Schemer

by Kimberley Chambers

  ‘Can’t you lend us some money to get a cab? Jacko will give it back to you,’ Potter asked bluntly.

  ‘No, I fucking well can’t! Now get out my face before I change me mind about paying your hotel and bar bill, you cheeky pair of cunts.’

  Potter grabbed his pal by the arm, and without a backward glance or even a thank you, he and Cooksie staggered out of the building.

  As every minute ticked by, Stephanie’s worries only heightened. She tried to call Tammy, but got no reply, so rang her mother instead.

  ‘Try to stop crying, darling. I can’t understand what you’re saying properly,’ Pam said, worried.

  ‘Can you come over, Mum? I ain’t got a clue what to do and I can’t go looking for him ’cause I’ve got the kids here. Ring a cab and I’ll pay for it. I’ve got plenty of wine and you and Aidan can stay here tonight. Hopefully, by the morning, Wayne will be back and then I’ll drop you back home.’

  ‘OK, I’m on my way.’

  Barry Franklin was deep in thought as he sat in the back of the black cab. The driver was an old boy, a talkative type, and kept rambling on about Arsenal having a crap season.

  ‘You got a pen and a bit of paper, mate?’ Barry asked, interrupting him.

  When the driver handed him both, Barry started to write down any number that might be useful to him from Wayne’s phone. He then gave the driver his pen back and shoved the piece of paper into his pocket. ‘Change of plan, mate. Sorry to mess you about, but can we go to Chigwell first? I might be getting out there, but I won’t know until I’ve knocked at someone’s door. Between me and you, a pal of mine’s gone missing. I wanna drop his bag off and make sure his bird and kids are all right.’

  ‘No probs, pal. Christ, I hope your mate’s OK,’ the cab driver said, his voice full of concern.

  Barry smirked. He didn’t, but he had to play the game. ‘Me and you both, mate.’

  Pam gave Stephanie a motherly hug as soon as she walked through the front door. Her daughter looked dreadful and her eyes were red raw through crying. ‘Where are the kids?’ she asked.

  ‘In the lounge. Go and play with Dannielle and Tyler, mate,’ Stephanie replied, ruffling Aidan’s hair.

  When Aidan scampered off to join his cousins, Stephanie turned to her mum. ‘I haven’t said anything to the kids about Wayne yet. Tyler’s too young to understand and I don’t want to worry Dannielle. ‘

  ‘So, where do you reckon Wayne is? It’s so unlike him not to contact you, isn’t it?’

  Stephanie led her mother into the kitchen and poured them both a much-needed glass of wine. ‘I’m so glad you’re here ’cause it takes my mind off it a bit. I haven’t got a clue where he is, but let’s talk about something else, eh? It’s only half two and we can start worrying again later if he still hasn’t turned up,’ Stephanie said, forcing a smile.

  ‘What’s the betting the bastard walks in in the next hour or so, as bold as bloody brass?’ Pam joked.

  ‘So, how’s Lin? Have you seen her lately?’ Stephanie knew how worried her mother was about her Auntie Linda moving in with Keith.

  ‘She’s rung up a few times, but I ain’t seen her since she came round for Sunday dinner with him. She seems happy enough, mind. But I just can’t help but worry about her, Steph. I can’t help but picture them sitting drunk in that shithole of a flat every night, especially now she hasn’t got a job.’

  Stephanie squeezed her mum’s hand. ‘If it makes you feel any better, I think Lin is the happiest she’s ever been in her life. She rang me the other night, full of beans, honest she did. Keith even chatted to me on the phone and I’m positive he adores Lin, you know.’

  Pam smiled. ‘Well, I know you wouldn’t lie to me, so I suppose I’m just gonna have to accept that Lin’s a grown woman and is living the life of her choice, aren’t I? I’ve always felt so protective of her though, Steph, I think that’s why I’ve found it all so hard to deal with. I always worry about people taking the piss out of her and I imagine in my mind that in that crappy area where’s she living, that’s what people are doing.’

  ‘They aren’t, Mum. Lin’s got a new best friend, the next-door neighbour, and she’s incredibly happy, I just know she is,’ Steph said.

  ‘Mum, can me, Tyler and Aidan have some Coke and crisps, please?’ Dannielle said, skipping into the kitchen.

