smiles on their faces. Staying in every night doing tons of homework had been soul-destroying for them, so much so that they’d climbed out of the window last week and gone out for the evening. It had nearly all ended in tears, as Joey had struggled to climb back up, lost his balance and fallen backwards onto the drive. Frankie had had to creep downstairs and let him in at the front door. It was a miracle he was just bruised and not badly injured. It was also a miracle that their parents hadn’t heard the commotion.
Joyce and Stanley made a real fuss of the twins. ‘What you done to your face? You’ve got a big bruise. You ain’t been fighting, have you?’ Joyce asked Joey.
‘No, I fell out of bed, Nan.’ Joey told her sincerely. He’d got the bruise when he’d fallen off the roof.
Frankie backed him up. ‘It’s true, Nan. He went to bed one night and woke up like that the next morning. I can vouch for him, honest I can.’
Frankie glanced at her brother and he winked at her.
‘How’s school? You must have your exams soon.’ Stanley asked both of them.
Jessica shot the twins a look. She’d warned them not to tell their nan and grandad about the fiasco at the school.
‘We’ve been working really hard, Grandad. We take our exams very seriously,’ Frankie said cheekily.
Jessica felt her lip curl. She could swing for that girl sometimes, she really could.
Eddie tutted as Paulie brought over another drink. He already had three lined up on the table and was struggling to get through them. ‘What you trying to do – get me pissed? I’ve already had about six. I can’t drink all of them, I’ve got the motor outside,’ he joked.
Ronny was in a quiet mood. He hated being stuck in a wheelchair and he couldn’t stand other people being happy. No one knew what his life was like. Being treated like a cripple made him feel so inferior that sometimes he wished he was dead.
‘Looking forward to Christmas around Paulie’s?’ Eddie asked him cheerfully.
‘Yeah, can’t wait. I’m gonna dress up as fucking Santa and slide down the chimney while singing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”,’ Ronny answered sarcastically.
Eddie glanced at Sharon. She had just turned up to take Ronny home and Eddie felt truly sorry for her. Years ago, he’d never been a massive fan of his brother’s bird, but just lately his heart went out to her. Most women would have run a mile after Ronny’s accident, but Sh
aron had stuck by him through thick and thin. Ronny showed her no love at all, he spoke to her like shit and Eddie didn’t know how she put up with him. It wasn’t as though they had kids or anything to keep her there.
‘Come up the bar; let me get you a drink, Sharon,’ Eddie said.
‘Yeah, go on. Fuck off with him, I dunno why you turned up so early – I ain’t going nowhere yet,’ Ronny said nastily.
With tears in her eyes, Sharon followed Eddie up to the bar.
‘What do you want, love?’ Eddie asked her.
Sharon shrugged. ‘I’ll just have an orange juice, please.’ Eddie smiled at her. ‘Why don’t you have something stronger? Have a glass of wine or something. One won’t hurt you.’
Sharon shook her head. ‘Living with Ronny has put me off drink for life.’
Eddie shouted up an orange juice and handed it to her. ‘Listen, if you ever need any outside help, just let me know. I can pay for a carer or someone who will give you a break.’
Sharon felt her eyes well up again. She wasn’t used to kindness. ‘I can manage all right. I just wish he was more grateful and didn’t drink so much. When he’s drunk, he says the most terrible things to me.’
Eddie nodded sympathetically. ‘My offer will always be there for you, Sharon. You know my number. If things get too much for you, then ring me.’
Sharon smiled sadly. ‘Thanks Ed, I will.’
‘What’s for dinner, love?’ Stanley asked his daughter.
‘I’ve done a nice cold-meat buffet with crusty bread, pickles, jacket potatoes, cheese and coleslaw. I thought it best that we don’t overeat tonight – we don’t want to spoil ourselves for tomorrow, do we?’
Joyce agreed. ‘Any chance of another glass of Baileys, dear?’
‘We’re going out now, Mum,’ Frankie said, as she walked into the room all dolled up in a denim miniskirt.
Jessica looked at her in astonishment. ‘It’s only ten to six – your dad’s not even back yet. Why are you all dressed up? You’re only going round your friend’s house, aren’t you?’
Joey stepped out from behind his sister. He was also dressed smartly. ‘We’ve gotta make an effort, Mum. All our school friends are going to be there. We can’t look like tramps at Christmas,’ he said.
The Feud Page 18