  Stephanie took the crisps out of the cupboard and then dropped the bag on the floor as the doorbell rang. Perhaps Wayne had got so drunk that he had lost his keys? She ran into the hallway. ‘What do you want?’ she asked, as she came face to face with Barry Franklin.

  ‘I thought I’d better bring Wayne’s stuff back. I take it you ain’t heard nothing yet?’ Barry asked, handing her the phone and sports bag.

  Stephanie shook her head dejectedly.

  ‘Look, all his numbers are on his phone. Why don’t you let me come in and we’ll do some searching together, eh?’

  ‘Uncle Barry,’ Dannielle screamed, running into the hallway with her arms outstretched, hoping for a cuddle. She had recognized her idol’s voice.

  When Barry picked up her daughter and swung her around, Stephanie started to soften. Her mum was here, and any help finding Wayne was better than none, even if it was from Barry. ‘Go in the kitchen. My mum’s in there and you can tell us everything that happened last night.’

  ‘OK, just let me pay the cab first.’ Strolling down the path, it was a struggle for Barry to keep the big grin off his face. Wayne going missing wasn’t just good news as far as he was concerned. It was the fucking crème da la crème.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  Barry politely kissed Pam on the cheek, then sat down opposite her at the kitchen table.

  ‘Go in the lounge now, Dannielle. The adults need to talk and I need you to look after your little brother for me,’ Stephanie said.

  ‘Can’t I stay out here with Uncle Barry? I want him to sing “Incy Wincy Spider” with me,’ Dannielle pleaded, her lips pouting with disappointment.

  Barry grinned at Dannielle. ‘You do as your mum says and look after your little brother and I promise we’ll sing “Incy Wincy Spider” later on.’

  ‘OK then,’ Dannielle said, smiling shyly.

  When her daughter skipped out of the kitchen, Stephanie got straight down to business. ‘I want to know everything that happened last night from start to finish,’ she demanded coldly.

  ‘Offer the boy a beer or a coffee first then, Steph,’ Pam ordered her daughter.

  Barry stared at Stephanie as she poured a can of lager into a glass for him. They had been so close once upon a time, but he felt as if he barely knew her at all now. She had definitely changed over the years; seemed much more cynical and harder than the soft, fresh-faced girl he had once known and loved.

  ‘Fire away then,’ Steph said, sitting down next to her mother.

  Apart from admitting that they were at a lap-dancing club in Soho, or mentioning Angela, Barry spoke truthfully about everything that had happened the previous evening.

  ‘So, how drunk was Wayne when he followed Lee out the club?’ Stephanie asked.

  ‘He weren’t that drunk at all. He wasn’t really drinking until the latter part of the evening.’

  ‘Why not? That don’t sound like Wayne,’ Steph asked, supiciously. If Barry was lying to her, he was wasting his time, because Steph knew Wayne better than anybody did.

  ‘I dunno if you know, but Wayne’s been on tablets, antidepressants, and that’s why he wasn’t drinking much. He told me that the tablets and booze don’t mix very well.’

  Stephanie scowled at Barry. Wayne taking antidepressants was the most ridiculous yarn she had ever heard in the whole of her life. ‘Antidepressants and Wayne, don’t make me laugh. You’re lying, Barry, I know you are, and if you don’t tell me where my fiancé really is, I’m going to call the police and have you arrested.’

  Barry shook his head. ‘I’m telling the truth, Steph. I wouldn’t lie over something serious like this. Wayne h
ad a small strip of tablets in his trouser pocket. He showed them to me and told me what they were. Have a look in his sports bag or upstairs in his bedside drawer. He must have more of ’em hidden somewhere.’

  Stephanie unzipped Wayne’s sports bag and angrily tipped its contents all over the kitchen floor.

  ‘Now, don’t lose your temper, love,’ Pam said, softly.

  ‘I bet you planted them there,’ Stephanie shouted, picking up a packet of tablets that were in a small white pharmacy bag.

  Barry stood up. ‘I’m going. I came round to help you, not to be abused. Apart from fishing around in that bag for Jacko’s phone, I haven’t even looked through his stuff. I just guessed he might have the tablets in there, because the strip he had in his pocket looked almost empty.’

  Pam snatched the tablets out of her daughter’s hand. ‘Is Wayne registered with a Doctor Patel in Collier Row?’ she asked.

  Stephanie nodded her head. ‘Me and the kids have registered with a new doctor in Chigwell, but Wayne hasn’t changed his yet.’

  ‘Well, in that case I think you should apologize to Barry, because they are definitely Wayne’s tablets. They have his name on the box and your old address is printed on the pharmacy bag,’ Pam said sternly.

  ‘I’m sorry, and please don’t go. We need your help,’ Stephanie mumbled.

  Barry sat back down again and, as he did so, his mobile rang.

  ‘Is it Wayne?’ Stephanie asked, hopefully.

  Barry shook his head. ‘No, it’s my girlfriend. I’ll call her back in a bit.’

  Steph put her head in her hands. ‘It’s gone three now. What time should I leave it to until I call the police?’

  ‘Give it till tomorrow morning, and if he still ain’t home, ring ’em first thing. I’m sure the Old Bill have some policy where people have to be missing for twenty-four hours before they do anything, and they certainly ain’t gonna bust a gut to find some geezer who’s just been out on his stag night,’ Barry said bluntly.

  ‘When is Daddy coming home, because Tyler wants to go to the park?’ Dannielle asked, walking into the kitchen again.

  ‘Daddy is at work I think, love. How about if I take you, Aidan and Tyler to the park? I could do with some fresh air,’ Stephanie offered. Why her son had such a fixation with parks she would never know, but ever since he had learned to say the word, there wasn’t a day went by when he didn’t demand a trip to one.

  ‘Can Uncle Barry come with us?’ Dannielle asked.

  ‘No, Uncle Barry’s going to stay here and keep your nan company. Now go and get your and Tyler’s coats and we’ll go,’ Stephanie said, in a none-too-happy voice. It really pissed her off that her daughter had taken such a shine to Barry and kept referring to him as her uncle. If she didn’t have bigger things to worry about, she would have put a stop to it, there and then.

  The moment Stephanie and the children walked out the front door, Barry’s phone burst into life once again. Pam said a silent prayer that it would be Wayne, but when she heard Barry utter the words, ‘Marge’ and ‘Mum’, she knew that it wasn’t.

  ‘I’m gonna have to shoot off, Pam. Me mum’s in a bit of a state by all accounts, and the mate she’s staying with don’t know what to do with her. You remember my mother, I take it?’

  About to refer to her as the old slapper, Pam stopped herself just in time. ‘Course I remember Marlene.’

  ‘Well, if you remember her you’ll know she’s a nightmare. Bane of my life, that woman is, but she’s always gonna be me mother, so I’m lumbered with her, unfortunately.’

  Pam smiled. She liked Barry. He seemed a decent, honest kind of chap. ‘Before you go, is there anything else you can tell me about last night? If Wayne went off with a bird, please say so. I won’t tell Steph unless I have to.’

  Barry took a deep breath and sighed, as though breaking the news was extremely hard for him. It wasn’t, not one little bit, but he had to play the game. He had very nearly blurted it out to Steph when she had accused him of lying over Wayne’s tablets, but being clever, he had managed to bite his tongue. ‘I dunno how to tell you this, Pam, and there was no way I could have told Steph the truth.’

  Pam’s heart lurched. ‘What is it?’

  ‘We went to a lap-dancing club in Soho. I didn’t really want to go there, neither did the other lads, but Wayne was insistent that we did. When we got there, it turns out that your Angie was one of the dancers. I went off to the toilet, and when I came back Wayne and Angie were in some deep conversation. Next thing I knew, both had disappeared. Angie’s flatmate works there also – Roxy, I think her name was. Anyway, when I realized Wayne had gone missing, I asked her where Angie was, and she said that she had suddenly felt ill and had gone home. I dunno about you, Pam, but I would say that that was one hell of a coincidence, eh?’

  Pam was stunned. She knew Angela wasn’t a very nice person, but how could she do something so vile to her own sister?

  ‘Are you OK, Pam? Would you like me to get you a drink or something?’ Barry asked, politely.

  Pam shook her head. Even if Wayne did turn up in the next hour or so, how could she let Stephanie marry him next week when she now knew what he had been up to? She took a deep breath to try to steady her emotions. ‘Go on, love. You get off and see to your mum. I can deal with this.’

  ‘What you gonna do?’ Barry asked, solemnly.

  ‘I’m gonna confront Angela; then if your suspicions turn out to be true, I shall have to tell Stephanie. It’s gonna break her heart, I know it is, but I can’t let her marry him, Barry. I would never forgive myself if I did.’

  Barry squeezed Pam’s hand. ‘Well, if it’s any consolation, I think you’re doing the right thing telling Steph. I know if it were me about to get married, then I’d want to know. Having said that, this is all just speculation at the moment. For all we know, Wayne could have ended up elsewhere and might walk in as right as rain any minute. Perhaps Angela was genuinely ill, who knows?’

  ‘I very much doubt it, but I’ll get to the bottom of it if it kills me. Go on, love, you shoot off. Thanks for coming round and thanks for being honest with me.’

  Pam found Stephanie’s address book. She was relieved when the cab firm only quoted her ten minutes, as she couldn’t wait to ring Angela and give her a piece of her mind.

  Barry chatted away politely as he finished the rest of his beer. He had given Pam his phone number and she had promised to contact him personally the moment she

  had some news, whether it be good or bad. ‘Do you know what, Pam? You’re a lovely lady and I’d give my right arm to have a mother like you. I hope your Stephanie realizes how lucky she is.’

  Pam forced a smile. Considering that Barry had been reared by the horrendous Marlene, he had certainly turned into a lovely lad. He was handsome, polite, honest and charming, and for the first time ever, Pam wished he hadn’t moved to Spain all them years ago, and it was he that Stephanie was planning to marry rather than Wayne.

  Within seconds of returning from the park with the kids, Stephanie knew that something had happened. She knew her mother like the back of her hand and could tell that Pam was hiding something. Not wanting to create a scene in front of the children, Steph put the McDonald’s they had begged for onto three plastic plates and ordered them to eat it in the lounge.

  ‘Right, what’s going on?’ she said to her mother as she shut the kitchen door.

  Pam didn’t know if she was coming or going. She had tried to ring Angela, but her mobile phone was switched off and she had no home number for her. Cathy, who she would usually ask for advice, was at Bingo, so that was a no-go. Then, in pure desperation, Pam had rung Linda, and there had been no answer from her either. Not wanting to make a mountain out of a molehill in case Wayne walked in at any second, Pam decided to lie. ‘Nothing’s wrong apart from the obvious. You got any more wine, love? I could kill another glass.’

  Stephanie went into the conservatory, grabbed a bottle of Chardonnay and poured the majority of i
t into two large glasses. ‘Why did Barry go before I got back? Did he say something that upset you?’ Steph probed, her voice full of suspicion.

  ‘No, of course not! Barry left because his mother is creating havoc, I think. How an old slapper like that ever gave birth to a decent lad like Barry, I shall never know.’

  Looking at the clock on the kitchen wall, Stephanie shook her head in despair. It was nearly five p.m. now and would soon be dark outside. Waiting until the morning to ring the police was ridiculous. The sooner she rang them and reported Wayne missing, the better. ‘I’m gonna ring the Old Bill now, Mum, I have to. No matter how drunk Wayne was last night, he would have definitely rung me by now if he was OK. Something’s happened to him, I just know it has, and at least if I report him missing, the police can check the hospitals and stuff.’

  ‘No, don’t ring them yet,’ Pam said, alarmed. She hadn’t worked out how to break Barry’s news to Stephanie yet and she didn’t want to send her daughter over the edge. ‘Barry’s right. The police will laugh at you if you ring them now and say Wayne hasn’t come home from his stag night yet.’

  Stephanie had tried to be strong all day, but couldn’t hold the tears back any longer. ‘What am I gonna do if we can’t find him, Mum? How long am I meant to leave it until I cancel the wedding and ring all the guests?’

  Pam held her sobbing daughter in her arms. If Wayne didn’t arrive home to sort out this mess very soon, she would personally fucking strangle him.

  Barry Franklin had no intention of going to visit his mother. Marge had rung him, but only to inform him that his mother was ‘sorry for what she had said’ and had asked ‘could he please send her clothes home from Spain?’

  Strolling into the boozer in a side road just off Brentwood High Street, Barry queued up at the bar. Today had gone to perfection for somebody as desperate for revenge as he was: it was the stuff that dreams were made of. Not only was Wayne on the missing-persons list and thought to be with Angela, he also had Pam eating out of his hand, which was a proper added bonus.